Good Morning Grand Rapids!

Here’s the deal - you need to go for a walk this Saturday. There are two great causes - one to end Alzheimer’s at my alma mater (GVSU) and one to help a local family to cure rare diseases.

And, after the weekend, you can come join MY family at Van Andel for Forrest Frank! :)

Spring is here and there’s a LOT going on — let’s get into it! ⛱️ 

📰 This Week’s Grand Stories

💬 Mayor’s First Speech: Newly elected Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand delivered his State of the City address this week.

📽️ Celebrate Celebration! Good ol’ Celebration Theater at Rivertown is scheduled to receive a $5 million renovation. Heated recliners make every movie better.

✝️ Forrest Frank: One of Christian music’s most exciting voices is coming to Van Andel Arena on March 31. 7 PM. (our fam will see ya there!)

🏠️ Breaking Ground On Tiny Town: Mel Trotter Ministries and Next Step of West Michigan broke ground on Hope Village — GR’s first tiny home community with 16 houses made for people experiencing homelessness.

☘️ Coming Up Coffee: Koetsier’s Greenhouse, a greenhouse in the Grand Rapids Area, has announced they’ll have a new cafe serving free coffee when they re-open for the season.

👨‍🎤 Choirs Combine: Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys will be joined by British Cathedral or Collegiate Chapel Choir for a special collaborative concert.

🎵 Shows & Concerts -

👩‍🎤 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.

🎸 Chase Matthew: Warner Bros Nashville breakout star Chase Matthews is coming to The Intersection on March 27. 7:30 PM, $32.50/Advance

🧑‍⚕️ Nurse John: The Short Staffed Tour (18+): Nurse John will have you in stitches when he comes to GLC Live on March 28. 6 PM, Tickets start at $50.

☘️ Trillium Irish Band | Ironwood Concert: Irish appreciation month continues when the Trillium Irish Band bring their Ironwood Concert to The Stray on March 28. 7 - 10 PM, $15 Advance/$20 Day of Show

🎸 The War and Treaty Concert: The Trotters, one of the most interesting Americana acts working today, are bringing their War and Treaty concert to St. Cecilia Music Center on March 28. 7:30 - 9 PM, $34 - $64.

👨‍🎤 Russell Dickerson: Multi platinum-selling artist Russell Dickerson is coming to GLC Live at 20 Monroe on March 29. 7 PM, $48.

🤠 Alexandra Kay: Alexandra Kay’s bringing her Cupid’s a Cowgirl tour to The Intersection on March 30. 8 PM, $35/Advance.

🎯Sports and Hobbies

🍷 An Evening with Clarence Dillon: A Bordeaux Affair at MDRD: Prepare your palate for paradise when Clarence Dillon brings some of Bordeaux’s finest to pair with a series of gourmet dishes! MDRD, March 26, 7 - 9 PM. $150.

📚️ An Evening with H.M Bouwman: Historical fiction fans are in for a treat when H. W. Bouman comes to Schuler Books on March 26 to discuss her newest book, Scattergood. March 26, 6:30 - 8 PM. Free.

🌵 Sips & Succulents: Here’s a pairing to give Clarence Dillon a run for his money! On March 27, come to Spruced Studios to create your own DIY succulent arrangement while enjoying a glass of wine. 6 - 7:30 PM. $28 - $48.

🍊 Mats & Mimosas: The only thing sweeter than sipping some wine while potting succulents might be making a Welcome mat while enjoying mimosas. Spruced Studio, March 28, 6 - 8 PM. $39 - $49.

🎭️ Ain’t Nothing Like Family: Ms. Wilkins Birthday Bash: Enjoy a night of hilarious theater your whole family can enjoy when the clean comedy of Ms. Wilkins’ Birthday Bash comes to Wealthy Theatre on March 26. 7 PM, $40/$30 for groups of 10 or more.

🫗 Grand Rapids Whiskey Festival 2025: Wine and mimosas aren’t the only libations that will be flowing this week. Grand Rapids Whiskey Festival is coming to DeVos Convention Center on March 29. 6 - 10 PM. $34 - $69.

🤣 Menopause The Musical 2®: Now that things’re heating it up, it’s time for Menopause: The Musical 2! DeVos Performance Hall, March 29, 3 PM. Price varies.

🌙 Mossy Moon Suncatcher: Sun, moon, and moss come together when you learn how to make your own moon-shaped suncatcher at Spruced Studio on March 29. 5 - 8 PM, $65.

👑 RuPaul’s Drag Race Trivia Night – The Ultimate Drag Challenge! Are you a RuPaul superfan? Get your snatch game ready and come to General Wood Shop on March 30 to showcase your supremacy! 6:30 - 9 PM. $5/$15 for four tickets.

🎥 Eraserhead: Experience the beauty, terror, and absurdity of David Lynch’s first feature film on the big screen at Wealthy Theatre on March 31. 8 PM, $8/members, $10/General

🦅 Motu Viget

Originally designed in 1850 by Aaron Turner, Grand Rapids’ motto, “Motu Viget,” means “Strength in Activity.”

🏃 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.

🤝 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s: This weekend, the Alzheimer’s Awareness Club at GVSU, is hosting a Walk to End Alzheimer’s at the GVSU Pew Campus on Saturday, March 29. Registration and pre-walk activities are at 10 AM, followed by the Opening Ceremony at 11.

💜 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.