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2010 Biennal Conference
Activities and Attractions
Yes, Virginia, there is life in Des Moines. Over the last ten years, Iowa’s capital city has quietly—not to say surprisingly—grown into an affordable and attractive destination for visitors. For those of you planning to spend a few days here before or after the conference (or if you are looking for something to do outside of the panel sessions), greater Des Moines has a wealth of engaging attractions, museums, restaurants, and other places to spend your time.
To see what activities or events are scheduled for a particular date, you can check out the website for the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau (www.seedesmoines.com) and click on the “Calendar” link near the top of the page. There’s also a link on that page of 100 Summer Attractions, though some of these are located in nearby communities such as Ames, Indianola, Perry, Newton, and Boone (see www.seedesmoines.com/100/complete_list.php). The low cost of living means that a week’s vacation is surprisingly affordable, should you want to fold in some recreation with your professional obligations. You can take in a minor league baseball game with the Iowa Cubs or arena football with the Iowa Barnstormers, go for a ride on the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad, hear a concert at Blues on Grand or the Simon Estes Amphitheater, shop, golf, bike swim, or take in dozens of other activities. I’ll note a few of the permanent attractions in the area:
The Des Moines Art Center: Opened in 1948 and designed by Eliel Saarinen (with later additions by I. M. Pei and Richard Meier), the Des Moines Art Center is located in the bucolic surroundings of Greenwood Park. The permanent collection features a major emphasis on contemporary art, including works by Edward Hopper, Francis Bacon, Georgia O’Keeffe, Henri Matisse, Jasper Johns, and many others.
The Art Center, along with the City of Des Moines, also oversees the newly opened John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Garden in Western Gateway Park, just on the edge of downtown Des Moines. Entirely outdoors, the Pappajohn Garden features an array of sculptures from various artists and styles.
Des Moines Art Center: www.desmoinesartcenter.org/
Pappajohn Garden: www.desmoinesartcenter.org/downtown/index.html
Living History Farms: This 500-acre, outdoor museum recreates history and lifestyles in four time periods: the 1700 Ioway Indians, the 1850 pioneers, the townspeople of 1875 and 1900 farmers. Historical interpreters dressed in period clothing complete the daily routines of each time period—caring for animals, cooking, blacksmithing, gardening,and much more. Living History Farms is generally considered one of the finest museums in the nation dedicated to historical re-creation and interaction. www.lhf.org/
The State Historical Society of Iowa: Located mere blocks from the spectacular golden dome of the State Capitol Building, the State Historical Museum provides a wonderful chance to see the stories of Iowa’s growth and development. NABMSA members may be interested in the temporary exhibit “Over Here, Over There: Iowa and the First World War,” which will be on display during the conference. www.iowahistory.org/
The Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market: A quintessentially Midwestern experience. Located on (and around) Court Avenue between First and Fifth Streets, the Downtown Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday morning from 7am-noon, rain or shine. More than 200 vendors provide local and organic produce, cheese, bread, and other foods, but you can also have breakfast, hear live music, purchase locally produced clothing and goods, and people-watch to your heart’s content. http://desmoinesfarmersmarket.com/
Downtown Des Moines: Instead of enumerating every activity, restaurant, bar, and shop available downtown, here’s an excellent website that will show you where the good stuff is. (The local arrangements chair is happy to make specific recommendations, if requested.) www.downtowndesmoines.com/
Additionally, there are two events going on during the conference weekend that might interest attendees: first, the Jazz in July series (sponsored by the Metro Arts Alliance) will feature a performance on Wednesday, July 28, from 5-6:30 outside Drake’s Fine Arts Center, the site of the conference. I believe the featured ensemble will be the Drake Jazz Ensemble. (More information will be posted in coming weeks at www.metroarts.org/). Second, the National Hot Air Balloon Classic has its opening weekend in Indianola (about 20 miles south of Des Moines). For more information on that event, visit www.nationalballoonclassic.com/
