dsmWeekly: November 23, 2022

AllSpice Culinarium offers several gift box options for every cook in your kitchen, including the one pictured above. Other options include a barbecue box packed with spice rubs and sauce and a baker's box filled with pantry necessities. There's even a bloody mary kit for anyone who prefers mixing drinks to mixing batter.

FOOD AND DINING
11 Local Shops for Your Holiday Food Gifts

Writer: Karla Walsh

Despite the fact that online sales are starting earlier each year, Black Friday still signals the unofficial start to holiday gifting season. That’s just two days away. But rather than chasing the latest flash sales and purchasing from a big-box store this year, I’m making a concerted effort to shop local as much as possible. Buying something from a small, independent local store infuses more than three times as much money into the local economy compared with an equivalent-priced purchase made at a chain, according to estimates from the American Independent Business Alliance.

To make it easier to fill in for your favorite food gifts, I’ve pulled together a guide about where you can find similar options to your mega-brand favorites much closer to home.

Shop Williams Sonoma for kitchen gear? Swap here: Kitchen Collage. This East Village shop has so many superb choices, ranging from cocktail mixers to bakeware to the latest kitchen gadgets, that it’s impossible to recommend just one thing. You’ll find plenty of stocking stuffers as well, such as the fancy salt or vanilla.

Shop World Market for global pantry staples and unique stocking stuffers? Swap here: Eden and AllSpice Culinarium. While you might think of Eden as an East Village beauty boutique, it’s actually home to a surprising array of top-notch olive oils, non-alcoholic aperitifs and honeys. Nearby, AllSpice offers ultra-giftable multi-packs of hot sauce, cocktail bitters and flavored maple syrups to share with devoted home cooks.

Shop Amazon for cookbooks? Swap here: Des Moines Mercantile and Storyhouse Bookpub. Combat indecision by peeking through the curated selection at these two shops, located in Highland Park and the East Village, respectively. Both help narrow down the options to only the most coffee table-worthy (yet usable) tomes—”Breadsong” and a bag of locally milled flour is my go-to housewarming or holiday gift for my baking BFFs.

Shop Costco to stock up on wine? Swap here: The Cave. A “Curated Pack” is the move if you want to outsource the decision-making. The staff at this Western Gateway natural wine shop inquire about your desired price point as well as the recipient’s adventure level and preferred grape color (unsure? "Surprise me" is an option!), and will hand-pick the perfect two-pack of bottles.

Other fun swaps: Instead of going to Target or Aldi for advent calendars, check out Prairie Rose Desserts' macaron advent calendar; follow @prairierosedesserts on Instagram for updates about availability. If you’ve always shopped at Harry & David for a fruit basket delivery, consider Boesen the Florist’s offerings. Rather than ordering from Thrive Market for your vegan and gluten-free menus, stock up on the pantry items and baked goods at Thistle's Summit. And if you’re looking at Sur La Table or MasterClass for online cooking classes, swap them out with Cooking With Alessandra, Wallace Centers of Iowa or Chef Cass’s Classes.

The North American touring cast of "Come From Away" is backed by a full band, and music fills the town as the characters learn how to get along after tragedy. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND
Musical ‘Come From Away’ Showing at Civic Center

With themes of love, gratitude and friendship, the musical “Come From Away” makes for the perfect post-Thanksgiving show.

“Come From Away” is based on thousands of true stories from passengers of diverted flights who were stranded in the Canadian province of Newfoundland after the events of 9/11. When the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration shut down U.S. airspace following the attacks, a total of 38 inbound flights landed at the Gander International Airport. For the town of 10,000 people, welcoming over 6,500 strangers proved to be no small feat. Even as cultures clash and tensions rise, unease eventually turns into lasting friendship.

The musical, a New York Times Critics’ Pick, was written by Tony nominees Irene Sankoff and David Hein. Tickets are on sale now, with shows running tonight and all through the weekend.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

The 39th Annual Festival of Trees & Lights (all weekend, 11 a.m.): The annual fundraiser for Blank Children’s Hospital is back and in person for 2022. Follow a guided, one-way path through the Iowa Events Center to view the full display of lights and decorated trees. Along the way, you’ll find stories of some of the many children cared for at Blank Children’s. Tickets are $5 each, with the option to donate more.

Karrin Allyson at Noce (Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.): Jazz vocalist, pianist and songwriter Karrin Allyson will perform at Noce this weekend. Since her debut in the 90s, Allyson has been nominated for five Grammys. Tickets are available for both shows here.

Mainframe Studios Holiday Market (Saturday, 1-5 p.m.): Start your shopping downtown at Mainframe Studios' Small Business Saturday event. Find local handmade jewelry, clothing, home goods, fine art, hands-on experiences, art supplies and even personalized options. Plus, there will be live music, food and drinks to fuel your shopping spree.

Jolly Holiday Lights (all weekend, 5:30-10 p.m.): This Iowan tradition opens Friday for another season full of twinkling lights and philanthropy. The display will once again raise money for Make-A-Wish Iowa while putting on a festive drive-thru show. Head to Adventureland after the sun sets to see this year’s displays. Tickets and info can be found here.

Santa’s Rock n’ Lights (all weekend, 5 p.m.): Drive through over a mile of Christmas lights at the Santa’s Rock n’ Lights display in Urbandale. See 20-foot-tall dinosaurs and reindeer, dancing polar bears and even emojis lit up and synchronized to music. There will be over 700 feet of light tunnels to amble through. The display is located on the grounds of Living History Farms, and tickets are sold online only. Click here to purchase your tickets in advance and book a time slot.

ARTS AND CULTURE
Hide and seek: Deck the halls with homemade ornaments during the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s third annual “Hide and Seek Ornaments You Keep.” The free pop-up activity runs from Dec. 2 to Dec. 11, when local artists will place handmade ornaments in different locations around downtown. Some participating artists are Sabrina Carper, Jennifer Leatherby and Jami Milne. (Read about a project Milne and Carper worked together on in our latest Lifting the Veil magazine). Find out how to participate in the hunt on the Partnership’s website.

Art Terrarium, located in the corner building on 11th and Cherry streets, has so many plant, pot and gardening accessory options, you're sure to check off several items from your gifting list all in one place. Photo: Art Terrarium.

SHOPPING

Hot Pockets for Small Business Saturday Shopping

Writer: Beth Eslinger

These two micro shopping districts offer new local shops to check out for holiday gifts, plus eateries to fulfill cravings and to package into presents for the foodies on your list. Plus, we share our other favorite short-but-sweet local shopping areas throughout Greater Des Moines. Check the business websites for hours—weekends are prime times to visit all of these retailers.

Eleventh and Mulberry Streets: Plan on at least 30 minutes for the meter to check out Moglea and Art Terrarium, located side by side. At Moglea, browse the beautiful hand-painted paper goods (the $8 notebooks are a gimme for stocking stuffers and friend gifts), gorgeous and somewhat complicated 1,500-piece puzzles, plus planners, mobile phone covers, artwork and their signature painted clocks. Next door, find green goods for the plant lovers on your list at Art Terrarium. Shop live plants for every type of light and care situation, books, jewelry, containers and plant-care items. Check their Facebook page for pop-up events.

2700 Block of Ingersoll: Though it’s been in business since 1977, the Ingersoll institution Tandem Brick Gallery continues to feel fresh, fun and current. Browse accessories such as leather goods, headbands, jewelry and more, soft onesies for babies, candles, books and silly socks. The staff beautifully wraps all gifts, no matter the price, for free. A few steps down the block, Wildflower is the place for hostess bouquets, as well as other home decor items including vases and baskets. You’ll also find essential oils from local flower grower PepperHarrow.

Find four more shopping districts full of local businesses to peruse, plus a list of retailers we recommend checking out for gifts and treats of all kinds in this dsm article from our newest issue.