This place is really cool! I found Five Monkeys through Yelp after searching art boutiques. I'm…read morefrom out of town and have been working in Des Moines for the last few months. I have started collecting local paintings from the places I visit and was desperate to find a piece from Iowa. Five Monkeys did not disappoint! This place is adjoined to a music store that sells vinyl records. Five Monkeys features clothing, paintings, jewelry, pottery, and other local trinkets. A lot of the jewelry is very unique and different. Many of the pieces from the various designers looked like one-of-a-kind items. I opted for a pair of glass earrings and a painting called "The Little One", which I could be wrong, but may have been painted by the owner of the boutique. She was very helpful and friendly. The painting was just what I was looking for! In the back of the store, there is a paint-your-own-ceramics studio, where people can pick out items to paint and then pick them up after they've been fired in the kiln. I thought that was really cool, and saw everything back there from unicorns to mugs to tiki shot glasses. I wish I had known about this place months ago, but I'm glad that I at least went there before leaving town. If you haven't been to Five Monkeys, then you need to go!

Really had a great girls day here! Pricing is reasonable, staff is friendly & helpful. They have a…read morehuge stock of available pottery for painting. From what we were told they get regular shipments allowing for a diverse range of projects to choose from! I can't wait to see my finished piece. They also ship, if you're worried about how you'll get your project after completion.

A gorgeous selection of fabrics, along with a nice selection of patterns and a very helpful sales…read morecrew. I am a fan!!!!

I signed up for what I thought was going to be a cooking class, it was more like a culinary…read moreexperience! There were so many ingredients that I have never used in my cooking, and some that were completely unfamiliar to me. The group of students divided into stations to create and then enjoy 4 different soups. While Chef Cass provided some instruction, most of the experience was actually in digging in and preparing the dishes. The atmosphere was exciting and collaborative with each group working together and checking out the progress of the other groups (and helping with the tasting of course). Chef Cass expertly provided tips and hints for each recipe while more than a dozen of us dug around the full chef's kitchen to gather ingredients and tools. So much fun and I learned a lot in 3 hours. I highly recommend these classes as a fun date night, friend's adventure, or individual experience!

Took the Rustic French class with KP. It was so much fun. She gave a lot of helpful tips along…read morethe way too. we divided into 4 groups with each group making one of the courses. All the food turned out great and they were all things I would replicate at home. Love it! Will definitely take another class.

I love shopping at Martha's! She has a great selection of items for your home, gifts, soaps, etc…read more Items are always changing for the season. She's very helpful, personable, and will keep her eye out for things on your wish list!

From the owner: Since January 2022 Martha's is fully online. During the spring, summer and beginning of the fall…read moreseasons I will be attending local vendor/craft shows. Watch for my schedule online or via Facebook.

The best pie ever, highly recommend for any baking needs. Perfect for special gatherings and…read moreoccasions.

From the moment we walked in her stunning home (and drool-worthy kitchen), Deb made us feel at…read moreease. We attended her fajita class on Cinco de Mayo and learned how to make pineapple and aleppo pepper sorbet, marinated steak/chicken/veggies, flour tortillas and guacamole. The food was outstanding, Deb was a thorough teacher and the crowd was lovely (and encouraged to interact). Even if you live in downtown Des Moines, it's worth the drive! Deb, a former restaurant professional, says veggie-based dishes are her specialty, so we're looking forward to attending again for one of her salad or spiralized vegetable classes. Plan for about 2 or 2 1/2 hours per event.

Chef Mary Jane and her husband Michael made us feel welcomed from the moment we entered her…read morekitchen. We learned how to make food from Greece from appetizers to dessert (Baklava! Yummm!!) The conversation was easy as if we were old friends and the food was delicious. She obviously has years of experience as a professional chef and has a passion to share it with those she welcomes into her space. 10/10 recommend for a fun date night activity!

From the owner: Cozymeal is an award-winning provider of cooking classes and team building activities with local…read morechefs in Des Moines. Consumers as well as small and large companies use us regularly for all their culinary needs, from couples cooking classes to team building activities to bachelorette parties to private dinners.

I have had this on my bucket list for a while. The other day, I caught an ad for naughty pottery…read morenight. I instantly grabbed some girl friends and got us signed up. There is a placeholder you pay when you sign up. I completely get that as it sold out quickly. The evening of the event, we brought our drinks and headed to get settled in. Greeted warmly by everyone in the shop. The entire work staff was in a chipper fun mood. We got to select the item that we wanted to glaze. We were given clear instructions on what to do. The room was full of excited adults all there to have some fun. The staff was around to answer questions. They drew tickets for fun give aways. My group of friends laughed, talked, glazed, and had a good time. We were there for about 3 hours. Between picking out the colors and how much time you want to spend on your project. It was really fun for an adult evening out. I really look forward to the next adult fun night.