After 20-plus years of covering the dining scene, I’ve tasted (and thoroughly enjoyed) more burgers than I can count. Here are my three current favorites, among the many I have scoped out over the years:

• Bleu Burger at Americana: The never-frozen patty gets seasoned with a blend of 10 herbs and spices (including dill, paprika, rosemary, thyme and coriander). It’s decked out with great toppings—blue cheese crumbles, pickled red onions, smoked tomatoes and Sriracha aioli—then served on a ciabatta bun. While this beauty is available for $13 at lunch on weekdays, I’m most inclined to seek it out on Sunday nights, when it stars as part of Americana’s $7 burger night special: a choice of six burgers plus one side. (1312 Locust St., 515-283-1312; americanadsm.com)

• Bubba Burger at Bubba–Southern Comforts: Take a look at the photo. That isn’t just cheese, it’s homemade pimento cheese. That’s not any ol' bacon, it’s pecan-smoked bacon. And that’s no ordinary bun, it’s a rich, nicely grilled South Union Bakery brioche bun. The pickles? Sweet-tangy bread-and-butter house-made pickles. For this $12.50 burger, patties are formed in-house from an all-Iowa blend of beef chuck and brisket, ground fresh daily and never frozen. (200 10th St., 515-257-4744; bubbadsm.com)

• George’s Burger at G. Mig’s 5th St. Pub: How does former country club chef George Migliero make a burger? With fresh-ground prime rib, of course. Add caramelized onions, a mushroom blend and Jack cheese, and serve it on a tuggy ciabatta bun, with horseradish sauce on the side, and you have a clear winner. One caveat: I do wish they’d use real plates instead of plastic-ware. This $12.75 burger (and everything I’ve tasted at G. Mig’s) deserves better! (128 Fifth St., West Des Moines; 515-255-4550; gmigs.com)

Wini Moranville writes about food, wine and dining for dsm magazine and dsmWeekly. Follow her on Facebook at All Things Food–DSM.

After a sold-out run of the rock-infused opera "Soldier Songs" in 2017, Des Moines Metro Opera is set to present the second installment of its collaboration with the Iowa National Guard and Camp Dodge with a production of Tom Cipullo’s poignant and emotionally charged opera "Glory Denied" for three performances, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, and Saturday, Nov. 17, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18. Note that Photo IDs (such as a driver’s license) are required for admittance to Camp Dodge.

Featuring DMMO favorites Michael Mayes and Kelly Kaduce, this Vietnam War-era story highlights the repatriation struggles experienced by America’s longest held prisoner of war and the effects on his family. For the production, the deployment hall at Camp Dodge will be converted into a theater. Read about the production in this story from the current issue of dsm magazine. And learn more about the opera, including links to some of the music, here.  

Each performance will be followed by a discussion featuring reflections from Iowa combat veterans and active service members alongside the cast and creative team. Composer Tom Cipullo will be present for the performances Nov. 16 and 17. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased online here.

Tickets remain available for the graceful spectacle of Dance Theatre of Harlem, performing at 7:30 this evening at the Des Moines Civic Center. The company performs treasured classics, neoclassical works and innovative contemporary ballet. Tickets, $16-$49, can be reserved online here or purchased today at the Civic Center.

Of extra interest to dance fans, a 30-minute chat with a member of the company begins at 6:30 p.m. And stay after the show for a question-and-answer session with the dancers.

November hours at Styled by Goodwill will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. In December, the shop adds Mondays and will remain open until 9 p.m. Thursdays.

There's more to explore in Valley Junction, which is experiencing a resurgence as detailed in this story from the current November/December issue of dsm magazine.

"My Favorite Murder," the hit true-crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, comes to the Des Moines Civic Center next March as a live show. Since its inception in early 2016, the show has broken download records and galvanized a devoted "Murderino" fan base. Their live tours are known throughout the world, selling out large theaters across the U.S., Canada, Australia and Europe.

For other fun opportunities, explore a pair of easy-to-use online calendars. We at dsm magazine and the Business Record maintain this calendar with handy filters so you can see just the types of events you're searching for. For even more categories, check Catch Des Moines.