Good Morning Grand Rapids!

Hello Grand Rapids! Hope you’ve been staying warm during the winter storms. This week, we’re bringing you as much Valentine’s Day goodness as we could find, from T.I. with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra to a bunch of different ideas for dinner and date night throughout this weekend.

Let’s get into it! 💗 

📰 This Week’s Grand Stories

🥪 Rudy’s Sub Shop Is Opening Downtown: Rudy’s Sub Shop is opening where Pinktail Poke used to be.

🦐 New Orleans Restaurant Opens: Husband-and-wife duo have brought a taste of their native New Orleans to Grand Rapids, Garden District.

💍 Reunited Love: A North Muskegon couple who was recently re-united after 73 years has become engaged.

🖼️ Grand Rapids Art Museum Gets A Lead Curator: GRAM has received a $1.5 million to hire a new lead curator.

❄️ Snow May Be Coming Saturday: It’s supposed to stay clear and dry through Valenine’s Day, but snow may be coming this weekend.

🎵 Shows & Concerts -

🎸 Free Show Friday: Billy Gunther (Acoustic Country): Speciation Cellar’s Free Show Friday series continues with a special two-person set of acoustic Southern rock, country, and a little bit of funk. February 14, 9 - 11 PM.

🎻 Kent Philharmonic Orchestra Valentine's Special Concert: Make your Valentine’s Day even more romantic with an evening of some of the most timeless romantic duets from famous operas. St. Cecilia’s Music Center, 7:30 - 9 PM. $14 Adults/$7 Children

🕺 Alleycvt: Hear Viriginia electronic musician and producer Alleycvt at The Intersection on Friday, February 14. 8 PM.

🎻 Symphony with Soul: T.I.: Hear T.I. how you’ve never heard him before when the Grammy-winning producer is backed by the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra at DeVos Performance Hall on February 15.

👯 U Move Me: Music Production Battle: Here’s a chance to support Grand Rapids’ electronic music community with your feet! The producer who gets the biggest response from the crowd will win $1,000. February 15, Ah-Nab-Awen Park, 2 - 5 PM. Free.

🎤 General Wood Shop Presents: Dining with Divas, Bieber Edition: You won’t beliebe what these drag queens have done to your favorite Justin Bieber songs. Come to General Wood Shop on February 16 to hear “From Baby” to “Sorry” the way you’ve never heard them before.

🎯Sports and Hobbies

❤️‍🔥 General Wood Shop Presents: Valentine's Cabaret: Celebrate Valentine’s Day with an evening of fun and festive fabulousness at General Wood Shop on Friday, February 14. $5

🌕️ Valentine’s Luminary Night Hike: What could be more romantic than a stroll by beneath the moon? Snowshoeing by moonlight! Blandford Nature Center, February 14, 5 - 8:30 PM

🧀 Annual Love, Wine & Chocolate Event: On February 15, you’ll have a chance to appreciate the richest, finest, sweetest things of life with an afternoon of cider and wine tastings and a full chocolate bar. Robinette's Apple Haus & Winery, 1 - 5 PM.

🖼️ AllArtWorks Sat Night Show Vol 77: You’ve never experienced art like this! On February 15, enjoy a beverage while AllArtWorks display a new art piece every 20 minutes from their collection of over 1000 artworks! AllArtWorks, 6 - 9 PM.

🎨 Paint the Park: There’s something for everybody at Paint the Park, a full day of painting, live entertainment, and delicious eats from local food trucks. 11 AM - 5 PM. Rosa Parks Circle, Free.

🍭 Sweet Grand Rapids History

Sweetland Candies opened their first Grand Rapids location in 1919.

❤️ Valentine’s Day

🌹 Valentine's Dinner for 2: You’ll have everything you need for a romantic night on the town with your sweetheart at Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm, including a 4-course meal and live music. 6 PM, $90/Couple

💝 2nd Annual Valentines Day Social: Enjoy Grand Rapids Community Gym’s second annual Valentine’s Day social with an evening of music, dancing, and games. February 14, 9 PM

👻 Grand Rapids Ghost Tours: Here’s one for the spooky lovers! You can experience Grand Rapids’ well-loved Ghost Tours on Valentine’s Day at various times from 8 AM to 8 PM.

🍺 Hops and Hearts Beer Dinner: And here’s one for the beer lovers! Enjoy a 3-course meal, followed by dessert, where each dish is paired with a matching beer or cider. February 14, $45

💗 Valentine’s Day Girl’s Night: Join Elyssa Kadija to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a girl’s night out. 7:30 - 9:30, $12.

📷️ Valentine’s Day Selfie Soiree: Start your Valentine’s Day evening with a series of selfie stations and sweet treats! Muse GR, 8 PM - 12 AM.

🍪 Mon Cheri Galentine's Cookie Brunch: Don’t limit Valentine’s Day to just one night. Make some new memories with some of your besties at Sweet Details for a hands-on cookie decorating workshop on Saturday, February 15.

🦂 Scorpion Hearts: Here’s an unusual way to celebrate your love, when Chicago-based artist Domingo Papalotl teaches you how to create a heart out of a pair of black scorpions. Scorpion Hearts Club, February 15, $160

😎 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
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

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.