Good morning, Grand Rapids.
I love a themed restaurant, and Grand Rapids has quite a vast collection of them. Visiting them is like stepping into another dimension.
Max’s South Seas Polynesian tiki theme makes you feel like you’re on vacation. The Commons’ ‘70s theme makes you feel like you’re in your grandparents’ house.
And this week, we discovered a bar that feels like Christmas all year long.
~Jenny F.
Two-Wheeler Takeover
If you prefer two wheels over four, then this weekend’s Riverside Rally is for you. Held at Sixth Street Park on August 14th and 15th, this family-friendly event invites bikers of all kinds to gather together for fun, food, and live music.
Ryan Davis started the event last year as a way to honor his parents and partner with nonprofits who work with veterans and youth.
Enjoy nonstop music and entertainment all weekend long. And make sure you hang out for the custom bike competition. I, personally, can’t wait for the Cutest Biker Baby contest!
Business News
✅ New
Last year, Illinois-based Vintage Charm opened a location in South Haven, and soon, they’ll be opening their tenth location in Grand Rapids on Wealthy.
❌ Closing
The Comprehensive Therapy Center, which served children with developmental disabilities, is closing up shop due to financial circumstances.
❗ Updates
Alger Pediatrics has been caring for kids since 1978, and their practice is about to get an upgrade. Construction has begun on their new 9,375-square-foot care center.
Broad Leaf Brewing is celebrating their anniversary this weekend with a James Bond 007 theme, new beer releases, throwback menu items, and martini glass painting.
Civic News
What’s going down at City Hall today at 2 PM…
A new sister city, half a world away: commissioners vote on a formal Sister City agreement with Dnipro, Ukraine.
Big money: up to ~$5M from the state for indigent (public) defense, plus a $3M budget move for water-system control ("SCADA") upgrades.
Growth downtown & beyond: a $26M Profile Films project on Ann St NW is up for approval (with tax breaks), and the city may sell 150 Lexington Ave SW to GVSU.
What locals are talking about: Flock license-plate cameras again, Upheaval Festival on Belknap noise, and pedestrian/bike safety on Kalamazoo Ave.
Open public comment is always open at the end of the meetings at City Hall.
Talk Of The Town
Broadway Bar
🎅 Grand Rapids Has a Christmas Bar
If you’re over summer and ready for cooler temps, check out Broadway Bar, whose halls have been decked out in Christmas decorations since the owners bought it 30 years ago.
📷 Help Monitor the River Renovation
The Lower Grand River Organization of Watershed (LGROW) is inviting passersby to help them track the progress of the Grand River construction. Pictures sent in from the designated spot will be compiled into a time-lapse, so people can see how much the river changed.
🎸 Largest National Touring Festival Stops in GR
The Breakaway Festival, a 2-day music bonanza, is happening at Belknap Park this Friday and Saturday. Tickets start at $149.
What’s Happening?
Tuesday, August 11th
Discovering Owls | Hosted by Blandford Nature Center at Various locations | $5+
Ada's Farmers' Market | 9 AM - 2 PM | Free
White Caps Vs. Lansing Lugnuts | LMCU Ball Park | Various times (Tue - Sun) | $18+
Wednesday, August 12th
Food Truck Day | Air Port Viewing Park | 10 AM - 4 PM | Free
Accessible Birding | Millennium Park | 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM | $0+
Thursday, August 13th
Ian Fidance | Dr. Grins (Thu - Sat) Various times | $18+
Wildlife Exploration Day | John Ball Zoo | 9 AM | $0+
Thursdays on the Terrace + Community Museum Day | GRAM | 5 PM - 9 PM | Free
Mill Creek Nature Hike | Wahlfield Park | 7 PM - 8:30 PM | Free
Solar Eclipse Breathwork | Somatic Wisdom Institute | 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM | $20
Friday, August 14th
Back to School Bash & Touch a Truck | Tanger Outlet | 12 PM - 3 PM | Free
Assembly Required: Jigsaw puzzling social meetup | Giggles and Gourmets Play Cafe | 5 PM - 7 PM | $5
Silent Disco | Studio Park | 6 PM | $10
Live Music
Tuesday, August 11th
Jam w/ Cap't Kirk | Philmore South | 6 PM | Free
Sam Morrow | 9309 Dobber Wnger Memorial Dr. | 6 PM | Free
Happy Together | GLC Live | 6:30 PM | $60+
Great Lakes Brass | Frederik Meijer Gardens | 7 PM | GA
GOO GOO DOLLS | Acrisure Amphitheater | 7:30 PM | $40+
Wednesday, August 12th
Open Mic Night | RAK | Downtown Market | Free
SilentBark | Gypsum Grill | 5 PM | Free
Thursday, August 13th
Sabbatical Bob | Rosa Park Circle | 12 PM - 1:30 PM | Free
Strum, Dumb and Dumber | Grandville Community Commons | 4 PM | Free
Genna & Jesse | Horrocks Market | 5 PM | Free
Preston Cooper | The Stache | 6:30 PM | $20
Open Mic Night | Rapid River Stillhouse | 7 PM | free
Asamu Johnson and The Associates of the Blues | Kentwood City Lawn | 7 PM | Free
The Insiders: A Tribute to Tom Petty | Riverwalk Plaza | 7 PM | Free
The Dear Hunter | Pyramid Scheme | 7:30 PM | $40
Blood of Angels | Mulligan’s Pub | 9 PM | Free
Friday, August 14th
Breakaway Michigan Music Festival | Belknap Park | (Fri - Sat) 4 PM - 11 PM | $50+
The Untrustables | Horrocks Market | 5 PM | Free
Simply In Time | The Score | 6 PM | Free
Hank Williams Jr. | Acrisure Amphitheater | 6:30 PM | $35+
Folias & August | The Stray | 7 PM | $12
Prior Noon (Country) | Legacy Park | 7 PM | Free
Framing the Red | Firebird Bar GR | 7 PM | Free
The Moonrays | Speciation Cellars | 8 PM | Free
LOUDERNOW | Pyramid Scheme | 8 PM | $15
Masquerade House, Code Blue, Hobi, Jude Harris | Garage Bar | 10 PM | Free
*Shows are subject to change, but that’s show biz.
The Digest
A briefing of local news that matters
🚗 Construction Calamity: Going to the zoo is no easy feat lately. In addition to construction on Wealthy and Butterworth, now a portion of Fulton will be closed. The culprit: the water mains.
✋ Perks for Participating: There’s still time to volunteer for the Return to the River festival happening August 22nd and 23rd. Get access to all the fun as well as a free shirt. Sign up here.
🛍 Get Creative: Experimental Retail Grants are available to downtown businesses that can invent new ways to drive customer traffic and make Grand Rapids a popular place to shop. See more details.
🏠 Historic Housing: The Ledyard Building at Ottawa and Pearl had apartments in the late 1880s, and it will again. While the street level will maintain commercial space, the other three floors will be converted to 40 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
🔥 Up in Smoke: Summer is high tourist season in Michigan, but with the Canadian wildfire smoke last month, many people stayed away, costing the state $4 billion in revenue. Read more here.
Have news to report? Click here.
That’s All…
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