Des Moines Photo of the Day (Waterloo, Washington: construction, high school, living)

[WILWRadio]

Pleasantly surprised by some of the great architecture that you are showing us. I never knew Des Moines had such a variety of older structures. Guess I need to see more of the city...

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by DMRyan

The Wethrell Apartments, Grand Avenue

I love that building and the ones surrounding it on Grand.

[DMRyan]

Western Gateway Park, Water Runnell

[Stavemaster]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

The photo of the Theatrical Shop is in Valley Junction, which is a West Des Moines shopping district full of unique local shops.

That place is quite cool. I remember my parents taking me there when I was maybe 15 or so and needed supplies for an art project. Afterwards I could never remember what part of town it was in or what it was called. Glad to see it's still around. Next time I'm in WDM I'll have to make a point of wandering around Valley Junction to see if it's as cool as I remember it.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by Stavemaster

That place is quite cool. I remember my parents taking me there when I was maybe 15 or so and needed supplies for an art project. Afterwards I could never remember what part of town it was in or what it was called. Glad to see it's still around. Next time I'm in WDM I'll have to make a point of wandering around Valley Junction to see if it's as cool as I remember it.

I especially love VJ at Christmas time. They have evening Holiday Open Houses that allow for shopping and the shops offer snacks and often wine. The whole street is decked out for the holidays and there are strolling carolers and horse drawn carriage rides.

Summer Farmer's Markets are fun, too, with tons of different local vendors and a live band with beer garden.

[DMRyan]

VJ has been kept up very well and has transformed from an antique mall to an eclectic urban shopping district with art galleries and the like. I still think more could be done to open the area up to some housing opportunities, maybe a few more bars and restaurants to get some nightlife going. West Des Moines continiously puts efforts into keeping up the appearance of the district with new streetscaping elements, etc.

It's got the quantity of retail that the East Village would love to have, but you can watch tumbleweeds blow through there after hours. The East Village is transforming into a more vibrant commercial area with uses around the clock that put people on the streets during non-shopping hours times too.

[DMRyan]

Iowa Judicial Building

[RonnieJonez]

Originally Posted by DMRyan

VJ has been kept up very well and has transformed from an antique mall to an eclectic urban shopping district with art galleries and the like. I still think more could be done to open the area up to some housing opportunities, maybe a few more bars and restaurants to get some nightlife going. West Des Moines continiously puts efforts into keeping up the appearance of the district with new streetscaping elements, etc.

It's got the quantity of retail that the East Village would love to have, but you can watch tumbleweeds blow through there after hours. The East Village is transforming into a more vibrant commercial area with uses around the clock that put people on the streets during non-shopping hours times too.

"Eclectic" still must be the buzz word (like in 2004), you should search that word on your forum, comes up quite a bit.

[DMRyan]

West Glen Town Center, West Des Moines

[Sunset_Va]

I have been very impressed at all the pictures of both Des Moines, and the State of Iowa in this Iowa forum.

I am sure not everywhere in Iowa is as tidy as what I have viewed here, but I think overall, people take pride there. One pleasure I have is going through all the States/Countries in the CD forum, and viewing the landscapes.

Never been to Iowa, but have been in Illinois, is the terrain similar?