I came for Ankeny High School's graduation ceremony. This is such an impressive and a huge venue!!…read more There is tons of parking but it takes a bit of walking to when it gets busy. The coliseum itself is really well maintained and very clean. Staff were very friendly! There are a ton of steps to walk up to get in so be forewarned. The seats are also not comfortable but no stadium seat really is. I got fidgety an hour in and had to get up to stretch. Overall nice and large venue.

Great place to see a game. It's finally getting back to the level of craziness we saw in the…read moreOrr/Floyd/Eustachy era, thanks to the Mayor and some W's. They also seem to be trying to book a few more music shows in here, which is also a good thing. It's a much better music venue than Wells Fargo Arena...I've seen a ton of shows here in my day, it used to be the go-to stop for Central Iowa. Let's hope they bring it back to what it once was and could easily become again. But above all, it's a basketball arena, and a fantastic one at that. Let's keep it loud and crazy. I've seen KISS in this venue, but I've heard it louder for basketball games.

My first visit was a good one, as Stephens Auditorium was a positive experience, combining…read moreoutstanding customer service with a terrific music venue that hit all the notes. Parking is easy and organized. A handicapped friend raved about their parking situation. The interior is immaculate, with great acoustics. The balcony and side balcony seating are superb options. There are some beverages and nibbles, but I would show up fed! Some social causes were highlighted in the main lobby. I appreciated the kindness and professionalism of the staff and security personnel. The Barenaked Ladies and Toad The Wet Sprocket were fantastic, and the 2600-seat venue performed well!

Covid brought AmesCommunityTheater and Stephens together and we had our first play here since the…read morepandemic began. They did an awesome job with masking and social distancing! The place is very clean. See pics. The play was very good. Marcy'sDinerTantrumScale 5/5-NoScreamingKids.

Went to the Like Combs concert here. Luke was great and everything else sucked. Bathroom lines were…read morean hour plus. Drinks were sold out before the third opener. It was an outdoor concert in April and it rained... To top things off the parking lot was set up so bad we sat an HOUR before we got out of there. I'd never go to a concert here again.

What a fun time at the stadium! I came to watch the ISU homecoming game. Got to enjoy tailgating…read moreprior to game. Great to see so many people out and about enjoying themselves. You have to experience this stadium once in your life!! Unless you donate money to the school every year -- parking can be a little difficult, but there are designated general parking for a fee. There is ample bathrooms and food choices during game day. There is also a lactation room located onsite for nursing moms.

Inside North Grand Mall. Park where you like. The sign on…read morethe east facing entry gets you in. Walking in there is indoor golf. The guys I held the door for carried in their own clubs. Spit on the other side of the wall was a large party. This is the axe throwing area. Not knowing where we were going, we headed back through this area. There are some pool tables and dart boards. Cool! We then were stepping "out" into the mall area. Set up like an outdoor patio. There were tables, chairs, cornhole and more. We crossed the mall and headed into Duck Pin bowling. 8 lanes. Much like regular bowling, just enough room to congregate. Short lanes, pins on strings, small balls. We had to wait, so we hung out in the bar and kitchen area. More dining space, a couple of arcade games, and a batting cage occupied this space. The boys tried their hand at batting. Rather trippy if you ask me. You choose the game. Don your helmet and bat. Get in there, step up, and look"down field." The entire wall of the other side of the cage is video. One tiny square has a trap door that opens just as the pitcher lets go. The ball comes out at the speed that can be 100 mph. It's cool. It helped kill the time as we waited our turn for duck pin bowling. We enjoyed the music, drinks, food, and conversation as we waited. When we got to play, we got a quick run down of how it worked. Top tip. Don't get your fingers pinched by the returning balls! It was fun and easy for everyone to enjoy. The staff was friendly, the atmosphere was fun. If I lived closer I'd go regularly. Great indoor space for the cold Iowa days.

Great customer service, competitive prices and plenty to keep you busy. Food and drinks are also…read morepretty good! Thanks for another great experience!

My wife, son and I went together and had a horrible experience. The employees barely paid attention…read moreto the children that were running amok. My son slipped on a busted pumpkin on the ground, breaking his arm. When the owner came out, she was very disrespectful and told us if we came after her for it, she would win because she has lawyers for situations such as this. Steer clear of this place. Not only is it a dangerous environment, but she clearly has no regard for the customers that visit the farm.

My family and I visited Blacks Heritage Farm and had a wonderful experience. Staff was very…read morefriendly and showed us where everything was . We enjoyed seeing all the animals and picking pumpkins. 10 out of 10 would recommend!

I am currently in my final semester of studying Kinesiology, and this school has been nothing but…read moregreat. Campus- All together (no walking through a city)) with lots of grass and trees sprinkled throughout for a cohesive feel. Many different buildings with all sorts of architecture- some are original buildings, some are big limestone Washington DC lookin, big concrete block lookin, or all futuristic looking with huge glass fronts. Plenty of sidewalks to get you where you need to be. Maintenance of the grass and snow is pretty good. The use of sand instead of salt can be a nuisance when you come home and dump a sandbox out of your shoe. Class- I honestly enjoyed about 90% of my classes, especially because my classmates and I enjoyed what we were studying. Most professors are great and actually care about your education, always an outlier though. Don't buy or sell your books at the bookstore. Sports- Cyclones are (usually) decent in the big 12 conference, and its been a big part of my experience going to tailgates, football, waiting in the freezing cold for basketball, being on ESPN, and seeing friends compete in volleyball and gymnastics. For smaller sports, they often give out prizes or food to bring in students. Extracurriculars- I have been involved in research, college ambassadors, tutoring, student ministry (Salt Co.), club frisbee, and many intramural sports (fantastic program to take advantage of if you're not already). These alone have had a huge impact on my overall experience and getting to meet so many people! Dorms- I lived in Larch and it was pretty typical, as most are. Great to live in the dorms freshmen year to get acquainted with campus and meet lots of people. However after that I'd move out if you're looking to save any $ Overall, Ames is a ehh city with a great university. Go out and have fun at college, it will be a fun 4 years of you make the most of it!! GO CYCLONES.

Beautiful campus and warm hospitality! My daughter and I went for a college visit earlier this…read moremonth. Sign up for a campus visit online. If you have a mobility disability or any other disability, let them know and they will accommodate your needs as best as they can. They were ready to wheel me around in a wheelchair for their campus tour. The admissions representatives were organized and very excited to host prospective students and their families. They had a complimentary dining center meal to give you a taste of their on-campus boarding experience. ISU has a wide variety of housing options to fit your budget. They also have a strong House system. If you decide not to join a fraternity or a sorority, you have an active community to participate in inter-mural games and sports, to have dinner with or just hang out. We got to enjoy a bit of that with the honor's Anders House. We played board games at night and enjoyed meals with students. They love snacks and treats from parents. Academically, ISU is a fabulous STEM school school. It has many professors and opportunities for students to engage in research. It also has a fantastic Mandarin Chinese program with excellent teachers. I am proud that my eldest daughter is a Cyclone and hope my 2nd daughter seriously considers it as well.

Fine spot to see a movie but expect to watch ads 25 minutes past the start time. Take that as you…read morewill.

This theater is usually pretty good, but I must warn you it has its bad side too. My boyfriend…read moredrove all the way from Cedar Rapids IA. to take me to see Gladiator 2. I had called the theater previously and asked about times for the matinee. I was told it would be playing all week at 3.40 pm. The next day we drove to the theater only to be told that the movies started at 12.20 and was over. Well needless to say we were mad as hornets. The men or boys that were the cashiers. didn't even offer compensation for their blunderbuss misinformation, not even a rain check. MJS

Iowa State University Gold Star Hall, built in 1937 to honor fallen students of WWI, continues it…read morerich tradition. ISU hosts an annual event by inviting families of past students that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. This year, four families were invited to participate as the ROTC, faculty, the Gold Star Hall team, active and retired veterans honored in grand fashion the lives lost to protect our freedoms and values. Meredith Deroy Winter Schuyler Wheeler John Fuller Kennith Tapscott The level of effort into the planning, development of presentations, respect, pageantry, order and decorum were stunning. As a Gold Star family, we were humbled. This event exceeded our wildest imagination! Thank you Iowa State University, the Gold Star Hall, ROTC and all who took time out to honor those who died in combat 75 years ago. Regarding the display photo: All these photos, articles and documents (except the replacement medals) were discovered after 74 years in storage unbeknownst to anyone. Meredith's fiancé, Betty Ewing, also a student at ISU, held onto these items after his death. Betty passed away in 1984. During a recent move by her daughter, the box with all these items were discovered. May God continue to bless Iowa State University, our active duty soldiers and veterans!

The inside of the ISU Memorial Union is also pretty. I recently went up into the Hotel area,…read moreincluding the Veteran's Lounge and the big Ballroom. It's worth a stroll to more fully explore this fascinating piece of architecture.