Running No-Where(A Time Lapse/Slow Motion mix) from HedsIc on Vimeo.

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Continuing the old downtown Des Moines photo series, here are some photos that I came across of what downtown Des Moines looked like in 1940. These photos are attributed to John Vachon, via the Library of Congress.

State Capitol

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Continuing in the theme of this weeklong photography showcase, I’d like to show off some of the nighttime photography that I captured this week downtown. My friend, Tina and I, have just finished a 4-week long course on photography as part of the Des Moines Community Adult Education Series. Nighttime photography is one of the areas that I would like to get really good in. These pictures are from one of my first evenings venturing out to try some of the new techniques that we have learned. I think the images that I got turned out pretty good for a beginner. I hope you enjoy them.

I came across some interesting photos of what downtown Des Moines looked like in 1958, about this time 50 years ago. These photos are attributed to a Charles W. Cushman, and are part of the Indiana University Archives.

Looking East on Locust St. toward the Capitol

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As promised, here are some downtown fall photos that I took this past weekend. Enjoy!

As part of my photography hobby I was looking into panoramic photography and came across a website called 360 Cities.net. I found that a local Des Moines resident, Thomas Hawbaker had photographed downtown Des Moines in three different locations in full 360 degree panorama.

His locations include:

• Downtown Library at Night
• Nollen Plaza at Capital Square
• Capitol Building Complex

You should check it out, but I warn you, you will end up spending some time looking through these, as the detail that he captures his totally amazing. I would love to learn how to do this and capture even more areas of downtown.

For those traveling to Des Moines that need a place to stay overnight, downtown Des Moines has seven hotels for them to choose from. Those seven are:

• Downtown Marriott
• Embassy Suites
• Holiday Inn Downtown
• Hotel Fort Des Moines
• Quality Inn & Suites Event Center
• Renaissance Savery Hotel
• Suites of 800 Locust Street

Now I’m not in the hotel business but the number of hotels we have downtown seems a little limited. Not only in choices (i.e. no five star hotels) but also in the number of rooms for the size of the city (1,745 rooms by my count) and the events that we are currently drawing. There have long been talks of a new hotel near the Iowa Events Center as well as turing one of the older buildings downtown into a boutique-style hotel, but to-date nothing concrete has appeared. I think we could use a hotel in the Court Avenue neighborhood, and one towards the west-end of the Western Gateway Park as well as a another near the Iowa Events Center that is connected via the skywalk.

I did some research on a lot of different travel sites and complied together in one place some information on our six downtown hotels. Hopefully this will help you or your visitors decide where to stay based on their needs when visiting downtown Des Moines. I think first you should be aware of the “star rating” system that is being used:

These are hotels that offer only the highest level of accommodations and services. The properties offer a high degree of personal service. Although most five star hotels are large properties, sometimes the small independent (non-chain) property offers an elegant intimacy that can not be achieved in the larger setting. They are generally located in the heart of downtown or in resort locations. The hotel lobbies are sumptuous, the rooms complete with stylish furnishing and quality linens. The amenities often include: DVD players, CD stereos, garden tubs or Jacuzzis, in-room video library, heated pools and more. The hotels feature up to three restaurants all with exquisite menus. Room service is usually available 24 hours a day. Fitness Centers and valet and/or garage parking are typically available. A concierge is also available to assist you. Typical National Chains: Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, W. Downtown Des Moines: None

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Continuing our series on Des Moines Downtown Neighborhoods, today we will take a look at the Court Avenue Neighborhood. Des Moines is currently made up of to six diverse and distinctive urban neighborhoods. Each of the neighborhood’s rough boundaries appear on this map below.

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I’ve said it more than once before, I hate the cold, and last winter here in Des Moines was just dreadful. Our neighbors to the deep south, Orlando, Florida, to be exact, don’t have this problem. So when they want a really, really, really cold place to hang out, they go to the Ice Bar. For a $35 cover charge which includes a vodka drink, you can spend up to 45 minutes in a bar that is kept at a chilly 27 degrees Fahrenheit. Can you imagine their electric bill? All we would have to do is just turn off the heat and open the doors; I think a Des Moines’ bar’s profit margin would be significantly higher than a bar in Orlando with the cost of air conditioning a bar down to 27 degrees.

Once inside they give their patrons an insulated cape and gloves to help stay warm. Again, if you are in Des Moines in the winter you all ready have these items. Inside the bar the couches, chairs, walls, glasses, the bar and even the fireplace, are all made of ice. The bar is lit in a cool blue color and bartenders and barbacks are dressed in stylish all-white snow suits and Russian-style fur hats. If you think this is a one-of-a-kind bar, think again, these ice bars are popular in Northern Europe and have started to make their way to the US, maybe the Smithsons will open one on Court Avenue.

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The list for Des Moines’ most endangered buildings is in and three of the seven are located in downtown Des Moines. The Des Moines Rehabbers Club sought public nominations this past summer and selected seven buildings that represent a variety of styles and ages. Rehabbers Club organizer Steve Wilke-Shapiro, who coordinated the nominations, said the seven buildings “have individually compelling tales.”

Below are three that are located in downtown, two are in the Sherman Hill neighborhood and one is in the East Village.

• The 1893 Sherman Hill mansion at 692 17th St. burned in 1988 and has been under reconstruction since.

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