Hello Ames! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Game design program, game-day alcohol sales, and kids summer blast + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
New creative tech pathway: Iowa State’s College of Design launched a game design program in fall 2025, blending storytelling, programming and art. Students explore game art, computing and worlds, with study abroad opportunities planned -- learn what the program offers.
New game-day changes ahead: Iowa State will start selling alcohol in the 2026-27 season at Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum, with a two-drink limit per sale and no re-entry, funding wellness and safety -- see the game-day changes.
Local opposition grows: A 10.86-acre data center is proposed near Ames Municipal Airport, raising concerns about electric capacity, infrastructure, environment, and utility rates. An online petition opposing it has 2,555 of 3,200 signatures -- see the data center concerns.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Your fresh-air fix: Whether you're in the mood for an easy loop on the paved trail, some low-stress bird-watching, or a quiet cast from the shoreline, Ada Hayden Heritage Park delivers. Grab the bike, a picnic, maybe binoculars, and pretend your errands don't exist for a while.
Your indoor jungle upgrade: Whether you’re nurturing a sun-deprived studio fern or hunting a carnivorous show-off, Back Alley House Plants has tropicals, rarities, pottery and legit plant-care help, including repotting when your soil situation is... complicated. Swing by this week, let them match you with something that actually survives Ames apartments.
Press start, Ames: Time Out is the family-owned retro arcade-bar where pinball, skee-ball, and old-school cabinets meet signature drinks and delightfully un-serious karaoke. When your week needs a reset, this place is pure quarter-powered therapy with a side of sing-along courage.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🎨 Art Walk: Spot the Cyclones! @ Marston Hall | Wednesday (6/24) at 12:00 PM – Think you know Cyclones? Trade bleachers for bronze on a guided wander through Iowa State’s public art, and see how many sly cyclones hide in brick, glass, and sculpture. Free, all ages, meet at Marston Hall’s east entrance, moves indoors if the sky acts up.
🎈 Kids Summer Blast @ Ames Public Library | Thursday (6/25) at 1:30 PM – Our library is hosting a Kids Summer Blast for grades 1 to 5, a Thursday sanity saver. Think junk-art tinkering, a cruise you take without Dramamine, and a tie-dye takeover at Bandshell Park, all the fun, none of the glitter in your carpet.
🚚 Mulberry Farm & Food Truck and Whip Delight @ Food Truck Parc | Friday (6/26) at 6:00 PM – Food Truck Friday at The Parc is rolling in with Mulberry Farm slinging fresh tacos and Whip Delight swirling Dole Whip soft serve, the only kind of farm-to-cone we need. Skip the stove, claim a shady spot, and call it quality time, not cooking.
🌸 2026 Flower Show - Big & Small @ Reiman Gardens | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 AM – Think your tomatoes could win a beauty pageant, or just want to wander among gorgeous blooms? The Ames Garden Club brings its Flower Show to Reiman Gardens, celebrating big and small wonders, with artful arrangements, glossy leaves, and brag-worthy produce.
🧩 June Puzzle Competition Fundraiser @ Ericson Public Library (Boone) | Saturday (6/27) at 9:30 AM – Round up three sharp friends and race a 500-piece, summer-themed jigsaw at the library for snacks and Seven Oaks gift certificates. It is $40 per team, funding a new train table for the kids. Only five teams get in, which keeps the trash talk civilized.
🎭 Disney’s Newsies JR. @ Ames City Auditorium | Saturday (6/27) at 2:00 PM – Whether you know every lyric from Seize the Day or just miss newspapers, this pint-sized Newsies brings turn-of-the-century grit, Alan Menken bangers, and a cast of local kids who kick higher than your step count. Big hearts, sharp choreography, zero subscription required.
🎺 Mariachi Los Aguilares @ Roosevelt Park | Sunday (6/28) at 7:00 PM – Nothing beats live mariachi in the park, and Roosevelt Summer Sundays is welcoming Los Aguilares for their debut. Expect rich harmonies, crisp trumpets, and an extended set, so your lawn chair gets more action than it has all year.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Ames report Weather forecastToday — High: 82°F — Low: 59°F — Precip: 21%
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Northwest wind 2 to 8 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 78°F — Low: 58°F — Precip: 7%
Partly sunny, with a high near 78. North northeast wind around 5 mph. Later: A slight chance of rain showers after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. This house is wildThis 1940 concrete contemporary in Oakland Street is a live-in work of art near Iowa State University. Inside, a domed living room, sunken dining space with wrought iron window, cherry finishes, and a gourmet kitchen set the tone. Four bedrooms, two updated baths, a walkout lower level, and a paver patio with firepit complete the scene.
Take a peek inside → |
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