Each month, we highlight the most buzzworthy places and events in Greater Des Moines in a feature we call Des Buzz. It's your “in the know” list of places to go!
Homegrown Kitchen
You can never have enough breakfast options, and a new one just opened! Homegrown Kitchen opened in Sherman Hill next door to Big Grove Brewery, and it’s sure to be delish. Most known for their homemade pop tarts, their menu focuses on locally sourced ingredients. Homegrown Kitchen believes that if they help you start the day on a positive note, the kindness spreads from there. Good food and a good message? We can get behind that.
Midnight Munchies
A local bakery favorite has gone late night! Crème Bakery is offering Midnight Munchies, a special event every Friday and Saturday night. The bakery is open from 7 p.m. to Midnight and is offering new menu items, as well as cocktails and mocktails. This is the perfect way to wrap up your date night or girls' night out. Grab a cup of noodles and a signature cocktail to start out and finish your night with the viral buttercream board. If you’re looking for the Crème favorites that you love, they will have those as well. Go for the treats, stay for the ‘90s tunes.
State Wrestling
‘Tis the season for state competitions in Greater Des Moines. Starting out strong in February with the Iowa High School Traditional State Wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. From Wednesday, February 15 through Saturday, February 18, cheer on the state’s top wrestlers as they compete for the top of the podium. Not a wrestling fan? The environment alone is worth checking out. Seeing a bunch of athletes competing for the top spot in the state is sure to be entertaining. Find tickets here.
Trendy Gardener Plant Co.
Practicing your green thumb in the winter? Let Trendy Gardener Plant Co. help. A new store in West Des Moines that offers a rotating lineup of 60 unique houseplants. They also have a very active online storefront with more than 350 different plants that are not yet available in the West Des Moines storefront. Trendy Gardener Plant Co. has also started leasing plants if you need them to help set up a backdrop or decorate for an event. Check out their storefront on EP True Parkway for all your plant needs!
Valentine’s Day
Looking for ways to celebrate love in your life in Greater Des Moines? The options are endless! We’ve rounded up a few events to get you planning. How about a gameshow that will have you laughing, connecting, and maybe even finding romance? Head to The Hall on Saturday, February 11 for Game for Love, a live dating show. What about something for the girls? Willow on Grand will be hosting a Galentine’s Day Drag Brunch on Sunday, February 12. Brunch includes pancakes, small bites, and cocktails, all with a side of a drag show. Celebrate on Valentine’s Day with Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden’s Valentine’s Day Dome After Dark. Stroll through the gardens and see the colorful lighting. Trellis Café will be offering a dinner, Peat and Plate. Before Dome After Dark, for those 21 and older, explore the birds and the bees of flowers and trees with 50 Shades of Green. See our events page for all Valentine’s Day events.
Jurassic Quest
February can be a tough time to find something fun for the kids to do. It’s cold, dark, and there’s a ton of snow. If the kids need a night out, take them to Jurassic Quest! This is the world’s largest, most popular dinosaur event, and it’s coming to the Iowa Events Center, February 10 – 12. See life-size dinosaurs like Apatosaurus, Spinosaurus, and the famous T-Rex. Enjoy digging for fossils, playing on inflatables, and watch a live Raptor show. Tickets range from $19 – $36. Get them here!
Des Moines Home and Garden Show
Stuck in the winter blues and looking for inspiration? The Des Moines Home and Garden Show is here to help! Head to the Iowa Events Center, February 23 – 26 for four days full of exhibitors, presentations, and speakers. Find anything from outdoor updates like siding and gutters, garden and landscape, and even pools. Or if indoor is more your vibe, you can find home décor, furniture, flooring, and more, all perfect for your renovation dreams. Adult tickets are $12, but if you purchase them online you can save $2.
Naughtea
A brand-new restaurant has opened in Ankeny and it’s full of fun choices. Naughtea specializes in Korean Corn Dogs and Bubble Tea. What is a Korean Corn Dog exactly? A hot dog or mozzarella deep fried and coated in a variety of things (potato, Cheetos, etc.). These have taken the world by storm on TikTok for how delicious and eye-popping they are. Naughtea also focuses on Bubble Tea. These tea drinks are often sweet and have bobas in the bottom as well. Naughtea specializes in creating fun flavors such as Ube Taro Swirl and Crème Brulee. If you’re looking to try something new, Naughtea is for you.
