Visit Des Moines

This month you may or may not have noticed the Polk County Courthouse illuminated green in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. Iowa has had a long and arduous history involving this topic — we haven’t always gotten it right. However, I do personally think this city is improving. There is always going to be room for growth and further improvement, but if you come to Des Moines seeking help with your mental health, you WILL find resources and friendly faces who are willing to help you.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership once again teamed up with the National Balloon Classic to bring these beauties to the streets of Downtown DSM! 🎈😍 It was the perfect excuse to wander into the city for a couple hours.

I had a twisted nightmare. It looked something like this…
*
*
*
*
*
Full Story: A client approached me asking if she could purchase one of my cityscapes as an art piece for her office. After viewing the space, I decided that I didn’t have anything in stock that would be absolutely perfect for her, but that I would be willing to create a custom piece. We got to talking, and during the course of the conversation it became clear that life had been rough on her despite many successes.

I went home and thought about it, her… and all the tiny tears welling up in her eyes as she talked about trying to keep all the uncontrollable bits of her life at bay. Her desire to create a beautiful office space was interwoven with her need to escape all the pressures of daily life. It somehow became clear to me that this would be the way to go.

While delivering the mock-up, I told her: “This version of the city represents you, and the chaos that I think you feel sometimes. Destruction and beauty co-existing in the same space… on the brink of collapse… yet somehow, there you are… standing tall and holding everything that is important together in the middle of it all.” Moral of the story is, you can not control the weather no matter how solid your foundation is.

She loved it. ⚡️ I’m excited to see this on metal!!
Image ©2022 by D. Ellen for DSM Interchange

What a magnificent show this was! We liked it so much we went twice. These images barely tell the story, but they were the best I could do. Thank you for visiting West Des Moines, Cirque Italia! Please come back soon!!

Quiet mornings at the riverfront are such a blessing! 🌤 Often it's just a few early risers, and the "green shirts" walking around. The "green shirts" are a small army of workers that are tasked with keeping Des Moines clean and tidy. They travel across the city sweeping up debris from nights before.

I often find myself wandering around the neglected outskirts of the city; searching for perspectives which might otherwise be forgotten. There’s a lot of history out here. Many times, I have picked up random trash, only to discover that it was many many decades old. One of my most memorable finds was a Rolodex from the early 1900s… it was like discovering a time capsule. The building which it came from was demolished overnight… by the time I realized what was happening, it was already over.

Follow Capital City Pride for more information on Des Moines' Pride Month festivities! One Iowa and the Des Moines Pride Center are two other notable organizations that advocate for LGBTQ+ rights for ALL Iowans. 🏳️‍🌈

Easter Lake is a hidden gem located along the southeastern edge of Des Moines. Not only will you find a beach, playgrounds, and miles upon miles of flower-lined bike paths… but next to the beach is Easter Lake Boat Rental: where one can rent anything from a kayak or canoe, to a small motorboat… to a 12-passenger pontoon! Prices are completely reasonable, and the lake itself is a relaxing place to spend a warm, summer day. 😎🛶🚤 One of our favorite hobbies is stalking bees in the flower bushes; you hardly notice that they are there unless you take the time to look. 🐝

“Iowa’s Coney Island” first opened in 1915; in the heart of Des Moines, IA. The peninsula became a popular destination for amusement and “modern” entertainment. Elvis Presley was even rumored to have booked a private night at Riverview. Then in 1979, the owners of a new theme park, Adventureland, bought the peninsula and allowed it to fall into irreparable disrepair. Riverview Park was eventually sold to the City of Des Moines for $1. Today, if you wander down to this area, you will be able to read about the incredible history of this place, and set eyes on the beginnings of the future.

Visit Des Moines updated their business hours.

The roof of Iowa's tallest building (the Principal building) was supposed to be the same oxidized green color as the Statue of Liberty. The designers didn’t realize that the lack of salt in Des Moines’ air would cause the copper to instead transition into a dark rusty color.

Today is the first day of the World Pork Expo. The expo is held annually at the Iowa State Fairgrounds; attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world. 🐖 A complementary lunch is served from 11AM-1PM daily.

We often come up here to sit, and think. This monument is called, “Shattering Silence.” It pays homage to the Iowa Supreme Court’s very first decision; when Judge Wilson granted the former slave, Ralph, his freedom. Legend says that Ralph showed up to work in the judges garden exactly once year after the decision was made.

When the judge asked Ralph what he was doing, Ralph replied, “I ain't paying you for what you done for me… but I want to work for you one day every spring to show you that I never forget.”

Source: Elaine Croyle Bezanson, “Ralph Montgomery,” The Goldfinch 16, no. 4 (Summer 1995): 6.

"I could wander a thousand miles, and still be extremely grateful to come back home. I'm not sure if it's the lack of traffic, or the fact that everything I could ever want or need is present within a 30 mile radius... but to me, this place is perfection. A hidden gem in the center of the Midwest."

We are on the road visiting other cities this week. Here’s a throwback to a calm evening in Des Moines. Our downtown is simply stunning at night!! It’s not too big… but at the same time big enough to make you stop and pay attention.

Bozz Prints (located in Historic Valley Junction on the western edge of the city) is the perfect place to visit if you are looking for souvenirs from Des Moines! 🏳️‍🌈 Valley Junction itself is full of unique shops, food, and art galleries. If you find yourself with a few hours to kill, head there and enjoy your time exploring!

You saw our tease last week and now it's time for the real deal...Pride gear is finally here! Celebrate with us all month long and grab one of our new DSM 515 Pride shirts and Skyline print designs. Now available in store & online!

Yesterday was the last day to see Blank Park Zoo's Wild Lights Festival Presented by MidAmerican Energy Company. Everything about it was astonishing and magical! If we are lucky, they will bring it back next year.