Des Moines, IA = My Kind of Town!

I'm homesick... again. It comes and goes. Sometimes, it has to do with things going on at home. Sometimes, it has to do with things that I'd like to get away from in Columbus. Sometimes, it's nothing more than wanting to see the people, places, and things I grew up with. Sometimes, it's all of the above. But the feeling always leaves after a while. It's a cycle. However, some people have actually wondered why I miss Des Moines... you know... that place in that state with only 50 residents that all grow potatoes and where people drive tractors to work. (BTW, Iowa grows corn, not potatoes.) So nothing against Columbus, NYC, Oxford, or Fort Lauderdale (all of which are deserving of their own lists), here are the top ten reasons to love Des Moines, in no particular order.

1) Maid-Rite Restaurants - I love sloppy joes. No... I REALLY love sloppy joes. If you're a fan of sloppy joes, this place is for you. If you're a fan of old-style restaurants, this place is for you. If you're a fan of restaurants that you will only find in one city or place, this place is for you.

2) Skywalk System - Des Moines is one of two (I think) cities in the US that has a skywalk system. If you don't know what that is, if you go into an elevator in a downtown building, and if the floor numbering goes like "1, 2, 2.5, 3," 2.5 is the skywalk connection. You can walk around downtown without getting any of the summer heat or winter cold. The skywalk is completely enclosed and circles most buildings and and crosses over most downtown streets. You get a nice view of the traffic below as well as the rest of downtown Des Moines. It's a unique and underappreciated thing about the city.

3) The gold dome - Des Moines has one of only two or three (I think) capital buildings with a gold dome. Most capital buildings look like oversized libraries, historical buildings, or prisons. But the Iowa capital building screams...

I AM THE CAPITAL!!! IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, YOU CAN GO F*CK YOURSELF!!!

It's all because of the dome, even when it's under construction. Unlike Ohio's capital building or a number of other ones, you CANNOT mistake Iowa's capital building for anything else. That's how it should be.

4) Low travel time to other cities - Chicago, Minneapolis, Madison, Milwaukee, Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Indianapolis. And if you stretch a little further, Memphis, Little Rock, Oklahoma City, and Cincinnati. There was a joke a long time ago that one of the best things to do when you're in Des Moines is to pack your bags and get the f*ck out. Well, there is some truth to the joke, because all of these cities are within driving distance. Des Moines, as weird as it may sound, is a good city to live in if you love going on road trips. Not only that, but Des Moines is a crossroad for high-quality live entertainment because of its location. Most of the best performers put it down in Des Moines. Seriously... if Paul McCartney has to do a show in Minneapolis on Monday and Kansas City on Friday, he's going to stop in Des Moines on Wednesday, even if the show is as short as a smoke break. Location, location, location.

5) Water Works Park and Gray's Lake - Nature at its finest. Forget about the road that runs right between them. Instead, focus on the lake with the walkway going over it that lights up into a thousand different colors at night. Focus on the ponds where parents can take the kids fishing. Focus on the picnic tables and open grassy areas where you can have a relaxing picnic or party, read a book, take a nap, look at clouds, or participate in other park debauchery in your own "privacy." Focus on the trees, flowered spots, and ducks and geese that walk right up to you and either get some food or peck you in your forehead. Focus on the walking paths and horse stables. Focus on relaxation while you're in either of these spots.

6) Court Avenue - Restaurants. Clubs. Bars. River. Baseball stadium. Ampitheater. One of the things that make a city a metro city is all of these things in one area. Court Avenue is right in the middle of downtown. Like any other social district in the US, it can get boring if you show up every night for 365 days. However, in moderation, these things add to the city's charm. So if you ever stop in Des Moines, stay at the Hotel Fort Des Moines, eat at Buzzard Billy's, go dancing or get your drink on at any of the clubs, relax by the big green umbrella, take in a show at the Civic Center or Wells Fargo arena, go skywalking, and/or enjoy a night at the ampitheater if the weather is decent. While you're at it, tell Court Avenue that I sent you.

7) Something for everyone - Des Moines is right in the middle of Iowa. Iowa is overwhelmingly a small-town farming state. So a lot of the peoplewho live in Des Moines bring a small town frame of mind. On the other hand, there are a lot of people in Des Moines who come from larger cities, like Chicago, Minneapolis, and even Cincinnati, looking for life on the smaller scale. Drake University and a wide range of jobs play a role in attracting a diverse array of individuals. So this city with a metro population of around 500,000, you will find small town life, big city life, every age range, race, religion, sexual preference, background, lifestyle, and occupation under the sun. If you love living downtown, you can live in Des Moines. If you love the small town closeness, you can live in Des Moines. If you're someone who would rather live in the burbs, Des Moines has that and is still expanding. If you can't find at least a couple things you like about Des Moines, you need to get your head examined.

8) Big Tomato Pizza - Best f*cking pizza on the planet. They put anything you want on a pizza. If you go in and say "I want a seaweed pizza with chicken soup for sauce," they will ask you how long to cut the seaweed and if you want it delivered. After 10pm, they sell single slices. The best part about that is that you can go and watch all the drunk freaks and nutcases with the munchies get their grub on. Great food with unplanned entertainment. What more can you ask for?

9) Sports atmosphere - The ongoing debate will always be this... are you an Iowa fan or Iowa State fan? However, there will always been divides between the Cubs, White Sox, Twins, Cardinals, Royals, Bears, Vikings, Packers, Rams, Chiefs, Bulls, and Timberwolves. Of course, you can't ever forget about the Iowa Cubs and Sec Taylor Stadium. High school sports in general (wrestling, football, track, and boys and girls basketball in particular) have always generated a lof of emotion and bitter feelings among Iowans. If you love sports, you'll love Des Moines and its uber-competitive envirtionment. In every sports bar, you will find someone who is with you or against you.

10) Des Moines is home. I grew up there. Most of my family, some of my friends, and a good portion of memories will always be there. That's all I gotta say about that.

Honorable mention - Drake Relays