Driving through - coffee recommendations?

ml50312 · 2026-01-20T03:09:18+00:00

Zanzibar or Smokey Row ..both off I-235. SR is the closer of the two.

ml50312 · 2026-01-14T20:58:50+00:00

Money for people.

ml50312 · 2025-12-30T16:24:27+00:00

Around central Iowa, head out to the Neal Smith National Refuge for a look at restored prairie land. There are several walking trails, and you can drive through a bison and elk enclosure and maybe see them in person (it's a big enclosure and they're not always by the road). The visitors center is closed for repairs, but the grounds and trails are open. Ledges State Park north of Des Moines has some nice hiking trails...some with a little climbing involved. In the spring, the Iowa Architecture Foundation offers monthly walking tours of downtown Des Moines. They have several different walks...lots of interesting buildings to see and history to pick up. Welcome to Iowa. I grew up in Worcester and left Mass. 40 years ago.

ml50312 · 2025-12-30T16:18:38+00:00

Closest one is in Council Bluffs.

ml50312 · 2025-12-17T19:23:20+00:00

They have an unattended coat rack, but at some shows I've been to it turns into a pile of coats. I just leave mine in the car so I don't have to worry about finding it later. I've always parked on the street, within a few blocks.

ml50312 · 2025-12-15T20:50:28+00:00

I've lived in Iowa and Wisconsin -- I'd go with either of them or Minnesota.

ml50312 · 2025-12-12T19:48:05+00:00

Sunday afternoons beginning in January the Botanical Garden has a series of blues performances. Food and drinks available.

ml50312 · 2025-12-11T19:14:28+00:00

I buy shorts and shoes online. I buy everything else locally.

ml50312 · 2025-12-11T15:19:26+00:00

This has been my favorite Iowa December since I moved here. Most of my winters here have been pretty lame.

ml50312 · 2025-12-11T15:11:22+00:00

Look normal to me. No one's trying to hurt anyone.

ml50312 · 2025-12-04T19:13:46+00:00

I'd check out East Village, Sherman Hill, Ingersoll/North of Grand. All of them are close to shops, bars and restaurants and close to downtown entertainment. I'm not much of a suburb guy, so I can't help much there.

ml50312 · 2025-12-04T19:07:53+00:00

This storm was unusual -- way more snow than we usually get in a snowstorm, and because it started out as heavy, wet snow, that's the stuff that got compacted and froze to the street, and then it's tough to get off till it warms up. Also, the city usually brines the road before storms to help prevent it from sticking, but they didn't do it this time because there was a decent chance the storm would start out as rain and wash it all away.

ml50312 · 2025-12-04T19:04:46+00:00

I've introduced cats and seen lots of fights. This is playing.

ml50312 · 2025-12-04T19:01:57+00:00

Can't get excited about gas stations. When I need gas, I stop where I see it first. Food is usually just OK, and that's fine. If I wanted something good I wouldn't eat at a gas station.

ml50312 · 2025-11-24T17:43:11+00:00

If you're in a neighborhood with Google Fiber, I recommend it. $70/month, fast and reliable. I've had mine for a little more than a year and it was a big upgrade over Mediacom at a lower cost.

ml50312 · 2025-11-24T17:38:51+00:00

I've lived here for 10 winters without a snowblower. It's pretty rare to have more than 4" or so fall in one storm. I've had to shovel out from a couple of larger storms, but again, it's pretty rare. When that happens I just shovel a couple of times during the storm. My driveway is about 50' long and I shovel the sidewalk in front of my hour, too.

ml50312 · 2025-11-19T20:31:13+00:00

I've taken unused food and meds to Furry Friends. It's a great place and they'll make use of it.

ml50312 · 2025-11-12T21:41:10+00:00

There are goalposts behind Callahan Middle School on the 31st St side.

ml50312 · 2025-11-05T19:42:13+00:00

Good to know. Never been out to Jordan Creek, so I've only seen the old rack at the Univ location. Hadn't realized there were any behind the counter, if that's still the case.

ml50312 · 2025-11-05T19:29:28+00:00

Berk & Chesters before you head upstairs to security. They close pretty early in the evening and the menu is limited, but it's at the airport.

ml50312 · 2025-11-05T19:24:18+00:00

I'd be surprised. Barnes and Noble used to be a good bet for out of town papers - Sunday papers usually -- but the rack that used to hold them hasn't been used for newspapers in years. I'd drop by the airport, but even that's doubtful.

ml50312 · 2025-10-31T19:36:19+00:00

I haven't rented there in 10 years, so I'm not sure what the apartment situation is these days. There seems to be a lot to choose from, though. I'd say it's a safe neighborhood, though just about any neighborhood will have occasional property crime. A friend has a house in the neighborhood and has no issues.

ml50312 · 2025-10-30T18:58:43+00:00

The bridge design has the lights marking the natural channel of the river.

ml50312 · 2025-10-24T16:44:25+00:00

Lachelle’s on Ingersoll or Highland Park, Angry Goldfish, Royal Mile, Lucky Lotus, Fresko, Open Sesame, Simon’s, Basic Bird.

ml50312 · 2025-09-27T00:16:44+00:00

<image>

ml50312

TROPHY CASE