PRESENTED BY

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

Happy Thursday. The weekend is almost here, and there’s plenty happening around the metro. Sunday is Mother’s Day, so I want to take a moment to recognize all the mos and mother figures who make life better every day.

And a special shoutout to my wife, Annie. Not only is she an incredible mom, but we are celebrating our anniversary this week. She has put up with me for 9 years now. 😉 If you know her, send her some love.

Quick Hits

In todays issue:

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

Construction could begin within weeks on The Shoppes at Prairie Crossing, an $80 million retail development planned just south of Outlets of Des Moines in Altoona. The 38-acre project is expected to include multiple big-box retailers, though specific tenants have not been publicly announced yet.

Developers say some underground infrastructure work has already started, and retailers could begin opening in fall 2027. Altoona is also offering roughly $8.85 million in tax rebate incentives tied to the development over an 11-year period.

Des Moines Register →

Polk County supervisors approved $200,000 for the Cynergy mixed-use development planned near the Oakridge neighborhood in Des Moines. The project aims to add affordable housing units while also creating commercial and community space in an area that has struggled with overcrowding and housing instability.

Developers say the project is designed to help families stay in the neighborhood while improving long-term housing access. County leaders called it part of a broader effort to increase affordable housing options across the metro.

KCCI 8 →

A new report from Downtown DSM Inc. shows street-level storefront vacancies in downtown Des Moines climbed to 13.4% last year, up from 12.2% in 2023. The biggest concentration continues to be in the Historic East Village and along parts of Walnut Street, where businesses are still dealing with slower office traffic and changing consumer habits.

City leaders are hoping programs like Restore the Core can help fill some of those empty spaces. The grant initiative has already awarded millions toward downtown redevelopment projects, with another funding round expected later this year.

Axios →

Looking to make a move? The Springer Brothers Real Estate Team is comprised of third generation real estate professionals, born and raised right here in Central Iowa. We’re deeply rooted in this community. When it comes to finding that place to grow your roots here, the Springer Brothers are experienced at guiding you home.

No matter your situation, we’re ready to get to work FOR YOU so that you can achieve your real estate goals.

Call us at (515) 371-9396, email us at [email protected], or visit our website to learn more about us.

Stamp Out Hunger returns Saturday

DMARC is once again partnering with local letter carriers for the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive this Saturday. Residents can simply leave nonperishable food donations by their mailbox, and mail carriers will collect and deliver them to the DMARC Food Pantry Network.

More than 20,000 pounds of food is typically collected in a single day, making it one of the area’s biggest community-wide food drives each year. Volunteer groups are also helping with collection sites and sorting efforts throughout the weekend.

If you are interested in volunteering, they are still looking for help sorting.

The massive “Nomade” sculpture has officially returned to John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park after being away for restoration work. The towering sculpture by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa has been one of the park’s most recognizable pieces since it was first installed in 2014.

Crews spent months repairing weather-related wear and refreshing the sculpture before bringing it back to downtown Des Moines this week.

👉 Pictures

Wells Fargo is donating $750,000 to By Degrees Foundation to support education initiatives across Central Iowa. The funding will help expand programs focused on improving long-term educational outcomes for students from early childhood through college and career readiness.

By Degrees works with multiple school districts and community organizations throughout the region, with a focus on increasing graduation and postsecondary success rates.

👉 Details

Des Moines Menace and Des Moines Public Schools announced a new partnership aimed at increasing student engagement during the upcoming season. The collaboration will include ticket opportunities, school involvement, and experiences tied to Menace home matches this summer.

The partnership also comes as the club continues to grow its local profile following several high-profile exhibition matches and expanded community outreach efforts.

👉 Announcement

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

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

🟣 Polkadots
📆 May 8-24
📍 The Playhouse
A colorful, family-friendly musical about friendship, acceptance, and celebrating what makes us different.

👩‍🎤 For Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday
📆 Apr 24-May 10
📍 Tallgrass Theatre Company
A reflective, family-centered story exploring memory, loss, and the pull of growing up.

🎤 T.J. Miller
📆 Friday-Saturday
📍 Funny Bone
The Deadpool and Silicon Valley comedian brings his unpredictable stand-up style to Des Moines for a weekend of shows.

This newsletter exists because of this community.

DSM at Dawn is free and always will be. If you find it helpful, fun, or worth sharing, you can chip in to help keep it running and growing.

Everything goes back into making this better for Des Moines,

Grateful you’re here.
— Nick

Thursday

Dwight Yoakam & ZZ Top | 6 | Water Works Park
Kick | 6 | Jasper Winery
Kevin Best | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Guitarras ATM | 6 | Valley Junction
Jesse & The Medicine Men | 6 | Poncho’s
Hang Your Hate | 7 | xBk Live
Joshua Sinclair | 7 | Board & Batten
Jordan Beem | 7:30 | Pelican Post
MFKS | 8 | Confidence Speakeasy
The Soul Searchers | 8 | Greenwood Lounge
Garrett Speer | 9 | Shotgun Betty’s

Friday

Brian Congdon | 5 | Caffrey’s
Damon Dotson | 5:30 | Campbell Park
Velvet Trio | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Jesse & The Medicine Men | 6 | Iowa Distilling Co
Paul Ivy | 6 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Linc Henriksen | 6 | Shotgun Mary’s
Brian Herrin | 6:30 | B&B Theaters
Danny Brown | 7 | Wooly’s
The Soul Searchers | 7 | Captain Roy’s
The High Bidders | 7 | Locals Bar & Stage
Max Wellman & Napoleon Douglas | 7 | Noce
Neva Alden | 7 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
Kinda Petty | 7 | Talk Shop Lounge
Joshua Sinclair | 7 | The Pelican Post
Patricia Holly | 7:30 | The Ingersoll
Petrock | 7:30 | Val Air Ballroom
Encore Legends | 8 | Doc’s Lounge
The Sons and Sara | 8 | Back Roads Lounge
Royce Johns | 8 | Brick & Ivy
Keifre & Scott | 8 | Marv’s Mainstreet Dive
Dustin Farrow & The Relics | 9 | Greenwood Lounge
Grind | 10 | Prairie Meadows

Saturday

Rick Burke | 4 | Revelton Distilling
Taylor King | 5 | 1908 Draught House
Kracklin | 5 | Winterset Cidery
The Swampland Jewels | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Bob Pace | 6 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Brenn | 7 | Wooly’s
Gina Gedler | 7 | Noce
The Weasels | 7 | Lake Robbins Ballroom
Brody & Cooper Band | 7 | Reclaimed Rails
Section 7 Unplugged | 7 | Shirley’s
Jon Q Public and More Cheese | 7 | Locals Bar & Stage
Cody Johnson | 7:30 | Casey’s Center
DSM Symphony | 7:30 | Civic Center
Jim Brickman | 7:30 | The Ingersoll
Dickie | 8 | xBk Live
Hardway w/ Phennix | 8 | 1833 Saloon
Damon Dotson | 8 | Striking Sparrow
Dick Danger Band | 8 | Good Times
Burnin’ Sensations | 8 | Back Roads Lounge
Reload | 8 | Down Under
Joe Demerath | 8 | Walker’s Place
Suede | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Brian Congdon & Brad Seidenfeld | 8 | Marv’s Mainstreet Dive
Blacktop | 8:30 | Mickey’s Waukee
Chimbala | 9 | Val Air Ballroom
Jeff Banks Band | 9 | Greenwood Lounge
Open Swim | 9 | Hawk Heaven Tavern
The Get Down | 9 | Down Under
Mark Doty & The Cause | 10 | Prairie Meadows

Sunday

Luke Fox | 12 | Madison County Winery
Patricia Holly | 1 | The Ingersoll
Liv McNair | 2 | Covered Bridges Winery
The Soul Searchers | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
DSM Symphony | 2:30 | Civic Center
Tim & Jana West | 4 | Wellman’s Pub & Rooftop
Corbett Reeves | 5 | Exile Brewing
High Society | 5 | Lake Robbins Ballroom
The Dave Matthews Tribute Band | 7 | Wooly’s
Dayseeker | 7 | Val Air Ballroom

If you’re looking for a game to catch this weekend:

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