River Bend Neighborhood

The River Bend Neighborhood’s monthly social get-together will be Tuesday, March 30, 6:00 pm, at the new La Paris Cafe.

La Paris is a Vietnamese restaurant, owned by Chris and Sue Low. France was the country which colonized the country then known as Indochina back in the nineteenth century, and the influence is evident in the variety of French pastries and coffee drinks on the menu.

La Paris serves breakfast, lunch and dinner [and dessert!] on one side of the business, and features pool tables and a sports bar for evenings on the other side.

La Paris is located at 1517 – 2nd Avenue, and the phone number there is 288-3800.

Call Diana Rezac before March 27 to RSVP your availability for the social this month:
515-243-3639 or
email to d k r e z a c [at] m s n [dot] c o m.

Diana says, “Come meet your neighbors in a relaxing atmosphere.”

The River Bend Neighborhood’s monthly socials are on hiatus until January 2010.  Watch this blog for additional information as it becomes available…. and have a safe and happy holiday season.

From Diana Rezac:

River Bend Social

Tuesday, August 25 at 6:00 PM

Sambetti’s
1430 2nd Avenue
245 9780

Please RSVP to dkrezac [at sign] msn [dot] com.

River Bend Social
 
Thursday, July 30th
 
6:00 PM
 
Lucky Dragon
1452 2 Avenue
288-3936

City Councilman Tom Vlassis, who is running for re-election, will be in attendance. 

Please RSVP to Diana Rezac d k r e z a c [atSign] m s n [dot] c o m

Rendezvous on the River, a free summer concert series, will begin this Friday, June 19, at the Kiwanis Riverview Nature Island. Formerly the site of the longtime popular Riverview Amusement Park, the park will feature live music weekly through July 3.

Bands are Brother Trucker on Friday, 35 South on June 19, The Blue Band on June 26 and SPAM on July 3. No food, coolers or outside beverages are allowed. Pets on a leash are welcome.

WHERE: Kiwanis Riverview Nature Island, 6th and Corning.

WHEN: Festivities will run 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Fridays through July 3.

FIREWORKS: Kiwanis Riverview Nature Island is looking for sponsors for a fireworks display to be held July 3 in conjunction with the event. Contact Ed Linebach at 229 – 4456.

MEMENTOS: Riverview historical calendars, featuring old photos and postcards of the amusement park, cost $10 and are available at Hiland Park Hardware, 3613 Sixth Ave.

River Bend Neighborhood Social

Wednesday, June 17th

Le’s Chinese Bar-B-Que
1600 2nd Avenue
515 244-6111

serving chicken, pork and duck.

6:00PM  sharp! (They stop serving at 7:00PM).

Bring your own chair, as they have limited seating.

RSVP to d k r e z a c [at] m s n [dot] c o m by today, Monday, June 15.

The City of Des Moines’ greenhouse, which grows most of the flowering plants which beautify public spaces around the city, has put out the call for volunteers to help prepare and organize the flowers for distribution.

Individuals and groups who can work May 13 or 14, from 8:00 – 11:00 am or 1:00 – 3:00 pm, are invited to the greenhouse, which is housed in the Chesterfield Community Center, at 2501 SE Maury on the city’s southeast side.

Each year the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, with the help of many volunteers, grows and distributes over 350,000 annuals for city parks, streetscapes, schools and throughout downtown.  Volunteers need to be able to bend, lift and carry flats & flowers to prepare them for pick-up by community organizations, schools & non-profits who will arrive this weekend to pick them up.  These groups then use community volunteers to beautify our public spaces.

For more information, please call the Parks and Recreation Department — Julie at (515)248-6384 or Callie at (515)248-6380.

Rowers and crew fans from all over the country will converge on the River Bend Neighborhood this weekend for the Head of the Des Moines Regatta, hosted by the Des Moines Rowing Club. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the regatta, slated for Saturday, September 27. The event runs all day, from 8:30 am – 5 pm.

Races on the Des Moines River run between Prospect Park (entrance on north side of Hickman Road, around 1100 block), and and the Botanical Center downtown. A map of the course is here. More than fifty races will be rowed throughout the day.

Admission is free for all spectators, and there will be children’s activities in addition to the races. Live music will be provided by local favorite, Mr. Babers’ Neighbors.

The Des Moines Rowing Club (DMRC) was founded in 1983 and hosted its first regatta that year. It now consists of around 200 members and draws participants from throughout central Iowa. The club boasts several River Bend residents among its membership, including Julia Martinusen and novice rower Jacob Lewin.

6^th Avenue Revitalization Planning Meeting
Monday, July 21, 2008 at 7:00pm
Salvation Army Building, 1330 6^th Ave

Please plan to attend this meeting to learn about plans for the 6^th Avenue commercial corridor and to provide input for its improvement.  Citizens’ and business owners’ suggestions will be incorporated into vision for a revitalized 6^th Avenue and a concrete plan for its improvement.

It’s imperative that a cross-section of the local community is present to ensure that all voices and perspectives are heard.  We need to show the City that we are committed and ready to improve the safety, aesthetics, and investment potential of River Bend’s commercial center.

In addition, the River Bend Neighborhood Association will also be sponsoring an ice cream social at the meeting.  We hope you can make it!

If you have questions, please contact one of the meeting organizers:
Aaron Todd  515.720.1765
Brian Douglas  515.708.1189
Jeanne Johnson  515.883.2940

No, those aren’t unidentified flying objects; they’re juggling clubs whizzing past the head of six year-old Catherine Lewin. On an unseasonably warm November morning, we spied veteran juggler Bill Petsche (right in photo) and his son, Jack, practicing their 2-man juggling routine. When we asked whether we could take their picture for the neighborhood blog, Bill agreed, on the condition that Catherine would “volunteer” to be part of the photo. To my great relief, Catherine stood stock still, and Jack and Bill struck up a flawless throw-and-catch rhythm.