Downtown - Iowa Living Magazines

Transcription

Living
Downtown
july 2015
des moines 50309
magazine
Old Town
REVIVAL
FROM DES MOINES’ EARLY DAYS, COURT AVENUE
HAS THRIVED AS AN ENTERTAINMENT HUB
GETTING CREATIVE
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JULY | 2015
WELCOME
Appreciate the Looking for more
history
I
spend more time now on Court Avenue than I did 26 years ago when I first
moved to town. Today, at age 47, my wife and our friends enjoy a number
of downtown establishments. We also frequently will take our kids out
for dinner or to age-appropriate activities. Our company hosts a number of
events on Court Avenue, and I am proud
to consider many of the proprietors as not
only customers but friends. But just a few
decades ago, that was far from the case. As
a young man of 21 years old, my friends
and I would have never considered living
downtown, and we frequently fled the city
when the sun set.
Back in 1990, I was one of a growing
number of young people who worked
downtown and would frequent the Seniom
Sed events on Friday after 5 p.m. and
occasional Iowa Cubs games. But that
was about it. When the evening hours hit,
most everyone I knew headed out of Des
Moines, and for good reason. Des Moines’
downtown area was improving, but it continued to hold a stigma of being
unkept and unsafe. Organizers of various festivals and events like the Des
Moines Grand Prix worked diligently to pull people into the city, but disasters like the flood of 1993 pushed them right back out. Looking back, those
waters may have provided some of the cleansing the city needed.
My career choice took me out of state for several years, but I returned
about 10 years ago and was pleasantly surprised to see a true resurgence in
downtown, and specifically on Court Avenue. Young people were not only
choosing to stay downtown in the evenings, they were also seeking out places
to live here. And the real estate developers responded accordingly.
Since you are reading this column, you are likely one of the many who
made the choice to live or run a business in the heart of Des Moines. To you,
we all owe our gratitude, as our city is cleaner, safer and more progressive
than it has been in decades. What has been accomplished makes everyone
in the metro proud to call Des Moines home. But to truly appreciate what
has happened, one must fully understand the roots of the community, and,
specifically, the history of Court Avenue. In this month’s cover story, we
share details on the historical significance of many of the buildings and how
their tenants impacted what we know today as the historic Court District.
Thanks for reading. Q
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Shane Goodman
Publisher
Darren Tromblay
Editor
515-953-4822 ext. 304
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Shelli Pulley
Advertising
515-490-0473
shelli@iowalivingmagazines.com
Living
Iowa
magazines
JULY | 2015
Downtown Living
3
FEATURE
Old Town
REVIVAL
FROM DES MOINES’ EARLY DAYS, COURT AVENUE
HAS THRIVED AS AN ENTERTAINMENT HUB
By Melissa Walker
es Moines’ oldest area of the city, which
though the years fell into disarray, has
reinvented itself into the city’s entertainment and restaurant area.
To better understand how the Court Avenue
district — the area between the Polk County
Courthouse and the Des Moines River — has
become the destination it is today, bustling with
restaurant-goers, night-time entertainment, the
popular Downtown Farmers Market, and multiple apartment and condo buildings, one must go
back more than 170 years.
Capt. James Allen landed a steamboat on
May 20, 1843, at the site where the west end
of the Court Avenue Bridge is today. Thus, the
early Des Moines, then given the name Fort Des
Moines, was laid out along two blocks parallel to
the river.
By 1846, settlers had claimed the surrounding area, more streets were plotted, there was a
public square and the railroad had come to town.
Transportation continued to grow as the
population flourished. Commercial buildings and
manufacturing took the place of residences in
the area. The Des Moines Street Railway Co.
installed tracks along Court Avenue in 1867, the
same year rail became a reliable mode of transportation to Des Moines. By 1880, 38 passenger
trains were arriving and departing from Des
Moines each day, according to “A Self-Guided
Tour of the Court Avenue District,” a brochure
produced for the Des Moines Public Library.
Most businesses sprung up on surrounding
streets, but Court Avenue and its surrounding
area were home to a barbed wire manufacturer,
pottery works, carriage factories, grain and feed
mills, saddlery companies, dry goods businesses,
D
4
Downtown Living
JULY | 2015
The Court Avenue district has revitalized from its time as Des Moines’ early settlement to become an entertainment
and restaurant destination that is home to the popular Des Moines Farmers Market. Photo by Melissa Walker.
furniture manufacturers, hat makers and wholesale and retail groceries and businesses related to
the food industry, according to “Court Avenue
Historic Study Area.”
The Court Avenue area also served farmers
and mechanics. A.F. Dicks’ hardware store was
at the corner of Third Street and Court Avenue,
and many prominent larger companies had small-
er operations in Des Moines, including Deere &
Co. and McCormick Harvesting Machine Co.
By the 1880s, Court Avenue was a bustling
district for transit with the nearby railroad, but
it was far from the “best” area of town. It had
saloons and “female boarding houses,” some of
which were brothels. The air was a mixture of
smells that became unpleasant from the variety
FEATURE
of manufacturing and production in the area,
according to a Des Moines Skywalker article
from 1987 that took a 100-year look back at the
area.
Structures with architectural features
spring up on Court Avenue
Des Moines experienced a building boom by
1881: 37 business blocks and 715 residences
were built that year. During the 1880s, 14 new
buildings were constructed along Court Avenue
to replace smaller shops, according to the study
area.
The study, conducted in 1983, looked at 49
buildings constructed along Court Avenue and its
surrounding streets. Thirty-five of these buildings
were built between 1880 and 1925. Today, these
are the historic buildings that still exist along
Court Avenue:
The Kurtz Warehouse, built in the early
1900s at 100 Court Ave., is now an office building. It’s considered one of Des Moines’ finest
examples of early 1900 warehouse construction.
The Chevalier Wright & Co. building, at
208 Court Ave. Records indicate it was built in
1880, but it’s possible the building dates back to
the 1860s, according to a hand-drawn map and
an 1866 city directory. A number of businesses
were located at the site. Presently, it is the restaurant RoCA. The exterior of the building was
changed in the 1970s, so it retains little of its
original character. Its importance lies in the fact
that it is one of only a few remaining 22-footwide storefronts that were common in the late
1800s and early 1900s, according to the historic
study of the area.
The A.H. Walker building, formerly home of
Judge Roy Bean’s, was a retail hardware store.
The building, located at 210 Court Ave., was built
in 1880. A 1980s remodel removed any historical
characteristics from the inside of the building. It is
now the bar Tonic.
The C.C. Taft & Company wholesale grocers building at 216 Court Ave. It is now the
site of Court Center, Legends restaurant and
several night clubs. The building was originally
constructed as three separate buildings that were
remodeled in 1922 to form one. It was the home
of McCormick Harvesting Co. and later a wholesale tinware house, a seed and florist business,
fruit and vegetable merchant, bailed hay dealer,
peanut roaster manufacturer, saloon keeper and
druggist.
The Des Moines Saddlery Co. building, 309
Court Ave., built in 1887. The building was vacant
from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s. It took in
19 feet of water during the flood of 1993 and was
vacant until Court Avenue Brewing Co. moved
into it in 1996. It now has several offices on the
upper floor. The Kaplan Hat Factory building at
307 Court, constructed in 1887, is part of the
This image shows Court Avenue from the late 1800s/early 1900s. Photo courtesy of the Des Moines Public Library.
site.
The Lederer, Strauss & Co., now The Old
Spaghetti Works and Johnny’s Hall of Fame building, at 300-310 Court Ave. It was built in 1889
and has been renovated to have condos on the
upper floors.
The building at 319 Court Ave. has been
home to numerous themed night clubs and
restaurants, most recently The Surf Shack. The
building was constructed in 1890, and its early
use dates back to the Onyx Saloon in the early
1900s. The second floor was usually used as a
hotel or rooming house. Present day, the exterior has been painted to go along with the bar’s
theme.
The Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Depot,
the west section built in 1905 and the east section in 1910, was renovated in 1986. It is known
for its larger half-circle windows and the arch
that spans Fourth Street and connects the two
buildings. It houses Business Publications Corp.
and the Des Moines Business Record in the western half and Hessen Haus bar in the east section.
The Randolph Hotel, located at the northwest corner of Fourth Street and Court. It was
built in 1910 and through the years served as a
hotel with a barber shop and other commercial
spaces to its most recent use as an apartment
building with a bail bondsman office below. The
building is undergoing a complete renovation.
Directly west of the Randolph Hotel is the
Redhead & Wellslager building. The original use
was a wholesale and retail book and paper products store. It had a range of tenants that included
a carpet store and a wholesale china business.
The building was mostly vacant in the 1960s and
1970s, and is now part of the Randolph Hotel
renovation.
Preservationists fight to save buildings,
retain history
By the mid-1960s and 1970s, Court Avenue had
JULY | 2015
Downtown Living
5
FEATURE
become worn down as businesses shuttered or
moved elsewhere.
A 1982 Des Moines Tribune article described
the area as “slightly disheveled, even a little
seedy.” Later articles in The Des Moines Register
referred to it as a red-light district where people
did not want to walk after dark or be seen.
City officials and preservationists in the late
1970s and early 1980s hired consultants and
considered plans and ideas to revitalize the area
and to come up with ways to keep people in
downtown Des Moines after work hours. Ideas
were tossed around: Create an indoor-outdoor
market shopping mall. Utilize the proximity to
the riverfront to create more shopping opportunities.
Those ideas fell through, but, quietly, developers grew interested in the idea of converting older buildings into retail and restaurants.
Omaha-based The Old Spaghetti Works converted the ground floor of the former Lederer,
Strauss & Co. warehouse into a restaurant in
1978.
Co-owner at the time Nick Hermann was
quoted in a June 7, 1979, article in The Des
Moines Tribune as saying owners knew the
restaurant was about two years before its time
when it opened, but business was better than was
expected.
“We figured the potential of the area was
worth a year or two of not-so-good business, but
it didn’t work out that way,” he said in the article.
Other plans at the time called for proposed
luxury housing closer to the riverfront and a
renovation of the Rock Island and Pacific Depot
into shops, bars and restaurants. Those plans fell
flat, as did a plan to reconstruct a fountain on the
west end of Court Avenue near the Polk County
Courthouse. Old photographs show a fountain,
though it is not known when or why the fountain
was removed.
The first step to the success of revitalizing
the area was to have it placed on the National
Register of Historic Places, which allowed property owners to receive tax credits to rehabilitate
their properties.
Piece by piece, building by building, change
came. First, with the Old Spaghetti Works building. Then the Kurtz building was converted into
office space. More restaurants settled into the
area, as old warehouse buildings found new life.
New period lighting and landscaping were added
to the streetfronts as part of a $1.8 million
project to repair the street in 1986. Restaurants
brought the action outside with outdoor patios.
Throughout the revitalization of the area,
preservationists worked to ensure the old buildings remained and new uses were found for
them. Anytime a developer suggested tearing
down a building and constructing a new one,
there was an outcry, as was the case with the
Lederer, Strauss & Co. building in 1987.
That building was saved, but its neighbor
was demolished. The building at 312 Court Ave.,
formerly F. Brody & Sons clothing manufacturers,
was razed. It was built in 1906.
Residential development takes hold,
continues with recent projects
By the mid-1980s, developers thought adding
residential to the mix would create an interesting dynamic and draw even more people to the
area. Some scoffed at the idea, but today residential development remains strong in the Court
Avenue district.
Fourth and Court Condominiums were built
on the former site of the Brody & Sons building.
The Hotel Randolph, at the corner of Fourth
Street and Court, is undergoing a $19 million
renovation into apartments and first-floor retail
space. The building had previously sat empty for
almost a year, but prior to that had been home
to about 100 low-income and disabled people.
Developers also have shown interest in
converting parking space across the street along
Court into more mixed-use space with a combination of residential and retail. Q
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Downtown Living
JULY | 2015
TAX-FREE
Back to School
SHOPPING!
Friday–Saturday
AUGUST 7-8
WELLNESS
Diabetic foot care
Recognize early signs to prevent potential problems
By Des Moines University
D
iabetes is a complicated
disease that leads to a host
of secondary complications. Some of the most common
problems occur in a strange place:
your feet. An estimated 15 percent
of all diabetics will develop a serious foot condition in their lifetime
— some with little or no warning.
“Diabetic patients may not
notice any early symptoms. A lot
of times, they’re not going to complain of pain because they have
nerve damage,” says John Bennett,
D.P.M., FACFAS, Des Moines
University Foot and Ankle clinician
and associate professor in the DMU
College of Podiatric Medicine and
Surgery. “Understanding what you
should and shouldn’t be looking for
really helps prevent complications
from occurring.”
A daily visual inspection of
the feet is critical to managing
your health. Diabetes weakens the
immune system, so your body may
not respond to infection the same
as someone who’s not diabetic. By
the time you do see symptoms, the
problem is probably much worse
than you think. Bennett recommends looking for these signs of
foot problems in your daily examination:
'LERKIW MR WOMR GSPSV
Redness in the skin may be a sign
of infection, darkened skin may
mean that tissue has died, and blue
skin may mean poor blood flow.
(VEMREKI FPIIHMRK SV SHSV
White or yellow fluid, blood and
odor are sure signs of infection.
7[IPPMRK%W[SPPIRJSSXQE]
be infected; it can also mean a
fracture, which can lead to more
serious conditions.
8SIREMP MRJIGXMSRW % HEVOened, flaking or distorted toenail
can mean you have a fungal infection. Toenails that are ingrown or
too long or pointed can damage
the surrounding skin, opening the
door for bacteria to creep in.
8IQTIVEXYVI GLERKIW 4SSV
blood flow can cause cool spots
on your skin. Warm spots are yet
another possible sign of infection.
'LERKIW
MR
JIIPMRK
Numbness, burning or tingling may
signal nerve damage.
(V] SV GVEGOIH WOMR (V]
skin easily cracks, allowing germs
to enter. High blood glucose feeds
the germs, making the infection
worse. Dry skin may also occur
because your nerves are not getting the message to keep your skin
soft and moist.
“A lot of diabetics do end
up with ulcerations and infections.
Some of the organisms present in
these infections are devastating,
leading to the loss of soft tissue
and, in some cases, a limb,” says
Bennett. “These are things we like
to prevent from occurring. If you
see these signs or think you have
an infection, it’s important to seek
medical care.” Q
Information provided by
Des Moines University
Clinic, 3200 Grand Ave.,
271-1700.
)RRW&DUH for your whole family
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'08)RRWDQG$QNOHZLOOJHW\RXEDFNRQ\RXUIHHW
Treatment of common foot and ankle conditions
Foot and ankle surgery and deformity correction
Prevention and treatment of diabetic-related foot problems
Sports and running related injuries
Custom orthotic (inserts) and prosthetic management
Comprehensive ulcer and wound management
Skin and nail conditions
3200 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa
Foot and Ankle
515-271-1731
www.dmuclinic.org
JULY | 2015
Downtown Living
7
CALENDAR
Thursday July 16
Q Preschool Storytime, 9:15 and
10:15 a.m., Central Library
Q Al-Anon and Alateen, Free
Childcare. 8 p.m., Lutheran Church of
the Good Shepherd
Q Summer Sustainable Series,
6-7:15 p.m., Forest Ave Outreach
Cooperative Garden
Q Call for Iowa Master Gardener
Artists, No entry fee. For Applications
or Questions - contact Patricia
Reeves: patriciareeves2@gmail.com
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Q Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Party, stations throughout the
Children’s Area. 4-5 p.m., Central
Library
Friday July 17
Q Toddler Storytime, 10:15 p.m.,
Central Library
Q Belin Quartet Summer Series,
12:15 p.m., Cowles Commons
Q Pop Up Yoga DSM, 5 p.m.,
Principal Riverwalk
Q Nitefall on the River Presents:
Grace Potter, 6:30 p.m., Brenton
Skating Plaza
Q Iowa Cubs vs. Memphis,
7:08 p.m., Principal Park
Q Rodgers & Hamerstein’s
“Cinderella,” 7:30 p.m., Des Moines
Civic Center
Saturday July 18
Q Pop Up Yoga DSM, 7 a.m.,
Riverwalk Hub
Q Downtown Farmers’ Market,
7 a.m. - noon, Court Avenue District
“Cinderella,” 2 p.m., Des Moines Civic
Center
Q Parks & Recreation Bridge Event,
7 a.m., Court Avenue Bridge
Sunday July 19
Q Sunday Bridge Club, 1 p.m.
Central Library
“Cinderella,” 1 and 6:30 p.m., Des
Moines Civic Center
Monday July 20
Q Maker Mondays, ages 3-10.
Supplies are limited. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.,
Central Library
Q Play, Grow, Learn!, 10-11 a.m.,
Central Library
Q Iowa State Fair: Looking Past and
Present, This year’s fair invites you to
“Find a New Path”; Kathie plans to
amble down Memory Lane, sharing
short stories from the past. 12-1 p.m.,
Central Library
Q Ask-a-Pro Job Assistance,
1:30-3 p.m., Central Library
Q Microsoft Excel Computer Class,
3-5 p.m., Central Library
Q Iowa Cubs vs. Round Rock,
Tuesday July 21
Q Team Trivia, free. 7:30 p.m., The
Basement at the Des Moines Social
Club
Q Family Storytime, 6:30-7 p.m.,
Central Library
Wednesday July 22
Q Baby Rhyme Time, 10:15 a.m.
Central Library
Q Evening Bridge Club, 6 p.m.
Central Library
Q Yoga at the Plaza, free.
11:30 a.m., Brenton Skating Plaza
Q Pop Up Yoga DSM, 6 p.m.,
Ashfield Park
Thursday July 23
the Good Shepherd
Cooperative Garden
Q Dan Wardell’s Reading Road
Trip, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Central Library
The Ting Tings, $17.50 - $20.00.
6 p.m., Brenton Skating Plaza
Friday July 24
Central Library
Q Jazz Happy Hour, 5:30-7:30 p.m.,
The Basement @ Des Moines Social
Club
12:15 p.m., Cowles Commons
Q Italian American Heritage Festival,
10 a.m., Western Gateway Park
Q Jewel City Sound Presents: Under
the Bridge, free, 9 p.m., Des Moines
NOW ENROLLING 2, 3, AND 4 YEAR OLDS!

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SPACE IS LIMITED!
SCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY
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8
Downtown Living
JULY | 2015
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CALENDAR
Social Club - The Basement
Saturday July 25
Riverwalk Hub
Q Downtown Farmers’ Market,
Q Italian American Heritage Festival,
10 a.m., Western Gateway Park
Q String ’em up - Old-time Music
Hangout, $7 at the door. 2 p.m., Java
Joe’s 4th Street Theatre
Blackberry Smoke, $27 - $32.
7 p.m., Brenton Skating Plaza
Q Summer Music Camp
Performance, Free. 7 p.m., Simon
Estes Riverfront Amphitheater
Sunday July 26
Central Library
Monday July 27
Q Maker Mondays, ages 3-10.
Supplies are limited. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.,
Central Library
Central Library
Q City Council Meeting, 4:30 p.m.
Des Moines City Hall
Q Pop Up Yoga DSM, 5:30 p.m.,
Brody School Park
Wednesday July 29
Central Library
Central Library
Q Yoga at the Plaza, Free.
Q Stuck in the Middle with Dave
Price. free, 6 p.m., Des Moines Social
Club - The Basement
Thursday July 30
Q Al-Anon and Alateen, free
the Good Shepherd
Cooperative Garden
Friday July 31
Central Library
12:15 p.m., Downtown Library Lawn
Q Plexus Health and Wealth Event,
RSVP. https://plexusdesmoines.
eventbrite.com. 6-8 p.m., Willis Lexus
Tuesday July 28
Saturday Aug. 1
Q Team Trivia, 7:30 p.m., The
Club
Central Library
Riverwalk Hub
Q Downtown Farmers Market,
Sunday Aug. 2
Eric Hutchinson, $15.00 - $17.00.
6:00 p.m., Simon Estes Riverfront
Amphitheater
Q Iowa Cubs vs Omaha, 7 p.m.,
Principal Park
Central Library
Thursday Aug. 6
Monday Aug. 3
Central Library
Q Writers’ Workshop, 5-7 p.m.,
Central Library
Tuesday Aug. 4
Q Team Trivia, 7:30 p.m., The
Club
Central Library
Q 40 Years of Resettlement: The
Vietnamese American Community in
Iowa, noon - 1 p.m., Central Library
Q Iowa International Center,
Monthly Forum. noon - 1 p.m.,
Central Library
Wednesday Aug. 5
Central Library
Central Library
Q Furry Tales, Kids! Stop by the
Central Children’s Area and read a
book to Percy, the reading therapy
dog! 6-7 p.m., Central Library
Q Yoga at the Plaza, Free,
the Good Shepherd
Cooperative Garden
Principal Park
Q Pop Up Yoga DSM, 6 p.m., Good
Park
Q Shania “Rock This Country”
Tour, $46-$136. 7:30 p.m., Wells
Fargo Arena
Friday Aug. 7
Central Library
Principal Park
Saturday Aug. 8
Riverwalk Hub
Principal Park
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JULY | 2015
Dr. Braxton Pulley
Downtown Living
9
CALENDAR
OUT AND ABOUT
Sunday Aug. 9
Saturday Aug. 15
Central Library
Q Yoga, Join Power Life Yoga
and Exile Brewing Co. for a free
60-minute community yoga class. Stay
after class for a free beer, on us!
1-4 p.m., Exile Brewing Company
Riverwalk Hub
Monday Aug. 10
Central Library
Sunday Aug. 16
Central Library
Q The Urban Assault Ride, $55 $65 per person. 9 a.m., Mullets
Monday Aug. 17
Tuesday Aug. 11
Club
Central Library
Wednesday Aug. 12
Central Library
Central Library
Q Yoga at the Plaza, free,
Q Iowa State Fair Parade, free,
6:15 p.m., Downtown
Q Iowa Cubs vs. Nashville,
Thursday Aug. 13
the Good Shepherd
Cooperative Garden
Stacey McDonald and Dr. Chris LoRang at the Business After Hours held at Blo Blow
Dry Bar on June 25.
Q Play, Grow, Learn! 10-11 a.m.,
Central Library
Tuesday Aug. 18
Club
Central Library
Q Pop Up Yoga DSM, 5:30 p.m.,
Columbus Park
Christopher Maharry, Marc Hollander and Emilee Richardson at Development Insights
Group on June 30.
Wednesday Aug. 19
Central Library
Central Library
Q Yoga at the Plaza, Free,
Thursday Aug. 20
the Good Shepherd
Cooperative Garden
Elena Baas, Madi Linkenmeyer and Luke Elzinga at Development Insights Group on
June 30.
Friday Aug. 14
Central Library
Q Jazz Happy Hour, 5:30-7:30 p.m.,
The Basement @ Des Moines Social
Club
Promote your event!
Have a calendar entry for the next
issue of Downtown Living?
Send your information to:
calendar@iowalivingmagazines.com.
Phillip Delafield, Monte Berg and Mike Ludwig at the Veridian ribbon cutting on June 23.
10
Downtown Living
JULY | 2015
FAITH
Summer’s joys
and sorrows
All lives truly do matter equally
By Pastor Rachel Thorson Mithelman, St. John’s Lutheran
I
n the midst of a beautiful summer, we have stumbled into
a situation of great sorrow as
well as great division. And to
those who think that the church
should keep its mouth shut on
issues of racism and equality, I
would kindly suggest that they
take another look at their Bible.
Again and again, Jesus spoke to
his disciples and to the crowds
the good news that God loves
all that God has made. Christians
are called to reflect that love, to
live and act in such a way that the
world sees that all lives truly do
equally matter.
I recently read what I would
call a “screed” addressed to an
anonymous Christian, full of
accusations because of what the
writer (a gay man) assumed the
Christian thought of him. It was
ugly, uninformed and offensive.
At about the same time, I read a
statement by the Presiding Bishop
of our church, the ELCA, regarding the Supreme Court decision
giving equal access to marriage
for same gender couples. It was
life-giving. You see, the ELCA has
been talking about human sexuality for decades, and finally in
2009 our church changed guidelines that had asked gay clergy
to remain celibate to allow gay
clergy to know the joys of loving
partnerships. But not everyone
agreed to that change, so we have
also learned how to live together
while not being “of the same
mind.” It isn’t easy, but as our
Presiding Bishop reminds us, we
are a community held together
not by our opinions or even our
interpretation of Scripture, but
by Christ’s love for us all. She
writes, “We seek to see our differences as a gift to be celebrated
as we live out that which unites
us: the mercy and grace of Jesus
Christ who leads us in mission…
in the world.” To fan a flame
of mistrust, ridicule and hatred
of anybody does not reflect the
good news that all lives matter to
God. It cannot be our witness.
All lives do matter, including
those lost at Mother Emmanuel
AME in Charleston, South
Carolina a few weeks ago — and
the life of the young man who
took them. Because every single
life matters, we cannot sit silently
by, tolerating the racism that we
know exists in ourselves, our
churches and our communities.
I support Bishop Eaton’s urgent
call that we talk, and we listen to
one another on the topic of racism. And we also need to act.
“No stereotype or racial slur
is justified. Speak out against inequity. Look with newly opened
eyes at the many subtle and overt
ways that we and our communities see people of color as being
of less worth. Above all pray —
for insight, for forgiveness, for
courage.”*
Yes, it’s summer in Iowa —
not a long season and one we
want to enjoy to the fullest. But
we want to enjoy it together in
respectful relationships that bring
life to our community.
*
Bishop Elizabeth’s Eaton’s
statements in recent weeks may
be found at www.elca.org under the
news and events tab. Q
Information provided by Pastor Rachel Thorson
Mithelman, St. John’s Lutheran Church, 600 Sixth Ave.,
243-7691.
WORSHIP SATURDAY 5PM + SUNDAY 8AM +10AM
COFFEE + FELLOWSHIP 8:30AM IN WEERTZ
11AM IN THE FIRESIDE LOUNGE
600 - 6th AVENUE
515.243.7691
stjohnsdsm.org
EMAIL : sjlc@stjohndsm.org
FACEBOOK : stjohnsdsm
TWITTER : @stjohnsdsm
Join us this
Sunday!
8:15 am
Early Worship
9:00 am
Vietnamese Worship
10:30 am
Traditional Worship
1st Sunday each month Praise Band
10:30am
Nuer South Sudanese worship service
Nu
2nd Sunday every month
Nursery Available
Diverse. Urban. Historic.
D
To know Christ and to
make Christ known.
Services throughout Lent on
Wednesdays at 12:05pm and 6:30pm
Capitol Hill Lutheran
511 Des Moines St. - 244-8913
www.chlcdesmoines.org
JULY | 2015
Downtown Living
11
RECIPE
LIBRARY NEWS
Read a romance
Celebrate August with a summertime beach read
Greek yogurt muffins
By Amy McDowell, Central Library assistant
A
ugust is National Read-aRomance Month. Find the
perfect summertime beach
Breakfast treats pack plenty of protein
read in the Des Moines Public
Library’s new romance collection.
By Jan Allen
We’ve created genre-specific collecappy summer, everyone! My husband and I are now in the tions for both romance and inspirachicken “business.” We have 25 laying hens (although we have tional books, so it’s easy to find lots
a few “laying slackers”). We consume quite a few eggs and try of books you’ll love.
to share with our kids when we can. Chickens are interesting creatures.
Two of our grandchildren came to stay at Grandma and Grandpa’s Assistance for job searchers
a couple of weeks ago. They love to bake with me and usually ask for The Central Library is offering
pancakes for breakfast. This time our 5-year-old granddaughter had computer classes and open comdefinite ideas about the breakfast menu on Sunday morning. She decided puter lab hours for job searchers.
that banana muffins were in order, and her 3-year-old brother agreed. I This popular program, hosted by
was on the hunt for a banana muffin recipe that would be on the healthy the Goodwill Career Connection
side and worthy to serve these precious grandbabies. I found a perfect Center, is growing, and we’re
recipe that uses plain Greek yogurt, oatmeal, bananas, our farm-fresh beginning to see success among the
eggs and blueberries. They have very little refined sugar, which is some- people who attend. Classes have
thing I liked about this recipe as well. (You could replace the brown sugar included Computer Basics for Job
with honey if you wish.) They loved them. I sent the remainder of the 12 Searchers, Microsoft Excel, Make
muffins home with them, and I think there were only four or five in the Your Resume Shine and Ask-a-Pro
Job Assistance. To see what’s availcare package that was sent home. Q
able this month, give us a call at
283-4152, extension 3, or search for
Ingredients
may want to spray cupcake liners with Event Type: Job Assistance on our
events calendar at www.dmpl.org.
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
spray so they don’t stick to the liners).
H
Banana oat Greek yogurt muffins
2 ripe bananas
2 eggs
2 cups rolled oats
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
blueberries
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and prepare muffin pan by spraying with cooking
spray or lining with cupcake liners. (You
2. Put all ingredients except blueberries
into a blender or food processor and
process on high until oats are broken
down and it becomes a smooth and
creamy batter.
3. Pour batter into prepared muffin tins.
Push 5 or 6 blueberries into each filled
muffin cavity and bake for 15-20 minutes
until tops are set and a toothpick comes
out clean. Let muffins set 5-10 minutes
before removing and placing on a cooling rack. Makes 12.
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight
container or baggie.
Overdrive: new e-book and
e-audiobook service
The Des Moines Public Library’s
new Overdrive e-collection features
nearly 8,000 e-books and e-audiobooks. And just like our print book
collection, we’re adding new titles
all the time. If you need assistance
with Overdrive, attend one of our
Free Advice for Your Device classes
or contact our Virtual Library staff
at 283-4152, extension 3 or libwebmaster@dmpl.org.
Let librarians do your
research
With Des Moines Public Library’s
Premier Research Service, our staff
can find the information you seek.
12
Downtown Living
JULY | 2015
If you want copies of obituaries or
news stories that were published
long ago, the Des Moines Public
Library staff can do your research
for you. We have professional
researchers to search and provide
paper or emailed copies of your
special requests. We charge a fee
for our Premier Research Service,
but these resources are free for
those who come to the library.
The following are a few of the
many resources we may search:
(IW 1SMRIW 6IKMWXIV JVSQ
1871 to present.
(IW 1SMRIW 8VMFYRI JVSQ
1907 to 1982.
'MX]HMVIGXSVMIWJVSQXS
present.
*IHIVEP'IRWYWVIGSVHWJVSQ
1790-1930.
6IZSPYXMSREV] ;EV HSGYments.
7ERFSVR1ETWSJ-S[EGSZIVing more than 360 Iowa towns from
the 1870s to the 1920s.
Central Library
+VERH%ZI
Mon. - Wed.: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Thur. - Fri.: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 1-5 p.m.
Pick-up window hours:
Mon. - Fri.: 4-6 p.m.
Renew your driver’s license
at DOT kiosk
The
Iowa
Department
of
Transportation installed a kiosk at
the Central Library, a convenient
location for people who need to
renew or replace their driver’s
licenses. Find the kiosk on the
second floor in the newly-created
Business and Career section. Q
HEALTH
Chronic migraines
How is the condition identified and treated?
By Dr. Wendy Zadah
C
hronic migraine is often
a difficult and debilitating
condition. A neurologist
can help determine if you have
migraines that are occasional or
migraines that meet the criteria of chronic migraine. Chronic
migraine is a condition that affects
an estimated 3.2 million sufferers in the U.S., and many people
remain undiagnosed. Chronic
migraine is a neurological condition. Treatment options are available including oral medications or
Botox® injections.
In practical terms, “15-4-8”
is a simplified way to identify if
you suffer from chronic migraine:
If you have 15 or more headache days per month, with headaches lasting four hours or longer
and experience eight or more of
these headaches, you likely meet
the criteria of a chronic migraine
condition. Diagnosing chronic
migraine accurately allows for an
appropriate treatment plan to be
identified. When patients use a
headache diary to document their
symptoms, it can assist doctors in
establishing a diagnosis. The neurology webpage for Broadlawns
Medical Center includes a link
for a chronic migraine screener.
Created by a team of headache
experts, this is a useful form that
patients can fill out and share with
their doctor to determine if they
have chronic migraine.
When a patient is diagnosed
with chronic migraine, Botox®
injections may be an option for
preventive treatment. Botox®
is the first and only preventive
treatment approved by the FDA
for adults with chronic migraine.
Chronic migraine patients receive
Botox® injections every 12 weeks
in the doctor’s office. Patients may
experience temporary and mild
discomfort during the treatment.
Patients experience little to no
down time after an appointment.
Side effects such as neck pain or
temporary slight changes in brow
expression may occur. With successful Botox® treatment, patients
experience fewer headache days
each month, sometimes becoming headache free with continued
treatment. Most insurance plans
offer coverage for patients with
chronic migraine with varying outof-pocket expense based upon
your insurance plan. Botox® treatment for chronic migraine is performed at Broadlawns Neurology
Clinic. Q
Information provided by Dr.
Wendy Zadah, Broadlawns
Neurology Clinic, 1801
Hickman Road, 282-2463.
$UHPLJUDLQHVWDNLQJRYHU\RXUGDLO\OLIH"
Our Neurology Clinic specializes
in the treatment of chronic
migraine, stroke and epilepsy.
We also treat patients with
conditions related to seizures,
tremors, Multiple Sclerosis,
Parkinson’s Disease, and
Alzheimer’s Disease.
There are several oral preventive
treatments available for chronic
migraines and a newer preventive
injectable treatment, Botox®.
(ICKMAN2OADs$ES-OINES
www.broadlawns.org
515-282-2463
Wendy Zadeh, MD
Chad Quist, PA-C
JULY | 2015
Downtown Living
13
HEALTH
WHERE WE LIVE
Q: Can foot posture cause
back, hip, knee or foot pain?
A: The answer is yes. If you’re a pronator, your arch collapses when your
foot strikes (and you probably have flat feet when standing), and if you’re
a supinator, you have really high arches and tend
to put all your weight out to the lateral (outside)
edges of your feet. Being a pronator or supinator
causes one to get out of neutral and throws off the
“arthrokinematics” (which is a fancy word for “the
way a joint moves”) of all your joints.
Being a supinator or a pronator means you
Angie Motz says downtown Des Moines
will not be able to move with correct arthrokineinspires her to draw something new every day.
Photo by Chris Kelley.
matics. If your arthrokinematics are “off” your
hip joints are also not moving properly. If your hip joints are not moving properly, your ability to absorb impact from walking and running is
severely reduced which puts extra strain in the feet, knees and back.
To get true pain relief you need to retrain muscles all up and
down your body to restore proper strength, length and firing patterns. Motz finds inspiration in downtown Des Moines
Reprogramming your body in this way means you’ll be healthier and
happier and won’t continue to develop back, hip, knee or foot pain with By Chris Kelley
increased summer exercise and activities. Q
he’s a lot like many young self to this day.
“I love to paint, I love to design
20-somethings living in
Information provided by Tate Van Houten, DPT, PRC,
downtown Des Moines. She and draw at work, but there’s
Integrated Physical Therapy, 1515 Linden St. Suite 101, sometimes scrapes by to pay rent. something exciting about being in
288-0569.
She complains about parking. She charge of your own place and setblames her empty wallet on the ting it up exactly the way you want
bars and restaurants that surround to,” she says.
Angie’s describes her aparther apartment. But the one thing
that sets her apart from some is ment décor as a combination of
her love for painting, designing and her love for artwork, plant life and
animals.
drawing.
“It really helps me be creative
Angie Motz’s family first had an
inkling of her creativity when she to be surrounded by so many differused squeezable ketchup and mus- ent, interesting and unique things,”
tard bottles to decorate the kitch- she says. It’s a sentiment that goes
en as a child. While she admitted beyond the walls of her apartment.
“There’s a good vibe in the
they weren’t impressed with her
SPORTS MEDICINE sWOMEN’S HEALTH sCUSTOM ORTHOTICS
final product, they were impressed downtown neighborhood of Des
when they finally bought her an Moines,” Angie says. Her friends
and neighbors include writers, phoeasel and some brushes.
“I think my family really started tographers, designers and broadLeisyl Holladay, PTA
taking me seriously when I painted casters.
Tate Van Houten, DPT, PRC a portrait of my baby brother at
“From the people to the unique
the time,” Angie says. The most little stores, shops and restaurants, I
,AURIE%ICKHOFF$04
surprising part of the story? “I was have to say it’s a rush to walk down
9. It hangs above my grandparents’ Court Avenue and take it all in,” she
says. “It’s a good way to reset the
fireplace to this day.”
Annie Massop, DPT
years
creative juices.”
The
Motzes
were
quick
to
Rodney Lahodny, DPT
practicing on
Angie said she finds herself parenroll their daughter in as many
Matt Zirretta, DPT
Alli Christy, PTA
Ingersoll Ave.
art classes as she could muster, ticularly unique for her apartment
and Angie quickly found success in complex for a few reasons.
“Yes, there’s a few artists here,”
some local art contests and competitions. Her lucky strokes carried she says. “But I will admit I am the
her through design school in Ames only one I know that almost got
and brought her to the downtown kicked out for channeling my inner
apartment she uses to express her- Picasso on my apartment door.” Q
Getting creative
S
10 +
1515 LINDEN STREET Suite 101sDes Moines
*USTNORTHOF)NGERSOLL!VEs.7CORNEROFTH3T)NGERSOLL!VE
OPEN MONDAY–FRIDAY 7am to 6pm
14
Downtown Living
JULY | 2015
Would you like your home featured in this column in an
upcoming issue of Downtown Living? If so, email Darren
Tromblay at darren@dmcityview.com.
JULY | 2015
Downtown Living
15
DINING
Above: The chimichanga topped with cheese sauce — crispy outside meets savory inside. Right: The frozen strawberry daiquiri was blended to
perfection and packed a punch from start to finish. Photos by Marc Bailey.
South of the border downtown
Margarita’s serves traditional Mexican-American fare
By Marc Bailey
D
owntown plays host to
a variety of Mexican cuisine options. Landmarks
such as Dos Rios, Malo and
Tacopocalypse are bringing unique
interpretations on south of the
border dishes; but if it’s traditional
Mexican-American fare you seek,
head to Margarita.
Opened in February of 2015,
Margarita Mexican Restaurant and
Cantina delivers exactly what you
would expect from a Mexican restaurant.
Entering via its spacious deckpatio, brightly painted walls, modern Spanish music and festive
décor greeted this food expedition. A “seat yourself” policy gave
us options of booth, high-top table
or bar seating.
We slid into a booth and set
about the first task: drink selection. With the word “margarita”
in its name, it is a given that frozen
drinks lead the pack from behind
the bar. Also in the race are a long
list of cocktails, beer and nonalcoholic options.
A frozen strawberry daiquiri
was settled upon and the order
16
Downtown Living
JULY | 2015
was placed, while we munched
on the warm chips and refreshing
salsa brought to our table.
The menu is chock-full of the
typical burrito, taco and enchilada
options, but also offers some house
specialties that draw interest.
Happy Chicken, Carne Margarita
and Pollo Hawaiano are some of
the titles that piqued my curiosity.
To test the waters, I decided
on trying both sides of the spectrum: for a traditional approach,
the chimichanga, and for a nontraditional pick, the Costillas de
Puerco. To round out the order, a
soft shell taco was also requested.
It wasn’t long after the order
was placed that our frozen strawberry daiquiri arrived, and it quickly drew gazes from across the
room. A massive glass topped with
whipped cream and cherries made
our booth a little brighter. From
the first sip to the last, it was anything but a weak blended drink.
At this point the aromas flooding from the kitchen were hinting at the meal to come, and in
moments the plates arrived.
First was the Chimichanga, a
Margarita Mexican
Restaurant and Cantina
400 S.E. Sixth St.
Hours:
Mon. - Thurs.: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Fri. - Sat.: 11 a.m. - 3 a.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
flour tortilla filled with seasoned
shredded beef and then fried crisp.
It was topped with a cheese sauce
and served alongside rice, beans
and a host of toppings including
lettuce, guacamole, sour cream
and tomatoes.
The crisp outer shell was a
great complement to the shredded
beef inside, which contained the
occasional minced onion, adding
to the great flavor profile. The
cheese sauce brought the shell and
beef together, acting as the missing
link of the dish.
Next, the Costillas de Puerco,
translated as pork ribs. The small
cuts of pork are slow cooked with
a light tomatillo sauce, green peppers, onions and spices. They are
also served with beans and rice
but include warm tortillas for you
to fill as desired.
The green tomatillo sauce was
the star of the show, bringing a
sweet and subtle spicy component.
Smokey and rich, it made the pork
ribs shine. I’m certain I would eat
an old boot if it were served with
the tomatillo sauce on top.
I’m a stickler for beans and
rice. Oftentimes at a Mexican restaurant the rice will be dry and the
beans will resemble a jar of paste
that I used in the third grade, but
at Margarita they were outstanding. The rice was moist and wellseasoned, and the beans were a
perfect consistency.
The soft shell taco was surprisingly amazing, because as soft
shell tacos go, it’s hard to outshine
the normal. The meat was liberally seasoned and the Monterrey
cheese melted to make a gooey
delight.
If
traditional
MexicanAmerican food is screaming for
your attention, no need to leave
the downtown area, head to
Margarita Mexican Restaurant and
Cantina. Q
OUT AND ABOUT
Networking
over
chocolate
The Chocolate Connection Networking
Event was held at In the Bag headquarters
on June 29.
Blair Rosenberg and Sonia Sledge
Barb Osier Breeser
Wendy Chapman and Lyra Halsten
LuGene Isleman
Carlene Hinds
Kelly Bell
Amy Marek and Joan Ellis
Jordan Riggenbach and Katie Ruby
Heather Boustead
Tiffany Brotherson
Teresa Bechtel
JULY | 2015
Downtown Living
17
OUT AND ABOUT
Jill Philby, Katy Philby and EJ Philby at the Community
Youth Concepts ribbon cutting on June 11.
Amy Croll and Shirley Green at the Community
Amy Jennings and Loretta Sieman at the Community
Jen Robinson, Courtney Francis and Ontario Caudill
at the Community Youth Concepts ribbon cutting
on June 11.
Julia Ramsey and Caroline Ramsey at the Community
Cara Kennedy-Ode and Amanda Bakeris at the
Community Youth Concepts ribbon cutting on
June 11.
Jeremy Weiss and David Croll at the Community
Cassandra Pudenz, Carrie Clogg and Karen Karr
at the Community Youth Concepts ribbon cutting
on June 11.
Jonathan Rosenbloom and Julie Cackler at the
Community Youth Concepts ribbon cutting on
June 11.
Stacey McDonald and April Myers at the Business
After Hours held at Blo Blow Dry Bar on June 25.
Leslie Jasper and Jennifer Chittenden at the Business
After Hours held at Blo Blow Dry Bar on June 25.
Jen Morrow and Kristin Broers at the Business After
Hours held at Blo Blow Dry Bar on June 25.
18
Downtown Living
JULY | 2015
JULY | 2015
Experience
The Shores Life
Independent Living t Assisted Living
Memory Care
Set on beautiful Copper Creek Lake, the 1.25 mile walking path is accessible
right off our spacious patio. You are sure to catch fish in the
stocked lake and, when you do, lunch is on us!
community s courtesy s creativity
Experience The Shores Life
Schedule your private tour at 515.262.4444
THE SHORES AT PLEASANT HILL
1500 Edgewater Drive s Pleasant Hill
515.262.4444
www.theshoreslife.com
JULY | 2015