Here's the thing: We are at the point now that when someone says ArtPrize there are enough possible reactions that we really need a Kinsey-like scale to measure one's place on the spectrum. For some it is like the seventh coming of Christ if you close your eyes and listen to the passion in their voices. For others,, it seems to trigger a long list of grievances (some good, some just overused/worthless). And that is the beauty of the festival because just as it is in the “art world,” the diversity of opinions that ArtPrize unleashes locally is not much different than, ...

A live, large salsa band is a rare sighting locally when you consider the costs it takes to bring such an act to the stage (and pay them for their contribution). But when you are the downtown’s -- heck, the Midwest's -- beer Mecca for the faithful, then it becomes a bit easier to bring in such big acts. Never shying away from bigness these days, Founders' Taproom welcomes in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month our very own Los de Afuera for an early evening live music event complete with dancing. Started by President Johnson, National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated ...

After a wildly successful debut year, The Underground Concert Series will begin its second season at East Hills' LaFontsee Gallery on Sunday, September 20 at 3 p.m. Taking a cue from last year's collaborations, LaFontsee Gallery continues its partnership with Blue Lake Public Radio's Lazaro Vega and Adventure Music. Continuing their commitment to present the leading edge in contemporary jazz, the gallery setting will welcome The Chicago Project's cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm and drummer/percussionist Michael Zerang. Joining the ensemble will be saxophonist/bass clarinetist ...

When Labor Day is over, it becomes abundantly clear that the locals of the Greater Grand Rapids region are not ready to give up the joys of being outside in the sun. Saturday's return of the annual Cottage Bar’s 34th chili cook-off in downtown Grand Rapids from 3:15 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2015 helps extend the outdoor season. This year's event is sponsored by Founders Brewing Company and will feature 40 different chili entries that will be judged by a panel comprised of area chefs and “foodies” (their word, not mine). To keep the event festive and ...

For the third Live Artfully Dinner, the Grand Rapids Art Museum has chosen to honor Kate Pew Wolters, a member of our community who has enacted key developments within the arts culture of our city over the years. In addition to her work over the decades at the GRAM, Kate – as locals refer to her -- has devoted her focus to key organizations like UICA as well as exciting new projects like this year's debut of the disability arts-focused event, DisArt Festival. At this special gathering, Kate will be honored for her longstanding and personal commitment to advancing the arts at ...

Blending the traits of creative invention, design thinking, environmental awareness, and community engagement is a brand-new event from the innovative mind of the artist Kelly Allen, who has long entertained and thrilled art enthusiasts with her art contributions and community support. Allen, the creator of the local WiseMaker Creative Reuse Store and Studio, won a grant to present the WiseMaker Arts in Sustainability Parade. It debuts with more than 70 participants, led by a group of 12 artists who have been working as teams to create floats, costumes, giant puppets, and kinetic sculptures ...

Not sure what to do with yourself or the kids on this last weekend before most return to focus on education matters? Then it might be a great time to consider taking those young and eager minds to the Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire held at the Grand Rapids Public Museum and Grand Valley State University's Pew campus. If you have never been to a maker event, this one is a smaller-scaled event compared to the larger ones organized around the world. Focusing on the next generation of makers, it gives a nod to the use of innovation and engineering to create something new. Our local fair ...

It isn't every day that aspiring, local filmmakers have the opportunity to listen to a legend of American cinema speak on his career in film. And to have the opportunity to attend a workshop with that legend the next day is almost unheard of.   But that is what we get when Paul Schrader, former Grand Rapidian and award-winning screenwriter/director of such films as Taxi Driver, Hardcore, Raging Bull, American Gigolo, and Light of Day arrives in Grand Rapids. What many newer residents may know is that this visual studies artist is one of the most celebrated and awarded graduates of Calvin ...

It has been nearly five years since local chef and food-business startup entrepreneur, Torrence O'Haire, first hit the radar of Rapid Growth with the launch of his Full Moon Supper Club. With each new chapter of this nearly monthly mobile dining affair he has managed to excite the palates of so many locals. What makes this dining event really special is the amount of time and research O'Haire does in the preparation of the menu and the details guests, who sign up in advance, get to experience. Keeping with his theme of world cuisine without the travel costs sticker shock comes his ...

A few months ago, Rapid Growth hosted a local writers round table meet-up at Linc in the Madison Square neighborhood and one of our surprise discoveries learning more about the work of Linda Otterbridge, founder of Hook a Sista Up (HASU). What makes HASU stand out in their mentoring program is a pay it forward" philosophy within the platform Otterbridge has created. She believes we need to be able to work together – and that means being there for a community that is rapidly expanding. Building on HASU's work to support, guide, and mentor new women entrepreneurs via a ...

There are plenty of Detroit-Grand Rapids collaborations happening in our city but one of the most exciting and longest running is the creative capital exchange happening on a regular basis with acts like DJ Psycho of the Detroit Techno Militia. Unlike other DJs who simply show up and hit the electronics to do all the syncing of their beats to create a flawless night of mixing, what makes DJ Psycho rise to the top of the best is his ability to take a song and make it his own. "Records don’t make him. He makes them do what he wants them to do,” says Mike Banks, co-founder of ...

Collaboration in the arts is something that plays out in the work itself as well as in how the work is produced. The magic of such collaborations is apparent as we approach the 3^rd season of Actors' Theatre of Grand Rapids' Second Space Series, which is producing Red – a theatrical work about an artist and his studio assistant.   Red is a theatrical work that looks at the life of Mark Rothko on the occasion of one of his big commissions with New York's Four Seasons Restaurant. It is presented at the intimate Dog Story Theater with the Mixed Roots Collective working closely ...

I have a love-hate relationship with the Big Bang. And my views are so much more than just a theory after all these years. First, I love that Big Bang features so many wonderful local artists, many of whom are still largely unnoticed in our community. Whether you are seeking a colorful outsider artwork, a Heartside Gallery artist's honest and breathtaking raw piece, or a natural-based 3-D living creation like the globe works by Marianne Gardner, Big Bang is the place to discover fresh new worlds on canvas, glass, and sometimes leather. When I say they have something for everyone, that ...

To a cynic, it might seem like the 28th Street Metro Cruise is Grand Rapids' answer to Detroit's Woodward Dream Cruise. But those in the know understand our long and loving local history with the automobile. On Saturday, 28^th Street rolls back and forth over the decades to showcase some of the finest machines ever built. Many do recall with fondness the pre-Internet community of classic and tricked-out car lovers who would gather late into the night in the Rogers Mall parking lot as folks circled around the vehicles, socializing and sharing restoration tips. Presented by the Wyoming ...

It is easy to feel alone if you work in the city on any one of the many issues before us. Never fear: Equity Drinks has heard you. In fact, they have not only been hearing (and sometimes even feeding) you, but on Thursday night they are hosting a special event. It's aimed not just at the faithful but the entire community. No matter who you are or what kind of work you do, join the conversation (via a panel discussion) on the topic of How We Grow held at Wealthy Theatre. There are two reasons for the expansion of this particular event from the past formats. According to co-founder of ...

Summer is about being impulsive and a bit reckless. Don't believe me? Then let's test how you answer my next question: On Thursday, Aug 20 (or 27^th), want to get in my car and head to downtown Holland to experience a wild two hours filled with 38 live street performers and acts of all backgrounds and techniques?   If you responded immediately with a "Heck, yeah," then I am happy to report you are just the person who should be at one of the 11^th annual Street Performer Series coming to a close very soon in Holland's charming downtown. For the rest of you, I'm really ...

If you are seeking a truly high-energy night of positive hip-hop music led by one of the area's most innovative musical artists in our city, then the choice is clear: you have to get to Founders Taproom to see Rick Chyme and the line-up of friends on Saturday night. All the acts on the bill this night are musicians Chyme met over the course of the last year and a half. "I met The B.E.A.T. at the Lamplight Music Festival and got to know them better as I traveled to their hometown of South Bend, IN for a performance," says Chyme. "Founders regulars may recognize this ...

This weekend, another neighborhood-created festival debuts – this one in one of the city's most beautiful urban parkways: Garfield Park. The "Party in the Park" is a first of its kind event for this SE neighborhood. For starters, this community gathering offers local residents an opportunity to assemble in a park setting as neighbors and celebrate the end of summer. But it's also a chance for those in our city who might not be as familiar with the area to come out, meet the neighbors, and explore one of the best parks in the city. And lest you think this is a thinly ...

This year's 4^th annual GRandJazzFest presented by DTE Energy Foundation is once again featuring two solid days of free performances from names ranging from the familiar to the yet-to-be-discovered. If you are looking for the best bet, then clearly the musician line-up for Saturday night's 8 p.m. slot, with Paul Brown & Nate Harasim (“The Producers”) with special guest Deon Yates and San Antonio, Texas-based emerging artist Melina, is a great choice. And bass master Michael Manson, one of the event's biggest names who won over the locals last year, is back again ...

It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that just because an event has been around for years it can become a bit tired in its annual (and almost obligatory) presentation. But looking at the map of all of the restaurants participating should remind us Restaurant Week GR remains worthy of our attention. For 2015, Grand Rapidians have a chance to sample from a grand total of 65 eateries offering a curated dining experience for diners at a series of pricing that is sure to make everyone feel welcome to join the fun. Looking for an insider's edge this year beyond the eateries that ...

There is a touch of sadness when an artist leaves a city. It's a reality Grand Rapids is coming to terms with more and more these days as artists take control of their destinies in exciting new ways. For many, this might trigger the natural reaction along the lines of "What will it take to keep (insert any artist name) in our city?" The answer is equally diverse and almost always not what we had expected. In short, brain circulation is the new brain drain …and that is a good thing for our city. The latest to exit the area on an exciting journey is an artist I met first ...

If you are in the mood for a little bit of naughty fun that only a good old-fashioned Mardi Gras weekend in August can deliver, then you need to book passage to Douglas' The Dunes Resort for Saturday night's festive and vocally funny return of The Rubi Girls. While many of the boys of summer and their friends will be dancing sans their shirt in the summer heat on the dance floor, another more humor-driven audience will be seated in the cabaret room as the Rubi Girls – a group of Dayton, Ohio gay men ranging from their 30s to 50s -- will be entertaining the crowd with a ...

For more than 100 years the "Running of the Bulls” has been a part of the culture of Pamplona, Spain and this weekend our local version of this popular tourist event will be re-enacted here, with our local Grand Rapids Roller Derby (formerly known as the Grand Raggidy Roller Girls) standing in for the bulls again. And unlike this year's Pamplona event that witnessed more than 16 people being sent to the hospital, the most violence I have witnessed ranges from the slight welt from a plastic inflatable bat burn on a neck to the losing of my pants in year one. This bar crawl ...

It is no shock to those who read G-Sync on a regular basis that I believe Stephen Sondheim is a god (if not The god) of the American musical.   When you look at the creativity he has wielded in his musicals, from his first (West Side Story) to his most thrilling (Sweeney Todd) to even his most quirky (Assassins, Into The Woods), he is truly the reason so many stages across the nation wait eagerly for his productions to become available to be performed locally.   Now comes Sondheim's Company to Circle Theatre's stage – a thrilling moment for Broadway when it premiered 45 years ...

If the weather should turn rainy or your buddy's offer to head to the beach hit dry pavement (and not the dry sand as expected), thank goodness there is always something to do in the city.   Making sure your favorite activities of Sunday brunch, beer, and a movie are rolled up like a deluxe roll at your favorite sushi restaurant comes a can't-miss food and entertainment combo. You start your Sunday adventure with a stop at Grand Rapids Brewing Co. for brunch and brew before migrating with your fellow film fans up the street to a very special private screening of Taxi Driver at the ...

One of my favorite moments in life is the opportunity to gather with friends to break bread together and slip into the lazy ease of the summer sun as it heats up the city. This Sunday, the local B Corp "missionary" doing the most to promote the experience of collective dining is East Hills' Brewery Vivant, who is extending an invite to folks to join them for a special outdoor dining event complete with a roasted pig with all the fixings. And with all apologizes to my vegetarian friends, for $14 you will receive a sizable heap of roasted pork, a baked potato and slaw. They ...

Everyone loves the insider edge, and this weekend the best crest to ride if you are not at the beach or tied to a house project is to get to a really fun party. Drawing their name from the Spanish word for "Town Hall", a cabildo's history in this country was often where slaves were allowed to play the music of their culture. Borrowing from its humble history, the band has flourished locally to become one of the city's most anticipated Latin folk-dance collectives. Members of Cabildo have come and gone but their commitment to a diverse offering of rock, folk, cumbia, ska, ...

Before we can celebrate the anniversary of the creation of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), we must first acknowledge the many activists and advocates who brought us to that wonderful moment on July 26, 1990.   This fact was never more evident than if you listened to the speakers at the recent DisArt closing panel discussion at UICA on Tuesday, July 24. Calvin College's Professor of Art Elizabeth VanArragon held the audience spellbound as we sat in the hot summer sun of UICA's 5^th floor terrace sharing stories of those individuals who fought for accessibility. It was a ...

For the first time in 12 years Grand Rapids will see a new mayor in office in 2016, But before we get to elect this person, a series of community events has been happening with all four who are seeking the citizens of Grand Rapids' votes in advance of the August 4 primary run off. The state's second largest city, already a leader on many lists as a result of our last two mayors, Logie and Heartwell, will be the stage as GVSU welcomes all four mayoral candidates - Rosalynn Bliss, Robert Dean, John George and Willard Lee - to debate on income inequality, the environment, and various ...

What's not to like about the 'zine culture?   Its roots are in punk. It is totally DIY/DIT (Do It Yourself/Together). And, to be honest, as an artist I love that many of these indie publications are limited run, translating into a discovery experience on par with collecting an art form yet popular.    And if you spend a little time at the third annual Grand Rapids Zine Fest, you will no doubt pick up on its unique approach to language, which is evident by not just what they say, but also through the visual language they employ. It is truly one of the more interesting parts of our indie ...

Before any play can work its way into the hearts of a culture, a playwright often workshops his or her new offering via a time tested process of a table read.   The "Stella Remembered" table reading is an extremely unique experience for our theatre community for a host of reasons. Managing director Kyle Los of the Actors' Theatre offers two great reasons why you should not miss this one, written by Betsy Howie. According to Los, this is the first (of hopefully many more) opportunity for the West Michigan arts community to be a part of this process that will no doubt impact the ...

I will be the first to admit that I tried golf and that it didn't take. I guess it is not in my genes, as I've always agreed with the old quote, "Golf is a good walk spoiled." But as I dive into what the Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft has in store for its second year golf event, I am truly excited to get on the green. If you are unfamiliar with Big Sports and all they have to offer a community, then you're in for a real experience this week as the LPGA Classic offers a flurry of activities for everyone. (Hint: Google Super Bowl Parties and you'll have an ...

One of the most beautiful traits of our creative community is its capacity to care and then create solutions to make "it" happen for others. This is something I am sure was on the mind of former Grand Rapids resident and the Division Avenue Arts Collective (DAAC) co-founder Ben Shaafsma when he and a group of Chicago artists incubated the Sunday Soup concept. Since his days at the DAAC, Sunday Soup has grown into an international phenomenon. (See Rapid Growth's RapidBlog by Emma Heemskerk on the influence of The DAAC on our world.) And while our local Sunday Soup - a grassroots ...

On Thursday, July 16, The Crane Wives will play outside of the Grand Rapids Art Museum as a part of its summer free concert series, GRAM on the Green.   But also this week, supportive fans of The Crane Wives are in for an extra-special treat when the band arrives to play its first full-length concert at Wealthy Theatre in the East Hills neighborhood. "After years of The Crane Wives popping in to perform as guest artists in any one of the many music showcase events we have featured here," says Wealthy Theatre's Director Erin Wilson, "we finally get to spend more time with ...

"I really love that the First Lady has not only made fighting obesity her mission, but that she has brought in Beyonce to help her get the message out there," says Johanna Jelks, founder of She Rides Her Own Way, as she answers my question, "What's Beyonce' have to do with it?" Turns out that adding Bey's name does a lot of good. "Right away we noticed that when we added her name to the event listing, our traffic shot up," says Jelks. Do It Like Beyoncé is a first time fitness event hosted by She Rides Her Own Way, a popular bike culture ...

In a city buzzing with peoples' fingers dancing to the glow of their handheld devices as they jet from place to place, it is hard to imagine that we used to talk much more than we appear to do so today.   So it might be time for a flashback to a time when witty repartee ruled the culture. And no one did it better than Neil Simon, whose 1963 play Barefoot in the Park entertained generations of audience members, from the stage to its big screen debut. In the play, we meet newlyweds Paul and Corie Bratter, who are not that much different than the newer residents setting up homes in the city ...

It was just a year ago that I was sitting at Shorts Brewing Company's tap room and there on the stage was my pal and musician Joshua Davis. Cost: Basically free but I had purchased a beer and a Mutilated Lips pizza from the popular beer hangout in Bellaire, Michigan. This was to be the last time I would see him before he would land on America's TVs as a finalist in the wildly popular The Voice. (Before Davis would end up as the first runner up, his stellar rise was long in plan for years from a Michigan favorite seen on local stages like Wealthy Theatre to the world platform touring ...

What isn't happening at WMCAT? should be the question on most people's lips these days as they continue to evolve and wow our locals with everything from their partnerships in the revitalization of our parkland to Ambrose's social innovation work. Its latest partnership is with Steelcase and University Prep Academy as they welcome teens from Cluj Romania and Monterey, Mexico to Grand Rapids next week. According to organizers within WMCAT and Steelcase, each of the three teams of teens has been working independently and collaboratively around the topic of "How Might We ...

Finally, after years of traveling to New York to see the famed outdoor theatrical series, Shakespeare in the Park, our local Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company and the Grand Rapids Public Library hitch their passions for the word and performance to create a brand new event in Riverside Park.    Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company, known in our region for their non-traditional and yet highly engaging productions of The Bard's works, will perform William Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale" at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 11. This first offering tells the story of King Leontes of ...

I know it is not nice to complain when the event is free but I really do miss the days of indie acts on the rise playing on the banks of the Grand River in Grand Rapids (and I am not the first to voice these concerns). In any case, the acts playing along the riverbank are The Holland American Legion Band, Upstage Blues Band, Tyler Howe Band, and Pop Cult. And just so we are clear, the real money is on the fireworks -- and that is where it should be, since this annual tradition of gathering on the riverbank is what we really want to see as our headliner each year. This year's fireworks ...

The Grand Rapids Water Festival will return to town Sunday on the banks of the Grand River in the city's beautiful Riverside Park. Inspired by the annual touring festival that blew through our region many years ago, it lands back where it all began and is produced by a group of local environmentalists and artists. This day-long event is devoted to celebrating the power of water and the opportunity we have to organize and protect our fresh water. Throughout the day local and visiting folk acts will take to the stage with breaks in between for a true powerhouse line-up of guest speakers ...

After a period of time that can only be described as too damn long, our local power pop act, The Icicles, return with a new show and a fresh event. Hitched to the programming at KCAD's Fed Galleries, The Icicles return to the stage with another fun debut. (Their previous launch parties have included a roller rink dance party, an airplane arrival gate (complete with airline attendant costuming), and a confectionary inspired dreamy transformation of The Pyramid Scheme.) For this event, they have selected a perfect Saturday activity for summer, the yard sale. The event is free and will be ...

What's not to love about summer in the city and the chance to gather with friends at a popular festival? And if you love your festivals fun as well as funky, then the annual Eastown Bizarre Bazaar is that event! Produced by the Eastown Community Association and the Eastown Business Association, Bizarre Bazaar is committed to showcasing the artisan contributions to our region with live music, food vendors and the handmade products. (Nothing commercial is allowed.) An added attraction this year is the Chalk Art Battle, which is sure to produce some wonderful moments fueled by the ...

If you loved Grand Rapids Comic-Con then you are going to really enjoy all the activities happening in this region as a part of the GRASP Comic Expo – a celebration of “Grand Rapids Alternative Small Press.”   On the eve of GRASP's expo, a huge comic-themed kick off party, Dance Planet, presented by Vault of Midnight, will be held at downtown Grand Rapids' Pyramid Scheme. As with nearly every dance party produced by the popular downtown comic book establishment, guests are encouraged to dress up and celebrate the art of comics while competing for prizes in ...

My pride for our city increased significantly while in Pittsburgh recently, when I noticed a popular brunch spot had an hour wait as well as a main bank of taps totally devoted to Founders. On Saturday we will have a chance to gather with our neighbors as well as those who will travel to our region to celebrate Founders Brewing Company's annual street party, Founders Fest – a one-day event devoted to indie music, local food, artisan offerings, and, of course, Founders award-winning beer. The musical lineup this year is especially stellar, with Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Organissimo, ...

At press time, we're still not sure if the Supreme Court of United States of America will rule on marriage equality before Grand Rapids celebrates the return of the Greater Grand Rapids Pride at Calder Plaza. Either way, it is important to note that this annual festival's popularity has come a long way. Years ago getting a t-shirt with the word printed on it was a problem, but today the booth spaces available have sold out in record time as many who value our region's LGBT, from local businesses to politicians, have been clamoring to be a part of this annual event at Calder ...

Dazed and Confused may be hailed as the tiny film that launched so many big names in film today. And yet, maybe one of the biggest things to emerge and still linger is the phrase, "alright, alright, alright" uttered by Wooderson – a stoner, go-with-the-flow kind of a guy played by Matthew McConaughey. In fact, in accepting the many awards he later picked up for his lead actor role in Dallas Buyers Club, McConaughey referenced this phrase over and over.   Dazed and Confused was not a huge moneymaker at the time it was released, only making a little over a million dollars on its ...

It's hard to believe it's been less than two years since the Division Avenue Arts Collective was kicked out of the space they had inhabited for nearly 10 years.  (G-Sync: Right To The City) But on Friday the DAAC will return in a special five-week run at Kendall College of Art and Design's (KCAD) Fed Galleries for an incredible line-up of programming that kicks off with a fun art reception with a twist. The DAAC, fierce advocates for a collective's ability to unleash talent to change a region through togetherness, will present an exhibition surveying the history and culture ...

There are three kinds of folks in Grand Rapids when it comes time for the annual celebration of the Three Fires Pow Wow held at Riverside Park. First, there are your friends who attend each year and report back about how amazing the event was and how much they learned. Second, there are folks who, like me, hear about it from friends after the fact and kick ourselves that we missed it again. And lastly, there are those who have no clue that the native people of this land we think of as Grand Rapids gather each year to honor the journey we are all on in this life. Let's make a ...

With summer 2015 in full swing after an array of downtown events, from the annual Festival for the Arts to the Local First Street Party to relative newcomer Movies in the Park, it is time to put our focus on the neighborhoods, where the action really heats up. LINC, a Southeast Grand Rapids-based community revitalization nonprofit, is returning with Rock The Block – a neighborhood pride celebration with plenty of opportunities to network with locals and outsiders. In addition to this street fair-themed event, there is a serious BBQ competition that is still at press time signing up ...