Kidding, it's not bad if you like corn and Mennonites..

Its certainly not San Francisco or Boston but its nice for what it is. Public transit is lacking, but it's a very easy city to drive in.

Other than that its cold as shit in the winter and humid and hot in the summer, politically moderate, and the people are friendly (although midwest friendly is not like southern friendly).

Be sure to eat lots of pork tenderloins.


Also Mars Cafe has great coffee, don't know what that person above was talking about. Any place that serves Kickapoo coffee is going to be good.

I'll be there in Nov. and in need of good coffee. I always BYoC from N. Cal.

quite literate and cultured. They have good schools. There is a symphony and a theater. They have the Iowa Cubs, too!

It is the absolute best place to go for Presidential politics. Because of the early caucuses, all the politicians go to Des Moines. Get involved politically, and get to know Senator Harkin. Attend his steak fry. You will meet everyone. I met Bill Clinton and Elizabeth Edwards there.

I have worked with the Quad City Democratic Party. They are a vital group.

I don't live in Iowa, but I like it there. Des Moines is a good place.

...so I am knee-deep in my middle-aged mommy activities--but I can tell you that Des Moines is a really cool city.

Where do you plan to live in Des Moines?

The downtown area is very trendy and hip. Tons of fun bars, cool shops, great restaurants. The entire downtown area has been revitalized and there has been a migration of people into the downtown area. Lots of cool loft apartments, condos and renovated industrial spaces.

The people here are so incredibly kind and intelligent, and the Des Moines area is pretty Progressive. I think you will like it here.

The East Village section of downtown Des Moines is one of our family's favorite places. It's very Progressive, artsy and unique. Last time my husband and I took the kids to Zombie Burger (and you MUST go there!) my husband said, "Wow, So many hipsters in the wild!" Seriously. Really fun people.

http://zombieburgerdm.com

You can explore the East Village here--Where to shop, eat, drink, etc.
http://eastvillagedesmoines.com
--"Sticks" is a very cool East-Village furniture store that features the most amazing hand-painted furniture. The place is like an art gallery of furniture--if you're into that sort of thing!
www.sticks.com

Do you like to be outdoors? Bike ride? Walk? Gray's Lake is near downtown and is gorgeous. A two-mile trail circles around a great lake. At night, a big bridge is lit up with beautiful colors. Great place to walk and see beautiful scenery.

Downtown also has a beautiful park with amazing art and sculptures. Really unique and fun stuff. Check out the link to see some of the cool art and sculptures:
For more info: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/pappajohn-sculpture-park

Here is a link to info about the Neal Smith Trail.
http://www.traillink.com/trail/neal-smith-trail.aspx

This long trail runs from Des Moines and up to the Saylorville Lake area, which is just a few miles from where I live out in the suburbs. I believe the trail is 25 miles. It's just gorgeous!! It's a beautiful, well-maintained trail that winds through beautifully wooded areas, lakes, ponds, etc. Great for walking or biking.

You can get on the trail (starting in Des Moines) at the Des Moines Botanical Center, which is in the downtown area. The Saylorville Lake area (about a 15 min drive from downtown Des Moines) is spectacular this time of year. The fall foliage is in full bloom and is amazing this year.

There's so much more I could post! Des Moines is a great city. If you have any specific questions, I would be happy to answer.

Welcome to Des Moines...and a swing state!!

Which suburb do you live in? I'm in West Des Moines.

Yes, the literacy level is high and the people - mostly - open and fair. I had the fine experience of campaigning for Gov. and later Senator Harold Hughes in the '60s.
There are nice day trips to the Amana colonies, German food, great beer, to the east , the Madison county bridges to the west.
For an agricultural community, Iowa is surprisingly unsquare. Give it a chance.

Lots of beautiful rolling hills and landscape. Both sets of my grandparents lived in Des Moines and we'd visit them every summer when I was a kid. I remember how much fun the Iowa State Fair was. On nights we didn't go, we could see the fireworks out in the back yard - a big deal! I remember I had my first Rueben sandwich at the Fort Des Moines Hotel and MaidRite hamburgers were the best, especially with a strawberry pop. The capitol building is truly beautiful - gold top and all. My dad remembers people sleeping on the capitol grounds on hot summer nights. Good, friendly people - you'll like it there.

And good on you for the work you're doing.

In Iowa walking through a Sear's store, a guy grabbed me in a headlock to drag me over to the scissors so that he could cut my hair. I got out of there. A year later driving through the state, a trooper pulled me over just to check my car then escorted me out of the state, telling me never return. I haven't. (drummer, rock band).

It's been more than 40 years since I had to deal with that kind of crap and that was in western IA.

He's not currently running for President as the Republican candidate, is he?

Oswego "Campaigning in Iowa 40 years early?" Atheist

Lots of good information! Just a few more specifics:

Does anyone subscribe to the Des Moines Register, and which crosswords does it publish (this is essential information)? Is it worth subscribing to?

I've been joking about how the 2016 Iowa campaign starts the day after Election Day. Really, does it?

What does a hockey junkie like me do for live games in Iowa, besides drive to Minneapolis?

Where do the... umm... "extra Liberal types" hang out?

Oswego "Inquiring minds" Atheist

There used to be an AHL team in town but they are gone because the owners used the team as collateral in a loan, which is a big no-no, so they are no longer there. But there are the Des Moines Buccaneers, who play in the USHL which is a junior league team, all the players are under 20 and usually committed to college programs. They play in Urbandale and are usually pretty good. Just up I-35 in Ames, Iowa State has a a club team (in that they are not an official varsity sport of the university) that has kind of a cult-like following on campus and is usually pretty good. If you're willing to take the drive, Nebraksa-Omaha has started a team that plays in NCAA division I recently.

If you want professional, however, you're correct in that you will probably have to make the trek to Minneapolis/St. Paul, as they are the closest which isn't that long of a drive, it can be done in about 4 hours. Of course this is pending the lockout ending.

Junior league is good enough, and no, I'm not expecting anything good to come out of this lockout.

Oswego "AGAIN." Atheist

I recommend the hamburger coney- Burger cut in half placed in a hotdog bun smothered in GCK special chilli sauce then covered with onions-

http://www.facebook.com/pages/George-the-Chili-King/117101988336204