PRESENTED BY

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

Greetings from Florida — this is my view for the next few days. Hope everyone is having a great week. I’m keeping things a little lighter this week, but there’s still plenty of great events and live music happening around town.

In todays issue:

• 🎨 Augmented reality mural coming

• 🚦 Fixes coming to University Avenue

• ⚡️ Iowa awards $2M+ in grants

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

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THE 515 REPORT 📱📰 

🎨 Augmented Reality Mural Coming to Downtown DSM

A massive 8,000-square-foot mural with an augmented reality twist is coming to 901 Grand Ave. Dutch artist Leon Keer is painting the piece, which will feature vintage TVs showing Iowa landscapes like Pella Tulip Time and the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge.

Through the free Turn It On! app, viewers can watch the mural come to life. The project launches at a free festival on Oct. 18 from 1–3 PM and will stay up for at least six years.

More →

⚡ Iowa Awards $2.3M in Energy Grants

The Iowa Energy Center board has awarded $2.3 million to eight projects aimed at improving the state’s energy future. Iowa State University received seven of the grants, funding work on everything from solid-state batteries and AI-powered mapping to K-12 energy education. Bloomfield-based Terenc earned the eighth grant for a new system to help small utilities manage solar and battery resources in real time.

Story →

🚦 City Seeks Input on University Avenue Safety Upgrades

Des Moines is asking residents for feedback on how to make University Avenue safer. The corridor sees around 18,000 cars a day and has been tagged as one of the city’s higher-crash areas, with over 500 crashes since 2020.

Possible updates include fewer lanes, new bike paths, and other “traffic calming” features — but city officials say community feedback will shape the final plan. A proposal could be ready by the end of the year, though construction likely won’t begin until 2030.

Story → 

WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁

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

🎭 Michael Blaustein: The Taste Me Tour (more)
📆 Thursday | ⏰ 7:30 PM
📍Hoyt Sherman Place
One of the fastest-rising stand-up comedians in the game. With over 900M views online and a hit podcast with Trevor Wallace, Michael’s back on tour bringing big laughs to DSM.

🎤 Hot Flash (more)
📆 Thursday | ⏰ 7:00 PM
📍xBk Annex
Janee “Cool” Harvey is back by popular demand with her hilarious, quick-witted take on parenting, donkeys, and everything in between. Don’t miss the encore!

🎃 Hocus Pocus Bingo (more)
📆 Thursday | ⏰ 7:00 PM
📍Vibrant Coffeehouse & Kitchen
A spellbinding night of free bingo, themed drinks, and prizes for the most magical costumes. Bring your broomsticks and your spooky crew!

🥃 Cocktails & Conversation (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 6:00 PM
📍Cheese Bar DSM
An intimate evening of fine spirits, fresh oysters, and cozy conversation. Taste your way through Brugal Rum, Highland Park Scotch, and Wyoming Whiskey. Reservations required.

🎭 Bored Teachers: The Struggle is Real! Comedy Tour (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 7:30 PM
📍Hoyt Sherman Place
Teachers and non-teachers alike will love this one. The viral comedy group brings relatable laughs and classroom chaos to life. PG-13 language warning.

🐾 Fall Tailgate Paw-ty (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 12:00 PM
📍Paws & Pints
Grab your pup and your team gear for the ultimate dog-friendly tailgate! Free day passes, football on the big screen, giveaways, and plenty of tail wags.

🎨 Uptown Artist Market (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 10 AM–2 PM
📍Uptown Ankeny
Shop 30+ local artists, enjoy live music, and let the kids create at the interactive art station. Even the dogs can join in thanks to Forever Home Dog Rescue.

🎃 Pumpkin Painting (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 10:00 AM
📍Exile Brewing
Decorate your own mini pumpkin during The Haunting at Exile. Fun for kids (and kids at heart). $5 each, first come, first serve.

🎉 Barbie Birthday Party (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 7:00 PM
📍Up-Down
Up-Down turns 12 with a full-on Barbie bash. Think pink cocktails, photo booth fun, and a playlist straight out of Barbie’s dreamhouse. Dress to impress!

WEATHER 🌞🌡️

Thursday

High 71 🌡️ Low 56 | 🌥️ | 💧 2%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Friday

High 75 🌡️ Low 49 | 🌥️ | 💧 2%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Saturday

High 75 🌡️ Low 60 | 🌥️ | 💧 7%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Sunday

High 78 🌡️ Low 62 | 🌥️ | 💧 19%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

THE SETLIST 🎶🎤

Thursday

Villain of the Story | 5 | Lefty’s
Anna PS | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Jessie & The Medicine Men | 6 | Poncho’s
Brandon Lake | 7 | Casey’s Center
Nile | 7 | Wooly’s
The Slats & more | 7 | Locals Bar & Stage
Marc Rebillet | 7:30 | Val Air Ballroom
Scott Eggleston | 8 | Greenwood Lounge

Friday

Mike Tiedeman | 5 | Caffrey’s Irish Pub
Duke Oursler | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Johnny Laws w/ Vince Cline & Tim Cooper | 6 | Middlebrook Mercantile
David Watson | 6 | Iowa Distilling Co
Napoleon Douglas | 7 & 9 | Noce
Austin Brown Trio | 7 | The Cave
The Drama Kings | 7 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
Will Barnett | 7 | Firetrucker Brewing
Maddox Batson | 7:30 | Val Air Ballroom
Dylan Scott | 7:30 | Vibrant Music Hall
Jesus Christ Taxi Driver | 7:30 | Locals Bar & Stage
Mike T | 8 | xBk Live
Mark Doty & The Cause | 8 | Prairie Meadows
Whiskey Bizkit | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Bad Friends | 8 | Back Roads Lounge
Sara Routh | 8 | 6th Ave Listening Room
The Ripoffs | 8 | Doc’s Lounge
The Sheet | 8 | Cabaret Sports Bar & Grill
Dustin Farrow & The Relics | 9 | Greenwood Lounge

Saturday

Madison County Covered Bridges Festival
Matt Woods | 2 | WDM Public Library
Gina Gedler | 4 | Revelton Distilling
The Crowfoot Rakes | 5 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Silversonic | 6 | Captain Roy’s
319’s Finest | 6:30 | Lefty’s
Lauren Vilmain | 7 & 9 | Noce
MFKS | 7 | HiFi Brew Lounge
The Guilty Pleasures | 7 | Doc’s Lounge
Brittany Sword Duo | 7 | Shirley’s Bar & Grill
Running Man & more | 7:30 | Locals Bar & Stage
Anthrax and Slayer | 8 | xBk Live
Pickleback | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Gimikk | 8 | Miss Kitty’s
Round-A-Bout | 8 | Down Under
Cardinal Sound | 8:30 | Mickey’s Irish Pub
Jeff Banks Band | 9 | Greenwood Lounge
King Falcon | 10 | Lefty’s

Sunday

Madison County Covered Bridges Festival
Andrew Hoyt | 1 | DSM Biergarten
Rural Route Duo | 2 | Winterset Cidery
The Crowfoot Rakes | 2 | Captain Roy’s
Steve George & The Dangerous Band | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Dan & Quinn Trilk | 3 | Wilson’s Orchard & Farm
Fight From Within | 5 | Lefty’s
Steve Grismore Tanner Taylor Duo | 5 | Louie’s Wine Dive
KAYKO | 7 | xBk Live

SPORTS 🏈🏅

College Football 🏈

All four local teams are in action this week.

• Drake 🐶 @ San Diego | Record: 2-2 (1-1)
  📆 10/11 | 🕛️ 4

• UNI 🐆 @ SDSU | Record: 2-3 (0-1)
  📆 10/11 | 🕛️ 2

• Iowa 🦅 @ Wisconsin | Record: 3-2 (1-1)
  📆 10/11 | 🕛️ 6

• #22 ISU 🌪️ @ Colorado | Record: 5-1 (2-1)
  📆 10/11 | 🕛️ 2:30

Hockey 🏒 

Bucs
1-2-0-2 | 4th place | Western Conference

• @ Sioux City Musketeers
  📆 10/11 | 🕛️ 6:05

• @ Tri-City Storm
  📆 10/12 | 🕛️ 3:05

Iowa Wild
0-0 | 1st place | Central Division

• VS Chicago Wolves 🏒 Opening Night
  📆 10/11 | 🕛️ 6

• VS Rockford Icehogs 🧢 Kids Opening Night
  📆 10/12 | 🕛️ 5

THANK YOU! 🙌 

Thank you for reading DSM at Dawn.

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

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