At dinner one night during a recent trip to New York, I found myself sitting next to a native New Yorker who asked me what it’s like to live in Des Moines. He used the same tone you might use to address someone with the flu. No, really, how are you?
I assured him I was just fine, thank you. I also invited him to come out for a visit, you know, now that we’ve paved our roads and installed indoor plumbing. If he books his flight in 2027, I can only imagine what he’ll think of the sparkling new addition to the Des Moines airport.
Here at dsm, we’re proud to offer an exclusive look at the world-class artwork commissioned for the new terminal at DSM. As you can see on the cover and in the story, the five installations by five leading artists reflect our state in both subtle and symbolic ways. One project riffs on the colors of the wild rose. Another shows how an oak tree flutters in the breeze. When I spoke with artist Matt Niebuhr, from the Art Studio at RDG Planning & Design, he told me how he came to more fully appreciate Iowa’s natural beauty after returning from several years on the West Coast.
So maybe I’ll send a copy of this magazine to that guy in New York. It would be easy to exceed his expectations.
But you, dear reader, are more discerning. Our team of talented writers, photographers and designers tries to add a dash of surprise and delight in every issue, and I hate to brag, but I think we’ve done it again. For starters, try the 24-karat gilded lobster roll. Or remember the Broadway hits that have visited the Des Moines Civic Center since Jeff Chelesvig started working there 30 years ago. Or peek inside the 100-year-old Rollins Mansion, which was built with a fortune not from stocks but stockings.
There’s also a lovely story about a local couple who’s celebrating their 50th birthdays with 50 dates in 50 states — even New York, I guess. I’ll bet you can guess which state they’re saving for last.
