The Google Maps team has just added a full-screen option for Google Maps Street View. I really like this option as it makes exploring downtown Des Moines via street view even more stunning.

To launch a Street View in full-screen mode just click on the the View Larger Map at the bottom of the map and then press the button at the top right of the Street View.

View Larger Map

We’ve added a widget to the right hand column for signing up for lunch deals downtown. The alert service just started last week and comes in really handy for the 70,000+ workers that work downtown.

Continuing with our series, Des Moines Picture of the Week, this week’s picture comes from Flickr user Tony, also known as TLDOOR and is titled Iowa Capitol.

Tony says “I think Des Moines has so many interesting and different things to photograph day or night. I plan on taking alot more photos in the future.”

Check out previous pictures in of our series, Des Moines Picture of the Week.

Forbes Magazine looked at quality-of-life measures to form the list. Here’s how the Des Moines area compared, according to statistics the magazine gathered:

• Income growth: 4.2 percent (No. 91 of 379).

• Cost-of-living index: 90.2 (No. 165 of 379).

• Culture index: 68 (No. 121 of 379).

• Crime per 100,000 people: 3,854 (No. 193 of 379).

• Unemployment: 5 percent (No. 48 of 379).

Forbes Magazine also rated Des Moines seventh among metro areas for best places for business and careers.

Registration is under way for the 2009 Mayor’s Annual Ride for Trails, this annual event that raises money to support the Des Moines Recreational Trails. Downtown benefits with having money to complete the following downtown area trails:

• The connection from Gray’s Lake and the Meredith Trail under Fleur Drive to the Bill Riley Trail
• The Walnut Creek Trail connecting Clive to Water Works Park and Gray’s Lake
• The widening of the Bill Riley Trail
• Conversion of the Southwest First Street bridge to a pedestrian- and bicycle-only bridge

The ride starts at 10 a.m. April 18 at City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive. The 30-mile route will travel through many area neighborhoods,  but for those needing a shorter route, there is a 20-mile route also available.

Participants can sign up online at www.dmparks.org, or at the City Hall Information Center. Registration will also be available from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. on ride day at City Hall. Each rider must complete an entry form.

The registration fee is $25 and includes a short-sleeved cotton T-shirt, refreshments at the rest stop and post-ride festivities at the Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater. There will be sag support and a repair van. A map of the 2009 route will be included in ride packets.

For more information, call Robin Leaper in the Parks and Recreation department at 237-1404.

Opening day this year is May 2 at 7:00AM. Not familiar with a Farmers Market? It’s the it place every Saturday morning for find 10,000 to 15,000 people looking to purchase the freshest produce, garden plants, flowers and assorted crafts from a huge variety of vendors. My favorites include the homemade breads and variety of breakfast food available to munch on while shopping.

The Downtown Farmer’s Market is located on Court Avenue from 5th Street to Waters Street. The market opens every Saturday from 7:00AM to noon. The Des Moines Downtown Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday, rain or shine through October 31, 2009.

4th & Court Condominiums

119 4th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Phone: 515-453-6604
Sales Agent: Jill Creveling, Iowa Realty

Website: www.desmoinesdowntownliving.com/projects-courtavecondos.html

Open House: Saturdays 1:00 – 4:00 PM, Sundays 1:00 – 4:00 PM.

Pricing: $178,000 to $330,000

Units in Project: 48 / 9 sold
Floors in Building: 5

Property Features:
• one and two bedroom condos
• 12-16 foot high ceilings
• unit areas from 985 sq. ft. to 1,606 sq. ft.
• balconies
• underground parking

Right in the middle of the Court Avenue Entertainment District, 4th & Court Condominiums provides easy access to restaurants, bars, festivals, even the Saturday morning Farmer’s Market can be viewed from your window. What a great location to be in.

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Continuing with our series, Des Moines Picture of the Week, this week’s picture comes from Flickr user Randy Wetmore, also known as DMIA JAYHAWK and is titled Wet Start To The Day.

Randy says “Downtown Des Moines has a great architecture, from very modern to some great old historic buildings. I can always find something to photograph even if it is the same building because of the different light and shadows that are downtown. It is a great place to spend a few hours with your camera. Or just be driving to work and take a few shots.”

Check out previous pictures in of our series, Des Moines Picture of the Week.

A large crowd gathered Friday evening in downtown’s Western Gateway park area to celebrate the tremendous ruling that came down from the Iowa State Supreme Court allowing gays and lesbians the same basic civil rights afforded to all who seek a civil marriage.

This ruling can have a huge impact on the Des Moines economy as gays and lesbians from large nearby cities such as, Omaha, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Chicago come to Des Moines to get married. Local hotels, party planners, restaurants, ect. could all see an increase in tourism dollars. Even a Republic Congressman said that the state could turn into “the gay marriage Mecca” since the state does not restrict marriage licenses to in-state residents.

Below is are some pictures I took at the rally as wells as a video from Iowa’s first openly gay Senator, Matt McCoy.

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Sales have been a little slow the first quarter of 2009, only 8 units selling this year compared to the first quarter of 2008, but with the current economy and tighten lending policies, what can you expect. It does however look like 4th & Court Condominiums are the happening spot right now. The last four sales are theirs.