Good Morning Grand Rapids!

Hope you had a great Fourth of July! There are nearly as many fun, interesting, and exciting things to explore this week, though, even without a holiday. There are music festivals galore and outdoor concert series aplenty, plus tons of food and family-friendly adventures.

Let’s get into it! 🙂 

📰 This Week’s Grand Stories

🏓 Beer City Pickleball Open - This event sells out every year as Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park becomes one of the nation’s best pickleball facilities. Even if you don’t have a friend competing - it’s a great event for spectators with tons of action - going on now through July 14.

$120 Million for Michigan’s Gun Lake Tribe - The Interior Secretary announced that this federal funding would be given to help tribal communities to prepare for climate change. This is also the same amount they profit each day from their casinos! 😄 

🎶 Listening LAWNch - This week, the Listening Lawn outdoor concerts series kicks off with performances by The Wood Brothers and Victor Wooten. Later performances will feature The Spin Doctors, the Robert Randolph Band, and KT Tunstall, among others.

🐉How To Train Your Dragon LIVE!: Later this month, dragon lovers will be treated to an extra-magical viewing of 2010’s How To Train Your Dragon when the Grand Rapids Symphony brings John Powell’s Academy Award-nominated score to life at DeVos Performance Hall on July 24.

🐶The Perfect Pup: This summer, A Pleasant Dog, a Grand Rapids school for dogs, is offering free dog training throughout the month of August for all dogs who aren’t reactive to other dogs or people.

🥘Traditional Thai Food Is Coming To Grand Rapids!: A Thai couple’s dreams of bringing their family’s recipes to Grand Rapids is nearly reality. Thai Table is very nearly open at 950 Wealthy St. SE.

🎵 Shows & Concerts -

☀️ Celadonia Summer Concert Series: Here’s a summer concert series that’s fun for the whole family. It’s also totally free! July 11, 6:30 - 9:30.

😂 Summer Weather Comedy Double Header: It’s twice the fun with a double-header of comedy fun at The Comedy Project on July 12.

🎸Listening Lawn Concert Series: The Wood Brothers: This summer’s Listening Lawn series kicks off with a performance by beloved roots musicians The Wood Brothers at the lavishly renovated Studio Park on July 12.

🎙️Wyatt Flores: The Rock The Lot series continues with a performance by Wyatt Flores at The Intersection on July 12.

🎹 Listening Lawn Concert Series: Victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers: Here’s your chance to see one of the greatest bass players who ever lived on July 13 as part of the Listening Lawn series!

🎸 Red Clay Strays: Come out for even more bluesy roots music when Red Clay Strays come to The Intersection on July 13.

🎅 Drag Queen Brunch: XXXMas in July: Beat the heat when some fabulous queens bring the holiday cheer to a special drag brunch on July 14.

☘️ Michigan Fern Fest 2024: Women, trans, and non-binary folks will have a chance to celebrate and explore their community throughout the week of July 9 to 14.

🎷 West Michigan Jazz Society: Come out to celebrate the 24th Year of the West Michigan Jazz Society on July 16 for a night of hot, cool jazz. There will be food trucks!

🪑 Ada Music on the Lawn 2024: Here’s your chance to hear a different lawn series when the Ada Music on the Lawn series returns on July 17.

🎵 Upheaval Festival 2024: Grand Rapid’s largest rock festival returns to Western Michigan on July 19 and 20.

🍎 Fun Fact

The Grand Rapids City Seal was originally designed in 1850. The motto, Motu Viget, means “strength in activity.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family-Friendly Fun -

🎈 BLOCK PARTY Feat. Mama's Hot Sauce: Come experience the first real block party since 2020 on July 12 with a day of food, drinks, activities, and hot music from Mama’s Hot Sauce!

20 Life-sized dinosaurs are coming to John Ball Zoo starting on July 15th!

Cascade firefighters are putting on a charity hockey event on July 13th. They’ll have food trucks, yard games and firetrucks to explore.

Like Outdoor Concerts? There’s another coming up on July 13th at Wildwood Family Farms - and they are awesome. Pets and kids free.

Get your kids to theater camp where they’ll learn backstage tech, scenic build, costumes and acting, singing and dancing. Next session starts on July 29th. Ages 6-12

🏀 Sports & Hobbies-

🎨 ART WITH FRIENDS- Polymer Jewelry: Come out with some of your besties to I'm An Artist Community Studio on July 11 to learn the fine art of crafting fine jewelry using polymer clay.

🥒 Advil Targeted Relief Major League Pickleball Mid-Season Tournament: Pickleball lovers will be in ecstasy when all 22 Major League Pickleball franchises come together to compete on July 10 and 11 - runs alongside the Beer City Open!

🏒 Cascade Firefighters Association Charity Hockey Game: Hockey is just the start of the fun at the Cascade Firefighters Association Charity Hockey Game. There will also be food carts, games, prizes, and fireworks. July 13, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM.

🏆️ Euro + Copa America Finals Watch Party: Come out to cheer your favorite soccer team at this epic all-day watch party on July 14.

🍕 Food & Drink

😋 Walking Food Tour - Downtown Grand Rapids: Experience the best that Grand Rapids’ vibrant food scene has to offer with one walking tour, stopping at 5 of GR’s most delicious eateries. July 13, 2024 1130 AM - 230 PM

😎 Ongoing Stuff That’s Pretty Cool

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

• MJ the musical is at Devos until July 14th & I’ve heard it’s AMAZING.

• Westside Ultimate Frisbee: Every Wednesday and Friday, John Ball Park and Playground

• Barre on The Blue Bridge: Explore the popular new low-impact fitness trend every Tuesday through August 20

• Free Mat Yoga at First Church: Every Tuesday at 227 Fulton St E

• Grand Rapids Scavenger Hunt: Come find some interactive fun in downtown Grand Rapids. Happening daily through 2025.

• Mosaic: Meijer Garden: floral show runs through August 31

• Summer Reading Challenge: Every week, the Grand Rapids Public Library will be hosting weekly reading challenges through September 7.

🎵 Music

• Tuesday Evening Music Club: Every Tuesday at Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater, through August 27, 2024

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

• Listen to live music on Fridays & Saturdays throughout the summer at FireRock Grille from 5-8pm

• 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.

🏷️ GRrrrrrrreat Discounts for Subscribers!

Hydrowash Solutions - 50% OFF
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JDPotter Lawn Care - First Grass Mowing is FREE!
I’m a bit biased, as Jackson has been cutting my lawn for several years. He’s a great young man with a thriving business. He’ll cut up to two acres for free, for first-time customers. And, you’ll love it so much, he’ll be your lawn guy for life.
Text “Free Mow” to 616-818-8805 to get scheduled. (First 15 lawns only)

Miss Clean It All - 40% OFF
Get your first cleaning job on the books at 40% off! Two hours of deep cleaning for only $40! Servicing residential & commercial customers.
Text "First Cleaning" to 616-433-5497 to get scheduled.

Cookie Cutters - 50% OFF a “Kids Cut” for First Time Customers
Voted #1 for 4 years in a row for the best place for kids' haircuts in Grand Rapids by GRkids.com families! All three of our GR locations feature amazing stylists, an indoor play set, fun fantasy cars, and personal TVs, in our kid-centric salons! Click here to book your appointment and mention the GR Newsletter when you visit.

👨‍💼 Highlighting New Businesses

Daydreamer Domes is a fun, new business model coming to the South Haven area. Go check out their Gold Disco Domes, heated pool, float tanks, curated bodega, and elevated dining experiences. Mention the GR Newsletter and get a free drink at the pool.

The nostalgic Rocket Fizz candy store just opened a new location over at the Tanger Outlets. Go give them some love and make your kiddos happy.

Cottage Inn Pizza is now in GR! This was one of my favorites as a child on the east side of the state, and they are now open at 533 Wealthy St SE

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!”