Posting soon for Faye's birthday celebration....we are celebrating on Sunday. June, however, missed that message and was promptly up at 3:30 am on Faye's real birthday to wish her the best. What are big sisters for? :)

Anyway, I read a recent post on Juice (DM's young adult news literature) that really struck a note. The article is about having a love affair with Des Moines. I have experienced or seen at least 80% of the items listed. (Jubil might get the golden ticket.) I loved it and wanted to share:

1. Bacon. We still do love our cured pork belly, eh? Des Moines was on the cutting edge of the now-ubiquitous bacon trend with the ever-expanding Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival (Feb. 18), which, if it continues doubling in size each year (according to our trusted team of scientists) will envelop the entire continental United States in 2038.

2. Forey Jacobsen. He’s the guy you’ve seen running barefoot in central Iowa distance races. Possibly wearing a loincloth. Or a kilt. Definitely not wearing shoes. Don’t think he belongs on the list? See the massive outpouring of support that flowed upon news of him being seriously assaulted in a downtown scuffle late last year: a day-long fundraiser, Forey Fest, a special Raygun tee, a barefoot run in his honor.

3. Watching movies on the epic Merle Hay Cinema screen. Keep your 30-screen theaters with stadium seating. There’s nothing like watching a giant explosion in a summer blockbuster on the state’s largest non-IMAX screen.

4. The veggie cart — yes we said veggie cart — at the Iowa State Fair. The signature fair-food- on-a-stick is not out of reach for the vegetarians and health-conscious visitors to this cart. The veggie corn dog is so good, it will convince you you’re eating the real thing. And you don’t have to be a non-carnivore to enjoy (looking at you, Rick Perry).

5. The PBR Bar. The skinny alley between the Royal Mile and Vaudeville Mews becomes a weekend haven for incorrigible hipsters and indie rock chicks and fans of shitty (to most, anyway) beer. All of which it charming as hell on a warm summer eve in the eclectic urban funzone of Fourth Street.

6. Big Wheel obstacle course at Urban Assault Ride. Strapping yourself into an adult-sized Big Wheel will instantly take you back to being a 6-year-old. Toss in a few obstacles, hair-pin turns and the ability to power-slide, and you’ll not only want to take a bonus lap, you’ll want to sign up for the Urban Assault for life.

7. Taco truck tacos. Tasty Tacos is a local fave, but for true Mexican street food authenticity for the price of a not-really-meat Taco Bell offering, the taco trucks that dot the landscape on the south and east sides of town are where it’s at.

8. Buskers in the skywalk. We salute you, guy with guitar case filled with singles, who makes our commute between lunch and cubicle just a little more enjoyable.

9. Caucus-time. For a few months every four years, we become the center of the news universe. And quite frankly, that is long enough.

10. Group bike rides to the Cumming Tap for Tacopacolypse tacos.

11. Graziano sausage. There’s Italian sausage, and then there’s Graziano’s Italian sausage. And you’re lying if you say you can’t taste the difference in every pizza and grinder and pasta dish made with this magical local specialty.

12. Snookies malts. Let the countdown to opening day begin.

13. Dirt trails at Ashworth and Greenwood parks. These meandering, off-the- beaten-path trails will get you into the woods while staying in Des Moines.

14. The Isiserettes at the end of Dam to Dam. Now that’s a way to finish a 20K in the middle of summer.

15. We’re No. 1! In case you haven’t heard — just kidding, we know you’ve heard — Forbes called us the No. 1 city in America for young professionals, praising our economic environment and job opportunities. We agree. From Sixth Avenue’s startup scene to YPC and other YP organizations, there are lots of headlines about the ways young people can make an impact here. But let us not also forget our emerging cultural scene, home to things like Market Day, the Des Moines Social Club and a local music scene that pushes forward.

16. Drake Relays.

17. Snow tubing at Sleepy Hollow. This winter has not exactly been accommodating for such behavior, but for a rush of kid-like euphoria you haven’t experienced since you were a tot testing out every slide you could, this cannot be topped.

18. Playing in the mud at Big Country Bash or Lazerfest. Pray for rain. It’s more fun that way.

19. Pupusas. Downtown Farmers Market. That line is long for a reason, people.

20. Getting dolled up for Art Noir’s Big Hair Ball.

21. Civic Center announcements. “The Book of Mormon” is coming. We repeat: “The Book of Mormon” is coming.

22. Opening and smelling each jar at AllSpice, then trying to control the urge to buy every one.

23. Oktoberfest. Thank you for returning to your rightful place, downtown on Fourth Street.

24. Playing in the mud during the Living History Farms Off-Road Race.

25. Coffee. Good coffee. Everywhere from Mars Cafe to Amici to Zanzibar’s to Ritual Cafe. So much good coffee.

26. Poison Control Center, performing on stage. Behold a whirlwind of unrelenting fun and energy and splits and jumping and guitar solos.

27. The free stages at 80/35. Among the bands you could have seen, for free, at the downtown music fest the past four years: Handsome Furs, Blackalicious, Bear Hands, Dawes, The Heavy, Cymbals Eat Guitars. It’s like a list of the bands your cool friends will like in three years.

28. Philanthropic spirit. Des Moines gives. Always near the top of the most-giving national rankings, this is a community with a mission to give money, time, influence and wisdom. Leaders from Barry Griswell to Suku Radia, the people who helped build this town will meet a young professional for a cup of coffee or quick chat. All you need to do is ask.

29. Raygun, adopting a sense of humor for us all.

30. Bike trails. So many bike trails.

31. Shopping. Scores of locally owned shops, filling the East Village and Valley Junction areas, dotting the Ingersoll landscape. And let’s not forget the ‘burbs, home to Jordan Creek Town Planet.

32. Coffee and comics at Cup O’ Kryptonite. Being a comic book fan can sometimes be a solitary lifestyle, but the south-side coffee-comic shop brings a social element into the mix. Talk comics while enjoying character-inspired drinks like the Lex Luthor, Agent Orange or Captain Cold.

33. Riverfront concerts. On the grass at the Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater, surrounded by swaying hippies and families and kids on shoulders, these summertime shows are pure relaxation.

34. I Cubs night games and fireworks. Baseball, hot dogs, cold ones and post-game fireworks. A simple combination that exemplifies all that is right in an American summertime.

35. Late-night eats. Big Tomato, if you want awful service and delicious post-boozing pizza. Fong’s, if you’re downtown and looking to drink a dangerous concoction out of a shrunken head with your slice. El Rey, if you want a burrito the size of a snowboard. Options are many.

36. Stepping into Dorothea’s Closet and trying to contain a squeal. It’s a rush each time.

37. Getting the window table at The Continental for people-watching.

38. Brunch at Americana. Brunch is (or should be) every human’s favorite meal. There are many places to enjoy a good one around here, including Americana in the Western Gateway area, with its three (three!) separate buffet lines of food. Custom grilled cheese and tomato soup station? Check. Bottomless Bloody Marys and mimosas? Check. The only negative, and it’s a big one, is they eventually make you leave.

39. Getting helped at The Cheese Shop. Know a lot about cheese? The folks behind the counter at the new Shops at Roosevelt's spot will.

40. Competing in the Hy-Vee Triathlon. After rocking out a 1.5-km swim, nothing is more rewarding than transitioning to your bike and riding out of the always-polished transition area at Gray’s Lake, which can make even the most amateur competitor feel like a pro. With tons of crowd support there, you’ll be inspired to make a great finish.

41. The gems of the Des Moines Art Center. Picasso, Francis Bacon, Hopper, Matisse, Warhol, Grant Wood. An afternoon spent perusing and admiring the contemporary art collection is like taking an art history course. And, it’s free.

42. Jukebox at the Red Monk. Some watering holes have older jukeboxes (Greenwood) or even better songs (Locust Tap), but put on a song here and the Fourth Street upstairs Belgian bar turns into a dance party, but with better beer and all your best friends.

43. Mixology events at Science Center of Iowa. Building rockets and booze? This monthly first-Friday event’s entertainment is aimed at adults, but you can embrace your inner nerd and race Lego cars.

44. 24-hour brisket at Flying Mango. Because, as the menu claims, 23 is not enough. The thick hunk of beef brisket is black as tar outside, pink and juicy inside, in such perfectly harmonious balance that to call it fork-tender is giving the fork more credit than it's due.

45. 1812 Overture at Yankee Doodle Pops. The July 4th celebration (July 3, 2012) on the Iowa State Capitol grounds is a visual and sonic treat: Beautiful summer evening weather, scores of lawn chairs and blankets, and the always entertaining Maestro Joseph Giunta leading the Des Moines Symphony. But don’t leave before the 1812 Overture, in which cannons are fired during a finale that is both mesmerizing and memorable.

46. The “killer” deli at B&B Grocery, Meat & Deli. This hidden (to many) gem south of downtown features a giant menu that barely fits the myriad food options at your disposal. Then there’s the Dad’s Killer monstrosity of a sandwich, containing roast beef, turkey, ham, corned beef, a trio of cheeses, some veggies and condiments on a hoagie roll so packed you can almost hear it beg for mercy.

47. Arthouse flicks. There are two independent theaters in town to see the movies that take home all the Independent Spirit Awards, the off-the-radar films that appeal to fans of foreign flicks and the more avant-garde. Dogtown’s Varsity, with its dirt-cheap prices, and the Fleur Cinema, where one can enjoy a glass of pinot with the latest Malick masterpiece.

48. Beer Crazy. Central Iowa is home to brewpubs serving wonderful craft beer, but the snobbiest of beerophiles create their own, of course. And this Urbandale store is the go-to locale for all you need to start a hobby. Bonus: Shelves are lined with craft beers you just can’t find anywhere else in town.

49. Steak de Burgo. You can find this cut of beef on the menu at a number of Des Moines restaurants, but you likely won’t find it in other cities. Perfectly tender beef tenderloin, topped with butter, garlic and Italian seasonings. Insert Homer Simpson-like drool face.

50. The Traveler’s sign. You’ve been away, a long weekend in Minneapolis or Chicago perhaps. You’re driving back into town, on 235. This beautiful sign, both a remnant of Des Moines’ past and a reminder of our appreciation for that which gives Des Moines its beauty, lets you know you you’re almost home.