Monthly Archives: July 2011

Devour Des Moines: Tri to eat it all

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What would happen if you mixed a competitive eating contest with a triathlon? For some it may seem crazy, and for others it may be a reality. On Saturday, August 6 at 10:00 a.m. Devour Des Moines, a mix between an eating contest and a traditional triathlon, will put Des Moines finest competitors to the test.

After watching far too many episodes of Man vs. Food, Mike Banasiak, Devour Des Moines’ event organizer, decided that it was time to bring a local competitive eating/triathlon event to Des Moines.

“Devour Des Moines has been an idea of mine for years and I finally have the opportunity to bring it to life,” said Banasiak. “It is a unique event that DSM has never seen before. Through the eating and triathlon team relay, participants will be supporting local restaurants while promoting an active lifestyle.  Plus, it is always satisfying to see a great organization like Buy Fresh, Buy Local benefit from the proceeds.”

Each team, which consists of four members, will compete in a relay format race in downtown Des Moines. Each team member will perform an individual leg of the race, and the team will come together to finish the final leg of the competition.

Here’s the twist: each leg of the race will consist of one eating and one athletic event. Whether it’s eating a breakfast burrito at Mullets and running 1.5 miles or eating an order of bacon wrapped tater tots from High Life Lounge and then biking 5 miles, these competitors will have to prove that they’ve got the athletic talent and stomach to handle the inaugural Devour Des Moines event.

Devour Des Moines is being planned with the support of the Young Professionals Connection, as well as many other local restaurants and businesses. Only 30 teams will be allowed to compete and registration is open until tomorrow (July 29, 2011). If competing in the food-friendly triathlon is not your dish, make sure you come out to see the event in action!

“It will be a fun challenge while raising money for a great cause,” said Banasiak. “Come watch the competitors and join the after party at El Bait Shop to support the event, to entertain yourself, and to just have a good time!”

Local jazz artists say “good-bye” to Des Moines with farewell concert series

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The dark, sultry voice of Roxi Copland and the Michael Buble-esk sounds of Max Wellman have come together for a final farewell series at one of Des Moines’ most intimate theaters, The Temple Theater. The “Max and Roxi: Live at the Temple” series kicked off last weekend with shows on both Friday and Saturday nights and will conclude this weekend with a series of shows on Friday (8:00 p.m.), Saturday (8:00 p.m.) and Sunday (7:00 p.m.).

“Audiences can expect new arrangements of a variety of songs ranging from standards to today’s music, as well as a number of my own tunes,” said local musician, Roxi Copland. “Max & I will be backed by a stellar 7-piece band comprised of the some of the best musicians in Iowa.”

I attend the first show of the series last Friday night and I was blown away by the luxuriously smooth sounds that Max and Roxi brought to the Temple Theater’s stage. The 7-piece band was backlit by rich blue and red lights and the jazz sounds filled the room with holistic and soulful beats. Audience members bobbed their heads to the beat, laughed along with Max and Roxi’s antics and even gave a standing ovation at the end of the night.

The show showcased each vocalist and it was obvious to the audience that both performers have a true passion for jazz music and performing for a live audience. Max and Roxi laughed back and forth sharing stories and memories (Roxi used to be Max’s piano teacher), they blended harmoniously (it gave me goose bumps), and they were quick to tout the extreme talent of their supporting band members.

Sadly, Max and Roxi’s show is labeled a “farewell series” for a reason. Shortly after this concert series, Roxi will head to Vancouver and Max will leave for Atlanta – both to further pursue their music careers and dreams. Max recently wrote on his blog:

“To my people in Des Moines, don’t fret! Things will definitely be different in the future, but I will drop in from time to time. However, this is probably the end of my active performing schedule in Des Moines for the foreseeable future. It has been a wonderful ride… I can’t thank you all enough for the support that you have thrown my way.”

Roxi plans on leaving Des Moines the week after the Temple Shows and in true Roxi fashion, she already has a full schedule ahead of herself. She plans to tour the West Coast this fall, to record a full-length acoustic album, and to get ready for a national tour the following spring.

“A number of factors contributed to the decision – I want to spend some time touring the West Coast and it’ll be nice to be closer to family (I grew up near Seattle),” said Copland. “Vancouver has an incredibly vibrant music scene and it seems like a great place to expand into international territory.”

With all of this being said, one thing is very obvious. This is the last time that audience members will see both Max and Roxi on stage together for a while, and the last time they’ll be able to experience these phenomenal musicians in the heart of downtown Des Moines, where they’ve grown and played for the past few years.

Max and Roxi: Live at the Temple is a show you don’t want to miss or you’ll be sorry that you did. Tickets can be purchased online at CivicCenter.org, at all Ticketmaster locations, at the Civic Center Ticket office (open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or by calling (800) 745-3000.

3rd Annual Wing Ding: “A cluckin’ good time”

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Wings have been a finger-friendly bar food and a staple Super Bowl party snack since the first plate of wings was served in 1964 in Buffalo, New York. This weekend wings are invading Des Moines as a part of the 3rd Annual Wing Ding on Saturday, July 23 from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Jethro’s BBQ near Drake University. 

Wing Ding, truly a wing lovers fantasy, will offer fresh wings from local restaurants, frosty adult beverages, live local music, a wing eating contest and other prize giveaways. All proceeds from the 2011 Wing Ding will help VSA Iowa, the state organization on arts and disability, provide arts experiences in drama, dance, music, visual arts and creative writing to more than 30,000 Iowa children and adults with disabilities this year.

Eleven Central Iowa restaurants, such as: Court Ave. Brewing Co., El Bait Shop, Daytona’s, Gerri’s Bar and Grill, and Jethro’s BBQ, among other great establishments, are coming together for Wing Ding to celebrate all things wing. It’s safe to say you won’t find another experience that will allow you to sample wings from this many restaurants at one event!

Admission to the event is $15 in advance (online via Tikly or at Hy-Vee Stores) and $20 at the door. Admission includes a pound of wings, a drink ticket, and live entertainment, plus you’ll feel good knowing that you’re helping out a worthy cause.

Don a shirt you don’t mind spilling a little BBQ on and head to Wing Ding for a “cluckin’ good time.”

FREE WINGS AND BEER – What could be better?

VSA Iowa is partnering with The Dish on Des Moines to giveaway a pair of tickets to Wing Ding. Visit The Dish on Des Moines’ Facebook page between 12:00 – 12:30 p.m. on Friday, July 22. Correctly answer the wing-themed trivia question by commenting on the status by 3:00 p.m. All correct answers will be entered into the drawing for two free tickets! The winner will be announced on Facebook around 4:00 p.m. and the tickets will be at will call the day of the event.

Taste of Thai spices up the East Village

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A pile of green peppers, slices of onion, sweet chunks of pineapple, fresh broccoli, coined carrot slices, tender chicken, and crunchy cashews. Is your mouth watering yet? Mine is.

Even with the heat wave that we’ve had in Des Moines lately, I can’t get my mind off of a steaming plate of “Honey Cashew Chicken” from Taste of Thai located at 215 E. Walnut Street in the East Village.

Taste of Thai, the space that once housed Taste of Thailand for 23 years, and Ban Thai (which closed in 2010), has given new life to the Thai scene in the East Village. When Taste of Thai took over the space, they revamped the interior of the restaurant to create a cozy ambiance, which includes the sound of flowing water, vibrant red walls, white table coverings and comfortable booth seating.

The food, which includes a variety of curries, noodle dishes, stir-fries and more, comes out within minutes, piping hot. I’ve tried a number of the dishes at Taste of Thai, including a few appetizers, and I’ve never had a meal that I haven’t enjoyed. My favorite is the Honey Cashew Chicken, which is the perfect marriage of fresh vegetables and chicken with the added sweetness of pineapple. With all Thai restaurants, you’ll let your server know how hot you’d like the dish. While I prefer no heat at all, a few of my friends have tried Taste of Thai’s hottest option and have left with clear sinuses.

Meal prices differ depending on when you visit, but they are comparable to other Thai restaurants in the area (from $8-$12 on average). If you’re looking for a super cheap lunch option, you might not find it here, but you will get quality food and you’ll be in and out with time to spare over the lunch hour. The lunch portion is sized down appropriately for the cost, and the dinner portion is larger. (I typically have enough left over for lunch the next day!)

When I go out to eat I tend to ask a lot of questions about the restaurant itself and about the menu items. The waiters and waitresses that I’ve had at Taste of Thai have been informative and helpful. They are quick to refill beverages and remove empty plates.

Bottom line: Don’t be scared by the bright yellow and red exterior of Taste of Thai. The restaurant dishes up some of the best Thai food that I’ve had in Des Moines! You can try it for yourself Mondays through Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for lunch and from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for dinner.