Good Morning Grand Rapids!

Spring is truly Springing in Grand Rapids, with flowers blooming and outdoor activities resuming. In fact, there’s now only a few weeks left to see the nation’s largest butterfly exhibit!

We have plenty to get into this week, but before we do - let’s take a second to wish our great city a Happy Birthday - 175 years as of yesterday, April 2nd! 

Let’s get hopping! 🐰 

📰 This Week’s Grand Stories

🛣️ I-96 is going to be closed at Fruitridge all weekend, so do a little pre-planning before that Spring Break travel!

🤠 Celebrate Chris Stapleton: This June, Country legend Chris Stapleton has announced two shows at Van Andel Arena!

🏮 Pretty Lanterns: The Lantern Festival is coming back to the John Ball Zoo starting on April 9th!

Take a hike! or a walk… Blanford Nature Center is going to be FREE the whole month of April.

🌎 Get a free trip to Italy! Just spend $60,000 on luxury cabinets. 🙂 

Bookworms Rejoice: There’s a new Barnes & Noble at Knapp’s crossing now - AND there’s a 50 cent booksale at GRPL scheduled for the end of the month!

🎵 Shows & Concerts -

🎸 Ripe: Boston’s Ripe are bringing their sleek grooves and bold melodies to Elevation on April 3. Doors 7 PM/Show 8 pm, $25.

🎼 Free Show: Big Scaries & Silk Tooth: The next installment of Speciation Cellars’ Free Show Fridays will feature Grand Rapids’ own pop folk combo Big Scaries and Folk Tooth on April 4. 9 - 11 PM. Free.

👯 Papadosio: Experience the next generation of jam band when Papadosio bring their blend of prog, jazz, and live electronica to The Intersection on April 4. 9 PM, $20/Advance, $25/Day of Show

⚔️ Sanzu: Bass music juggernaut Sanzu is bringing his heavy riddims to The Intersection on April 4. 9 PM, $20.

🧠 TMGR II: Find out who’s the best and brightest Grand Rapids has to offer when five local comedians, musicians, and thinkers show their stuff to Eirann Betka-Pope, the host of the popular British TV series Taskmaster. Midtown GR, April 4, 8 - 10 PM. $20.

📽️ Babette's Feast: Celebrate the inaugural edition of the Catholic Film Society of West Michigan with a special screening of Babette’s Feast on April 5 at Wealthy Theatre. 7 PM. $10.

⏺️ Cesco + Chef Boyarbeatz: Prepare to get down when the twin threat of Cesco and Chef Boyarbeatz decimate The Stache on April 5.

🌺 IDC's April Flowers Spring Party: Step into Spring in high style on April 5, with an evening of fresh air, fresh drinks, and fresh beats. IDC, 4 - 11:45 PM. $10.

🐟️ Beyond the Stream: Experience the heart and soul of the Michigan Trout Unlimited’s Youth Conservation and Trout Camp on the big screen when this film premier comes to Wealthy Theatre on April 6. 2 PM, $10.

🎸 Bright Eyes: Indie legend Bright Eyes is coming to The Intersection, along with fellow Nebraskans Cursive, on April 6. 6:45 PM, $45.

👩‍🎤 General Wood Shop Presents: Wood Shop Wonders: Meet some of Grand Rapids’ brightest, boldest, most fabulous drag talent on April 6 when Wood Shop Wonders descends on General Wood Shop. $5.

🎙️ Pouya: Melodic hip-hop sensation Pouya’s bringing his They Could Never Make Me tour to The Intersection on April 7. 8 PM. $10/Members, $12/General.

🌈 GRADIENT: A Live Visual and Sonic Experience: On April 8, Speciation Cellars has something extra special in store, when artist Alex Perez brings his immersive liquid light show to accompany the sounds of MisterSifter’s shoegaze, twee, and jangle pop. 6 - 9 PM. Free.

🎤 G-Eazy: G-Eazy’s Helium Tour is coming to GLC Live on April 9! 7 PM, $53.50.

🎯Sports and Hobbies

🍽️ Sgraffito Dishes: On April 2, you have a chance to learn the special art of creating your very own flatware using the sgraffito technique, etching your own custom-made designs into the surface of your dish. Grand Rapids Pottery, 6:30 - 8:30 PM. $75.

🪴 Herb Chat at Gathered Botanicals: Come to Gathered Botanicals on April 4 and let Dr. Erin McNeely from Sage Sounds and Aubrey Winfield teach you about the healing properties of various herbs. 12 - 1 PM. Free.

💃 I Love Salsa: You’ll love Salsa too after attending this vibrant Latin-themed evening at AC Hotel Grand Rapids Downtown on April 4. 8 PM, $50.

💄 DIY Beauty Product Class: Clean beauty will take on a whole new meaning when you learn how to create your own DIY beauty products at Spruced Studio on April 5. 3 - 4 PM. $50.

🥚 Free Easter Egg Build Activity: On April 5, anyone over the age of 5 can build the best Easter Egg ever - out of Legos! Bricks & Minifigs Grand Rapids, 10 AM - 6 PM. Free.

🪷 Wood Flower Arrangement Workshop: On April 9, learn how to make gorgeous floral arrangements that will last forever while sipping a relaxing glass of wine. Spruced Studio, 6 - 7:30 PM. $25.

📷️ Capturing Highland Park

This week on the /r/GrandRapids subreddit, a user named /u/joshfromGR posted pics of the Highland Park neighborhood captured in glorious, crisp black & white. You can follow him at JoshFromGR on Bluesky.

🏃 Running and Walking

Last month, 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.

🌳 Rest Walk: On April 12, come to Burton Park for a 2-hour guided walk to unplug and de-stress.

🏛️ Nathan Memorial 5K: Run in Nathan’s honor and support Millie Conran, a brave 7 year old facing a rare genetic disorder. Saturday April 19th at Robinette’s!

🐯 JBZ 5k 2025: John Ball Zoo are celebrating Earth Day with their first-ever 5K on April 22.

🌺 Friction Mother's Day 5k: Run, walk, or chat your way through this special Mother’s Day edition of the Friction 5k on May 10.

☕️ Run For Coffee Lovers: You can even participate virtually as anyone, anywhere can participate in this Virtual 5K/10K/13.1 taking place at Millennium Park on June 7.

😎 Ongoing Stuff That’s Pretty Cool

• On Fridays, Rebounderz Park is hosting their Parents Night series, where parents can enjoy a night on the town with a night of fun and affordable childcare.

🎵 Music

• 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.

• Turnstiles hosts an open mic every Thursday except the last.

• They also have bans on Fridays and Saturdays

• Fulton Street Pub hosts karaoke every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

• They also have shows every Sunday and Wednesday

• Speciation Cellars hosts a free show every Friday!

• There’s jazz at Noto’s every Saturday.

🏷️ GRrrrrrrreat Discounts for Subscribers!

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Text "Wash" to 616-730-3949 get on the calendar. (First 10 homes only)

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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

Silva, a new restaurant and event space, opened in NW Grand Rapids earlier this month.

Zeal Aerial Fitness just opened a brand new home location.

Cellar Bird Books has opened at 415 Bridge St. near US-131.

Big Mini Putt Club just opened their first Grand Rapids location.

The Main Event, a family event center with everything from billiards to bowling alleys, has opened at Woodland Mall in Kentwood.

We Rock The Spectrum, a sensory-friendly gym for kids on the spectrum, had their grand opening recently.