Axios Des Moines' favorite things of 2022
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Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
Welcome to our end-of-the-year feature showcasing our favorite things of the year.
- Check back. We'll be posting more in the coming days.
Home pet sitters
Jason: I hate leaving my kitty home alone for extended periods.
- And I don't like to inconvenience neighbors with daily poop scooping duties.
Solution: I started hiring professionals this year.
- They come to my home and tend to the specific needs of lil' Harriet.
Zoom in: I'm partial to Southside Sitter, a DSM business owned by my friends Rachel and John Bradley.
- Costs are based on your pet needs. (I pay $22 for each 20-minute visit.)
Be smart: There are other businesses and individuals who offer home pet services across the metro that can be easily found on sites like Rover.
- The Humane Society offers tips on how to select a good one.
Truffle oil
Linh: I'm a big fan of AllSpice's white truffle oil.
Driving the news: If you're like me, you like to give the illusion of being fancy without breaking the bank. Enter the truffle oil.
State of play: The local spice shop's oil is made using a tea steeping method.
- The result is a strong, earthy taste that has more garlic notes than black truffle.
How to use it: I just dab a tiny bit on whatever food I'm eating and tell my guests that it's a truffle-flavored dish. The 2 oz. bottle ($11.50) is small, but mighty.
- I'll serve it on mashed potatoes or fettuccine alfredo. If I'm feeling bold, I'll add it to a DiGiorno pizza. Bon appétit.
Of note: They also have black truffle oil ($9.50). If you go to the store, you can sample both before buying one.
Where to get it: Find it online here or go to the East Village store at 400 E. Locust St., Des Moines.
The Cheese Shop
Jason: The Cheese Shop is my favorite DSM business.
Why I like it: They sell more than 100 artisan and farmhouse cheeses.
- Their employees offer samples and tell the story behind each product.
Plus: Cheese is a great gift and helps me resolve many last-minute shopping headaches.
🧀 Grab a hunk: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm
- 833 42nd St.
Custom local art
Linh: My biggest questions every holiday season: What do you get the person who already has everything?
- I usually end up commissioning a portrait for them.
Zoom in: I've gone to local artist Sketchmesarah several times.
- Ordering custom art is intimidating to me, especially price-wise and what the heck do you ask for.
- Sarah's been easy to work with and is transparent about costs.
The bottom line: Support local artists! If you're looking for other ideas, support young people at ArtForce Iowa through the nonprofit's online shop.
Bypassing concert ticket fees
Jason: I was irritated when I ordered Justin Bieber tickets in April and got slapped with a $35 per-ticket fee.
- But after a few calls to some of Des Moines’ most popular venues, I discovered concertgoers can bypass lots of ticket fees by ordering in person at the venue's ticket windows.
Pro tip: I also discovered Bandsintown.
- It's an app that is synced with my online music library that sends alerts when artists I like schedules a DSM metro performance.
Cold hard cash
Jason: Don't give gift cards this holiday season.
Why it matters: Gift cards waste money.
- People misplace or forget about them, frequently surrendering balances to retailers or through inactivity fees.
By the numbers: As much as 3% of gift cards are never redeemed, which amounts to billions of dollars in consumer losses each year, CBS News reports.
- Up to 90% of recipients are willing to spend more than the amount, according to a report this year from the Blackhawk Network, a California-based business that assists retailers with gift card services.
Be smart: Use gift cards promptly to reduce the likelihood of loss, Iowa Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald advises.
- Complaints about unfair practices can be filed with the Iowa Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.