Monthly Archives: March 2011

VineMe lauches today, aspires to be “the timeline for the world”

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What do you get when you mix a world champion speed skater, the top dog at Dwolla, an exuberant ginger with social media prowess, and an eloquent communicator with programming talent? The answer: VineMe, a Des Moines-based photo-sharing and archiving website with the goal of being the “timeline for the world.”

VineMe is a new social platform that allows users to upload photos and sort them by time, location, tags and people. Each search word brings up its own vine and showcases content on a timeline, which allows a visual archive of time. So, what makes VineMe different from the other photo sharing platforms?

“VineMe lets users define what’s good content,” said Josh Fleming, one of VineMe’s founders. “For example, with VineMe users can define what the word ‘beauty’ means. Because the users are able to control these definitions, it gives real meaning to the words and photo tags.”

VineMe was founded by Josh Fleming, interactive marketing director at Lessing-Flynn, Tony Muse, a Des Moines Remax agent, and Chris Taulborg, director of business development at Global Reach.  Founder and CEO of Dwolla, Ben Milne, serves VineMe as an outside advisor.

Where’d the idea come from?

While fishing through boxes of disorganized family photos Muse had the idea of creating a site that would put photos on a timeline. As Muse thought more and more about his idea, he knew that this was an idea that he had share. Over breakfast at La Mie, Muse explained his idea (what would become VineMe) to Fleming. Immediately, both of the men knew they had hit gold. Over time and a lot of coffee at Mars Cafe, Muse and Fleming began hashing out their idea with the help of Milne. The trio sought out Taulborg for their programming and web development needs and before they knew it, their ideas for VineMe came to life.

“We originally wanted to name the site Timeliner.com, but of course that was taken,” said Fleming. “The naming process was difficult, but eventually we landed on VineMe. We really embraced the idea of how a vine grows and how a healthy vine can go on forever. Personally, I like that the name can be used as a catch phrase – ‘Dude, I’m totally vining right now,’ or ‘Let’s put those pictures up on the vine.’”

A picture from my DSM: SUSHIBOMB vine on www.VineMe.com.

Chances are these four men may never have had the opportunity to work with each other, but because of their varied skill sets, an amazing idea and the drive to create an exceptional product – they’re launching VineMe today.

“VineMe is beyond ready,” said Fleming. “It’s a really bold initiative, but if I was going to spend a lot of time on something I wanted it to be bigger than myself. How can I make people think? What will challenge them to take a look at things differently?”

The best way to learn about VineMe is by registering for the site (it’s free to use), by uploading your own photos to a vine, and by sharing them with the world. Search through people’s vines for inspiration, learn about the history of Des Moines, create tags of your own and jar some memories from the past – it’s all possible on VineMe.

You can also find VineMe on these social platforms:
Twitter – @Vine_Me
Facebook – facebook.com/VineMe
YouTube – youtube.com/TheVineMe

Twestival: Tweet. Meet. Give.

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What do Cocin, India, Providence, Rhode Island, Bilbao, Spain, Galway, Ireland and Des Moines, Iowa have in common? The power of social media, that’s what. Each of these cities are using their social media prowess to create a positive impact on their respective communities through an event called Twestival.

Twestival (Twitter + festival = Twestival) is an international social media driven fundraising campaign created to raise money and awareness for local area non-profit organizations. Dozens of cities throughout the world are coming together today (March 24) to hold their own Twestival celebrations. Since 2009, Twestival event’s have raised close to $1.2 million dollars for over 100 different causes.

And wouldn’t you know – Des Moines is on top of things. For the past three years Des Moines has taken part in Twestival and momentum is only growing for this year’s event, which will take place tonight, March, 24, at Mars Cafe from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

“I think it’s important to continue Twestival in Des Moines because Des Moines is one of the few cities that has been involved with Twestival since it originated,” said Jason Wells, the public relations manager for Twestival in Des Moines. “It helps show the strong social media community in Des Moines.”

Des Moines’ Twestival celebration will raise money support the Evelyn Davis Early Learning Academy, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to “create lifelong learners by supporting the social, academic, physical and emotional development of children.”

Whether you like social media, talented bands (Bella Soul, Dead Yellow Canaries, and Seedlings) flavorsome coffee or supporting a local non-profit organization, I’d recommend stopping by Twestival at Mars Cafe this evening.

Twitter: @TwestivalDSM
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TwestivalDSM

Renovation Boot Camp: ‘demystifying’ the home renovation process

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Have you ever thought about giving your home a makeover, but find yourself not knowing where to start? Starting next week the Des Moines Rehabbers Club is hosting an eight-session seminar series entitled, “Renovation Boot Camp,” which will give local homeowners practical advice, support and the resources that are needed to successfully complete a renovation project.

“It [Renovation Boot Camp] will connect residents with experts in the community that will help them make a change in the personal life that makes a big difference for the community and the planet,” said Catherine Tone, a Certified Sustainable Professional and an Urban Ambassadors Board Member.

The Renovation Boot Camp classes will take place on Mondays, starting March 21 and ending May 9, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Smokey Row (1910 Cottage Grove Avenue in Des Moines). Participants can choose to attend individual classes for $8 each or the entire series for $45 by registering online or by paying onsite. (Did I mention that you can pay for the series using Dwolla when you register online?)

“Green building is one of the seven areas of sustainability that we focus on for residents in Greater Des Moines, and the work Rehabbers Club does in the community is a perfect fit,” said Tone. “Renovating existing homes is exponentially more sustainable than building new, and Rehabbers puts the information directly in the hands of the people who want to make a change.”

Topics for the series include: project financing, design issues, energy efficiency, how to approach “DIY” (do it yourself) projects and living sustainably. To see the full list of classes and class topics, visit the Renovation Boot Camp website.

“Renovation is inherently ‘green,’” said Steve Wilke-Shapiro, the organizer of the Des Moines Rehabbers Club. “Proper maintenance and upgrading of our existing homes helps keep waste material out of landfills, takes advantage of existing infrastructure, and preserves a sense of history in older neighborhoods. The purpose of the series is to ‘demystify’ the renovation process and help people feel more comfortable about managing a home improvement project.”

St. Patrick’s Day in Des Moines: Plenty O’Fun

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Don your RAYGUN “Kiss me, I’m Iowish” t-shirt and get out in Des Moines on Thursday, March 17 as the city will be painted green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Whether you’ve got the whole day off, part of the day off or your joining the festivities after 5:00 p.m., there are enough Irish activities for lots o’fun throughout the day.

Start your day off by going to one of these local Irish-themed bars that are serving up breakfast and a plethora of green beer in the wee hours of the morning:

AK O’Connors - 4050 Urbandale Ave. in Des Moines
AK’s will kick off the day at 6:00 a.m. with green eggs and ham. At 2:00 p.m. a few bagpipers will visit the bar, followed by Brian Congdon at 3:00 p.m. and Tony Bohnenkamp from 6:00 – 9:30 p.m. Other Irish fare, such as corned beef and cabbage, will be served from 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Flanagan’s Irish Pub – 2120 Ingersoll Ave. in Des Moines
Start your day off at 7:00 a.m. with a $5 breakfast at Flanagan’s featuring: green eggs and ham, roasted red peppers and toast until 11:00 a.m. If you can’t make it for breakfast, the tent will open and serve barbecue pork, bake beans, corned beef, cabbage and potatoes until 8:00 p.m. From 6:30 – 11:30 p.m. enjoy the musical musings of Last Chance.

Sully’s Irish Pub – 110 Grand Ave. in West Des Moines
Hit up Sully’s from 6:00 – 9:00 a.m. to indulge in green eggs and ham for only $1.02. After breakfast stick around to enjoy the heated tents, broadcasted music from Star 102.5, and food items catered by Hy-Vee. Bonus: This tent party has been around for 34 years… you’ll receive your green beer in a plastic souvenir cup!

After you’ve had your fill of green eggs and ham,
head on down to the Des Moines Social Club (DMSC) for a pre-parade brew. The Sideshow Lounge, located just inside the DMSC’s front door, will open at 8:00 a.m. and will serve up green beer and the Irish sounds of McKenzie Islanders Pipes & Drums. Sideshow Lounge’s drink specials will include: $4 Guinness, $2 draws of green beer and $6 Irish Car Bombs.

A little before noon, make sure you secure a spot along the annual Friendly Sons of St. Patrick‘s parade route.  Since 1976, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick have put on their annual St. Patrick’s Day parade for all of Des Moines to see and 2011 will be no different. Parade goers and parade participants will dress in their best Irish garb and pack the streets of downtown Des Moines. This year, the parade will feature WHO-TV’s Erin Kiernan as the Grand Marshall. The parade starts at noon on 15th and Locust and will head east on Locust ending at the Embassy Suites, 101 E. Locust Street, where a public reception will be held from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

If you’d like to add some culture into your St. Patrick’s Day celebration, head to the 3rd annual “Irish Fest” at the State Historical Building (600 East Locust) from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Activities include: Irish and Scottish music from Four Shillings Short and the MacKenzie Highlanders Pipes and Drums, a traditional Irish Dance performed by the students from the Foy School of Traditional Irish Dance, and a Ceili dancing lesson with Janice Baker. There will also be Irish arts and crafts for children, body art by Leanne Otting, and the Weavers and Spinners Guild of Des Moines spinning and speaking about the fabrics of Ireland. To round out the event, you can learn about your Irish roots, listen to a presentation about the archaeological sites in Ireland, and take a look at the “Iowa & the Irish” historical exhibit.

If you’re still psyched about St. Patrick’s Day after the parade and Irish Fest, there are many other local Irish bars around the Des Moines area where you can get your last few green drinks:

  • Mickey’s Irish Pub – 1800 N.W. 86th St. – Clive
  • Paddy’s Irish Pub – 8675 Douglas Ave. – Urbandale
  • The Dublin – 2307 University Ave. – Des Moines
  • Mickey’s Irish Pub (downtown) – 206 Third St. – Des Moines
  • Mickey’s – 50 S.E. Laurel St. – Waukee
  • Mickey Finn’s – 7020 Douglas Ave. – Urbandale

Whether you’re truly Irish or you choose to be Irish “for the day,” there are plenty o’things to do in Des Moines on St. Patrick’s Day.

Impress your friends: The tradition of pinching someone who isn’t clad in green was started in the early 1700s, but it’s an entirely American tradition (no surprise there!). The legend goes: people thought that wearing green made you invisible to leprechauns - who would pinch anyone they could see. So, people started pinching those who didn’t wear green on St. Patrick’s Day as a reminder that the leprechauns could see them.

Mayhem! Pancakes! Beer!

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Forget IHOP and head to Saturday Mfg. for “Mayhem in the Maple” on Tuesday, March 8 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in honor of Worldwide Flapjack Day. Saturday Mfg., located at 1717 Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines, is serving up breakfast with a side of creativity to anyone who attends their breakfast bash.

“Fans showing up for the shortstack showdown will get a plate of made-from-scratch pancakes and their choice of two Olde Main brews, as well as juice or milk,” said Brian Sauer, Forman at Saturday Mtg. “Danny Duff [from Melt Dessert Bar and Bakery] is cooking up some traditional favorites like blueberry and chocolate cakes, and some new and daring pancakes for those with more adventurous palates. Attendees will be expected to mingle throughout the factory and enjoy the mayhem.”

This isn’t Saturday Mfg.’s first run in with fresh pancakes. Ever since the beginning, the local marketing and advertising company has always been a fan of flapjacks.

“When we started Saturday Mfg., we wanted clients to know that meeting with your agency should be something you look forward to—like a warm plate of flapjacks on Saturday morning,” said Sauer. “So, we always add fun bits about flapjacks into our marketing pieces.”

Once the Saturday Mfg. team found out about Worldwide Flapjack Day, it only seemed natural to transition the pancakes in the company’s marketing materials to a full out pancake-themed get-together.

“When a friend of ours, Danny Duff from Melt Dessert and Bakery, pointed out that there’s a international holiday called Pancake Day it took us all of two seconds to agree to celebrate,” said Sauer. “It’s a happy coincidence that it also marks our two-year anniversary in the business.”

Help Sauer and the rest of the crew at Saturday Mtg. celebrate their second anniversary at “Mayhem in the Maple” by RSVP’ing to the Facebook invite and by showing up to mix your typical happy hour with breakfast – possibly one the best ideas ever.

A little something extra: Not only does Sauer love a good old-fashioned buttermilk pancake but he’s a huge fan of the changes that are happening around Des Moines.

“It feels like Des Moines has made tons of improvements in the past few years,” said Sauer. “More music venues with good shows. More restaurants with different choices. A larger, more vocal art community. It’s good to see the city building more creative energy.”