Good Morning Grand Rapids!

Good morning Grand Rapids! We’ve got some great stuff lined up for you this week, from Mary Chapin Carpenter and Cheap Trick to elevating your snack game with a charcuterie workshop at Spruced Studio. There will be plenty of chances to laugh, too, with several comedy nights happening during the coming week. You can even learn to create your own clean girl routine by foraging for your own skincare regimen.

Let’s get into it! ☀️ 

📰 This Week’s Grand Stories

🐟️ Picture This!: This week, a spokesperson from John Ball Zoo unveiled some renderings for the new 190-acre aquarium.

🍔 Is Wendy’s in Crisis? This week on the /r/GrandRapids subreddit, a user named /u/Current_Yak8220 posted a picture of a Wendy’s with a marquee reading “Misfortune Awaits. Lucky you.” Ominous much?

Welcome HNI!: An Iowa-based corporation, HNI, purchased Steelcase for a staggering $2.2 billion!

A Glimpse of Africa: The festival returns to Calder Plaza on August 9th and 10th. The festival brings people together to celebrate, educate and share the rich, diverse cultures of Africa through food, music, dance, fashion, art & crafts, and other community activities.

📆 This Week’s Grand Events

Wednesday, August 6

‘90s Night: Founders’ Brewing Co.’s ‘90s trivia night continues this Wednesday. 9 PM. Free.

Plant Trio: Come to Brush Studio to learn how to paint your very own eternal flowers and plant life. 6:30 - 8:30 PM. $30/Person

Thursday, August 7

Meijer Gardens Summer Concert Series: Mary Chapin Carpenter & Brandy Clark: You’ll feel lucky, too, when Mary Chapin Carpenter comes to Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater for the Meijer Gardens Summer Concert Series. 6:30 PM. $73/Members, $75/Non-Members.

WGVU KidsDay: WGVU are pairing with John Ball Zoo to welcome a new generation of nature and animal lovers with a day of fun games, special events, and a PBS parade! 9 AM - 5 PM. $5.

Friday, August 8

Foraging for Skincare: Elevate your clean girl routine by learning how to make your own skincare with Aubrey Winfield of Gathered Botanicals. 10:30 AM - 7 PM.

Free Show Friday: Tiberius & Riot Punch: Speciation Cellars’ Free Show Friday series continues with the prog stylings of Tiberius and the post-hardcore beatdown of Grand Rapids’ own Riot Punch! 9 PM. Free.

Josh Johnson: Prepare to laugh your britches off when stand-up comedian Josh Johnson comes to GLC Live. 7 PM. $48.50+.

Prior Noon – Live at the Stillhouse: West Michigan country powerhouses Prior Noon are coming to Rapid Rivers Stillhouse. 8 - 11 PM. Free.

Rooftop Comedy Night @ Mertens Rooftop: You’ll see comedy in its best light when Mertens Prime and Rooftop host the next installment of their Golden Hour Comedy series at sunset! 8:30 - 10:30 PM. $10 - $100.

Summer Twist on Classic Cocktails: Close out the summer on a high note by learning how to upgrade the classic pineapple margarita and blueberry mojitos. Spruced Studio. 7 - 8:15 PM. $60.

Saturday, August 9

Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County: Pancakes with Bacon: Celebrate the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County with free pancakes with their furry pal, Bacon, at the Kentwood public library. 9 - 11 AM. Free.

Cirque Amongus Live!: Comedy and circus hyjinks are coming together at the Seymour Branch of the Grand Rapids Public Library. 9 - 11 AM. Free.

Just Dance: Lady Gaga Nite: Monsters get ready! Lady Gaga night is taking over The Intersection. 9 PM. $22.

Lush Boards & Lemonade Charcuterie Workshop: This Spruced Studio workshop will be serving up double the delicacies when you learn to make your own lavish lemonade and world-class charcuterie boards! 6:30 - 8 PM. $86.

Swinging and Swearing In: The past will come to jumpin’, jivin’ life when Swinging and Swearing In fills the Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum with an evening of swing music and dancing. 6 - 7 PM. Free.

The Travellers – A Chris Stapleton Tribute Live at the Stillhouse: The Travellers will be bringing their loving musical tribute to Chris Stapleton to The Stillhouse.

Sunday, August 10

Jake Scott: You’ll have a chance to hear for yourself how he earned over a billion streams when pop luminary Jake Scott comes to The Intersection. 7:30 PM. $10.

Monday, August 11

BUSTED: Contemporary Sculpture Busts: Art lovers take note! Fredrik Meijer’s Sculpture Garden is hosting an exhibit of works from 16 contemporary sculptors every day through September 21. 9 AM - 5 PM. Free - $22.

Cheap Trick: Rock ‘n rollers rejoice! Rockford, Il’s own Cheap Trick are coming to Fredrik Meijer Garden Theater. 7 PM. $101.

Tuesday, August 12

Isle of Dogs at Wealthy Theatre: You’ll love dogs too after watching Wes Anderson’s charming 2018 feature, Isle of Dogs, on the Wealthy Theatre’s enormous screen. 7:30 PM. $8.

Pleasure Gardens

Did you know that Frederik Meijer donated the land that would become the Fredrik Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park in 1991?

📅 Add to Your Calendar

Breakaway Music Festival 2025 - is coming to Belknap Park on August 15th. Get your tickets before they sell out!

Fiesta Mexicana 2025 - is the largest Latin ethnic group in West Michigan and continues to grow. Fiesta Mexicana is the flagship event and is one of the oldest ethnic festivals in Grand Rapids. It educates the public about Mexican culture, history and tradition, and highlights the contributions of Americans with Mexican heritage. It’s three days of music (Sept 12-14th) with dance, food, carnival games and more!

ArtPrize! If you had to summarize Grand Rapids with one, solitary event - it would be ArtPrize. It’s just around the corner, starting on Sept 18th! So… get ready, and get a little preview on the official website here. 

🏃 Upcoming Runs & Walks!

Earlier this year, one of our readers wrote in asking about running and walking events happening around Grand Rapids. We aim to please! Here are a few running and walking events happening in the next few weeks and months, so you can start warming up now.

Gettin Salty Margarita Run: Lace 'em up on August 23rd and join the party by rewarding yourself for completing the 5k with a nice, cold margarita! Not up for the run? No worries! You can still have all the same fun with no training whatsoever.

The LMCU Bridge Run: is back, and if you’ve never done it - you’re not a true Grand Rapidian. You can do a 10 mile run, a 5k, or even just enjoy the kids dash. It’s on Sunday Sept 14th, and you can register here! 

🏷️ GRrrrrrrreat Discounts for Subscribers!

Harmonic Egg - BOGO!
The Harmonic Egg in GR is now open & is offering a special BOGO discount when you and a friend visit for the first time! Experience the healing power of sacred geometry, light, color and sound.
Just text “GRNEWS” to 616-970-9186 to claim and make your appt!

Hydrowash Solutions - 50% OFF
Your home looking a little dirty or green this spring? Get 50% off your home's first pressure wash (up to 1500 sq ft). Only $300 for GR Newsletter subscribers.
Text "Wash" to 616-730-3949 get on the calendar. (First 10 homes only)

Let The Good Times Roll - $150 OFF
Need a bartender for your special day? Whether it's a wedding, backyard bbq, or any other special occassion - I am your certified and insured bartender and food handler. $150 off any event for GR News subscribers!
Text "Bartender" to 847-924-2447 to claim your discount!

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

Gimmes Par and Grill is new and open to some well-deserved fan fare. With 4.8 Stars and over 100 Reviews on Google… the food is great, the golf simulators are above par and the drinks are always swingin.

Playa Bowls just opened on East Beltline offering acai bowls, juices and smoothies.

 🎶 Plan Ahead for Big Concerts & Shows!

Quite a few readers have said they’d like a little more advance notice on upcoming concerts and shows - so here ya go! Whilst this isn’t everything - it’s a lot of the big names coming to town!

Louis CK is coming to DeVos Hall on Aug 26th and 27th

Jason Aldean is coming to Van Andel on Sept 4th

John Crist is coming to DeVos Hall on Sept 19th

The Lumineers are coming to Van Andel on Oct 1st 

Brandon Lake is coming to Van Andel on Oct 11th 

Matt Rife is coming to Van Andel on Nov 9th

Bert Kreischer is coming to Van Andel on Nov 20th