Stories

Feature Story MDARD

From grains to glass: Michigan craft distillers produce fine spirits from local crops

Michigan distillers are building their businesses with locally grown grains and fruits. They say there's room to grow.

Feature Story ftUIX20170616_115312

UIX: Empathy is essential to good design and modern technology

It was once rare that the fields of architecture, and more-so, digital architecture, and human emotion overlapped. But the intersection is crucial not only to the basis of good software, however, it's the foundation of good software companies. 

Feature Story ftInstaListImage

Instagram roundup: The most interesting people in GR

Who's capturing the best images of our fair river city? From @grandrapidspubliclibrary and @lovecharlesvintage to @carbonstories and @uicagr, check out this profile of the best Instagram'ers in GR.

Feature Story Midtown273

Neighborhoods of GR: The history of Midtown

Modern-day Midtown, with a population of just over 4,000, according to 2013 Community Research Institute figures, is bordered to the north by I-196, to the east by Fuller Street, to the south by Fulton, and to the west by Union. It's one of the oldest and most venerated neighborhoods in Grand Rapids and is just as tethered to historical events as its neighboring communities.

Development News DNsigsbee

GRPS Launches Rebuild Sigsbee Park Crowdfunding Campaign


Innovation News Iron

Some Like It Hot: Outdoor Eats


Feature Story FTpedestrian

Is Grand Rapids walkable?: Safety, data, and the physical space of pedestrians

With rating systems like walkscore.com and articles about the city's walkability factor popping up every few months, it can be difficult to determine what factors actually make a city safe, and enjoyable, to be a pedestrian. Whatever the approach, Grand Rapids is catching on the the trend of celebrating the pedestrian, making the river city a safer place to traverse on foot.

Feature Story FTgleaning

Better food for Heartside: Gleaning produce, growing access, and improving health

Heartside Gleaning Initiative provides hundreds of pounds of fresh produce each week to Heartside residents, food pantries and missions thanks to generous farmers and volunteers.

Feature Story FTentertainment

The brightest lights in West Michigan's entertainment scene are at a national level

Whether it's an acoustic street side gig at Rosa Parks Circle, a sold-out club show at 20 Monroe Live, a DeVos Performance Hall production, or even a movie in the park, the artists provide the music and emotion but technology amplifies the experience.

Feature Story FTladyaceboogie

Lady Ace Boogie - Don't Box Me In

Coming off an electrifying show this past Sunday at the Pyramid Scheme and set to launch her new EP “Don’t Box Me In” this fall, Linda Tellis a.k.a Lady Ace Boogie showed us that this summer is not done heating up.

Feature Story MDARD

Michigan's newest winemakers are following their passion—and doing well

Michigan has 127 wineries and produces 2.5 million gallons of wine annually. May is when the state celebrates its wine makers and encourages tourists to visit as the wineries show their springtime colors.

Harmony Brewing plans summer 2017 expansion, addition of delivery service to Eastown location


New Madcap location opens in attached Fulton Heights roastery space


Innovation News FTjobs

Summer jobs roundup


Elevator Up partners with SightLine Display to enhance digital offerings.


Feature Story Benjamin Heyn

RapidChat: Benjamin Heyn

As we enter the month of June, we also enter a month dedicated to celebrating Pride. "What does Pride Month mean to you?" we asked Benjamin Heyn, a resident and LGBQT+ activist within the Grand Rapids Community. We've learned that it goes farther beyond what many of our eyes have been trained to see.

Feature Story FTjoejones

Rapid Blog: The power of collective voice: Speaking up, speaking out, and making real change

"Empathy and the commitment of not violating one’s dignity is where I believe we can find real, tangible solutions." In this week's Rapid Blog, Grand Rapids Second Ward Commissioner Joe Jones discusses empathy, community engagement, and the power of speaking up.

Feature Story Summer

13 events for your perfect Grand Rapids summer

With just three short months to enjoy the sunshine and somewhat predictable weather of a Grand Rapids summer, you'll want to pack your schedule full of fun, relaxation, and tasty treats. This list of the top summer events will kickstart your calendar and get you moving on your best Michigan summer.

Feature Story Buckthorn is an invasive plant that began as a popular hedge.Photo by Imad Hassan.

DNR’s volunteer stewards safeguard Michigan’s natural areas

At 20 state parks and recreation areas across southern Michigan, groups of volunteer stewards regularly roll up their sleeves to help protect and restore natural areas. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Volunteer Steward Program puts volunteers to work, typically removing invasive species, planting native species, and collecting native seed. The program holds about 200 workdays per year.

Feature Story From left, Wendy Ogilvie, Ron Yob, Jay Steffen and Matt Chapman.

Listen to the Grand: River revitalization much more than a kayaker’s dream

What started as a group of kayakers seeking to create a great spot for their sport has evolved into project can restore priceless habitat, respect local indigenous people, and make spaces where all residents can partake and enjoy. As Grand Rapids Whitewater cofounder Chip Richards remarked during the River Rally presentation, “The more we listened to the river, the more we realized this project is something good for everyone and everything.”