Good Morning Grand Rapids!

Tomorrow is Election Day, Restaurant Week kicks off Friday, and there is a ton of live music on the calendar this week. Grab your sticker and your appetite!

Let’s get into it! 🗳️

📰 This Week’s Grand Stories

🗳️ Election Day Is Tuesday: Polls are open 7 AM to 8 PM on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Find your polling place and see your sample ballot at michigan.gov/vote. Not registered yet? You can still register and vote the same day at your city or township clerk’s office until 8 PM with proof of residency. In Grand Rapids that’s City Hall, 2nd floor, 300 Monroe Ave. NW. Bonus: Veo is offering a free $10 ride credit on Election Day with code VOTE26. Heads up: five seats on the Grand Rapids Public Schools board are on the ballot, with 15 candidates running, so look for the nonpartisan section, usually near the end of your ballot.

🏫 GRPS Picks Its Next Superintendent: The Grand Rapids Public Schools board chose Allison Tingwall, a Chicago Public Schools administrator who grew up in Michigan, over internal finalist Kelly Greene. Superintendent Leadriane Roby stays through the end of the school year, and Tingwall’s contract still has to be finalized. This was the most-talked-about local story we found on Facebook this week, with nearly 2,000 comments on WOOD TV8’s post alone. One more reason Tuesday’s school board race matters.

🎤 Amphitheater Keeps Its Volume: Grand Rapids city commissioners voted unanimously to keep Acrisure Amphitheater exempt from the city’s noise ordinance, allowing louder shows until 11 PM. Neighbors told commissioners concerts rattle their windows and keep them up at night, while supporters pointed to hundreds of thousands of guests and a boost for downtown businesses in the venue’s first season.

🛶 Canal Park Is Open: The reimagined Canal Park along the Grand River is open after more than a year of construction, with a new playground, 14-foot-wide sidewalks, a kayak launch, a heated pavilion and more green space. The city worked with the Anishinaabek on the redesign, and an official grand opening is planned for spring.

🧸 Toys“R”Us Is Back: The iconic toy store is returning to West Michigan ahead of the holidays, with new standalone stores at Woodland Mall and Tanger Outlets Grand Rapids in Byron Center, plus a shop inside Macy’s at Woodland. Geoffrey would be proud.

🚗 Two-Way Traffic on Lyon and Fountain? The city’s Mobile GR department is considering converting Lyon and Fountain from one-way to two-way streets through Heritage Hill.

🌭 Free Dinner Downtown Tonight: Johnsonville is serving a free hot carryout dinner at Rosa Parks Circle Monday, Nov. 2, from 5 to 7:30 PM, with pastas, hot sandwiches and bowls, including vegetarian and non-pork options. Free product vouchers while supplies last.

📆 This Week’s Grand Events

Tuesday, November 3

Michigan Author Series: Colleen Alles - Main Library - Meet Michigan author Colleen Alles at the Grand Rapids Public Library’s author series. Free / 7 PM

Campus Choir & Women’s Chorale Concert - Calvin University - Calvin’s fall choral concert in the Covenant Fine Arts Center. Free / 7:30 PM

CHIHULY: Radiant Forms - Frederik Meijer Gardens - The indoor Chihuly glass exhibition has been extended through Jan. 10, and the Gardens stay open until 9 PM on Tuesdays. Check the event page for timed tickets / Open until 9 PM

Toddler Time - GRPL West Side Branch - Songs, stories and play for the littlest library fans. Free / 10:30 AM

Wednesday, November 4

The String Cheese Incident - GLC Live at 20 Monroe - The jam-band favorites roll into downtown for one night only. $66.50–$213 / 6 PM

Griffins vs. Texas Stars - Van Andel Arena - It’s a Winning Wednesday: the first 1,000 fans get a t-shirt, a Griffins win earns you a free ticket to next Wednesday’s game, and a GRPL or KDL library card gets you discounted tickets. Prices vary / 7 PM

The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys - Tip Top Deluxe - Grand Ole Opry bluegrass band with a seriously good live show. 7 PM

Dinovember Dance Party & Storytime - GRPL Ottawa Hills Branch - A dinosaur-themed dance party and storytime for kids. Free / 6:30 PM

Thursday, November 5

Béla Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart - St. Cecilia Music Center - The banjo legend brings his bluegrass show to one of the best rooms in town. Listings show it close to sold out, so check before you go. 7:30 PM

Free Thursday Night at the GRAM - Grand Rapids Art Museum - Free admission every Thursday evening. Pair it with the Appliqué Butterflies adult workshop if you want to make something. Free / From 5 PM

Hotel California: The Original Eagles Tribute - Wealthy Theatre - A full night of Eagles classics. 7:30 PM

Psychostick - The Pyramid Scheme - The comedy-metal band brings the chaos, with Texas Toast Chainsaw. From $27.27 / 7:30 PM

Created to Discover STEM Night - Cornerstone University - Hands-on science demos for the whole family. Free / 6–8 PM

Main Library Redesign: Public Input Session - Main Library - Help shape the future of the downtown library’s interior. Free / 6 PM

Friday, November 6

Restaurant Week GR Kicks Off - Restaurants across Kent County - Nearly 60 local restaurants are serving multi-course menus for $25, $35 or $45 through Nov. 14. Sign up for the free digital pass, check in at three spots and pick a prize, and every check-in helps fund culinary scholarships at GRCC. Nov. 6–14

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong - Elevation - Funk-jam heavyweights with Dizgo opening. From $48.15 / 7 PM

Griffins Military Appreciation Night - Van Andel Arena - Griffins vs. Milwaukee with a patriotic t-shirt giveaway, $3 beers and hot dogs from 6 to 8 PM, and free rides on The Rapid with your ticket. Prices vary / 7 PM

Said The Sky - The Intersection - Melodic electronic sets and big feelings. 9 PM

Januzzi Watchmen with Bayley Gottfried & Paper Sound - Mulligan’s Pub - A free local band night on Wealthy. Free

Grand Rapids Celebration of Service - 555 Monroe NW & 6th Street Park - A Veterans Day weekend celebration with veteran resources, live music, art and a drone show. Fri 3 PM through Sat 7 PM

WMPG Annual Fall Show and Sale - 2250 E Paris Ave SE - Over 1,100 people marked interested in this annual show and sale. Runs Friday and Saturday. Nov. 6–7

Saturday, November 7

Grand Rapids Gold Home Opener - Van Andel Arena - The Gold tip off the season against the Sioux Falls Skyforce. 7 PM

Cultural Heritage Festival - Grand Rapids Public Museum - Food, music, dance and art from the many cultures that call Grand Rapids home. Kent County kids get in free. Included with admission / 10 AM–4 PM

David Cross - The Big Room - The comedian behind Arrested Development’s Tobias brings his stand-up to town. 7 PM

CKY with Tombstunner - The Pyramid Scheme - The rescheduled CKY show is finally here. 8 PM

Pouya - The Intersection - The Miami rapper brings his tour to town, with 750+ people marked interested on Facebook. Times on the event page

Discovery Day: My Story - Grand Rapids Art Museum - Family art-making, a scavenger hunt and a LEGO challenge. Included with admission / 10 AM–3 PM

Calvin vs. Hope: The Rivalry - Calvin University - One of the oldest rivalries in Michigan, and Calvin hosts this year. 1 PM

Handworks 2026: A Show of Craft and Art - Forest Hills Presbyterian - A popular craft show to knock out some early holiday shopping. 9 AM

Calvin Jazz Band Concert - Calvin University - A free night of big band jazz. Free / 7:30 PM

Sunday, November 8

Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox - DeVos Performance Hall - Today’s hits reimagined as vintage jazz, swing and doo-wop. Over 2,500 people marked interested on Facebook. 8 PM

Trivium & In Flames - GLC Live at 20 Monroe - A heavy co-headliner with Fit For An Autopsy and Frozen Soul. $59.50+ / 5:30 PM

Grand Rapids Gold vs. Sioux Falls - Van Andel Arena - Round two of opening weekend, with an afternoon tip-off for families. 3 PM

All Get Out with Motherfolk - The Pyramid Scheme - Indie rock to close out the weekend. From $27.27 / 8 PM

💎 Hidden Gems This Week

Smaller stuff we dug up on Facebook that you won’t find on the big lists.

Free DIY Workshop: Plan a Kitchen Remodel - Home Repair Services, 1100 Division Ave S - A free, hands-on class on planning a kitchen reno without blowing your budget. Free / Tue 6 PM

Halloween Candy Buy-Back - Bricks & Minifigs, 2927 Breton Rd SE - Bring in leftover Halloween candy and get $2 in store credit for every pound, good toward LEGO sets and minifigs. Through Sat, Nov. 7

Opening Night: Beneath the Surface - Cocoon Art Space, 1509 Lake Dr SE - A group show from Michigan artists exploring “an anatomy of expression.” Fri 6 PM

17th Annual Holiday Art Market - City High Middle School, 1720 Plainfield Ave NE - Local artists and makers, hosted by the City PTSA. Get a jump on holiday gifts. Sat 9 AM–3 PM

Choose Your Own Improv - The Comedy Project, 540 Leonard St NW - A 75-minute improv show where the audience picks what happens next, like those choose-your-path books you read as a kid. Sat 9 PM

Sensory Sunday - Grand Rapids Public Museum - A quieter museum day built for visitors on the autism spectrum and anyone with sensory sensitivities. Sun 10 AM–5 PM

11th Annual Joni Mitchell Tribute - Wealthy Street Theatre Annex - We Are Stardust and Lisa Oldham play Joni for the Grand River Folk Arts Society. Tickets at the door only, cash. Sun 3–5:30 PM

📅 Add to Your Calendar

Maybe Happy Ending – DeVos Performance Hall – The Tony-winning musical about two helper robots who fall for each other kicks off the Broadway Grand Rapids season. – November 10–15, 2026 / Times vary / Prices vary

Grand Rapids Comic Con – DeVos Place – Celebrity guests, cosplay, comics and collectibles take over downtown for the weekend. – November 13–15, 2026 / Times vary / Prices vary

Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival – DeVos Place – Wine, beer, spirits and food from local and international makers. Over 1,500 people are already interested on Facebook. – November 20–21, 2026 / Times vary / Prices vary