It’s always interesting seeing your hometown from a new perspective. I got the opportunity to do just that when I made the two-hour drive back to Des Moines (from Cedar Rapids) for an afternoon visit with Catch Des Moines to check out what the downtown area can offer groups.
We started things off by exploring the architectural beauty that is the LEED Platinum-certified World Food Prize Hall of Laureates. It was easily my favorite of the meeting spaces I visited while in the area. It’s one of those buildings you hear about, but never quite get around to visiting when it’s in your immediate hometown.
Next up was lunch, where I experienced Americana Restaurant & Lounge for the first time. I selected the Chicken Avocado Sandwich and some fries off the menu, and of course, I had to indulge in some dessert, Our group sampled the Bacon Brownie Sundae and Turtle S’mores, with the latter—coming out in a sort of s’more skillet—being the overall favorite. The entire restaurant can be reserved for parties of 175 people or more and it also provides catering services.
We made quick stops at the John & Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Des Moines Public Library and Temple for Performing Arts, which had recently received some traffic from the Sept. 8, 2013, TEDxDesMoines event. All of these spaces can be utilized for meetings and events.
One of the more original ventures in town is the Des Moines Social Club, a nonprofit venue whose goal is to create community engagement through the arts. It is moving to a new location at Firehouse No. 1, the old site of the fire station downtown, by the end of the year.
On any given night, visitors can get lost in the building, which will host theater events, pop-up art galleries, trivia competitions, cooking classes and just about anything else you can think of happening simultaneously. The space will also contain meeting rooms and outdoor space for groups.
West End Architectural Salvage is another innovative space that makes for a good place to network and hold breakout sessions while in town. The venue houses a 50,000-square-foot warehouse filled with old items that are rebuilt into custom furniture. It is open for the public to explore. The business even has its own television show on HGTV, West End Salvage, in which designs rooms for clients.
At the end of a long day of meetings, the lineup of bars at Full Court Press, including Mullet’s, El Bait Shop, High Life Lounge, Hessen Haus, Royal Mile and Red Monk, are tough to beat, each offering a specialized theme and flavor. El Bait Shop is a personal favorite, with 105 draft beers on tap!
