PRESENTED BY

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

This week includes a few things worth pausing on. We marked MLK Day, a reminder of the impact community, service, and steady leadership can have over time. And a well deserved day off in mid January.

A quick housekeeping note too: I’m getting caught up on birthday shoutouts for readers who earned them through referrals. Happy Birthday to the following readers:

ajrockmom77
vivamae530
tyknox
deceptions82

And finally, the RAGBRAI route announcement is this weekend. The 2026 route will be revealed on Saturday, and there are a few local parties happening around the metro. If you’re a rider, supporter, or just like to have fun, these are for you.

In todays issue:

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

The Waukee Village District Building continues to take shape in the downtown Triangle, with several new retail spots expected to open later this summer, including a coffee shop, a bakery, and a salon. Another sign of steady growth as the area fills in.

Business Record →

According to a new JLL report, the Des Moines metro recorded positive office absorption for the first time since 2017. It also notes that there is another ~100,000 sq ft of new office space under development as of the end of the year. These are small but meaningful shifts after a long stretch of remote-work headwinds.

RE Journals →

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.

If you’re in the market to buy, the Springer Brothers work hard to find that house that just feels like home. Whether it’s the first home we see or the 30^th, we encourage our homebuyers to always trust their gut. There’s no greater feeling in what we do than that feeling of finding “the one”.

If you’re the market to sell, our team will work with you to put together a plan that maximizes your homes value. We tailor every situation, using our suite of services, so that homeowners can feel confident when they list their home that they’ll get maximum exposure for their greatest, most-tangible asset.

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.

An anonymous $1 million donation has established the first endowment for UnityPoint Health – Eyerly Ball, a leader in community-based mental health services. The gift will help support long-term mental health services and programs in the community.

👉 Learn More

Des Moines Public Schools was awarded the STEM BEST grant to support its welding program, expanding hands-on STEM and workforce training opportunities for students. This funding will allow the welding lab’s capacity to grow by 40%.

👉 More Info

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

🎉 FLIGHTS + BITES: A Perfect Pairing (more)
📆 Thursday | ⏰ 6–8 PM
📍 Flight Bar + Grille
A guided pairing night with Sisters in Cheese featuring drink flights and a curated charcuterie board. Easygoing, thoughtful, and great for date night. 21+.

🎤 New City Poets Open Mic Night (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 7 PM
📍 xBk Annex
An evening of poetry, music, and community featuring local voices. Free to attend with donations encouraged. Seating is limited.

😂 Comedy Night! (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 7–9 PM
📍 Fenders Brewing
Stand-up comedy comes to the brewery with Next Stop Comedy. Tickets are limited and the last show sold out, so plan ahead.

🧵 Embroidered Sweater Workshop (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 6:30–8:30 PM
📍 Prairie Rose Needleworks
Learn how to embroider your own sweater in this hands-on workshop. No experience needed, just bring a sweater and your creativity.

🛍️ WinterFest Market (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 8 AM
📍 EMC Expo Center
A cozy indoor market featuring local makers, artisans, and small businesses. Warm drinks, winter deals, and plenty of unique finds.

🚲 Iowa Bike Expo & Banquet (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 9 AM–6 PM
📍 EMC Expo Center
A full day celebrating cycling with vendors, demos, speakers, and live music, followed by the Bike Banquet in the afternoon.

🌿 The Winter Market at Bentley Ridge (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 9 AM–3 PM
📍 Bentley Ridge Tree Farm & Nursery
Shop local vendors inside a warm greenhouse filled with plants, baked treats, and winter-friendly finds.

🍺 Winter Nights: Zoo Brew Pop Up (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 6–9 PM
📍 Blank Park Zoo
Local brews, live music, and winter vibes at the zoo. A fun adults-only night out to beat the cold.

🍺 Charlie Berens: The Lost & Found Tour (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 8 PM
📍 Des Moines Civic Center
Midwest-favorite comedian Charlie Berens brings his Lost & Found Tour to Des Moines for a night of sharp observations, regional humor, and plenty of laughs.

🎯 BINGO at the Barn (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 2–4 PM
📍 1850 Homestead
A laid-back afternoon of bingo with prizes, snacks, and no cover. Donations appreciated and good times guaranteed.

🦊 Red Riding Hood
📆 Jan 9-25
📍 Des Moines Playhouse
A family-friendly stage adaptation of the classic fairy tale, brought to life with humor, music, and playful twists.

Thursday

High 29 🌡 Low -10 | 🌤️ | ❄ 2%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Friday

High 0 🌡 Low -7 | 🌥 | ❄ 0%
Weather Beacon: ⚪ Colder weather in sight

Saturday

High 3 🌡 Low -2 | ☁ | ❄ 20%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Sunday

High 6 🌡 Low -6 | 🌥 | ❄ 18%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Thursday

Brian Congdon | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Jesse & The Medicine Men | 6 | Poncho’s
Mike Conrad | 7 | Noce
Jake Schrodt | 7 | Board & Batten
Scott Eggleston | 8 | Greenwood Lounge
Tank Anthony | 9 | Shotgun Betty’s

Friday

Sean Michael Sullivan | 5 | Plain Talk Books & Coffee
Rural Route | 6 | Shotgun Betty’s
Kenni Falls | 6 | Firetrucker Brewing
Claudia Coltrain | 6 | Iowa Distilling Co
Randy Burk & The Prisoners | 6 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Lauren Vilmain | 7 | Noce
Not Sisters | 7 | Captain Roy’s
Casey Peasley | 7 | Pally’s
Lubbers-Buckmiller Duo | 7 | Ducktail Lounge
Drew Peer | 7 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
Big Head Todd & The Monsters | 7:30 | Hoyt Sherman Place
Marilyn Maye | 7:30 | The Ingersoll
Steely Dane | 7:30 | Temple Theater
Dead of Winter | 8 | xBk Live
BitterSweet | 8 | Back Roads Lounge
Kinda Petty | 8 | Doc’s Lounge
BS & The Liars | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Simple Company | 8 | Prairie Meadows
Mister Mac & The Peels | 9 | Greenwood Lounge

Saturday

Marilyn Maye | 2 | The Ingersoll
The Chuggaluggers | 4 | 1833 Saloon
Dead7 | 5:30 | Locals Bar & Stage
Lucky Jax | 6 | Lake Robbins Ballroom
BitterSweet Nation | 6:30 | Zoo Brew Winter Pop-Up
The Paul Lichty Jazz Orchestra | 7 | Noce
Dave Zollo | 7 | Captain Roy’s
Tim & Jana West Duo | 7 | Shirley’s Bar & Grill
David Watson | 7 | Cabaret Ankeny
Indigo Monks | 7 | Alluvial Brewing
Adam Girard | 7 | Brightside Aleworks
Amy Friedl & Her Band | 7:30 | The Ingersoll
Vincent Mason | 7:30 | Val Air Ballroom
Kracklin | 7:30 | The Cork
Elton & Billy | 8 | Wooly’s
Joe Stamm Band | 8 | xBk Live
Stone Temple Pirates | 8 | Maggie’s Rumble Room
The Ripoffs | 8 | Greenwood Lounge
Royce Johns | 8 | Doug’s Pub & Grub
Suede | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Rural Route | 8:30 | Down Under
10 Fold Return | 8:30 | Mickey’s Waukee
Open Swim | 9 | Hawk Heaven Tavern

Sunday

Heath Alan | 1 & 3 | Des Moines Botanical Garden
Matt Woods Band | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Courtney Krause | 5 | Exile Brewing
Tanner Taylor Organ Trio | 5 | Louie’s Wine Dive
The Toasters | 7 | xBk Live
Cheap Trick | 7:30 | Vibrant Music Hall

College Basketball 🏀

College basketball season is in full swing. March Madness will be here before we know it. Here’s a quick snapshot on each local program along with their next game.

Men

Women

Hockey 🏒

Bucs
12-17-3-4 | 6th place | Western Conference

Iowa Wild
10-25-3-1 | 7th place | Central Division

G League 🏀

Iowa Wolves
7-6 | 9th place | Western Conference

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].