Girls trip to Des Moines

[Katy Belle]

Hello all,
This weekend two friends and I are going to be in Des Moines. We haven't seen each other for 4 years and are looking very forward to this weekend! Des Moines is about half way for all of us, so that is why we picked it.

So... where should we eat/go? We have tix for the Jersey Boys show on Sat. at 2 and are planning to go to the Farmers Market Sat. morning. What else? Dinner Friday and Sat night, any suggestions? Anything else we should try to squeeze in? We are all 41 years old and not opposed to bars, but not looking for a party scene necessarily either.

Thanks for your help!
Katy

 

[newbie2disney]

Check out Jordan Creek Mall. We don't get down there much, but live about 70 miles away. I'll try and check with my BIL who lives down there. I'm 43, so I'm in the same crowd as you

By the way, do you know where you are staying? The part of Des Moines might help on suggestions.

 

[ksjayhawks]

Botanical Center, Art Museum, West Des Moines--old part has neat shops, State Capitol.

There is a restaurant north on i-35 at Ankeny called Chips that is good. Drake Diner for lunch.

 

[AshleyW]

I agree with the PPs about the botanical garden and Jordan Creek.

For dinner, I'd suggest Flying Mango.. delicious barbeque. They're only open for dinner Tues-Sat, closed Sun/Mon and they don't serve lunch.

http://www.flyingmango.com/

 

[golfgal]

Ok, so Des Moines is central, you are coming from Qatar, where is everyone else coming from

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I can be your go to source!!! I have to run DD to band camp in a bit so will check back in and do a long post.

Where will you be staying? Then I can give directions

 

[Katy Belle]

Thanks everybody!

Golf Gal, that was funny! I am currently staying with my parents in the USA for the summer. Doha is HOT, hot, hot.... right now, so we spend the summer in the USA.

You've given me some good ideas already!

Thanks for your help!
Katy

 

[My2Cinderellas]

Dinner suggestions - most of these have their own websites with menus posted and take reservations thru open table if you don't want to call directly.

Sbrocco (downtown) - upscale casual dining, lots of local ingredients when possible, the scallops appetizer here is probably my favorite dish in Des Moines. There is a small wine shop in the basement below the restaurant - if you buy wine here the restaurant waives the corkage fee.

Alba (east village) - upscale casual dining, lots of local ingredients when possible - great bar.

Splash (downtown) - nice seafood restaurant, across the street from the Civic Center.

Miyabi 9 (east village) - hands down the best sushi in Des Moines. This place is tiny and very casual, about 10 tables and 6-8 seats at the sushi counter.

Django (downtown) - located in the Hotel Fort Des Moines, casual French bistro. good for lunch or dinner. Never a corkage fee for wine my favorite lunch here is the Burger au Poivre with housemade skinny fries. I drive in and meet DH for a lunch date here about once a month. Dinner is also great.

Centro (downtown) - same owner/head chef as Django, casual to upscale casual Italian. Great pizzas, large menu. Great for lunch or dinner.

A Dong (just west of downtown) - inexpensive Vietnamese, huge menu, very casual.

Gateway Market (just west of downtown) - upscale grocery, home of South Union Bakery, same owner as Django and Centro restaurants). Great place to pick up picnic stuff, the cafe here does great breakfast and lunch too.

Dish (West Des Moines/Clive) easy to find off the interstate on University Ave. This place is upscale casual and does mostly small plates. Very fun to order several things and share. Great drinks and large wine list by the glass.

For things to do - if anyone is really interested in Art, the Art Center is highly regarded, both for the architecture of the building and the collection. Easy to see in a couple of hours.

shopping - Valley Junction is fun for quirky shops and antiques, this is the old original section of West Des Moines. For mall shopping I also recommend Jordan Creek. There are a number of chain restaurants out there for dining too. Cheesecake Factory, PF Chang's, Brava Cucina Italian, etc.

If you are doing breakfast at the farmer's market - don't miss the pastry stand over towards the east end. Amazing

let me know if you need more ideas!

 

[Disfan3]

I live in Des Moines.

You could do a few things:

Botanical Center, downtown

Jordan Creek Mall, the whole area has tons of shopping, restaurants...big names you won't find anywhere in Iowa other than at Jordan Creek like the Cheesecake Factory and PF Changs, Joe's Crab Shack, etc. This is not close to downtown, however, you will find you can get pretty much anywhere in DSM in about 20 mins with no problems.

Centro is the premiere restaurant downtown and very popular with Civic Center goers...since you have tickets. I also love Django...downtown. It is French and would be a lovely dinner before the show.

Check out the Capital Building...gorgeous! Worth at least a drive by and stop and walk...

There is also an outdoor art sculpture park downtown, worth taking a look.

The shops in West Des Moines that the other poster was talking about...that is called Valley Junction. Very eclectic shops...specialty stores and antiques, etc. A nice small bar is down there call the Longest Yard...fun. Not the "club scene" but a good place to get a drink if you are out that way.

The zoo is good too, not sure if that is something you are looking to do...

Hope that helps!!

 

[Deb in IA]

When we went to see "Wicked" last year at the Civic Center, we ate at Azalea, and we thought it was great:

http://www.azaleadsm.com/

It is almost directly across the street, and really easy to get to.

 

[Katy Belle]

Thanks everybody!!! Now I'm so excited!!!! I appreciate your help!
Katy

 

[cirquelovers]

I have been having a craving for the Drake Diner. Their breakfast and lunches are wonderful, breakfast especially. Of course I live a few thousand miles away

I can't think of the name but there is a fast food joint that has butter burgers and soft serve, they call it custard I believe. My Mom took me there and it was really good.

The farmers market was a lot of fun. There were some Menonite,maybe, ladies that sold homemade pies and they were amazing! We went back the next weekend to buy another one!

My Mom always takes us to baseball games. My son only goes for the Dippin Dots, an ice cream. That is where we discovered them but can't seem to find them in Oregon.

If you go during the State Fair you should really check it out. It is huge!!

 

[AshleyW]

I have been having a craving for the Drake Diner. Their breakfast and lunches are wonderful, breakfast especially. Of course I live a few thousand miles away

I can't think of the name but there is a fast food joint that has butter burgers and soft serve, they call it custard I believe. My Mom took me there and it was really good.

The farmers market was a lot of fun. There were some Menonite,maybe, ladies that sold homemade pies and they were amazing! We went back the next weekend to buy another one!

My Mom always takes us to baseball games. My son only goes for the Dippin Dots, an ice cream. That is where we discovered them but can't seem to find them in Oregon.

If you go during the State Fair you should really check it out. It is huge!!

I think the fast food place you're thinking of is probably Culver's. It's a midwest chain -- though I think there are a couple in Texas, too. Their frozen custard is really tasty.

 

[cirquelovers]

Yes, that sounds right!! They are really great, for fast food!!

Now I want to go to Iowa and pig out....oh and I guess visit my Mothers family

 

[My2Cinderellas]

Hope the girls are having fun this weekend If they didn't melt into the pavement at the farmer's market this morning it was brutal!

Katybelle - if you are checking this - being at the market this morning reminded me of one more restaurant suggestion:

Dos Rios - nice Mexican food, a step or 2 above the typical casual Mexican restaurant with 25 combo platters. We usually go there just for drinks and nibbles but the full menu looks really good too. Would be a fun place to sit and have drinks tonight