October 20, 2010

City Selling used Computer Equipment

The City of Des Moines has begun selling its used computer equipment to the public. The prices for availabile equipment are listed below. Not all equipment may be available at any given time. Desktop PC's will include mouse and keyboard. All desktop and laptops for sale have Ubuntu 9.04 (a free version of Linux operating system) installed.
  • Desktop PC: $50
  • Laptops: $100
  • Monitors: $50
  • Printers: $50
All sales are final, as is, and without warranty / support.  To learn more about this offering, go to the Des Moines City website.

October 1, 2010

Ingersoll Theater is coming back to life in Cuban/Caribbean style

From the Des Moines Register .... Blog post by Joanne Boeckman • jboeckman@dmreg.com • October 1, 2010

The old Ingersoll Dinner Theater at 3711 Ingersoll Ave. is emerging from its cocoon with a new life as a Caribbean/Cuban restaurant and lounge.


Refurbishing the place has taken almost a year longer than the developers and owners expected, but the wait will be over Oct. 11 when it opens as the Copa Cavana. (Now try to get the melody of Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana” out of your head.)

The walls of the Copa Cavana have been decorated with wall murals and paintings that give it a tropical feel.

The owners are Americans who have a broad international mix of backgrounds, and include Ankur Amin, Katintha Mwanza, Faisal Samara and Belefia Parks. The chef is Alejandro Alvarado and the bar manager is Dustin Doran. Their goal is to create “the soul of the Caribbean in the heart of Des Moines,” and to create an environment that makes people feel like they’re on vacation, Amin said.

The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner, with a mix of tropical appetizers, such as spicy jerk shrimp, chips with mango salsa, and mariquitas con mojo sauce — sliced, fried plantains with a citrus-based sauce. Cuban sandwiches with a choice of sides will be offered, as will a variety of entrees such as pork, chicken, fish and vegetables.

Lunch prices will range from $8 to $11, and full dinners run up to $16. Sandwiches also will be available in the evening, and a kids’ menu will be offered. Daily lunch and dinner specials not found on the menu will be offered.

A VIP area with a bar has been created in the upstairs balcony area. A house specialty is POG Tai, a creation of light and dark rum, mai tai mix and passion fruit, orange and guava juices.

Total capacity for the place is 393.

About two weeks after the restaurant and bar open, the owners hope to add entertainment that will range from live bands or DJs to plays and musicals. Amin said he is looking for entertainment now.

There is a dance floor in front of the stage. On Sundays, free salsa, tango and merengue lessons will be offered.

Lunch hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Dinner is served from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and the bar is open until 2 a.m. those days.

The facility will be available for rent for special and private events.

The phone number will be 515-277-8000.