New To Des Moines (West Des Moines, Clive: daycare, house, buy)

[DogLover_535]

I am moving to Des Moines from Chicago and am ready for a nice change! I've read several posts on this site - but would like to get a fresh look at what Des Moines has to offer. Are there opportunities to listen to live music, eat good food, meet new people in social settings, and also stay active during the winter?

Also, is Des Moines pet friendly? Are there great off leash parks and rec areas?
Can you recommend a great downtown doggy daycare? I have two dogs.

Thanks!

[Luke9686]

Des Moines has much to offer.

I know House of Bricks has live music. It's near downtown. I'm sure there are plenty of others, depending on what you are into. Also Blues on Grand downtown.

Downtown is pretty much the go-to place for the social scene. The Ingersoll and Drake areas also have many great bars, restaraunts, etc.

During the winter, it gets a little slower but it is doable. You just kind of have to think of things to do. You could cross country ski, snowshoe, run, hike, etc. Just have to tough out the weather.

[capitalcityguy]

I think your doggie daycare would depend on where you are going to live, wouldn't it? I know there is a newer daycare near the East Village (east part of downtown) but that doesn't do you a lot of good if you plan to live and work out west.

[MastermindDSM]

there is a dog park in West Des Moines at Raccoon River Park.

[Iowagirl566]

If you move out to West Des Moines I was very happy with The Jordan Creek Animal Hospital. They have an attached kennel(for their patients only). Here's a link to their website MyVetOnline.com

[llsweet08]

Des Moines is a great place to live. The people are very friendly and you can find stuff to do. It has also very pet friendly. Raccoon River is a great dog park in West Des Moines. I work downtown so I take my dog to Downtown Doggy Daycare and just love it! He comes home tired and happy and the owners are great!

[thatguy1]

Originally Posted by Luke9686

Des Moines has much to offer.

I know House of Bricks has live music. It's near downtown. I'm sure there are plenty of others, depending on what you are into. Also Blues on Grand downtown.

Downtown is pretty much the go-to place for the social scene. The Ingersoll and Drake areas also have many great bars, restaraunts, etc.

During the winter, it gets a little slower but it is doable. You just kind of have to think of things to do. You could cross country ski, snowshoe, run, hike, etc. Just have to tough out the weather.

Is it just recently the downtown nightlife has sprung up? I remember being there like 4 years ago and couldn’t find ANYTHING worth a damn. We went to court ave. but it seemed to die down really quick. There was this one bar I thought was pretty neat. It always had some hottie on a swing above the bar.

We were actually told to go west to Drink and...I forgot the other one. Anyway, just curious if there is more to do now. I’m thinking of spending a weekend in DSM sometime soon.

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by burgerflipper

Is it just recently the downtown nightlife has sprung up? I remember being there like 4 years ago and couldn’t find ANYTHING worth a damn. We went to court ave. but it seemed to die down really quick. There was this one bar I thought was pretty neat. It always had some hottie on a swing above the bar.

We were actually told to go west to Drink and...I forgot the other one. Anyway, just curious if there is more to do now. I’m thinking of spending a weekend in DSM sometime soon.

Yes, a ton of places have sprung up downtown within just he last two years. There are no less than 8 or 9 new establishments that have opened up within the last 24 months on or around Court Ave. 4 years ago, it would have been correct to say that nightlife was better out west. That is no longer true and the transformation in such a short time is amazing.

[MastermindDSM]

There is still a good scene out west, particularly WestGlen in West Des Moines. And yes, Crush, Drink, Mickeys and the other Clive bars are still kickin'. If I were to suggest one spot, it would be downtown, the second would be West Glen, then the Clive Bars.

[Luke9686]

I remember the bar with the swing. Downtown died for a few years but has been revitalized in the past 2-3 years. It's now the "hotspot". West Des Moines is still ok, but cant really compare to downtown. You have to drive to much to get from place to place, and its too suburbia in my opinion.

Crap now I'm going to be trying to remember the name of that place with the swing. They had to shut down because girls were stripping on the bar. That was one of the main "3" that always were hopping downtown. $10 cover, 3 bars, all you can drink. Now you can't buy a beer downtown for less than $3.75. It's good and bad. Good in the aspect that DSM is growing up, but bad because it's now pretty expensive. It's pretty live now though.

Also try East Village. Thats hopping too. Also Ingersol has some nice places.