We're giving away a $25 gift card to a local Des Moines restaurant because supporting the places that make our city actually feel like home matters.

Whether you're craving breakfast burritos, pizza that actually slaps, or that one dish you can't stop thinking about — this one's for you. Use it for date night, use it to treat yourself on a random Tuesday, we don't care. Just use it local.

Want in? Click here to enter. Takes like 10 seconds. And hey, if you've got a friend who's always asking "where should we eat?" — send them this. You'll both thank us later. desmoinesdigest.com/giveaway

End-of-Year Sprint Strategy: We're in the home stretch now. Help your student tackle the final push with these tried-and-true tips:

Break it into chunks: One big project feels impossible. Five small tasks over five days? Totally doable.

Study outside: This weather is perfect for reviewing flashcards on the porch or doing homework at a picnic table.

Prioritize sleep over cramming: A well-rested brain beats an exhausted one every time, especially heading into finals.

Celebrate small wins: Finished that essay? Aced that quiz? Acknowledge it. Momentum matters.

Do you want more tips like this?

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

He saw an ad in 2006. Just a small advertisement for a local triathlon. He wasn't a swimmer. He wasn't sure he could do it. But something in him said I think I can do this — and that quiet thought turned into 15 full Ironman races, tens of thousands of training miles, and a finish line in Kona, Hawaii that most triathletes spend their entire careers chasing and never reach.

Karl is a West Des Moines guy. He works a day job at a small family-owned company near Gray's Lake. He builds things in his garage when he isn't training. He teaches Spin classes three times a week at Genesis Health Systems because after a decade of learning everything the hard way, he wants to give something back. He rides the Inter Urban Loop through Beaverdale and Waterworks Park several times a week — not because he has to, but because it is just what he does.

He has passed out during races. He has crossed finish lines 14 hours after he started. He has watched someone he loved for 33 years forget his face. And every single time life got heavier, he got back on the bike.

This October, Karl races Kona — the Super Bowl of triathlons, the world championship, the race you qualify for not by being the fastest but by refusing to stop. It will be his 16th full Ironman. It will be his first time ever leaving the continental United States. And in the middle of all of it, there is a wedding, a honeymoon, a birthday, nine family members flying across the Pacific, and a story about how a bike helmet in a profile photo changed everything.

We sat down with Karl — and his fiancée Teena — and we heard the whole thing. There is one moment in this story that stopped us cold. You will know it when you get there.

Click here for the whole story

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There's a storefront on University Avenue in West Des Moines where, on any given Tuesday night, a woman in her seventies is quietly outscoring her grandson at axe throwing — and the whole room is cheering her on.

If that sounds like a strange sentence, that's exactly why we wrote about it.

Ironside Axe Club isn't really an axe-throwing range. It's a tavern from another century that happens to have hatchets. Lisa and Scott Gardner opened it in 2018 after watching the sport explode across Canada, Chicago, and Minneapolis — and 150 people walked through the door on day one. Scott has been throwing axes since 1993, long before it was cool, and by the time he opened a business he'd already spent years teaching instructors how to teach.

Every guest who walks in gets coached. Kids as young as four have stuck a throw. So have people in wheelchairs, guests from the Department for the Blind, and a young man born without hands.

What we didn't see coming was everything else happening inside that building. There's a pirate crew that calls it their home port. A monthly Irish jam session. A Monday comedy open mic. A Wednesday-morning networking group that grew from a dozen people to sixty. And the reigning World Champion in one of the sport's disciplines — who happens to be the guy managing the floor.

We'll let Scott explain why people keep coming back in his own words, but here's the short version:

"It's a low-impact physical, but high-impact emotional sport."
Translation — you walk in unsure, and you walk out lighter than you arrived.

Read the full story

Ironside Axe Club · 2700 University Ave #100, West Des Moines, IA · Tue–Fri 1–10 PM, Sat 12–10 PM, Sun 2–7 PM, Mon 7–10 PM

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The Tony-winning musical about the women's suffrage movement comes to Des Moines. Expect powerful storytelling, incredible music, and a night that'll stick with you. This is one of those shows everyone's talking about — and for good reason.

There's something magical about hiking under a full moon. Guided trail, wildlife sounds, and a peaceful outdoor reset to kick off your weekend. Perfect for couples, friends, or solo explorers who need a break from screens.

Wednesday, April 29
🎤 Drew Lynch Comedy Show | Stand-up comedy |

Thursday, April 30 – Sunday, May 3
🛍️ Spring/Summer Pop-Up Consignment Sale | Willow Brook Barn, Colo |

Friday, May 1
🎨 First Friday Art Walks | Downtown galleries

Tuesday, April 28
👶 Toddler Time | Get Air Sports |

Wednesday, April 29
🌸 Wake Up with Spring | Polk County Conservation |
📖 Library Storytime & Kids Programs | Local libraries

Thursday, April 30
👶 Toddler Tales | Outdoor storytime |
🍺 Trivia Night | The Royal Mile |

We want to hear from you! Des Moines Digest exists to help locals find the best things to do, see, and explore across the metro — but we can only make it better with your input. Tell us what sections you love, what you skip, and what you wish we covered more. Whether it's a hidden gem, an event type, or just a quick "keep doing this" — we're all ears. Your feedback shapes every issue, so hit reply or click below and let us know. This digest is for you, Des Moines! 💬
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Thanks for starting the week with us, Des Moines. See you Thursday! 🌱

— Alex | Des Moines Digest 📘
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