Posted June 02, 2021in Belly Up To...
Start here. End here. The High Trestle Trail is a popular 25-mile bike trail between Ankeny and Woodward. Along the trail, businesses offer thirsty and hungry bikers dining and drinking options. One of those places, the TrailSide Tap, is worth a visit. TrailSide Tap is located just behind the Ankeny
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Posted May 05, 2021in Belly Up To...
Stroll into The Bartender’s Handshake on Ingersoll, and it feels like you’re going back in time. It’s almost secretive, as there’s no neon sign out front. It resembles a well-worn watering hole that’s been serving patrons for decades. But it hasn’t. Instead, the local hotspot made its debut on Halloween
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Posted March 31, 2021in Belly Up To...
The Beaver Tap is located in the heart of Beaverdale, and its building has been a mainstay in the neighborhood for more than half of a century. As different bars have come and gone, today it continues to be a hangout for locals in search of a friendly pub and
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Posted March 03, 2021in Belly Up To...
When seeking out a bar for Belly Up, I was intrigued with the name of the bar, the Warehouse Pub. Was this warehouse similar to big box stores that are loaded with gigantic bags of pretzels or oversized boxes of cereal? Nope. But that’s OK. The Warehouse Pub is a
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Posted February 03, 2021in Belly Up To...
Imagine a place where you can bring your dog, park your bicycle, eat fresh food, view original artwork, enjoy live music and drink craft beers, all in one location. Look no further than the Kinship Brewing Company in Waukee. Kinship opened up New Year’s Day of this year in a
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Posted January 06, 2021in Belly Up To...
In West Des Moines’ Valley Junction, a 120-year-old former railcar building houses a three-for-one treat. It includes The Hall, a beerhouse; the Foundry, a distilling company; and a community food kitchen. The Hall was established three years ago and is a wide-open mess hall, reminiscent of youth camp seating, where
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Posted December 02, 2020in Belly Up To...
As I walked down the dark staircase to Des Moines’ newest speakeasy, I expected a muscular guy decked in a pinstripe suit with a cocked fedora hat, questioning me, ‘What’s the password, blondie?’ Instead, I got a masked guy, handing me a menu, asking me what my drink preference was.
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Posted November 04, 2020in Belly Up To...
If you’re looking to experience a relaxed vibe in the heart of West Des Moines, visit the Urban Cellar. With tall dark wood and tan colors, the Urban Cellar is a warm and inviting place to unwind and enjoy a great meal with wine and cocktails. The Urban Cellar: Wine
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Posted September 30, 2020in Belly Up To...
For more than 25 years, Jimmy’s American Café served the West Des Moines neighborhood as a lively nightspot with cool drinks and innovative bar food. Since Jimmy’s shuttered nearly a decade ago, a handful of bars, eateries and even an Equardorian dance club tried their offerings without much success. Until
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Posted September 02, 2020in Belly Up To...
Are you up for something with a tropical feel while sipping margaritas on a breezy patio designed to cure coronavirus blues? Then head over to Rita’s Cantina. Located off S.E. Fifth Street, it’s close to East Village and occupies the building of the former SKOL and Mad Meatball. The new
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