The East Village is the PERFECT place to take your Valentine’s Day Date! Many East Village businesses are offering fun Valentine’s Day gifts and specials.

• Sticks is offering 25% off all jewelry, scarves, and purses. 2/9-2/14
• Found Things has an in-store event on 2/9 from 11-2 with Sarah McCoy of The Permanent Collection. Sarah will demonstrate a  vintage printing press by hand with valentines and letterpress pieces for sale.
• East Village Spa is offering a special limited-time Valentine’s Day treatment menu  with couple’s treatments. Gift cards and Valentine’s Day spa gifts available.
• Steven Vail Fine Arts has a Jim Dine print, The Hand Colored Viennese Hearts II on display. Jim Dine is also featured in the Pappajohn Sculpture Garden.
• Brenton Skating Plaza has buy one admission get on free  on Valentine’s Day 11am-9pm plus enter their prize package drawing for a stay at embassy suites, dinner for two, and chocolates.
• Vanity and Glamour Cosmetics has re-launced their      website and has a new “Fresh-Flesh” makeup collection out in      time for Valentine’s day! HEV members can receive 10% off.
• Allspice has limited edition Valentine themed gift sets.
• Vitae has a winter clearance sale with 30-50% off  select items through 2/14 and Be Joyful hand crafted “LOVE”  necklaces for just $20.

We will be sending out more information to business owners and residents soon and the more who participate, the more useful this project will be in helping the marketing committee determine an action plan. We hope that this information will also be useful to our 2013 business, non-profit, and resident members as well…one more great reason to join!

The City of Des Moines has received a grant from the Iowa DOT using Iowa Clean Air Attainment (ICAAP) funding to install bicycle facilities on several streets in the downtown area.  The project includes the following streets:

1) Grand Avenue between East 4th Street and 17th Street

2) Locust Street between East 4th and 17th Street

3) Ingersoll Avenue between ML KIng and 17th Street

4) 5th Avenue between ML King and I-235

5) Walnut Street between Water St. and 5th Avenue

6) 6th/7th Streets between ML King and Cherry Street

7) Cottage Grove between ML King and 19th Street

Improvements that are proposed include bicycle lanes, shared use lanes, off-street trails, contra-flow bike lanes, and other possible treatments. The project is expected to start in July 2013. For more information, contact 283-4973!

Capitol Hill Lutheran Church at 511 Des Moines Street is now accepting donations of winter coats, hats, gloves, and cash donations to help those in need through their clothing closet, open Wednesdays from 3-5pm and Saturdays from 9:30-11:30 am.

Bargain Basket at 315 East 6th Street accepts donations and offers a great shopping experiece. The proceeds support Junior League of Des Moines.

Plain Talk Books operated by Optimae Life Services provides training opportunities for people with disabilities and accepts donations of used books. You can also browse their selection of used books while you enjoy food and organic coffee in their cafe.

Just a friendly reminder to renew your HEV membership if you have not already!

We all know the Historic East Village has plenty of delicious ways to enjoy calories in our diverse restaurants, but there are also fun ways to burn calories in the neighborhood!

• Head south to MLK and hop on the trail for a brisk winter run or walk down to Gray’s lake or downtown
• Enjoy one of the dance or fitness classes available at Glaza Studio at 502 East Locust (2nd floor)
• Ice Skate at Brenton Plaza
• Run the steps at the Capitol
• Try free salsa lessons on Tuesdays at The Underground or on Thursdays at Lime Lounge.
• Take a Capoeira (Brazilian Martial Arts), yoga, or Indian dance class at Gateway Dance Theater at 315 East 5th Street (basement level)

Many of your favorite East Village stores are open through the holiday season on Sundays.  Contact individual businesses for specific hours.

Holiday shopping maps are available at many shops throughout the East Village or here.

Accenti
Allspice
Blazing Saddle*
Colores
Domestica*
East Village Spa*
Eden*
Found Things*
Gong Fu Tea
Green Goods for the Home
Hill Vintage
Jett and Monkey’s Dog Shoppe*
Jimmy Johns*
Liberty Gifts*
Locust Tap*
Prairie Song Therapeutic Massage*
Projects*
Raygun
Seed*
Silo*
State Historical Building*
Subsect*
Vanity and Glamour*
Village Bean*
Village Boutique
Vintage
Vitae

*Open Sundays year round

Don’t see your business listed?  Please contact us at info@eastvillagedesmoines.com.

Effective Saturday, April 21st from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Robert D. Ray Drive from Locust Street to Grand Avenue

Motorists are urged to use caution when driving in this area, obey all signing and expect delays.

If there are questions, contact the City of Des Moines, Traffic and Transportation Division at 283-4973.

METERS HOODED – NO PARKING

Effective Saturday March 17, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM:
1) Walnut St, E 7th St to E 6th St – Both sides
2) E 6th St, Walnut St to Locust St – Both Sides
3) Locust St, E 6th St to 9th St – Both sides

Parking Enforcement staff will hood the meters and uncover them after the event.

STREET CLOSURES

Effective Saturday March 17, 10:45 AM – 1:00 PM, except at noted:
1) Walnut St, E 12th St to E 5th St (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
2) E 9th St/Finkbine Dr, Grand Ave to Court Ave (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
3) E 7th St, Court Ave to Locust St (Closed at Walnut)
4) E 6th St, Grand Ave to Court Ave
5) Locust St, E 6th St to 9th St
6) E 5th St, Grand Ave to Walnut St
7) E 3rd St, Locust St to Walnut St (Closed at Locust)
8) E 2nd St, Grand Ave to Walnut St (Closed at Locust)
9) Robert D Ray Dr, Grand Ave to Locust St (Closed at Locust)
10) 4th St, Locust St to Grand Ave (Closed at Locust)
11) 5th St, Grand Ave to Walnut St (Closed at Locust)
12) 7th St, Grand Ave to Walnut St (Closed at Locust)

The Des Moines TreeKeepers program is designed for people who want to become more knowledgeable about urban tree planting and care, and who wish to become a stronger voice for trees in their neighborhoods and communities.

TreeKeepers will:

• Actively participate in tree plantings in their neighborhood and the community.
• Gain hands-on experience caring for street and park trees.
• Protect community trees and be a tree ambassador.

Specifically, TreeKeepers will participate in a series of classroom and hands-on training sessions, learning about:

• Tree Identification & Biology
• Proper Planting & Maintenance
• Various Benefits of Trees
• Urban & Community Tree Issues
• Volunteer Recruitment & Engagement
Each class will also have a volunteer service component.

Des Moines TreeKeepers Details

When: Tuesday, March 20, 27 and April 3
Time: 6:00-9:00pm, light dinner provided!
Where: Argonne Armory Building, 602 Robert Ray Dr., Des Moines, IA
Who: Co-sponsored by the City of Des Moines and Trees Forever
Cost: $30 – includes registration, dinner, training handbook, Trees Forever membership, and t-shirt
Register: Contact Leslie Berckes at 515-681-2295 or e-mail, LBerckes@treesforever.org