Good morning, Grand Rapids. I’m LeQwane and this is Calder News —
I want to make sure you know that the Metro Cruise is happening this weekend.
Nothing against the Metro Cruise. I love old cars and I especially love people-watching, but if you don’t know it’s coming, it can really ruin plans. What you think will be a quick run to the mall might end up derailing your whole day.
I learned this lesson the hard way when I accidentally scheduled my moving weekend the same weekend as Metro Cruise and got my U-Haul stuck in traffic all day long.
So mark your calendar!
~Jenny F.
Vendors Takeover 6th St. Bridge
Together with: Merchants and Markers
The Return to the River festival, happening August 22nd and 23rd, offers live music, delicious food, and awesome art installations.
But it also offers a one-of-a-kind craft market in a one-of-a-kind location—the 6th Street Bridge.
Merchants and Makers has curated a craft fair that has quality goods made by quality people. Shop custom jewelry, toys, art of all kinds, skin care, home decor items, food, clothing and more.
The Return to the River festival is free, so you can save your dollars for this epic event and support local creatives and artists.
Business News
✅ New
We don’t know a lot about Dubai Bites Mediterranean Grill yet, but we know it will be opening on Alpine.
❌ Closing
Our Hope Association will close down its women’s addiction detox unit due to cost.
❗ Updates
The Dungeon in Grandville closed in 2022, then reopened last year, and is closed again. Whether they’ll reopen remains to be seen.
Talk Of The Town
🎼 You’re “Only Human” To Want To Go
The Jonas Brothers are currently touring the country, and they’ll make a stop in GR on December 15th. Check out our Instagram post for more details.
🐕 Fun With Fido and Fritters
Ed Dunneback and Girls are known for their fun festivals, and this time, the family pet can join in. Their Dogs & Donuts Fest is planned for October 9th-11th and will feature dog accessories, photo ops, and live music.
🎨 Clubhouse One Day, Restaurant the Next
ArtPrize is set to host its clubhouse on the west side for the first time at the site of a few former restaurants. After the competition wraps up, a James Beard-nominated chef will turn it into a coastal Southern restaurant called Cattail.
Metro Cruisin
Photo courtesy of GR Kids
It’s time again for cars of all ages, sizes, and abilities to rev and roar down 28th Street as the Metro Cruise rolls through 28th Street August 20th-22nd.
Activities are happening all along the 13-mile route: live music, food trucks, kids crafts, and more. The main party area is at Rogers Plaza, but there are other “Pit Stops” to peruse, or just find a roadside spot, plop a lawn chair, and watch the cars go by.
Don’t care for cars or traffic? Steer clear of 28th Street this weekend!
What’s Happening?
Tuesday, August 18th
Ada's Farmers' Market | Ada Community Church | 9 AM - 2 PM | Free
Grand Rapids Trivia w/ The Rapidian | Speciation Cellars | 7 PM | Free
Wednesday, August 19th
Quilting Convention | DeVos Place | (Wed - Sat) 9 AM - 5 PM | $15+
20th Annual Cadillac Allante-XLR Invitational | GR DoubleTree | 12 PM | ?
Taste of East | Gas Light Village | 5 PM - 8 PM | Free
Dubstep Pilates | The Stache | 6 PM | ?
Thursday, August 20th
One Wheel Group Ride (Cease and Desist Fest) | Various locations | (Thu - Sat) Various times | Free?
Coffee with Creators | The Factory | 8 AM - 9 AM | Free
Baxter Community Kickback | Joe Taylor Park | 3 PM | Free
Silent Disco | Rosa Park Circle | 6 PM | $10
Board Game Night | The Stray | 6:30 PM - 10 PM | ?
Jimmy Pardo | Dr. Grins Comedy Club | 7:15 PM | $28
Friday, August 21st
Metro Cruise | 28th St. | (Fri - Sat) Various times | Free
Steve Iott | Dr. Grins | (Fri - Sat) Various times | $17+
Back To School Open Skate | Patterson Ice Center | 11 AM | $7
The Bissell Pet Foundation Pawtio Party | Uccello’s Downtown | 5 PM | Free
Locked Zoo: Deserts Decoded | John Ball Zoo | 6 PM | $35+
Live Music
Tuesday, August 18th
Open Blues Jam w/ Cap't Kirk | Philmore South | 6 PM | Free
Wednesday, August 19th
Funkle Jesse | Farmhaus Farm | 6:30 PM | Free
The Capstone Volunteers + New Troy + The Cabinet Under The Stairs + Ghost Lick | Pyramid Scheme | 7:30 PM | $17
Bonnie Raitt | DeVos Performance Hall | 7:30 PM | $80+
Thursday, August 20th
Tent | Rosa Park Circle | 12 PM | Free
Vinyl & Vintage Night | GRAM | 5 PM | Free
Red Thyme | Horrocks Market | 5 PM | Free
Live Jazz | 433 Bridge St. | 6 PM | Free
The Wild Honey Collective | Cherry Park | 6 PM | Free
Backdoor Blues Band | Chicago Beef Joint | 6 PM | Free
On The Fly | The Score | 6 PM | Free
Blue Water Kings Band | Friendship Park | 7 PM | Free
Pretty Kool | Kentwoods City Lawn | 7 PM | Free
House of Heavy | Pyramid Scheme | 8 PM | $23
Wavelength with Kavic, Big Sherm, and Frankie Far | Mulligan Pub | 9 PM | Free
Friday, August 21st
Marquita Bernard | RAK | 6 PM | Free
GR Voice Collective | Rosa Park Circle | 6:30 PM | Free
Lindset Stirling | Acrisure Amphitheater | 7 PM | $27+
Jazz Night | CitySen Lounge | 7 PM | Free
Joseph Huber | Tip Top | 8 PM | $20
Bronco | DeVos Performance Hall | 8 PM | $73+
Helmet | Intersection | 8 PM | $71+
Space Bar (Jazz Fusion) | Speciation Cellars | 8 PM | Free
Bioluminescence | Philmore South | 9 PM | $20
Uncle Klunk| Twisted Bull | 9:30 PM | Free
*Shows are subject to change, but that’s show biz.
The Digest
A briefing of local news that matters
💪 Standing up: Residents in the Shawmut Hills neighborhood are taking a page out of East Grand Rapids’ playbook and fighting against a proposed development in the area. They filed an appeal.
🥵 Hot Stuff: It may have felt like the hottest July yet, but it was only the eighth hottest July on record. The hottest was 2012.
🦌 Tinder for Hunters? Hunters have a hard time finding places to hunt, but a new online platform can connect them with willing landowners, which will help control the deer population. It can connect people who want a share of the venison, too.
🛍 Another Go-Round: The Downtown Development Authority is extending its Downtown Retail Incubator Program for a second year. DRIP helps small businesses get into empty storefronts downtown. See more details.
Have news to report? Click here.
That’s All…
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