Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Home Sweet Home: Des Moines

Des Moines has really been getting pretty awesome in recent years. There are actually things to do here now! So the other weekend Scott and I went wandering around downtown. We live down there so we didn't have to wander far. These are some pictures from that jaunt. It's fun to get out and see what's pretty much in your backyard and appreciate where you are.

We had lunch at Baby Boomers. Obama's headquarters was right next door to their previous location (and right across the street from my old apartment). Obama loved their cookies. A LOT. That love got them national attention and enough money to move to a bigger location. They used to be just a breakfast place, but now they have lunch also and they sell artwork and have a little grocery section. And that is Scott. He's either sleeping or reading the menu.


Here's me getting all artsy. Taking a picture of downtown through a pretty tree. Don't worry actual photographers, I know I'm no pro.


This is the Robert D. Ray Asian Garden. Robert D. Ray is not Asian, but he's got money and he put it to good use.



I think it's too early in the season. Normally this is filled with water and it runs out the sides. It's still pretty all dry.


We live in what I call, The Church District. We're surrounded by the damn things. Bells going off at all hours. I also just found out that a noise I thought was screeching birds was actually a recording of screech owls to keep the crows away. I didn't notice until it was pointed out to me that the noise is always the same. There's a big anti-crow agenda downtown. There is some weird gun like thing that they shoot the crows out of trees with. It sounds too weird to be true, but I assure you it is. From the Des Moines City Newsletter: Operation Downtown has launched a task force to move the crows out of downtown. The crew uses different movement tactics like red laser lights and pyrotechnics to get the birds to leave downtown during the early morning hours and late into evening. Let's get back to god.




We also have this awesome new sculpture park, Pappajohn Sculpture Park. John and Mary Pappajohn are really doing more than their fair share to make Des Moines great.

I imagine the sculptures come to life at night and all gather here and plot our demise. When you look at these sculptures you can see why I'm scared. They're cool and kinda scary. At least some of them. You'll see...











And we also went into an abandoned building at an old car lot and found this toilet. That's how I will end this post. So come visit!

7 comments:

Liz said...

Oh My god, that is the coolest park EVER!!!!! Iam saving my pennies to visit now.

Reverend Awesome said...

We have a spare room!

Gallow said...

I can't wait to see the abandoned building. I live such a sheltered life.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

golly, you really really really wanna visit Duh Moines, and not just to see KC and Beckster!

Unknown said...

Dez Moinez is a lot of fun. I was driving down Grand the other day and realized they are spending a TON of money on outdoor art. It seems like every time I drive by, there's something new out there.. I especially love the creepy spider.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

The congressman from DM was on the radio yesterday, and he is ready to KICK SOME LIMBAUGH ASS. Good. Why isn't my congressman on the radio kicking Limbaugh's ass??????????

Reverend Awesome said...

Was it Leonard Boswell? I hope so. I love me some Leonard. I went to a Forth of July parade a couple years ago, election year, and he was on a float. I said to my Mom (loud as I can't control the volume of my voice) "That's Leonard Freaking Boswell!" and he heard me, pointed at me and laughed and waved. Based on that and that alone, I will love him forever.