It’s here!
The Big Dream Gathering
Tonight from 6:30 - 10 p.m.
Polk County Convention Center
501 Grand Avenue, Des Moines
Stop by and say “hi” - I’ll be live-blogging the event. It’s free. Kids are welcome.
Writer: Sandy Renshaw is a self-employed communications consultant. You will also find her blogging at Purple Wren.
Technorati Tags: Iowa, Des Moines, Central Iowa News, Big Dream Gathering
E for Excellence! Our site has been recognized by Catherine Morgan at The Political Voices of Women. We’re one of her ten blog picks to receive this award. What an honor! Thanks from all the writers at AroundDesMoines!
It’s customary that award recipients pay it forward to ten other worthy bloggers. Even though it’s difficult to narrow it down to just ten, here are our picks for the “E for Excellence” Award, in no particular order.
If you’ve been around Des Moines you’ll notice there’s a new restaurant in West Des Moines (next to Jimmy’s American Cafe) where Garcia’s used to be.
I recently attended a lunch meeting there and enjoyed the 1/2 salad, 1/2 sandwich. It was great! Try the fried meatballs for a special treat. The service was outstanding. The decor was pleasant and we enjoyed a table next to the fireplace - perfect for a cold winter day.
I talked to Todd Bordenaro, one of the owners. Guess they have been there for about six months. Where have I been? Give this restaurant a try if you are looking for Italian, and let me know what you think. I hear the pizza is sensational.
Bordo’s Eatery & Sauce
1250 8th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50265
515.221.2312
tbordo@hotmail.com
Technorati Tags: Iowa, Des Moines, Central Iowa News, Bordo’s
We spent several hours late this afternoon and evening at the Des Moines Home & Garden Show. What a wonderful place to escape the howling winds and blowing snow on a February day in Iowa.
I spent a few minutes talking to Michelle Applegate. Her husband is Doug Applegate. You might know him as Mural Man. If you are thinking about adding a whimsical touch to your home or business, take a look at the creative illustrations on their website. The kitchen designs really appeal to me.
What a great project - ‘A Place to Plant Hope: Designer Potting Shed Auction‘ presented by Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity and ReStore. It’s a silent auction with proceeds benefiting the work of Habitat for Humanity. There are several unique designs and I couldn’t help but notice one of the sheds was ready for paint and includes a custom paint design from the Mural Man! You must place a bid before the show closes at 6 p.m. Sunday though.
So, have you been to the ReStore yet? I was vaguely aware that it’s there, but after talking to people at the booth I will definitely visit this retail outlet. All the new and used building materials they sell are donated. Proceeds from sale of the materials benefits Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity. It’s a perfect way to save money, reuse materials (Think improve the environment.) and help build more Habitat homes. And I was surprised to find there are seven stores in Iowa and more than 500 in the U.S. and Canada.
There’s only one day left to visit the Des Moines Home & Garden Show!
Writer: Sandy Renshaw is a self-employed communications consultant. You will also find her blogging at Purple Wren.
Technorati Tags: Iowa, Des Moines, Central Iowa News, Des Moines Home & Garden Show
I’ve been meaning to post about this topic - public smoking - for some time, so when Barb Gordon wrote a post at BNGiowa, it spurred me into action. She wonders where her rights end and another’s rights begin. I think there’s too much evidence about the hazards of second-hand smoke to allow smoking in public. Period.
Did you know since 2003 the Central Iowa Tobacco-Free Partnership has published a booklet titled Smoke-Free Dining Guide. Originally they listed 167 restaurants and now there are more than 500 establishments - and not just restaurants. You can order a printed copy from their site, and they have an online smoke-free dining guide.
According to this guide, “Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States.”
California first enacted a smoke-free law in 1998, and there are now 19 smoke-free states. Illinois joined the list as of Jan 1, 2008. About 60 percent of the population is protected by some kind of ordinance.
Here’s some interesting links about the topic of smoking, second-hand smoke, and banning smoking in public:
For those of you who want to vote with your feet, the American Cancer Society can help. They offer Smoke-Free Tips - stickers that you can put on restaurant bills to “thank restaurants that are currently smoke-free” and “encourage restaurants to become smoke-free.”
Do you want to quit smoking? According to an article on whotv.com, there’s help from the Iowa Department of Public Health in the form of free nicotine patches and gum.
Let’s continue to speak out and and support legislation to make Des Moines and all of Iowa smoke-free.
Writer: Sandy Renshaw is a self-employed communications consultant. You will also find her blogging at Purple Wren.
Technorati Tags: Iowa, Des Moines, Des Moines News, Smoking Ban
We got over five inches of snow. The advice to stay in and stay warm is good. Wish I would have taken it yesterday. I had several appointments and decided to run a few errands while I was out. All went well until about 3 p.m. I stopped in to buy a book at DMACC and when I came out my car wouldn’t start.
Luckily I have AAA so I placed a request for service. On a day like that you’re lucky to get help. I waited over an hour for a jump start. The problem was not the battery though. Another call to AAA for a tow truck. Another hour wait. Meanwhile the parking lot had filled up. It was dark. It was COLD. The tow truck was huge and couldn’t get my car out until the lot was empty. So they went back and towed it later. Luckily Jim is still home on winter break and he was able to pick me up. (He also shoveled - yea!) I went home and got warmed up.
I’m still waiting to hear about my car’s woes. It’s been years since we have had a cold snap like this and I forgot how bone-chilling it can be. My hat’s off to those people who work outside. Those guys didn’t even have gloves on.
So stay in - stay warm - and stay safe! I’m off to take some photos.
Writer: Sandy Renshaw is a self-employed communications consultant. You will also find her blogging at Purple Wren.
Technorati Tags: Iowa, Des Moines, Des Moines News
I am one of the lucky ones who registered and will be with the Des Moines Raw Food Meetup Group tonight at East Village Books. If you missed out this time you can sign up to be on the wait list for the second meeting to be held February 4. Send an e-mail to Sheree Clark at sheree@saylesdesign.com if you’d like to go. And there’s still room to sign up for the Mar 3 meetup.
Sheree is the founder of Living Raw, her raw food consulting group. You might have seen the nice article in the Des Moines Register bringing us up to speed on Sheree’s many activities.
Jim, usually an old stick-in-the mud, tells me it’s also crunch time for Ohio State and LSU who will be playing for the national championship in football tonight. But he is coming too. Good choice, Jim.
Writer: Sandy Renshaw is a self-employed communications consultant. You will also find her blogging at Purple Wren.
Technorati Tags: Iowa, Des Moines, Des Moines News, Meetup, Raw Food Meetup Group
I know, you’re sick of the phone calls, TV ads, direct mail, and ringing doorbells. But it’s really here - the day we’ve all been waiting for! So in case you haven’t had enough reminders…
Go caucus.
I’m one of those people who didn’t always understand that it is a privilege to express my opinion in the political arena. And now I do. So I’m surprised when people try to schedule meetings for tonight or opt to attend something else. This is one of the most important things you can be doing right now.
Think your voice won’t be heard? Your vote doesn’t count? You need only look back a short few years to see that every vote matters. So go out there and express yourself, no matter who you support.
See you at the caucus!
Writer: Sandy Renshaw is a self-employed communications consultant. You will also find her blogging at Purple Wren.
Technorati Tags: Iowa, Des Moines, Des Moines News
There’s a lot of events to attend tonight. Many of them political. In case you are still wondering where to go, here are a couple more ideas:
If you know about more, let us know and we’ll add them.
Technorati Tags: Iowa, Des Moines, Des Moines News
This is a fun way to end the year - with an “I” list. For all the Iowa bloggers. Several of us have been posting lists of Iowa bloggers during the past year, but Drew McLellan turned it into The I List. What a great idea!
Go ahead, add any Iowa blogger links that are missing, grab the code and post it on your blog.
Here’s the list with my additions.
The I list:
Adam Carroll
Andy Drish
Around Des Moines
Art Dinkin, CFP, CLU, ChFC
Association of Business & Industry
Association for Women in Communications DSM Alliance
Babich, Goldman, Cashatt & Renzo
Barry Pace
BeatCanvas
Bill Grell
Blue Frog Arts
Brett Trout
Bridges Financial
Broom Wizards
C Wenger Group
Carpe Factum
Claire Celsi
Cloud Nine Diamonds
Compass Financial Services
Conference Calls Unlimited
ConverStations
Dave Dreeszen
Des Moines Families
Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen
DMWebLife
Do You Q?
Dr U Fantasy Football
DSM Buzz
Dwebware
Employer Ease
Enroute365
Eric Peterson
Essential Estrogen
Focal Point Multimedia
George Davison
Gift Idea Help
Home Know-it-All
Insight Advertising & Marketing
Iowa Bed & Breakfast Association
Iowa Biz
J. Erik Potter
Jann Freed
Jennifer Jaskolka-Brown
Josh More
Kyle’s Cove
Maiers Educational Services
McKee, Vorhees & Sease
McLellan Marketing Group
NCMIC Insurance
Purple Wren
Radio Iowa
REL Productions
Rental Metrics
Rita Perea Consulting
Roth & Company
RSM McGladrey
Ruby’s Pub
Runners’ Lounge
Rush Nigut
Ryan Rossinick
Simplifive
SmartPestSolutions
Snap! Creative Works
Studio 24 Design
Sullivan & Ward’s Iowa Law Blog
Swing Station
The Members Group
The Mitchell Group
The Simple Dollar
The Yin Blog
This Ain’t No Spin Class
Transition Capital Management
US Rodeo Supply
Victoria Herring
Wade Den Hartog
Wealth With Mortgage
When Words Matter
White Rabbit Group
Additions from readers:
24-Hour Dorman
Bleeding Heartland
Blog for Iowa
Century of the Common Iowan
Chase Martyn On Display
Cyclone Conservatives
FromDC2Iowa
Iowa Geek
Iowa Guy’s Blog
Iowa Progress
Joe Says So
John Deeth
NewsConference
OnTheStreet
Political Fallout
Political Forecast
Popular Progressive
Price of Politics
State 29
The Radloff’s Random Midnight Thoughts
Thoughts From the Oasis Amidst the Corn
Related posts:
Recognizing Outstanding Bloggers
Z-Listers are now Pic Shots
Sharing the Z-List Collage
Z-List goes Interactive and Mobile on Wiffiti
Have you seen the Iowa Blogga Nostra?
Using Photo Flicks to Share Memories
Writer: Sandy Renshaw is a self-employed communications consultant. You will also find her blogging at Purple Wren.
