Who's hungry? We're giving away a $25 gift card to a local restaurant of your choice! That means you pick the spot — as long as it's a local gem, not a big chain. We love supporting small businesses, and this is a fun way to do it together!

Entering is super easy. Just visit the link below and you're in! We'll draw a winner at the end of the month, so don't wait too long. The sooner you enter, the better!

Know someone who would love this? Share it with your friends and family on social media and help us spread the word. The more the merrier! Good luck to everyone who enters — we can't wait to pick a winner! 🎉 desmoinesdigest.com/giveaway

Quick ideas for students and parents heading into the final stretch of the year.

Struggling with more than study tips can solve? Camp Homework offers affordable K–12 tutoring with real human tutors — not AI — starting at just $150/month. camphomework.com

There is a woman in Des Moines who has never once turned her back on an animal that needed her.

Her name is Tanya. And right now, inside her home, there are 3 dogs, 3 cats, 3 rabbits, 2 chinchillas, a parakeet, a full fish tank, and a pair of aquariums housing three axolotls she is, by her own words, completely obsessed with. Almost every single one of them was unwanted by someone else.

She never advertised. She never set up a rescue organization or applied for grants. She just said yes. Over and over again. Word spread through neighborhoods and friend groups the way it does when someone is genuinely good — quietly, and fast. At one point she had 27 guinea pigs living under her roof at the same time.

She will be the first to tell you that was a mistake.

But here is the thing about Tanya. The animals are only part of the story. On her days off she walks through the neighborhood picking up litter by hand — not because anyone asked her to, but because she knows trash kills wildlife and she is not the kind of person who looks the other way. A few weeks ago a group of six kids saw what she was doing and just started helping. She did not ask them. They just came.

She is also a mom. And when we asked her what the most amazing thing she has ever done in her life was, she did not mention the hundreds of animals she has saved.
Then there is Will. A 130-pound Bernese Mountain Dog who came into her life by chance and never really left — even after he was gone. The story of how she found him, what she lost, and what she did to carry him with her every single day after is the kind of thing that stays with you.

We are not going to give that one away here. Click here for the whole story

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There's a salon in Ankeny that doesn't feel like a salon. Walk in and you'll find massage chairs, a dedicated shampoo relaxation area, and a vibe that's less "in and out" and more "leave your stress at the door." Owner Michelle Golden has spent nearly 20 years in the beauty industry, and when she finally opened Salon Au on May 1, 2025, she built it around one idea: the experience matters as much as the hair.

Michelle started her career in Ames, worked her way through several salons, and eventually landed in Ankeny — where she spent years in a solo studio suite before outgrowing it entirely. The push to go bigger came when she took on a cosmetology apprentice and realized her 100-square-foot room wasn't going to cut it. So she made the leap — not just to a larger space, but to a full team, a real spa area, and what she calls the Golden Experience.

Salon Au is a hybrid salon offering everything from hair color, extensions, and curly hair cuts to Japanese head spa treatments and facials. Their licensed esthetician can even show you a microscope view of your scalp before and after a treatment. The team is five strong and growing, with stylists who specialize in everything from dramatic color transformations to natural lived-in looks and bridal styling.

But what really sets Michelle apart is why she does it. She's mentored a cosmetology apprentice to licensure, hosted Pay What You Can haircut days every Thanksgiving since 2015, and runs a free weekly small business networking breakfast every Thursday morning at the salon. She wants Salon Au to be a safe space — for clients, for her team, and for the broader Ankeny community.

There's a lot more to this story — including a client moment that stopped us in our tracks.→ Read the full story

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If you're looking for the most fun you can have on a Wednesday evening in Des Moines this week — this is it.

On Wednesday, April 15 from 6:00–8:30 PM, the Velorosa Cycling Team and Des Moines Cycle Club are taking over Jasper Winery for an evening of great wine, cycling gear swaps, and giving back to three incredible central Iowa nonprofits. This is a community event in the truest sense of the word — and it's going to be a blast.

Here's how the swap works: Bring 5 cycling gear items, get 5 swap tickets, and take home 5 new-to-you items. Don't have anything to swap? No problem — just grab tickets for $5 at the door. Any items that don't find a new home will be donated to the Dream Team and the DSM Street Collective.

The silent auction runs all evening with all proceeds going directly to the Urban Bicycle Food Ministry — a Des Moines organization serving radical hospitality by bike, one burrito at a time. If you've seen their work around the city, you already know how special this group is. If you haven't, this is a great way to get introduced.

Whether you're a serious cyclist, a casual rider, or just someone who loves good wine and a good cause — this one is worth showing up for. Bring a friend, bring your gear, and come ready to support three organizations making a real difference in Des Moines.

📅 Wednesday, April 15 | 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM 📍 Jasper Winery, 2400 George Flagg Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50321 🎟️ Free with swap items | $5 at the door

🏒Iowa Wild Fan Appreciation Weekend + Olympic Speed Skater Meet & Greet Friday, April 17 at Casey's Center, 7:00 PM. Free meet-and-greet with West Des Moines native and U.S. Olympic speed skater Zach Stoppelmoor before the game.

🏃‍♂️Grand Blue Mile Tuesday, April 21 at Western Gateway Park, 6:00 PM. A one-mile community run through downtown Des Moines. All ages and paces welcome.

🏟️116th Drake Relays April 22–25 at Drake Stadium. World-class track and field, community energy, and the unofficial start of summer festival season. Don't miss it.

📚DSM Book Festival featuring AViD Saturday, May 2. The Des Moines Public Library brings a headlining author to the festival — details to be announced. Free and open to the community.

Thanks for starting the week with us, Des Moines. See you Thursday! 🌱

— Alex | Des Moines Digest 📘
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