Dose of DMU blog » David Lay http://www.dmu.edu/doseofdmu News and tidbits about Des Moines University Tue, 29 May 2012 13:26:16 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Score! Fun night out for cheap! http://www.dmu.edu/doseofdmu/2009/02/score-fun-night-out-for-cheap/ http://www.dmu.edu/doseofdmu/2009/02/score-fun-night-out-for-cheap/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:40:54 +0000 David Lay http://www.dmu.edu/blog/?p=452  

Iowa ChopsHockey? 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!



Although the Chops lost 4-1, it was still a great time nonetheless. It’s even a great time on a student-friendly budget – Chops tickets start at just $7 and Bucs tickets start at $8 and sometimes run specials making them even cheaper. (If you want the real experience, get seats at ice-level for a bit more $$. A hockey game just isn’t a hockey game until you see the action unfold three feet in front of you!)



Check out the Iowa Chops or Des Moines Buccaneers websites for more info on hockey in Des Moines.

]]> http://www.dmu.edu/doseofdmu/2009/02/score-fun-night-out-for-cheap/feed/ 1 How tweet it is! http://www.dmu.edu/doseofdmu/2008/12/how-tweet-it-is/ http://www.dmu.edu/doseofdmu/2008/12/how-tweet-it-is/#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:17:45 +0000 David Lay http://www.dmu.edu/blog/?p=308 tweetupYou’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!

If you want to connect virtually and in real life with your fellow Des Moines residents, Twitter and Tweetups are a great way to do so. Check out Twitter and #dmtweetup for more information!

Photo by me, David Lay!

]]> http://www.dmu.edu/doseofdmu/2008/12/how-tweet-it-is/feed/ 1 DSM – eat your heart out! http://www.dmu.edu/doseofdmu/2008/10/dsm-eat-your-heart-out/ http://www.dmu.edu/doseofdmu/2008/10/dsm-eat-your-heart-out/#comments Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:00:49 +0000 David Lay http://www.dmu.edu/blog/?p=167 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)

2. A Dong:  Being a huge fan of Asian cuisine, I was excited to hear about this restaurant, also in Sherman Hill. Their main concentration is Vietnamese cuisine, with a huge menu boasting over 100 items, many of which are also vegetarian friendly. The spring rolls are gigantic and are to die for. (1511 High St., Des Moines; 515-284-5632)

3. Kwong Tung:  When I walked in for the first time, my initial observation was that their decor hasn’t changed since the day they opened. What they lack in atmosphere, they more than make up for with their food. Their Sweet & Sour Chicken is some of the best I’ve had. Their prices are extremely student-friendly, with lunch specials starting at $4.25 and dinner starting at $6. They recently started offering Dim Sum on Sundays; call or stop by for more details. Head next door to Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure for an excellent post-meal latte. (2721 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines; 515-244-8813)

4.  Old West Mexican Restaurant:  A newcomer to the Des Moines restaurant scene, Old West is definitely another restaurant that lacks in decor, but definitely compensates with their food. All the traditional favorites are on the rather large menu, and if you visit on the weekends, you’re likely to be serenaded by an impressive guitarist/singer. Trust me on this: try the Carnitas. If you need to work off what you just ate, head next door to Air Lanes for some bowling.  (4138 Fleur Dr., Des Moines; 515-285-2468)

5.  Culver’s:  I know what you’re thinking: “He’s a foodie, why is he talking about a burger joint?” One bite into their famous Butterburgers, and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Oh yeah, they’ve got yummy fried cheese curds and loads of frozen custard too.  (Numerous locations)

]]> http://www.dmu.edu/doseofdmu/2008/10/dsm-eat-your-heart-out/feed/ 2 Doing a Good – In DMU's Backyard! http://www.dmu.edu/doseofdmu/2008/08/doing-a-good-in-dmus-backyard/ http://www.dmu.edu/doseofdmu/2008/08/doing-a-good-in-dmus-backyard/#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:42:43 +0000 David Lay http://www.dmu.edu/blog/?p=136 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.

My wife Jennifer & I volunteered at the Art Center’s annual ‘Art Inside Out,’ an annual festival complete with live music, art activities and more.  It was an excellent opportunity to share art with the community, especially the replica of the Art Center made entirely of cake, wafers, chocolate and rice krispy treats!

The Des Moines Art Center is always in need of volunteers for special events and its docent program. Contact Paula Hutton McKinley at the Art Center for more information about volunteering!

"Nomade" by Jaume Plensa, on display at the
Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines.
(Photo by David Lay)  
]]> http://www.dmu.edu/doseofdmu/2008/08/doing-a-good-in-dmus-backyard/feed/ 0