When we moved to Des Moines we were excited about having Triple AAA baseball in town. We weren't as…read moreexcited that it was the Cubs being Toledo Mudhens fans, the AA team for the tigers, but we learned to adapt. The stadium is very nice and kept well. It is not as big as some other AAA stadiums but it is adequate in size and has many extra perks like a kids area and club options. Having been to numerous minor league stadiums, we are very happy with Principal Park. Like most places, parking is a pain... but it is worth the wait and is only $10. We are looking at season tickets so that says a lot of how we feel about the park.

Fun AAA ballpark WHERE I CAUGHT MY FIRST BALL EVER!!! Beyond that, we had a 250 person event and it…read morewent flawlessly. We had the entire right field bleachers to ourselves. Shade for those who wanted it, sit anywhere to watch the game. Food was in good supply pregame. Supposedly pulled with first pitch but they did what I would hope: put all the remaining food out so we can take from it. (But seriously guys, if you read this? Keep serving through the first inning or so. Please.) Also a second note: Audio didn't really carry to the outfield. No secondary video screen to supplement the one directly behind us. For that fifth star, please beef that up a bit!

2026 Edition! The weather truly pulled through this year! I also tried lots of new items. Here's…read moresome of what I got at the Iowa state fair: * All-American scrambled egg roll [NEW] * Ultimate bacon-brisket Mac & cheese donut [NEW] * Ultimate minneapple pie [NEW] * Chopped Italian ham hoagie * Garlic dill cheese curds [NEW] Not pictured: bucket of cookies :) My favorite new food item was definitely the bacon brisket mac and cheese donut!

First time at the Iowa State Fair! As a typical Minnesota State Fair goer, I was trying to keep my…read moreexpectations low. Overall, I had a great day and a ton of fun!! Definitely bring a reusable water and a handheld fan. It's hot. I loved that there were so many places to refill our water bottles. We got there via the free parking ramp in Des Moines on Center and 7th then took the $3 round trip DART bus which worked like a charm. Super easy to navigate. We were dropped off at Gate 10 then worked counterclockwise around the fair. The only thing I wasn't prepared for was how many golf carts/cars would be on the roads at the fair. I kept feeling like I was going to get hit. My favorite food by far was the hot beef sundae ($10) from Cattleman's Beef Quarters. Can't go wrong with hot beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, and cheese. We got a delicious donut ($5) outside the swine barn then saw the biggest pig I've ever seen in my life -- 1,296 lbs! We saw a sheep sheering contest in the sheep barn, then wandered around the fair up to the agriculture building for a (FREE) hard boiled egg on a stick and the butter cow. We cooled off in the Culture Center and saw the amazing photography and fine art submissions. They have nice bathrooms in that building. Then we got the deep fried pb&j ($10 each, grape was better than strawberry) which were another favorite of the day. One of my other food highlights were the cheese curds from Brad and Harry's ($8). Same vibe as the mouth trap cheese curds in MN. Delicious and a fair food staple. Some foods that did not wow me: The corn brats ($8) which are like corn dogs but with brats instead of hotdogs. My hopes for these were too high. They were fine. Nothing beats a pronto pup. The Minneapple Pie ($14). Everyone in Iowa was raving about it. It was fine, not worth the money in my opinion. Barksdale's cup of cookies ($5). Not good. Would not get again.

Spent an afternoon with artists Picasso, Hopper, Warhol, Matisse, Miro, Chagall, Klee, Monet, and…read moreothers...at the fabulous Des Moines Art Center! I did not expect to see some of the world's greatest artists in Des Moines. Instead, it was an elite venue at an incredible price point. Located in Ingersoll Park, 20 minutes from Ankeny and 10 minutes from the State Capitol, the Art Center is a must-see, beautiful venue with spectacular works, considerable spaces, and gorgeous grounds. Amazingly, it is free. Loved the Samantha Box "Caribbean Dreams" exhibit, a fantastic collection of photography and art. I also loved works by Stella ("Interlagos"), Kiefer ("untitled"), Francis ("Summer #2"), and Schnabel. We also liked the postcard exhibit. The building has an awesome vibe and incredible visuals throughout its spectacular architecture. There is a great gift shop and discounted items near the entrance. Sensational guidance and kindness from the museum's docents, notably Loretta, Issac, and Gabby.

A woman came up to me and informed me about my small backpack, I understood and complied, I then…read moretold her about my medical issues. If return she stated she would tell staff over walkie talkie then gave me a medical tag. Later on in the trip, another woman came up to me again about the bag and repeatedly interrupted me while I was explaining the medical tag, she said "ok" and walked away. Less than a minute later she came up to me crying and said "I'm so sorry and you should never have to explain stuff like that!" I was at that point uncomfortable and started to cry because I was overstimulated. After that we moved on, even LATER on another person came up to me and said something about the damn backpack so at that I was fed up so I left

Moberg Gallery, is a local gem! This is an art gallery worth the trip from out of town!…read more Awesome curators pick fantastic artist to feature in shows and they have a huge collection of artist featured on their web site! They specialize in finding that perfect piece of art for your home or business! The art openings are great parties! And usually happen every couple months! They usually give you the opportunity to meet and great the artist during the shows! Stop in on a week day (besides monday) afternoon if you really want a personal showing of a show! You can take your time to really focus on the pieces! I love this place and glad we have it in Des Moines!

Went to the gallery to see a band play and it was an awesome venue for that. It felt intimate, like…read morea private convert. For $10 to see Making Movies from Kansas City was a steal. The band is amazing. They played a mix of rock, classic salsa, covers of 80's musoc and instruments from Panama, Venezuela and Mexico. Their eclectic sounds in a setting filled with various art styles was a perfect mix. Got there early and enjoyed the current displays while I waited for the show to start. There were seats and high tables, with a small bar set up in the back. When the crowd started dancing they moved chairs out of the way to make space but it didn't take away from the show. Overall, it is a gem that creates varied ambiance depending on the event and offers a unique experience every time.

We were staying in the Des Moines area and looking to kill some time before heading to the theatre…read moreon a Saturday, and a quick Google search brought us to Painting with a Twist. We were intrigued by the idea of painting and pouring a candle, even though we aren't artistic by any means and felt a bit out of our element. We were "walk-ins" and when we arrived, they set us up with paints and materials, and showed us the books to choose a design with step-by-step instructions. Beverages were available for purchase - we had cans of soda (2 for $3, very reasonable!). The vibe is creative and welcoming, and the staff are friendly, encouraging, and make you feel artistic even if you're not. There's space for both scheduled sessions and walk-ins, as well as painting classes (one started after we arrived). Everything felt very organized and cohesive. Once we finished our paintings, a staff member guided us through pouring our candles - we even mixed scents, and they smelled amazing! After pouring, we left and returned about two hours later to pick up our finished candles. We had a fantastic time. This was a fun, creative, and inexpensive experience - just $63 total for the two of us to each paint and pour a scented candle, plus two beverages. Highly recommend! Disclaimer: I said I'm not an artist, so go easy on me when you see my pics! :-)

Great experience! Had a blast for a birthday party…read more They let us bring in food. They offer drinks! Super fun atmosphere. Staff was lovely. Would definitely go back with friends!

We went to the Barnstormer's game last night at the arena and were treated to a fun night of…read moreaction. It wasn't packed but it was a decent crowd. They do a good job here hosting events and providing a good atmosphere where you can enjoy your time and feel safe! The seats could be cleaner and the prices of all the concessions are higher than expected, but I guess they have to keep the lights on! Good job to all the workers who make it enjoyable!

If you or loved one has sensory sensitivity, they have a calming room on the main concourse near…read more119.

I'd like an answer to one question: why is a non-profit theater charging twice a much as a…read morefor-profit theater? I often find that I can see a film that Varsity chargers $14 per seat for at the for-profit Fleur Cinema for only $7 per seat!!!

A nice nonprofit local cinema. I've been to a couple of their themed showings and have seen a few…read moreother movies here. Seating is pretty decent, I haven't had any issues. And staff have been chill and friendly. Honestly this place gives me the most nostalgic vibes and is a great local spot to support. Definitely a pretty active social media community so worth checking out.

Stopped by while waiting on some friends. Definitely glad I did. Really enjoyed chatting with the…read morebartender. Theur a/c was on fleek. They have totally cleaned up and organized this venue since it was previously Buddies. I'm definitely glad they are still friendly. Prices were very reasonable. Service was the fastest in town. With a little dance and a tune on the side. I'm so glad I wandered in here on such a peaceful evening.

New bar in the east village with a strong nod to the original Gas Lamp. Small stage for live music…read more(super small!), popcorn machine and dart board (plus some other games. Limited seating but they also have a patio that we didn't check out. According to their Facebook page they have happy hour and late night specials. Hot dogs available after 9pm and some nights they have activities (Wednesday is trivia night). Definitely going to be a stop on our EV bar crawl.