Hockey? In Des Moines?  To that I say: as a matter of fact, yes!



I’ve been a lifelong hockey fan. To me, there’s no other sport like it – it’s such a fast-paced sport, the game can change faster than a 100 mph slapshot. It’s one thing to watch on TV, but it’s completely different to watch a game right in front of you – with seats right on the ice, no less.



I recently got my hands on four front-row seats to see the Iowa Chops play against the Rochester Americans, so I brought along my wife and a couple friends. Mind you, Jennifer had never been to a hockey game before, so she was in for a real treat.  As soon as the first player was checked up against the glass right in front of us she was getting into the game just like the regulars, myself included. She is now officially a hockey fan!



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You’re probably looking at this photo thinking, “Why would those people wear such silly sweaters, let alone three of the same?”

Well, those are just three of the 80+ people that attended last night’s Epic Ugly Sweater Party at Impromptu Studio, one of many Tweetups in the Des Moines area that happen pretty regularly. This Tweetup, however, was a bit different, a bit more festive — donations for the Central Iowa Shelter were collected, Jason Walsmith of The Nadas performed and food & beverages were graciously provided by B&B Grocery and Olde Main Brewery. Even Metromix and ABC 5 TV showed up to cover the event!

What’s a Tweetup, you say? Tweetups are casual, fun meetings of users of the social networking/microblogging site Twitter. It’s a great way to connect in real life with people you speak to virtually!

My wife Jennie & I went, not really knowing what to expect, as she had never been to a Tweetup before, and I have only been to one. However, the people were very friendly – a lot of Des Moines’ movers and shakers were there and we even met a couple of CelebrAsian organizers!

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I have to admit, before moving to Des Moines I had a lot of misconceptions about the city. As a self-professed fan of all things gourmet, finding great food was definitely on my shortlist. Coming from a city (Cleveland) that’s home to an Iron Chef (Michael Symon), I had high expectations, and Des Moines hasn’t let me down.  Here’s a few of my top picks so far…

1.  Gateway Market:  Just a short walk from DMU in the Sherman Hill neighborhood, Gateway is the brainchild of Centro/Django chef/owner George Formaro. It’s a specialty grocery store designed with the foodie in mind.  Looking for some Cave-Aged Gruyere for your Mac & Cheese?  Gateway’s got it. Want some freshly-baked bread with no preservatives?  They’ve got that too.  Have a craving for some quality Niman Ranch meat?  Gateway’s got it in spades. Have a bite at their Market Cafe, which has been featured twice on Bon Appetit, and all their dishes have been concocted by Formaro himself. They also offer regular cooking classes and wine and cheese tastings.  Make sure to sign up for their quarterly Good Food News, which is chock full of recipes and new foods to try. (2002 Woodland Ave., Des Moines; 515-243-1754)

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DMU has many opportunities for volunteering and outreach around the world, but did you know there are also plenty of opportunities right here in Des Moines?

The Des Moines Art Center is a world-class, critically acclaimed art museum with two locations in Des Moines – the Main Gallery, 4700 Grand (a 5-minute walk west from DMU), and the downtown location, in the Wells Fargo Financial Building, 800 Walnut. The Art Center’s specialty is contemporary art, with a collection that boasts the likes of Jasper Johns, Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol and Georgia O’Keeffe.

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