One of our favorite places!

If you're coming to town early, you can catch the Iowa Women's Basketball team take on Nebraska on Thursday, January 1st. If Jacqueline isn't losing her mind, you might even see her there!

If you're RSVP-ing no but you're still exploring our wedding website, that's super weird. But since you're not celebrating with us on January 3rd, you could watch the Iowa Men's Basketball team go up against UCLA. We won't be there, so it seems rude that you'd go without us. But you do you.

This place has EVERYTHING. Shops. Restaurants. A brewery with delicious wood-fired pizza (Backpocket Brewing). A Von Maur with a holiday piano player to set a festive yet relaxing shopping mood. A breakfast place with interesting combinations of breakfast foods and a mimosa tower (Tribute Eatery & Bar). And a pizza place that Jim Nepola loves (Marquee Pizzeria) with a Detroit style cheese bread delicacy.

And is that a snowman? No. It's you. Be sure to wear your coats because none of the shops or restaurants are connected.

Honorable mention goes to the mediterranean restaurant Vesta. They have great food and drinks, but they took my favorite pizza off their menu so I didn't mention them in my Stefon review.

Want to hang out INSIDE? Fine, wimp. Let's go to the mall! There's a food court, a Target, a Barnes & Noble, a Scheels and a movie theater. What more could you ask for?

I'm sure Wicked will still be in theaters. Seems like a great way to kill 2+ hours in Iowa!

Let the kids jump out all that winter energy! Air FX is approximately a 40 minute drive from Downtown Iowa City. I've never been there, but the junior kindergarteners tell me it's a fun time.

If you're staying Downtown at the Hilton Garden or the Graduate, the area has some great bar and restaurant options. See some of our favorites below:

The Vue Rooftop: Located right next to The Hilton Garden Inn, good food and good vibes.

Baroncini Ristorante: Jim Nepola's favorite restaurant; mention the Nepola family at dinnertime and they'll either offer you some limoncello or politely remind you what time the restaurant closes. It's also less than a 10 minute walk from the Hilton and the Graduate.

Z'Mariks: Buy a book at Prairie Lights Bookstore (see below) and then stop by to enjoy your book and a bowl of mac & cheese or one of their other noodle dishes.

Bluebird Diner: excellent breakfast and lunch option

Hamburg Inn: an Iowa City institution and previous stop of many politicians on campaign trails. The West Wing filmed an episode here! Stop in for breakfast or lunch and treat yourself to a pie shake. (It's pie in a milkshake. It's delicious.)

Estela's Fresh Mex or Pancheros: Grab a quick burrito for lunch

Java House: favorite coffee house in the Iowa City area, also would be a good place to stop by after Prairie Lights