Good morning, Grand Rapids happy hump day. I’m LeQwane and this is Calder News - the 3x weekly newsletter keeping you (and 1,000+ other locals) updated on everything you might’ve missed.
lets get into it
— LeQwane Lynch
In today’s news:
🦴 12,000 year old fossil is lost and then found
🧒 Pine Rest gets a leg up on Pediatric Center
🎃 The spookiest house in town
And more trick or tricking events than you have candy buckets to fill
What’s Happening
A briefing of local news that matters
History: GRPM to showcase 12,000-year-old fossil
Grand Rapids Public Museum is preparing to put the fossil of a mastodon on display early next year. (If you’re like me and didn’t know) mastodons were similar to Asian elephants but longer and hairier… Also, they’ve been extinct for around 12,000 years. The cool part about the upcoming display is that the fossil is 80% intact. And it was found in Kent County just 2 years ago — watch the excavation here.
Housing: Studio Park Tower is complete
After 2 years of construction, Studio Park Tower is complete. The new building stands 260 ft tall, has 160 “market rate studios”, and 24 condos.
Local Resources: Large donation helps Pine Rest build Pediatric Center
Earlier this week, Pine Rest received the largest donation in the organization’s history — $8 million from the Van Andel Family Foundation. The money will help build Pine Rest’s new Pediatric Center for Behavioral Health which will begin construction in the spring.
Upcoming Event: Tulip Time releases 2025 schedule
Tulip Time has released its schedule for the 2025 festival. The festival is set to start a day earlier than last year, starting Friday, May 2nd going until May 11th.
Community Feature
Photo of Downtown Grand Rapids | Courtesy of Andrew G
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Events
Note: Today’s events list is a bit different… There are so many Trunk or Treat events happening I decided to put them into their own section below.
Today
UnCon HR | Embassy Suites Downtown | 9 AM - 5 PM | A new take on HR conferences for owners, supervisors, and managers in the hospitality and restaurant industry
Outpro Forum | Cook DeVos Center for HS | 4 PM | A workshop with DEI leaders to help better understand intersectionality, especially for the LGBTQIA+ community
Game Night | Creston Taproom | 5 PM - 9 PM |
The Thorn | DeVos Performance Hall | 7 PM (Wednesday/Thursday) | The story of the life of Jesus
Halloween Party | Arvon Brewing Co. | All Day | A spooktacular Halloween party filled with unique kettle sours infused with candy and playful twists on traditional brews
Comedy Night | River City Saloon | 9 PM | Free
Stuffed Animal Sleepovers | Multiple GRPL Branches | 4:30 PM - 7 PM | Free
Thursday
Halloween in the Biergraten | Third Nature Brewing Co. | 5 PM - 8 PM | Free | Trick or treat and enjoy live music
Adult Workshop: Needle Tatting | GRAM | 5 PM - 8 PM | $42
Rock, Roar, Pour | John Ball Zoo | 6 PM - 9 PM | $20 GA | This JBZ adult-only concert series features music from local bands, food trucks, live performances, and specialty drinks with no kids
Slay Me Slashers | General Wood Shop | 6 PM - 12 AM | Free
Elegance in Disguise | City Flats Hotel | 6:30 PM - 10:30 PM | A formal gala with a fantasy and fiction twist - all ages welcome
Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra | Creston Taproom | 7 PM - 9 PM | $5 at door
Trivia Night | Kusterer Brauhaus/ Perrin Brewing | 7 PM - 9 PM | Free
Halloween Karaoke Night | Nonla Burger | 7 PM - 10 PM | Free
Friday
Grand Rapids Tatto Festival | DeVos Place | (Fri - Sun) 12 PM - 10 PM | $30/day, $65 for weekend pass, kids 12 and under free
Educators’ Night | Bluestocking Bookshop | 4 PM - 8 PM | Free
Pumpkin Prowl | Ada Village | 5 PM - 8 PM | Free | A Halloween event that’s fun for the whole family with trick or treating, food, costumes, live music/performances
Scream Queens Party | General Wood Shop | 6 PM - 2 AM | Free | Enjoy 8 hours of beats, a costume contest, prizes, and more
Tommy’s Tunnel of Terror | Multiple locations | 7 PM - 10 PM | $25 | Haunted car wash experience that provides a spooky clean time for you and the family
The Ringling Bros and Barnum Bailey | Van Andel Arena | 7 PM - 11 PM
Twerk or Treat 2 | The Pyramid Scheme | 8 PM | $15 presale/ $20 at door | An adult costume party and concert
Candlelight: Haunted Halloween Classics | Wealthy Theatre | 8:45 PM - 10 PM | Free
Just Wicked Halloween Masquerade | JW Marriott Downtown | 9 PM - 1 AM | $20/person
Comedy hour | Founders Brewing Co. | 9:30 PM - 11 PM | $20 GA
🎃 Trunk or Treats 🎃
Thursday
Excel Church | 5 PM - 6:30 PM | Free
SECOM | 5 PM - 7 PM | Free | Pre-register to attend
Keller Williams Grand Rapids East | 5 PM - 7 PM | Free
Notos Old World Italian Dining | 5:30 PM - 7 PM | Free | Register to attend
Friday
Image Studios | 3:30 PM - 6 PM | Free
Rockford Chamber of Commerce | 4:30 PM - 7 PM | Free
Kroc Center | 5 PM - 7 PM | Free
Puppy friendly Trunk or Treat | Camp Bow Wow | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Free | A night of trunk or treating for both humans and doggos
César E. Chávez Elementary | 6 PM - 7:30 PM | Free
South Harbor Church | 6 PM - 7:30 PM | Free
The Point Church | 6 PM - 7:30 PM | Free
Mobility Inclusive Trunk or Treat | Clock Mobility | 6 PM - 8 PM | Free | Candy, sensory toys, donuts/cider, photos, and fun for the whole family
St. Mark Church | 6 PM - 8 PM | Free
Know a family who might be interested in seeing this? Share today’s newsletter with them!
Live Music
Today
The Beanpoles (local band) | Wise Men Distillery | 6:30 PM | Free
GABI JR & Major Murphy (rock) | Boomtown Records | 7 PM | Free
Whorled | SpeakEZ Longue | 7:30 PM | $5 surcharge to support artists
Not Enough Space & The Funeral Portrait (Metalcore) | The Pyramid Scheme | 8 PM | Two separate bands are playing
Thursday
Multiple local bands | Mulligan’s Pub | 9 PM - 12 AM
Friday
Dropkick Murphys (Celtic Punk) | GLC Live | 6 PM | starting @ $79
Mickey Guyton (Country) | The Sache | 7 PM | $25
Phabies (60s Folk/Pop/Indie) | The Golden Age | 7 PM - 10 PM | $12
Saved by the 90s | Elevation | 7 PM | $15
House Of The Week
It’s spooky season. And the folks at 921 Shawmut Ct NW (map) are taking that seriously.
If you take a look at what this house looks like without decorations, you’ll understand why they got featured on House of the Week! 🤯
Know of any other houses with great Halloween decor? Send us a DM on Instagram @Calder.News
If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, share it with a friend who loves Halloween.
-LeQwane L | Editor @ Calder News
Made with ❤ in Grand Rapids