Good morning, Grand Rapids. I’m LeQwane and this is Calder News.
We made it, folks. It’s officially the “let’s circle back in 2026” season.
The funny part is I’ve got meetings scheduled all the way up until Tuesday evening. The perks of building a company!
Heads up, Calder News will only go out on Monday and Friday next week.
~LeQwane L.
By The Numbers
How do you reflect at the end of the year?
The Right Place reflected on Grand Rapids’ year by the numbers. And frankly, the city isn’t doing too shabby.
Here are some numbers from the State of the Region: Greater Grand Rapids report:
$844M in new capital investment over 3 years
37% of residents have a bachelor’s degree or better
70.3% of the region’s population in the past year comprised diverse communities
6.2% population growth over the last decade
The Digest
A briefing of local news that matters
Downtown
Historic Building Hits Market For $5.25M
YWCA, a local nonprofit that supports survivors of domestic violence and SA, has listed its building at 25 Sheldon Ave SE for $5.25M as it looks to move into a smaller space. The 48k+ sqft building had a ~$6M renovation in 2016 and includes a ballroom and a full basketball court. Proceeds would support the move and help grow its programs. | Read more
Business
Microsoft Data Center Meeting Paused
On Thursday night, a public hearing for Microsoft’s request to rezone about 40 acres near Patterson Ave and 76th St for its data center was postponed due to hundreds showing up. The plan is to retry the meeting in February. | Read more
Schools
GRPS Plans for Closed Elementary Schools
GRPS released its timeline to repurpose the closed Alexander and Stocking elementary buildings. Locals can share ideas at community meetings on Jan. 14 (Alexander) and Jan. 15 (Stocking). | View timeline for planning
City
Mayor LaGrand’s First Year
Mayor David LaGrand sat down to review his first year in office, covering topics like what has moved and what’s stuck. He also talked about ongoing aquarium conversations, parking ideas around big event days, public safety, and funding uncertainty. | Watch the interview
Most engaged stories of the week
GR’s Next Accessibility Project
Collins Corner Rendering
The developer behind The Heights on Burton - an accessible mixed-use development is making yet another move closer to downtown.
Earlier this week, I spoke with Gabriel Grant about Collins Corner, a four-unit, fully accessible housing project at Sheldon and Prospect on the southeast side.
Named after his grandparents and located just minutes from Trinity Health, Mary Free Bed, and the new Children’s Rehabilitation. The project builds on Grant’s focus on building accessible and, most importantly, affordable housing that fits Grand Rapids.
Read our behind-the-scenes interview covering how the project came together and what it’ll do for our community.
Talk Of The Town
🧑🎨 Winning ArtPrize Piece Finally Moves
After delays and being stuck due to the government shutdown, the winning piece from ArtPrize has been removed from the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.
Talking Shop
🍥 SSS Inc. → A new design studio is coming to the Uptown neighborhood, not to be vague on purpose, there’s just not much information…
🥖 Local Epicurean → The cooking school and culinary retailer Local Epicurean is set to be acquired and franchised to multiple locations over the next few years.
Sports
🏆 On Tuesday (12/23), Union High School and Ottawa Hills are playing at the Van Andel Arena
What’s Happening?
Friday, December 19th
Chanukah Lighting | Calder Plaza | (Fri - Sat) Various times | Free
The Nutcracker | DeVos Performance Hall | (Fri - Sun) Various times | $50+
The Nutcracker (MBA) | EGR Performing Arts Center | (Fri - Sun) Various times | $12+
Comedian: Aaron Weber | Dr. Grins Comedy Club | Various Times | $12.95+
Holiday Lights Trolley | Kusterer Brauhaus | 3 PM - 10 PM | ?
Tidings & Tiaras: A Christmas Evening with the Princesses | JW Marriott | 5:30 PM | $107
Greenhouse Wine Social | Horrocks Market | 6 PM | $35
WWE RAW & Smackdown | Van Andel Arena | 6 PM | $56
Glow Big or Go Home Pickle Ball Tournament | 6 PM - 10 PM | ?
Winter Solstice Celebration | Blandford Nature Center | 7 PM | $15+
Small Town City Boy Comedy | Wealthy Theatre | 7 PM | $25
Comedy Night: Adam Degi | 2RST | 8 PM | $15
Laugh, Sip, Paint | AllArtWorks | 7 PM - 8:30 PM | $20
For The Birds: Fledglings Fly The Nest Comedy Show | The Art of Life | 7:30 PM | $25
GRAM After Dark | GRAM | 8 PM | $15+
Comedy Night: Alastair Watt | Wealthy Theater | 8 PM | $22+
Saturday, December 20th
Youth Dodgeball | Dinks & Dingers Social Club | 12 PM | $25
Winter Market | New Holland Brewing | 1 PM - 7 PM
Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl | Kusterer Brauhaus | 4 PM | $18+
Sip, Sing & Splatter: Paint & Sip Party | The Big Room | 7 PM | $45
River City Improv | Midtown | 7:30 PM | $20
Sunday, December 21st
Grand Rapids Griffins vs Cleveland Monsters | Van Andel Arena | 4 PM | $23+
Upcoming Events
New Year Glamour Swing | DeVos Place | Dec. 30th
New Year's Early Eve | GR Children’s Museum | Dec. 30th
Adults Only New Year’s Eve | Craig’s Crusiers | Dec. 31st
Live Music
Friday, December 19th
Bradley Sinclair and The Corey Sound Christmas | Midtown | 6 PM | $30
Kevin Schaffer & Shelby Ann-Marie | Dunneback Farm | 6 PM | Free
Holiday Classics Organ Concert | Grand Rapids Public Museum | 7 PM | $20
The Accidentals & Kaboom Collective Holiday Album Release Show | The Big Room | 7 PM | $27.50
GR Irish Traditional Session | The Stray | 7 PM | Free
Justin Dore | Downtown Market | 7 PM | Free
Jesse Cline | Rapid River Stillhouse | 8 PM | Free
X Pozur, The Galas Brothers wsg | The Hall | 8 PM | ?
STOVEPIPE’S CARAVAN CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA | Speciation Cellars | 9 PM | Free
Sheet Pandemonium | Twisted Bull | 9 PM | Free
Green Acres, New Troy, All Points Bulletin | Mulligan’s Pub | 10 PM | Free
Saturday, December 20th
Enchanted Strings | Downtown Market | 5 PM | Free
Adam Doleac | The Stache | 6:30 PM | $48
The Bootstrap Boys 5th Annual Winter Solstice Party | Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill | 7 PM | $15
Twilight Tunes Dueling Pianos | Rapid River Stillhouse | 8 PM | $5
Emo Nite | Elevation | 9 PM | $16
Sunday, December 21st
Tuba Christmas Concert | GRPM | 3 PM | Free
Jazz Orchestra Holiday Show | Founders | 5:30 PM | Free (all ages welcome)
Sophia McIntosh | Downtown Market | 6 PM | Free
*Shows are subject to change, but that’s show biz.
That’s All For Today…
⭐ If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, copy the link to the post and share it with a friend. Every new reader that joins our email helps.
📧 Get your business in an upcoming issue of Calder News. Let’s talk about how we can put your business in front of thousands of GR locals.
Connect: Linkedin
Made with ❤ in Grand Rapids