Iowa Cubs: going to games, advice?

[Soul]

I've got tix to see the Iowa Cubbies this year. Gonna make a road trip out of it. I'm really excited, as I've never been before. Does anyone have any pointers? Like, good restaurants/bars near the stadium? Where to park (where not to)? Does it matter? Are the games usually sold out on weekends?

 

I've got "Home Plate Club" tix for one game, and then just grandstand seats for the 2nd game.

 

In some ways I'm even more excited about this than going to Wrigley. I love something new & different, and I love road trips.

[flynnhicks03]

Principal Park is just south of downtown Des Moines, so you're not too far from a lot of options. Just a block or two away is a bar called the High Life Lounge. Kind of a retro-70s type of place; Hamms and other crappy beers on tap, 70's decor, fun place to start the evening. Right next door is El Bait Shop, which is Mexican food and lots of microbrews on tap. Other restaurants in the downtown area are Legends, which is just a few blocks away. There are a couple of bars above Legend's: Liars Club and People's (good bands, sometimes), which are pretty hopping these days. A few other options in the Court Avenue area (2 or 3 blocks north of the stadium) are Court Avenue Brewery (decent local beers and a unique menu), Spaghetti Works, and Buzzard Billy's (cajun place).

[Yeti]

Principal Park is just south of downtown Des Moines, so you're not too far from a lot of options. Just a block or two away is a bar called the High Life Lounge. Kind of a retro-70s type of place; Hamms and other crappy beers on tap, 70's decor, fun place to start the evening. Right next door is El Bait Shop, which is Mexican food and lots of microbrews on tap. Other restaurants in the downtown area are Legends, which is just a few blocks away. There are a couple of bars above Legend's: Liars Club and People's (good bands, sometimes), which are pretty hopping these days. A few other options in the Court Avenue area (2 or 3 blocks north of the stadium) are Court Avenue Brewery (decent local beers and a unique menu), Spaghetti Works, and Buzzard Billy's (cajun place).

all good info, as far as parking goes, there is plenty of parking at the park at reasonable rates(i think it was $5 last year iirc)

[Soul]

Thanks for the info. I'll definitely use it; the 2nd game is a Sunday 1pm deal, and I'm sticking around overnight before leaving.

[9YRPLAN]

longtime lurker here...i live in des moines and the icubs are very popular. a lot of this has to do with the improvements made to downtown des moines. it will never be confused with a big city, but the atmosphere is fantastic in summer. there are probably 75-100 watering holes or restaurants of all types within walking distance of principal park. the icubs draw fantastic crowds and the park is a top-notch AAA facility located on the riverbank. the neighborhood is very safe and you will find the natives very friendly, and we are not nearly the hicks our stereotypes would have you believe. i promise that you will not see a john deere parked outside the bar. in addition to legend's, bait shop, high life, liar club and people's, I would also recommend Hessen Haus, the royal mile, and 101.

 

there are ton of good places in the suburbs as well.

 

http://www.iowanightlife.com

[Tracer Bullet]

longtime lurker here...i live in des moines and the icubs are very popular. a lot of this has to do with the improvements made to downtown des moines. it will never be confused with a big city, but the atmosphere is fantastic in summer. there are probably 75-100 watering holes or restaurants of all types within walking distance of principal park. the icubs draw fantastic crowds and the park is a top-notch AAA facility located on the riverbank. the neighborhood is very safe and you will find the natives very friendly, and we are not nearly the hicks our stereotypes would have you believe. i promise that you will not see a john deere parked outside the bar. in addition to legend's, bait shop, high life, liar club and people's, I would also recommend Hessen Haus, the royal mile, and 101.

 

there are ton of good places in the suburbs as well.

 

http://www.iowanightlife.com

 

Wait a minute. I know DSM has improved the downtown area (and continues to do so, as I understand). But 75-100 places within walking distance from the park? How far are you walking?

[Soul]

longtime lurker here...i live in des moines and the icubs are very popular. a lot of this has to do with the improvements made to downtown des moines. it will never be confused with a big city, but the atmosphere is fantastic in summer. there are probably 75-100 watering holes or restaurants of all types within walking distance of principal park. the icubs draw fantastic crowds and the park is a top-notch AAA facility located on the riverbank. the neighborhood is very safe and you will find the natives very friendly, and we are not nearly the hicks our stereotypes would have you believe. i promise that you will not see a john deere parked outside the bar. in addition to legend's, bait shop, high life, liar club and people's, I would also recommend Hessen Haus, the royal mile, and 101.

 

there are ton of good places in the suburbs as well.

 

http://www.iowanightlife.com

 

Wait a minute. I know DSM has improved the downtown area (and continues to do so, as I understand). But 75-100 places within walking distance from the park? How far are you walking?

 

That's much better than Wrigley! :cool:

 

Thanks for the tips though 9Y

[Ding Dong Johnson]

75-100 might be an exaggeration, but there are plenty of options if you're willing to walk up to 10 blocks

 

I'll reiterate that the park is beautiful, great place to watch a game

[Soul]

I was suprised to find it's on the river when I google mapped it.

 

This is going to be a lot of fun :) Especially since the Saturday game I get to sit row 1 seat 1 right behind home plate.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I was suprised to find it's on the river when I google mapped it.

 

This is going to be a lot of fun :) Especially since the Saturday game I get to sit row 1 seat 1 right behind home plate.

there's a nice shot of the capitol building over the center field wall that looks gorgeous when it glows during night games

[CuseCubFan69]

I'd like to see a game at Iowa sometime but only if Bob is my guide.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'd like to see a game at Iowa sometime but only if Bob is my guide.

let me know when your flight arrives, we'll tear it up

[MSG T]

I've got tix to see the Iowa Cubbies this year. Gonna make a road trip out of it. I'm really excited, as I've never been before. Does anyone have any pointers? Like, good restaurants/bars near the stadium? Where to park (where not to)? Does it matter? Are the games usually sold out on weekends?

 

I've got "Home Plate Club" tix for one game, and then just grandstand seats for the 2nd game.

 

In some ways I'm even more excited about this than going to Wrigley. I love something new & different, and I love road trips.

 

 

If your other game is a Fri night game, there will be a good fireworks show after the game.

 

In addition to the other places mentioned, I'd highly suggest Barrata's. It's an Italian place on the S. side, about a five minute drive from PP( I still call it Sec Taylor stadium). Also, if you haven't made hotel reservations, there are a few downtown that are reasonable, compared to Chicago, and 4-5 of them are most likely walking distance from PP, 10-15 blocks.

 

Definately check out Court Ave( you'll have to go by to get to the stadium), lots to do during the summer. Also Clive After Five( in one of the suburbs) has plenty to do, bands, food, refreshments. If you like gambling, Prarie Meadows has horses and a Casino, and is 15 minutes from downtown.

 

Like was mentioned earlier, Des Moines get's a bad rap, but it's a pretty nice small-medium sized city, and there is plenty to do if you look in the right places.

[MSG T]

I was suprised to find it's on the river when I google mapped it.

 

This is going to be a lot of fun :) Especially since the Saturday game I get to sit row 1 seat 1 right behind home plate.

there's a nice shot of the capitol building over the center field wall that looks gorgeous when it glows during night games

 

 

I'm not sure how to post pics, but there's a pic here that shows the Capitol, look under the fireworks.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/ballpark/page.jsp?ymd=20060112&content_id=37951&vkey=ballpark_t451&fext=.jsp&sid=t451

[Wolfgangbucks]

longtime lurker here...i live in des moines and the icubs are very popular. a lot of this has to do with the improvements made to downtown des moines. it will never be confused with a big city, but the atmosphere is fantastic in summer. there are probably 75-100 watering holes or restaurants of all types within walking distance of principal park. the icubs draw fantastic crowds and the park is a top-notch AAA facility located on the riverbank. the neighborhood is very safe and you will find the natives very friendly, and we are not nearly the hicks our stereotypes would have you believe. i promise that you will not see a john deere parked outside the bar. in addition to legend's, bait shop, high life, liar club and people's, I would also recommend Hessen Haus, the royal mile, and 101.

 

there are ton of good places in the suburbs as well.

 

http://www.iowanightlife.com

 

I was in Des Moines Saturday night for a Iowa Stars hockey game and spent several hours at El Bait Shop and High Life and had a great time. High Life is fantastic - straight out of the 70's - shag carpet and everything

[Outshined_One]

If you listen really closely, you can hear echoes from the days when Hee Seop Choi was a karaoke superstar in Des Moines.

[spinefixer]

For the game that you are in the grandstand, you might consider grabbing a picnic table in the g.a. picninc section downt the left field line. You don't need a special ticket to sit there and you can spread out and have a really good view of the whole park. My wife, daughter and I always sit there when we go and it is so nice to be able to have leg room! Plus, t-shirts and hotdogs are always launched into the section during the between-innings festivities.

 

I would also recommend the Hessen Haus and El Bait Shop.

[9YRPLAN]

i was including restaurants in those numbers. a place like centro would be a pretty good walk though.

[CuseCubFan69]

I'd like to see a game at Iowa sometime but only if Bob is my guide.

let me know when your flight arrives, we'll tear it up

 

You got it brother.

[Soul]

For the game that you are in the grandstand, you might consider grabbing a picnic table in the g.a. picninc section downt the left field line. You don't need a special ticket to sit there and you can spread out and have a really good view of the whole park.

 

That sounds like a really good idea. For that game I was actually planning on just exploring the stadium & grounds a little bit.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

if you're in the market for autographs or interaction, the I-Cubs exit the stadium from near left-center field. visiting players come out right in the left field corner. most have historically been quite generous with their hospitality. the best time I had was when OK City was there a few years ago. they had Doug Glanville (on a rehab assignment) and Manny Alexander (I talked to Manny for a few minutes and was the only person in the crowd who had any idea who he was). we moved over to the I-Cubs exit and met a few (Trenidad Hubbard was tremendous with the kids, great guy), then moseyed on over to have a few beers with Rod Beck at his RV (another great guy)