An annual lantern festival lights up the night in Lamphun, Thailand. (Photos: Getty) |
Ready for a winter getaway? Here are three options. |
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Writer: Whitney Shindelar, as told to Karla Walsh Local real estate agent Sara Hopkins and I first met when she reached out to me last fall, asking if I could help coordinate her family’s spring break trip to Paris. Mais oui! She and her husband, Marc, and their two kids made memories for a lifetime, so I was thrilled when Sara contacted me as she considered options to celebrate her upcoming 20th wedding anniversary.
Sara had already told me that her passion for travel is nothing new. Her seventh-grade teacher took her and four of her best friends to Europe during high school, and her adventurous streak continued through her teens and 20s. The Des Moines native even moved to England for four years after college. In 2006, she and Marc spent months backpacking through Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand on a shoestring budget, staying in hostels, back when they’d been married for about a year. So I asked her about the upcoming anniversary trip. What’s the basic idea?
“Marc and I adore the family we’ve built together, but this vacation is just for us,” she explained. “We crave local, authentic food and drink and don’t need it to be fancy. Hole-in-the-wall dives? Sign us up. We’re happy to splurge on local guides, anything that’s not a tourist trap, and a nice hotel — especially after staying solely in hostels during our first big trip to Asia. It would be so special to go back and experience those regions through a new lens.” With these parameters in mind, and a budget of about $15,000 for a 10-day trip, I zeroed in on three options. It feels really special to be able to potentially send the couple back to where they have adventured in the past, but to do so in style.
The first two options are inspired by the areas of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam that Sara and Marc loved, but this time, with cultural and luxury components mixed in to not only provide new experiences but also to enhance their comfort in the spirit of celebration. The third option is a wild card, a totally new-to-them destination that is my absolute favorite: Indonesia!
Which one would you like to take? And which do you think Sara chose? Scroll down to the bottom of the newsletter to find out. Option 1: Festivals of light in Thailand |
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You’ll arrive in Bangkok just as the city prepares for Loy Krathong, Thailand’s beloved festival of lights. You’ll stroll riverside neighborhoods, explore gilded temples and then join locals as they release candlelit, lotus-shaped lanterns known as krathongs (pictured) onto the Chao Phraya River to symbolize gratitude, renewal and a release of negativity. The city glows with lanterns and soft candlelight, giving even ordinary sights a magical, once-a-year atmosphere.
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From there, you’ll fly north to Chiang Mai, where the celebrations deepen with Yi Peng, the northern lantern festival. Here, locals and visitors alike release thousands of floating lanterns into the sky as they make wishes and release bad luck. You’ll have time to explore Chiang Mai’s craft villages, hillside temples and gentle northern landscapes before participating in a curated lantern release — one of the most iconic and visually striking cultural traditions in Thailand.
Option 2: Buddha’s birthday and a river cruise in Cambodia and Vietnam |
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The magic starts in Siem Reap during Buddha’s birthday, known as Visak Bochea, when Angkor Wat is immersed in soft chants, monks with candles and local families making spiritual offerings. It’s one of the rare moments when visitors can genuinely participate in local culture, experiencing Angkor not just as a historical site but as a living, breathing place of worship. |
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Next you’ll travel to Phnom Penh to board Aqua Expeditions for a three-night journey down the Mekong, an intimate, design-forward vessel that takes you into corners of Cambodia and Vietnam that would be nearly impossible to access on your own. Daily outings include floating markets (pictured), small craft villages, riverside temples and quiet agricultural communities that offer a true window into life along the river. The itinerary ends in Ho Chi Minh City, where stylish hotels and outstanding dining create a vibrant finale.
Option 3: Cultural exploration in Indonesia |
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This trip kicks off in Yogyakarta, or Jogja, an extraordinary introduction to Indonesia’s cultural heart. Here, your days will unfold through coconut groves and the quiet countryside as you cycle toward the 9th-century Prambanan Temple, wander Jogja’s lively markets and artisan workshops, and then take in Borobudur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, at sunset, its stone terraces rising like a sacred mandala between volcanoes and rice fields. It’s a natural fit for travelers who’ve already fallen in love with Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia.
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You’ll continue on to lush and soulful Bali. Based in Ubud, you’ll explore terraced rice valleys, ancient temples and the island’s renowned craft villages before taking part in a traditional Balinese blessing and purification ceremony led by a local priest at a remote jungle temple. The journey then expands toward the sea, with time on Nusa Penida’s dramatic cliffs and turquoise bays (pictured), ending with a sunset at Uluwatu that feels almost cinematic.
Earlier this year, Adel-based travel advisor Whitney Shindelar sent dsm contributor Karla Walsh to Southern Spain (where she captured some highlights on Instagram) and planned a dream birthday getaway for local art gallery owner Liz Lidgett. To contact Shindelar yourself, visit Undiscovered Sunsets about six to eight months before you’d like to travel.
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WEEKEND SECTION PRESENTED BY CATCH DES MOINES |
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What's up? The Rosette Nebula. (Photo: James Yu/Getty)
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A different kind of string theory |
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Great heavens! That’s the main idea at Guitars Under the Stars at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Drake Municipal Observatory in the middle of the Waveland Golf Course.
Did the organizers come up with the name first? Maybe, but GUTS has turned into an annual tradition — and a fun way to celebrate the winter solstice. Co-hosted by the Heart of Iowa Classical Guitar Society and Drake University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, this year’s program features six short pieces for guitar, followed by an open tour of the observatory. Admission is free, and the space is cozy. Go early if you’d like a seat. |
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“I Am a Multitude,” through Friday, Anderson Gallery. Local artist Jill Wells’ meditative, multisensory installation about identity, health and renewal remains for a few more days at Drake University’s Harmon Fine Arts Center on the west edge of campus. It’s open noon to 4 p.m. today and Friday, and noon to 8 p.m. Thursday. “A Christmas Carol,” 7:30 tonight through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Stoner Theater. Iowa Stage Theatre’s annual revival of Charles Dickens’ enduring ghost story offers another chance to appreciate the true spirit of Christmas.
Jingle in the Junction, 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Historic Valley Junction. Shops and restaurants stay open late for the West Des Moines’ neighborhood’s final festive fling of the season, where you’ll hear live music and see a gazillion twinkly lights.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band, 7 p.m. Thursday, Hoyt Sherman Place. The big rowdy band celebrates the holidays Creole-style with a collection of tunes from New Orleans.
“The A Sisters & Friends at the Velvet Lounge,” 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Tallgrass Theatre Co. The cabaret returns with a bit of jazz, a pinch of comedy and, of course, a few holiday classics in West Des Moines. |
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Bravo awards: Bravo Greater Des Moines announced its 2026 honorees, who will be celebrated at the annual Bravo Awards Gala on Feb. 7. Two Spotlight Awards will go to Living History Farms and Mainframe Studios, while the annual Bravo Award will honor Christine Hensley (pictured), who was recently named a dsm Sage Over 70.
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Noun renown: The Young Women’s Resource Center has opened nominations for its 2026 Louise Rosenfield Noun Visionary Award, which recognizes a local community leader dedicated to empowering girls and women. The award honors advocates, activists and philanthropists whose work advances the YWRC mission and inspires others to take action. Nominations are due Jan. 5 at ywrc.org, and the honoree will be invited to speak at the 27th annual YWRC Gala on March 28.
Major goals: The Des Moines Menace and Drake University will officially partner for the 2026 USL League Two season, making Mediacom Stadium the club’s home field pending final league approvals. The club will establish a full-time presence on Drake’s campus from May through July for training, competition and daily operations. “Mediacom Stadium offers a game-changing environment,” Menace General Manager Kyle Davy said in a prepared statement. “Our players will train and compete in a setting that mirrors, in many ways, the professional ranks, and our fans will be closer to the action than ever before.”
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Midwest jams: Des Moines Performing Arts released the 2026 lineup of its Made in the Midwest series, which spotlights local and regional musical talent at the Temple Theater. Next year’s mix features the Cactus Blossoms, Weary Ramblers (pictured), Carver Jones, Other Brothers and the Lubben Brothers. The first show kicks off Jan. 27, and tickets are available now.
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dsm Home Design Awards finalists: On Tuesday we announced the dsm Home Design Award finalists in six categories: Art Display, Historic Renovation or Restoration, Lighting, Remodels Under $50k, Use of Custom Furniture, and Wallpaper. Congratulations to the 14 finalists: ALT Design Studio, B Street Construction + Design, Inc., Caliber Homes, Design2Build, Design2Build/K&V Homes, Dwell Home Furnishings & Interior Design, iDesign Inside LLC, Jeid Studio, Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design, Mainbuilt Custom Homes, Meghan Blum Interiors/Mainbuilt, Silent Rivers Design + Build, Wild Rose Interiors and Woodhouse. See their projects online, and join us at our awards ceremony on Feb. 26, when we’ll reveal the winners.
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Nearly every room of the house glows with a different color thanks to a state-of-the-art lighting system designed by Vibes. The team also installed indoor and outdoor speakers. (Photo: Chris Boeke)
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A canvas of color in West Des Moines |
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Writer: Lauren Day
Picture this: A living room bathed in the glow of a Hawaiian sunset. A kitchen island shimmering under pendants lit Tiffany Blue. A home’s exterior decked out in red and green for the holidays or shining bright in team colors on game day.
That’s the daily (and nightly) reality for Kris McVicker, who can transform her new West Des Moines home with the push of a button. Thanks to a smart lighting system created by Vibes, a local lighting and audio-visual design company, McVicker can set any mood, from crisp brightness for a productive morning, cozy light for a quiet evening or dramatic bursts of color for a celebration.
McVicker comes from a family of creative designers and builders and is the owner of Marc Kris Modern Homes (so named to honor her late brother, Marc). When she designed her own home, in 2023, she knew she wanted white walls and a modern minimal look that felt like a mini-resort.
“Actually, she didn’t like the idea of colored lighting initially,” Vibes founder Joe Nichols said. “We were discussing her art collection, and that’s when the Ketra system became relevant. When we showed her the impact it has on the art, she was sold.” “It was the best decision,” McVicker said. “It’s the future of design.”
In addition to choosing dramatic lighting fixtures, McVicker asked Nichols to design a full lighting experience. She initially imagined adjusting the brightness and warmth to suit different times of day, but Nichols showed her how Lutron’s Ketra system, paired with voice-activated Josh AI technology, could do much more. With thoughtfully placed fixtures and intuitive controls, McVicker can virtually paint each room — or the entire house — in any hue.
She “can ask Josh to change colors, create lighting scenes to set the mood and also control the blinds and audio system,” Nichols said. “Josh AI is remarkably smart.”
It’s so smart, in fact, that it can help her “visit” her favorite vacation spot in Oahu without even stepping out her front door. Even “without any programming or any scenes like that in the system, we’re able to ask Josh to make the entire house look like a Hawaiian sunset,” Nichols said. The AI technology dials every light in the house just so — pink, purple or gold — to replicate the tropical sky. It can even cue Hawaiian music to enhance the overall feel. The effect is striking. In a home filled with carefully chosen materials and sleek furnishings, the lighting can be a showstopper. It’s an element of surprise, allowing the house to shift from everyday calm to party-ready spectacle.
That innovative design recently caught national attention. At a trade show this fall in Denver, the home won a Lutron Design Excellence Award for the best overall project from a new Lutron dealer. For Nichols, the recognition highlights not just the Vibes team’s technical achievement but their artistry. For McVicker, it means her house feels like a home — bright, joyful and full of life.
“You can feel the frequencies of the colors. It just sets the mood, and it’s so unique,” she said. “It offers some light in the world when we really need it.” |
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Kick off the new year with dsm |
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Jan. 13: Unveiling party. Start the new year with a copy of the next edition of dsm magazine, which we'll release at Soma Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetics in Clive.
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Congratulations on 20 years, Sara and Marc Hopkins! If you end up booking your top choice for that anniversary vacation — option No. 3, to Indonesia — share a few photos on Instagram (#dsmmagazinetrip) or send us a note at editors@bpcdm.com. |
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