🌱 Patch AM: Which new Ames restaurants opened this year—and what should you try?

Hey hey Ames! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Which new Ames restaurants opened this year—and what should you try?
• How ISU students are reviving classic campus recipes for your kitchen

Today's riddle: What did the clock say when it ran out of batteries? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 46 and low of 33 degrees.
• Saturday: Fog in the morning; some sun, temps: high: 51, low: 33.
• Sunday: A bit of afternoon snow, with a high of 36 and low of 10 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!

📰 News we're reading

• From Kyiv cake to 12-inch hot dogs, what restaurants opened in 2025? (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — Several new eateries and drink spots opened across Ames in 2025, from a Ukrainian bakery on Main Street to a foot-long hot dog bar with drag shows and a new Dunkin’ on Lincoln Way. Residents can also try a chicken finger joint in Campustown, a mac-and-cheese bar, and new coffee and energy drink drive-thrus expanding options around town.
   

• From the archives to your kitchen: Iowa State students develop cookbook from 'heritage' recipes (kcci.com) — Iowa State students in Ames are turning 100 historic campus recipes into a modern cookbook, refreshing everything from VEISHEA cherry pie to The Knoll’s famous hot chocolate. Working from the university’s archives, the student team has spent the semester testing, updating, and standardizing these “heritage” dishes so today’s home cooks can easily recreate beloved ISU traditions.
   

📸 Around Ames

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🗓 Events Nearby

Friday December 26

• Camelot Movie: Love Actually
  Camelot Theater , 1114 6th St , Nevada
  7:00 pm

Saturday December 27

• Colfax Livestock Sales
  Colfax Livestock Sales Co , 335 N Walnut St , Colfax
  9:00 am
• Gilbert Library is Open
  Gilbert, IA Calendar , 207 Main Street , Gilbert
  10:00 am

Monday December 29

• Christmas Tree Pickup Begins
  Gilbert, IA Calendar Gilbert, IA 50105
• Adult Craft Club
  Perry Public Library , 1101 Willis Ave , Perry
  6:00 pm

Tuesday December 30

• Preschool Storytime & crafts at the Library
  Gilbert, IA Calendar , 207 Main Street , Gilbert
  8:30 am
• Intro to Musical Theater: A Winter's Tale
  Story Theater Company , 1609 Golden Aspen Dr #105 , Ames
  9:00 am

Wednesday December 31

• New Year's closings - Library
  Madrid Public Library , 100 West 3rd Street , Madrid
• Cribbage & Mahjong
  Sixty Forward , 205 S Walnut Ave , Ames
  1:30 pm
• Library closes early at 5:00 p.m. for the New Years Holiday
  Johnston Public Library - Johnston IA 50131
  5:00 pm

Thursday January 1

• Fire Department Meeting
  Gilbert, IA Calendar , 105 SE 2ND STREET , Gilbert
  6:00 pm

Friday February 13

• Midwest All-Service ROTC Retreat
  Riverside Bible Camp , 3001 Riverside Rd , Story City
  5:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Ames PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• We have a perfectly functioning old microwave and a carpet cleaner (used one time) we are trying to give away.
  Please let us know if interested. Possibly more coming... (Nextdoor Northridge)

• Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. posted a job opening for Crew Member in Ames. Apply here.
• L Brands, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Sales Associate-NORTH GRAND MALL in Ames. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ames here.

🗞 Nearby News

Boone

• Boone EDC elects new board members, president (youarecurrent.com)
• Ogden wrestlers compete at Roland-Story invite (kwbg.com)
• Remains Of Iowa Guard Soldiers Return To Iowa on Wednesday (westerniowatoday.com)

Ankeny

Ok Ames! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I guess I’m out of time.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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