Break out your vinyl and celebrate Record Store Day 2022
What’s up, Des Moines! It’s Hannah Rodriguez, the Des Moines Register’s retail reporter. Dust off your records and come listen to vinyl with me.
Tune into Off Hours, a weekly newsletter on all things entertainment from the Des Moines Register each Thursday. Authored by reporters and occasional guest writers, we’re excited to show you what we get up to when we’re not covering the news. Subscribe today and get it first in your inbox!
The Deal
Here’s the deal: I grew up on mixtapes and CDs. Sure, Spotify and other music streaming platforms were already popular by the time I got to high school, but there was still something special and, dare I say, vintage about exchanging CDs with friends. As a teenager, curated playlists on plastic discs were the soundtrack in my 2009 Honda Accord and I still have more than a dozen CDs that I play when I want to feel nostalgic.
One summer, a friend moved backward from CDs and started his vinyl collection with the help of a new Audio Technica record player — the real antique of music production improved with 21st century technology. We had listening parties and traversed the dusty local record shops hoping to find a new release or a classic I recognized.
I was amazed at how different music sounds on vinyl compared to headphones compared to my crappy sedan’s speakers (yes, a shocking revelation, I know).
The best day of the year quickly became Record Store Day (RSD) in April, when vinyl aficionados would descend on local record shops for sales and fresh releases. Often there were food trucks, stickers and posters to collect and, best of all, the sweetest conversations with people gathering over their love of music.
As the proud, newfound owner of a record player (albeit not as fancy as an Audio Technica) I’m really excited to check out how Des Moines does RSD on Saturday, April 23.
Personally, I think everyone should have a copy of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." My brother got me a new copy and although I didn't really consider myself a fan, listening to the album on vinyl for the first time was a transcendental experience. There's truly nothing like hearing the needle crackling on the vinyl and the slow steady first track, "Speak to Me," come through the speakers.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the annual event and Taylor Swift was tapped as the first RSD global ambassador. I’ve been a fan since I was a kid and I’m anxious to see what she’s planning to release. Come and join the trend that’ll never die; vinyl sales soared during the pandemic keeping stores afloat and proving that the old way is sometimes the best way.
What should I listen to next? Send me your favorite albums to listen on vinyl at herodriguez@registermedia.com or shoot me a DM on Twitter @byherodriguez.
My top three record shops in Des Moines
1. Marv’s Music: Next time you’re in the East Village, wander into Marv’s Music (506 E. Sixth St.) for a welcoming layout and popular music across all genres. The modern space first opened in 2018 with exposed brick and concrete floors. Be sure to periodically check in; Marv’s hosts events throughout the year and seems to be the destination for Record Store Day this year. It opens at 8 a.m. on Saturday starting bright and early. See you there!
2. Zzz Records: Claiming to be the oldest, longest-running independent record shop in Des Moines, Zzz Records is a required stop in the capital city. The story behind the record shop takes some twists and turns but it first opened in 2000 and is currently located at 2200 Ingersoll Ave. Each year the store hosts the Des Moines Music Collector Show in collaboration with Vinyl Cup Records, a store at 2815 Beaver Ave., Suite 210 that boasts two other locations in Omaha and Cedar Falls.
3. Rogue Planet Music: Two friends opened Rogue Planet Music in 2017, and it sounds like a small business owner’s dream come true. The charming shop sits at 4211 Chamberlain Ave. in the Roosevelt Shopping Center, but if you don’t live close, don’t fret; Rogue Planet ships worldwide. The store grants select vinyl a tongue-in-cheek blue ribbon for their preserved quality so keep an eye out for collector’s finds.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t forget to also check out Red Rooster Records over on Euclid Avenue! But let me know if I’m missing your favorite local store. Send me an email at herodriguez@registermedia.com and I’ll go check it out.
Eat This, Drink That
7-inch Mad Meatball — $10: I’ve been on a hunt to find the perfect slice since I moved to Des Moines and this personal pie was a solid contender. The roasted peppers were a bright, fresh contrast to the heaviness of the cheese and the crust was somehow both crispy and chewy. I’ll be back to try and figure out what they put in those meatballs.
Get it: In case you missed it, Mad Meatball reopened in a new location (210 SW 11th St.) in January. Parking is tricky but you should be able to find a spot around back. Opens at 11 a.m. weekdays until 11 p.m. and again at 11 a.m. on Friday and Saturday until midnight, for you night owls.
Quadro vodka shot — $7 per shot: Russian vodka is somewhat of a novelty now since Gov. Kim Reynolds pulled alcohol produced in Russia from the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Division’s wholesale purchase list. With more than 100 bottles of vodka behind the bar, Irina's in Urbandale likely has enough stock to last through the ban. Irina and her husband Dmitri immigrated from Russia in the ’90s so you know they have the good stuff. To get my night started, I tried a traditional Russian shot of Quadro vodka. Before you take the shot you smell the rye bread. Then follow the smooth, chilled liquor with the salty pickle and finish off with the bread. За здоровье! Cheers!
Get it: Irina’s is expanding! Soon the Urbandale restaurant will have a sister location in West Glen Town Center at 650 S. Prairie View Drive in West Glen. Head to the original at 2301 Rocklyn Drive starting at 3 p.m. daily (for happy hour) until 9 p.m. on weeknights and 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
I’m from the Quad Cities and have a lot of pride around my pizza preferences. My go-to is topped with pepperoni, jalapeño and black olive, yummm. Email me at herodriguez@registermedia.com with your go-to joint and I’ll give you my rating.
48 Hours Off
Friday night: Catch me at the 60th annual Planned Parenthood book sale at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The event is pretty spectacular, and according to organizers, more than 12,000 customers from 37 states and 139 Iowa towns attend. With more than 200,000 books at 800 tables, there's a massive variety to browse. The sale actually starts on Thursday with a $20 cover for those scouting out collectibles but admission is free on Friday and runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the 4-H Building at 3000 E. Grand Ave. The sale ends Monday.
Saturday night: Don't let the music die after celebrating Record Store Day! Head out to Gross Domestic Product, a music festival with a lineup of all Iowa acts. The action starts at 5 p.m. in Des Moines' Western Gateway Park. With acts performing at The Cave, Teehee's Comedy Club and Gas Lamp, there's something for everyone. Purchase tickets in advance for $18, and, if available, they're $20 at the door. Here's the lineup.
Sunday night: Go on and sip your Russian vodka but make sure to show some support for Ukraine. Camp out at Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park from noon to 9:30 p.m. for From Iowa With Love: Benefit Jam for Ukraine, a "first-of-its-kind Iowa folk, rock and blues festival to raise humanitarian aid for the people of Ukraine." The event is free but a suggested $10 donation will be collected at the gates.
Pet Parent
I've had a Des Moines dog park pass since I first moved to the city a year ago and Sheba's favorite is the doggy-utopia at Ewing Park. With trees to sniff, prairie grasses to leap through and 8.5 acres to spread out, it's our go-to. A pass for the year is $20 and gets you into all three of the city's parks: Ewing at 4660 Indianola Ave., Riverwalk at 1111 Illinois St. and Reno Memorial at 3325 Hubbell Ave. Ewing is the largest of the three but Reno has a paved walking path along the fence's perimeter and Riverwalk is usually the busiest with lots of activity and friendly faces.
Around Town
Twisted Vine Brewery to begin pouring craft beer in the Des Moines' Market District this summer
Look inside this colorful $1.2 million custom-built home in West Des Moines
Introducing Finger Food: Your weekly update on Des Moines restaurants, food, drinks and more
Have a life-changing story about travel? Submit for the next Des Moines Storytellers Project show.
My Day Job
As always, thanks for reading. Have an idea for what would you like to see in my next Off Hours newsletter? Send me an email at herodriguez@registermedia.com and let me know!
In the meantime, keep up with Des Moines retail news by following me on Twitter @byherodriguez. Lately I’ve teased a new restaurant that’s coming to Ingersoll Avenue and, for the last newsletter, went bouldering with my friends and entertainment team coworkers. Check that out here.
Come back next week to hear from our entertainment reporter Isaac Hamlet as he goes birdwatching.
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Interested in being a guest writer for Off Hours? Send our entertainment editor Susan Stapleton a line at sstapleton@gannett.com with some of your favorite things to do in Des Moines. Yes, we pay.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Off Hours celebrates Record Store Day and tries vodka shots, pizza, dog parks
