Good Afternoon Grand Rapids!

Easter Sunday’s the biggest story this week, of course, so there’s lots of workshops, dinners, and Easter events to help get you in the spirit.

Welcome to our newly redesigned newsletter! We’ve re-organized things a bit, so make sure to tell us what you think. 🙂 

Let’s dig into it! 🐰 

📰 This Week’s Grand Stories

🏒 Congratulations WMU Hockey! The Broncos of Western Michigan University took home the NCAA hockey title this week for the first time ever. Well done guys!

😭 Sextortion Leads to Suicide: I generally try to avoid any crime, or news that isn’t positive in nature. But, having a 14 year old myself, this one really hits home. And, I’d hope that sharing could help spread some awareness & spark some much-needed converations with your children.

😋 Sampling Grand Rapids’ Greatness: Snackers lined up to sample the deliciousness last weekend when Samplefest took over Kingma’s Market last weekend.

☕️ Be Cafe Is Off To a BEautiful BEginning: Koetsier’s Greenhouse newest addition, BE Cafe - a new enterprise designed to create jobs for individuals suffering from intellectual disabilities - is thriving.

🏠️ More Micro Houses Are Coming!: Grand Rapids Mayor David LeGrand is backing a solution allowing residents to convert their garages into Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to help with the city’s housing shortage.

🚀 Star Wars Is Coming… in Ojibwe!: Think you’ve seen everything Star Wars? Think again! Next month, Grand Rapids Public Museum will host a very special screening of A New Hope in Ojibwe.

👩‍⚕️ Grand Rapids Samaritans: This last week, a user on the /r/GrandRapids subreddit, BGradePosts, expressed their admiration and gratitude for local residents who helped a houseless individual when he suffered a spell near Amway Hotel. This city really cares!

📆 This Week’s Grand Events

Wednesday, April 16

🪴 Garden Magic: Make your magical place even more magical when you learn how to create your own creative, whimsical artifacts at Grand Rapids Pottery. 6:30 - 8:30 PM. $60.

🌷 Zest for Life: Brighten up your life by learning how to paint your own bright, colorful designs at Brush Studio. 6:30 - 8:30 PM. $30.

Thursday, April 17

🎥 The Found Footage Festival: 20th Anniversary Show: Do you remember VHS tapes? What about America’s Funniest Home Videos? Even if you don’t, you’ll be howling when the 20th Anniversary edition of the Found Footage Festival takes over the Wealthy Theatre. 7:30 - 9:30 PM. $18/members, $20/GA.

🍪 Spring Into Easter Sugar Cookie Decorating Class!: Make this year’s Easter even sweeter by learning how to make these cute, delicious sugar cookies at The Honeysuckle Company. Beginner bakers welcome! 6 - 7:30 PM. $59.

🕯️ Spring Candle Making & Botanical Bar: Create your own soy wax candle customized with signature scents and custom label at Spruced Studio for a bright, fresh Spring. 6 - 7:30 PM. $45.

Friday, April 18

👩‍🎤 General Wood Shop Presents: RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 Grand Finale Party: Close out this season of RuPaul’s with some of your besties and Grand Rapids’ most fabulous queens! General Wood Shop, 9:30 - 11 PM. $5.

🕺 Henry Brooks: Detroit techno luminary Henry Brooks is returning to Grand Rapids for the next installment of Rave Invites at The Mint. 11 PM, $20.

🤣 Zach Rushing Live!: Who says fun and productivity are mutually exclusive? South Mississippi motivational comic Zach Rushing will have you rolling while showing you how to live your best life. Wealthy Theatre, 7 PM. $40/GA.

Saturday, April 19

👨‍🎤 Ali Siddiq: Ali Siddiq’s bringing his In the Shadows tour to DeVos Performance Hall. 7 PM, Price Varies.

🍳 Brekky with D. Bunny Live on GRTV!: Here’s your chance to experience an innovative, immersive theatrical experience while supporting a good cause, when the national nonprofit for Black & Underrepresented Artists D. Bunny bring their special Easter performance to Wealthy Theatre. Doors: 12 PM, Show: 1 PM. $5.

🍺 Downtown Walking Tour: Let Grand Rapids Beer Tours give you a guided walking tour of Grand Rapids’ beer scene. 12 PM - 3 PM, $50.

😋 Easter Charcuterie Workshop: Don’t content yourself with Bugles and dip this Easter. Learn how to make your own fabulous charcuterie spread at Spruced Studio! 6:30 - 8 PM. $80.

🎨 Watercolor Spring Landscapes at Gathered Botanicals: The Spring landscape can be far too fleeting. Learn how to capture the wild magic of wildflowers in dreamy, vivid watercolors at Gathering Botanicals. 1 - 2:30 PM. $32.

🥚 WestSide Easter Egg Hunt: The WestSide Easter Egg Hunt is returning to Sullivan Field. 1 - 2:30 PM. Free.

Sunday, April 20

🧑‍🍳 Easter at The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck: Experience Easter in the height of style and opulence when the chefs of The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck craft a gourmet dinner from scratch along with their regular menu. 11 AM - 7 PM, final seating at 6 PM. $25 - 55.

🧇 Easter Brunch Buffet: Why settle for a single dish when you can have a little bit of everything this Easter - even waffles! Mertens Prime, 11 AM - 4 PM. $50/Adult, $20/Children 10 and under.

🕺 Green Mitten 13th Anniversary: Celebrate 13 years of the Green Mitten with Fresco Trey, Ajax Stacks, Unkey Fonz, DJ Xcape, Lil Homie, and Deeechild. Pyramid Scheme, 7 PM. $20.

Monday, April 21  

🎨 Glow Paint Party: The spirit of the ‘60s/’70s/’90s will be alive and thriving when this dance party/craft night comes to Hot Glue Creux. 6:30 - 9 PM. $20.

🎸 Joywave: Indie pop sensations Joywave are coming to Elevation! 8 PM, $20.

Tuesday, April 22

🌵 Sips & Succulents Cocktail Class: Cocktails and cacti… it’s the perfect pairing! New Holland Brewing Company, 6 - 8 PM. $54.

🦅 Meet the Grand Rapids Osprey

Last week, a photographer going by the name of /u/schnitski posted a photo of an osprey living on East Paris.

🏃 Upcoming Runs & Walks!

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.

🏛️ 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!

Harmonic Egg - BOGO!
The Harmonic Egg in GR is now open & is offering a special BOGO discount when you and a friend visit for the first time! Experience the healing power of sacred geometry, light, color and sound.
Just text “GRNEWS” to 616-970-9186 to claim and make your appt!

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)

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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.