Good Morning Grand Rapids!

Hold on to your hats, Laughfest is coming to Grand Rapids this week!

And, you’ll need all the laughs you can get, as Grand Rapids has announced the schedule for 59 miles of roadwork they hope to complete in 2025.🤣

Also, we added a new section below for all the runners in the bunch!

Let’s get into it!  

📰 This Week’s Grand Stories

🕺 Magic of Motown: Fancy a formal evening of Motown with an open bar, catered dinner, a live Motown show and some incredible raffle prizes? Come support the National Broadway Theater’s fundraiser on March 8th! Get your ticket and learn more here.

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Running Season is Here: We’re adding a new section to highlight all the amazing runs and walks around Grand Rapids - check it out below!

🏀⛹️ Caledonia’s YMCA: That’s right - little ol’ Caledonia got it’s very own YMCA. If you’re in the area, and you’d like to play basketball there - reply to this email. I’m going to put together a group of guys to run on a weekly basis there. (I’d imagine ages 25-55 but all would be welcome.)

🏫 School’s Coming: A new charter school is opening in Grand Rapids.

🍸️ Cocktails Are Coming, Too. The Ashton, a new cocktail bar, is set to open in The B.O.B. on March 13.

🏠️ So Are Tiny Homes: Next Step of West Michigan have received a grant of $300,000 to build a community of tiny houses to serve formerly homeless residents of Grand Rapids.

🍺 Saugatuck Brewing Is Closing: The liquor lords giveth and the liquor lords taketh away. Saugatuck Brewing have announced they’re closing the Creston Brewery for good.

🚗 Construction Season Announced: Grand Rapids have announced the schedule for this year’s roadwork.

🎵 Shows & Concerts -

🦖 Laughfest: Night at the Museum with Comedians Bob Smiley and Adam Degi: This special Laughfest performance at the Grand Rapids Public Museum will be 10x funnier than the Ben Stiller movie. 7 PM, $20.

🦄 Legend: On March 5, you’ll have a chance to catch an under-appreciated Ridley Scott classic when Legend comes to the Wealthy Theatre. 8 PM, $8/Members, $10/Non-Members

☕️ Coffee with the Chorus: Start your day off right with a special intimate performance from Grand Rapids’ Symphony Chorus at St. Cecilia Music Center on March 7. 10 AM, $25.

🐎 Ian Munsick: Americana artist Ian Munsick is bringing his Horses Are Faster tour to The Intersection on March 7. 8 PM.

🛻 Monster Jam: Come out to Van Andel Arena to cheer on Gravedigger, El Toro Loco, Sparkle Smashädriven, Megalodon, and many more of your favorite monster trucks. March 7 - 9. $15 - $95.

🤣 Kids Joke Time: What’s funnier than an adult stand-up? A kid comedian! If you’ve got a fledgling jokester on your hands, bring them to Gilda’s Club on March 8 at 10 AM.

😆 Family Improv Night: What’s better than laughing youRself silly all night long? Doing it with your entire family! Come to Gilda’s Club on March 8 at 11 AM for a full day of hilarious family fun! Free.

😂 River City Improv - Laughfest: You’re going to have to make up a reason to miss the River City Improv night at Gilda’s Club on March 8. 7:30 PM, $12 - 16.

🕺 90's Throwback Party at IDC: Get ready to pump up the jam and chase waterfalls when the 90’s Throwback Party comes to IDC on March 8. $10 after 8 PM.

👩‍🎤 Adult Swim Drag Show: Come to General Wood Shop on March 9 for a drag show themed after the greatest cartoon network of the 21st Century. 6:30 - 8:30 PM. $10 Advance/$15 Day of Show.

🧑‍🎤 Pop Scholars: Improv Comedy - Laughfest: Do you know everything there is to know about Katie Perry? Do you write dissertations on the difference between T-Swift and T-Pain? Show off your pop knowledge at the special Laugh Fest edition of Pop Scholars at Gilda’s Club on March 9! 9 PM, $12 - 15.

🦩 Flamingosis: Flamingosis’ beats and synths are designed to make you your best self. You’ll certainly feel it, twirling the night away beneath The Stache’s disco ball on March 12. 8 PM, $15.

🎥 Freaky Friday: Prepare to trade places with your younger self when Freaky Friday plays at the Wealthy Theatre on March 12. 7:30, $8/online, $10/door.

🎯Sports and Hobbies

🖌️ Paint Your Date! Get ready to paint your date like one of your French girls at Spruced Studio. March 6. 6 - 8:30 PM. $88.

🤠 Hat Burning Workshop + Hat Bar: Make your style completely own by learning how to burn and brand your own hat on March 7. 5:30 - 8:30 PM.

♟️ Chess Lessons - Learning the Basics (Main Library): Come to the Main Branch of the Grand Rapids Public Library to learn all about opening gambits, knights, rooks, castling, and so much more! March 7, 3:30 - 4:30. Free.

🌴 Brush Studio Paint Night - Botanical Bliss: You’ll have a chance to brush up on your botanical knowledge with this painting class at Brush Studio on March 8. 3 - 5 PM. $38.

☕️ Coffee Tasting 101 Workshop: Here’s a tasting for the coffee lovers. Come to Ferris Coffee & Nut Co. on March 8 to learn the difference between light roast, medium roast, dark roast, and various different single-origin coffees from around the world. 11 AM - 12:30 PM. $20.

🍷 Wine & Charcuterie Workshop: Experience the perfect pairing firsthand with this Wine & Charcuterie Workshop at Spruced Studio on March 8.

👭 Women's Day Celebration: Women in Motion: Set your Women’s History Month in the right direction with this inspiring, empowering Women in Motion workshop at Armentality Movement Arts Center on March 8. 11 AM - 2 PM. $49.

🌷 Shades of March – Fresh Floral Class: Spring into a warm weather mindset with this floral arrangement class at Spruced Studios on March 12. 6 - 8 PM. $68

😂 A Laughing Matter!

Gilda’s Laughfest was the first community-wide comedy club in the country.

🏃 Running and Walking

Last week, 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.

☘️ Corewell Health Irish Jig 5k: Since 1983, the Corewell Health Irish Jig 5K has marked the unofficial beginning of running season. This year, it’s happening on Saturday, March 15.

🍌 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.

😎 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!

Hydrowash Solutions - 50% OFF
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Text "Wash" to 616-730-3949 get on the calendar. (First 10 homes only)

Let The Good Times Roll - $150 OFF
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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.