dsm Magazine

07/15/2026

Grab your dinner partners! We're just 3 weeks away from dsm Restaurant Week, when diners can explore nearly 30 prix fixe menus from participating restaurants around the metro. Lunch menus start at $15 and dinners range from $40-$80. Head to dsmRestaurantWeek.com to see a list of participating restaurants, and check back in August to see their menus posted.⁠
⁠

Visit the post for more.

07/13/2026

Sneezing. Asthma. Eczema. Food allergies.

Allergenix is Iowa's first direct specialty allergy clinic, offering personalized care, transparent pricing, and innovative treatment options for adults and children.

👉🏽 Read article in dsm Magazine at https://dsmmagazine.com/2026/06/16/allergenix-trendsetters-jul26/

07/13/2026

🖤🤍Local Love🖤🤍⁠
Mark Ludley and Amee Dharia married in an intimate ceremony on Dec. 21, 2025. They transformed the Surety Hotel atrium into a twinkling winter wonderland with a lively head table for the couple and their closest friends and family to celebrate together.⁠
⁠
They emphasized family throughout the event. Mark’s nephew, Jacob, officiated the ceremony, and Amee’s mother led a flower garland exchange, a traditional Hindu ritual.⁠
⁠
Because guests were staying upstairs in the Surety suites, Amee said “the best part was everyone being able to put on comfy clothes and hang out and watch football after dinner.”⁠
⁠
Submit your recent wedding photos for print consideration to [email protected].

Photo: Jason Thomas Crocker Photography Mark Ludley and Amee Dharia married in an intimate ceremony on Dec. 21, 2025. They transformed the Surety Hotel atrium into a twinkling winter wonderland wi…

07/10/2026

They’ll come to Central Iowa for a tournament, just like thousands of other basketball players whose club teams arrive every summer. They’ll lace up their sneakers, warm up and size up their opponents.⁠
⁠
And they’ll tuck in their shirts and hike up their bloomers to make sure no skin is showing.⁠
⁠
Welcome to the Granny Basketball National Tournament, coming to Ankeny’s Prairie Trail Sports Complex July 17-19. It looks a little different than the game Caitlin Clark plays. For starters, all the athletes are at least 50 years old. They’re not allowed to run, but they can “hurry.” They’re limited to two dribbles. Jumping is forbidden, even for a layup. And if a uniform shifts just enough to reveal a bit of skin — a “flesh foul” — the refs treat it like a full-on technical foul.⁠
⁠
Meet a few of the players and learn the ins and outs of "Granny Basketball" in the full story online, from our new July/August issue of dsm:

With their feet planted firmly on the floor, five local teams duked it out during a tournament this spring at St. Francis of Assisi in West Des Moines. Writer: Jane Burns Photographer: Duane Tinkey…

07/09/2026

Why Iowa Bankers ❤️ IA
Strong communities start with people who invest in them.

In our I {HEART} IA video series, organizations from across the state are sharing why they love calling Iowa home. Next up is the Iowa Bankers Association, highlighting the relationships, communities and opportunities that make Iowa such a great place to live, work and grow.
🎥 Watch their story and discover why Iowa continues to win hearts across the state.
📬 Then explore the full I {HEART} IA video series and sign up for the ia newsletter to follow the stories all year long.

07/09/2026

🏆 Two national awards. One incredible team.

We're proud to celebrate the dsm magazine team for earning two City and Regional Magazine Association (CRMA) Awards—among the publishing industry's highest honors. These awards recognize the creativity, collaboration and passion that go into every story we tell.

Thank you to our readers, advertisers and community for being part of the journey.

✨ Want more award-winning storytelling? Sign up for our FREE dsm newsletters: https://dsmmagazine.com/newsletters/

07/08/2026

For the second year, dsm magazine is honoring a Home Design Professional of the Year. Created to spotlight an individual who exemplifies innovation, craftsmanship, and leadership in Iowa’s home design scene, this notable recognition will be presented during the dsm Home Design Awards. Nominate them here by Aug. 14: https://bpcdm.jotform.com/251526342654961

Honorees will be recognized for their achievements at our 2027 dsm Home Design Awards. Event details will be announced later this year.

We welcome your help in nominating leaders who deserve recognition. Nominees for the Home Design Professional of the Year should meet these criteria:

-Proven excellence in residential projects through a portfolio of high-level creativity, functionality, and innovation in home design.
-Client satisfaction through strong testimonials that demonstrate positive client experiences and long-term satisfaction.
-Minimum of 5 years of experience practicing in residential architecture, interior design, and other design-related fields.

07/08/2026

Everyone deserves the opportunity to find purpose through meaningful work.

In our latest People issue, we meet the team at of Central Iowa and learn how they're creating pathways to employment, building confidence through workforce training, and strengthening our community through sustainability and opportunity.

Read more: https://dsmmagazine.com/2026/06/09/goodwill-of-central-iowa-6/

07/08/2026

Bespoke olive oils are having a moment right now. Devotees are expounding on the sweet, spicy or bitter notes almost like sommeliers, poring over labels and categorizing premium products by region and olive varietal:

  Bespoke olive oils are having a moment right now. Devotees are expounding on the sweet, spicy or bitter notes almost like sommeliers, poring over labels and categorizing premium products by …

07/06/2026

Items that hold kids’ attention, spark imagination and don’t require a screen are like gold.⁠
⁠
For Blair Lakis and thousands of her followers online, that item is play dough. As the founder and owner of Little Hands Dough Co., Lakis makes small-batch play dough kits out of her Des Moines home for a growing fan base of parents, gift givers and retailers.⁠
⁠
Before homemade play dough was her business, it was an act of care. See how she got started:

Blair Lakis makes play dough in her home kitchen, with ingredients easily found in the pantry. She creates themed sets, like this mermaid kit. Writer: Mary Boldinova Photos: Aly Carrol Every once i…