Neil Urbanski Hockey Wilderness Contributor Posted July 18 Share Posted July 18 View full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secord Sucks Verified Member Posted July 18 Share Posted July 18 Excellent well-written article and a nice break from the endless summer speculation over roster moves that rarely ever get made. And yes, Fong’s Pizza is amazing! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secord Sucks Verified Member Posted July 18 Share Posted July 18 P.S. Extra points for the goalie fight video that somehow I hadn’t seen before. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnfaninnc Verified Member Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 I'll have to settle for a road game. But, I've got it on my calendar, October 17 & 18. I found it very valuable to see Bankier, Haight, Lambos, Spacek and Milne in person. This past season, though, there was a huge difference between the quality of the Checkers and the Wild. Maybe it was because when I saw them, they had their whole top line up in MN. Well, that meant more ice time for the kids....I also caught covid that weekend, but probably not at the game. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guido Provisional Member Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 Great article Neil, but I have a few more places to add to your list for Des Moines. Our preferred place to stay is The Des Moines Marriott Downtown on Grand Ave. Super nice hotel, and the staff there is fantastic. Close to Court Ave and to the Arena too. The adjoining bar to the El Bait Shop that you mentioned, the Miller High Life Lounge is worth a visit. It's like the Mancini's Lounge at the Char House in St. Paul, a total step back in time. Super cool!! The Court Ave Brewing Company between 3rd and 4th is worth a visit, and around the corner is the Royal Mile, a neat little British-themed Pub with some good eats and interesting beer selections. If ya like BBQ, check out Jethro's. Several Des Moines area locations, with one on 3rd right across from the Arena. Super good BBQ. And lastly, ya gotta check out Graziano Brothers Italian Market. Probably the most amazing family-owned Italian Market I've ever been too. You like Cossetta's or Morelli's in St. Paul? Then you gotta visit Graziano's. Just take 3rd right across the River and take a left of Jackson Ave. It's about a mile from the Court Ave entertainment area and is worth a visit any time you're in Des Moines. That's my two cents worth on Des Moines. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArizonaWildFan Verified Member Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 Nice piece, Neil. A break from the reporting of what's going on, or more accurately, not going on with the St. Paul Wild currently. After reading this I think I will plan a trip to Des Moines. Thank you! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teeroy Provisional Member Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 So what weekend did you end up choosing? Sit up in Sec 203!!! STH since 2013 first season!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Urbanski Hockey Wilderness Contributor Posted July 21 Author Share Posted July 21 On 7/19/2025 at 9:54 AM, Guido said: Royal Mile, a neat little British-themed Pub with some good eats and interesting beer selections. Good call, and I almost added it to my list, though I find I'm less inclined to go there since the Red Monk closed. That was one of the more unique bars I've been to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Up North Guy Verified Member Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 My Grandson works in Cedar Rapids and I have been wanting to get down there for a game. I guess i better get there while I still can. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Urbanski Hockey Wilderness Contributor Posted July 22 Author Share Posted July 22 14 hours ago, Teeroy said: So what weekend did you end up choosing? We went with the Marlies series - not a team that we get to see very often! I'll have to remember to swing by 203 to say hi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raithis Verified Member Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 Been thinking about heading down for a IA Wild game (or two), but keep putting it off. Maybe I should give it more thought. I usually get to at least one MN Wild game a year. I used to try and do a couple, but I like to sit in the first 10 rows and it gets expensive for my wife and I pretty fast. Last year it just didn't work out, so I'm going to try to get to one game this season. Maybe I'll try to work in a short trip to Iowa too. I've been to Des Moines once. I don't remember much other than the drive down 35 being pretty dull. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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