HIT THE LINKS AT SKYWALK GOLF

It's not too late to get in on the fun at 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. All you need is a putter and we provide a zany miniature golf course, souvenir golf ball, and long-sleeved t-shirt. Once you've completed a round of golf, wrap up the day with entertainment, refreshments, and more fun and games at the 19th Hole.  Registration is available in three divisions: singles, doubles and foursomes. Cost is $30 per golfer.  Register today at www.skywalkgolf.com.

INDULGE IN CHOCOLATE

SAY I LOVE (OR JUST LIKE) YOU WITH A DOWNTOWN GIFT CARD

Take the guess work out of your Valentines Day shopping this year by purchasing a Downtown Gift Card for your sweetheart. With more than 85 Downtown places to spend it, this is one gift they are sure to love. Resturants, sporting events, theater, nightclubs, shopping -  part of the fun is on deciding on where to spend it. Click here to purchase a Downtown Gift Card online or stop by our office located at 700 Locust Street, Suite 100, Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. For a complete list of places to spend the Downtown Gift Card, click here.
 

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: PURE PAPER

Welcome to Downtown Pure Paper. We recently sat down with Barb Niccum owner of Pure Paper to learn more about her business.

What is Pure Paper?
Pure Paper carries specialty handmade paper and stationary from all over the world.  We specialize in fully custom wedding, party, and birth announcements.  Pure Paper also does custom graphic design for small company logos.

Where can you find Pure Paper?
Pure Paper recently moved from Windsor Heights.  We are now located in the East Village at 412 East 6th Street, next to Gong Fu Tea. We are so excited to be here and the space is great. Our store feels right at home in the East Village.

What other types of services do you offer?
Pure Paper offers many services from announcements to personalized gift-wrappings to custom boxes.  Pure paper is great for private parties designed for instructions on creative card making ideas. 

What are your store hours?
 

Monday-Thursday,
10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

Friday & Saturday,
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday,
closed

What to watch for…
Pure Paper is holding a Grand Opening Event on Feb. 2 from 4-8 p.m.  There will be champagne, cupcakes and live music.  Join Pure Paper and start personalizing your message.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to the following businesses on their recent achievements. You make Downtown Des Moines a better place to live, work and play.

The Principal Financial Group Ranks 21st on the FORTUNE "100 Best Companies to Work For"

The Principal Financial Group ranks 21st on FORTUNE magazine's 2008 list of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" (up from number 77 in 2007). This is the sixth consecutive year The Principal® has placed on the prestigious list of employers. The Principal is the only company on this year's FORTUNE 100 list based in Iowa. Learn more about Principal Financial Group at www.principal.com.
 

Pollstar Magazine Ranks Civic Center of Greater Des Moines in the Top 15 Theaters in the World

Pollstar magazine has released its list of the top 100 theater venues for 2007, and the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines moved up to the #14 position on the worldwide list by selling 208,250 tickets for 2007 – ahead of other Midwest theaters such as the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis (#16), and the Fabulous Fox Theater in St. Louis (#25) and the Fox Theatre in Detroit (#37).  The Civic Center ranked at #15 on Pollstar’s list for 2006. Check out what's new at the Civic Center at www.civiccenter.org.

Art Fair Source Book Ranks Des Moines Arts Festival 7th in Nation in Artist Sales

Greg Lawler's Art fair Source Book includes art fair listings, craft show listings, and festival listings for the 600 top-selling events with detailed critiques and sales-based ratings  Des Moines Arts Festival returns to Western Gateway Park  June 27 - 29.  Find out more about the Arts Festival at www.desmoinesartsfestival.org.

CONGRATULATIONS TO DON HOSEK, WINNER OF THE REST YOUR CAR QUARTERLY TRIP GIVEAWAY

Don Hosek commutes to downtown where he works for the Social Security Administration.  He first began logging his commutes on Rest Your Car in 2005 and has since saved more than 7,500 miles.

“I started joined Rest Your Car because of my mom,” Don said.  “She decided to participate, so she told me about it and I signed up.  I've put my number in each day I ride the bus or carpool with someone.”

Rest Your Car is a quick and easy way for commuters to track the miles they save by biking, walking, taking the bus, or carpooling to work.  Participants are also eligible for monthly drawings of $20 and $150 Downtown Gift Cards – and of course the Quarterly Trip Giveaway.

“I plan to take my family to visit my wife’s family in Oregon and Washington,” said the father of four. “We had talked about how we were going to afford to get all six of us out there.  Now we can thanks to Rest Your Car!”

MEET LYNDA OVERTON - OPERATION DOWNTOWN

Lynda Overton is a cleaning ambassador for Operation Downtown. She started working for Operation Downtown in December 2005.  Lynda primarily works outside sweeping and cleaning sidewalks, curbs and picking up large debris. She enjoys making contacts with visitors and giving directions. Lynda also assists with special events such as; Juvenile Diabetes Walk, The Zone, and Farmers' Market. Prior to working for Operation Downtown, she worked for the city assisting with the maintenance of the planters throughout downtown.

During her time away from work Lynda enjoys the Knoxville races, traveling on the weekends, and trips to Branson Missouri. She also likes gardening and going to the Iowa Cubs and Iowa Stars games.

OPERATION DOWNTOWN UPDATE

Crow Patrol

Operation Downtown has worked nearly every night this winter to ensure that crows don’t find downtown a comfortable place to roost in the evenings.  Dawn Konen and Scot Blanchard, Operation Downtown employees, use non-lethal and safe methods to move the crows out of the downtown.  This intervention with the crows helps to keep the sidewalks, windows and cars clean.
 

Spring is Near
Operation Downtown is busy planning for the spring planting in 2008.  As soon as the ground thaws and the temperatures stay above freezing at night, a spring planting will be underway.  Look for traditional plantings with bright hot pink and purple colors.
 

Sidewalk Power Washing
Operation Downtown Ambassadors will begin power washing sidewalks downtown as soon as temperatures get above freezing.   Winter is a challenging time to keep the walks clean,  so work will begin in th spring to remove the sand and salt as well as bird droppings off the walks.

Walk Your Butt to the Can
Just a reminder that cigarette butts are litter too. Please use the ash urns on the trash cans throughout downtown when disposing your cigaretter litter. Walking your butt to the can helps keep downtown clean and beautiful.

GATHER YOUR FRIENDS AND GET TO A GAME

Iowa Stars Hockey is great for family fun, employee outings, networking events, team or club get-togethers, and more!
This season’s new Iowa Stars GROUP EXPRESS makes your evening of entertainment effortless!
Bring your group and we’ve got your ticket, food & beverage, and excitement covered!!! 

Package Includes:
Iowa Stars Hockey Ticket (Lower End Zone seating)
Hot dog, chips & soda
Game program
In-game group recognition
Enter to win group raffle
Only $9.50 per person!
Group Minimum: 20 

Contact the following to set up your group outing:
Jared Youngman: 515-564-8043 or jyoungman@iowaeventscenter.com
Meghan Comer: 515-564-8138 or mcomer@iowaeventscenter.com
Nate Lingren: 515-564-8090 or nlingren@iowaeventscenter.com 

Don’t forget to ask about our great fundraising opportunities through Group Sales for your non-profit organization, sports team, club, charity group, etc.

COMING SOON – WWW.DRIVETIMEDESMOINES.COM

The Transportation Management Association will be launching a new website that will bring together the best of AvoidtheRush.org and RestYourCar.com.  The new site, www.DriveTimeDesMoines.com will give metro businesses and employees a “one-stop-shop” for up to the minute transportation information.  The new site is still under development but is looking to go live in late February.

HELP NAME THE NEW DOWNTOWN SHUTTLE

The Downtown Community Alliance and Transportation Management Association (TMA) are teaming up with the City of Des Moines, the State of Iowa, and Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) to implement a new Downtown Shuttle for employees, other residents, and visitors.  The shuttle should be rolling onto the streets of downtown in late spring 2008. The new shuttle will be a FREE service offering frequent stops at regular intervals between the Capitol Complex and Western Gateway.  The ‘trolley style’ shuttles will be a distinctive addition to the character of downtown and make getting where you need to go easier than ever!  Before the shuttle can hit the road, though, it needs a name.  Let TMA know what you think by voting online at www.downtowndesmoines.com.  If you have another suggestion that is catchy enough to encourage more people to ride, email Nathan Treloar at ntreloar@avoidtherush.org.

HOUSING SPOTLIGHT - OLIVE STREET CONDOS

The Olive Street Condos offer an affordable option to downtown loft living. Residents enjoy a contemporary, urban lifestyle while sharing the heritage and history of this beautiful neighbohood. 

Olive Street Condos offer the excitement of downtown’s energy – without the intrusive downtown noise. Safely nestled in a quiet, friendly neighborhood, residents are near many of Sherman Hill’s unique treasures, such as Café DiScala and the Gateway Market. The location offers quick access to I-235 so getting anywhere in Des Moines easy. “Sherman Hill is a great location for the young professional,” says Burnett Realty agent Marce Peters. “From Sherman Hill, you can walk or bike anywhere downtown.” 

PINK IN THE RINK

The Iowa Stars invite you to our “Salute to Health Professionals” night and “Pink in the Rink” to benefit John Stoddard Cancer Center.  Come watch the Stars in action as they host their West Division rival, the Quad City Flames on Saturday, March 15, 2008. Help pack Wells Fargo Arena with co-workers, friends and family for a great cause. The ice will be painted pink and Stars players will be wearing special jerseys that will be auctioned after the game to raise money for the John Stoddard Cancer Center. Take advantage of this special offer: Tickets are $9.50 and include a hot dog, soda, and chips!  There is no limit on tickets!

To purchase tickets, please call  Meghan Comer at 515-564-8059.

URBAN PIONEERS - THE VAN NICE FAMILY

Patrick Van Nice and Judy Diedrichs
Twins: Andrew and Gemma

Patrick and Judy grew up in Iowa, but always considered themselves “city folk”.  So, after college, the couple moved to Boston to live the big city life they both longed for.  Boston offered the lifestyle they desired and they made many friends in the historic neighborhood where they rented.

After a few years, however, their friends began starting families and moving to more affordable, family-friendly communities over an hour from the city.  Patrick and Judy loved Boston, but the combination of high housing costs and the desire to be closer to family soon brought them to Minneapolis.

A little while later, Judy accepted a job in Des Moines and the couple began their search for a home with open minds.  They settled on a house in Beaverdale, drawn by the character of the house and neighborhood.  But these “city folk” longed for the big city energy they had left behind in Boston and Minneapolis and the emergence of downtown Des Moines offered the lifestyle they desired.

Some friends and family didn’t understand the couple’s passion for urban living, especially since Patrick and Judy had two children, twins Gemma and Andrew.  The family was drawn to the history and sense of community offered by the Sherman Hill district.  Although they loved the historic Victorian houses that dominate the area, their limitations in the home repair department helped them to decide on a townhome in the new Alchemilla development.

The third floor of their townhome offers a beautiful view of downtown and the family was able to see nine different fireworks displays on the 4th of July.  While the view is a highlight, Patrick says the 10-year tax abatement was the clincher.  Not having to pay property taxes for a decade allowed the family to make the move to the downtown area a reality.

Sherman Hill is also unique for its special zoning requirements which allow residents to run commercial businesses, such as the Hat Shop, Vines to Wines and Café di Scala, in their homes.  Judy loves the eclectic mix of businesses and the creative, artistic residents the area draws.  

Patrick and Judy believe that downtown Des Moines has a lot to offer families.  They enjoy short walks to venues such as Gateway West Park and Hoyt Sherman, and were thrilled to find the Des Moines Arts Festival just four blocks from their home last summer.  Other venues and events the family enjoys are hockey games at Wells Fargo Arena, Brenton Skating Plaza, The Science Center of Iowa, the East Village and restaurants on Court Avenue.  “Date night” usually involves dinner at Centro, Dos Rios, Lucca or one of the other great restaurants that dot the downtown landscape.

Patrick and Judy are excited about the future of downtown Des Moines and the Sherman Hill area.  The reasonable housing costs and family-friendly environment have helped these self-proclaimed “city folk” find themselves right at home in the big city emergence of downtown Des Moines.

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS... HERE'S YOUR CHANCE

Make an impact on your community and connect with Des Moines leaders by participating in the YPC Impact Challenge!

Upon the request of the YPC Impact Downtown committee, the Downtown Community Alliance board is challenging members of YPC to make an impact on downtown Des Moines. The first challenge is being issued by DCA board member Joe Young, AVP, Corporate Acquisitions with Nationwide Insurance. Mr. Young’s challenge is for young professionals to make an impact on Children and Families of Iowa’s Elevate program. Elevate is a group of young people who seek to inspire others to new levels of understanding & compassion to the life connection needs of foster care & adoptive teens by sharing their personal stories of hope. This challenge will team YPC members and the youths of the Elevate program together and allow the young professionals the opportunity to share their experiences.

The challenge will be presented in detail by Mr. Young, and representatives from Children and Families of Iowa’s Elevate group at the new C.C. Taft & Co. on February 7th with cocktails beginning at 5:30pm and a brief presentation starting at 6pm. C.C. Taft & Co. is hosting the event in conjunction with its official Martini Night kick-off.

As part of the 2007 YPC annual survey, young professionals voiced their desire for more opportunities to directly engage with area business leaders. The YPC Impact Challenge will provide young professionals the opportunity to connect with business leaders while making a direct impact on their community.

All YPC members, as well as prospective members, are invited to be a part of this great opportunity. Sign up to participate in the challenge at the kickoff event or contact YPC Impact Downtown VP Pete Jones at impactdowntown@ypcdsm.com for more information.