Good morning, Grand Rapids.
This is my 39th newsletter, and sadly, it’s my last.
I’ve had a wonderful time bringing you GR news and updates, and I appreciate all the love you’ve given not just to me, but to the newsletter.
Fret not—I am passing the torch to an outstanding writer, and she and LeQwane will keep bringing you the top-notch quality we always deliver. And who knows? Maybe you’ll hear from me again.
It’s been a privilege and a pleasure
~Jenny F.
(P.S. LeQwane here, if there’s any newsletter I ask you to leave feedback on, it’s this one. Would love to share all of your farewells/ good wishes with Jenny in our Slack as she does her final sign-off. Thank you in advance!)
It’s Back Again
Photo courtesy of Uptown GR
The Wealthy Street Block Party was such a hit last year; they brought it back again!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 26th.
Thanks to The Wealthy Street Business Alliance and the East Hills Council of Neighbors, this year’s party will feature an artisan market, kid activities, and a movie night, all happening on a vacant-lot-turned-party-zone on the corner of Wealthy and Eastern.
What’s special is the event’s dedication to keeping everything hyper local. All the food, drinks, and music come from neighbors in the area.
Business News
✅ New
The O.G. taco place in Downtown Market is leaving at the end of the month, but GR Taco Shop from Wyoming will fill the empty spot.
The Full Circle Record Shop, which has moved around a bit since opening in 2003, found in a new home in Alger Heights.
Private donors turned a football/lacrosse stadium dream into a reality this school year at Calvin University.
❌ Closing
A historic downtown church caught fire. Firefighters fought for hours to put out the blaze, but in the end, the roof collapsed.
❗ Updates
Nothing Bundt Cakes is giving away 300 free confetti bundtlets on September 15th for National Bring the Joy Day.
Talk Of The Town
🐶 Pick Up a Free Pet
We would be beset with regret if you forget that the Humane Society of West Michigan is having a free pet adoption day tomorrow. Once you see the cuties available, you’re gonna want to take one home.
⚽ Soccer Stadium Announces Inaugural Home Opener
Mark your calendars! AC Grand Rapids will play its first home soccer game at Amway Stadium on Friday, March 19th.
⚕ Overhaul Coming To Butterworth Hospital
The skyline along Medical Mile is about to change. Corewell Health announced that a new 11-story building will replace the outdated infrastructure at Michigan Street and Barclay.
Ada Gets New Park
Photo courtesy of Experience GR
Fall is on the way, and with it, the leaves changing colors. Ada’s covered bridge is one of the best places in the area to experience that seasonal beauty, but now that’s not the only reason.
Nearby, a brand new park just opened in Ada. Covered Bridge Park offers a playground, a splash pad, pickleball courts, and a dog park.
Adding to the beautiful scenery, it also offers a river outlook and access to the Thornapple River.
Enjoy a day outside and check out Ada’s new Covered Bridge Park. See more details.
What’s Happening?
Friday, August 28th
Dozynki Polish Festival | Calder Plaza | (Fri - Sun) Various times | Free
Grand Rapids Taco Fest | Riverside Park | (Sat - Sun) Various times | $6
Michigan Drag Bus | Apartment Lounge | 6 PM | $44+
Movie in the Park - The Wild Robot | Caledonia KDL | 6:30 PM | Free
Ali Siddiq | DeVos Performance Hall | 7 PM | $73+
The Dirty Comedy Hour | Tellers Lounge | 9 PM | $20
Saturday, August 29th
Back to School Event | 2475 84th St. | 10 AM - 3 PM | Free
BioBlitz | Riverside Park | 10 AM - 4 PM | Free
Baila at Rosa | Rosa Park Circle | 11 AM - 9 PM | Free
Community Art Bar | Harmony Brewing | 9 PM | Free
Late Night Street Food - Best Of The 90’s | The Sovengard | 10 PM - 1 AM | Free
Sunday, August 30th
Soul Line Dancing Class | Rosa Park Circle | 4 PM - 6 PM | Free
Hidden Brain on Stage with Shankar Vedantam | GLC Live | 6 PM | $50+
Live Music
Friday, August 28th
Marquita Bernard | Downtown Market | 6 PM | Free
Rory McCallan | Chicago Beef Joint | 6 PM | Free
Still Life; Life, Still | 616 Gallery | 6 PM | Free
Funky Brewster | Horrocks Market | 6 PM | Free
Michael Constantine, Lighting Matches, Nathan Walton & the Remedy | The Stray | 7 PM | $13
TONI ROMITI | The Intersection | 7 PM | $35
Myles Smith w/ Michael Marcagi | Frederik Meijer Garden | 7 PM | $200+
Finding Amelia + Sonic Smut + All Points Bulletin | Pyramid Scheme | 7:30 PM | $21
Moonrays | Speciation Cellars | 8 PM | Free
Whiskey Bound | Rapid River Stillhouse | 9 PM | $5
Wipeout-Misplaced Memories-Deep Enough | Mulligan’s Pub | 10 PM | Free
Saturday, August 29th
Nathan Walton | Vander Mill | 7 PM | Free
The Mannequins MI | Pux Cider Taphouse | 7 PM | Free
Tim McGraw | Acrisure Amphitheater | 7 PM | $70+
Michael Jackson Birthday Tribute | Billy’s Lounge | 9 PM | Free
Bayker Blankenship | The Stache | 9:30 PM | $15
DeVa | Rapid River Stillhouse | 10 PM | $5
The Winter After/ Neon Coma / Nic Stevens | Mulligan’s Pub | 10 PM | Free
Sunday, August 30th
Full Cord | Philmore South | 3 PM | $19+
Jazz Jam w/ Tommy Pancy | Speciation Cellasr | 5 PM | Free
Josh Groban | Acrisure Amphitheater | 7 PM | $25+
Cryptopsy + Flesh and Blood Robot + See You Next Tuesday | Pyramid Scheme | 7:30 PM | $30
Monday, August 31st
JP & The Energy | The Score | 6 PM | Free
*Shows are subject to change, but that’s show biz.
Calder Catch-up
A briefing of local news that matters
🤫 Quiet Down: A Kent County Circuit Court Judge ruled that Acrisure Amphitheater must follow Grand Rapids’ noise ordinance. Shows usually go until 11 pm, but the ordinance says 10 pm is the cutoff.
🥫 Pantry Essentials: Grand Rapids Public Schools is making a huge donation to The Marketplace at Baxter Community Center, a food pantry that serves over 500 families a month. They’ll need more, though, so consider donating.
🛴 Scooter Swap: The Grand Rapids City Commission voted to swap their Lime e-scooters and e-bikes for Veo. The switch happens September 1st.
🏠 Houses Wanted: Grand Rapids allotted $10M from the amphitheater sale to the affordable housing fund. The Land Bank Authority says it needs $5M more.
Have news to report? Click here.
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