Des Moines Essentials

Beer in a tulip glass reading "Barn Town Brewing" on a wood bar in front of a wall with blue pickup truck backer and beer taps at Barn Town Brewing near Des Moines, Iowa

The Ultimate Guide to Des Moines Breweries

In the past few years, I’ve noticed there are a surprising number of places to enjoy a craft beer in Des Moines (and even more across Iowa). In fact, the newly opened Iowa Taproom showcases 120 taps from more than 20 Iowa breweries.

In honor of Des Moines Beer Week, I decided to compile some of my favorite local spots into an ultimate guide to breweries in Des Moines and the surrounding area.

All Rights Reserved Megan Bannister

Loving the Luminarium

Earlier this fall I learned that a beautifully unexpected art installation would be making its way through Des Moines. For a few short days, the colorful Luminarium popped up in downtown’s Cowles Commons for the community to…

All Rights Reserved Megan Bannister

Summer in the City: Des Moines Edition

As the snow melts and the trees begin to bloom, there’s a certain energy that returns to the air, especially in a place with harsh winters like Iowa. But no more so than in the early days of summer. As a kid, that meant never wearing shoes, devouring endless books for summer reading, picking raspberries in the backyard, and escaping to the lake for a long weekend.

Even though I no longer have summers off, I try to approach summer with the same sense of excitement. And while I’m not a big fan of the oppressive humidity or buzzing mosquitos that accompany the season, there are a lot of things I absolutely adore about Des Moines in the summer.

All Rights Reserved Megan Bannister

Discovering the Birthplace of Des Moines

Unless you spend an inordinately large amount of time along Des Moines’ southern riverfront or happen have the same running route as I do, you’ve probably never noticed the tiny log cabin just off the parking lot of Principal Park. I first happened upon it a few years back while taking advantage of the downtown trail systems training for a half marathon, and since then it’s been one of my favorite hidden gems…

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Des Moines Essentials: Breakfast & Brunch

As the wise Ron Swanson says “There has never been a sadness that can’t be cured by breakfast food.” Or really any other emotion for that matter. Whether it’s diner style breakfast or fancier brunch, it’s hard for me to find something to dislike about pancakes, eggs and everything in between…