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.

New venue in Waukee woooot wooooot! We saw Phil Rosenthal here and here was our experience:…read more PARKING: We paid $15 for premier parking and that got us access to the main lot - a few steps from the entrance. My mom said the regular parking lot is a few blocks away, so might be worth paying extra for a good spot! ENTRANCE: For our show, it was easy! We arrived an hour prior to the start and got in within 5 minutes. Staff was quick in checking our tickets and getting us in. SPACE: This space is stunning and clearly brand new! Cool local mural on the wall, fun designs and decor, great bar lighting and ambiance. DRINKS: Priceyyyy haha pregame elsewhere! A simple cocktail was $20+. But the amount of bars is a LOT - like 5+? - so you'll not have to wait in line long. FOOD: They had a corn dog or popcorn available at our show - not much for concessions. Again, I'd pregame elsewhere! BATHROOMS: Great facilities! Very clean, tons of stalls and sinks. And a cool vibe in there - hats off to the designer. MAIN FLOOR: On the main floor, it's usually GA/standing room only for concerts I'm sure. But for ours - a more interview style show, we had fold out chairs. The stage was high enough we never had any issue seeing! UPPER SEATING: The seats up here are super comfy looking - maybe quite a bit further back and I'm not sure how the view compares, but so comfy! The best seats are the company-bought "box seats" similar to at a baseball game. There is a row of seats right along the rail but I think you'd have to look out through the railing if seated.

This venue looks new! From an initial first impression it looks very clean…read more I'm not sure about the service but there's a bar as soon as you walk in the lobby. A coat check next to the bathrooms. And bars in the concert area. The parking people were pretty nice. Premier parking is way closer than how the map makes it look. Kinda recommended it since it made getting to the venue and then leaving pretty smooth!

Magic and Comedy Show at the Temple Theater, the comedian and the magician were both extremely…read moreentertaining. They did a great job interacting with the audience and really keep everyone in awe and laughter! All in all is was a really fun evening....

small theater, saw the twilight zone unscripted. Super talented cast. Challenging to pull off…read moretwilight zones off the cuff.

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 Iowa Stage Theatre was a merger between to incredible local production companies The Repertory…read moreTheatre of Iowa and StageWest Theatre Co. They put on intimate productions at the Kum And Go Theater at the Des Moines Social Club. This past year they won multiple Cloris Awards, including Best Play, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress! They do everything from Shakespear to Tony Award winning more modern productions! Our city has a vast group of local theater talent, and this is a fantastic company if you are looking to catch a show!

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.

I had never been to XBK before. We were greeted at the door to have our tickets scanned. The…read moreshow was all ages, so we were "banded." Two bartenders were working hard. We waited for 1 person to get served ahead of us. I would not consider that a "wait." The stage is only a foot or so off the the ground. So not sure the view fro. The back. We We were upfront. The sound was great. Did not realize it was on the loud side till we went outside. We had a great time. The venue seemed very clean, even the restroom area. I think the common sink area out the stall rooms helps the flow of people. We can't wait to go back.

I love XBK!!! They do so much for the community, I've been to many events here supporting great…read morecauses. The space is intimate yet roomy, and the bartenders have always been extremely friendly. Cocktails are always super well served and reasonable considering the venue. The shared sink situation is kind of odd but nothing too serious, just take note of it when you walk to the bathroom.