Anyone going to Des Moines Tuesday?

[Da Coach]

Are any other Bradley fans going to the BU-Drake game Tuesday in Des Moines?

If there are, maybe we can meet somewhere prior to the game?

[DUBrave5]

I want to so bad but I have a 6pm class that I can't afford to miss this week. A buddy of mine said that he might go though.

[real fan]

The game is sold out so you better have your tickets lined up.

[BUBraves06]

A friend and I will be making the trip. What's around the arena?

[braves12]

About 4 blocks from the arena is a bar called the West End. Many Drake fans there, including many who post on the Valley board and the Drake board.. It is kinda small. I have beers there with McBulldog and DUbulldog. I have never eaten there, but I don't think food is what the West End is in business for. I think it is a college student bar, except game nights. I had a really good meal at a restaurant approximately a mile or so away 1 time. Can't remember the name. If you get onto the Drake or Valley boards and pm McBull or DUbulldog, I am sure they can make some recommendations. They are both good guys. Parking can be an issue. I have always parked at a post office next to the West End bar, but you need to get there early. Out of the country until Friday, or I would go. Have fun and get us a win.

[DUBulldog]

A friend and I will be making the trip. What's around the arena?

What are you looking for? Bars? Restaurants? Other?

Edit: Looks like Braves12 posted about 30 seconds before I did. I'll check this board for the next few days, and will try to help you all find places to eat/drink.

[Da Coach]

A friend and I will be making the trip. What's around the arena?

There are almost no restaurants near the campus. It is similar to Bradley's campus, it is relatively small, built in a very old part of Des Moines, and is totally landlocked by older residential areas.

We have been going there for many years, and the better places to meet and eat are in the Court Street area on the east end of the old downtown area.

Big Mike and I are tentatively planning to be at Buzzard Billy's at 100 Court St. around 5:00 pm unless someone comes up with a better idea. The Des Moines downtown is relatively deserted on weeknights. And there are a bunch of other trendy restaurants and bars within a block if Buzzard Billy's isn't open, or doesn't work for some reason.
It is only about 10 minutes from there to the Knapp Center.

http://www.desmoinesbeat.com/restaurant/buzzard-billys.htm

http://www.buzzardbillys.com/vnews/display.v/ART/4522e36dbb867

[DUBulldog]

There are about a dozen places to eat in the Drake neighborhood, but they're all fast-food or pizza places, except for one bistro type place on 25th, just north of University. As Da Coach mentioned, plenty of trendy restaurants/bars downtown. If you're a beer connosieur (sp?), be sure to check out El Bait Shop, between 2nd and 3rd, just south of the main downtown area.....105 beers on tap, all of them imports or microbrews, plus anouther couple hundred varieties in bottles.

Buzzard Billy's (where Da Coach is going) is decent Cajun food. Just as an FYI, Court Avenue is at the south end of downtown, not the east end. There are plenty of trendy, Bohemian places on the east side of downtown (east of the Des Moines river), in the area called the "East Village". Just beware if you go into any bars in that part of town....trying to think how to be politically correct....let's just say there are several bars in that part of downtown that have rainbows prominently displayed in their windows.

Several good restaurants on Ingersoll, about a mile south of the Drake campus. I believe Braves12 ate at Jesse's Embers, an old-time steakhouse. Star Bar on Ingersoll has great "bar food"....best burger in town. Noah's Ark, also on Ingersoll is a 50+ year old Italian restaurant. If you like old-school Italian food, you'll love Noah's.

A lot of the hardcore Drake fans meet at the West End Lounge, about 2 blocks east of the Knapp Center on Forest Ave. Classic dive bar. No food, cheap beer. The place probably comfortably holds 50 people, and there are usually over a hundred in there by about an hour before game time.

[BUBraves06]

Thanks for the info.