Good morning, Grand Rapids. This is Calder News - the newsletter bringing local happenings and news straight to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Since Monday’s email, we’ve added ~100 new people (howdy folks). It’s crazy to think this is our second email and we already have 400 subscribers.

I appreciate you taking the time to read Calder News. ❤️ 

Now for today’s news:

• Creston’s new wine bar

• GRFD gets a new facility

• Highway construction update

Let’s get into it…

What’s Happening

Business | Creston’s very own: Starting this Saturday, Creston will have its very own neighborhood wine bar and floral shop called Good Good Good. The newly renovated shop has been built out of a 100-year-old building that had been empty since the 90s — taking over 1 year to finish. The bar will produce small batches of natural wines and sell locally sourced flowers. Good Good Good will host its grand opening on Oct. 5th. If you like wine, check it out.

City | GRFD’s new facility: Grand Rapids has received a $1.5M grant from the government to support its firefighters. With the city agreeing to match the government’s grant, a total of $3M will go toward building a five-story firefighter training facility on the west side toward Alpine. The project is expected to bring over 300 jobs to the city.

Community | Out with the old: Construction has started on the old riverfront walkway between the Blue Bridge and JW Marriot. The new riverwalk will have a complete facelift with landscaping and concrete instead of wooden planks. The project is expected to be completed toward the end of this year.

Highways | Highway update: After months of inconvenience, the northbound US-131 ramp to I-96 toward Alpine is back open. I can’t be the only one happy I don’t have to go up Ann St to get to Alpine anymore - right?

We Asked

In Monday’s email, we asked you (and 300 others) which restaurant you thought had the best tacos in Grand Rapids.

I tallied up all the votes and here are your top 3 picks…

1. Tacos El Cunado (Bridge St) - 35% of votes

2. Lindo Mexico (28th St) - 18% of votes

3. Tie - Donkey (Wealthy) | Tamales Mary (Eastern + Burton) - 15% of votes

If your choice didn’t come in the top 3, don’t worry. We’re all winners. Think about it… There are 3 taco spots to give a shot.

ps. Tacos El Cunado takes the cake for me… If you voted for them, I’m just like you.

Community Feature

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Events

Today

• Spanish Storytime | Comstock Park Public Library | 10AM | Free

• Free Senior Fit Class | Senior Center Lowell | 9 AM - 3 PM | Free | Get moving with GR’s community over 60 and enjoy a free fitness class

• Studio Sips (tickets are limited!) | WMCAT | 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM | $60 Cover | Wind down after work or enjoy a night out with included drinks, appetizers, and interactive art

• Pumpkins Water Color | I’m An Artist Studio | 6 PM - 7:30 PM | $35 | Enjoy a beginner-friendly watercolor painting class for family time or a date night

• Paint + Sip (Ghosts) | Third Nature Brewing Co. | 6 PM - 8 PM | $35 | Hit the bar and then the canvas with acrylic paints in this step-by-step paint-and-sip

• Comedy Night | River City Saloon | 9 PM | Free | Pick up a drink (and) or pick up the mic and buckle in for a night of comedy

Thursday

• Crafternoons | GR Public Library | 1 PM - 2 PM | Free | Get free cookies, and coffee, and use supplies provided by the library to make unique art

• Ada Village Fall Festival | 7330 Thornapple River DR | 4 PM - 7PM | Free

• TangerPink Bike Ride | Tanger Outlet | 5 PM - 7:30 PM| Free | Bring your best pink outfit and bike gear to help bring awareness to Breast Cancer within the community

• Wine Women & Chocolate | Womens Resource Center | 5 PM - 7:30 PM | Price varies | Sample wine, and chocolates, and enter raffles to win prizes - fundraiser

• Mats & Mimosas | Spruced Studio | 6 PM - 8 PM | $30 - $40 | Sip on mimosas and create your own doormat with the help of an instructor

• Vinyl Night | Broad Leaf Brewery | 6 PM - 10 PM | Free | Bring your favorite records and toast your favorite IPA with other vinyl lovers

• Intro to Puppetry Class | National Broadway Theatre | 6:30 PM - 8 PM | $25 | Join an acclaimed NYC actress and puppeteer in a beginner class on the craft of puppeteering

• Light The Night | Calder Plaza | 6 PM - 9 PM | Free | Bring your kiddos to enjoy inflatables, food, and entertainment while listening to support local families dealing with cancer.

Friday

• 3rd Annual Golf Scramble | Thornapple Pointe Golf Club | 9 AM - 3:30 PM | $125 | Includes games, 50/50 raffle, silent auction, donuts, coffee, and a cookout after

• Eastern Floral Fall Fest Tent Sale | Eastern Floral | 9 AM - 5:30 PM | Free

• Cloud Making Class | 40 Monroe Center #103 | 6 PM - 8 PM | $30 | Learn how to make mini decorative clouds with Alex Brenda

• Opening Event: Lee Alexander McQueen + Ann Ray Rendez Vous | GRAM | 7PM - 9 PM | Attendance is free for members

Plus some of this week’s ongoing events…

• Grand Rapids Ghosts Tour | 299 Lyon St NW | 8 PM - 9 PM any day | $25 | Tour multiple historic spots around town while an experienced guide tells you about hauntings and lores surrounding GR

Our full events list for this weekend will be included in Friday’s email

Before you go…

Another reader recently said…