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Cool queer book shops. A covered patio brewery. D&D session. A beautiful Sunday in Des Moines.

I am visiting my friends in Iowa this week and we started the day on a great note — with decadent cinnamon rolls from a local coffee shop, The Slow Down. Mine was “Twix” flavored. Unreal. After a little morning D&D prep we set off to a couple of bookstores and local shops. All very queer and cool and celebrating Independent Bookstore Weekend. I love browsing clever stickers and I have sticky fingers when it comes to shiny new books. I want them all. At The Little Book I snagged two F.T. Lukens books I haven’t read yet that I’m excited about.

For lunch, we went to Big Grove Brewery — a restaurant and brewery with a huge covered patio with great heaters. Perfect for a scattered rainstorm day. And they let you buy beer in 7oz pours which I wish was a thing everywhere. I started with a Summer Jam Sour and paired it with an amazing BBQ Fried Chicken Mac & Cheese. I can’t wait for those leftovers tomorrow.

One last stop — The Dragon’s Gate. A bookstore and game shop which is the exact brand of nerdy business I would love. I spent way too long looking at all the D&D stuff and ended up with two new D&D-related books and a dice set. And The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. Places like that are truly my happy place.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in relaxed D&D prep before our session tonight — which went well but was mainly a lot of information gathering and planning before more action the next time we play. I’m looking forward to it.

I’ll be working here most of the week in my friend’s cozy finished basement suite. Last time I was here I was isolated down here with Covid so already this has been a much better trip! Now I can truly enjoy the space and also be allowed to go upstairs without masking and texting people in warning. It’s the little things.

With Love,

Natalie