I (heart) Des Moines

Des Moines-area Farmers Markets

Chris Snider — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:25:32 +0000

The Des Moines Downtown Farmer’s Market opens on May 2, but that’s not the only place to get farm-fresh produce in town. Here’s a rundown of all the farmer markets in the Des Moines area.

Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market

Where: Historic Court Ave. District
When: Saturdays 7 a.m. to noon
Season: May 2 to Oct. 31
Web site

Valley Junction Farmers Market

Where: Fifth Street and Railroad Park in West Des Moines
When: Thursdays 4-8 p.m.
Opening day: May 7
Web site

Drake Neighborhood Farmers Market

Where: 25th and University Ave. in Des Moines
When: Wednesdays 4-7 p.m.
Opening day: June 2
Web site

Altoona Farmers Market

Where: 6th St. Pl. SE, north of Haines Park
When: Fridays, 4 to 7 p.m., June to September
Opening day: TBA

Ames Farmers Market

Where: Main Street Depot, downtown Ames
When: Thursdays 2-7 p.m.; Saturdays 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Season: May 2 to Oct. 31
Web site

Ankeny Farmers Market

Where: SW Third Street and Maple Street
When: 8 a.m to noon Saturdays
Season: May to September
Web site

Johnston Farmers Market

Where: Merle Hay Rd. and NW 62nd Ave.
When: 3-7 Tuesdays
Season: May to October

Parks Neighborhood Farmers Market

Where: 147 E. Euclid Ave.
When: 3-6 p.m. Thursdays
Season: June to September
Web site

Urbandale Farmers Market

Where: Living History Farms
When: 4-7 p.m. Mondays
Season: June 1 to Oct. 12
Web site

Waukee Farmers Market

Where: Downtown Triangle on 6th St. south of Hwy 6
When: 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays
Season: June to September
Web site

Photo credit: Deborah Leventhal

January sports calendar

Chris Snider — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:02:30 +0000

Sports fans have plenty of chances to catch their favorite Des Moines teams in January.

Jan. 10 – Iowa Chops vs. Manitoba, 7:05 p.m., Wells Fargo Arena
Promotion: Isiserettes perform during the game.

Jan. 11 – Drake men’s basketball vs. Wichita State, 6 p.m., Knapp Center

Jan. 13 – Iowa Chops vs. Toronto, 7:05 p.m., Wells Fargo Arena

Jan. 15 – Iowa Energy vs. Anaheim, 7 p.m., Wells Fargo Arena
Promotion: Ladies Night

Jan. 16 – Iowa Chops vs. Quad Cities, 7:05 p.m., Wells Fargo Arena
Promotion: Fierce broomball game during 1st intermission, Iowa Corn Growers Night

Jan. 16 – Des Moines Buccaneers vs. Cedar Rapids, 7 p.m., 95KGGO Arena
Promotion: Buc beer night, teacher appreciation night

Jan. 17 – Drake men’s basketball vs. Northern Iowa, 11:05 a.m., Knapp Center

Jan. 17 – Iowa Chops vs. Milwaukee, 7:05 p.m., Wells Fargo Arena
Promotion: Animal Rescue League’s Pucks for Pups – Bring your dog to the game.

Jan. 17 – Des Moines Buccaneers vs. Chicago, 7 p.m., 95KGGO Arena

Jan. 17 – Iowa Energy vs. Austin, noon, Wells Fargo Arena
Promotion: Energy cup giveaway

Jan. 19 – Iowa Energy vs. Fort Wayne, noon, Wells Fargo Arena
Promotion: Mediacom presents Kid’s Day with Dora the Explorer

Jan. 20 – Iowa Chops vs. Rockford, 7:05 p.m., Wells Fargo Arena

Jan. 22 – Iowa Energy vs. Dakota, 7 p.m., Wells Fargo Arena
Promotion: GO GREEN Night

Jan. 23 – Drake women’s basketball vs. Bradley, 7:35 p.m., Knapp Center

Jan. 24 – Iowa Chops vs. San Antonio, 7:05 p.m., Wells Fargo Arena

Jan. 24 – Des Moines Buccaneers vs. Fargo, 7 p.m., 95KGGO Arena
Promotion: 70s night

Jan. 25 – Drake women’s baskeball vs. Northern Iowa, 2:05 p.m., Knapp Center

Jan. 27 – Iowa Energy vs. Tulsa, 7 p.m., Wells Fargo Arena
Promotion: 2-for-1 sideline tickets

Jan. 28 – Drake men’s basketball vs. Evansville, 7:05 p.m., Knapp Center

Jan. 29 – Iowa Energy vs. Sioux Falls, 7 p.m., Wells Fargo Arena
Promotion: Military Appreciation Night

Jan. 29 – Des Moines Buccaneers vs. Fargo, 7 p.m., 95KGGO Arena
Promotion: Service industry night

Jan. 30 – Iowa Chops vs. Peoria, 7:05 p.m., Wells Fargo Arena
Promotion: $9.95 for an end zone ticket, cowbell, Wendy’s combo mean and Chops towell

Jan. 25 – Drake women’s baskeball vs. Creighton, 2:05 p.m., Knapp Center

Jan. 31 – Iowa Energy vs. Sioux Falls, 7 p.m., Wells Fargo Arena
Promotion: Grinnell Mutual presents “Saturday Night Fever” (70’s Night) with Quick Change

For tickets and more info:

Des Moines free stuff

Chris Snider — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:10:42 +0000

Sometimes you just need to get rid of some stuff. Here’s a list of the most recent items being given away via Craigslist in Des Moines, including the couch on the left (no delivery available, sorry).

Click here to see all free stuff on Craiglist in Des Moines.

Where to sled in Des Moines

Chris Snider — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:07:09 +0000

The Des Moines Register recently ran a list of places to go sledding in Central Iowa. I put the list to a map.

Photo by Rosebud via flickr

Des Moines web cameras

Chris Snider — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 00:35:19 +0000

Want to see what’s going on in Des Moines? Here’s a compilation of web cameras in and around the greater Des Moines area.

DOT traffic cameras

Click here to see all Des Moines traffic cameras from the Iowa DOT.

Northeast Mixmaster

West Mixmaster

I-235 at Second Street

I-235 at 42nd St.

KCCI towercams

TV station KCCI hosts four weather cameras, although only three seem to work. Here’s a link all four.

Downtown

Airport

West

More cameras around Des Moines (and Iowa)

Blank Park Zoo

Greenfield, Iowa

Indianola, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Newton, Iowa

Stuart, Iowa

Knoxville, Iowa

Lamoni, Iowa

Woodward, Iowa

Links to even more web cameras

The gift of downtown Des Moines

Chris Snider — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:36:46 +0000

Looking for a last-minute gift? Why not help support all of the great things going on in downtown Des Moines by giving a downtown gift card.

Here’s some info from the Downtown Des Moines web site: Get your gift cards online or at the seasonal Downtown Des Moines Gift Card Store located in the Kaleidoscope Mall across from Palmer’s Deli from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Monday – Friday, the Downtown Community Alliance office at 700 Locust Street, Downtown Des Moines between the hours of 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday.

So where can you use your downtown gift card? There are a total of 105 places, including The Botanical Center, The Civic Center, Centro, eden, Gateway Market, Hessen Haus, Kitchen Collage, Pure Paper, South Union, Sticks and Winston’s. See a complete list of all 105 merchants here.

Celebrate the holidays with local sports teams

Chris Snider — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 20:57:47 +0000

Looking for a way to entertain out-of-town guests this holiday season? Area sports teams give you plenty of choices.

Iowa Chops hockey

Dec. 20 vs. Peoria, 7:05 p.m.
Dec. 27 vs. Rockford, 7:05 p.m.
Where: Wells Fargo Arena
Tickets: $10-$17 | Buy tickets

Iowa Energy basketball

Dec. 25 vs. Reno, 7 p.m.
Dec. 28 vs. Utah, 4 p.m.
Dec. 31 vs. Bakersfield, 5 p.m.
Where: Wells Fargo Arena
Tickets: $5-$20 | Buy tickets

Des Moines Buccaneers hockey

Dec. 19 vs. Cedar Rapids, 7 p.m.
Where: KGGO Arena
Tickets: $8-13 | Buy tickets

Drake Bulldogs basketball

Dec. 20 vs. Iowa, 3:05 p.m.
Dec. 31 vs. Missouri State, 2:05 p.m.
Where: Knapp Center
Tickets: $5-25 | Buy tickets

Where to ski in Iowa

Chris Snider — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:05:25 +0000

by Joe Shlabotnik

Sleep Hollow Sports Park

Where: 4051 Dean Ave., Des Moines IA | map
Phone: 515-262-4100
Lift tickets: $15-22
Web site

Seven Oaks Recreation Center

Where: 1086 222nd Drive, Boone IA 50036 | map
Phone: 515-432-9457
Web site

Sundown Mountain

Where: Dubuque, Iowa
Phone: 563-556-6676
Lift tickets: $365 for a season pass; $39 for weekends and holidays; $32 on weekdays
Web site

Mt. Crescent Ski Area

Where: Creston, Iowa
Phone: 712.545.3850
Lift tickets: $39 Friday, Saturday and Sunday; $32 Monday-Thursday
Web site

Riverside Hills

Where: Esterville
Runs: 6
Lifts: 3
Vertical drop: 190

Iowa Energy

Chris Snider — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:03:31 +0000

The Iowa Energy are in their second season in Des Moines. Coached by Nick Nurse, the Energy are an NBA Development League affiliate of the Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns. They play their home games at Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines.

Sport: Basketball

Level: NBA Development League

Season: November through April

Home arena: Wells Fargo Arena

Official web site | Schedule