Downtown Events: <<    >>

Celebrate the weekend every Friday at Blues on Grand's Friday Work Release Party. The party lasts from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and features music by Sumpin' Doo and food by Jesse James.

Race: Are We So Different? explores race in the United States from three unique perspectives to provide a highly personal exhibit experience. Learn the history of race, the role of science plays in that history and the everyday experience of race. Visit www.sciowa.org/race for the full calendar of special events, cultural celebrations, diversity discussions and Café Scientifique forums. Save with SCI’s Cultural Combo ticket and travel to exotic Arabia and uncover mysteries in ancient Greece through the immersive IMAX experience.

The Iowa Cubs round out their season when they take on the Memphis Redbirds at Principal Park, One Line Drive in the Court District. Gather up the family and celebrate the Labor Day Weekend with a AAA baseball game! The first pitch is at 7:05PM on Friday and Saturday and 1:05PM Sunday and Monday. And, as always, there will be fireworks Friday night after the game. Ticket price varies. For more information, visit www.iowacubs.com or call 243-6111.

If you want to hear some down-home, juke house blues, look no further. From the delta to the hills, Matt Woods & The Thunderbolts' thumping rhythm and stomping slide workouts will remind you what real party music is meant to be. Simple and straight ahead, with nothin’ but a low down groove that’s raw as a saw blade and guaranteed to make you shake your booty! Blues Before Sunset is family friendly, free and open to the public. Beer, wine and bottled water available for sale and an assortment of food vendors will be selling hot foods. People attending the event should plan to bring their own seating. Blues Before Sunset is sponsored by the State Historical Society of Iowa with support from the Central Iowa Blues Society and Cafe Baratta's.

"American Idol" runner up from 2009, Adam Lambert, brings his music to the Simon Estes Amphitheater, East Locust and Robert D. Ray Drive in the East Village. Tickets are $32.50 in advance and may be ordered at www.midwestix.com. Cover at the gate is $35. Music starts at 8PM.

Eddie Money will be entertaining at People's Court, 216 Court Avenue, Third Floor in the Court District. Doors for the show, which is geared to those 21+, will open at 7PM. The show starts at 8:30PM. A limited number of tickets are on sale at www.midwestix.com for $25 in advance.

Friday September 3rd, 2010 Featuring: 3XW Heavyweight championship Gage Octane w/Todd Countryman vs. Rory Fox (c) 3XW Pure Wrestling championship - Former Tag Team partners collide "The Laotian Sensation" Ricky Kwong w/Chad Mylan vs. "The Rockstar" Jimmy Rockwell (c) 3XW Tag Team championship Midwest Ground & Air - Benjamin Sailer & Nate Bash vs. The Gentlemen's Club - Casanova & "Delicious" Devin Carter (c) Women's Wrestling Melanie Cruise vs. Taylor Made King of Des Moines Tournament Finals Re-match "The Rebel" Jeremy Wyatt vs. Mark Sterling Student vs. Teacher "The Unbreakable" Zach Thompson vs. Brian Ash Tag Team action The Horn Dogs - Maddog McDowell & Krotch vs. Noize, Booze & Tattoos - Scott Spade & Ruff Crossing Also in action: Brady A. Dezire, Sir Bradley Charles, Hunter Matthews, Aaron Masterson, Ryan Slade & "The American Fury" Jon West! Tickets will be available August 14th, 2010 at: Jay's CD & Hobby - Tickets will be available at both Jay's stores 5921 SE 14th Street - Des Moines, IA & Merle Hay Mall - Des Moines, IA also Cup O' Kryptonite Fleur Drive Des Moines, IA Or online at www.3xwrestling.com ***One dollar from every ticket sold from this event will be donated to the "Shoes that Fit" charity.***

Most fun karaoke in the city!

Do some evening shopping in the East Village at First Friday. Several shops will be open until 8PM the first Friday of each month. Check out Raygun, Vitae, Subsect, Domestica, eden, Ephemera and Aimee, have a beverage and enjoy dinner in the area, too!

Hear I'm Prettier Than You and Beneth the Palace in a show for all ages at The House of Bricks, 525 East Grand in the East Village. Music starts at 5PM and the cover is $5.

Hear folk/pop/indie music at a show for all ages at Vaudeville Mews, 212 Fourth Street in the Court District. Opening will be H. Dustin Harmsen and Chris Ford. Headliner is Black Ambient Manifesto. Entertainment starts at 6:15PM and the cover is $5.

There's a full line up of entertainment for those 21+ at Vaudeville Mews, 212 Fourth Street in the Court District. Hear headliner Mother Culture with Wrestling With Wolves, Ryan Traster and Why Make Clocks starting at 10PM. Doors open at 9:30PM. Cover is $5.