We're one of three agencies opening our doors to AMA Iowa Chapter members and students for this years Agency Crawl. Be sure to register for the crawl and come see us along with Catchfire Media and Lava Row. This is the last time you'll see us in our current pad before we move here!

Good morning Des Moines! Could we ask for any better weather to enjoy the arts this weekend? By the looks of it right now, I would say definitely not.

Besides checking out the artwork from all the local and national artists, here's what I recommend seeing at the Des Moines Arts Festival this weekend:

• Live music – there are some seriously awesome music acts this year:
  ScarsOn45 play at 7pm Friday, The Smithereens follow at 8pm. On Saturday check out Silent Agency at 1:30pm, Modoc at 6pm and The Envy Corps at 8pm.
• Performance Art:
  Get blown away Friday night at 5pm with the stunt show by Project Dynamite and then again Saturday at 5:45. Sunday's Des Moines Poetry slam at 11:30am could be awesome or disastrous, so that makes for some fun.
• Interactive Arts:
  Join Bank of America and the Des Moines Art Center to create a 30' by 25' inverted ice cream cone using brightly colored recycled plastic bags. Also, share your creative side by painting a picket fence assembled around the Blitz Build house. If you have kiddos get them entered in the coloring contest for a chance to win a $25 gift card to spend on the art supplies.
• Interrobang Film Festival:
  Check out the Interrobang Film Festival, to view 52 independent films on-site in the south wing of the Des Moines Central Library.

Most of all have fun this weekend! Enjoy the weather and enjoy the arts in one of the most beautiful settings in all of Des Moines.

The word is out that we're moving to a new state of the art facility in downtown by the end of the year. You can read more about the building located across from the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Garden in the Des Moines Register or Business Record.

But here is what we're most excited about with the new space:

1. Downtown. Can't say it enough. While we're on the outskirts of it right now, to be in the heart of it will be awesome.
2. The view. We will have the privilege of looking out at this every day.
3. New workspace. While we're at the beginning of space design we're pretty excited about creating opportunities for our talented people to work closer with spaces designed for teamwork.
4. Pride. We're sure this space is going to give all of us a real sense of pride for where we work and what we do.
5. Wow factor. We work with the best clients and we want these clients and future clients to feel wowed when they step in our doors. We're the real deal and we want them to know they deserve it.
6. Hub-bub. I had a chance to eat at the Jimmy John's over there last week and realized we're going to be right in the hub-bub of activity. Within walking distance we'll have restaurants, the library, the sculpture garden, coffee shops, shopping and much more.
7. Parking. We have it now, but to have easy parking at the new spot is more icing on the cake.

Some would say it's time for some football. But in reality I think the Big Game has become much more of a commercial phenomenon than anything. Maybe it's because we're in the industry, but our office isn't buzzing about who's playing in the Big Game, even though a semi-local team is in it. It's more set ablaze with buzz about what we think this year's "big" commercial is going to be.

We've worked with Harvest Research Center to put together the annual Big Game Adverting Survey to gauge Iowan's reactions to the commercials. For the past two years, Doritos has been the fire-starter taking the top spot amongst our panel. In 2009, it was the "Chrystal Ball" spot, and in 2010, it was the "Keep Your Hands Off My Doritos" spot. It looks like Iowan's prefer their Big Game commercials to have a little humor.

As we look forward to gathering our results for 2011, we wonder if Doritos will be able to pull the hat trick and take top honors again. I'm hopeful some unforeseen contender is going to blow us away with a new advertising campaign that will be around for years to come instead of for just a short season of commercial runs. We'll see and wait with anticipation.

In the meantime, register to join the Big Game Advertising Survey panel. We've got some great prizes, including a grand prize of $250.