The Taverns: I, II, and South

We celebrated my father's birthday last night at the Tavern in West Des Moines. There are three Tavern's which are located in Valley Junction, the south side, and West Des Moines. We ate at the one on 50th Street between University and Westown Pkwy. This restaurant is part of Des Moines history. It was founded in the Great Depression, transferred owners just a few times, and is still serving authentic Italian today.  This isn't our first (or second or even third) visit to this pizza place.  We've been enjoying the crispy crust for years now! 

Tavern's crispy crust pizza
has been popular for years! 

I LOVE thin crust pizza. So much so that I skipped my normal Paleo-ish lifestyle to eat a cheese & tomato thin-crust pizza. It was delicious! I took advantage of the Daily Special which was a 7" pizza, salad, and drink for $8.95. This worked well for me since I'm the only one that loves tomato pizza. My husband and boys shared a large sausage and they devoured that one very quickly. They do have a kid's menu but our boys just ate the regular pizza. 

There was a group of 12 of us and we were sat quickly at a long table. The kids had a fun placemat to work on while the grown-ups had salads before the meal. We also checked out the assortments of gelato "ice cream" before we left but didn't order any. We were too full and decided that would be a "must" on our next trip. They also have sandwiches, pasta, burgers, and more if you aren't in the pizza mood. 

The Tavern II in West Des Moines has a large party room too! Be sure to add The Tavern, The Tavern II, and Tavern South to your next must-try pizza places! 

Free (& really cheap) classes for kids and adults @ Michaels!

Every month Micheals stores hold free (some include a small fee, $2 for supplies) craft classes for kids in their stores.  Just click on the link here and choose your store to see the schedule for the Michaels store in your area.  

Below is the May schedule for the West Des Moines store on 22nd street, but just choose the store nearest to you for the classes in your area!  

FREE Family Craft Time Free, Materials Included
Create a thoughtful bouquet for Mother's Day. Dads, Cre8time with your kids to craft something special for Mom.
Mon May 6, 5:00pm - 7:00pm

FREE Family Craft Time Free, Materials Included
Make a gift Mom is sure to appreciate long after her special day. Dad's Cre8time with your kids to craft something special for Mom. Create a FREE coupon book for Mom this Mother's Day.
Tue May 7, 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Kids Club - Mother's Day Heart Necklace $2.00, Materials Included Kids, make a lasting impression on Mom with a heartfelt Mother's Day thumbprint necklace. It's just $2 per child, for 30 minutes of crafting fun. All supplies are included. Register for a session every half hour from 10am to 11:30am.
Sat May 11, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Kids Club - Celebrate Your Hero $2.00, Materials Included
Kids, celebrate your hero with creativity! Create a thoughtful badge and certificate for your favorite hero while Mom shops. Just $2 per child, for 30 minutes of crafting fun. All supplies are included. Register for a session every half hour from 10am to 11:30 am.
Sat May 18, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Kids Club - Craft Your Own Superhero $2.00, Materials Included
Kids, get creative with your favorite hero! Make a crafty replica of someone you look up to while Mom shops! It's just $2 per child, for 30 minutes of crafting fun. All supplies are included. Register for a session every half hour from 10am to 11:30am. See an associate to reserve your spot today!
Sat May 25, 10:00am - 12:00pm 

They also hold lots of adult classes for free or for a fee that you can find on the same schedule!  Some of them look really fun!  Scrapbooking or cake decorating anyone?

Ps. Michaels is also a great places to hold a kids arts and crafts birthday party!

Dishcrawl Des Moines - Take 2

I have to say, Dishcrawl Des Moines #2 was a hit!  Dishcrawl ambassador Mandi and her husband Chris did a great job working out some of the kinks from the first Dishcrawl and I think these events are just going to get better and better, especially since they are going to start partnering with non-profits to have these events benefit charities too!

The first new addition to the Dishcrawl was a bingo game that was like a scavenger hunt that required you to "check in" at the restaurants, get business cards from different people at the event, etc.  This was nice because it helped people to mingle and give diners something to do while waiting for food.  Plus, 2 people won tickets to the next Dishcrawl.  Cool.

All four participating restaurants did a great job showcasing their offerings this time around.  We were crawling in the East Village and the first stop was Capital Pub & Hot Dog.  This was my first visit, so it was great to get to try a few mini-dogs.  They had a Chicago dog, buffalo with blue cheese dog or nacho dog with waffle fries.  The Chicago was my favorite.  I can't wait to come back and try a few more!

The Next stop was another newer restaurant called HoQ.  The atmosphere is simple and elegant and the owner came around explaining that he uses every ingredient from local sources and most menu items are gluten free and vegan.  They put together a three course meal for us that included a carrot-ginger soup, braised beef and a baked alaska.  They were all very good. They just started offering a Sunday brunch and I can't wait to try it.

The next stop, and most surprisingly good was The Rooftop/House of Bricks.  Unfortunately it was too cold to eat on the newly renovated rooftop, but we got to try 5 items from the newly renovated menu!  Everyone at my table agreed that the mac & cheese was outstanding.  The spicy shrimp appetizer was tasty and the pork-loin slider was crunchy and juicy.  I would eat here anytime.


The finale was brought in by Cleverly Crafted Confections.  What a treat.  They baked up hundreds of cupcakes to sample including unique flavors like apple pucker, root beer float and pineapple upside down cake.  These were really good!

All-in-all I was pleased with the restaurant selection for this Dishcrawl and even more pleasantly surprised by the awesomeness of the food.  We can't wait for the next Dishcrawl on May 21st in the Western Corridor this time!  Hope to see you there!

Limey's

According to the Urban dictionary, a Limey is:

a British person, term coming from sailors who came to the New World preventing scurvy from sucking limes. The term is indigenous to North America.   Since I've been assured it's not a derogatory term, I think it's a fitting name for an English pub in West Des Moines.   It's located off of Grand ave in the Hy-vee plaza near The Chicken Coop.   Limey's is certainly not an elegant, bring your mom for her birthday-type restaurant, but the food is noteworthy and the beer selection is very good. (Unless of course your mom really likes Guinness and playing pool, then this is the place for her =). Limey's is the kind of place you can come hang out with friends, have a drink and cut the alcohol with some some really good, not-your-average bar food. The menu includes staples like fish & chips and shepherds pie.  On our last visit, I ordered the shepherds pie and it was very tasty.  I would have appreciated a little more seasoning in the potatoes, but the meat mixture was really good.  A friend ordered the pictured chicken sandwich and really liked that too.  The hit of the table was the thin and crispy onion rings which were enough for 5 to share. Our server was very friendly and was happy to give his opinion about what was good on the menu. I really liked this casual, no frills pub.  Head over with friends to hang out and get a beer or to try the unique menu.

Bandit Burrito: Nothing Sneaky About Great Food

We recently stumbled upon this Mexican gem in Johnston, Bandit Burrito. This "fast food" restaurant is similar to other Mexican restaurants like Panchero's or Chipotle but has completely different choices. It's located just a couple of blocks north of I-80/35 on the west side of the road. 

Burrito Bowl: Lettuce, Tomatoes,
Shredded Beef, Cheese, Wild Rice,
Sweet potatoes. 

You can choose from many different flavors of burrito shells like Spinach or Jalapeno Cheddar. If you are looking for something a bit smaller you can order a Slim Burrito. I personally like the burrito bowl--all the good stuff without the shell. You can also order a salad or nachos as well. 

Their choices for toppings are great--grilled veggies, fresh veggies, corn, white or wild rice, black or pinto beans, peppers & onions, salsas, and a seasonal vegetable. They have five choices of meats and I highly recommend the shredded beef! It's so moist and seasoned perfectly. 

Kid's Meal!

One of our favorite features of Bandit Burrito is the Family Meal Deal. For $20 you get two adult burritos and 2 kids' meals (quesadilla, burrito, etc.) and drinks for all. They have always been so flexible with our choices too--I get the burrito bowl instead of the full burrito. 

Our family of 10
all fit into one area!

Another great feature is their online ordering. You don't have to register for account or anything fancy like that. You just visit their online ordering page, click your choices, and pick it up at the register. We've used this feature now a few times and LOVE it! 

Our next meal at Bandit Burrito is going to be breakfast! Their breakfast burrito sounds awesome. 

Give Bandit Burrito a try today! 

Chick-fil-a Family Nights

Looking for anther FREE family activity in your neighborhood?

Check out Chick-fil-a's Family Nights!  The Family Nights are held at the Chick-fil-a at Paradise Point (The one on Mills Civic in West Des Moines-not in the mall) usually on the 1st Monday of every month.  Check out their facebook page here to be kept up to date on the latest events.

Some upcoming Family activities for 2014 include:

January 28th 5pm-7:30pm- Calling all Super Heroes!  Grab Your Cape and come see Batman and Spiderman.

Family Night Events include a craft, visits from the Chick-fil-a cow and theme related activities.  Registration is not necessary for the monthly activities, but may be required for special events such as the "Mother-Son-Date-Knight" that was held in April, a super fun FREE event that included ice cream, goodie bags, entertainment and more.

*All dates and activities are subject to change. "Like" them on Facebook for the most up-to-date information on events.

Tulip Time! Pella

One of my favorite festivals of the spring is the Tulip Time festival in Pella, IA, about 45 minutes from Des Moines.  Tulip time is the first weekend of May every year and it is so fun.  Whether you go for the food, the parades, the shopping, the history, the entertainment or just to see the tulips in bloom, you are sure to have a good time.

My dear friend Liz grew up in Pella and she gave me the inside scoop! 

If you are going for the food, Liz says some of the best food is at Veld's meat market. Everybody has their favorite there, but she likes the beef jerky and the pella bologna. There's also Ulrich's which offers the gourmet tulip shaped cheeses. Be sure to try the poffertjes (mini-dutch pancakes) , stroopwafels (2 thin waffles with caramel in the middle..mmmm), Vet bollen (it is a fried donut like thing made with mashed potatoes) and a bologna on a stick.  There are tons of vendors so you are sure to find your favorite too.   Jaarsma's is another favorite for both tourists and locals. There are long lines sometimes for the dutch letters, but also the Dutch apple bread is phenomenal. The Dutch spice cookies are also very popular. Double Dutch sandwiches are pretty good. It's dried beef and gouda cheese on a raisin bun.  Remember, Jaarsma is open all year long, so Liz recommends trying the other delicacies since you can make a return trip for the bakery items any time if you live near by.

For the history buffs, there is plenty to see and do. The Scholte House is absolutely beautiful. It was built by Pella's founder Dominie Scholte. Rumor has it that he promised his wife a house just as big and beautiful as the one she had in Holland. It's open for tours to the public.

The Amsterdam School is another neat historical attraction. It was the first school of Pella and is your typical one room school house of the 1800's with many original components. The Tulip Time website tells me you can call to arrange a tour.

For the arts and crafts lovers, there is the Dutch craft market held in West Market Park (also where the kids's games and inflatables are) and also another one in the Molengracht plaza.  The Molengracht has a neat little canal running through it which makes for a good photo op.

For 2013, the Festival is May 2-4 and because of all of the April rain, they are predicting the tulips to be perfect for the event.  Last year the tulips bloomed early and were dead by the festival.  So we are in luck this year and I can't wait!

We have started a tradition for taking a photo in from of the tulips every year.  So neat to watch your kids grow and make some memories. Start your own tradition too!

Here is the schedule for 2013. They also host a 5k on the Wednesday night before the festival too.

Some things to remember:

-The parade and parking is free, but find a seat for the parade early, they fill up and your kids will want a good seat to see. Or you can purchase limited grandstand seating for about $5 for the grandstand show (which Features the Tulip Queen and her court, Dutch dancing and street scrubbers) and use those seats to watch the parade.

-While it's free to browse and watch the parade from the sidewalks, the children's play area, tours, souvenirs and food cost extra, so plan ahead.

-If the food lines are long, a good time to get your favorite snack at the beginning of the parade after you claim your seats, but before the floats get to you. (Thanks for the tip Abby!)

-Parking can be tough, so take advantage of the shuttle, they run often.

Please share any other tips you've learned over the years and your favorite Tulip Time food!

Cafe Diem: Seize the Day with Good Coffee!

We love local coffee shops (and I don't even like coffee!) and Cafe Diem become a second home to us. We are on a first name basis with the staff and they know our children, their birthdays, and my hubby's favorite drink before he ever orders. Cafe Diem is located just north of Oralabor Drive on S Ankeny Blvd. It's in a strip mall across from the DMACC campus. 

Here's why we love Cafe Diem:

• High quality coffee and drinks mixed perfectly. 
• Great selection of coffees, teas, cold drinks, smoothies, and yummy treats
• Fun atmosphere--everything from couches to tables
• Great Staff!!
• Rewards program--Buy 10 drinks and get one free! This is a major perk for my husband. 



Limited photos from this visit because the walls are covered
with awesome LOCAL art! (Copyrighted Art) 

• Drive-thru window with speedy service

I've had interviews, business meetings, ladies' small groups, breakfast date with my hubby, after-school dates with my boys, and worked by myself at Cafe Diem. I always see college students studying there too. 

Whether you are driving through Ankeny and need a coffee or need a place to meet up with some friends, give Cafe Diem a try! 

Free Gardening Seminars

Wether you are a pro gardener or planting tomatoes for the first time, The Woodsmith Store in Clive is offering free classes to help you learn something new.

The store is located at Hickman Road and 104th street in Clive.  All classes start at 5:45pm in May and June and you can check out the schedule here.

 If you're looking to start a new hobby or just think a seminar on one of these garden topics might help you, check it out.

They are also having a Kid's Event on May 11th, 2013 where you buy a plant and you'll receive and container for free that they'll help you pot.  Mother's day gift perhaps?

Tally's

I love Tally's in Beaverdale and everything about it.  $5 martinis on Fridays and $5 margaritas (huge) on Saturdays.  The neighborhood hot spot-type feel.  The friendly staff and great food.  They make you wish you could hang out here every night. Seriously.

We were able to get right in at 6:00pm on a Saturday night.  They were steady but not overly busy.  They had a large party going on in the party room, but our service was still quick and the food was still fantastic.

I highly recommend the mango margarita.  One was enough to last me through my meal and at $5 on Saturday nights, it's a great deal.  They also have happy-hour with drink specials every night until 6pm so Josh's Martini was only $5 too since our waitress was awesome and got us in on the special.

Chef/Owner Robert Sanda if I remember correctly has family members who are gluten-free so they take it very seriously at the restaurant and offer so many great gluten-free choices.  I ordered a delicious asiago steak pasta which he made gf and it was fantastic.  He even had a gf cheeecake for desert with a nut-crust and raspberry sauce. Awesome!

Josh said his pork chop was cooked perfectly and his cheesy vegetable risotto was also very good.  He had the blue cheese apple tart for desert and said it was awesome too.

The prices are so reasonable for the quality at Tally's.  They also have a Sunday brunch every Sunday from 9am-2pm which is great too.

Have you been to Tally's? Do you like is as much as we do?

Update: They now offer gluten-free breading for things like onion rings and pork tenderloins! If you are on a gluten-free diet, you need to eat here!

Summer Movie Clubhouse!

One of our favorite activities on a hot summer day is to visit The Jordan Creek/Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse.  Each week between June 11th and August 14th (2013), two days a week they will show a kids movie for only $1 per person!

Shows start at 10:00am and you can see the full West Des Moines calendar here.

They show movies like The Smurfs, Rio, Alvin & the Chipmunks and more.  Ten movies in all and all of the movies are rated G or PG.

They also offer $1 off the regular price of the "snack packs" during the movie, which includes a kids sized drink, popcorn and teddy grahams or candy.

You can also purchase a punch card that gives you admission to all 10 shows for only $5!  A really great deal and the kids love getting to go to the cinema and see their favorite movies on the big screen.

If you're looking for a fun, inexpensive way to cool off in the summer months, check out the Summer Movie Clubhouse at The Jordan Creek Cinemark theater.  And don't worry if your little ones can't sit through the whole movie.  For only $1 it's no big deal if you have to scoot out early.

ps. Wynnsong also has a summer movie series at their theater in Johnston!  Their 2013 calendar just came out! Here is the link.  It's a little hard to decipher, but The Wynnsong in Johnston has their movies at 10am on specific Thursdays.  The cost is $4 and includes the movie and a kids tray with popcorn, drink and additional snack.

Family Nights - Valley West Mall

The Valley West Mall in West Des Moines offers a Monthly Family Night free of charge!  Activities include face painting, crafts, inflatables and character visits.  The events can be pretty crowded, so we recommend getting there early.  The face painting line is usually the longest, so if you think your kid will want their face painted, it's a good idea to get in that line first.

The events are from 6pm to 8pm on the selected Tuesday nights, and the calendar they have right now includes the following dates for 2013:

Tuesday, May 28th: Meet Sleeping Beauty
Tuesday, June 25th
Tuesday, July 30th
Tuesday, August 27th: Magic and Comedy shows
Tuesday, September 24th: The Little Mermaid
Tuesday, October 29th: Trick or Treat night

If you need more info, you can contact the mall's guest services at 515-225-3632

If you are looking for something free and fun, check out Family Night at the Valley West Mall.  It will be crowded, but the kiddos always have fun.

Prairie Meadows

Sure, you can go to Prairie Meadows for a day or evening of gambling.  But, have you considered Prairie Meadows for a weekend get-a-way?

Those are ostriches!

The new hotel is really beautiful!  They have a pool and exercise room.  Really nice decor and comfortable sitting areas throughout the lobby and of course lots of meeting and conference rooms if you wanted to host a meeting or party.  The guest rooms are spacious and modern and they have really great deals on the rooms. You can do a romance package that includes a meal, champagne and chocolate covered strawberries for about $159.


For dining options they have a few bars, a cafe in the hotel, buffet, outside vendors in the racing area and the really great AJ's Steakhouse for a fancier option.  They often have live bands playing in the evenings and the full entertainment schedule is here.

Kids are allowed in most of the dining and racing areas. And if you think playing slots and table games are the only things to do, check out the racing schedule.  They even have ostrich and camel races once a year and they are hilarious!  Kids really like to watch the races and sometimes the jockeys will even give kids their racing goggles and take pictures with them after races.

And if races, dining, gambling and live entertainment aren't enough to do, you can always go ride some roller coasters or water slides next door at Adventureland.  Jethro's BBQ is across the street and Downtown Des Moines is just a few miles away.

So if you want to get away without having to go too far away, even for just a day, with kids or without, check out Prairie Meadows.  If you haven't in a while a lot has changed and you might just find out you really like it!

UPDATE!! The 2013 ZEBRA and Ostrich races will be on July 21st @ 1:00pm.  Children are welcome if accompanied by an adult and there is no wagering on these races. Just for family friendly fun! Can't wait!

So you wanna be a pilot?

What kid doesn't love airplanes?!  Did you know that The Ankeny Regional Airport will provide tours of the airport including up close looks at planes and helicopters at the facilities for free!?

They ask that you call and make an appointment and limit your group to not more than 20 to 25 people since there will just be one person giving you the tour.  The contact Phone number is 515-965-1020.

This tour is great for kids of any age they have coloring pages and model planes to give out at the end of the tour.  The tour is pretty informal and you can go through quickly or take your time depending on the age of the kids.

Get a group together and make an appointment.  Your kids (and you) will have a great time.

Ps. Check out flying lessons for adults too!!