Good Morning Grand Rapids!

Thank you to everyone sharing the newsletter, we’re growing at quite the RAPID pace! 🙂 

This past week we’ve been haunted by dying chickens, blessed with beautiful lights in the sky, and in the week ahead we have tons of events for people of all ages.

Let’s get into it!

 📰 GR News -

🐔 Tyson Plant In Zeeland Discharged Over 10 Million Pounds of Pollutants Into Our Waterways!: This week it came to light that the Tyson Fresh Meats facility in Zeeland, Michigan dumped over 10 million pounds of pollutants into local waterways between the years of 2018 and 2022. These waters supply an area with over 13,000 residents.

The plant had previously come under fire during the COVID-19 pandemic for infecting over 15% of their workforce. Talk about dirty birds!

🍗 Just A Bad Week For Chickens: If you noticed the smell of death near 96 on the east side of town… Herbrucks poultry farm had to kill 6.5 million chickens due to the avian flu.

🏃 New Record @ The River Bank Run: This week, Diego Estrada, 34, of Flagstaff, Arizona set a new record for the 47th-Annual Amway River Bank run, completing the 15.5-mile course in 1 hour, 13 minutes and 9 seconds – 21 seconds ahead of Nico Montanez. That’s fast!

🦟Are We Getting A New State Insect? Thanks to a dedicated class of fifth graders at Grand Rapids Public Schools - we just might!

🌊Will The Rapids be Coming Back? Advocates are fighting to bring some white water back to Grand Rapids by removing dams and adding boulders and stones.

🦄 Interesting Find

They’re also taking requests! Traditionally, they’ve screened movies about sleep, like Inception, or deep space, like Wall-E or Gravity.

🏀 Sports -

⚾️ West MI Sports Card Expo: Love sports cards? You’ll be in heaven this coming Saturday, May 18, when vendors from all over descend on Woodland Mall for the West MI Sports Card Expo hosted by Johnny Ford Sports Card & Memorabilia.

✝️Holy Hikes: Here’s your chance to worship in nature’s cathedral as you explore the wonder of God’s creation with fellowship and prayer as you hike the glory of the Lake Michigan Lakeshore on Saturday, May 18.

🤼 Mayday! Calling all wrestling fans: Independence Pro Wrestling returns to Grand Rapids at the The Four Star Theatre, May 19.

Michigan Adventure Race: If you’re already in shape and don’t sit and write newsletters all day like me. There’s still time to sign up for the Michigan adventure race at Cannonsburg.

Free Sports Camp for Kids: Got lil ones that need to get off of electronics this summer? The City of GR has free summer day camps - register here. 

🎵 Shows & Concerts -

🧹 Wicked: Here’s your chance to brush up on Wicked before the Ariana Grande spectacle hits the screen later this year. Wicked is coming to DeVos Performance Hall beginning on May 15 and continuing through June 2.

Dan Soder from Showtime’s Billions and his recent comedy special for HBOMax at Dr. Grin’s Comedy Club, May 16 - 18

🎭️Death of a Gangster is a 1920’s style murder mystery event happening this week on May 18 at 2780 Birchcrest Drive Southeast.

🤣 River City Improv has some of Michigan’s finest comedians and will have you rolling on the floor as they make it up on the spot on May 18 at Midtown Live Music.

🎵Why We Sing is performing a male chorus show on Saturday, May 18 at Calvin University.

Relax to some free jazz music on Sunday at SpeakEZ Lounge - 6-9pm

Tickets are still available for Tim McGraw at Van Andel on June 1st

Pyramid Scheme, as usual, has a show every night this upcoming week. Tickets are typically $10 and many of the shows are for all ages.

🍎 Fun Fact

👨‍👩‍👧 Family-Friendly Stuff -

🤝 GR Children’s Business Fair - In my opinion, this is a must-attend event with your kiddos! Teach them the value of entrepreneurship at a young age, especially in this new gig/creator economy. May 18th

🤖Transformers: The Movie 40th Anniversary Screenings, May 15, 18 - 19
Come celebrate the original Transformers cinematic spectacle with a series of special 40th-Anniversary screenings at the Celebration Cinema GR North. There’s a special screening this Wednesday, May 15, and then more throughout the weekend.

🔮 Family Comedy Magic Show, May 17 - 18
Come for the laughs, stay for the wonder, at this weekend’s Comedy Magic Night at Studio Cor3 - 1300 Front Ave NW

🐐 May Festival at Idlewild Farm, May 18
Baby goats! Live music! Plants for sale! Need we say more? The May Festival is happening this weekend on May 18 at Idlewild Farm in Belding, Michigan

🎡 WestFest Carnival at John Ball Zoo, May 18 - 21
Come experience the best the West Side has to offer, beginning this weekend and running through the middle of next week, when the WestFest Carnival comes to John Ball Zoo Park.

🤖 Wimee’s Dreams at Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
Got a little science lover in your midst? You will after visiting Wimee’s Dreams at the Grand Rapids Children Museum, where children of all ages can explore the magic of green screen technology, investigate a distant star, dress up in costumes and play with zebras and cupcakes! Running through September 2024.

🥇 Golden Years

AARP Learn a Latte: Understanding the Future of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI’s been absolutely everywhere this last year. But is it as world-changing as everybody says it is or simply the next fad? Here’s your chance to find out when the AARP hosts Understanding the Future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on May 15 at the Grandville Public Library.

🍄 The Wild World of Foraging
There’s nothing quite like finding your own dinner. You’ll learn how when you explore the riches of the Lake Michigan lakeshore on May 15 at the Grandville Public Library.

🎨The Art of Life
It’s never too late to learn how to paint. This week, art lovers of all kinds can come together to enjoy a laidback, step-by-step beginner’s acrylic painting class on May 16.

🌳Green Burials
Talking about dying is never fun, but it is necessary. Join host Peter Quakenbush at the Amy Van Andel Library on May 16, where he’ll be discussing burial forests and other ecologically-friendly burial options.

🃏 Bingo!
Play bingo and make new friends at. What more could you ask for? Bingo at Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, May 20

😎 Other Cool Stuff

This “Michigan Bundle” for Cedar Point is a GREAT DEAL.

For parents who like to act like kids, BattleGR is hosting a night of laser tag, cornhole, basketball and more (JUST for adults) on May 18th.

👨‍💼 Highlighting New Business

The Taqueria Chilango food truck opened a few weeks and here’s what Brad H has to say on Yelp.
“The owners are very friendly and the food was delicious.”

If you like brunch, juice and smoothies, check out the new Brunch House location off Forest Hill ave. Gabe B is digging it.
“Best breakfast in GR hands down. Been waiting for this place to open up their second location and it didn't disappoint. Atmosphere is beautiful reminds me a a Chicago brunch spot. Service is great too!”

🙏 A Special Message

If you can spare 90 seconds, I recently added this video to the “thank you” page and many of you have not seen it. There a couple important things I need to share about the newsletter that will help me to continue making this a great, free resource for everyone in West Michigan.

Would you like to sponsor a newsletter or add a great discount for your local business (for free)? Fill out this form and let’s chat!