Miscellaneous Reviews

Cartridge World

Des Moines International Airport

Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino

Cartridge World

Submitted by Don, 09.10.07

I came across a small store in Urbandale that provides refill and replacement computer printer cartridges at a discount. I've used it many times, and they do provide discounts of 30 to 50 % on remanufactured cartridges, and they also refill while you wait. In this age of lots of people having computers with printers, this could be a real savings for that type of thing.

The name of the business is Cartridge World, and it's located at 4636 NW 86th St in Urbandale. That's at 86th and Meredith next to Walgreens. Their phone number is 331-3455 and their email address is refill@cartridgeworldiowa.com.

Des Moines International Airport

Submitted by West Des Moines Mom, 05.21.07

I often see commercials (by the PowerBall guy) for the Des Moines International airport saying “Why travel to Minnesota, Omaha and St. Louis (huh? St. Louis? Who would drive 6 hours for a cheaper flight?) to get to your destination. Just fly out of the Des Moines International airport.”

Pros: If you live in Des Moines, closeness. Ok, that is pretty much the ONLY pro. Cons: 1.) You can get cheaper flights out of Minneapolis and Omaha. (If you are a family of 4 and can save $600, do it.) 2.) No seat covers in the bathrooms 3.) No free wireless internet 4.) No playground for the kids. Instead of spending money on commercials, why not spend it on making the Des Moines airport more appealing to the families?

For example, lots of people have laptops, and since it is suggested that we be at the airport at least 2 hours early, why not offer the free wireless internet other “International” airports do? I don’t really want to pay to check my emails and keep my children occupied playing on NOGGIN.com while we wait for 2 hours to board. Although I did fall for it once. I just assumed that that would cover all airports for that day. It didn’t. It was only good at the Des Moines airport.

They could also make the airport kid friendly. This would serve all the consumers, not just the parents with kids. The people traveling without kids wouldn’t have to listen to someone else’s kids whining that they have to sit still for 2 hours before they can get on the airplane to sit still for another 3 hours. Get a little (or big) indoor playground. Tire out the kids before they get on the airplane. Merle Hay Mall, South Ridge Mall and the new Jordan Creek Mall have figured out that is a great way to lure in parents/families. I would model it after the Jordan Creek Mall's playground, lower the play area 3 feet and put coffee and bread shops around it and BAMMO – everyone’s happy. You keep the families of 4 that would fly out of a different airport and you make money selling over priced food and drink to the parents, childless couples don’t have to listen to whining, grandparents can watch the kids play and remember the good ‘ole days (sleepless nights) and the kids might just be tired enough to sleep through the flight. This is a Win-Win-Win.

East Village Bike Night & Prairie Meadows

Submitted by Kelly Moore, 07.02.07

There are two family-friendly activities in Des Moines that many parents might not automatically think are appropriate for their kids. But I can tell you from first-hand experience that the East Village's Bike Night and the Prairie Meadows racetrack are perfect venues for a night on the town with your family.

My 2-year-old boy has a minor obsession with all things motorized, and motorcyles are no exception. Knowing what I do about motorcycle enthusiasts (that the scary Hells Angel stereotype is far from reality), I thought we might give the East Village's Bike Night a try... especially since we were already planning to be in the neighborhood for Blues Before Sunset at the State Historical Building.

I figured we'd go while it was still light out, and if it got too rough, we'd high-tail it home. But, it was perfect. A great group of people and an even greater group of bikes. My son thought he had died and gone to heaven when one biker asked if he wanted to get on his motorcycle with him. The most objectionable thing we saw in the half-hour it took us to walk the bikes and shop the vendors was a pair of cutie 20-somethings in assless chaps. They were wearing swimsuit bottoms underneath (and thank God for that, because my son has a thing about slapping naked butts... and that could've been embarrassing).

The racetrack is another place we have taken our son. Granted, he was stroller bound this time last year, but I think it'll be even better this year, as he'll be pumped to run over and watch the horses warm up, the Giddy Up Gals do their thing and horse mascot clown around. There's plenty of food to eat and lots of families, so give it a try... you'll fit right in.