Neighborhood movie night, junior golf clinic, tropical terrariums, and more. 
Happy Friday, Des Moines. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Des Moines Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Local firefighter scoops the city’s top award, DMACC launches a sure ASU fast track, and Des Moines at last welcomes a romance bookstore — catch up here.
State-level stories: Five overlooked bars in Iowa City, state nearly drought free after record July rain, and NASCAR Cup Series races back to Iowa Speedway — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Study finds adults inhale thousands of plastic fragments daily, many hearts age faster than their owners, and Ford recalls F-150 hybrids without seatbelt chime — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Join neighbors for free food and fun
- Seniors gather for art discussion
- Master internet tricks to find anything
- Celebrate adoptable pups at foam paw-ty
- Unlock dozens of travel deals with AARP
🫶 We got your back
Markets: Skip turning your kitchen into a sauna, because Des Moines farmers markets deliver fresh produce and summer vibes in one stop.
Golf: Dreamy layouts and six-figure green fees aren’t just on the coasts. Midwest under-the-radar public tracks serve up lush fairways and wallet-friendly rates. They’re the courses your golf buddies need to discover.
Reads: The smell of paper, the thrill of cracking open a new story, and the chance to accidentally spend two hours debating which cover looks cooler, Storyhouse Bookpub is basically a playground for bookworms (minus the monkey bars, plus way more coffee).
Health: Forget outdated weight loss fads and gimmicks. Modern science has changed the game. GLP-1 medications (like the ones behind today’s most talked-about treatments) are helping people manage weight in a safer, more sustainable way. Check out your options today.
👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?
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📆 Around town this weekend
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirey outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Today
🛝 4th Annual Adult Recess @ Captain Roy’s | Friday (8/1) at 6:00pm – Captain Roy’s is channeling its inner playground, trading midlife crises for dodgeball glory and hopscotch chalk underfoot. This free, adults-only recess brings endless schoolyard games, drink specials, and enough nostalgia to make you question why you ever left the jungle gym.
🎬 Neighborhood Movie Night @ Hoyt Sherman Place | Friday (8/1) at 8:30pm – Nothing says summer like watching The Goonies under the stars on Sherman Hill’s fresh-cut lawn. Grab blankets, chairs, your crew, and enjoy free admission, no Netflix password required, concessions scents wafting your way, plus that warm, communal buzz only an outdoor movie night can deliver.
This weekend
🏌️♂️ Junior Golf Clinic @ Des Moines Driving Range | Saturday (8/2) at 12:00pm – Nothing beats watching your kid swap screen time for swing practice. Treat your K-8 grader to a free, 60-minute clinic at the Des Moines Driving Range with PGA pros Sarah Bidney, Jennie Jackson. Expect fundamentals, high-fives, and maybe a few wayward drives.
🦍 Kong Day @ Paws and Pints | Saturday (8/2) at 2:00pm – This Saturday, Paws & Pints transforms into a foam paw-ty with doggy pools, adoptable pooches, and enough KONG swag to make Fido furiously grateful. Fill your own treat-stuffed toy, take goofy photos and enter raffles, sip a drink special, and pretend your life isn’t overscheduled.
🎤 MegaBallad @ Prairie Meadows Casino | Saturday (8/2) at 10:00pm – Des Moines’ own MegaBallad storms Finish Line Show Lounge with booster-shot levels of 80s hair-metal power ballads, complete with high-octane flair that’ll make your spandex blush. It’s free, so dust off those air-guitar moves, and let’s see if your headbang reflex still works.
👑 Anastasia: The Musical @ Indianola High School Auditorium | Sunday (8/3) at 2:00pm – Ready to escape to 1920s Paris without leaving Indianola? Carousel Theatre wraps up its 60th season with Anastasia, a grand, sweeping musical packed with familiar tunes, new songs, and more drama than your neighbor’s backyard fence feud. Buy online for five bucks off, trust me.
🍨 Sundae in the Park @ Johnston Commons Park Shelter | Sunday (8/3) at 6:00pm – Ever scouted out the perfect bribe to extend summer by a few hours? Swing by Johnston Commons Park this Sunday evening for a free ice cream sundae, hands-on activities, and casual chat with school and city leaders before the real world kicks back in.
Next week
🎸 Jim Dandy and the Kountry Rebels @ Prairie Meadows Casino | Tuesday (8/5) at 11:00am – If you’ve been craving some honest to goodness country twang and rock ’n’ roll grit, Jim Dandy & the Kountry Rebels roll into the Finish Line Show Lounge for a free set. Expect decade-tested hits, muddy boots, and cheers loud enough to shame your TV.
🌴 Tropical Terrariums @ Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden | Tuesday (8/5) at 5:30pm – Take a break from your endless Zoom calls and build a miniature rainforest to boost your plant cred. All materials are provided, just bring that long-dormant creativity. You’ll learn design tricks, channel your inner scientist, and end up with a tiny, thriving world.
👮 National Night Out @ Sam Wise Youth Complex | Tuesday (8/5) at 6:00pm – National Night Out is rolling through the neighborhood with free food, swag, and more games than your family reunion. You’ve got K9 demos, FD vs. PD showdowns, live tunes, and prizes that’ll have your inner kid doing cartwheels. Just bring yourself, and your extrovert.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/1 Drake White @ Wildwood – 7 pm
- 8/1 Bad Friends @ Des Moines Biergarten – 7 pm
- 8/1 Richie Lee & the Fabulous 50’s @ Prairie Meadows Casino – 10 pm
- 8/2 Orillia @ Rogue Planet Music – 7 pm
- 8/2 Buena Vista Orchestra @ Hoyt Sherman Place – 8 pm
- 8/2 Sister Sara @ Back Roads Lounge – 8 pm
- 8/2 Emo Nite @ Wooly’s – 9:45 pm
- 8/3 The Word Alive and more @ Wooly’s – 7:30 pm
- 8/3 Hinterland Music Festival Afterparty @ Val Air Ballroom – 10:30 pm
🏠️ Price is right – Des Moines edition
How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).
*This 👇 could be your listing. Hit us up if you’ve got a home (or 12) to sell.
Listed by: SHARON KLAUS (BHHS First Realty Westown)
Classic Beaverdale brick, dappled in shade from mature trees, serves up vintage curb appeal with a side of modern upgrades. Inside, a fireplace anchors the cozy living room while the updated kitchen features quartz counters, white cabinetry, and a gas range ready for culinary experiments. Step out from the dining area onto a composite deck overlooking a fenced backyard, or make a quick dash to the two-car garage for weekend adventures.
Upstairs, the primary bedroom gets its own AC system and walk-in closet, plus hardwood floors and clever storage nooks. Two more bedrooms on the main level flex for guests or a home office, and the finished lower level adds bonus space and a second bath. All this sits on tree-lined streets where neighbors actually wave and parks, cafes, and local shops are just a stroll away.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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