I really enjoy the space in this theater. It brings the show right up and close to the audience…read more In spite of the smaller scope they have a great setup. With multiple layers on the performance area they allow many parts to be played out in different ways for the audience while maintaining separation for the locations. The seating is rather hard and tightly spaced which can be a bit uncomfortable if the show lasts over an hour and has no intermission. I thought their ability to use such a space in such a great way was terrific. The lights and sound worked really well.

I'm so excited that the Des Moines Social Club's Kum and Go Theater is open for business! Last…read morenight was my first experience in the Black Box Theater! It was awesome! I got to play a show with Har Mar Superstar and MAIDS! The place is 2nd to none, awesome video projection screen so I did not have to bring my own, Great sound system and the staff who I think were mostly volunteers were incredibly nice and professional! I got the opportunity to see some of the behind the scenes spots like the artist back stage green rooms and these were the best in town at any venue for sure! I'm super excited this is finally open as I hope to be attending many theater productions, and concerts here! Super excited when the weather warms up to enjoy a beer on the open roof as well! Also cool art by local legend Van Holmgren welcomes you to the theater! Great SPOT!

The Val Air Ballroom is such a trip. It literally feels like you are walking back into the '70s in…read morethe venue's lime green color palette and style. They also have some far out features like an old school box office (which didn't seem to be in use when we were at our show), a phone booth, and a cute mural of retro musicians. The venue itself was pretty good as far as lighting, seating, and audio go. The event we attended was a comedy show (Jay and Silent Bob), and it was in late June. Being in late June/almost July, it was HOT outside and the venue didn't seem to have very good or any air conditioning that we could feel. Very sticky night. The show we were at was a seated event, so luckily not a lot of movement, but we were still sweating! I could not imagine a concert or show that people are dancing and moving around all night. I think if you see a show posted at the Val Air Ballroom that interests you, definitely consider checking it out. Just be sure to pay attention to the weather that day and dress accordingly (shorts/tanks would have been great for my show!)

Great venue for a show in this once upon a time ballroom that gives roller rink vibes without the…read moreblacklight decor. Some limited seating is available but expect to show up early to grab it. Not sure if it is a typical policy but the show we went to didn't have reentry, so once you are in you can't go back out until you are ready to leave. My only gripe today was I was on the floor standing by a group who apparently hadn't seen each other in a while because they were really excited about talking and catching up during the show. I get this happens but I haven't experienced something inside this bad. But sound and lighting was great. Beers were more than we were used to ($10/domestic tallboy) but I guess that's just life anymore.

I am thrilled with my decision to get season tickets this year. The productions have all been…read moreamazing. I only wish there were more ladies rooms. There is no way to go and get back during intermission so I must strategically calculate my liquid intake before a show. The seats are a little cozy but I understand trying to get as many patrons in as possible. I will definitely renew my subscription next season!

Such a gorgeous and modern venue - I loved it so much! We came here for a Des Moines Symphony's…read moreABBA performance and it was absolutely delightful! We were in the very front row, so up close and personal to all the action on stage. What was wild was that we got our tickets the day before and that's when a ton of the closer row tickets became available. We snagged ours at the cheapest price and that came as quite a surprise, it made me wonder if they intentionally held a ton of tickets until the last minute or if there were just that many cancellations or something, that was a bit confusing. But our experience at the Civic Center was incredible! The space is very open and is sort of like one gradually increasing level from the stage. There's no mezzanine or balcony, but you will just go up the stairs to your row depending on how far back you are. The bathrooms were also great and plentiful, so there weren't any crazy lines for women's or men's bathrooms during the intermission. The Civic Center is located in the heart of downtown Des Moines. There is a ton of parking structures and lots available all around for very reasonable prices. I believe our parking fee was only $5, which for a major city is pretty unheard of! The Civic Center lobby also has a few bars that you can pick up drinks at! I got a Coke in a souvenir Des Moines Symphony cup and was able to take it into the center with me. In my mind, this is just wild because I don't know that I've ever taken a refreshment into a concert put on by a symphony, so that was a delight! Normally, photos and videos are not allowed in the Civic Center, but because of the nature of this concert in particular, they were actually highly encouraged this time! We had a great time and I'd recommend checking out what performances are going on while you're in Des Moines to see if any pique your interest! It was a lovely way to spend a Saturday evening in town!

We recently attended Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thieve at the playhouse. The show is in the…read morebig theater. We ordered the tickets online before hand. Entry was easy with a quick scan of our QR code. The was a wide selection at the concession stand and the cast was great.

We saw Red Riding Hood. It was all we expected from community theater, and not a lot more…read more It was fun. Not excellent or outstanding, but that's reflected in the ticket cost. Heads up - the play was 70 minutes long and the chairs were fine, but I wouldn't want to see a 2.5 hour play without bringing a bit of extra cushion. Still - a fun afternoon's entertainment. Our anniversary is the week after New Years, so we were grateful to see ANY live theatre to celebrate.

We stopped in for something different to do. The vibe is like being in someone's basement game…read moreroom. Pool, darts and some other casino type games. Its really brightly lit which is kind of odd for evenings in a bar. There were roller dogs out but wasn't sure if they were available just for anyone to eat because nobody was eating them. There was a popcorn machine plus they had a table with a pizza oven, air fryer and microwave (not sure what they were for). In our way in there were posters promoting activities they have on the weekdays (Bingo on Tuesdays).

Great place to meet up with friends and watch a game. Had a darts tournament happening when we came…read morein which was pretty fun to watch as well!

First time coming here. I accidentally stumbled into this place late at night wanting to find…read moresomething new to discover. I saw a band was playing here. Very talented music, I would say it's a solid venue for live bands and having some mosh pits in. Sound quality was also good. Great bands featured on the ceiling. The drinks were unfortunately overpriced, charging ridiculous prices for an angry Orchard, service was okay. Friendly people.

Went to see a musician perform last night, and the bartender was heckling the musician playing. I…read morehave never witnessed anything like this in my life. It was extremely unprofessional. I will NEVER go to Lefty's again. ZERO STARS.

Every thing about this place is amazing from Steak night to burger night and sausage sandwich…read morenight. And to boot the owner is a hoot. Very friendly and good with his patrons

Monday night dinners are excellent! Nick, the grill master, grills to perfection. Melissa, Kim and…read moreSteve are friendly and attentive bar keeps. Thursday night grinders are really good too. Sandwich and chips for less than $10.

A great little dive bar. A decent sized stage. Great drink specials if you check the board or ask…read more Comedy shows, local bands, karaoke. Women's restrooms always clean & right there. Easy to find. There's aback area to smoke, but I don't use that. The bar is fairly long & there's plenty of seating. Definitely recommend them to people visiting. The drinks are decent priced & not expensive. Bartenders are nice & speedy at taking care of customers. Jason is a great owner as well. There's always something going on & you can check the facebook page.

I went to the Hull last night for the first time. There were a few bands playing and the place was…read morepacked! I was not prepared for the crowd, however, everyone in the establishment was extremely friendly. Jason, the owner, mingled with the patrons, to include myself, and was very open and kind. He is very personable which made my visit all the more better. There were several drink specials which is always a plus!! Parking was limited, but you can easily find a spot on the street. Would I go back? You bet! Had a great time!