Around Des Moines

Over the past few weeks I’ve realized that while the weather may not change every five minutes, the weather forecasts certainly do. Whether the weekend turns out to be sunny and dry or rainy and chilly there are a variety of activities around Des Moines to entertain you.

Most dependent on the weather is the Pella Tulip Time. Pella is just under 40 miles east of Des Moines on state highway 163. The town has a Dutch heritage and has built a tourism base on that theme. The festival runs all day every day from Thursday, May 1st, through Saturday, May 3rd. Besides delicious pastries for sale, there will be tours of historic houses, musical entertainment, parades, and, of course, tulips.

Weather will also matter for the running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, but that will be in Louisville, Kentucky. Des Moines’ local track is Prairie Meadows in Altoona (I-80 Exit 142, northeast of Des Moines). The racetrack/casino has three restaurants and lots of economic controversy. Prairie Meadows gets mentioned in national horse racing news due to its experience with slots and because Maggi Moss, a native Iowan and local trial lawyer, was nominated for the Eclipse Award as horse owner of the year.

If you want conversations on science, television, publishing, art, food, clothes, and an assortment of games, DemiCon will run from Friday afternoon through mid-afternoon on Sunday, May 4th. This is the 19th year of the science fiction and fantasy convention hosted by the Des Moines Science Fiction Society. Cost for all three days is $50 for adults; less for one-day attendance. It is to be held at the Hotel Fort Des Moines in downtown Des Moines.

The 2008 ICAN convention will be on Saturday, May 3, 2008, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Jim Hightower is scheduled as the keynote speaker. Join the Iowa Citizen Action Network for workshops on promoting progressive politics, including one about on-line organizing. The convention is being held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Johnston, a few miles to the northwest of Des Moines.

Theatrical choices this week include The Sunshine Boys at Grandview College’s Viking Theatre. Tickets cost $10 and the theatre is located at 2811 East 14th Street in Des Moines (on the #4 bus route). Show dates are May 1-4 and May 8-11. Times are 7:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For children, Holes, based on Louis Sachar’s award-winning book, opens at the Des Moines Playhouse. Show dates and times are: May 2-18; Fridays at 7:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 1:00 p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults.

On Friday, the 2nd, there will be a reception for “Walk in Closet,” a display of artwork by Angela Warren and Rebecca Gehm, at The Thoreau Center (3500 Kingman Boulevard from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. The Hentschel Art Gallery (835 42nd Street) is open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. The current exhibit is “The Blues,” paintings by Davenport native Nancy Purrington. She looks at the unique features of the Mississippi River at Davenport.

Scrub Days for Des Moines residents start on May 3rd. The MWA Transfer Station at 4198 Delaware Avenue and the Compost Center at 1601 Harlett will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Guidelines on what can be dropped off by whom can be found on the city’s website. Throughout the next few months there will be scrub days scattered across the city.

M.R. Field encourages organizations and performers to send news about their upcoming events to events@AroundDesMoines.com.