PRIDELY ~ Des Moines IA

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TOP 5 Mistakes to Avoid on Your Next International Trip

OVERPACKING OVERSPENDING

NOT ENOUGH RESEARCH CARRYING VALUABLES

NOT NOTIFYING THE BANK

Whether it’s your first international trip or your fifth, traveling is all about discovering the unknown. It’s no surprise that there can be problems along the way. Extra planning and learning from these common travel mistakes can help you focus on enjoying your trip without worrying.

Mistake #1 is overpacking - too many packed items can be hard to organize and be uncomfortable to travel with. Mistake #2 is overspending - sticking to a realistic budget and leaving room for unexpected expenses is always best.

Mistake #3 is not doing enough research - it’s always safe to do extra research when traveling abroad including weather, laws, and international costs. Mistake #4 is carrying valuables with you while exploring - pick pocketers are notorious for targeting tourists, so keep your valuables locked away safe in your hotel if possible. Most importantly, mistake #5 is not notifying your bank of your international travel plans - otherwise, your debit or credit card may be blocked due to “unusual activity” unfortunately if you don’t do this ahead of time.

Restaurants

RoCA

Casually stylish brick-walled eatery serving New American entrees, small plates & craft cocktails.

208 Court Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309

Phone: (515) 282-3663 | Web: www.rocadsm.com

Alba Restaurant

Colorful, upscale American restaurant & wine bar with reclaimed doors hanging from the ceiling.

524 E 6th St, Des Moines, IA 50309

Phone: (515) 244-0261 | Web: www.albadsm.com

Centro

High-ceilinged ex-Masonic temple turned contemporary Italian wining-&-dining destination.

1003 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309

Phone: (515) 248-1780 | Web: www.centrodesmoines.com

Have a restaurant you’d like us to feature?

Send in a recommendation for your favorite restaurant to be added to our list.

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Bubba

Southern favorites & a large array of whiskies offered in a relaxed, stylish setting with a patio.

200 10th St, Des Moines, IA

Django

Casual brasserie dishing up French standards crafted with seasonal ingredients.

1420 Locust St, Des Moines, IA

Americana

Casual place with modern decor serving steaks & chops, plus Asian-inspired sharing plates.

1312 Locust St, Des Moines, IA

Buzzard Billy’s

Roomy, laid-back eatery featuring food with Louisiana roots, TVs to catch the game & a deck.

615 3rd St, Des Moines, IA

Eatery A

Creative Mediterranean dishes & wood-fired pizza in a stylish space with reclaimed Iowa wood.

2932 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines, IA

The Iowa Taproom

Historic, industrial haunt with over 100 regional craft beers & locally sourced American fare.

215 E 3rd Street #100, Des Moines, IA

HoQ Restaurant

Stylish farm-to-fork restaurant featuring a rotating menu of New American fare & a bar.

303 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA

Skip’s

Veteran restaurant serving American cuisine & pasta dishes in a classy space with a full bar.

4000 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA

Lucca

Chic outpost serving modern & traditional Italian dishes, some with North African influence.

420 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA

Zombie Burger + Drink Lab

Hip American eatery & cocktail bar with a humorous horror theme.

300 E Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA

Jan 22

Winter Jam

Winter Jam is coming to Wells Fargo Arena, featuring Skillet, Tauren Wells, KB, Colton Dixon, I Am They, NewSong & more! Tickets and details at 2022.jamtour.com.

Feb 26

The Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival

Join us for the annual Baconfest at the Horizon Events Center, 2100 N.W. 100th St., Clive. The festival has been deemed Bacon Gras, “A Ragin’, Cajun, Bacon Celebration!” Details at blueribbonbaconfestival.com.

Mar 26

Des Moines St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Beginning at 8 a.m. — in Western Gateway Park at 13th Street and Grand Avenue — those interested can pay $5 to gain access to a St. Patrick’s Day tailgate party. The cost of entry will grant access to live music, a silent disco, food trucks and a beer garden. Find us on Facebook for details.

May 5-7

Pella Tulip Festival

Pella is beautiful and unique all year long, but at Tulip Time it comes alive with tulips, Dutch attire, parades, food, fun, and more. Thousands of residents wear Dutch attire and celebrate our Dutch heritage. Details at pellahistorical.org.

Jun 9-11

Governors Days

Governors Days is one of the grandest summer festivals in the Des Moines, Iowa metropolitan area. Complete with concerts, parades, carnivals and much, much more; Governors Days has something for everyone. Admission to the festival is free thanks to the MANY wonderful business sponsors from the community.Learn more at www.governorsdays.com.

FOUR TIPS to help you boost your retirement savings

1. CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR 401(K)

If you happen to have the benefit of a traditional 401(k) plan through your employer, you may be able to contribute pretax money. This can be a huge advantage to your retirement savings plan.

2. OPEN AN IRA

It is a good idea to establish an individual retirement account (IRA) to help invest in your future. You can do either a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. Take some time to research both options and see what’s best for you.

3. AUTOMATE YOUR SAVINGS

A good idea to help you increase your savings even more is to set automatic payments each month. This will help you grow your money without even having to think about it.

4. SET A GOAL

Understanding and planning ahead of time how much you may need in the future not only can help you better understand why you’re saving, but it also can make the process more rewarding.

6 Most Profitable Blog Niches

Making money online with a blog has never been easier.

There are so many areas you can explore when developing content for a blog. Making a profit from doing this is definitely possible, but it is essential to make sure you are creating high-quality content to help you monetize. Here are some quick tips and ideas to help you get started.

1

Don’t overestimate the value of digital marketing in today’s businesses.

SEO, email campaigns, social media, and influencer marketing are just some of the broad range of strategies used in digital marketing.

2

Digital Marketing Blogging for Profit

There are many valuable ways to write and help people make money online.

Some of these blog topics include freelance writing, working as a virtual assistant, and even starting your own online business.

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Jun 10-12

Pride Fest Capital City

The LGBTQ+ community will celebrate the 43rd annual Pride Fest 2022 in Greater Des Moines (DSM) this weekend. From June 10 – 12, Pride Fest events will be held for all ages — read why you should bring your kids to Pride Fest, too! Learn more at www.capitalcitypride.org/pride-fest.

Jul 3-4

West Des Moines Independence Day Parade + Fireworks

The City of West Des Moines’ annual Independence Days Parade will be held on Sunday, July 3 at 6:30 p.m. A fireworks display will take place on the City/School Campus. There will not be a fireworks display at Raccoon River Park. Fireworks are scheduled for Monday, July 4 at dusk approximately 9:30 p.m. Details at desmoinesparent.com.

Aug 11-21

Iowa State Fair

The internationally acclaimed Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Details at iowastatefair.org.

Sep 16

World Food & Music Festival

The event offers international cuisine, live music and performing arts, cooking demonstrations, interactive programs, wine and craft beers and much more. Learn more at dsmpartnership.com.

Oct 2

Oktoberfest

Enjoy beer, live music, games, German food, and so much more all through the Colonies during this festival weekend. Visit us online at amanacolonies.com for details.

PRIDE CENTER DES MOINES

Born to promote the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and ally community in Central Iowa. Web: desmoinespridecenter.org

CAPITAL CITY PRIDE - DES MOINES, IA

Capital City Pride is a 501(c)(3) organization that brings together the members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and queer community along with their friends, allies, and supporters. We do this by producing events that inspire, educate, commemorate, and celebrate our diverse community and culture with and for the greater Des Moines metro. Web: www.capitalcitypride.org

PRIDE SPORTS LEAGUE

Providing recreational and networking opportunities through sports to the LGBTQ+ community in Central Iowa. Web: pridesportsleague.org

IOWA QUEER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR COALITION

The Iowa Queer Communities of Color’s mission is to use an intersectional lens to address the inequity of services, lack of support and space, socioeconomic disparities, and institutional racism experienced by our communities through education, advocacy, intentional inclusivity and organizing. Web: www.facebook. com/IowaQueerCommunitiesOfColorCoalition

TRANSFORMATIONS IOWA

Transformations Iowa is a support group for transgender and non-binary people with meetings in Des Moines. Web: www.facebook.com/transformationsiowa

CAPITAL BEARS

Capital Bears is an inclusive group which focuses on providing the LGBTQIA+ community a safe and accepting social network. Web: www.capitalbears.org

3

Health

& Fitness

Online fitness classes have become more and more popular over time.

There are many areas of fitness content to include such as workout videos, fitness courses, and one-on-one training sessions.

4

Finance & Investing

People are constantly seeking ways to manage their money better.

You can help people manage their money wisely in ways like saving for retirement or making the right investments.

5

Food Recipes

People love to learn about quick and easy meals and diets.

Getting creative with this is the fun part as you can put own twist on popular dishes or share innovative recipes.

6

Self Care

There are so many beneficial topics to create content on inlcuding routines, stress management, mindfulness, and journaling.

Now more than ever, people are tapped in to their mental wellness.