PRESENTED BY

Good morning, Des Moines! 🌅 This is DSM at Dawn.

Yesterday, I spent my birthday at the Fair with my family. As I was sweating my way to the top of the Giant Slide for the second time, I found myself thinking about the past year. Twelve months ago, most of you hadn’t even seen this newsletter. Now, here we are — and I’m so thankful you’re along for the ride. Here’s to another year of stories, events, and everything that makes this city feel like home.

In todays issue:

• 🍽️ Restaurant Week returns

• 🦆 A heartfelt Fairgrounds tribute

• ⛳ Principal Charity Classic smashes record

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

Restaurant Week

It’s almost here — Des Moines Restaurant Week kicks off Friday, and with nearly 40 local spots rolling out special menus, it’s one of the easiest excuses to try somewhere new. Lunch deals start around $15 and dinners hover in that sweet spot where you feel fancy without needing a special occasion.

If you’ve been here long enough, you’ve seen our restaurant scene grow up. Ten years ago, you could rattle off the “nice” places on one hand. Now, we’ve got chefs earning national nods, neighborhoods with their own food personalities, and enough variety to make even the pickiest eater pause. It’s not just about eating out — it’s about seeing what’s possible when local talent, fresh ideas, and a hungry city come together.

So whether you’re booking a table at an old favorite or finally checking off that “one of these days” spot, Restaurant Week is the perfect excuse to taste what Des Moines has been cooking up — from Alba’s seasonal plates in the East Village to Bubba’s Southern comfort classics, a splashy night out at Harbinger, the bold flavors at Aura in Clive, or the cozy charm of Trostel’s Greenbriar up in Johnston.

Full List →

PRESENTED BY: Dapper DJs

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Whether it’s a wedding, corporate gathering, or a milestone celebration, Dapper DJs deliver more than music—they set the vibe and keep the party going all night long. From dazzling lighting effects to seamless transitions, they ensure every detail is covered so you can relax and enjoy the moment.

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THE 515 REPORT 📱📰 

🎠 Fair Still Cookin’

If you haven’t made it to the Fair yet, there’s still time. The weekend’s going to be a hot one, but there’s plenty left to see, eat, and do. Need a little inspiration?

Grandstand Lineup →
Free Stages →
Daily Planner →
Daily Guide →

⛳️ Principal Charity Classic Cleans Up

The 2025 Principal Charity Classic shattered its own giving record, raising $10.6 million for Iowa children’s charities — up from $8.6 million in 2024. The annual PGA TOUR Champions event at Wakonda Club has now generated more than $73 million since it began in 2007, making it one of the top charity stops on the tour.

Business Record → 

🍻 Barn Town Shines

After last week’s note on Iowa breweries placing in the top 10 at the U.S. Open Beer Championship, a sharp-eyed reader (thanks, Emily!) pointed out another win: Barn Town Brewing took 1st place at this year’s U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championship.

2025 Results →

HEART OF DSM ❤️ 

If you’re wandering the Iowa State Fairgrounds this year and spot a little rubber duck tucked away somewhere unexpected, you might just be part of a special tribute. The family of Spencer Rush — who passed away in a motorcycle accident in 2024 — launched the Rubber Duck Hunt at last year’s Fair to honor his memory.

The idea is simple: find a duck, snap a picture with it, and post it to the Spencer Rush at the Iowa State Fair Facebook page to share the fun. Hundreds are hidden across the Fairgrounds, turning every stroll into a lighthearted treasure hunt. For his family, it’s about more than ducks — it’s about connection, laughter, and celebrating life in the place he loved.

Keep your eyes open while you’re grabbing a pork chop on a stick — you never know where the next duck might be.

WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁

Want a Featured Event with a poster,
reach out and say hi.

🎶 Party in the Park (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 5–9 p.m.
📍Walker-Johnston Park
Family night done right — beer garden for adults, food trucks, live music, and free kids’ activities like bounce houses, laser tag, and lawn games.

🎬 Movies in the Park – Inside Out 2 (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 6:30 p.m.
📍Evelyn K. Davis Park
Meet some brand-new emotions as Riley navigates life in this highly anticipated Pixar sequel.

🔮 Pottery & Tarot (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 6–9 p.m.
📍Five Monkeys
Get a tarot reading from Maggie and a $20 credit toward your pottery project of choice. BYOB welcome.

🎤 An Evening With Phil (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 7 p.m.
📍Vibrant Music Hall
Join the award-winning creator and host of Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil for an evening of food, travel, and laughs. Phil Rosenthal brings stories, humor, and behind-the-scenes tales from one of the platform’s most beloved shows.

🐷 Free Petting Zoo (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 12–6 p.m.
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 12–6 p.m.
📍Fleet Farm (Ankeny-Saturday, Waukee-Sunday)
Pony rides, goats, pigs, rabbits — and it’s all free! Bring the kids for an afternoon with Nick’s Barnyard Buddies.

👖 Jean Short Jamboree Neighborhood Block Party (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 4–10 p.m.
📍Big Grove Brewery
Live music, local vendors, jerk-inspired eats, and the Best Jorts Contest. Bonus points for creative costumes.

🛼 Roll-Out! A Funk House Skate Jam (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 6–10 p.m.
📍Brenton Skating Plaza
Ages 14+ — bring your skates and roll into a night of funky DJ sets, breakdancing, fire dancers, and pop-up art. $10 suggested donation.

🧵 Global Threads Pop-Up Market (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 1–4 p.m.
📍Mainframe Studios
Shop vibrant fashions from around the world, meet local entrepreneurs, and get styling tips for the upcoming CultureALL Ball.

WEATHER 🌞🌡️

Thursday

High 86 🌡️ Low 69 | 🌤️ | 💧 7%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Friday

High 91 🌡️ Low 73 | 🌤️ | 💧 23%
Weather Beacon: 🔴 Warmer weather ahead

Saturday

High 95 🌡️ Low 74 | 🌤️ | 💧 6%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Sunday

High 93 🌡️ Low 74 | 🌤️ | 💧 15%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

THE SETLIST 🎶🎤

Thursday

Infernal Instinct | 5 | Lefty’s
Dan Medeiros | 6 | DSM Biergarten
Kinda Petty Band | 6 | Valley Junction
Tom Pevear | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Dan Tedesco | 8 | HiFi Brew Lounge
Scott Eggleston | 8 | Greenwood Lounge

Friday

Brian Herrin | 4:30 | Middlebrook Agrihood
Get Off My Lawn | 5 | Truman’s Pizza Tavern
Taylor King | 5 | Iowa Distilling Co.
Chris Evers | 5 | Caffrey’s Irish Pub
Emotional Damage | 5:30 | Lefty’s
Silversonic | 6 | DSM Biergarten
Black Dirt Ramblers | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Abigail Phelps | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Meadowbrook Circle | 6 | Firetrucker Brewing
Jane Monheit | 7 & 9 | Noce
Bradford Johnson | 7 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Whiskey Biscuit | 7 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
Rudy Wylde | 7 | xBk Annex
Velvet Trio | 8 | Annie’s Irish Pub
Toast3r | 8 | Jamie Hurd Amphitheater
Night Like This | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Die Sexual w/ Sultry Hustler | 8:30 | Locals Bar & Stage

Saturday

Kevin Best | 5 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Velvet Trio | 5 | Winterset Cidery
The Other Brothers | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Paul Cauthen | 7 | Wooly’s
Bouquet | 7 | xBk Live
Kevin Lindgren | 7 | Mickey’s Waukee
Fast Dolly | 7 | Shirley’s Bar & Grill
The BASSberry Jam | 8 | Lefty’s
Bad Decisions | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Blanket Fort | 8 | Down Under
Heath Alan | 8 | Greenwood Lounge

Sunday

Joshua Sinclair | 12 | Tuddy’s Tavern
Night Like This | 1 | DSM Biergarten
The Soul Searchers | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Corey Jamison | 2 | Winterset Cidery
Jonas Magram | 5:30 | Exile Brewing
Jordan Messerole | 6 | Jamie Hurd Amphitheater
Stuck Lucky | 6:30 | Lefty’s
Black Stone Cherry | 7:30 | Wooly’s

SPORTS 🏈🏅

Baseball ⚾️ 

Iowa Cubs
56-59 | 5th Place | IL West Division

• VS Worcester Red Sox
  📆 8/14 | 🕛️ 6:38 📖 Back to School Night
  📆 8/15 | 🕛️ 7:08 💾 90’s Night
  📆 8/16 | 🕛️ 6:08 🦖 Ed’s Dinosaurs Jurassic Ballpark
  📆 8/17 | 🕛️ 6:38 🦖 Ed’s Dinosaurs Jurassic Ballpark

• Next Week | VS Sugar Land Space Cowboys

THANK YOU! 🙌 

Thank you for reading DSM at Dawn.

I would love your feedback! Reply here or email me anytime!

Want to sponsor a future edition of The Dawn? Let’s chat! [email protected].