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Good morning, Grand Rapids.
We’re no stranger to Guinness World Records. Our Lip Dub in 2009 featured 50,000 residents. Two locals played pickleball for 28 hours straight.
The Swing Dance Society has won the honor twice for the largest simultaneous swing dance.
And come September, we’ll have another Guinness World Record holder in GR: The Earth Harp.
~Jenny F.
Keep Your Dollars Local
Together with: Local First
Local First: Fork Fest Event
People First Economy is interested in building stronger, more diverse, purpose-driven local businesses. If you’re interested in that, too, then consider their new Community Investor initiative.
Choose to donate once, monthly, or annually and help provide zero-interest loans and grants that can help businesses create better jobs and strengthen your community.
When local businesses thrive, neighborhoods have more stability, and communities are healthier.
Business News
❗ Updates
After closing its doors, the new owners of Books & Mortar have introduced themselves and plan on reopening the store sometime in September.
A devastating fire closed 7 Mares last month, but you can support their rebuild by attending their fundraiser this weekend at Oakdale Park Church.
Oliver’s Market, on the corner of Kalamazoo and Ramona, wants to move to a bigger building next door, but neighbors aren’t sure that’s a good idea.
Full Circle Record Shop is moving from their location on 29th Street to Eastern Ave.
One of the three women on a girls trip from South Lyon became Meijer Gardens’ 17 millionth visitor on Wednesday. They got free entry and a gift basket.
✅ New
Seahouse Fish & Chicken opened its doors this week at its new location on Division. This Michigan mini-chain also has locations in Jackson and Lansing.
❌ Closing
People who tried to go to the Sweet Yo’s near Rosa Parks yesterday were surprised to find it closed.
Talk Of The Town
🎼 Largest Playable String Instrument Coming to ArtPrize
The opening ceremony of ArtPrize this year will feature the Earth Harp, a Guinness World Records instrument whose massive strings will attach to the Pearl Street Bridge and vibrate the whole city.
💰 Veteran Center Awarded Large Grant
Hero's & SHero's Corner Grand Rapids, a veteran community center, has been awarded a Lowe's Community Impact Grant of $300,000. They’ll use the money for safety, accessibility, and functionality upgrades.
🌳 Volunteers Took On Invasive Shrubs
It took two days and 1,000 volunteers, but Townsend Park is now free of invasive autumn olive, barberry and bittersweet shrubs. The hope is that native plants will be able to thrive in their place.
Civic News
Make your voice matter and get involved in these upcoming opportunities:
Check out the day-long project summit held at MLK Community Center on Wednesday, September 9th, to discuss how to improve the Southside Creekways’ greenway system along Plaster and Silver Creeks. The event is free with lunch and dinner provided. See more details.
Attend one of Mobile GR’s three town halls around the city and give your opinion on how they can better support transit around town. Read more here.
Encourage a teen to take the Health Department’s survey to identify health-related issues and priorities in that underrepresented community. Get more info.
A Taste of The Big Easy
Photo courtesy of The Garden District
I went to New Orleans for the first time last winter, and while I’m not much for all-night partying, I do love good food, and there was plenty to be found down there.
Even though Garden District has been on Monroe Center for a year and a half, I just heard about it not too long ago, and I had to see if it was the real deal.
The decor was fun with the larger-than-life shrimp in the window, but also classy with the elegant chandeliers. The bar was huge and beautiful. Royal purple, New Orleans’ signature color, was dotted throughout the space.
I ordered the etouffee and the shrimp po boy, as well as a Sazerac to drink, because when in New Orleans…
Everything was delicious and reminded me of my time in the Big Easy. I’ll definitely be back.
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What’s Happening?
Friday, August 14th
Back to School Bash & Touch a Truck | Tanger Outlet | 12 PM - 3 PM | Free
2nd Annual Riverside Rally | Sixth St. Bridge Park | (Fri - Sat) 5 PM - 10 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
Saturday, August 15th
Community Breakfast | Tardy’s Collectors Corner | 8 AM - 10 AM | Free
A Glimpse of Africa Festival | Calder Plaza | 2 - 7 PM | Free
Korean Connection Annual Picnic | Millennium Park | 4 PM | $12
SILVAPALOOZA Theme Night | SILVA | 4 PM | Free
Enchanted Woods Fantasy Faire and Fae Ball | Byron Center | 6 PM | $20
Sunset Sinema: High School Musical | Studio Park | 8 PM | Free
Sunday, August 16th
CatVideoFest | Wealthy Theatre | 2 PM - 4 PM | $10
Back to School Bash | Kelloggsville Middle | 3 PM - 7 PM | Free
Community Line Dance | Rosa Park Circle | 4 PM | Free
Monday, August 17th
A Family Affair (Final performance) | Circle Theatre | Check times | $25
Live Music
Friday, August 14th
Breakaway Michigan Music Festival | Belknap Park | (Fri - Sat) 4 PM - 11 PM | $50+
The Untrustables | Horrocks Market | 5 PM | Free
Cooper Alan | The Intersection | 7 PM | $41
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
Saturday, August 15th
Under Fire | Elevation | 4 PM | Free
Jazz Jam w/ Tommy Pancy | Speciation Cellars | 5 PM - 8 PM | Free
Backdoor Blues Band | Horrocks Market | 5 PM | Free
Five Finger Death Punch | Acrisure Amphitheater | 7 PM | $35+
Great Black Night | Pux Cider | 7 PM | Free
The Sweet Lillies | The Philmore South | 7 PM | $17
Summer Music Series: Eli Roe Band | Vander Mill | 7 PM | Free
Shantyland, Erin Monroe + Co wsg The Night Owls | The Stray | 7 PM | Free
Ficus + Cherry Drop + The Mollusks + Strange Skin | Pyramid Scheme | 7:30 PM | $17
Bleed the Water/ Crossing Bard/ Five From Nowhere | Mulligan’s Pub | 10 PM | Free
Sunday, August 16th
WMBS Cottage Fever Blues Jam | Chicago Beef Joint | 2 PM | Free
Nikki Hill | Tip Top | 7 PM | $20
Olive Klug | Midtown | 7 PM | $0+
Hilary Duff | Acrisure Ampitheater | 7 PM | $140+
Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers | Frederik Meijer Gardens | 7 PM | $60+
Will Wood | The Big Room | 8 PM | $61
Monday, August 17th
Rain Date | Millenium Park | 6:30 PM | Free
Kira & Garrett | John Collins Park | 7 PM | Free
Greyhaven+ Footballhead+ Cheem | Pyramid Scheme | 7 PM | $27
*Shows are subject to change, but that’s show biz.
The Digest
A briefing of local news that matters
🛴 Scooter Swap: The city will vote on August 25th on whether to swap the Lime shared scooters with scooters from Veo, which offer cheaper rides, safer tech, and more.
🏡 Holy Apartment Land: Orchard Hill Church in Walker has been holding on to 29 acres of undeveloped land for 30 years, but recently decided to sell it so it could be used for much-needed housing in the area.
🛎 Hotel and Housing: A new 20-story tower housing a hotel, an apartment complex, and a parking ramp has been proposed for the Monroe North neighborhood.
🚍 Class In Session: Wondering when yellow school buses are going to start messing with your morning commute? Figure out when schools start around you.
👎 Development Denied: The new development in East Grand Rapids that residents weren’t too happy with is officially a no-go. A judge deemed the project’s concept null and void.
Have news to report? Click here.
That’s All…
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