Adam’s Favorite Thing in the 515 - Intentionality

As the one-year anniversary of my move from Chicago to Des Moines draws closer, I have been reflecting on why I am very happy with the decision. Chicago and the surrounding burbs offered many of the things that bring me joy-world class cuisine, live music of all types, wonderful civic institutions, and a vibrantly diverse culture. It is a cornucopia of options that I relished partaking from, and to be perfectly frank, it is what made me hesitant to make the move.

What I have come to find in Des Moines has been a revelation. Des Moines has and does all of the same things I enjoyed about Chicago, but maybe due to size, maybe due to location, but probably due to personality… it does them with more intention.

I enjoyed world class meals ranging from inexpensive papusas (La Cuscatleca), to perfectly dressed pasta (Lucca), to a dang fine burger (Lachele’s). I have seen music from bluegrass in a park to hardcore metal at Val Air. I enjoyed going to the ballpark and the art museum. I have been fortunate to meet amazing people from all walks of life along the way.

Each part of what I enjoyed about Chicago is here. But it feels more intentional…like the people providing it are proud of their offerings and their city and want you to feel it the way they do. And as an added bonus, this all comes with no (real) traffic.