Tell Me About Des Moines (neighborhoods, living in, restaurant)

[Frank_Carbonni]

I know this is a bit out of left field, but I'm trying to look up some information on Des Moines.


Basically I would like to know what the city is the like, the general culture, local cuisine, prominent neighborhoods and regions of the city, attitudes towards different cities within Iowa and in nearby states, local quirks, local phrases, local legends, the type of street trees that are common, and so on.



I'm in the middle of creative project and part of it is set in Des Moines in the mid and late 1960s.


I'm asking because I have never been there and I want to get the feel of the city and surrounding area right.


One of my pet peeves is when you read a book or watch a TV show or movie and it because abundantly clear that the author or director has never been to that place or is relying on cheap stereotypes.


Stuff like portraying all of Texas as desert. Or every New Yorker living in Manhattan or wanting to go to Manhattan when most people who do not live or work in Manhattan often try to avoid it unless their going to a high-end nightclub or restaurant. Or referring to suburban areas surrounding Chicago as Chicago.


And I'm trying to avoid the same boring stereotypes about mid-sized Midwestern cities.



Considering that my story takes place over 50 years ago; I understand that much has changed and the Des Moines of today is not the Des Moines of circa 1965; but there can still be some things that have change or someone might have an idea how those things have changed.


I mean, Google Maps is useful and it gives the idea of the place, but it is not the same as extensive research and definitely not the same as actually being there.

[Kraftask]

I haven't been to Des Moines in nearly 20 years but it did come across my mind over the weekend when i drove thru a few other state capitals. I think Des Moines is probably the most impressive capital city i've ever been to.