Good morning, Grand Rapids.
Halloween's only a week away, and the city's starting to get spooky!
In this issue...
Oddities on Ottawa and other haunting Halloween fun
A then-versus-now look at Studio Park
Opportunities to vote early
...and a fun little trivia question about GR history! Let me know in the feedback if you got the answer right!
~Sara B.
Supporting Change
Together with: Tip Jar Foundation
What makes you feel welcome?
Local nonprofit The Tip Jar Foundation is supporting the next generation of food, beverage, and hospitality pros as they figure it out, and its largest fundraiser is coming up in January.
The West Michigan Food & Beverage Awards is an annual fundraiser that directly supports scholarships for professionals pursuing development and education in the field. It is the foundation's biggest event, and with a black-tie-encouraged standard, worth pulling out the old suit or dress you've been waiting to wear.
Celebrate the excellence of West Michigan's food and beverage scene while investing in its future... what better way is there to spend a wintry January evening?
Your straight-to-the-point save-the-date:
Date: January 18, 2027 | 6 PM
Location: JW Marriott Grand Rapids
Tickets: $150, including a four-course dinner and Afterglow celebration
Attire: Black Tie Encouraged
Can't make it, or want to support the Tip Jar Foundation sooner?
Share your message, offer, or event with 50,000+ GR area locals. Plan a partnered placement with Calder News.
Business News
✅ New
Missing Mediterranean on Alpine? Dubai Bites brings new life to the old Mr. Gyros, with a grand opening scheduled for Oct. 28th.
❗ Updates
Mental health resource Fountain Hill Center has expanded to include more ADA-accommodating features to better serve the community.
Gourmet grocery shop Art of the Table celebrated 23 years this Wednesday, celebrating with bubbly during their wine tastings on Wednesday and Thursday.
Talk Of The Town
🧟 Fearful Favorites: The annual Scarecrow Contest has hit downtown GR! Stroll through the Hotel District and see the spooky and silly scarecrows put together by over 30 local businesses. And, of course, the best part: you get to pick your favorite!! From Coraline to Lord Farquaad, you're sure to see some familiar faces in the bunch.
👹 Spooky Saturday Plans: This Saturday, Garage Bar will host Oddities on Ottawa: an evening block party full of eerie entertainment, weird wonders, local vendors, food, and drinks. From 4 pm- 10 pm (or 3 pm if you have a VIP ticket!). The event will block off Ottawa Ave NW between Mason and Newberry.
Parking Lot to Studio Park
Courtesy: Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.
Ever wondered what Studio Park used to be?
This flashback to 2012 might look familiar to some of you.
Before the mixed-use building was constructed, there were two parking lots. Now, the address holds an impressive movie theatre, residential units, office space, a hotel, and more.
It first opened in 2019, after the DDA invested in a planning process to improve the section south of Van Andel.
Take this as a testament that some change takes time (in this case, about seven years).
Are you a fan of Studio Park? Or do you miss the extra parking?
See more of the transformation here.
End Of Week Trivia
In 1945, GR became the first city in the world to...
The answer to today’s poll is located at the end of the newsletter!
Civic News
Skip The Line on the Polls
Polls are open for early voting!
Today, though, the Sunday before Election Day, you have the choice to visit one of several polling locations to avoid the lines on the big day.
Since 2022, the state has been required to offer at least nine days of early in-person voting; this year, our city tacked on four on top of that. Not too shabby, GR...
You can find where early voting is + times here.
Also worth knowing that the DOJ is sending "election monitors" that'll observe like typical poll watchers.
Featured Events
Click the flyer for more details
Click the flyer for more details
What Is Happening?
Friday, October 23rd
Johnson Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony | West Michigan Mountain Biking Alliance | 1 PM | Free
Grand Rapids Griffins | Van Andel Arena | 7 PM - 10 PM
Tunnel of Terror Haunted Car Wash | Tommy's Express Car Wash | (10/23 - 10/24) 7 PM
Grand Rapids Ballet: Broken Wings | Peter Martin Wege Theatre | 7:30 PM (Through 10/23)
Saturday, October 24th
Fall Fun Festival | Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens | 2 PM-5 PM | Free
Raise the Woof 2026 | Underground Lounge + Patio | 4 PM - 7 PM | Free
Zombie Dash 5k | Sixth Street Bridge Park | 6 PM - 8 PM | $50
Grand Rapids Griffins | Van Andel Arena | 7 PM - 10 PM | $18+
Merchants of the Macabre Oddities Market | Grand Rapids Downtown Market | 10 AM - 6 PM | Free
West Side Donut Dash | Blandford Nature Center | 9:30 AM - 12 PM | $10+
Hallowee-Ones: Parade and Programming | Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park | (10/24 - 10/31) 10 AM | GA
Women Who Write & Create | Hilton Garden Inn Grand Rapids East | 10:30 AM - 3:30 PM | Free
Community Trunk or Treat | New City Fellowship | 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM | Free
Sunday, October 25th
The Battleground 2k26: U of M vs. UH | Van Andel Arena | 1 PM | ?
Woodshop Safety | Grand River Makerspace | 8 AM - 10 AM | $12.51–$17.85
Trunk or Treat - City Chapel | Sixth Street Park | 12 PM - 1 PM | Free
Hallo-Weenie Races | Ada Park | 2 PM - 5 PM | Free
Craig's Cruisers Halloween Bash | Craig's Cruisers | 11 AM - 8 PM | $29
Live Music
Friday, October 23rd
The Wild Honey Collective | Horrocks Market | 5 PM - 8 PM | Free
Judah & The Lion | The Intersection | 6:30 PM - 11 PM
Sophia McIntosh | Brickyard Tavern | 6 PM - 9 PM | Free
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics | Wealthy Theatre | 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Prior Noon | The Stache | 7:30 PM - 11:30 PM
Jessica Audiffred | Elevation | 9 PM
Blood Druid/ Dischorded/ Venom of Virtue | Mulligan's Pub | (10/23 - 10/24) 10 PM
Kylee Phillips, Grace Theisen Trio | The Stray | 7 PM - 10 PM
Mickey & The Heart Throbs + Secret Satan | Speciation Cellars | 9 PM - 11 PM | Free
Saturday, October 24th
R&B Fest – A Celebration Of 90’S & 00’S R&B | Elevation | 4 PM - 9 PM
The Insiders: A Tribute to Tom Petty | The Big Room | 7 PM - 10 PM
Oddities on Ottawa | Garage Bar and Grill | 3 PM - 10 PM
Fall, In Love | Ladies Literary Club | 3 PM - 8 PM
LAKEVIEW – Wreck My Night Tour | The Stache | 7:30 PM
Emma Willmann | Dr. Grins Comedy Club at The B.O.B. | 7:15 PM
The Derek Winter Band | The Back Forty Saloon | 8 PM | Free
Free Halloween Show: Garbage Angel! | Speciation Cellars 9 PM - 11 PM | Free
The Bothersome / Sorry Monkey / Brainfone | Mulligan's Pub | 10 PM | Free
Shyeye | GLC Live at 20 Monroe | 6 PM
Vespa, Josh Garvelink + Stray Horses, Hunter VanKlompenberg (Full Band) | The Stray | 7 PM - 10 PM
Mean Green, Thundergoat, Supergrudge, Psython | Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grille | 8 PM
Sunday, October 25th
Our Nation’s History in Music | Forest Hills Eastern Auditorium (Use Knapp St. entrance) | 2:30 PM | Free
Halloween Showcase from Red Rose Music Lab Student Bands | Horrocks Market | 3 PM - 6 PM
Vexatious & Vapid Soul & The Harbor Divide | Mulligan's Pub | 3 PM
Debutants | The Philmore South | 6 PM - 9 PM
SPITE – New World Killer Tour | Elevation | 7 PM
The Blue Herons + The Great Black Night + Vida Eterna | The Pyramid Scheme | 8 PM - 11 PM
21Days | The Intersection | 8 PM
The Wind Down with SJA | Harmony Brewing Company | 9 PM - 12 AM | Free
*Shows are subject to change, but that’s show biz.
Calder Catch Up
A quick digest of local news that matters
🎃 Trick-or-Treating Tips: GRPD dropped advice on staying safe while enjoying the spookiest night of the year. From recommended times to costume cautions, check out their tips.
🌳 Mother Nature's Makeover: Crahen Valley Park is getting the final touches on a $3 million renovation, which added new trails and ADA-accessible areas for the community to enjoy.
🏫 Higher Ceilings: The Kent County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, with plans to transform the 138,000 sq. ft. space into room to grow and additional parking for County staff and tenants.
Have news to report? Click here.
That’s All…
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