PRESENTED BY

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

Labor Day weekend has arrived. Whether you’re tailgating, hitting the trails, or just firing up the grill, it’s the perfect time to kick back before fall routines take over.

In todays issue:

• 🏈 College Football Primer

• 🚧 80/35 Update

• 🍦 Black Cat’s New Home

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

College Football

College football kicks off in earnest this weekend, and around here it doesn’t get much bigger. Iowa is a college sports state through and through — and football is king. Whether you’re a diehard Cyclone, a lifelong Hawkeye, or you lean toward Drake or UNI, here are a few of the best ways to follow along this fall:

• Iowa Everywhere – statewide stories and conversations

• Cyclone Fanatic – Iowa State’s go-to fan hub

• Cyclone Alert – ISU recruiting & insider updates

• Hawkeye Insider – in-depth Iowa coverage on 247

• Black Heart Gold Pants – Hawkeye takes with personality

• Drake Nation – Bulldog football forum

• Panther Nation – UNI’s most active fan community

👉 You can also keep up with every team through The Des Moines Register and local news stations like WHO 13, KCCI 8, and Local 5, plus KXnO Radio for daily sports talk and live coverage.

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THE 515 REPORT 📱📰 

⛳ Johnston Gateway Project Tees Up New Plans

The Johnston City Council has signed off on a fresh agreement with developers for the long-delayed Bomber’s golf and hotel project. Originally slated to open in 2024, the Topgolf-style venue is now set to feature an expanded entertainment complex with pickleball courts, mini golf, outdoor space, and new commercial buildings alongside the golf bays and hotel.

Read More →

🚧 80/35 Construction Shuffle

If you’ve driven I-80/35 lately, you know the construction headache is far from over. But there’s a bit of good news: the southbound on-ramp from Hickman and the exit to University have reopened. At the same time, the southbound on-ramp from Douglas and the exit to Hickman are now closed through December. Translation: progress is happening, just with plenty of detours still to come.

Full Update →

🍦 Black Cat Ice Cream Finds a New Home

After closing its Drake neighborhood shop earlier this summer, Black Cat Ice Cream has announced its next spot: 1305 Locust Street downtown. While there’s no firm opening date yet, the move-in begins September 1 and fans won’t have to wait long before their favorite small-batch flavors return.

Full Story →

WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁

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

🎭 Taste of the Junction Multicultural Festival (more)
📆 Thursday-Saturday | ⏰ Times vary
📍Valley Junction
Three days of culture, food, music, and community. Storytelling Thursday, jazz and performances Friday, and the big multicultural street festival Saturday. Free and open to all!

🛹 Des Moines Streetstyle Open (more)
📆 Thursday-Saturday | ⏰ Times vary
📍Various Locations
The 5th annual Streetstyle Open is back — contests, cash-for-tricks, skate art, and live music. A must for skaters and fans alike.

🎬 Movies on the Yard: Wicked (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 7:50pm
📍Johnston Town Center
Bring a blanket and catch Wicked under the stars. Free admission — pack snacks, lawn chairs, and the whole crew.

🍻 Patio Fest (more)
📆 Friday-Monday | ⏰ Times vary
📍Confluence Brewing
Four days of live, local music in the beer garden with rotating food trucks. No cover, just good vibes all weekend long.

⚾ Home Run Derby X (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 6:30pm
📍Principal Park
Legends like Ben Zobrist, Manny Ramirez, and Nick Swisher take the field in a fast-paced, co-ed derby format making its DSM debut.

🛍️ Captain Roy’s Pop-Up (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 10am–2pm
📍Captain Roy’s
Shop small-batch, handmade garden goodies at the riverside hangout.

🃏 DSM Sports Card Expo (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 10am–5pm
📍The Picker Knows
Over 50 vendor tables filled with cards, slabs, sealed packs, plus food and a cash bar.

🤠 Adel Breakout Rodeo (more)
📆 Saturday-Sunday | ⏰ 7:30pm
📍Dallas County Fairgrounds
Two nights of rodeo action with Wright Rodeo Company.

🌸 Sista Soul Fest (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 11am–4pm
📍Evelyn K. Davis Park
A celebration of women, culture, and community with 50+ vendors, live music, BBQ competition, and family fun.

🍎 Family Day (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 1–10pm
📍Winterset Cidery
Kick off the school year with live music, food trucks, LEGO racing, piglets, inflatables, and a drive-in movie to wrap it up.

WEATHER 🌞🌡️

Thursday

High 84 🌡️ Low 61 | 🌤️ | 💧 8%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Friday

High 82 🌡️ Low 62 | 🌤️ | 💧 16%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Saturday

High 80 🌡️ Low 63 | 🌥️ | 💧 17%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Sunday

High 76 🌡️ Low 60 | ☁️ | 💧 24%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

THE SETLIST 🎶🎤

Thursday

Boy Jr. w/ KOPPS | 5 | Lefty’s
The Feel Right | 6 | Valley Junction
David Watson | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Casey Joe Collins | 6 | DSM Biergarten
Nate Nelson | 6 | Doc’s Lounge
Jackyl | 7 | Wooly’s
Gannon Fremin & CCREV | 7 | xBk Live
The Drama Kings | 8 | HiFi Brew Lounge
Scott Eggleston | 8 | Greenwood Lounge
Josh Sinclair | 8:30 | Bix & Co

Friday

Royce John | 4:30 | Middlebrook Agrihood
Iowa Music Awards Tour | 5 | Lefty’s
David Simmons | 5 | Caffrey’s Irish Pub
Taylor King | 5 | Bevy’s Tavern
Jesse & The Medicine Men | 6 | Iowa Distilling Co
Brittany Sword Duo | 6 | Firetrucker Brewing
Emmett Sheehan | 7 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Drew Peer | 7 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
Poundgame Addison | 8 | xBk Live
Stringfield | 8 | Locals Bar & Stage
Sister Sara | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Suede | 8 | Back Roads Lounge
Dick Danger Band | 8 | Doc’s Lounge
The Other Brothers | 9 | Greenwood Lounge

Saturday

William Lawson Group | 11 | Exile Brewing
Josh Sinclair | 3:30 | SingleSpeed Brewing
Allie Crummy | 5 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Stercel Barnes Band | 5 | Winterset Cidery
Baberhood Bluegrass Band | 5 | Big Rack Brew Haus
Hot Off The Grill | 6 | Fenders Brewing
Jeni Grouws | 6:30 | Captain Roy’s
Matthew Garcia | 7 | Uptown Garage Brewing
Tony Bohnenkamp | 7 | Mickey’s Irish Pub Waukee
Rick Burke & Bill Matykowski | 7 | Greenwood Lounge
Robbie Michael | 7 | 36th St Tavern
DSM Symphony Pops | 7:30 | Water Works Park
Jean Dawson | 8 | Wooly’s
Charmaine Lee | 8 | xBk Annex
Jordy Arndt & The Howlers | 8 | xBk Live
Astrobrat & More | 8 | Locals Bar & Stage
1997 | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Black Diamond Loons | 8 | Back Roads Lounge
Bad Decisions | 8 | Down Under Bar & Grill

Sunday

Other Brothers | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Neva Alden | 2 | Winterset Cidery
Jac Fest | 3 | xBk Live
Dan & Quinn Trilk | 3 | Wilson’s Orchard & Farm
David Watson | 5 | Exile Brewing
The Lamplighters | 6 | Jamie Hurd Amphitheater
Suede | 6 | Saylorville Marina
DSM Symphony Pops | 7:30 | Water Works Park

SPORTS 🏈🏅

Football 🏈

All four local teams are in action this week.

• Upper Iowa @ Drake 🐶
  📆 8/28 | 🕛️ 6:30

• Butler @ UNI 🐆
  📆 8/30 | 🕛️ 1

• S. Dakota @ Iowa State 🌪️
  📆 8/30 | 🕛️ 2:30

• Albany @ Iowa 🦅
  📆 8/30 | 🕛️ 5

Baseball ⚾️ 

Iowa Cubs
62-65 | 5th Place | IL West Division

• @ Las Vegas Aviators
  📆 8/28 | 🕛️ 9:05
  📆 8/29 | 🕛️ 9:05
  📆 8/30 | 🕛️ 9:05
  📆 8/31 | 🕛️ 8:05

• Next Week | VS Omaha Storm Chasers

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].