One in every three women in the world will personally experience physical or sexual violence, according to the United Nations. This is why the celebration of V-Day in our community is not only vital in raising the global focus of these women’s blight, but important for the local women we call sisters, daughters or mothers.  

This year, there are three opportunities (Feb 9 – 11) to celebrate V-Day starting with Davenport University’s production of Eve Ensler’s award-winning play The Vagina Monologues.  Davenport University’s President Richard J. Pappas has made it very clear that he is concerned about the creation of a welcoming campus for all people, and this all-in performance made up of members of their student body, faculty and staff shows they walk the talk. Their performances will benefit Sacred Beginnings, a local women’s transitional program in Grand Rapids, and will reinforce the V-Day Spotlight on the international plight of the women and girls of Haiti.

After 10 years of hosting productions of The Vagina Monologues, the GVSU Women’s Center will be staging That Takes Ovaries!: Bold Women, Brazen Acts co-written by Rivka Solomon and Bobbi Ausubel, on Feb. 9 in Allendale, as well as an encore performance in the city of Grand Rapids on Feb. 10 at Wealthy Theatre.

What makes this production unique is that it not only incorporates men with women, but it is also a program that encourages members of the community to submit local stories that end up forming about 25% of the play.

What is vital about both these highly personal and insightful productions is that this year, these institutions have offered multiple performances and places all over our region for women and men to come together and see these dramatic works, while offing a place for support as we as a community plot new pathways to ending violence against women here and everywhere. 

More info on V-Day around the world.

Opening just a week after the GRAM’s jaw-dropping and massive exhibition of  Robert Rauschenberg works, considered widely to be one of America’s greatest artists, comes another first for art lovers of the region. 

The Grand Rapids Art Museum is proud to launch the first exhibition in its Michigan Artist Series with Michael Pfleghaar: Reinforcing Objecthood, a series of paintings from the well-known and collected artist of this region.

Pfleghaar, a transplant to Grand Rapids since 1983, completed his undergrad education at GVSU before venturing out east to Boston for his MFA in visual arts from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University in 2011.

In graduate school, Pfleghaar would go on to develop a new approach to his work, employing three-dimensional utilitarian form onto two-dimensional, flat plane -- resulting in a new physical object. By integrating elements of design objects, his paintings lie somewhere between representation and abstraction and, oddly enough, make this a good show to be on display just steps away from the decorative arts wing and the Rauschenberg works.

This new Michigan Artist Series will consist of approximately four exhibitions each year, held in a variety of spaces within the Museum, and will showcase the contemporary artists or designers who have called Michigan their home. 

The presentation and gallery talk by Michael Pfleghaar begins at 7 p.m., part of GRAM's Friday Night Conversations.  (Editor’s note: I share a studio space at Tanglefoot with the artist.)


Admission: Free to Members, $5. Non-Members

West Michigan is seeing a bit of theatrical revival as new troupes pop up along with fresh material to connect with the audience. But even more exciting is when venues appear on the scene, as evident on the third floor above San Chez.

This new dinner theatre club is a new partnership between downtown Grand Rapids’ restaurant San Chez and the 100% woman-owned and operated talent agency, MP Talent.

Last week’s guests enjoyed the humor of the Don’t We Boys sketch comedy show that is touring the country. This week, you will have a chance to dine on a succulent four-four course tapas-heavy meal while participating in the dinner theatre’s first murder mystery.  

There are three things I know for sure: one person will die, one will be guilty and all will have plenty of improv fun as the entire room tries to figure out who dun it.

If you cannot make it Friday night for the murder, then make room in your schedule for a night of illusions as this space débuts an official LaughFest and Whoopi-inspired entertainment event in March.


Admission: $55.

If you were at the last PotatoeBabies show at the Clique, then you remember nothing.  (It’s better that way.) But Rev. Charles’ butt remembers, and so the soon-to-be patron saint of kitties will be taking it easy.   

And while he may not be doing all his usual tricks, attendees will still want to hurl handfuls of their hard-earned cash at Crash’s Landing, the benefactor for the event. Even the Clique will be getting in on the action this year, as they will match dollar-for-dollar every penny raised on Saturday night. 

“We are trying to include every musician that has ever performed with PotatoeBabies in this year’s lineup,” says frontman Rev Charles Preston Smith. “So, look for Chupa Cobras vocal and instrumental surf featuring former PotatoeBabies' guitarist Michael Miller; The Veloras, a three-piece girl group that PotatoeBabies’ Alana Eve played bass in for two years; and even Mick Nasty, who after 21 years of PotatoeBabies, is still the ONLY drummer we have ever had.”

“The other eleven (literally),” says the Rev., “were just fill-ins!”

Not only have the antics grown over the years, but now the PotatoeBabies have seven members made up of four guitarists, a be-spectacled and sexy nerd on the drums, and performance artist Chyna Dawn.

And with every performance, there are prizes including two grand prize raffles this year: a collection of vintage comic books for the under-agers, and a 1957 Playboy featuring Tina Louise, "Ginger" from "Gilligan’s Island," and a 1977 Playgirl featuring Burt Reynolds!

Every year, they set a goal of raising $2,000 over the course of the night with one year bringing in $4,000 in one evening. And ever the jokester, the Rev. adds, with his photo shown above, that this original photo from our first benefit really shows how far we have come.  Collectively, the band members have become healthier, losing about 100 lbs. while gaining about $10,000 for our local charity.



Admission: $10. Includes FREE Bowling at 9 p.m., FREE Raffle ticket with paid admission, FREE PotatoeBabies-style homemade Anti-Valentines and FREE Love Beads (“Not for your Butt” – Rev. Charles)

Some may call it the battle of the benefits, but I see it simply as a city that has plenty of room in its heart to be generous while having a good time.  

So if watching a very hirsute man shove things in his exit ramp or make human tea bag beer is not your idea of fun in the pursuit of saving some cool cats in town, then head over to The Pyramid Scheme for a night of music that is just as mixed up on programming as love can be.

This popular event, which really features no real bands, but rather the creation or morphing of many names on the music scene into super acts, will hit the stage under the ever-expanding Friends with Benefits moniker as a way to come together as a community and do some ass-kicking good for a local charity.

This month, Healthy Homes Coalition is the beneficiary for the night featuring songs of love (and hate) in a most delicious of sets punctuated by everyone’s party boy deluxe, DJ Jef Leppard. 

“Mostly it's songs of love or songs about people you used to love,” says Juliet Bennett Rylah, creator of this popular music series (and Rapid Growth’s editor). 

The money is on Matthew Patterson who will attempt, by himself, "More than Words," and Jake Stilson's group, who has performed every Friends with Benefit event to date.  

And while the format may be the same, what makes this a real must-stop is the fact that these coming together moments happen and then they are gone. No photos, YouTube videos or endless drunken rants can replace the joy of seeing music magic created live.



Admission: $5

At this point, I am without words to describe how incredible it is to know that our town has not only been celebrating fringe events like the 13^th Annual Love Stinks (see above), but that we also have a very vibrant and now superb local music scene that is not only good, but actually supports each other at another event celebrating 13 years: The Jammies.

Each year, our local people-powered radio station and music-arm of the Community Media Center, WYCE, presents with Bell's Brewery the Jammie awards show at The Intersection Lounge on Valentine's Day.

The doors will bust open at 5:30 p.m. with music and awards being given away all night long. And while the event is free, your hosts ask that you please bring a non-perishable food item or gently used clothing item to donate! 

“The night will see us mixing up formats across two stages,” says WYCE station manager, Kevin Murphy. “Last year, we had more folksy music on the front stage and plugged-in electric on the other. But we are mixing them back up again so the energy will be very different than the last one.”

Murphy still wants you to wear your jammies as well so that GRTV, who will be there to record the night’s events, will be able to capture you in your finest and fluffiest flannel sleepwear.  

In addition, WYCE thanks Bell's Brewery, Rainbow Music and Until Love is Equal for their support of the 2012 WYCE Jammies!

And while some have complained that they have ruined their Valentine's plans by hosting the event on Feb. 14, Murphy adds, “What’s not to love about having an event that celebrates that in 2011, we had well over 100 regional artists release fresh new music? Even if you are not in love, you will fall in love with a band."

He even added that he predicts at least one marriage proposal probably will occur.   


Admission: Free