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: Massive project rolls on without beer hall, a 150 mile water trail springs up at Fleur Drive dam, and vibrant tech infused quilts debut — catch up here.

State-level stories: Iowa researchers score a $705 million boost, brands team up to help farmers plant cover crops, and a baby macaque is delighting zoo visitors — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: 24/7 social security access, dogs detect Parkinson’s, and a new method or reclaiming 98 percent of battery metals — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Join Hartford’s BBQ bash for community fun
• Hike through Iowa’s prairie at Neal Smith
• Chill and socialize with furry friends
• Join a benefit concert supporting Sherri Irons
• Run Confluence’s 5K then savor craft brews
• iTustCapital offers $0/mo crypto IRA accounts

🫶 We got your back

Drink: Your morning ritual deserves better than gas station swill and drive-thru disappointment. From baristas who remember your “usual” to pastry cases that whisper sweet temptations, these nearby caffeine sanctuaries know that great coffee is about way more than just the beans.

Music: Spotify playlists are fine for folding laundry. Looking for something rowdier than your earbuds? These live music venues deliver the kind of energy that reminds you why you used to stay out past 10 pm.

Brunch: We’ve rounded up the coziest spots around Des Moines where the coffee flows freely and the eggs benny never disappoints. Check ’em out here if you’re ready for bottomless mimosas and fluffy pancakes over bland toast.

Family: Need creative ways to keep the littles entertained without screens? This guide covers the coolest summer outdoor toys and on-the-go activities for kiddos.

👀 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

🧸 Pipsqueak Playdate @ Altoona Public Library | Friday (7/18) at 10:00am – Got a tiny tot with energy to burn and a love for mess-free chaos? This one’s for you. Expect hands-on sensory stations, arty fun, and plenty of free play — all designed to boost early literacy (while giving parents a breather). No sign-up needed, just show up and let them explore.

🎄 Christmas in July Family Bingo @ Indianola Public Library | Friday (7/18) at 6:00pm – Your local library is cranking the AC into a winter wonderland with holiday-themed Bingo, so you can sweat from anticipation instead of July heat. Snacks and prizes are on deck, but spots are as scarce as red M&Ms in Christmas cookies, so register now.

This weekend

🍖 BBQ Bash | Saturday (7/19) at 9:00am – Grab a bib and wander down to Hartford’s yearly BBQ shindig, where locals judge your brisket, firefighters soak you silly, and you can throw bags in a cornhole contest to live tunes while munching farm-fresh fare. Part smoke-off, part craft show, all hometown charm.

🧩 Puzzle Competition @ West Des Moines Public Library | Saturday (7/19) at 12:00pm – Time to flex those puzzle-solving muscles. Round up a team of four and take on a 500-piece face-off for a shot at puzzling glory. If you crack the code faster than the rest, you’ll move on to the finals—where a 1,000-piece beast awaits. Best part? No entry fee, and you keep every puzzle you touch.

🔍 The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show @ Des Moines Public Library | Saturday (7/19) at 6:00pm – Dinner Detective is landing in Des Moines with a killer three-course meal and a live cold-case whodunit, so skip your usual steakhouse and practice your best Sherlock. You’ll be interrogated between bites, suspects are everywhere, and bragging rights go to the top sleuth.

🏃‍♂️ 5K Beer Run: 2025 IA Brewery Running Series @ Confluence Brewing Company | Sunday (7/20) at 11:00am – Confluence Brewing is hosting a casual 5K-ish trot around Gray’s Lake, where the only finish-line mandate is a cold pint waiting at the taproom. Walk, jog, or actually run, then bask in food trucks, live tunes, and all the feel-good charity vibes.

🍦 Ice Cream Social @ Paws and Pints | Sunday (7/20) at 12:00pm – Sunday at Paws & Pints, BaanVaan’s artisanal scoops meet frozen puppychinos, proof that your dog shares your sophisticated dessert addiction. Bring your sidekick, enjoy sloppy kisses sans judgment, and let’s be honest, those calories vanish when tails are this happy.

🎈 Air Supply – 50th Anniversary Celebration @ Des Moines Civic Center | Sunday (7/20) at 7:30pm – Whether you’ve belted “All Out of Love” on the commute or sworn you’d only queue “Lost in Love” on weekends, this 50th anniversary gig brings Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock’s smooth, nostalgic rock back to town. It’s like your high-school mixtape upgraded with leather.

Next week

🎨 Acrylic Sunsets on Canvas @ Hoyt Sherman Place | Monday (7/21) at 5:00pm – Grab a brush and claim your spot on the gallery patio to paint the kind of sunset that makes locals pause mid sip, with Kelsey Wilson guiding your every blend. Supplies are on us, just bring that perfect sunset selfie, and we’ll handle the rest.

🥗 Farm to Table Vegan Dinner @ Henry A Wallace Country Life Center | Tuesday (7/22) at 6:00pm – If you’re sick of limp lettuce and want veggies that actually excite your taste buds, head to the Wallace House for a three-course vegan dinner showcasing summer’s bounty straight from their garden. No rabbit food here, just seasonal, locally sourced dishes bursting with farm flavor.

🎺 DuPont Brass @ Water Works Park | Tuesday (7/22) at 6:30pm – Ready to trade your usual weekend humdrum for something that blasts the roof off? DuPont Brass, those once-humble Metro station buskers-turned ten-piece Eclectic Soul supergroup, delivers a horn-driven mashup of jazz, hip-hop, and R&B that’ll have you in full-on groove mode.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 7/18 Dick Danger Band @ Smash Park – 6:30 pm
• 7/18 Brittany Sword @ Kelly’s Little Nipper – 7 pm
• 7/18 Lincoln Highway @ Prarie Meadows Casino – 10 pm
• 7/19 Beaverdale Bluegrass Festival @ Tower Park – 2:30 pm
• 7/19 Songs From The Road @ Beaverdale Bluegrass Festival – 3 pm
• 7/19 Simple Company @ Prarie Meadows – 10 pm
• 7/20 Benefit for Sherri Irons @ Lefty’s – 1 pm
• 7/20 Carnifex and more @ Wooly’s – 5 pm
• 7/22 Kevin Lindgren @ Prarie Medows – 11 am

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: Pennie Carroll (Pennie Carroll & Associates)

Mid-century lines meet modern updates in this 4-bed, 2-bath ranch perched above the city lights. Original hardwoods, a sunken living room, and a double-sided brick fireplace bring vintage charm, while the kitchen’s bold tile and quartz counters keep things fresh. Oversized windows frame mountain views from nearly every room.

The backyard is a terraced playground for gardeners or grill masters, with a hidden patio perfect for late-night conversations. Tucked on a quiet cul-de-sac just minutes from downtown, this place balances retro flair with everyday convenience.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →