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| TylerB |
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Location: West Des Moines, IA
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Gender: M
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Age: 29
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ABOUT:
I'm a grad student here in Des Moines. Except for 4 years in Iowa City, I have basically lived in WDSM my whole life.
LIKES:
I like bars that are unique. I hate bars that are meat markets and snobby. I like a place where you can sit down and drink without having to wear my tuition's equivalent in clothing.
DISLIKES:
I hate tough guys and bar hoochies, which eliminates most of the places in West Des Moines and Urbandale. I don't like places where the owners are sexual deviants or drug dealers, which again eliminates most places in West Des Moines and Urbandale. |
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The Lift
Posted: 04.27.06
"For the best Wednesday night in Des Moines, make sure to get down to the Lift at 4th and Court in Des Moines. I?ve been going to the Lift on Wednesdays with some routine regularity now for the better part of a year and let me say it is probably one of my two or three favorite hangouts in Des Moines. First, Wednesday is two-for-one martini night, which is always a bonus. Not only does the martini list feature tried and true martini night staples such as appletini and cosmo, but they?ll also load you up with a Manhattan that will blow your socks off. No well liquor here either, it?s almost always top shelf and that makes a huge difference. Choosing between sipping on premium liquor, or choking down other places? rubbing alcohol should not be a contest in anyone?s mind. In addition, the bar is totally 100% smoke free. Let me say that again: there is no smoking at The Lift, which is probably its greatest draw for a lot of people that frequent there. Great drinks, friendly atmosphere, reasonable prices and smoke free environment are all reasons to include this out of the way gem in your regular bar routine.
However, we warned, that the Lift is tucked into a fairly small place. If you want to grab a seat, make sure to get their early as the limited amount of tables fill up quick. Also when it gets busy, be prepared to wait in line for a drink. However, if you?re lucky enough, the Lift also features a luxurious wrap around couch in a secluded corner of the bar bracketed by padded chairs on either side. This is a great place to just sit with friends, listen to great music and hangout. All being said, the Lift is a wonderful place to go in Des Moines. If you can?t make it on Wednesdays, they usually have a pretty hip lineup other nights as well, especially on Mondays for iPod night where customers bring in their own music lineups with a winner for best music selected every night.
If you haven?t been to the Lift yet, you?re truly missing out on one of Des Moines? best kept secrets.
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Drink
Posted: 04.11.06
"To me, the Drink franchise represents all that is wrong with the stereotypical bar scene. West Des Moines' version of this abomination is no different. If you're into superficial people, frat house music, meatheads who buy shirts from Baby Gap, and the suffocating smell of too much Axe body spray, then Drink is the place for you.
Now that's not to say that everything about Drink is bad. On the contrary, I love the layout and the patio addition is second to none. The bar is open enough that even when it's crowded, you never feel trapped. The prices are also reasonable and they make a good drink.
What absolutely destroys Drink in my eyes are the people. Drink is staffed by people who take their status as Drink employee way too seriously. It's Des Moines people, there aren't enough of us here to declare jihad over who goes to what bar. Sometimes when I'm there and trying to get a drink from a waitress I feel like I'm fighting against the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld.
I applaud Drink for trying to do what few other places in Des Moines have attempted; to be a college bar in a blue-collar town. But they take themselves way too seriously, lighten up a little. It's OK if people go to bars other than your own."
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crush
Posted: 04.10.06
"Crush has a pretty bad reputation amongst most of my peers, so I was a tad apprehensive about going there, especially after the amputee-tennis shoe scandal. I, however, found Crush to be a very enjoyable place. The music was loud and the inside was spotless. I even managed to forget that I've been to that location a ton of times in the past, when it was a Pizza Hut. The bartender was a good guy too. He'd make custom drinks strong and tasty, a combination I'm always willing to spend a little more on. All in all, Crush was a positive experience."
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Tonic Bar
Posted: 04.10.06
"I live out in West Des Moines and I remember how excited I was for Tonic to open. It was billed as an upscale place with a lively atmosphere and an up-tempo energy. In real experience, however, I find myself very disappointed with Tonic.
I've been to Tonic about four times since it opened a few months ago. What was hyped as the next big thing in West Des Moines is really just a collection of brown walls, a Golden Tee machine, a ceiling structure with awful acoustics, and an upstairs that was little more than an after thought.
Anything can be overcome, however, with a good, stiff drink. In my experiences Tonic fails even in that endeavor. When I hold up my Rum and Coke next to my friend's glass of normal Diet, they shouldn't be the same pitch black color. In fact, if I hadn't watched the bartender place a few eye droppers worth of rum into my drink, I would have sworn it was virgin. The same problem is true with every other mixed drink I've gotten there, which is the death blow for this bar, especially given their prices.
Tonic definitely has potential however. It's in a wonderful location and it has a good layout. They just need to do something on the inside to make it more lively and learn how to make a good drink. The staff could be a tad more attentive, but I've got no real complaints there either."
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Aura
Posted: 04.10.06
"I like Aura and applaud the Paganos for undertaking the project. I find the people there to be relatively friendly and not overly obsessed with the clique-ish status quo of some of its competitors. I find the layout of the bar pleasant and well put together. The bartenders are normally quite friendly and I usually have a good time when I go there.
That is not to say, however, that all is perfect in Aura-land. While I appreciate the bar for what it's trying to do and the quality product it provides, I find a couple of things lacking. Namely, the location is awful. It's another West Des Moines bar in a strip mall. To make matters worse, it's next to the Foot Center. Here you have a bar that's trying to bill itself as an "ultra-lounge" and provide high-end entertainment to young adults, and they put it in a cheesy strip mall with no visibility from the street.
Another thing that I wish Aura would do better is distinguish itself from its direct competitors. What makes Aura different from, and better than, the other bars in that part of town? Why should I chose to spend my money there and not other places? Maybe it's a question of marketing or event planning, but there's just nothing that makes me say, "I'm in the mood for X tonight, therefore, I should go to Aura." In my opinion, without a clear "niche" it's hard to separate Aura from its competitors. "
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