COUNT DOWN TO THE DOWNTOWN FARMERS' MARKET

Just 10 more days and the Downtown Farmers' Market will be open for the season. The official start of the 2008 Farmers' Market season begins on Saturday, May 10 and continues through Oct. 25, 2008.  Shopping starts at 7 a.m. - noon in the Historic Court Avenue District. 

Early in the season the Downtown Farmers’ Market will offer delicious spring greens, herbs, and a variety of spring produce.  Vegetable and herb plants will be in abundance, as well as hanging floral baskets, bedding plants and perennials.  Market patrons can expect to see nearly 200 vendors, from 47 Iowa counties, with farm fresh products including Iowa raised pork, beef, lamb, poultry, fish, elk, baked breads, pies and cinnamon rolls.  Shoppers will also find nuts, eggs, butter, cheese, wine, jams, jellies, beautiful cut flowers, unique hostas and a vast assortment of locally created arts, crafts, jewelry, rugs, and clothing.

The Downtown Farmers’ Market continues to be a dog friendly market.  At times the Market can get hot and very busy and is not the best place to bring a pet.  If patrons do choose to bring their dogs, we ask that they adhere to these six rules to make everyone’s market experience a pleasant one. 

1. Dogs must be under control on a short leash, and by the owner’s side at all times, (max 3ft leash while within the market).

2. Dogs need to be kept away from produce, plants and prepared food products.

3. Dogs need to be sociable with other dogs and children to earn the right to be at the market.

4. Be understanding – not everyone is a dog lover.

5. Please clean up after your dog.

6. The Downtown Farmers’ Market enforces The City of Des Moines laws regarding pets which include a lease law not to exceed six feet, clean up of droppings, current tags and a current rabies certificate.  Pamphlets further explaining The City of Des Moines Animal Licensing and Regulations can be picked up at our Downtown Farmers’ Market Information booth located at the corner of 4th and Court.  Market Management reserves the right to ask any pet owner not willing to adhere to these rules to leave the Market. 

To see what's new each week at the Market, visit www.desmoinesfarmersmarket.com.
 

CHARETTE GENERATES NEW IDEAS FOR NOLLEN PLAZA

Many ideas for Nollen Plaza were discussed during an intense three days 3-day "charette" last week. A design team comprised of Ken Smith, a highly-regarded landscape architect from the Des Moines area with offices in New York City and Los Angeles, and Jim Campbell, an artist from San Francisco whose works include highly interactive installations and various forms of electronic media, arrived in Des Moines Wednesday morning, April 23.

DOWNTOWN SHUTTLE HITS THE ROAD MAY 5

A new shuttle service connecting the Capitol Complex and Western Gateway is scheduled to begin on Monday, May 5th.  The Downtown Shuttle will be free to ride for all employees, residents, and visitors in the downtown area.  The shuttle’s route, called “D-Line”, is a loop running west on Grand Avenue from the State Capitol to Central Campus before turning around to come back east on Locust Street.

The shuttle will run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Stops will be posted at each block along the route with the shuttle picking up or dropping off as needed.  The wait time between shuttles is expected to be less than 10 minutes.    Plans for a downtown shuttle have been in the works for several years.  The City of Des Moines, State of Iowa, Operation Downtown and Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART) joined together in late 2007 to secure the funding necessary to get the free shuttle on the road. 

Click here to see the route.

DES MOINES ARTS FESTIVAL NEEDS YOUR HELP

The Des Moines Arts Festival is currently seeking volunteers to assist with a multitude of programs and activities on-site at the Festival on June 27-29, 2008, in downtown Des Moines’ Western Gateway Park. Volunteers can register for shifts online  at www.desmoinesartsfestival.org. 

Each year, more than 600 volunteers come together to help make Iowa’s free, three-day celebration of the arts an annual success. Volunteers have the opportunity to assist with Artist Relations, GuideOne Insurance Interactive Mural, Ice Distribution, Interrobang Film Festival, Market Research Study, Membership Suite, Nurturing a Student's Vision, Performing Arts, Sculpture Garden and Volunteer Relations.

Shifts are available throughout the Festival and are, on average, three hours long. All volunteers receive an official Des Moines Arts Festival volunteer t-shirt, snacks and drinks at volunteer headquarters, and have the chance to meet other volunteers who are also helping to promote the arts in Iowa. We encourage volunteers to sign up for multiple shifts and experience all aspects of the event. The Festival will host a volunteer orientation and welcome party on June 14, 2008, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for all registered volunteers.

To register and get more information about these exciting volunteer opportunities, visit our official Web site at www.desmoinesartsfestival.org and click on Volunteers.

EARTH DAY TRASH BASH SMASHING SUCCESS

Operation Downtown, Des Moines Parks and Recreation and Riverfront Development Authority honored Earth Day with the Earth Day Trash Bash – a clean up event to give downtown a fresh start to the spring season on Tuesday, April 22  in downtown Des Moines.

The Earth Day Trash Bash was a smashing success.  From I-235 to Gray’s Lake and from Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to East Fifth Street, approximately 120 square blocks downtown and all of the surrounding trails were given a fresh start to the spring season.  And the result of 430 volunteers working together?  More than 7 full dumpsters of trash and a sparkling downtown!

One person’s trash became another person’s treasure as Mayor Cownie presented the “Finders Keepers” award for the strangest piece of trash found to the Science Center of Iowa team for a strange, tiny purse they discovered.  Students from the Downtown School found three dead animals – all in a single city block. 

The “Corporate Greenie” award went to Wells Fargo  for demonstrating environmental stewardship as a company.  And the “Best Group Effort” award went to Innova Ideas & Services with a team of 20 volunteers out of a total of 33 employees.

A special thank you to Earth Day Trash Bash sponsors:

Starbucks Coffee Company
Keep Iowa Beautiful
Metro Waste Authority
MidAmerican Energy
Nationwide
Wells Fargo Financial
Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Company
Des Moines Parks and Recreation
Operation Downtown

And to the companies and organizations who volunteered! Thank you for all of your hard work and making Downtown so beautiful. 

City of Des Moines
Court District Business Association
Downtown School
Downtown Community Alliance
Downtown Events Group
Drake University
Fallon for Congress
Greater Des Moines Partnership
Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau
ING
Innova Ideas & Services
Iowa Events Center
Men's Garden Club of Des Moines
Merchants Bonding Company
Meredith Corporation
Nationwide
Metro Waste Authority
Orchestrate Hospitality - Centro, Gateway, Hotel Fort Des Moines, Raccoon River Brewing Co.
Principal Financial Group
Promise IT
Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Science Center of Iowa
Starbucks Coffee Company
Terrus Real Estate Group
Wells Fargo Financial, Inc. 

To view additional photos from the event, click here.

BIKE TO WORK WEEK

Pump up your bicycle tires and dust off your helmet for the 6th Annual Bike to Work Week May 10-16.  Bicycle commuters from across the metro will unite in this event scheduled to coincide with the League of American Bicyclists Bike Month, a week set aside to encourage commuters across the country to give peddling rather than driving to work a try.
  
Special events are scheduled throughout the week with the culmination of festivities happening on Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 16th. Bikers will meet at various locations throughout the metro the morning of the ride. At each location parking will be available for those who prefer to park and ride. Please check www.bikeiowa.com for current information about meeting locations, departure times and commute routes as well as to register for the event.

For 2008, www.DriveTimeDesMoines.org is sponsoring FREE classes to learn how to commute to work and maintain your bicycle.  We believe you will feel safer and more confident on the road after these classes.  Have friends interested? Bring them too!  Bike to Work organizer and certified League Cycling Instructor Angela Dalton is hosting a 2-hour session regarding tips and tricks for commuting to work; covering traffic safety rules and practices that will help you navigate the busy streets with motor vehicles and other users of the road. There are multiple days and time to fit your schedule. This class is geared to anyone interested in reducing their chances of injury and learning to share the road. For those coming early or staying late, an extra hands-on tire-changing lesson is sure to take away your fears about getting to work in the event of a flat. 

Friday May 2nd
Bike to Work 101
Metro Waste Authority
300 E. Locust St. Des Moines
4:30-6:30 p.m.  

RSVP’s are not required, but appreciated to ntreloar@drivetimedesmoines.org or by calling 515-286-4969.   
 

LOCAL BEER BRINGS HISTORY AND FUN TO THE BALLPARK

To commemorate the 40th season of Triple-A baseball, the Iowa Cubs and Court Avenue Brewing Company have teamed up to release Iowa Oaks Ale – a toast to the franchise’s original name in 1969.

Iowa Oaks Ale will be available at Principal Park and Court Avenue Brewing Company beginning Tuesday, May 6.

“It’s a natural for us and a baseball tradition,” Iowa Cubs President and General Manager Sam Bernabe said. “Many of our fans enjoy a cold beverage while watching baseball on a warm summer’s night.  We’ve been good friends and neighbors with the folks at Court Avenue Brewing Company for a long time. They’re great baseball fans and they brew a great beer.”

Iowa Oaks Ale is a German Export style Beer that is light in body and color. “It is a refreshing summer beer using corn as a fermentable - a first for Court Avenue Restaurant Brewing Company.”   “We thought it appropriate since it is a beer brewed in Iowa to celebrate the Iowa Cubs.” said Mike Gauthier, Head Brewer for Court Avenue Brewing Company.
  
"What’s more American than baseball and beer!” Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Co. Managing Partner Scott Carlson said.   "We are huge fans of the Cubs and are very excited to brew an exclusive beer for the team."

The beer will be available at Principal Park at the Bottom of the Fifth Bar in the main concourse behind home plate. To learn more about the beer brewed at Court Avenue Brewing Company, visit www.courtavebrew.com. To find out when the next I-Cubs game is, visit www.iowacubs.com.

DES MOINES ART CENTER DOWNTOWN PRESENTS IOWA ARTISTS 2008: DRAWING

The Des Moines Art Center Downtown presents the 58th Iowa Artist exhibition, on view April 25 – August 9 at the downtown location (800 Walnut). This exhibition has become a cornerstone of Art Center programming, drawing diverse audiences from around the state. Few museums of the Des Moines Art Center’s caliber offer regional artists an opportunity to exhibit in their main galleries and we are proud to continue this tradition. Entitled Iowa Artists 2008: Drawing, the exhibition surveys the state of drawing in Iowa, featuring 26 Iowa-based artists and 72 works in a variety of media.  

Iowa Artists 2008: Drawing includes drawings made with traditional drawing media such as charcoal, graphite, and pen on paper. It also features illustrations for children’s books, digital drawings, a sprayed wall drawing, a room-size sculptural installation drawn in wire, voodoo-themed drawings, a necklace that scars the wearer, and a cut-adhesive vinyl piece that will be installed in the skywalk crossing Walnut Street.

The 2008 Iowa Artists are: Blair Benz, John Bybee, Youngsoon Chon, Erica Duffy, Rebecca Ekstrand, Barbara Fedeler, Peter Feldstein, Amos Goldbaum, Stephen Hay, Anita Jung, Justin Nostrala, Lee Nyquist, Joseph Patrick, Shawn Reed, Chuck Richards, Lee Emma Running, Jean-Marie Salem, Brittany Savolainen, Julia Schwadron, John Siblik, Crit Streed, Jay Vigon, Bruce Walters, Tim Wehrle, Daniel Weiss, and Dani Zamora.

An illustrated catalogue with an essay by exhibition curator Amy Worthen will be published in conjunction with the exhibition. The publication will include reproductions of works by the artists as well as short biographies and statements on the role of drawing in each artist’s practice. Visit www.desmoinesartscenter.org for more information.


 

HOUSING SPOTLIGHT - SOHO LOFTS

Soho Lofts in Des Moines’ East Village offer a unique blend of commercial and residential space reminiscent of the diverse neighborhoods that dot New York City.  The similarities are no accident as developer Tony DeAngelo, who spent more than a decade as an architect and real estate developer in the Big Apple, sought to bring his vision of elegance, comfort and convenience to downtown Des Moines.

Soho Lofts house eight retail stores, unique live/work studios and 32 residential lofts.  28 units have been sold while the four remaining lofts range in price from $157,650 - $211,878.  They redefine urban living by offering spacious floor plans, contemporary interiors, oversized windows and a common courtyard area called the “Village Green” that is perfect for social events and gatherings.

Located at 400 E. Locust Street in the heart of the East Village, Soho Lofts place residents in an envious location with quick access to downtown, the capitol building and the Principal Riverwalk.  A variety of unique shops, restaurants and cultural attractions are just a short walk away.

Soho Lofts offer four unique floors plans similar to those found in New York City’s trendy Soho District.  The Village Garden, Tribeca, Midtown and Manhattan floor plans include 10-foot high ceilings, large windows and wood floors while offering styles that are hip, contemporary and sophisticated.

Unlike many of the downtown area’s lofts that are housed in older, converted buildings, Soho Lofts are newly constructed and feature state-of-the-art energy efficiency.  A secure, heated underground garage located beneath the building allows residents to protect themselves and their cars from the elements.

Competitive pricing, special financing and a tax abatement make Soho Lofts a great buy for a variety of people from young professionals to retirees.  Luxuries such as the heated garage, landscaping and lawn maintenance, and snow and trash removal, are included in the reasonable Association Dues that run 19 cents per square foot on a monthly basis.

DeAngelo feels that commercial and residential combination that defines Soho Lofts give the area the potential to develop into a village atmosphere similar to what he experienced during his time in New York City.  The art, culture and diversity of the East Village offer an experience unique to the downtown landscape.

To find out how you can become a part of this exciting urban community, call Sales Director Jack Price at 515-453-6054, Developer Tony DeAngelo at 515-208-0424, or visit www.SohoDevelopment.com.
 

MEET TED DADY - OPERATION DOWNTOWN

Ted Dady is a clean ambassador for Operation Downtown (OD). He has worked for OD for the past two years maintaining a clean environment for downtown. Some of his cleaning duties include: dumping trash receptacles; removing graffiti and stickers from light polls; public fixtures and property owner’s buildings; meeting and greeting people and assisting with directions.  He also works at special events like the Downtown Farmers’ Market.  Ted really enjoys being outdoors and helping people.  When he isn’t working, he likes to fish the river banks in the downtown area.

DO YOU HAVE A DREAM?

Bring your dreams to the Big Dream Gathering on Tuesday, May 13 at the Polk County Convention Complex from 6:30 - 10 p.m. It is a place where people can come together and write down their dreams... big or small.  Then everyone has the opportunity to anonymously spread the word about their dreams, encourage other’s dreams and have some fun in the process.  Plus, there’s no catch and no sales pitch.  This is simply an opportunity to come together, dream, connect and possibly launch. Visit www.bigdreamgathering.com to learn more.

URBAN PIONEER - ANDREW DORR

From DC to DSM. Political campaign guru Andrew Dorr didn’t think he’d be renting in downtown Des Moines for as long as he has when he signed a short-term lease in 2005 to work on a gubernatorial race. Now, three years later, the draw of the Midwest, the excitement of downtown’s renaissance, and Iowa’s strong political roots have kept him in Des Moines…and he doesn’t plan on leaving.

Andrew loved his urban lifestyle in Washington, DC, so he knew that when he moved to Des Moines he wanted to live downtown and immerse himself in the heart of the city. He has seen downtown come a long way since moving here three years ago, and he knows there’s much more to come. The variety of great restaurants coming into the area is very exciting to Andrew who considers himself a ‘foodie’ and a ‘wino’. Some of his favorite hangouts include the Highlife Lounge, Azalea’s, Centro, Café DiScala and Hessen Haus. He’s enjoyed the development of the bike trails and grocery stores like the Gateway Market.

Although downtown Des Moines might not have quite the urban feel of Washington DC, he relishes the short commute to his job as Marketing Director of DeWaay Capital Management in West Des Moines. “My four-mile commute in DC took an hour. I don’t really miss that.” he commented. Andrew added, “The cost of living is better here too, and Washington DC lacked that neighborhood feel where everyone knows you.”

As Andrew is putting down roots in Des Moines, he can see himself buying a home in the near future.  He can definitely see himself purchasing from one of the many urban loft developments that have helped revitalize the downtown landscape. He’s very excited about his options, especially when he sees the promise and excitement the future of downtown holds.