Good Afternoon Grand Rapids!

Finally some nice weather, eh? Time to get out there and get some exercise in - oh, and we have a new section for all the upcoming races if you need a lil’ motivation.

Or, you can come join yours truly on Wed nights from 6-8pm at the new YMCA in Caledonia - we need some more guys to play 5-on-5 hoops. 🙂 (high school or similar experience). Reply to this email if you want on the list!

Okay, enough about exercise - let’s get into it! ⛱️ 

📰 This Week’s Grand Stories

✈️ Fly South! A new airline will be providing non-stop flights to North Carolina and Florida starting this summer.

👨‍🌾 Applications Are Open: Creston’s Farmer’s Market is now open for application for this summer’s season.

⚾️ Baseball History: Grand Rapids Public Museum has opened a massive new collection of Detroit Tigers’ baseballs.

🍦 Scream For Ice Cream: Frosty Boy has opened for the first time this year.

🏟️ Ampitheater’s Coming: The Acrisure Ampitheater hosted a special capping off ceremony last weekend as the stadium nears the end of its construction.

🎵 Shows & Concerts -

🦌 Fair Chase Film Festival: It’s an evening of hunting films when the Fair Chase Film Festival descends on the Wealthy Theatre on March 19. 7 PM, $12.

🎻 Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Schubert's Trout Quintet: On March 20, you’ll have an opportunity to let the romance of Schubert’s Trout Quintet as the Chamber Music Society transport you to ecstasy. St. Cecilia Music Center, 7:30 - 9 PM, $25 - $55.

😆 DB Comedy Night: College Edition @Founders Brewing Co.: Tired of clean comedy? Then come to Founders Brewing Co. on March 20 for The Dirty Bastard comedy night! 9 - 11 PM, $10 - $40.

🤠 Jackson Dean: Nashville’s Jackson Dean is bringing his gravel voice to The Intersection at The Stache on March 20. 8 PM, $25.

🕺 The Main Squeeze: LA Funksters The Main Squeeze are coming to The Stache on March 20. 8 PM, $22.50.

🎸 Cooper Alan: One of country music’s most distinctive stars is coming to The Intersection at The Stache on March 21.

👯 Luci: One of bass music’s most interesting voices is coming to The Stache on March 21.

📽️ Artist Showcase Series: ishkwaazhe Shane McSauby: Cinephiles rejoice! Grand Rapids-born film-maker ishkwaazhe Shane McSauby is hosting a special screen of his short films, followed by a Q&A, at Wealthy Theatre on March 21. 7 PM, $5/Students, $8/General

🌳 Fresh Coast Film Festival Roadshow: West Michigan’s stunning nature is one of the things that makes living in Grand Rapids so special, as the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks will remind us on March 21. $25.

😎 Mega 80's: You won’t need a DeLorean to go back to the ‘80s when The Intersection hosts their ‘80s Dance Night on March 22. 9 PM, $20.

🎭️ Pop Scholars Improv Comedy: Know your T-Pain from your T-Swift? Then prepare to split a seam when the Pop Scholars bring their improv comedy back to The Midtown on March 22. 7:30 - 9:30 PM, $20.

🤣 Sebastian Maniscalco: America’s hottest physical comedian is coming to Van Andel Arena on March 23. 7 - 10 PM.

🌊 Blue Water Ramblers: Folk music doesn’t necessarily mean old as the Blue Water Ramblers will remind us when they come to the Wealthy Theatre on March 23. 3 PM, $20.

👩‍🎤 Martha Wainwright: Celebrate 20 years of Martha Wainwright’s studio debut this week at The Midtown on March 23.

👩‍🦱 Certain Women: Three on Hollywood’s strongest women team up in Certain Women, which is showing at Wealthy Theatre on March 24. 8 - 10 PM, $8 - 12.

👩‍🎤 Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute: Relive all of the Girl Power of the ‘90s and early ‘00s with Wannabe, a Spice Girls tribute act, at Elevation on March 26. $20.

🎯Sports and Hobbies

💃 Complimentary Contemporary Dance Class: Curious if you’re cut out for contemporary dance? Find out with this free contemporary dance class at Armentality Movement Arts Center on March 20. 6 - 7:30 PM.

🛍️ Day of Giving Celebration: Here’s a chance to support a great cause while enjoying some shopping, snacks, and activities! March 20, 4:30 - 6:30 PM.

💄 DIY Beauty Product Class: Prepare for the next big thing in clean beauty by learning how to make your own DIY beauty products! Spruced Studio, March 20, 6 - 7 PM. $50.

🍷 Happy Hour Wine Tasting: Your taste buds will be happy when Master Sommelier Larry O’Brien brings his refined palate to Mertens Prime on March 20. 6 - 8 PM, $30.

🧶 Introduction to Crochet: Learn how to crochet for free by learning how to make either a washcloth or a rug mug at the Main Branch of the Public Library on March 22. 1 - 3 PM.

🚺️ Matters of the Heart: The Essence and Wellbeing of Women Over 50: Men and women alike are welcome at the first-ever coed edition of Matters of the Heart at L. William Seidman Center on March 20. 8 AM - 3 PM, $45 - 75.

💮 Rest & Refresh: A self-care afternoon benefitting MomsBloom: On March 22, come to MomsBloom for an afternoon of rest and relaxation, designed to help new moms get back to their best selves after giving birth. 1 - 3 PM, Free.

🍪 “Somewhere on a Beach” Cookie Class: Get ready to think warm thoughts when you learn how to bake delicious, sun-themed cookies! 1 - 3 PM, $65.

👩‍🦳 Leading the League of Women Voters

Dorothy Leonard Judd was an early driving force behind the League of Women Voters as well as serving as the President of the local chapter.

🏃 Running and Walking

Earlier this 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.

💜 Run for Rare Disease: Run for a great cause and support a local family (and some good friends) on March 29th. You can also just hang out, have some snacks and support the cause!

🍌 March for Meals Community Walk & 5K Run: Here’s a chance to get in shape for a good cause, with a 5K walk or run to raise funds for Meals On Wheels. Bonus points if you come dressed as your favorite food! Millennium Park, March 29. 9 - 11 AM.

🏛️ 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.

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👨‍💼 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.

p.s. about 70% of you were cool with my one-time email last week, so I’ll continue to do that (as relevant or necessary opportunities arise), but I’ll keep it to a minimum to appease the other 30% as well 🙂