We are launching a new service to help connect you with a local Des Moines Churches.

About a year ago my wife and I were looking for a new church. It was very hard experience due to the tremendous amount of Churches in Des Moines. After spending so much time, we decided to make a local area guide to help you get through the whole process of finding the right fit for you.

We need help!! If you can recommend a church, or even better, get us in contact with a pastor or member we can interview, that would be great. This is a FREE service to help out local churches. Also if you would like to volunteer as a writer, photographer, or any other talent you can help out with please contact us.

This guide is not about saying one church is better then the other, its more a place to find out about whats going on around you.

To contact us, please email-

Jason   Email- downtowndesmoinesblog (at) gmail dot com

This are some of the sights downtown, just before the parade came by.  People started waiting closely after 5:00.  As far as I could see there were people lined up. The weather was great, and many people traveled downtown with their children to see the bands, horses, clowns, and cars.

My friend, Noah, and his sister waiting for the parade.

Waiting patiently for the parade to begin.

The parade began with the color guard.

The Des Moines Mounted Patrol

The riders in this carriage where having a great time.

The Budweiser Team had their own dog with them.

And lots of tractors.

This guy could give lessons to the clowns. He was having more fun then any one else.
He was sitting in the window, and getting out of the truck, to talk to people.  Many of the clowns just dressed up, and walked, but this guy was having a ball.People like him make the parade a lot more fun.

Article and photos by: Jo Hill

The annual State Fair kick-off parade is set Wednesday, August 6 at 6:15 p.m. in downtown Des Moines. Spectators will be able to watch nearly 200 floats, animals, vehicles, novelty and performing units. Staging will take place at the State Capitol Complex. Parade entrants will then travel west on Grand Avenue to 13th Street. Dispersion will take place between 13th and 18th Streets.

Three viewing areas along the route are accessible to disabled persons: East Grand Office Park, 100-200 East Grand (north side); East 1st Street and Grand (south side); and 6th Avenue and Grand (north side).

If you can’t make it, don’t worry, we will have our photographers coving all the action.

We have $150 gift certificate to Wells Bed and Breakfast in Urbandale IA.  We wanted to donate this to Sophie’s Silient Auction to help raise money for University of Iowa Children’s Hospital.

However it expires on August 30th, 2008 so it will be to late to use it by the time the auction takes place. We called Diane from Wells Bed and Breakfast to ask if she would extend the date a little since it was for charity but she declined.

So here is how we can do it, email us your bid and we will pick the highest bidder by this Thursday the 7th of August. All money raised will go to help Sophie’s Silent Auction.

Please email us at- downtowndesmoinesblog (at) gmail dot com

Do you want some free BBQ and to listen to  live music?  Come out and meet your neighbors at the 25th annual National Night Out.

Tuesday, August 5
6:00–9:00 pm
The Red Bridge (just south of Court Ave.)

photo by jo hill

Are you planning on moving downtown and have no idea where to start?

We would like to help point you in the right direction and then write about it on our website to help others who are just like you.

email us at - downtowndesmoinesblog (at) gmail dot com

I wanted to let you know about the upcoming Des Moines Rehabbers Club meeting this Saturday, August 2, from 9:30 to 11:00 am.  We will be touring the historic Murillo building with general contractor Mike Kinter, who will talk about the move and the rehabilitation process.  Please forward this event announcement to anyone you think might be interested.

What: Tour the fabulous Murillo Building!
Where: Intersection of 16th and High (northeast corner)
When: Saturday, August 2, from 9:30 - 11:00
Cost: Free!

It’s a BIG deal to move a 705-ton pile of bricks down the middle of the street, even if the final destination is only a few blocks away. Several months ago, Mike Kinter of Kinter Construction oversaw just such a project when the historic Murillo Apartments and Henshie-Briggs Row House were picked up off their foundations and moved to new locations in the Sherman Hill neighborhood.

Join us to tour the buildings and hear Mike talk about the building moving process - what does it take to manage such a huge undertaking, what are the dangers, and how does one prepare a building for a move.

• Photos of the buildings on the AbsoluteDSM discussion forum - scroll down towards the bottom for pictures of the amazing move!
• Wikipedia article on the Murillo.
• Photo on RenovateDSM of the current state of the building

DSMRC monthly meetings are free and open to the public! They are typically held on the first Saturday of each month from 9:30 to 11:00 in the morning.  Each meeting is at a different location and covers a different topic.  We welcome people of all skill levels whether you are a professional general contractor, exploring options for redoing a bathroom, or simply want to talk about renovation with other interesting people.

Please contact DSMRC organizer Steve Wilke-Shapiro at swilkeshapiro@gmail.com or 515-710-3484 for more information.

Hope to see you there!

One of the biggest attractions in Downtown Des Moines every Saturday
morning is the Farmer’s Market.  If you are new to the city, or have
never taken part you need to join the crowd. You will find fresh produce,
flowers, bread and rolls, popcorn, and almost any fresh food you might like.

You can find breakfast, smoothies, cookies, Dutch letters, and ethnic foods.
If you don’t want to eat, and you may be the only one there that isn’t eating,
you can find crafts, glass wear, bird houses, and much more.

You can also find dogs of all sizes and shapes, and if you like to walk your
dog you will have a lot of company.

If you just want to do some people watches—it’s almost as good as the state Fair.
This week I found these brothers.  Aren’t they cute?

It’s a little hard to get bored at the Market because you can always find music.
I enjoyed this pair.  A two man band.  I especially liked the one string bass.
I’d seen a wash tub bass, but never a wooden box bass.  I have seen South American
flutes, steel drums, guitars, bands, and solos.  If you like them, toss a
donation in their hats.

And when you get tired–there are a few places where you can sit in the shade and
have a picnic with the family.

Come to the Market from 7:00 in the morning to noon, and share the sun, fun, and
Sunflowers.  See you there next Saturday.  I’ll be there with my camera, looking for you.

Pictures and article by: Jo Hill

Friday around noon a guy had to be pulled out of the river by city hall. He thought it would be ok to swim over the center street dam as long as he swam fast enough.  Needless to say he had to be rescued  and then he was charged with public intox.

Kcci has a great pic.

Anyone want to vote how the next idiot will do it?

1. Using a walmart blowup boat

2. Swimming “fast enough”

3. Inner-tube

4. 50 gallon barrel

After over 100 years in business,  King Ying Low, which is located at 223 4th St in downtown Des Moines, has decided to close the restaurant.

We have not heard of the reason for closing.