The Downtown Farmers’ Market will once again extend the regular farmers’ market season into November and December with a Harvest Farmers’ Market and a Winter Farmers’ Market.
The 2nd Annual Downtown Harvest Farmers’ Market and the Downtown Winter Farmers’ Market will be located inside Capital Square and outdoors at Nollen Plaza, 400 Locust Street, on Saturday, Nov. 17 and Saturday, Dec. 15, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
“Last year the two additional markets proved to be very successful for our vendors and patrons. These Markets provide an opportunity for farmers and specialty food vendors, as well as local artist and crafters, to continue to sell their local product directly to enthusiastic farmers’ market customers beyond the normal farmers’ market season,” explains Kelly Foss, director of the Downtown Farmers’ Market. “Many of our farmers’ market producers are getting very creative while working to extend their growing season; many also plan to sell value added product that they would not normally consider.”
The Downtown Harvest and Winter Farmers’ Market are a perfect opportunity for folks to stock up for holiday meals, parties, and gift giving. Farmers will be selling a variety of locally raised eggs, beef, pork, duck, turkeys, holiday hams, and, of course, produce - there will be a variety of late season and greenhouse produce available. Shoppers can also expect to find an abundance of fresh homemade products including locally produced honey, jams, salsa, wine, cheese, soy nuts, homemade noodles, baked breads, pies and cinnamon rolls. Market patrons will also find beautiful winter flowers such as poinsettias, fresh cut Christmas trees, hand-made holiday ornaments and home decorations at these festive farmers markets.
The heart of the Downtown Harvest and Winter Farmers’ Markets is a celebration of local food. Patrons will also enjoy the market ambiance created especially to celebrate harvest, winter, and the holiday season. The farmers’ markets will features a wide variety of holiday activities for the entire family, including musicians playing holiday music, strolling carolers, and artist demonstrations, kids’ activities and more.
Looking for the perfect gift for that hard to buy person? Gift giving just got easier. Now you have the option to give the gift of Downtown. The Downtown Community Alliance is offering a gift card for Downtown Des Moines. After the Thanksgiving holiday, the cards will be available for purchase in any denomination at the DCA office located at 700 Locust Street and online at www.downtowndesmoines.com. This new gift card allows the receiver to shop, eat, and entertain at more than 50 different stores in Downtown. Here is just a sample of some of the great places you can use the card:
A.J.'s Popcorn and Snacks Accenti AK O'Connors Aimee Alexander's Coffee Shop Amici Espresso Artdive Arte Gallery Atelier/hairspace Beckley Automotive Services Brenton Skating Plaza Carlton Cards Centro Civic Center of Greater Des Moines Colores Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Co. Des Moines Botanical Center Domino's Pizza eden el Bait Shop From Our Hands Gong Fu Tea Hammer Pharmacy High Life Lounge Hotel Fort Des Moines inPlay Iowa Cubs Iowa Cubs Cub Club Iowa Diamond JNK Wears Kitchen Collage Legends People's Raccoon River Brewing Co. River Bend Trading Company Sally's Old Fashioned Hamburgers Salon W Science Center of Iowa & Blank IMAX Dome Theater Simply For Giggles SMASH South Union Bread Co. Spaghetti Works Splash! Seafood Bar and Grill Tafts The Atlantean The Book Store The Grand Piano Bistro The House of Bricks The Royal Mile The Stadium - FANtastic Sports Apparel The Stadium Grill & Bar The Temple for Performing Arts Tiji Salon Tumea & Sons West End Architectural Salvage Wine Etc. Zzz Records
More businesses are being added daily. Call 286-4919 if you have any questions or would like more information.
What if… You could hop on a shuttle or streetcar and go from your office near Gateway Park to lunch in the East Village? You could live downtown and walk to a playground or find a place to garden or a court to shoot hoops? You could train for RAGBRAI, then ride around downtown on bike lanes looking for a cool refreshment? You could show all of downtown’s public art to a friend from out-of-town, then take her to see your new painting hobby in the artists’ studio that you lease? You could tell your clients how to easily navigate the skywalk system AND find their way to the sidewalks? You could walk through a buzz of activity and under tree canopies between dinner on Court Avenue and a Wells Fargo Arena event or Civic Center show? You could park at the end of shuttle line and let the shuttle take you to the Arts Festival, then shopping in East Village, and finally to relax on Court Avenue, before heading back to your car? You could launch your canoe in the Des Moines River at Birdland Marina and spend the afternoon paddling by a concert at Simon Estes amphitheater, under the downtown bridges, past a ballgame at Principal Park to the Raccoon River and Gray’s Lake?
These possibilities (and many more) are proposed as a part of the current downtown planning effort. The Plan’s executive summary was presented to the project Steering Committee, City Council, and County Board of Supervisors late in the summer. With the goal of familiarizing people with the plan’s proposals and gathering thoughts about the proposals, a final public input meeting was held at the Central Library on Sept. 18. Nearly 200 people offered their ideas and, armed with this input, writing and assembly of the final report has begun. Public meeting #3 materials and the executive summary are available at: www.downtowndesmoines.com Input continues to be welcome: planinput@downtowndesmoines.com.
After several months of work by Agrest and Gandelsonas in New York and Erin Olson-Douglas in Des Moines, three public town hall meeting sessions, many meetings with stakeholders, community leaders, and the project’s steering committee, the downtown planning project is now in its final stage. Look for a draft of the final report at the end of 2007.
CONGRATULATIONS, SCOTT CARLSON - RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR
The Iowa Restaurant Association selected Scott Carlson, owner of Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Co., as its 2007 Restaurateur of the Year. Scott was honored at the association's Celebrating Excellence gala. Court Avenue Brewing Company was also selected as one of two state recipients of the Association’s Restaurant Neighbor Award. The award highlights community service achievements in the Iowa restaurant industry.
“This award honors the restaurant owner or manager who shows originality, quality, and service to customers. Scott Carlson is successful in the eyes of his fellow operators, employees, and community,” said Doni DeNucci, president and CEO for the Iowa Restaurant Association. “Scott operates one of downtown Des Moines’ best restaurants, but he also shares his time with the community and the industry.”
Scott has spent his entire life studying the hospitality industry. His family moved nine times across three continents during his formative years. They often stayed for months at a time in beautiful hotels, particularly while living and working in Europe. “It never took me long to get to know the banquet team at the hotel and convince them to let me tail them through their days,” Scott recalls. Opening a restaurant was an obvious choice for Scott who later studied Hotel and Restaurant Management at Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA and then business at Drake in Des Moines.
Scott worked with a number of Des Moines area restaurants prior to becoming owner of Court Ave. Restaurant and Brewing Company in 2001. He is also an active member of the community, serving for more than 10 years in various positions on the Iowa Restaurant Association Board, as well as on the Court Avenue District Association, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Downtown Council, Downtown Community Alliance, and the Chamber of Commerce.
Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Co. is located at 309 Court Avenue.
The cold weather has arrived and that means ice skating season is almost here. Wintertime skating at the Brenton Skating Plaza offers days of figure eights, hot cocoa, and unforgettable moments. The Skating plaza is set to open on Nov. 16 offering public skating, lessons, parties and events and private rentals. The Brenton Skating Plaza, the areas only open-air skating rink, is located on the Principal Riverwalk at East First and Locust Streets.
Kick off your holiday shopping season Friday, Nov. 16 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the annual East Village Holiday Promenade. You’ll get in the holiday spirit as you stroll down East Locust, East 4th, East 5th and East Grand and marvel at the festive lighting and ornamentation. Visit the one of a kind retail stores that will be open late and sharing their hospitality with food, drink and music. Stop and listen to the carolers as they serenade with traditional Christmas music. You might even catch a glimpse of Santa and his reindeer. And, the State Historical Museum will be hosting Chili for Charity from 5 to 8 p.m. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Visit www.eastvillagedesmoines.com.
It’s the holiday season and Downtown Des Moines will soon be ready for the festivities. Plans are currently underway to prepare Downtown for all the visitors, residents and workers that will be shopping; dining and attending holiday shows this season.
Holiday decorating plans include lighting the trees along Gateway West Park. In addition, the trees that line the street on Locust will be lit in the East Village as well as Court Avenue. The parking meters between the Meredith Campus on the West and the State Capitol on the East will be wrapped in garland and ribbon. Finally, holiday greenery will be added to the planters as the mums and fall colors fade. The planters will be filled with greenery and berries, which provide a beautiful contrast and backdrop against the snow.
Brenton Skating Plaza will be decorated with Holiday Trees and become alive with skaters who will make the opening part of their family tradition. Riverwalk Development Authority reported that 32,000 skaters used Brenton Skating Plaza throughout the season.
Daily updates and photos on lighting progress will be posted to our Downtown Community Alliance website www.downtowndesmoines.com
We hope that you plan on bringing your family downtown to enjoy the lights, greenery and holiday décor as you shop, dine and celebrate winter in Downtown.
It’s Friday night…. Why go home when you can tailgate! The Iowa Stars have partnered with The Royal Mile, High Life Lounge, El Bait Shop, Hessen Haus, and Buzzard Billy’s to bring you Stars and Bars!, the best pregame tailgate in town. Enjoy food and drink specials as well as merchandise giveaways at all five Stars and Bars locations. These establishments, located in the Court Avenue District of downtown Des Moines, are each a stop on the Stars & Bars party bus line. All bars will have vouchers available for patrons who have yet to purchase a ticket. Anyone with an Iowa Stars game ticket or voucher can ride the bus between bars as well as to and from Wells Fargo Arena at no charge. Vouchers can be exchanged for tickets at the Stars and Bars ticket window located at the Southwest end of Wells Fargo Arena.
12 CHANCES TO TAILGATE Nov. 16, 30 Dec. 21, 28 Jan. 11, 18, and 25 Feb. 1, 8, and 22 March 28 April 4
Bus Schedule: To Arena @ 6:15 RM, 6:25HH, 6:35HL, 6:45BB To Arena @ 6:55 RM, 7:05HH, 7:15HL, 7:25BB The first bus will depart Wells Fargo Arena at the start of the third period and loop every 20-25 minutes (RM, HH, HL, BB, Arena). The last bus will depart approximately 15 minutes after the game has ended.
RM = Royal Mile HH = Hessen Haus HL = High Life Lounge/El Bait Shop BB = Buzzard Billy’s
Whiteline Lofts residential development invites you to make your lifestyle vision a reality.Kinzler Companies, Walters Companies and Ryan Companies worked together to renovate the 91-year old warehouse to offer premier, luxurious metropolitan living for most any budget.The lofts are located across from the Science Center of Iowa at the corner of MLK Parkway and SW 5th Street, nestled in the heart of downtown Des Moines.
The lofts range from 550 square foot units to 4,000 square foot penthouses and feature distinguished panoramic city views, state-of-the-art amenities and a 100% 10-year tax abatement.The project is a fine example of how the downtown area has re-energized its industrial past to bring about a vibrant present, making the downtown area an outstanding place to live, work and play.
Residents find themselves within a short walk of the Farmers’ Market, exciting entertainment options, outstanding events and some of Des Moines’ finest dining. Other perks for loft owners include close proximity to downtown businesses, the Principal Riverwalk, PrincipalPark, Grey’s Lake and a network of bike paths, as well as easy access to I-235.
The lofts start at $127,900 and feature access to a state-of-the-art fitness center in addition to concierge service, floor-to-ceiling windows, private patios or balconies, rooftop access, in-floor radiant heating, and a generous amount of dedicated green space.
The penthouses on the building’s 9th floor are priced just over $1.3 million and include 270-degree views of the downtown area, privately keyed elevator access, an elegantly appointed lobby, double door entrances, and heated in-building parking.
All lofts are customizable to each owner’s needs thanks to access to top contractors and interior designers that turn an owner’s ideas into reality.Whiteline Lofts in downtown Des Moines have proven that they are more than capable of helping urban residents realize their lifestyle vision.
For more information or for a private tour, please call the Iowa Realty Project Directors, John Stark at 515.453.5861 and Wendy Fielder at 515.453.6739
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SPECIAL DISCOUNTS FROM THE IOWA EVENTS CENTER
Do you want to save money on your tickets to events at the Iowa Events Center? As a friend of Downtown Des Moines, the Iowa Events Center is offering special discounts for the Celtic Women show.
Celtic Women will be at Wells Fargo Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 14. This smash hit from around the globe, with the 19-member group featuring four gorgeous sopranos and a spirited fiddle player, is capturing the hearts of fans across the country on a whirlwind tour of North America. Their critically acclaimed new television special, CELTIC WOMAN-- A NEW JOURNEY, filmed live from Slane Castle in Ireland, is a blockbuster on PBS. Now, Celtic Woman is coming to Des Moines for one performance only, to perform their unique renditions of Irish standards, classical favorites and contemporary hits! It promises to be a live concert event that you’ll never forget. You can save $10 when you buy the $48 tickets. (Other ticket prices are not discounted) Just use the promotional code “CWMMC” to receive this discount. All tickets must be purchased by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12.
Buy your tickets today at www.dahlstickets.com or stop by the ticket office at the Wells Fargo Arena. Watch our newsletters for more deals from the Iowa Events Center.
Jeff Sherwood has been with Operation Downtown since April 2005 and works as a cleaning ambassador. He is instrumental in keeping our downtown clean and beautiful. Jeff operates some of the larger cleaning equipment utilized by OD but it’s not uncommon to see him out working on the street with a lobby-pan and broom, greeting pedestrians with a smile. He works special events such as Downtown Farmers’ Market, Skywalk Golf and lends a hand with East Village events.
During his time off Jeff enjoys spend time with his family and close friends and also enjoys riding his bike all year round.
Dos Rios, an upscale Mexican restaurant on Court Avenue, opened the first part of October. This new restaurant offers traditional Mexican favorites with a contemporary flair including freshly made tortillas, tableside guacamole and 200 brands of tequila. Dos Rios is located at 316 Court Avenue and is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights you can enjoy "Dos Rios de Noche", a line up of great Mexican musical talent that takes over the dining area at 9 p.m. and transforms it into an entertaining lounge vibe.
East Village Books also opened the doors in October. This new locally owned bookstore is located at 510 East Locust in the Historic East Village. East Village Books is a full-line bookstore offering new release titles, classics, local and regional authors, children’s books and much more. They also carry music CDs and box sets, gifts and artwork from local and regional artists. Watch our website for in-store visiting authors and readings. The store hours are Monday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Colder weather has arrived and that means the crows have found their way back to downtown. The cluster of buildings downtown provides a warmth that the crows enjoy in the cold weather. In an effort to persuade the crows to find a different place to roost, Operation Downtown has launched a task force to move the crows out of downtown. The crew uses different movement tactics like red laser lights and pyrotechnics to get the birds to leave downtown during the early morning hours and late into evening. If you have any questions, please call Operation Downtown at 202-9615.
When your 6’7” or 6’5”, it’s not always easy to be comfortable. Finding stylish, well fitting clothing or a car with ample leg room can be a daunting challenge. Therefore, Joe and Mike, were thrilled when they found the Brownstones on Grand while house hunting not long ago.
The two had hoped to build a house near downtown but found it virtually impossible to find the type of location they desired. They looked at many of the living options the downtown area offered and chose the Brownstones on Grand because the builder, Hubbell, allowed them to make a number of upgrades and customizations more befitting to their unique verticality.
Both praise Hubbell for the builder’s willingness to accommodate their wishes, including higher kitchen counters and bathroom vanities. Because they bought early in the construction process, Joe and Mike were also able to choose their cabinets, flooring and colors. Hubbell’s standard 9’ ceilings and arched doorways were also welcome features being as tall as they are. One of their favorite customizations was a wine lounge where they host monthly wine tastings for their friends.
Joe and Mike moved into their brownstone on July 2 and the two are very excited about the energy the downtown area now exudes. Their friends appreciate the generous amount of available parking when they visit during such events as the World Food Festival, Wine Fest and the Des Moines Marathon. In their free time, the duo frequent inPlay with Joe’s teenaged son, shop at the Farmers’ Market and catch as many concerts as they can at the Simon Estes Amphitheater. Some of their favorite haunts include the Continental, Doozies, Raccoon River Brewing Company, Ban Thai and many of the restaurants on Court Avenue.
Joe had recently moved here from Las Vegas, and although he misses the warm winters, he is excited about living in a clean and progressive city that displays an appreciation for culture and art. In fact, he loves the way the windows in their brownstone frame the Capitol like a beautiful piece of art, especially at sunrise. Mike, who had been living in the Beaverdale area, appreciates not having to shovel during the winter and mow during the summer. Each says a favorite spot is the rooftop garden, which was a ‘must have’ during their home search. They spend a lot of time there and enjoy watching some ‘unbelievable’ fireworks displays and hanging out with neighbors.
Despite having a two-car garage, the two found that they spend most of their leisure time downtown and, therefore, need only one car. Mike enjoys a short walk to his job at Principal so the extra stall in the garage has become a spacious storage area.
Joe and Mike are very pleased with the investment they made by purchasing their home at the Brownstones on Grand. They are confident that when or if they decide to move, they will get great resale value for their three bedroom, three-and-a-half bath unit. When asked where they would go next, they said most likely another Brownstone in the same development!
The Downtown Farmers’ Market will once again extend the regular farmers’ market season into November and December with a Harvest Farmers’ Market and a Winter Farmers’ Market. 
“This award honors the restaurant owner or manager who shows originality, quality, and service to customers. Scott Carlson is successful in the eyes of his fellow operators, employees, and community,” said Doni DeNucci, president and CEO for the Iowa Restaurant Association. “Scott operates one of downtown Des Moines’ best restaurants, but he also shares his time with the community and the industry.”
Public skating hours:
Jeff Sherwood has been with Operation Downtown since April 2005 and works as a cleaning ambassador. He is instrumental in keeping our downtown clean and beautiful. Jeff operates some of the larger cleaning equipment utilized by OD but it’s not uncommon to see him out working on the street with a lobby-pan and broom, greeting pedestrians with a smile. He works special events such as Downtown Farmers’ Market, Skywalk Golf and lends a hand with East Village events.
During his time off Jeff enjoys spend time with his family and close friends and also enjoys riding his bike all year round. 
