If you’re a young adult looking for a new city, I have one place for you.

I live in a city that caters to the young and upper mobile.  It’s called Des Moines, Iowa.  Des Moines is currently one of the coolest places to live in America as said by Men’s Journal.  With actor/celebrity Jake Gyllenhaal on the cover, Men’s Journal says our city is among 18 cities considered “cool” by their standards.  We have a little “urban hip sheen”.  Thank goodness, it’s not Charlie Sheen!

Our city has several things going for it. 

We look at major cities like Atlanta, Minneapolis and Chicago and attempts to pattern them.  Within the last, two years, we have added several shopping and entertainment centers like Bass Pro Shops (Altoona suburb), East Village (downtown) and West Glen (West Des Moines).  We have added more venues for single people and young families to do.  There are free concerts such as Clive After Five and at the Simon Estes Amphitheatre (downtown) from the spring to fall.  Jordan Creek Towncenter has become the biggest mall and shopping district this side of Mall of America.  Nightlife in West Des Moines has gone upscale with the openings of Cabaret at West Glen and Bar 2060 in Clive.  The Liars Club and the Kamodo Club keep the folks downtown happy. 

We pay attention to current music trends.  Saving Abel (rock), Black Eyed Peas (hip-hop), Justin Bieber (rhythm and blues), Britney Spears (pop) and Miley Cyrus (pop/country) have all performed year.  There are more concerts planned including the heavy metal extravaganza Lazerfest and the Interstate 35 weekend show in July.  Atlanta rap artist, Lil Scrappy is scheduled to be here April 28th.  A popular nightclub for live music is House of Bricks.  The owners are in discussion to bring rapper, Wiz Khalifa to Des Moines.  Former American Idol and now superstar artists like Daughtry have done multiple concerts here.  Hot country act Sawyer Brown will be here next week.   

Our city caters to young adults and young adult families with activities for both.  Young adults can mingle throughout Des Moines.  Social mixers like First Fridays (the first Friday of each month) bring young African American professionals together to party and share ideas.  Young Professionals Club invites their members to gatherings to meet like-minded people.  The Des Moines Social Club also contributes to impacting the nightlife.  At their location on 1200 Locust Street (downtown), they bring audiences to watch 3XWrestling’s live events and local bands. 

For young adult families, there is Adventureland amusement park in Altoona.  Soccer, baseball and other youth sporting leagues are available for families to register their kids.  Des Moines Arts Festival in late June brings tens of thousands to downtown Des Moines (Locust Street and Grand Avenue) for live music, plays, poetry readings, food and art.  Restaurants will have food stands selling their wares for a sixth season.  Local and regional artists will be displaying and selling their creations. 

What’s the reason not to come to one of America’s coolest places?  None.