Michigan weather can be quite capricious, but lately it has been consistently feeling like spring is here to stay.
So put away the boots, heavy coats and wool socks, and bust out the shades, sneakers and short sleeves. Spring has arrived, and we have the must-hit spots and activities for you during this warm weather.
West Michigan Trails and Greenways
With such an extensive network of trails at our disposal it would be a shame--no, a crime--if you did not find your way to the trails this spring. Walk, bike, run, or even skate your way out there! If you are looking for a closer ride you can launch from Riverside Park on the north side of the city or you can head to the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail from the west side.
Taqueria San Jose
This taqueria’s aesthetic is hard to beat. A throwback to the diner drive-in days, Taqueria San Jose is always packed as soon as the temperature heats up. Right off of both the Rapid 1 or Silver Line route, this southside gem will not disappoint. Find your way inside the cozy restaurant to make your order, but be sure to save a seat outside to get the full experience. Want to check out other restaurants where you can soak in the sun while eating? This comprehensive list has tons of good suggestions.
Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium - Grand Rapids Public Museum
This choice might sound counterproductive, but just hear me out for a bit. These tickets are just $5 ($4 if you purchased a general admission to the museum), which is a drop in the bucket compared to the $58 million price tag SpaceX is asking for a ride into the stars. Just a quick walk over the bridge into the westside will literally take you into a whole new world. (OK, so figuratively, but as close to literal as possible. Asymptotically close for all you math nerds out there!)
Spoke Folks
So you are reading all this spring goodness, and you go into your garage to untangle your bike from the heaping mess and realize it needs more than just a little air in the tires. Or maybe not; maybe you are super organized, and your bike has its own place and is good to go. We can’t all be like you, Karen. No one has the time, because we fly by the seat of our pants! Well, the Spoke Folks are a handy crew of people who believe in teaching you how to fish instead of handing you one. They will help you fix your own bike, and they have all the tools and supplies you could need. The charge is just $5, and you get access to the entire kingdom; all other parts are seriously affordable, so you won’t break the bank. Head on over and be sure to give all the amazing people at Spoke Folks--Jay, Martel and Morgan, just to name a few--a high five when you see them.
Grand Rapids Parks
Get out to your local park! Our city boasts 74 city-owned parks with over 1,600 acres available. If you want to play futsal (futbol de sala, or street soccer) or just watch the local skill tear up the court, head on over to Garfield Park on the southside or Lincoln Park on the westside. If getting lost and walking in nature is more your thing, you can’t beat Riverside Park or Huff Park on the north end. With Riverside Park flooding beautifully, it transforms the whole landscape into a new park. Like having two parks in one!
CKO Kickboxing
Not feeling quite ready to frolic around in the fields of blooming flowers? Well, head on over to CKO Kickboxing to jump start your spring, but be warned this team means business! Each trainer brings a bit of a twist to the mat, but what is certain is that you will leave with a complete body burn. You will kick, you will punch, you will sweat (more than you thought was possible), and yes you might ask yourself is it over? Their Triple Play package is perfect for testing the waters; at $20 for three classes (45 minutes to one hour each) and a pair of gloves, it’s hard to pass up!
Spring Runs
Still wanting to make good on that New Year’s resolution to stay fit? Grab a friend and sign up for these upcoming races in our city. Support Title IX and women in sports and head to the Gazelle Girl Half Marathon on Sunday April 23 with your mom, grandma, girlfriend, or any other powerful women in your life. Come out and celebrate the 40th anniversary of the country’s largest 25K road run, the Fifth Third River Bank Run, on May 13. Want to do more than just run? Head to the Grand Rapids Triathlon on June 11. If you’re looking for something a bit more laid back, you can “run through dreamy colored foam” and “snap whimsical photos with giant unicorns” at the Color Run on July 29 (yeah, we know that’s a summer event, but you can purchase cheaper early-bird tickets through April 26).
Festival of the Arts
Long before ArtPrize, in 1969, Alexander Calder’s “La Grande Vitesse” was installed in front of Grand Rapids’ City Hall and inspired the city’s first Festival of the Arts. This event, the biggest art event the city had ever seen, jump-started a revival of the arts in Grand Rapids and has gone onto become the free three-day soiree of creativity that draws hundreds of thousands of people to our downtown. This year, Festival will be celebrated on June 2, 3 and 4 and will feature several stages of performances, a juried regional arts exhibition, dozens of food booths run by nonprofit organizations, and more.
The first-ever Grand Rapids Asian Festival
This inaugural one-day event will feature food, art, music and more from the Philippines, Korea, India, China, Vietnam, and other countries across Asia. Guests will have a chance to join origami and chopsticks workshops, as well as interactive dance performances representing Bollywood, Laos and more. Plus, you’ll have the chance to see a variety of entertainment, Taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, and a karaoke contest and party with DJ Ace Marasigan. Feel free to bring the whole family, as there will be an interactive kids’ area. For the adults, there will be a beer tent selling both local and Asian brews. The festival will be free and open to everyone.
Tulips, tulips and more tulips!
Gather the family together and head to the week-long Tulip Time Festival in Holland, a nationally renowned celebration of Dutch culture that features parades, an arts and crafts fair, tulip trolley tours, a carnival, a Dutch market, live music and dance, and more. The festival runs from May 6-14.
Have a few nuggets of your own that you are willing to share? Let us know in the comments! Have a seriously awesome spot but are not willing to share it? Well, I have only this to say to you:
I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for a prize, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you tell me your secret spot now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for that secret spot, I will find it, and I will tell everybody.
(Confused? Go here.)
Until next time, stay moving, stay cheap, stay curious.
Ken Miguel-Cipriano is Rapid Growth’s innovation and jobs editor. To reach Ken, you can email [email protected] or follow him on Twitter and Instagram