DOWNTOWN PASSPORT

Only seven more days to get your Downtown Passport turned in for a chance to win a trip for two to our sister city in Catanzaro, Italy. Passports are due to the Downtown Community Alliance by midnight on Sept. 8. You can mail or drop off your passport at the Downtown Community Alliance office at 700 Locust St., Ste. 100, Des Moines, IA 50309. You can also drop your passport off at the Downtown Farmers' Market this Saturday from 9 a.m. – noon at the Farmers' Market Headquarters tent. The winner of the trip to Italy will be drawn on Friday, Sept. 21 at Oktoberfest at 5:30 p.m. Visit our website for more details.

DOWNTOWN BECOMES EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL

Fifty new flower pots along Third Street and Sixth Avenue will be adding to the vibrant colors and natural beauty of downtown Des Moines this fall. Twenty-five new flower pots were added along Third Street last week and another 25 flower pots will be added to Sixth Avenue next week. This beautification project is a benefit of Operation Downtown, a program dedicated to keeping downtown safe, clean and beautiful. As the seasons change, so do the beautiful flowers downtown. Watch for the fall planting in the next couple of weeks.

WILKOMMEN TO DOWNTOWN

Des Moines' fourth annual Oktoberfest will be held on 4th street just south of Court Avenue on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 21 and 22. Festivities begin on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. and the ceremonial "Tapping of the Golden Keg" will take place at 3 p.m. signifying the official commencement of Oktoberfest with free beer for those in attendance. Also on Friday, the winner of the DCA's passport program trip to Italy will be drawn. Other prizes from participating downtown businesses will also be given away.

The region's best polka music, authentic German bier, food, and contests will all be on tap for the weekend. Event hours are Friday 2 p.m. -1 a.m. and Saturday noon – 1 a.m. Young Variety is once again partnering with Oktoberfest and volunteers are still needed. All tip money generated at the event and $1 of each paid admission will be donated to Variety - The Children's Charity. Now is your chance to get more involved; grab a friend or two and come volunteer! You'll get free admission to the event, an event t-shirt and two beer tickets to enjoy some great German Biers.

Volunteer opportunities include beer pourers, floaters, front gate, security, and ticket booth. Various shifts are available throughout the day on Friday, Sept. 21 and Saturday, Sept. 22. Visit VolunteerLocal to register online. Visit the Oktoberfest web site for details.

GET YOUR KICKS (EARLY) IN DOWNTOWN

One of the hottest holiday shows is coming to downtown Des Moines this year. Most famous for their eye-high kicks and precision dancing, the Radio City Rockettes will be strutting their way into the hearts of Iowans Dec. 6 – 30 at the Civic Center. As a friend of Downtown Des Moines you can get your tickets before the general public. Just go to Ticketmaster and enter the password "partners" to receive this special offer. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Sept. 17 so take advantage of this special offer now!

MEET SCOT BLANCHARD – OPERATION DOWNTOWN

For the past five years Scot Blanchard has been an integral part of Operation Downtown, overseeing our safe, clean and beautiful services. Scot manages a crew of 11 ambassadors who control litter and trash, communicate and work with police and assist citizens in downtown. On any given day, Scot and his crew provide visitors with information on shopping and skywalks help school children and elderly in downtown and report suspicious activity to police. Operation Downtown ambassadors also remove tons of trash and garbage from the streets and sidewalks, including emptying more than 200 downtown trash receptacles on a regular basis. Prior to Operation Downtown, these receptacles were not out on the streets. Scot takes great pride in the cleanliness of our city streets and sidewalks.

HARVEST AND WINTER FARMERS' MARKET

The Downtown Community Alliance is pleased to announce the Downtown Farmers' Market will once again be extending the regular market season with two holiday markets. The Downtown Harvest Farmers' Market will be on Saturday, Nov. 17 and the Winter Farmers' Market will be on Saturday, Dec. 15. These indoor/outdoor markets will be held at Capital Square/Nollen Plaza. This free event will be held from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The regular Downtown Farmers' Market season continues every Saturday through Oct. 27.

COURT AVENUE CARES

The newly founded non-profit group Historic Court District Association, along with the Des Moines Music Coalition have come together to host Court Avenue Cares – a fundraising event to benefit the Central Iowa Shelter Services. The charity pub crawl starts at 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7 and will feature live music at each venue. The following is a list of participating venues and the entertainment for the evening:

• Court Avenue Brewery Co. – Josh David Band
• Vaudville Mews – Funks G, Horseshoe Spatulas
• Johnny's Hall of Fame – Soulever
• El Bait Shop & High Life Lounge – Mooseknuckle
• Buzzard Billy's – Snafu
• Royal Mile & Red Monk – DJ Johnny Utah
• People's Court – Tyler Thompson Band
• Liars Club – DJ Retro P
• The Lift – DJ John Huffman
  

"This is our way of giving back to the community while bringing people to Court Avenue to celebrate what the Court District has to offer," said Mike Utley, board member and general manager of Court Avenue Brewery.

Wristbands can be purchased for $5 the night of the event at any participating venue. All proceeds will go to the Central Iowa Homeless Shelter Services. Catch the live music and fun and you'll be showing you care at the same time.

FIND YOUR CITY SIDE... ON VIDEO

Love Downtown? Want to let others in the metro know about it and win some cash, too? The Greater Des Moines Partnership is conducting a video contest called the "Digital Do More Challenge". Central Iowans are encouraged to submit videos, two minutes or less in length, on what they like about Greater Des Moines for a chance to win $1,000. The contest runs through Sept. 30. A selection committee will review the videos and choose 15 semifinalists. The public will be invited to vote on 15 semifinalists to choose the Grand Prize winner and three runners-up, who will receive $500 each. Check out all the contest details at Greater Des Moines Partnership web site or contact Amanda Steward at 286-4947.

GET GROSSED OUT AT THE SCIENCE CENTER

Got kids? Kid at heart? Either way, you won't want to miss the newest exhibit at the Science Center of Iowa opening Sept. 29. It's Grossology - The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body. The science-in-disguise traveling exhibit answers kids many questions they love to ask about the human body. Kids and curious adults can take a "Tour du Nose" and learn how it acts as an air filter, play the pinball "Gas Attack" game or take a ride on the GI slide. There are more than 20 displays and games on exhibit through Jan. 8. And, in conjunction with the exhibit, the Blank IMAX Dome Theater will feature "The Human Body". The film takes a look at the human biological processes through a family of four from dusk to dawn – incorporating computer graphics with real-life images to create a day in the life of the human body.

STEP INTO THE PAST

Ever driven by some of those Victorian turn of the century places in Sherman Hill and wonder what they look like inside? You'll get your chance during the annual "Doors to the Past – Sherman Hill Walking Tour" on Sept. 22, 23, 29 and 30. Property owners will provide a personal tour detailing renovations both inside and out. Sponsored by the Sherman Hill Association, the event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Tickets are $15 each.

HOW ABOUT SOME VINO... IN THE VILLAGE

If you thought you'd missed Vino in the Village in June, you didn't. Winefest moved its annual wine tasting event to Sept. 22 this year. It's a chance to sample some great wine, have some munchies and check out the unique shops in the East Village at the same time. You'll see why there's a buzz about what's happening on the East side of the river Downtown. There's no cost to attend, but you need to check in at the parking lot at East 6th and Locust for a wristband to allow you to participate. Vino in the Village will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

HISTORIC EAST VILLAGE BOARD ELECTED

The annual meeting of the Historic East Village Board was held June 25, with the election of officers taking place July 30. New officers and board members follow. President, Sarah Oltrogge, State Historical Museum; Vice President, Nita Allen, Colores; Treasurer, Nancy Wilson, House of Bricks and Secretary, Abra Pulley, Pulley Chiropractic. Also on the board for the 2007-2008 year are Lisa Howard, East Village resident/Burnett Realty; Kathy Holden, resident/The Dog Barkery; Brent Houzenga, The Village Bean; Bob Eikelberry, Blazing Saddle; Sgt. Mark Schleugar, Des Moines Downtown Police Liaison Officer; Phil Parrott, Durant; Mike Draper, SMASH; Kit Curran, Winefest; Mike Kintner, Kintner Construction and Brian Smith, Blazing Saddle.

WELLS FARGO WORLD FOOD FESTIVAL

Adventuresome and up for trying new foods? Proud of Iowa's cultural heritage and all it brings to the state? Want to see some great free entertainment? If you answered yes to any of these, you'll want to mark your calendar for the 2007 Wells Fargo World Food Festival, on Oct. 5-7, 2007, in the East Village. This free Festival, presented by Wells Fargo and sponsored by Pioneer, will celebrate the rich cultural heritages in the State of Iowa through a wide variety of ethnic foods.

The Wells Fargo World Food Festival features a wide variety of cultural cafés highlighting culinary delights from across the globe. All food selections cost $5 or less, and you can also try tastes from around the world with $1 samples offered at each cultural café. Don't miss live strolling music and entertainers, a global marketplace, cooking demonstrations and an international beer tent. For updated information on the Wells Fargo World Food Festival visit www.wfwff.org.

GET IN TOUCH WITH THE ARTS

From art galleries to museums to performance venues to restaurants and coffee shops, you'll have an opportunity to experience the arts during ArtSTOP, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 7 and 8.

The venues are located throughout the metro in seven areas, four of which are part of the designated Cultural and Entertainment Districts, including East Village and the Court Avenue District Downtown. Shuttle service will be available between venues, offering participants an opportunity to hop off and hop on at locations they choose. ArtSTOP will run from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7 and from 11a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8. For more information, call 280-3222.

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP PLANS CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

The Principal Financial Group plans to open the Principal Child Development Center in the fall of 2008, and will offer services to approximately 180 children ages six weeks to four years.

Located on the corner of 8th and Park Streets, the building will be one of the first "green" facilities in Des Moines, based on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System - the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

The Principal Child Development Center will provide high-quality early childhood development for children of Principal Financial Group employees. Bright Horizons Family Solutions will manage the center, and will feature a curriculum that emphasizes the development of each child's physical, intellectual, social and emotional well-being.

"Offering onsite childcare is something The Principal can do to make a difference at a critical time in employees' lives," said J. Barry Griswell, chairman and CEO of the Principal Financial Group. "This benefit is an extension of our commitment to help all employees balance their personal lives with their professional commitments."

Directly east of the Principal Child Development Center, The Principal will build a new 1,800-space employee parking ramp. The structure is designed to connect by skywalk to the company's Corporate Four building.

URBAN PIONEER - BROOKE AVILA

Simple pleasures. Brooke Avila has discovered an abundance of them since moving into her loft in downtown Des Moines. Getting to sleep in later and walking to her job at Meredith is one of her favorites. While her co-workers are waking up early and battling rush hour traffic, Brooke is buying her morning coffee and enjoying a leisurely walk to work, even during the winter.

In fact, the hassles of rush hour traffic are what led to Brooke's decision to make downtown Des Moines her home. Commuting from her former home in Waukee took 20 to 30 minutes or even longer with the construction on I-235. Now, she rarely uses her car – buying about one tank of gas each month. She appreciates driving more now that she's not chained to her car and she giggled when explaining that when she does use it "It's like going for a Sunday drive".

Brooke absolutely adores her loft. Being one of the first in her building allowed her to make some design choices to better suit her lifestyle. She appreciated the fact that she got to be part of the construction process and was able to make some important decisions concerning the layout of her loft. Other perks, like a 10-year tax abatement, helped to assure Brooke that she had made the right decision.

One of the simplest pleasures for Brooke is the garbage shoot in her building. She's forgotten what ‘trash day' means because she can dispose of her trash anytime she wants. Not having to do other mundane tasks like mowing the lawn or shoveling snow has given Brooke more free time, which she fills by working out at Gym F/X and serving as the Social Chair for the Downtown Neighborhood Association.

Brooke and her friends love to take advantage of the variety of entertainment options that downtown has to offer. They usually start at her loft and then walk to their favorite hang-outs like The Liar's Club, Azaleas and Zen. She says she feels very safe walking around downtown at night because there are so many people out enjoying the night life.

She also enjoys being so close to the Downtown Farmers' Market during the summer. "On weekends, it's nice to hear the hustle and bustle of the street," Brooke says. "It makes you want to get up and join the world and see what's happening out there."

Brooke has found that whether you want to sleep in a little longer before work, save money on gas and property taxes, or just toss your trash down a garbage shoot whenever you want - living in downtown Des Moines has many simple pleasures to offer.