FRIENDS DON’T LET FRIENDS GOLF IN THE SNOW

Mark your calendar and register now for the 23rd-annual Skywalk Open Golf Tournament on Feb. 9, 2008! This wintertime celebration in the skywalks of downtown Des Moines is a fun and unique way to spend time with family, friends and co-workers. Visit www.skywalkgolf.com and click Sign Up to register today.

Registration is available in three divisions: singles, doubles and foursomes, and costs $25 per golfer from today through Jan. 26, 2008, and $30 per golfer from Jan. 27-Feb. 8, 2008.

All you need is a putter and we provide a zany miniature golf course, souvenir golf ball, and long-sleeved t-shirt. The event consists of three 18-hole miniature golf courses, plus one bonus hole on each course, laid out in the downtown skywalk system. Each year, these courses are built in one day with each hole sponsored and creatively designed by a local business. The day’s events wrap up with entertainment, refreshments, and more fun and games at the 19th Hole. 

Volunteer opportunities are also available; visit www.skywalkgolf.com and click Volunteer to learn more. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Stephen King at (515) 286-4927.

GET TO THE GAME

Have you experienced the fun and excitement of an Iowa Stars Game yet? Want to win tickets?  The Downtown Community Alliance is giving away two sets of tickets (including a preferred parking pass) to an upcoming Iowa Stars game. Click here to send an email telling us why you haven’t been to a game by Friday, Jan. 18 for your chance to win. Two winners will be selected. Besides the great action on the ice and the fun atmosphere – here are two more reasons you should go…

Stars and Bars
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 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.

Only 8 more chances to tailgate!
o Jan. 11, 18, and 25
o Feb. 1, 8, and 22
o March 28
o April 4

Happy Hour and $1 Beer Night
Join Iowa Stars fans in the Principal River’s Edge Restaurant from 5:30 – 7 p.m. before every weekday home game for Happy Hour specials. On Jan. 19, enjoy $1 beer night. The $1 beer promotion applies to draft beer only and will cease at the beginning of 2nd period.
Buy your tickets today at www.iowastarshockey.com

FAN FEST RETURNS TO DOWNTOWN DES MOINES

If you’re a baseball lover, you won’t want to miss the 2008 Iowa Cubs Fan Fest.  Fan Fest kicks off with the “First Pitch Luncheon” featuring keynote speaker Hall-of-Famer Tony Gwynn at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 11 at Hy-Vee Hall.  Fan Fest continues at Hy-Vee Hall where members of the Baseball Hall-of-Fame and current baseball players will be on hand to greet fans and sign autographs on Friday and Saturday.   Hours for Fan Fest will be from 4 - 8 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday. For a complete list of players and the Fan Fest schedule visit www.iowacubs.com.

Admission is $8.50 for adults and children 13 and under will be admitted free.  Additional fees will be charged for some players’ autographs, with some restrictions on items autographed.  Tickets are available by calling the Iowa Cubs office at 515-243-6111 or can be ordered online at www.iowacubs.com.

JOHNNY’S HALL OF FAME UNDERGOES MAJOR RENOVATIONS

Look forward to a new and improved Johnny’s Hall of Fame in 2008. Johnny’s closed today to undergo major renovations, but don’t worry, owner Hubbell Realty plans to reopen in March. The restaurant and bar has been a staple in downtown Des Moines for 45 years.

Some of the major changes to this favorite downtown spot include: a modernized interior that remains faithful to the traditional sports bar theme, new big screen televisions throughout, and windows replacing air conditioning units on the building’s eastern side. Architect Greg Wattier of GE Wattier Architects took the lead on updating the building’s look and feel, including the exterior, which will fit in more with the surrounding buildings. Hubbell purchased Johnny’s Hall of Fame in May 2006 while developing the apartments located upstairs.

“With all of the positive changes happening in the Court Avenue District, we knew that the time was right to give Johnny’s a makeover,” said Hubbell Realty Company president and CEO Rick Tollakson. “We hope to see everyone at the grand reopening celebration in March.”

Court District (formerly know as Court Avenue District) has undergone a renaissance in the last two years with the construction of new restaurants, nightclubs, apartments, lofts and condos.

DOWNTOWN GIFT CARD - NOT JUST FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Now you can give the gift of Downtown anytime of the year with the new Downtown gift card. Good at more than 85 places Downtown, this is the perfect gift for just about anyone. Buy your Downtown gift card online at www.downtowndesmoines.com or visit our office at 700 Locust Street, Suite 100. Need more information? Call 515-286-4919.

NOW OPEN…

Miyabi 9 a new Japanese restaurant is now open in the East Village. Miyabi 9 specializes in sushi, but offers a full menu sure to please any palate.  This new restaurant is open Monday – Saturday from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. and is located at 512 E. Grand Ave, just east of the Grand Piano Bistro, in the East Village.

MARKETPLACE LOFTS NOW RENTING

Urban living has come to Des Moines and you now have the opportunity to live right on Court Avenue. MarketPlace Lofts, a new 52-unit apartment building has opened and is now leasing.
Located next door to Spaghetti Works on the corner of 4th and Court, the apartment building features a fitness center, community room, and your choice of onsite or in-unit laundry. The hottest Mexican restaurant in town, Dos Rios Cantina and Tequila Lounge, is on the first floor and parking is available for residents. The apartments are close to everything you do … work, relax, play . . . it’s all nearby. For more information on the MarketPlace Lofts click here.

IOWA BARNSTORMERS RETURN TO DES MOINES

Arena football returns to Des Moines this spring as the Iowa Barnstormers take flight.  The Barnstormers play 8 home games from April through July at Wells Fargo Arena.  The home schedule kicks off when Monday Night Football comes to Des Moines on Monday, April 14 at 7:05 p.m.  Season tickets are on sale now for as low as $80 per seat.  For more information call (515) 633-BALL or log onto www.theiowabarnstormers.com

'THE CAPITOL STEPS' TO HEADLINE PARTNERSHIP'S 119TH ANNUAL DINNER

A troupe of Congressional Staffers-turned-comedians called The Capitol Steps will headline the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s 119th Annual Dinner, Thursday, January 10, 2008, at Hy-Vee Hall at the Iowa Events Center, 730 Third St., downtown.  The evening program also will include the passing of the leadership gavel from the 2007 Greater Des Moines Partnership Chair, Jim Cownie of JSC Properties, Inc., to the 2008 Chair, Steve Lacy of Meredith Corporation.

The Partnership’s annual dinner includes a social hour beginning at 5:30 p.m., and the dinner and program beginning at 6:30 p.m. Center stage seating is $150 per person or $1,500 per table, and general seating is $125 per person or $1,250 per table.

The reservation deadline is January 3, 2008. Seating assignments will be made and tickets will be mailed as paid reservations are received. Refunds cannot be made for cancellations after January 4, 2008. Tickets can be purchased through the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Questions about ticket purchases may be directed to Rebecca Batcheller at (515) 286-4980 or rbatcheller@desmoinesmetro.com.

A full bio and photo of the Capitol Steps is available at www.desmoinesmetro.com/annualdinner.

HEAT THINGS UP DOWNTOWN

The weather might be cold, but that is no reason to stay home. Downtown is alive and full of fun things to do for everyone in January. Check out our Calendar of Events for a complete list of great things to do Downtown.

BUILDER SPOTLIGHT - GATEWAY LOFTS

The downtown rental market continues to be hot and you're thinking about making the move to downtown but are afraid of the commitment required to purchase a loft or condo, look into a downtown rental option…Gateway Lofts.  Located at 1719 Grand Avenue in the Western Gateway, Gateway Lofts feature 80 distinctive units that range in size from 850 square feet to 1,960 square feet.  Rent currently runs from $970 to $2,690 per month.

Gateway Lofts feature beautiful, open floor plans with 12' to 20' ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and clean modern lines.  The first level provides climate-controlled indoor parking to shield residents from the seasonal elements.  The second level contains 40 single level units while the third level is home to 40 units that include a mezzanine level with skylights.

High efficiency lighting, heating and cooling systems and a recycling program that utilizes convenient on-site recycling collection areas highlight the eco-friendly appeal of these true urban lofts.  The interiors feature exposed ceilings, quality construction, unique raw finishes and stainless steel appliances.  The generous, open spaces allow residents more flexibility in creating their own unique living space.  Each loft comes equipped with a washer and dryer while the trash shoots located on each floor allow residents to dispose of trash at their convenience.

Gateway Lofts offer easy access to venues such as Wells Fargo Arena, The Civic Center, the new public library, Principal Park, The Science Center of Iowa, The Principal Riverwalk, Grey's Lake and some of Des Moines' finest dining.  The lofts also offer a great, convenient location for those who work downtown, eliminating stressful commutes from the suburbs.  Less time spent commuting, mowing and shoveling means more time for residents to spend time doing the things they enjoy.

If you're ready to join the vibrant, emerging downtown community but not ready to commit to a mortgage, look into renting one of the stylish and affordable units at Gateway Lofts.  For more information about Gateway Lofts, visit www.GatewayLoftsDM.com or call 515-280-1962.

URBAN PIONEER - ERIC HEMESATH

This former Beaverdale resident has called downtown Des Moines home for over two years and has seen a lot of change in that time.  "Downtown is much more alive," says Eric.  "Now at night I see people walking their dogs, heading to the grocery store or just walking to dinner."  He says the biggest reason he decided to move downtown was for convenience.  "It's so nice to be able to walk everywhere", adds Eric, "whether it's to work or restaurants or bars."

What Eric likes most about his loft is the location which affords him easy access to a number of downtown venues.  He counts the generous space, high ceilings, and huge windows that allow an abundance of natural light as other favorite aspects of his loft.  Not having to mow a lawn or shovel a driveway or even perform maintenance such as fixing furnaces or plumbing add to Eric's enjoyment of urban living.

Eric feels safe in his neighborhood and says his neighbors are very nice and interesting people.  "If you're bored, there is always something to do just down the street," offers Eric.  He recommends the Spicy Thai Fried Noodles and BBQ Chicken Pizza at the Raccoon River Brewery and he says the High Life Lounge offers great comfort food - especially the meatloaf.

Eric is also proud to be a member of the Young Variety of Iowa, a charitable organization working to improve the lives of underprivileged, at risk and special needs children.  "It's a great organization to be a member of," boasts Eric. "They love to have fun and help kids and they sponsor quite a few downtown events."

Like many people, Eric wasn't sure if living downtown would be right for him.  But he soon found that the convenience and variety of urban living suited him just fine.  So, while Eric is unsure of what the future holds, he is sure that the present involves a healthy dose of the urban lifestyle permeating through Des Moines' revitalized downtown area today.