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, 28th 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 Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, the 11th annual 28th Street Metro Cruise is truly a remarkable event, with official and unofficial parties and showcases devoted to all things automobile popping up and down the busy street.
You can choose to sit along the street in any one of the numerous viewing platforms set up along the pathway or, as some love to do, get in your car and join the parade cruising alongside history in your Jetta or (vintage) Fiat.
One pre-cruise offering on Friday is a Cruise first. For the first time, the 28th Street Metro Cruise has produced an event especially aimed at the ladies who are not afraid to get dirty under the hood with guest host Kandi “Blaze” Thompson of Kandi's Kustoms.
Thompson, of Ashland, Ohio, will offer tips on general maintenance as well as share skills needed to easily identify a motor and its main components. All are welcome to this first-time event. You can follow Thompson on Instagram at @KandiBlazeCraze.
If you are more in the mood to chill in a parking lot in Wyoming – where many of us over the years have experienced the pleasures of car cruising on a weekend night – then consider stopping at Lindo Mexico for the best Mexican on the strip. The restaurant also will be featuring live music with Gabriel Estrada III on Saturday night from 6 to 9 p.m.
Bring your A-game car and enjoy the ride this Saturday.
Admission: Free (Note: some events are private or require prior registration. See the site for all the details.)
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