Behind the Scenes
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Today I thought I’d show you behind the scenes of how Say Hello to the City got started. It’s an idea I’ve had for a few years and it’s exciting to see it go from living inside my head to being online.
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monthly distractions
/What's up, guy? Whether you're happily in love or have a long list of ex-lovers, I hope this month was good to you. Enjoy the links after the jump and we'll see you here again on Monday.
Read More#cityquotes
/"People are really stoked about Des Moines right now because they can feel this energy here and they want to help out and tap into it. Instead of getting in your way, people here will give you the tools you need to succeed. It is a very empowering city."
To read more of our interview with Mickey Davis, click here.
An Afternoon on Mars
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A few days ago, I spent some time at Mars Coffee Bar down in the East Village. It’s one of my favorite places to grab a cup of coffee (e.g. the Sputnik - their honey and cinnamon latte) and catch up with a friend.
Read More#cityquotes
/"A lot of environments can get really competitive as far as business goes, but it’s not like that here in Des Moines. People are very generous."
To read more of our interview with Dave and Mariah Pozyer (the people behind the Wedding format) click here.
A Conversation with Emily Lang + Kristopher Rollins (of RunDSM)
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When I first Emily Lang and Kristopher Rollins, I felt that instantaneous magnetism you sometimes feel when meeting new people. I talked with them for less than two minutes, but I had to know more about them. Their passion for impacting the next generation was both intriguing and palpable.
Read Moremonthly distractions
/Hope your week was rad! Signing off a bit early because of the holidays. Enjoy your family and your food and your naps. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Links after the jump.
Read MoreA Conversation with Mickey Davis
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Des Moines is cool, but you already knew that, right?
Thanks to 80/35, a couple of James Beard Award nominated restaurants, and the recent celebrity sightings due to the Iowa caucuses, community pride about living here has never been higher.
Read More#cityquotes
/"Everyone here is very open to collaboration. In New York, it’s so competitive and no one wants to share their techniques. Here in Iowa, people are very open about it and willing to help. I think Des Moines has that going for it."
To read more of our interview with Leslie Poyzer, click here.
In the Village Dinner
/A few weeks ago, I co-hosted a popup dinner and it was magical. Nineteen guests joined us in the heart of the Historic East Village for a five course meal and endless conversation. Someday I'll do a post about how these pop-ups came to be, but for now take a look at some pictures from the evening's event.
The popup was hosted by Around the Table, a local creative collective that seeks to connect people through a shared culinary experience. Throughout the last few years, I've found that something special happens when you feed people a good meal and invite them into a beautiful experience. When I first started hosting these events, I noticed that people paid for a good meal, but that what kept them seated afterwards was the communal aspect that the meal fostered so well.
While these events take lots of planning and the logistics can be difficult (I speak from personal experience when I say that hauling tables all the way down Grand Avenue is a chore) that frenzy tends to fade into the background once everyone is seated. Once we're around the table, everything just flows: conversation, laughter, and, yes, also wine.
I think that the popularity of social media has created a hunger in people for tangible experiences that occur offline and I think that these dinners fill that void nicely. I hope you're able to join us someday at one of our events. It's unforgettable and it makes the world feel a little bit smaller.
Special to Liz Brown for the spectacular pictures, Mars for their barista and pour-overs, and Chrissy over at Domestica for allowing us to utilize her gorgeous retail space.
