Please join us as we unveil the May/June issue (our biggest issue ever) of dsm magazine on April 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. (short program at 6 p.m.). Audi of Des Moines is hosting the party at its new location: 5190 Merle Hay Road in Johnston.  

You can expect a few surprises, like the chance to flash your pearly whites Hollywood-style for a photo of you seated in a luxury Audi convertible. You also won't want to miss the next-generation Audi R8 that will be on display; it's the same model that was driven by Tony Stark in the movie "Avengers: Age of Ultron." We look forward to seeing you there!

By Jonathan Brendemuehl

Everyone enjoys that new-car smell. But isn't there something to be said for a vehicle that has stood the test of time? Like a great wine or a first-edition book, some things stand up just as well, if not better, decades later.

To help determine which cars should make the cut, I reached out to Josh Dreyer, a local auto enthusiast and the marketing director at Willis Auto Campus. Here are the three classic cars he says every man should drive at least once in his lifetime:

Any air-cooled Porsche 911 (1963-1989)

The Romans had their chariots; we have Porsches. The iconic automaker has delivered a number of highly respected performance cars throughout its 84-year history, but perhaps none has delivered the driving experience of this coveted classic. "To experience an original 911 is to experience sports car driving in its most pure form," Dreyer says.

The Austin Mini Cooper S (1963-1965)

Sir Alec Issigonis was clearly onto something when he designed the original Mini. The economical car with a unique appearance has transcended the classes and is a popular choice among guys ranging artists to executives. The Austin Mini Cooper S dominated the European road rallies of its time. "This is one small ride not to be missed," Dreyer says. 

A Land Rover Defender 90 (1994-1997) 

Hypercolor T-shirts, center-part bowl haircuts, the CK One fragrance by Calvin Klein. The 1990s gave guys a lot of things we might prefer to forget; however, it was during that decade that Land Rover produced one of its most sought-after vehicles, the Defender 90. "Although a less-than-ideal ride on the freeway, this all-terrain beast could be defined as the last bastion of gentlemanly masculinity," Dreyer says.

• One man's junk will be another man's fashion design at Des Moines Area Community College's unconventional fashion presentation on April 25, where students in the fashion design program will put on "Mixed Messages: A Conversation Without Words." Designs constructed from things like magazines, puzzle pieces and shoelaces will be featured. Guests also can expect live music, local art work and a silent auction to raise funds for the school's program. The event will be held at the Des Moines Social Club Culinary Loft (900 Mulberry St.) from 7 to 10 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
   
• Greater Des Moines Music Coalition will hold its 10th annual Gross Domestic Product festival on April 25 in three East Village venues: Wooly's, Streetcar 209 and the Beechwood Lounge. The festival aims to showcase talent from across the state and selects bands that have made an impact on the music scene. This year, 18 bands will play at the event. Ticket costs vary; click here for more information and to see the lineup.
   
• Registration is still open for the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines'  Celebration Luncheon and Report to the Community that will take place May 7 from noon to 1:15 p.m. at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown (700 Grand Ave.). Last year, more than 450 guests joined to celebrate a record-breaking year of charitable giving. Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased here.

You may not have seen him, but you've definitely seen his work as you've flipped through the pages of our magazine or scanned our digital archives. In addition to being our talented graphic/Web designer, Shaun Riekena is an accomplished musician who remains creative long after he leaves the office.  

His one-man instrumental project, Prisms & Portals, has just released an album called "The Fossil Lights," which Shaun solely wrote, recorded and mixed. Listen to the album and purchase one for $5 here; the digital album features his original artwork and includes unlimited streaming of "The Fossil Lights" via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.