With Forbes Magazine recently naming Des Moines as the Best City in America for Young Professionals, we thought we’d take the time to highlight some of the YP groups in our great city and give you information on how you can get involved.

Young Professionals Connection- With a mission to:  “promote an environment that attracts and retains young professionals in Greater Des Moines. Our efforts focus on connecting young professionals to each other and to the community through social, civic, charitable, and professional development endeavors,” YPC certainly does a good job.

YPC offers its members and non-members all sorts of opportunities to connect and get involved. Whether it’s their monthly happy hours, opportunities to serve on a variety of committees, athletic leagues, educational events and more. There’s definitely something for everyone for join in on.

For information on how you can get involved and to see when the next meeting is, check out the above hyperlink.

Art Noir- is a member affiliate group of the Des Moines Art Center dedicated to engaging adults in their 20s and 30s in Art Center programming.

Art Noir regularly offers “Meet the Artist” receptions for its members. These events give members the opportunity to meet with and learn more about visiting artists who are featuring their work at the Des Moines Art Center.

The BIG event Art Noir is known for however is the biannual Big Hair Ball. An event that features creative costumes,people and a fantastic runway show of crazy hair designs. For more info on how you can join these creative YP’s check out the Art Noir Facebook page.

Des Moines Music Coalition- If you’ve been to 80/35 at all, you have these people to thank. DMMC’s mission is to “aggressively advocate, sponsor, and develop an independent, progressive live music economy in greater Des Moines for the purpose of urban revitalization, regional economic development, and the retention of our region’s youth and future.”

DMMC offers all sorts of music related events to the city. One event is Music University, this program gives attendees the opportunity to learn more about what it takes to make a living in the music industry. Whether it’s as a musician or someone who works behind the scenes.

DMMC also provides Des Moines with some great music events besides 80/35,  Gross Domestic Product is an annual music festival that showcases the talent of local musicians and bands from across our great state.

DMMC offers plenty more ways for members to get involved with a variety of committees as well.

For more information on the committees you can join, or for more information about DMMC check out the above hyperlink.

So, whether you like music, the arts, athletics, community service or something else. Des Moines young professional scene will definitely have something for you.

And for a bigger list of groups you can join, check out the Juice website.

Not sure what you want to do this holiday weekend?

Are you looking to enjoy some live music? Maybe take in a game of baseball? How about watching a parade and enjoying a carnival? Maybe you want to do a little of it all?

Well this weekend you can, there are all  sorts of festivities planned this weekend across Des Moines that will be sure to please any Iowan.

The Iowa Cubs are back in action against the New Orleans Zephyr’s  this weekend with fireworks following the games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

Another Iowa tradition, the Yankee Doodle Pops concert takes place on Friday beginning at 6:30 with live music from the Des Moines Symphony. Pops goers get a chance to take in a beautiful view of the Des Moines skyline and see a firework show accompanied by great live  music!

While 4th of July isn’t the focus of this event, the 4th annual 80/35 music festival will take over the Western Gateway Park district starting Saturday. 80/35 has all sorts of things to do with 2-free music stages, the YPC do more village, a craft fair, autograph sessions with participating bands and more!

Sunday there are more 80/35 activities, as well as the kick off the “Live At the Creek” summer concert series at Jordan Creek mall.  Featuring dueling pianos and Fireworks!  You can also enjoy music,  a wine & beer garden,  or watch the fireworks from the amphitheater or one of the five lakeside patio restaurants.

And if you’re looking for things to do on the actual 4th of July, some local communities will be having their celebrations too. Windsor Heights will have a fireworks show at 9:30 in Colby Park or West Des Moines has their’s as soon as dusk sets at the Blue Heron Lake.

So, whether you want food, music, fireworks, just a little of it or all of it, Des Moines has you covered!

For a full list of 4th of July action check out the list KCCI has created.

So you love Des Moines. You’re quick to defend it when out of state friends and family poke fun and you politely correct New Yorkers when they ask you how life in “Ohio” is.

But how much do you really know about our great city?

We decided to dig up some information for you and give you some fun facts and figures that you can share with all your friends and family, and make you the talk of the dinner party.

As of the 2010 Census Des Moines has a population of just over 203,000

Des Moines was originally named Fort Raccoon, then it was changed to Fort Des Moines and finally shortened to the current name, Des Moines.

Des Moines is the 3rd largest insurance capital of the world. It follows London and Hartford, Connecticut.

The infamous bat bite that Ozzy Osbourne took, happened during his concert in Des Moines in 1982.

Des Moines also consistently makes top national lists: Forbes Magazine recently ranked Des Moines as a best place for Business in 2010 and and MSNBC named Des Moines as one of the best mid-sized cities for quality of life.

During the week more than 77,000 people come to work in downtown. One of the highest rates per capita in all of the U.S.

And according to one study the residents of Des Moines consume over 11 pounds of potato chips per year. More than any other metro area in the nation.

Since 1972, every 4 years Des Moines captures the nation’s spotlight with the Iowa caucuses, the first major electoral event in presidential nominations.

So there you go. Now you’re a Des Moines expert, go out and share your knowledge with the world.

Facts and information provided by:
City of Des Moines Economic Development
Living Downtown Des Moines