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  • 📍 Plan ahead when traveling in GR | May 9th, 2025

📍 Plan ahead when traveling in GR | May 9th, 2025

Author

LeQwane Lynch
May 09, 2025

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Good afternoon, Grand Rapids. I’m LeQwane and this is Calder News — and since it’s Mother’s Day this weekend, consider this your friendly reminder to pick up a card, call your mom or a mother you know and say something nice (if you haven’t!)

No judgement.😅

In today's newsletter, I’ll give you share some Mother’s Day events, talk about the Amway River Bank Run, development, and more.

I hope you’re having a great Friday so far.

~LeQwane L.

Connect: Linkedin

The Digest

A briefing of local news that matters

Transit

New Westside Bus Route

Getting to Millennium Park just got a whole lot easier. Starting tomorrow, The Rapid is rolling out a new weekend route called Route 1000 to boost bus service on the Westside. The route runs from Rapid Central Station and hits 36 stops through the Westside, ending at Millennium Park. This is the first time The Rapid has served the park since 2005, giving residents an easy ride to trails, water, and sunshine. | Learn more about the new route

Development

Progress Update: Children’s Hospital

Grand Rapids just hit a major milestone in building Michigan’s first-ever children’s rehabilitation hospital. The final steel beam was placed this week on the Joan Secchia Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital — a $70 million project from Mary Free Bed and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. The building will serve kids from across the country who need intensive rehab care, while featuring inpatient and outpatient gyms, a family resource center, and a skybridge connecting to the current facility. | Ribbon-cutting is expected in 2025

Environment

Wood Waste Becomes Clean Energy

A new $2M facility in Grand Rapids is turning wood waste into power. Woodchuck, a climate start-up, just opened Michigan’s first electric-powered biomass center. Using AI, it sorts and processes scrap wood into clean fuel—cutting landfill waste and helping power homes and businesses. The project has already created 14 local jobs and partners with the city to process downed trees for free. | Read more about this innovative company

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Check out Uptown Cheapskate’s Grandville or Kentwood locations now

River Bank Run Returns

Courtesy of Amway River Bank Run

One of the biggest race weekends of the year is back in downtown Grand Rapids.

The 48th annual Amway River Bank Run kicks off tomorrow morning — and whether you’re running or not, you’ll want to plan ahead.

Over 10,000 participants are expected across multiple events, including the country’s largest 25K and the world’s only 25K wheelchair race.

And road closures start today around 3 PM on Monroe Ave (between Michigan and Louis) and Saturday at 3 AM on Ottawa Ave (between Michigan and Fulton). So if you’re heading downtown, check out this report for the full set of closures.

Still want to race? Online registration closes tonight (Friday) at 7:59 PM EST.

Talk Of The Town

Interesting happenings around town

đŸŽČ đŸ” Board Games and Breakfast

A new board game cafĂ© is coming to the Creston neighborhood. Kobold’s Kitchen will take over the old Fat Boy on Plainfield in August. It offers classic breakfast, burgers, coffee, and a massive library of 800+ board games, creating a family-friendly spot where you can grab a bite, play a quick game, or unplug with the kids.

🛒 Share Your Small Businesses With GR

Promote announcements, events, or happenings at your business here for just $45. Our simple advertising placements make it easy to get seen by thousands of Grand Rapids locals, no fluff or filler. Let’s chat today.

What’s Happening?

Preview: Events —> Live Music

Friday, May 9th

  • Cider Week GR | Various locations | Various times | Celebrates the local cider scene with nine days of events and activities

  • Smiles From The Heart | Contemporary Family Dental | 8 AM | Free to attend | Join us for our 8th Annual Free Dental Day and receive FREE dental care from our caring team

  • Family Paddle Night | Riverside Park | 4 PM - 8 PM | Free to attend | Whether you’re trying something new or looking for a fun weekend activity for your family, kayaking at Riverside Park is a great way to connect with nature

  • Crown Royal Rig w/ Kane Brown | Van Andel Arena | (Fri, Sat) 5 PM - 11 PM | Free to attend

  • Best of Grand Rapids Party | Goei Center | 6 PM - 11 PM | $85

  • White Caps vs. Lansing Lugnuts | LMCU Ballpark | (Fri - Sun) Various times

  • Death & Transfiguration Live | DeVos Performance Hall | (Fri, Sat) Various times | Starting at $19

Saturday, May 10th

  • All-State Bonsai Show | Meijer Gardens | (Sat, Sun) Various times | Free to attend | Garden Pavillion will be filled with beautiful orchids, competing for ribbons and the coveted American Orchid Society Awards

  • Amway River Bank Run | Downtown | 7 AM - 2 PM

  • You Go Girl Tournament | Belknap Park Courts | 9 AM - 8 PM | Free (spectating only)

  • Pancake Breakfast for Military & First Responders | Equine Assisted Development | 10 PM - 11:30 AM | Free to attend for service and 1st responders and their families | Pet some horses. Eat some pancakes

  • GR 175th Birthday Park Clean Up | Kensington Park | 10 AM - 12 PM | Free to attend | Park clean up and brand relaunch celebration. Collab with Friends of GR Parks, swag, prizes and and clean up supplies provided

  • Spring Wagon Ride | Robinette's | 12 PM - 4 PM | $3 - $9 | Relax and enjoy the beauty of blooming apple trees while learning about their growth cycles

  • Foodie Frenzy | 701 Front St. | 1 PM - 8 PM | $25 | An exciting day of local food, unique dishes, burger contest, themed food, and alcoholic beverages, and live music

  • Explore Your Parks: Community Hike | Huff Park | 2 PM - 3:30 PM | Free to attend | Discover the beauty in your own backyard while learning the city’s park system and getting tips for exploring

  • 3rd Annual Vintage Baseball Game | Ada Park | 4 PM - 7 PM | Free to attend | Bringing history to life in a one-of-a-kind matchup between the Ada Grangers and the Cascade Sentinels

  • Grand Rapids Tequila Fest | DeVos Place Convention Center | 6 PM - 9 PM | Over 100 tequilas, mezcals, and cocktails ranging from the simple to the extravagant will be available for tasting in a fun and social setting

  • Hipster Disco: Disco Tonk | 506 Eastern Ave SE | 9 PM - 1 AM | House + Disco DJs, flash tattoos, immersive art, mechanical bull and a full-on Hipster Disco takeover of Eastern Hall

Sunday, May 11th

  • Mother's Day 4 Square Voucher | Buddy's Pizza | All day | Mother's get a free 4 square pizza voucher for their next visit

  • Mother’s Day Gift Fair | Downtown Market | 10 AM - 7 PM | Shop unique hand-made gifts and artisan items including jewelry, candles, decor, kitchen items, books, knick-knacks, knitted textiles, and more

  • Mother's Day Play | Great Lakes Glow Golf | 11 AM - 8 PM | Free to attend (for mothers) | Mothers play free and to make it even sweeter we'll be gifting each a complimentary scoop of wonderful Hudsonville ice cream

  • Happy Mother's Day | GRCM | 12 PM - 4 PM | $10 - $20 (Free for mothers and mother-like figures)

  • Dining with the MOTHERS | General Wood | 5:30 PM - 9 PM | $10

  • Standup Comedy | Spectrum Entertainment | 7:30 PM | Free to attend

Live Music

Friday, May 9th

Saturday, May 10th

*Shows are subject to change, but that’s show biz.

Outside The Plaza

Quick hits of news from cities around Grand Rapids

That’s All For Today


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