Grand Rapids Magazine February 2021 by Grand Rapids Magazine

A DECADE IN THE MAKING THE DAAC IS BACK PLUS MDRD

ALPHA HUMAN PERFORMANCE

VINTAGE LOOKS

SINGLE IN THE CITY 12 brave singles get candid with us on why Grand Rapids is a great city for dating.

PLUS

South East Market ï&#x20AC;¯

THE MARKET SEEKS TO BE A COMMUNITY HUB FOR HEALTHY EATING.

LAKE KISSIMMEE

LOYCE HARPE PARK - Mulberry, FL

DETROIT TIGERS SPRING TRAINING - Lakeland, Florida

Where Outdoor Adventure Is A Home Run. Your epic vacation awaits in Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sweetest Spot, home to Detroit Tigers spring training and countless other exciting outdoor activities. Plan your perfect springtime stay at VisitCentralFlorida.org

Best of 2020-21 Readers Poll

contents FEB. 2021 VOLUME 58, ISSUE 2

FEATURES

SINGLE IN THE CITY GR A N D R A P I DS ' S IN GLE S S H A R E T H EIR ' DAT I NG P R O FILE S . ' BY CHARLSIE DEWEY

GROWING THE SOUTH EAST MARKET N EW MA R K E T FO CUS E S O N FO OD AS MED I C I N E . BY CHARLSIE DEWEY

P H OTO G R A P H BY AS H L E Y W I E R E N GA

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

COVER PORTRAITS MICHELLE CUPPY COVER POLAROIDS ISTOCK/GRAFISSIMO

INVENT. REINVENT. REPEAT. THE 2021 LEXUS RX AWD Starting At $47,495* When you’ve had success, it’s tempting to rest on your laurels. But that’s not how the RX is built. The whole RX family features enhanced handling and a smoother ride, from the fuel-efficient and high-performance hybrid to the available F SPORT and the RXL with third-row seating. Always refining, always reinventing. Some things never change. Experience Amazing at

HARVEY LEXUS OF GRAND RAPIDS 2550 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512

HarveyLexusGrandRapids.com Sales Hours - Please Call To Confirm Mon, Wed 9 am - 8 pm Tue, Thu, Fri 9 am - 6 pm Saturday 9 am - 4 pm

*Plus tax, title, lic. & fees to qualified buyers. Options extra. Options shown.

IONS W I NW E I| NFEO |O FDO|OADU |C A TU I OCNT S pawsclawsandcorks.com pawsclawsandcorks.com Benefitting Humane Society of Michigan West Michigan Benefitting Humane Society of West

5 2, 12 0 2 P 1 L A TPILNAUTM I NCUOML LCA OR LLAR M A RM CA H R1C5 H , 210 7:00pm S P O N S O R : 7:00pm SPONSOR: Virtual Virtual Event Event

For more info to get involved, Megan Ellinger, For more info or to getor involved, contact contact Megan Ellinger, Events Coordinator at at HSWM at mellinger@hswestmi.org Events Coordinator at HSWM mellinger@hswestmi.org or call 616.791.8089. or call 616.791.8089.

eriper p i P P

The face The face of PCC 2021 of PCC 2021

contents / feb ua y

every issue 6 64

editor's letter dining guide

gr gems

A guide to the area's best eateries

Breaking barriers with Dr. Eugene Browning

people + places

city

voice

issues

profile

guide

Sparrows Coffee, Prked and S. Nicole Esthetics Tripp Frey shares "Ecliptic" restoration project update Reviving the DAAC Spectrum Health's Dr. Charles Gibson Your guide to West Leonard Street

look + feel

home

wellness

expert

style

Turn your bathroom into a calming retreat Train like an athlete with Alpha Human Performance Renovation tips from New Urban Home Builders Vintage-inspired looks for spring

food + drink

22 4

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

table

create

cheers

must-try

MDRD offers a Spanish-inspired escape for your taste buds Cocktails with Luxe Artisan Preserves Let's Stay Home Cocktail Kits Stock up at Proprietary MARTINI STACY FEYER-SALO DR. GIBSON MICHAEL BUCK MDRD COURTESY AHC HOSPITALITY

Covering Grand Rapids Since 1964

www.grmag.com | info@grmag.com Publisher: John Balardo | Associate Publisher: Jason Hosko

We asked our staff: We’ve all been the source (or subject) of a bad pick-up line. Please share your best (or worst) one with us!

On a first date, I was told, “You know you could get any girl you want, right?” It was the biggest self-esteem boost I’ve ever gotten — so big, in fact, that it sustained me through the aftermath of the heart-wrenching breakup she dropped on me three months later (insert cryinglaughing face emoji)! DAVID SPARKS

Here’s one I found online that I like that’s relevant to the current state of things: “Are you COVID-19? Because if I had you near me I wouldn’t leave the house for two weeks straight!” BART WOINSKI

Editorial Editor: Tim Gortsema Managing Editor: Charlsie Dewey Digital Editor: Tom Mitsos Contributors: Lauren Figueroa, Adam Russo, Pasha Shipp, Samantha Suarez, Julie Tabberer Interns: Elizabeth Listerman, Allie Ouendag Design Creative Director: Lindsay Richards Associate Art Director: Keagan Coop Contributors: Michael Buck, Angela Ciccu, Michelle Cuppy, Bryan Esler, Stacy Feyer-Salo, Brian Kelly, Sarah McMenemy, Jennifer Pickering, David Sparks, Ashley Weirenga

Maybe it’s COVID or maybe I’ve been out of the dating scene for too long, but I can’t remember EVER having one used on me! But, if I were single and looking to mingle, here’s the one I’d use: Cute guy: *sneezes* Me: I’d say god bless you, but it looks like he already has. LAUREN FIGUEROA

Sales General Inquiries: Advertisingsales@grmag.com Advertising Director: Jenn Maksimowski Account Executives: Todd Anderson, Jessica Laidlaw, Renee Looman, Maddy Messerly Office Assistants: Elissa Stong, Katrina Peshka To Order Reprints: Receptionist – (616) 459-4545 Production Production Director: Jenine Rhoades Senior Production Artist: Robert Gorczyca Production Artist: Stephanie Daniel Advertising Coordinator: Danielle Szatkowski Advertising Designers: Daniel Moen, Amanda Zwiren Web Digital Director: Nick Britsky Web Project Lead: Matthew Cappo Web Project Assistants: Mariah Knott, Luanne Lim, Bart Woinski IT IT Director: Jeremy Leland Circulation Director Of Audience Development: Michelle VanArman Circulation Manager: Riley Meyers Circulation Customer Service: (866) 660-6247 Marketing Marketing & Events Director: Mary Sutton Marketing & Events Manager: Andrea Straw Marketing & Events Interns: Madison Henson, Megan Kusulas, Benjamin Nicol Administration Director Of Business Operations: Kathie Gorecki Publishing Coordinator: Kristin Mingo Accounting Associates: Natasha Bajju, Andrew Kotzian, Katie West

2020-21 Readers Poll

Although I don't recall ever being the recipient of a pickup line – good or bad – if someone used this on me, I'd entertain it: if you were a vegetable, you’d be a ’cute-cumber.' JENINE RHOADES

One night, a few girlfriends and I were at a bar when a guy approached our table and thought that we would be interested in having our palms read. He sat down and started reading my palm and talking about our future. My awesome friends immediately got up and left the table as they couldn't stop laughing. That was the start of a fun night...

Frustrated with your web site’s search results? We have ideas that work.

AMANDA ZWIREN

Published By Gemini Media, LLC CEO: Stefan Wanczyk | President: John Balardo

Grand Rapids Magazine (ISSN 1055-5145) is published monthly by Gemini Media. Publishing offices: 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331 Grand Rapids, MI 49503-1444. Telephone (616) 459-4545; fax (616) 459-4800. General e-mail: grminfo@grmag.com. General editorial inquiries: editorial@grmag.com. Periodical postage paid at Grand Rapids, MI and at additional mailing offices. Copyright ©2019 by Gemini Media. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Grand Rapids Magazine, 401 Hall St., SW, Suite 331, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-1444. Subscription rates: one year $24, two years $34, three years $44, in continental U.S.; Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and U.S. possessions, one year $35. Subscriptions are not retroactive; single issue and newsstand $4.95 (by mail $7.50); back issue $7 (by mail $9), when available. Advertising rates and specifications at grmag.com or by request. Grand Rapids Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited contributions.

For digital advertising solutions call 248-268-8026 COMPASSMEDIA.COM

GR M AG .CO M

editor's letter / connect

BEHIND THE SCENES

Photographer Michelle Cuppy worked with our dating feature story participants in December to capture their "profile" photo!

Dating in GR Grand Rapids offers a slew of fun activities, great restaurants for a romantic rendezvous and plenty of places to pick up items to create the perfect at-home date. But how easy is it to meet other singles in the city and what is it like to date as a Millennial or a Gen Zer? We asked a dozen single individuals in the city to share their “dating profiles” with us. We hope you enjoy this fun glimpse into the dating world of Grand Rapids. And, if you are looking to plan your own date — whether it be a first date or a night out with your spouse, this issue introduces you to plenty of hotspots around the city to consider. Check out our Guide page to find out the must-dos along the Leonard Street corridor or visit our Food & Drink section to find out about new restaurant MDRD, at-home cocktail kit makers Let’s Stay Home Cocktail Kits and our Top 5 suggestions for morning mimosas. In this issue, we also take a look at the new South East Market, a small-scale grocery store with big ambitions that recently opened on Grand Rapids’ southeast side. Its founder, Alita Kelly, shares her personal journey with us and talks about the transformative possibilities of healthy food options and greater economic access. COVID-19 has shined a light on how financial, health, education and other disparities BIPOC communities face make communities of color more vulnerable to negative health outcomes. Kelly wants to change those statistics by providing food as preventive medicine. We also are excited to get a glimpse of the new home of the DAAC. The arts venue first opened in 2003 and became a popular location for new artists and musicians to show off their talents, but after a decade, the organization was forced to close due to losing its rented space. A group of artists banded together to revive the DAAC and after several years, they are reopening the space at a new location on Plainfield Avenue with plans to once again provide budding artists and musicians with a place to spotlight their talents. Enjoy!

Next issue

After a tough year for restaurants, we honor Grand Rapids' Top 10 dining establishments with our annual dining awards.

Correction

The January issue misidentified the winner and runner up in the Best Of Grand Rapids Hardware category. Rylee’s Ace Hardware received the most votes, followed by Kingsland Ace Hardware & Rental. FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

Charlsie Dewey Managing Editor,

There are tons of ways to reach us. By mail: Editor, Grand Rapids Magazine, 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Email: cdewey@grmag.com. Be sure to include your name, address and daytime phone number. @grmag @grmagazine @grmagazine Or follow us online at grmag.com or on social media:

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

Elizabeth Listerman was one of our fall editorial interns. She is a student at Grand Valley State University and will be graduating with a B.A. in writing and a minor in business. Following graduation, she hopes to get her foot in the door with travel magazine writing.

BEHIND THE SCENES BRYAN ESLER EDITOR TERRY JOHNSTON CONTRIBUTOR COURTESY ELIZABETH LISTERMAN

people+places THE GUIDE TO YOUR CITY

Â» PLUS: VINTAGEINSPIRED LOOKS BATHROOM OASIS

The DAAC is back thanks to these committed community members.

ALPHA HUMAN PERFOR MANCE

ISSUES

Creston creates

page 10

P H OTO G R A P H BY DAV I D S PA R K S GR M AG .CO M

people + places / city

The Sparrows will soon be serving coffee from Kingma's Market.

More parking

Grand Rapids is one of the newest markets for a Miami-based startup aiming to help local individuals and businesses make the most of expensive parking spaces. The Prked App allows users to digitally rent out their privately-owned parking spaces to the public for additional income while they are not being utilized. Due to multiple universities located in the area and a high population density, Grand Rapids has some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation, making finding parking downtown increasingly difficult and costly. Prked offers a solution by increasing the availability of parking, which the company said will, in turn, limit the cost of parking and the time drivers spend looking for parking, reduce car emissions, and reduce the need to build more parking structures, increasing green space. prked.com

CITY

Coffee shop joins Kingma’s The Sparrows Coffee is expanding with a new location in Kingma’s Market in the Creston neighborhood. It is expected to open later this month. “Kingma’s Market is a beloved neighborhood institution known for its friendly atmosphere and amazing customer service. As a small Grand Rapids business ourselves, we love the local flavor of this partnership,” said Tim Volkema, CEO of The Sparrows. “The Creston neighborhood is a perfect location for Sparrows, as well. It is densely packed with young families and other long-time residents who appreciate a great cup of coffee and the community a local shop

"Come spring, the patio and beautiful landscaping will invite customers to enjoy quality time and coffee with friends and family outdoors." Tim Volkema

like this will foster.” The Sparrows has been roasting and serving specialty coffees and free-trade organic teas since opening its first location on Wealthy Street in 2007. The new space will continue to offer the full-service coffee menu with espresso-based drinks, drip coffee, specialty tea and cold brew, along with readymade 12 oz. bags of Sparrows and Joven Coffee. The Sparrows also will partner with local vendors for grab-and-go items that pair well with its drinks. “The space is its own storefront but attached from the inside to Kingma’s Market, so customers can grab a cup of Sparrows coffee as they do their grocery shopping,” said Volkema. “It will be light and airy with huge windows and an indoor/outdoor feel due to a huge garage door that opens. Come spring, the patio and beautiful landscaping will invite customers to enjoy quality time and coffee with friends and family outdoors.” 2225 Plainfield Ave. NE

S. Nicole Esthetics

After working for nearly a decade as a certified nursing assistant, Grand Rapids native Shanae Gooch fulfilled her dream of going to esthetician school and starting her own business. Opened this past September amid the COVID-19 pandemic, S. Nicole Esthetics offers a full range of spa services including hair styling and cutting, makeup, nail and lash services. The spa is dedicated to helping both men and women feel more confident and beautiful. 613 Fuller Ave. SE

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

RENDERING COURTESY METRIC STRUCTURES PHONE COURTESY PRKED ESTHETICS COURTESY S. NICOLE ESTHETICS

people + places / voice

Tell us about the vision for the future of this project. Our project is focused on upgrading materials — granite rings instead of cast concrete, new bathrooms, updated siding on the restroom/Zamboni building, etc. What many people don’t realize is that the entire park is also a world-class piece of art designed by Maya Lin, designer of the Vietnam Memorial [in Washington, D.C.] among other high-profile pieces. It is our goal to enhance and preserve this piece of art through our project.

Tripp Frey is working to restore "Ecliptic" at Rosa Parks Circle.

VOICE

Reviving ‘Ecliptic’ $2 million restoration project is underway. BY ELIZABETH LISTERMAN

// PHOTO BY BRIAN KELLY

The heart of downtown Grand Rapids is getting a makeover. “Ecliptic” at Rosa Parks Circle is getting a $2 million restoration that will increase the lifespan of the materials used in the art installation. Tripp Frey, chair of the Ecliptic at Rosa Parks Circle Conservancy, is working alongside the city of Grand Rapids to bring this piece of art back to life for Grand Rapids residents and visitors to enjoy. When do you expect the restoration process to begin and end for “Ecliptic?” Construction will begin as soon as the weather permits in the spring — hopefully this will occur around April 1. The project will take roughly three months to complete. Our goal is to have a re-dedication ceremony on Sept. 6, 20 years to the date that “Ecliptic” was dedicated. What do you want this restored piece of art to do for the city and its residents? When “Ecliptic” at Rosa Parks Circle was dedicated nearly 20 years ago, it was

estimated that roughly 200,000 people would use the park annually. Today, over 750,000 folks make their way through this park and piece of art. It has become, without a doubt, the heart and soul of the city. It is the town square where gatherings, protests, demonstrations, rallies and celebrations take place. It’s become a victim of its own success with all the use and is beginning to show some wear and tear. The Ecliptic at 20 campaign will provide funds for upgraded materials and give the park a refresh so that it remains in top-notch condition for decades to come.

"Today, over 750,000 folks make their way through this park and piece of art. It has become, without a doubt, the heart and soul of the city." Tripp Frey

Tell us about the meaning of the art itself. The park and the art are essentially interchangeable since the entire space was designed by Maya Lin. Specifically, throughout “Ecliptic” one can find the three phases of water — liquid, vapor and ice. The lights under the ice skating rink represent the constellations above Grand Rapids in the night sky on Jan. 1, 2000. Most importantly, the design effectively draws visitors into the park making it a welcoming and comforting location. Maya Lin has a special talent for designing spaces that are not intimidating — a skill many would argue is what makes the park so special. How do you envision the future of Grand Rapids alongside this new, renovated circle? Public spaces have and will continue to play a vital role in our society and it’s our hope that “Ecliptic” at Rosa Parks Circle will continue to be the hub and heartbeat of this city for many moons to come. GR M AG .CO M

Members of the DAAC's core committee, (pictured left to right) Alison Christensen, Sam Kubiak, Sal Moreno, Kyle Brand and Charity Lytle, stand outside the new building that will house the organization.

ISSUES

The DAAC is back GR art collective reopens in Creston neighborhood. BY SAMANTHA SUAREZ

// PHOTOS BY DAVID SPARKS

After many years of closure, the Division Avenue Arts Collective (DAAC) will reopen at its new permanent location, 1553 Plainfield Ave. NE, in the funky Creston neighborhood. For nearly 10 years since 2003, the volunteer-run institution served as a substance-free, all-ages venue for music, visual art, exhibitions and community meetings without the pressure to make a profit. “We try to represent folks who don’t have an opportunity to get out there because they’re just starting out or aren’t established yet,” said Sal Moreno, core committee member of the DAAC. “If you’re a musician, it’s a venue for your performance. If you’re an artist, it’s a space for your gallery. If you’re hosting a meeting or a gathering and need access to tables, chairs and snacks, it’s available to you at a low cost.” Its goal was to provide truly accessible space for local, independent and up-and-coming creatives to experiment with artistic expression regardless of their age or circumstance. “Grand Rapids has so many art schools and colleges around. The DAAC gives folks the opportunity to have their first exhibitions without having to get into a more traditional gallery space,” said Alison Christensen, another DAAC core committee member. “We still talk about the shows we had at the DAAC back in 2007. Having those experiences for the first time as a young adult really sticks with you and we want others to have those experiences too. It’s 10

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

“The DAAC gives folks the opportunity to have their first exhibitions without having to get into a more traditional gallery space.” Alison Christensen

important for younger artists to have a space where they feel respected for their ideas and feel empowered to put a show together and learn without worrying that they’ll be judged. Everyone is here to help you.” The DAAC’s influence on Grand Rapids’ creative scene is so central that many of the collective’s core committee members were once also young artists that used the space. “I played my first show with my band at the DAAC,” said Charity Lytle, DAAC core committee member. “It was cool that we didn’t have to bring our own P.A. system or worry about mics and lighting. The DAAC provides that for you, as well as the volunteers that run the equipment.” Much to the creative community’s dismay, the DAAC was displaced from its Division Avenue location in 2013 due to new building ownership. It reopened temporarily in 2016 at 333 Rumsey St. SW. Since then, the group searched for a

people + places / issues

A dual revival The DAAC’s new 4,927-square-foot building will be shared and co-owned by Gaia Cafe, a vegetarian restaurant that served the East Hills neighborhood from 1982 to 2014, when the previous owner retired and closed shop. Longtime employee/ manager Andrea Bumstead bought the branding and recipes from former owner Rick Van Dam and plans to carry on its legacy. Gaia Cafe will operate in the front portion of the building while the DAAC will use the rear portion. In addition to partnering on the purchase of the building, the DAAC and Gaia Cafe have plans to collaborate on programming once the two are fully operational. “It’s a great partnership and it’s amazing that people supported both the DAAC and Gaia Cafe after so many years. It’s the perfect comeback story!” said Charity Lytle. “We plan to operate at different times throughout the day, but we also have the opportunity to do building-wide events. We’re still brainstorming what that looks like, but we’re excited about the potential.”

permanent location that would fit its needs. Finally, after an outpouring of community support, a few partnerships and a lot of hard work, the DAAC found its new home on Plainfield Avenue in early 2019. “As an artist, the DAAC was one of the first spaces where I was able to display my work, make sales and understand the work that goes into setting up a show,” said Christensen. “Our volunteers, who are also creatives, are there to help the artists that use the space. It’s a conversation from the beginning of your booking until the installation. I’m excited to have a space like that available to the public again.” A rich history and a bright future Though the previous locations of the DAAC were well-loved and gave members of the creative community a space to freely express themselves, the organization did not have the ability to make long-term changes and improvements to its brickand-mortar space … until now. “Our new space is bigger and better than the original DAAC,” said Christensen. “In terms of art shows, they will be easier and safer to install. There’s a whole music area that will always be ready to go and can easily be transformed into a space for programming where people can work.” The DAAC’s core committee is eager to continue designing the space to cater to its specific needs. This freedom allows for programming that was not possible at the old location, such as afterschool activities for kids, meeting and practice space for the community, and even parties or potlucks. With construction coming to a close, the new DAAC is closer to reality. “We’re excited to be part of the Creston neighborhood. It has all the things we were looking for. It’s a thriving area of town, there’s public transportation, great

restaurants and businesses,” said Lytle. “We’re also looking forward to contributing to the neighborhood and helping give business to other folks.” The group began renovating the new space in December of 2019. It was weeks from opening in March 2020, but those plans dissipated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s a scary and unknown place and I think a lot of venues are experiencing this now. We’ll have to rethink how to use the space while we can’t do big art and music shows,” said Lytle. “Thankfully, we have a nest egg from a fundraiser we did in 2014. The huge outpour of community support will help us through the next months and we’re very thankful for that.” At the time of writing this article, renovations were wrapping up, with plans to open in early 2021. For more information, to volunteer or to find out how you can support the DAAC, visit thedaac.org or email info@thedaac.org.

(Above) Alison Christensen hangs the DAAC's new sign as renovations on the building come to a close. Alison Christensen and Kyle Brand hang a piece of artwork (top left).

GR M AG .CO M

Dr. Charles Gibson is an acute care surgeon at Spectrum Health.

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

people + places / p ofile

PROFILE

Representing Dr. Charles Gibson is one of only a few Black trauma surgeons in the country. BY PASHA SHIPP

// PHOTO BY MICHAEL BUCK

Long before he donned his scrubs as a trauma surgeon at Spectrum Health, Dr. Charles Gibson knew he wanted to be a doctor. Born and raised in Fayetteville, Georgia, a young Gibson was determined to pursue a career in medicine — so much so that his grandmother called him “Dr. Gibson,” even as a child. “She would say it mostly as a joke, but also kind of ‘speaking things into the future,’ as she would say lovingly,” Gibson said. “I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a physician. My aunt was a pediatrician out in Inglewood, California, for over 35 years before she passed away, and I wanted to be a pediatrician just like her.” Aiming high and working hard have been constants in Gibson’s life since he was little. His parents encouraged him to do better than his best and pursue excellence at every opportunity. “My mom used to always tell me, ‘You’ve got to be twice as good to get half as much in this world,’” he said. “If I brought home B’s, that wasn’t good enough. She’d say, ‘You want to be a doctor, and doctors don’t make B’s, doctors make A’s,’” he continued. “She would really light that fire under me. My dad also instilled an extreme work ethic in me from a very young age.” After completing his undergrad at Xavier University, Gibson set out on the path to pediatrics at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Little did he know, his career was headed for a 180. “I like to say trauma chose me,” he said. “I went into med school with the intention of becoming a pediatrician. The way they do the rotations, you spend eight weeks in various areas of medicine, and I did surgery first, and I absolutely loved it — particularly trauma surgery. I was miserable on every other rotation, and I just missed being in the operating room.” The emergency room can be an overwhelming, intense place. For Gibson, it’s an opportunity to take on new

"I like the system work of trauma and how you take people at their worst and find a way to get them back to their loved ones. It’s very rewarding work." Dr. Charles Gibson

challenges and think on his feet, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I’m an acute care surgeon, and that means I wear several different hats under the umbrella of general surgery,” he said. “I’m a trauma surgeon, emergency general surgeon, critical care doctor and also a burn surgeon. I like the system work of trauma and how you take people at their worst and find a way to get them back to their loved ones. It’s very rewarding work.” While Gibson is passionate about treating patients, his work is not always easy, and not for the reasons you might think. There is very little representation in medicine, which can be difficult. “When I was applying for residencies, one of the hardest things was seeing how few programs had people that even remotely looked like me in surgery or otherwise,” he said. “We make up about 13% of the population and about 5% or less of Black people are physicians, in spite of the fact that we are a large contingent of the population. It’s just harder to see somebody who looks like you, that has that shared cultural experience to know what you’re going through.” On top of that, he experiences discrimination and racism, all while trying to save lives. “People make side comments here and there, like, ‘I didn’t know Black people worked that hard,’” Gibson said. “That’s stuff people say to me in the operating room while I’m working as a resident. I’ve met with patients that aren’t used to seeing people of color, and they’ve literally asked, ‘Do I have to have a Black doctor?’ You have to try to compartmentalize in the moment and realize that your job is not to love your patients all the time; it’s just to help them.” Despite these challenges, Gibson perseveres in his work, his love for the craft outweighing the scrutiny he faces on the job. “The system gets used to not seeing people of color in higherlevel positions, so when you achieve something, they don’t think you earned it a lot of the time,” he said. “I don’t want special treatment. I don’t want anybody bending over backwards to hand me anything,” he continued. “Just don’t go out of your way to make my life hard. I just want to work hard and do a good job and take care of people.” Though being a doctor can be tough in more ways than one, helping people is what makes it all worthwhile for Gibson. “If there is something that we can do to help people in their darkest hour — I like being a part of that,” he said. “It’s just such an amazing thing. That passion is what has you stand two hours at the end of your shift to hold a family member’s hand to let them know things are going to be OK or that they’re not going to be OK and that you’re here for them,” he said. “That passion for people is what makes treating the whole person ultimately worth it.” GR M AG .CO M

people + places / guide

GUIDE

Your guide to West Leonard Street This bustling corridor offers plenty of fun. BY ALLIE OUENDAG

// ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH McMENEMY

Grand Rapids’ West Side has seen massive expansion over the past decade, becoming a new hub for some of the city’s best dining and entertainment. The Bridge Street corridor is often what first comes to mind when planning a day on the West Side; however, the lesser-known West Leonard Street corridor offers some of the best hidden gems in the area. Friends Scott Hartmann and Scott Leucht opened Two Scotts Barbecue in 2015 and have been feeding hungry West Siders ever since. Both had a passion for great barbecue before deciding to open Two Scotts — Hartmann started with an at-home barbecuing setup and Leucht has spent over a decade working in 14

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

professional kitchens. Together the duo renovated a former A&W stand from the 1950s, located at 536 Leonard St. NW, into one of the best barbecue joints in town. The two take pride in specializing in “Michigan style barbecue,” focusing on flavoring with dry rub instead of sauces. From pulled pork to fall-off-the-bone ribs, Two Scotts offers a full range of meats to satisfy every inner carnivore. Across the street from Two Scotts Barbecue is Grand Rapids’ very first comedy theater. The Comedy Project opened in 2019 by a group of Second City Conservatory Program alumni using Kickstarter to raise nearly $30,000 to fund

the effort. The theater features improv, sketch and comedy variety shows, a comedy training center, and private event space. After the show, audiences are able to enjoy a full bar featuring local craft brews as well as a range of moonshine options. Just down the street is The Freewheeler Bike Shop. Known for having one of the largest inventories of bicycles in Grand Rapids, Freewheeler is a one-stop shop for everything you need. Freewheeler has remained a family business since its opening in 1979 and offers a full range of bicycle-related services including repairs and even customization. Enjoy a Saturday exploring the West Leonard Street corridor.

look+feel KEEPING YOUR MIND AND BODY HEALTHY

EXPERT

Renovate your space

New Urban Home Builders shares tips to help your home renovation project go smoothly. (Pictured) A renovated living room the company completed recently.

page 19

» PLUS: THE “ECLIPTIC” RESTOR ATION DR. CHARLES GIBSON GUIDE TO WEST LEONARD STREET P H OTO G R A P H BY G E O F F S H I R L E Y P H OTO G R A P H Y GR M AG .CO M

HOME

Bathroom oasis

Transform your bathroom with these simple tips. BY LAUREN FIGUEROA, PRINCIPAL AT LAUREN FIGUEROA INTERIOR DESIGN

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

Your primary bathroom should be a place that’s equally beautiful and functional — a space that allows you to escape the stress of the day, detox and relax. But just how do you create a space that allows you to do that? Good news — I’ve pulled together my top tips for creating a beautiful and functional bathroom oasis, along with a handful of recommended products you can find right in our online shop! Let’s dive in. BATHROOM ALYSSA WAGNER

look + feel / home

From top to bottom: Bayou Pendant, $2,680; Russian Landscape VI framed art, $419; Porto Rotondo framed art, $2,439; Regina Andrew Logia Square Tray (large), $370; Hand knotted area rug, $193; Woven rattan basket (set of 2), $422; all available at Lauren Figueroa Interior Design, lfdesigns.co

Focal Fixtures Add some drama with a mini chandelier or classy pendant light over your soaking tub to make the space feel more glamorous and intentional. Don’t forget to be intentional with your vanity lights as well.

Artwork For artwork, go with something subtle and not too busy — black and white line drawings or a photo/painting of something calming to you are a good place to start. I like subjects like land or seascapes, as well as shots of island towns, beaches or sky.

Contrasting Hardware I like to mix up the metals in my designs and contrast my hardware with my faucet fixtures and towel holders. This helps a space feel more custom and not so matchy-matchy.

Bath Towels White, fluffy towels are my go-to for bathrooms — they always bring about that luxe feeling of an expensive hotel or resort. Plus, you can bleach them, so it’s easy to keep that bright white look.

Woven Baskets Use natural, chunky baskets to store bath and hand towels. The warm sea-grass or cane colors will add warmth, texture and help connect you with nature.

Tonal Color Palettes Subtle, tonal color palettes in a bathroom are perfect to achieve that spa look and feel. These kinds of palettes promote calm, relaxation and peace, whereas bright colors promote energy and excitement.

Decorative Trays Placing a tray on your vanity to hold essentials helps a space feel less cluttered. Use glass jars for cotton swabs, and always go for a pretty soap container. Pop in a vase of flowers and your bathroom essentials have suddenly become a style statement.

PRODUCTS COURTESY LAUREN FIGUEROA INTERIOR DESIGN

your very own oasis Lauren shares pieces that help make your bathroom a space to escape to.

Rug/Runner A beautiful rug or runner can add color and pattern without taking over. Notice how this vintage rug complements the classic penny tile without taking away from the overall design.

GR M AG .CO M

look + feel / wellness

WELLNESS

Athlete-level fitness New fitness center trains athletes and nonathletes alike. BY CHARLSIE DEWEY

Kobe Bufkin (left) is a Grand Rapids Christian basketball player committed to playing at the University of Michigan, who trains at Alpha Human Performance.

Get to know Daimond Dixon:

Former University of Miami footballer Daimond Dixon and his wife Regina Dixon opened a new workout facility that brings together athletes and nonathletes alike. Alpha Human Performance, 3233 Eastern Ave., focuses on training athletes from middle school age to professional sports players as well as offering training to former athletes and adults who want to train like an athlete. “We like to call it human performance. We deal with athletes, mainstream populations, youth to adults,” Dixon said. “Our premise is working with our four pillars: mindset, training, recovery and performance.” The facility doesn’t resemble the typical sports club with lines of treadmills and ellipticals everywhere. Instead, it’s an open, 6,500-square-foot industrial space divided into two sections — the performance floor and the strength floor. Dixon said on the performance side, clients perform agility drills and use tools like sleds, while the strength training side consists of dumb bells and weight racks. “We don’t have a bunch of fitness machines,” he said. “We have more things that are functional.” Less stationary equipment makes it easy for the space to be reconfigured as needed. That’s particularly important, because Alpha Human Performance is a class-based gym. “It’s less of a dropin workout health club and more of a facility where it’s all classes and set up for training.” During classes, which are capped at 15 people, the instructor works with the participants individually, rather than using a headset to call out moves. 18

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

• Daimond Dixon was a walk-on member of the University of Miami (Florida) 1991 National Championship Football Program. • After college he went on to play over a decade of minor league football for several Midwest football teams. • He has trained athletes in the art of sports performance for the past 10 years with a focus on football, soccer, hockey, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, rugby, softball, swimming, golf and mixed martial arts. • He currently works as director of sports performance for Grand Rapids Christian Schools and owns an online sports performance and fitness publication.

Dixon said Alpha Performance Fitness is a reflection of the trend he began to notice a few years ago where traditional gym workouts began to shift and resemble more of the athlete training-type workouts. “Since the early ’90s, I’ve been training athletes … with today’s tech and exercise science, the gap between athletes and the mainstream population started to blur,” he said. “They are kind of doing the same thing, so my wife and I, we were talking about in a perfect world, how could we create something to work with all three populations [athletes, former athletes and nonathletes] all in-house.” The couple and their four sons vacation every year at Anna Marie Island in Florida and became familiar with IMG Academy, a boarding school for student athletes, and thought “if we could create that kind of facility or brand in Michigan, that would be great.” Dixon added, “It doesn’t have to be on a huge scale, but something that can facilitate the need that is out there here in West Michigan.” The Dixons also used their own family as inspiration, thinking “what would be the best facility for our family?” Dixon’s four sons — 8-year-old twins, a freshman and a junior in high school — play a range of sports including football, lacrosse and soccer, and his wife is a former high school soccer player. Alpha Performance Fitness allows the whole family to receive the training they each require all under one roof. The facility also offers a recovery program, which is housed on the mezzanine level and includes a partnership with NovaCare, a physical therapy provider that provides free injury assessments to members. And, for members who can’t make it to the facility, there’s an Alpha Human Performance app available that offers online workouts. Dixon said he hopes the facility becomes a hub for athletes and nonathletes alike, where they can come and discover their “inner alpha” and get the training that makes them feel like the athlete they once were or always wanted to be. TRAINING, DAIMOND DIXON COURTESY ALPHA HUMAN PERFORMANCE

look + feel / expe t BEFORE

AFTER

EXPERT

Planning for a renovation Help your reno project run smoothly. BY CHARLSIE DEWEY

Several years ago, I had my kitchen redone — and I was woefully unprepared. Luckily, my lack of knowledge about the process didn’t create any major issues. It helped that I was working with a seasoned contractor who helped me immensely. In the end, my kitchen turned out beautifully and on schedule. But the experience left me thinking, “If I ever have to do another renovation, I will do things differently.” With spring around the corner, you might be contemplating your own renovation project. So, we asked Scott Branc, of New Urban Home Builders, to share some tips on how to make your project a success. Not surprisingly, giving yourself plenty of time and planning ahead are two of the biggest factors in making a project run smoothly. It is also important to choose your team carefully. “Do your homework when building your team so you can ultimately BEFORE COURTESY NEW URBAN HOME BUILDERS AFTER GEOFF SHIRLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

"Do your homework when building your team so you can ultimately step back and trust your team to do what they do best." Scott Branc

step back and trust your team to do what they do best. Ask family, friends and colleagues for recommendations when it comes to architects, interior designers, general contractors and/or trades. Meet with several solid options and consider what each can bring to the table,” Branc said. He added, “Once you assemble the team, work with them to make decisions in a timely manner. Be decisive. Get your finishes ordered well in advance so your schedule isn’t held up by waiting on materials. Try not to make a lot of changes so you’re not having to order additional materials or reschedule trades. Your timeline and budget will thank you.” In Grand Rapids, there currently is a shortage of tradespeople, so keep that in mind as well. “Labor costs are high, and homeowners can expect to wait longer to line up more established companies," Branc said. Branc said you also should budget for the unexpected. Renovations often uncover unexpected — and sometimes costly — issues. Speaking of budget, keep yours in check by being realistic. “Don’t plan a $100,000 kitchen remodel for a $200,000 home. Similarly, don’t expect $10,000 to go far in a $1 million home,” Branc said. To help guide your budget, Branc said, “Identify the specific problems driving you to renovate and focus on these ‘have-tohaves’ while planning your project to ensure your primary goals are met and your scope stays within reason. The ‘nice-to-haves’ are secondary.” Branc also recommends finding someplace else to stay during a major renovation if possible. “Living in a home that’s being renovated can be trying for homeowners — you’ll have strangers coming and going from your home all day, every day, and there will be noise and dust.” In the end, when things get stressful, think about how much the renovation will add to the daily experience of your home. GR M AG .CO M

look + feel / style

STYLE

Vintage vibe

Knotted Headband, $12.95, Rebel

Incorporate past decades' styles into your wardrobe today. WRITTEN AND STYLED BY JENNIFER PICKERING

// PHOTOS BY ANGELA CICCU

Vintage inspired fashion always seems to be represented in each fashion season. Trends like ruffles, old school Levi’s or overalls have all made comebacks. Even trends from the '80s have made their way back, with scrunchies and chunky hair clips. This season look for floral tops, leather separates and rich colors. The best way to pull off this trend is to mix and match them with more modern pieces.

Circle & Tassel Earrings, $38, Iris Boutique

Natural by Known Supply Courtney Top, $48.99, Adored Boutique

Runway shot from Erdem's Fall/Winter 2020 fashion line

Lovecolétte Simone Dress, $69, Dear Prudence Liverpool Madonna Plaid Pants, $89, The James Salon & Boutique

Beaded Black, White & Gold Earrings, $20.95, Rebel

Able Abera Crossbody, $188, Adored Boutique

Liverpool Gia Faux Suede Skirt, $68, The James Salon & Boutique

Fair Anita Auburn Agate Necklace, $19.99, Adored Boutique

Free People Elle Block Heel Boot, $198, The James Salon & Boutique

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

French Cream Faux Leather Pants, $89, The James Salon & Boutique

Olivaceous Sleeve Snake Blouse, $59, Dear Prudence

Blondo Esmee Snake Skin Booties, $130, Iris Boutique

Julie Vos Coin Necklace, $165, Mason Jones

RUNWAY COURTESY ERDEM

food+drink DIVE INTO THE CITY’S GREATEST EATERIES AND BARS

» PLUS: LET'S STAY HOME COCKTAIL KITS MDRD LUXE ARTISAN PRESERVES

editor's pick

Start your morning with a mimosa from one of our Top 5 suggestions.

TOP 5

Mimosa mornings Enjoy brunch’s best friend. BY ELIZABETH LISTERMAN

It is no secret that mimosas make brunch time better. The sweet nectar sitting idly by waiting in those stunning flutes as you gobble down your king-size breakfast is the perfect brunch beverage. Get your fix of fresh OJ with a twist of bubbly at one of these local brunch spots. Morning Belle delivers mimosas in a quirky, colorful atmosphere. Pair one of its flavorful

mimosas alongside any savory or sweet breakfast treat and enjoy a heavenly morning of sipping on cocktails and chowing down on greasy bacon. Spanish staples are welcomed with open arms into downtown Grand Rapids with San Chez’s signature menu full of delicious tapas. San Chez puts a spin on its mimosas by using Spain’s famous cava to give it a real kick.

MIMOSA ISTOCK/AHIRAO_PHOTO TAMALE BRYAN ESLER ILLUSTRATION RACHEL IDZERDA

Linear Restaurant is a trendy, luxury spot perfect for any date night or early morning out. Head here for brunch on the weekends and take advantage of the $4 mimosas and delicious tarts. Rockwell Republic, located in the historic heart of Grand Rapids, offers brunch on the weekends with a wonderful array of breakfast cocktails. Have a mouthwatering mimosa

with friends while you celebrate the weekend. Eastown is the trendiest area in Grand Rapids and Matchbox Diner & Drinks is located right in the heart of it. Matchbox is a classic take on a diner with all-day breakfast and a crazy happy hour cocktail menu. Mix and match your juices with your choice of sparkle, or if spiked sparkling juices aren’t your forte then grab one of their famous bloody mary concoctions.

You no longer have to drive to Wyoming for the best tamales in the area. Tamales Mary recently opened a second location in Eastown. Mary Martinez and Humberto Alvarez, the wife-and-husband team behind Tamales Mary, recently completed renovations at 1551 Wealthy St. SE. Tamales Mary offers — you guessed it — tamales! Choose from tamales wrapped in a corn leaf or a banana leaf, and filled with everything from chicken, beef and pork to sweet pineapple, sweet strawberry and bell pepper. The restaurant offers 18 different kinds of tamales in all. Tamales Mary was forced to pivot due to the pandemic — having previously operated a food cart downtown during the warmer months. But a second location was something that Martinez and Alvarez had been eager to open. The pair’s original restaurant is at 1253 Burton St. SW in Wyoming.

CHARLSIE DEWEY MANAGING EDITOR, GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE GR M AG .CO M

CANNABIS EXPERTS Q&A

Let’s Talk Pot: What You Need

To Know About Cannabis Today

In Michigan, cannabis has quickly become a hot topic, and and with everything 2020 brought us, cannabis may be a welcome diversion from the normality of everyday life. Businesses are exploring innovative ways they can become involved in this financially growing industry, and individuals are curious about how they can enhance their lives and tap into the wellness properties that cannabis can offer. When it comes to cannabis, there’s plenty to discuss.

you’ll also have a greater likelihood for success if you connect and network with others in the industry. Interested in cannabis for personal use? There are resources that can provide the seeds for cultivating your own plants, as well as medical and recreational dispensaries staffed with knowledgeable advisers who can help you get the right product and strains for the outcomes you desire. The seasoned experts featured here have informed advice to help you make the most of your experience. ■

What opportunities can the cannabis industry bring to West Michigan?

A: Legalized recreational cannabis is having a boundless impact on local economy in West Michigan and throughout the state, with potentially millions of dollars in tax revenue flowing into the municipalities that opted in to the industry. Even though it’s still a fairly new development in the state, we’re already seeing communities — like Muskegon, for example — thriving, while neighboring municipalities that are only allowing medical use are lagging behind — and losing out on that valuable revenue. The cannabis industry is also fueling job creation and growth in a time when many other industries and businesses have

Medical dispensaries and patients alike have benefitted from the business of cannabis for years; now it’s time for the rest of the population to join in and see what the recreational side is all about. And, with that opportunity, learn from the professionals about the legal, business, personal usage, and selection aspects of cannabis. Looking to start a cannabis-related business? You’ll need expert counsel to advise you on the regulatory and legal aspects. And,

been hit hard by the pandemic. While the unemployment rate is at an all-time high, this is one industry that is actually hiring. In addition, the opportunities for services and products that are needed to help support the industry are high. I really encourage businesses to think of innovative ways they can be part of this brand-new, booming industry Michigan has a potential to be a massive market — and what it looks like now will not compare to what it will look like five years from now, especially as cannabis becomes more normalized and the stigma eventually starts to fade away.

Jamie Cooper Founder, CEO Sensi Connects 616-414-0890 sensiconnects.com

Advertisements on pages 61, 62-63

CANNABIS EXPERTS Q&A Q:

When and why cannabis businesses should engage legal counsel?

A: Starting a marijuana business is no different than opening any other business, for which an attorney is not always required. However, because the licensed cannabis industry is highly regulated and rapidly developing — and is federally illegal — it is vital to the success and long-term health of a cannabis start-up to retain a licensed attorney who specializes in regulatory and business law for the Michigan cannabis industry. The most successful cannabis businesses, both financially and in terms of growth and risk management, retain us out of the gate. Due

Denise A. Pollicella, Esq.

Founder & Managing Partner Pollicella, PLLC/Cannabis Attorneys of Michigan 4312 E. Grand River Ave. Howell, MI 48843 800-413-1669 cannabisattorneysofmichigan.com Advertisements on pages 58-59, 60

What is it like to visit Fluresh?

A: When customers enter our store, they’ll not only be wowed by the open space and breadth of product we offer, but will also be met by a friendly and knowledgeable adviser who will walk them through their entire shopping experience. No chasing down a clerk to help; instead, our advisers are dedicated to each customer for the length of their visit. Though many customers are ordering online for

to the regulatory constraints and complexity of the Michigan marijuana laws, particularly regarding ownership, we are able to save our clients time and money by engaging with them on structuring and entity selection prior to the filing state licensing applications, so that their venture has a strong foundation. Because we also have real estate and trademark attorneys on staff, we can counsel our business clients on site selection and protecting their intellectual property, all the while keeping in mind that every contract or agreement they enter must comply with the Michigan laws and regulations for cannabis businesses.

curbside pickup these days, and we’ve enhanced our website and product descriptions to make that easier, we are open by appointment for more personalized attention. We also offer phone consultations for a risk free contact option. We know everyone uses cannabis for different reasons, so we ask pointed questions to help understand customers needs and provide them with a solution that’s individually tailored.

Nic Hernandez

Store Manager Fluresh 1213 Phillips Ave. SW Grand Rapids, MI 49507 616-208-9934 fluresh.com Advertisements on pages 56, 57

What are the benefits of growing your own cannabis from seed?

A: There’s a common misconception that cannabis is difficult to grow and that it requires special equipment, complicated growing supplies, and a lot of space in your basement — but that isn’t necessarily true. It’s actually pretty easy to grow and it can be a fun and rewarding hobby, perfect for those of us spending more time at home these days. Since it’s legal to grow up to 12 plants in Michigan, there are many good reasons to get started. For one, because of

the tax rate, it’s significantly less expensive to grow cannabis yourself versus obtaining the end product from a dispensary, whether it’s medical or recreational. Additionally, when buying seed from a dependable and well-established vendor, like the Seed Cellar, you have control over the product and know you are getting the exact strain you are expecting. Our seeds always come in the original breeder packs, so you can trust what you’re receiving is legitimate.

Kate Brown

Breeder and Marketing Manager Seed Cellar 1620 E. Michigan Ave. Jackson, MI 49202 517-879-2801 seedcellarrep@gmail.com seedcellar.com Advertisements on pages 55 and 56

Dating in GR

Find out what singles in Grand Rapids are looking for. B Y C H A R L S I E D E W E Y, E L I Z A B E T H L I S T E R M A N A N D A L L I E O U E N D A G P H O T O G R A P H Y BY M I C H E L L E C U P PY

G R A N D R A P I D S is attracting more Millennials and Gen Zers as the city grows and adds fun amenities. Upcoming projects are sure to continue to attract younger residents â&#x20AC;&#x201D; many of them single and looking to find love alongside growing their careers and attaining their professional and personal goals. We wanted to find out what it is like to be single and dating in Grand Rapids, and what these young professionals are looking for in a potential partner. So, we decided to ask them to share their dating profiles with us.

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

Are you a texter or caller? Both. Do you like to do the asking out or be asked out? Be asked! What are your dealbreakers? Lazy men. Any rules you set about how soon you text after a date? Rules about that are dumb. Ideal first date? Walk in the park with coffee and my dog. Favorite location for a date in GR? Anywhere where I can eat outside. If money and time were no issue what would you do to impress someone? I would take a hot air balloon ride in Paris where we would sip champagne. We would snack on the finest cheeses and meats and watch the sunset. Who is your celebrity crush? Adam Sandler, because he’s so funny. What is your love language? Quality time and touch. Do you believe in astrology? If so, what’s your sign? Aries. Kinda. Favorite rom-com? “Friends with Benefits.” What makes a good impression on a first date? He makes me laugh and smile — and he pays. What makes a bad impression? A guy who only talks about himself and does not pay. Do you have a daily mantra or quote you live by? If so what is it? Do not stress over what you cannot control. If you could go on a double date with any couple living or dead who would you choose? The Obamas. Which fictional character do you relate to the most? Jess from “New Girl.” Favorite movie, book, album, and/or game? “Titanic;” “The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl;” Sudoku. Where are you likely to be on a Saturday night? If COVID didn’t exist, out at a bar with friends having fun. Then home by a reasonable time, so I can cuddle with my dog. Cat or dog person? Dog. Introvert or extrovert? Introverted extrovert. Name one thing you are passionate about? My career. Favorite song to dance to? “Hips Don’t Lie.” Go-to karaoke song? “I Kissed a Girl” by Katy Perry. Last movie you saw? Or show that you binged? “Bob’s Burgers.” What was the last thing you treated yourself to? Got my nails done. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Morning person. Are you an outdoors or an indoors person? Outdoors. What are you kind of obsessed with these days? My dog and my students. What’s next on your bucket list? Get my master’s degree.

Allyson Boomsma

Age: 24 Occupation: Teacher Looking for men or women: Men

GR M AG .CO M

Kirstin VanLoo Age: 28 Occupation: Project coordinator at a home improvement company Looking for men or women: Men

Are you a texter or caller? That is hard! I am a talker so throughout the day, just texting. If I am looking for a quick answer or if I want to talk for a while, a call is best! Do you like to do the asking out or be asked out? I would not say I am old-fashioned, but I like to be asked out. I honestly don’t think I have ever asked anyone out on a date. What are your dealbreakers? Anything more than an occasional cigarette, not being obsessed with my dog Piper, not using your turn signals at fourway stops, looking for a polyamorous relationship, long distance, poor communication skills, xenophobia(!). Ideal first date? I would want to experience something neither of us had, while being able to talk and get to know each other. Taking a cooking class together sounds so fun! I have never done it. It would be a fun setting that

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

is still relaxed and structured. You are able to interact together but learn things about each other. It is a bit more adventurous than the standard dinner and drinks. Who is your celebrity crush? Paul Mescal. Do you believe in astrology? If so, what’s your sign? I am not sure how much I believe that the stars influence our lives, but do you think I have Googled “most compatible astrology signs for an Aquarius?” Because I have … many times. Favorite rom-com? “A Lot Like Love” and “Crazy Rich Asians.” So hard to choose between the two. Number one quality you are looking for in a partner? Acceptance. As I get older, I realize that there isn’t one perfect person for anyone. You grow to love that person and accept them for who they are. We all have some sort of baggage and I need someone who

is willing to take it all in and accept me, for me. Which fictional character do you relate to the most? Lately, Nick Miller. I feel like my life is a hot mess and I am just laughing my way through it. I, too, love beer and to moonwalk away from awkward situations. Where are you likely to be on a Saturday night? Relaxing with my dog Piper while watching Netflix and drinking a beer. What is making you feel positive these days? The election. I have never felt so much relief. I am hopeful for a brighter future for everyone and I feel like we have something to look forward to, finally. Favorite song to dance to? “Savage Remix” featuring Beyonce. It’s a jam. Go-to karaoke song? Oh, not happening unless I have lots of drinks, and at that point I wouldn’t remember what song I chose.

Are you a texter or caller? Texter. Any rules you set about how soon you text after a date? I typically wait at least a day or two. Ideal first date? Going to Lantern Coffee and then on a walk downtown. What is your love language? Quality time. Do you believe in astrology? If so, what’s your sign? Not really, but I’m a Taurus. Would you rather do the traditional dinner date or something more unique? For the first couple dates, traditional dinner or coffee dates are totally OK. But then I love to think outside the box! Go to the lakeshore, explore and just get to know each other more. What makes a good impression on a first date? Being able to converse freely, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Number one quality you are looking for in a partner? Someone who’s caring and enjoys spending time together, but who can also open up my horizons to new things I wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. If you could go on a double date with any couple living or dead who would you choose? John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, mainly because I can’t stop watching “The Office.” But if we’re talking fictional couples, Johnny and Moira Rose. Obviously. Favorite movie, book, album, and/or game? “The Kingsman” is a long-time favorite movie, and I’m really into X Ambassadors music right now. Name one thing you are passionate about? For me it’s important to see and talk to my friends regularly. And a lot of times, that involves Spartan football. What is making you feel positive these days? The Grand Rapids community coming together to support small businesses. Favorite song to dance to? Pretty sure I’m the world’s worst dancer, so … What was the last thing you treated yourself to? A pear and apple bar from Field & Fire Cafe. Love their bread and treats! Are you an outdoors

Age: 34 Occupation: Photographer Looking for men or women: Women

Bryan Esler

or an indoors person? Indoors, but I love getting out to take pictures. What are you kind of obsessed with these days? When the weather was still nice, I played a lot of ultimate frisbee with friends. Loved getting out to play and finding a sport I’m actually not terrible at for a change! What’s next on your bucket list? Really can’t wait to travel again after COVID. Prior to the shutdowns, I was traveling around 3-4 times a year, mostly in the states, but in February I made a trip to Costa Rica and had the time of my life.

Money tight, but still want to impress? Explore these (nearly free) options in GR

SNOWSHOEING With four miles of trails for you and your sweetheart to explore, Blandford Nature Center is the perfect place for a date night you’ll never forget. For $25 you can experience winter in Michigan with a candlelit, easy-paced, snowshoeing hike topped off with hot chocolate and refreshments.

ICE SKATING Every winter Rosa Parks Circle transforms into an ice-skating rink where couples can take advantage of a romantic night out for only $2 admission, which includes skate rentals.

SLEDDING Grab a sled and head to Richmond Park or Belknap Park. It is always free to spend a day sledding at both parks. Both located on the north side of town, the winter tradition of sledding these hills would make a great date.

GR M AG .CO M

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

Bradley Haas Age: 30 Occupation: Drag show director Looking for men or women: Men

Do you like to do the asking out or be asked out? I like a man who can take control, so I like them to do the asking. What are your dealbreakers? Arrogance, self-absorption and no sense of humor. How many dates before a first kiss? It all depends on how it goes! If I’m feeling the guy, I am not opposed to letting him kiss me on the first date. … I would prefer if he initiated it, though. Ideal first date? Something I could get out of easily if it was going wrong. He takes me out, we meet at a nice downtown restaurant, the meal is amazing, we bond over how good it is, and then we go bowling or to an arcade, maybe. Then maybe back to his place for a nightcap if we’re vibing! Favorite location for a date in GR? Stella’s! I think it’s a great atmosphere. They’ve got a killer deep fried cookie dough, and their drinks are strong enough to take the edge off. Least favorite location for a first date in GR? Rosa Parks Circle for ice skating! I fall too much, and then I’m stuck being cold for the whole night and I’m embarrassed. If money and time were no issue, what would you do to impress someone? A cross-country camping expedition for a summer would be a riot! Just hop in an RV and go to all kinds of campgrounds across the United States. Do you believe in astrology? If so, what’s your sign? Yes! I am a Gemini. I’m playful, expressive and curious. Favorite rom-com? “27 Dresses!” Number one quality you are looking for in a partner? HONESTY. I can’t make that word any bolder. I’ve been with a couple liars, and I’m good on that. Do you have a daily mantra or quote you live by? If so, what is it? “What people think about me is none of my business.” — RuPaul If you could go on a double date with any couple living or dead who would you choose? Barack and Michelle Obama.Where are you likely to be on a Saturday night? Either home or directing my drag production company at one of several venues around GR with my co-director, who just so happens to be my mother and best friend! We raise awareness for all kinds of organizations while bringing the art of drag to the forefront for all to enjoy. Cat or dog person? I love both but I’d have to choose dogs. Are you an outdoors or an indoors person? Outdoors, totally. I spent almost all of last summer in a tent at a campground.

Looking for a unique date idea? Candid Captures by Hayley offers first date photo sessions. Hayley Estill, of Hayley Marie Photography, has been experimenting with the emerging trend of blind date photoshoots here in West Michigan. How does it work? "Two single individuals, strangers, are put in front of my camera as a date experience for me to capture. I have noticed that when two people are put in a situation like this, it really brings them out of their comfort zone and displays their true character — it’s a truly beautiful process." Tell us about your blind date photoshoot experiences. "These sessions usually produce raw, authentic images as the couple gets more comfortable with each other. Sometimes the couples get so comfortable it makes me want to leave them alone — but I love the spicy and intimate art." Find out more at Haley Marie Photography on Facebook.

Set the mood Here’s how to create a romantic evening at home. WINE SHOP: Leon & Sons Founded in Brooklyn in 2015 by Chris Leon, Grand Rapids is home to the second location of the award-winning wine shop. For those looking for a night in, Leon & Sons offers a large online collection of high-quality wines that can be shipped directly to your home. CHARCUTERIE BOARD: The Cheese Lady Creating an impressive charcuterie board has never been easier than with The Cheese Lady’s large selection of rare cheeses, crackers, condiments and saucisson. FLOWERS: Thelma’s Flowers Thelma’s Flowers goes above and beyond just the typical red rose bouquet. Using fresh flowers to create unique and personalized bouquets, Thelma’s is the ideal place to pick up flowers for your sweetheart. CHOCOLATES: Mokaya Mokaya offers some of the most exquisite chocolate creations: truffles, bonbons, pastries and more. There's even a beer flight option.

GR M AG .CO M

Are you a texter or caller? Caller. Do you like to do the asking out or be asked out? It’s 2021, either. What are your deal breakers? Narcissistic, disrespect to others or a lack of honesty. Any rules you set about how soon you text after a date? Nah, playing games is overrated. How many dates before a first kiss? Two or three, you gotta see if it works before going for it. Ideal first date? Anything active, it takes the pressure off any potential awkward moments or lapses in conversation. Favorite location for a date in GR? Meijer Gardens. Who is your celebrity crush? Ryan Gosling. What is your love language? Words of affirmation. Do you believe in astrology? If so, what’s your sign? No, but I do believe the moon is flat so no judgment. Favorite rom-com? “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” What makes a good impression on a first date? Being open and willing to at least try to have a good time. What makes a bad impression? Constantly checking your phone or being unkind to others. Number one quality you are looking for in a partner? Intelligence. Do you have a daily mantra or quote you live by? If so, what is it? There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. If you could go on a double date with any couple living or dead who would you choose? Barack and Michelle Obama. Which fictional character do you relate to the most? Burton Guster from Psych. Favorite movie, book, album, and/or game? Books — Thrones. Game — Bannanagrams. Movie — “Inception.”Cat or dog person? Dogs. I don’t trust cats. Name one thing you are passionate about? The environment. What is making you feel positive these days? Found a couple new bangers on Spotify. Favorite song to dance to? I can’t dance to save my life. Go-to karaoke song? “I Want to Break Free” (Queen). Last movie you saw? Or show that you binged? “Suits.” What was the last thing you treated yourself to? Booked a vacation with friends to go snowboarding. Are you an outdoors or an indoors person? Outdoors. What are you kind of obsessed with these days? Anything that has cheese on it. What’s next on your bucket list? Medical school.

Joel DeJonge Age: 23 Occupation: Emergency room scribe/college lacrosse coach Looking for men or women: Women

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

Matt Drolett Age: 48 Occupation: Medical sales Looking for men or women: Women

Are you a texter or caller? While I find myself texting most of the time, I appreciate a good phone call. What are your dealbreakers? Negative energy, unreliable, lack of common courtesy, lack of curiosity. Ideal first date? Very simple. Dinner, drinks, maybe a walk and great conversation. Favorite location for a date in GR? Bistro Bella Vita or Bostwick Lake Inn. If money and time were no issue what would you do to impress someone? A long weekend in London, baby! Who is your celebrity crush? Gal Gadot and Aubrey Plaza. What is your love language? Acts of service. Favorite rom-com? “Notting Hill.” What makes a good impression on a first date? Great conversation. What makes a bad impression? Pessimism or too much time talking about an ex. Do you have a daily mantra or quote you live by? If so what is it? Everything happens right on schedule. If you could go on a double date with any couple living or dead who would you choose? I lost my dad to cancer in June of 2019. So, a double date with mom and dad sounds pretty great right now. Which fictional character do you relate to the most? While I’d like to think it’s James Bond, it’s probably closer to James ... Halpert (“The Office”). Favorite movie, book, album, and/or game? Movie: “Field of Dreams;” Book: “Tuesdays with Morrie.” Album: “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace” by Foo Fighters. Game: Trivial Pursuit. Where are you likely to be on a Saturday night? Since I’m writing this in COVID times, it’s probably home, cooking — with the Yacht Rock cranked up. (OK ... on like 5 or 6). Introvert or extrovert? I’m an introvert that does a good impersonation of an extrovert. Name one thing you are passionate about? Orangetheory. What is making you feel positive these days? My nieces and nephews and the funny, funny stuff they say. Favorite song to dance to? “I Feel It Coming” by The Wknd. Go-to karaoke song? “Mack the Knife” by Bobby Darin (I don’t brag about much, but I can sing the hell out of this song!). Last movie you saw? Or show that you binged? “The Comedy Store” documentary on Showtime. What was the last thing you treated yourself to? A new sofa (adulting). What’s next on your bucket list? Attending the three remaining professional tennis major tournaments. I’ve done the U.S. Open. Now on to Wimbledon, French Open and Australian Open. GR M AG .CO M

Tom Hillen Age: 33 Occupation: News anchor Looking for men or women: Men

Are you a texter or caller? I’m a texter 100%. Do you like to do the asking out or be asked out? I like to be asked out. How many dates before a first kiss? I would say two good dates before the first kiss, so first kiss on the third date. Ideal first date? My ideal first date (pre-COVID) would be pick me up, we go to a restaurant in Grand Haven and then we go to the beach with a bottle of champagne and we watch the sunset. If money and time were no issue what would you do to impress someone? I would get them on a private plane and fly them to the most beautiful island and have a private chef and steel drum band there to make us the most tasteful dinner and listen to the most tropical music as we had dinner. Who is your celebrity crush? Mathew Bomer. Do you believe in astrology? If so, what’s your sign? Leo. Favorite rom-com? “Crazy Rich Asians.” Would you rather do the traditional dinner date or something more unique? I would rather do the traditional dinner date. If you could go on a double date with any couple living or dead who would you choose? Celine Dion … I know that she isn’t coupled but she is the person I would most like to meet in this world. Favorite movie? “Air Force One.” Cat or dog person? I’m a dog person. Extrovert or introvert? I’m an extrovert. What is one thing you are passionate about? I’m passionate about clean water. Favorite song to dance to? “I’m Alive” by Celine Dion. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Morning person. What was the last thing you treated yourself to? An Apple watch.

4 fun first date options Instead of the traditional dinner date, try one of these activities.

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

Fowl Fowl footb feren Fowl cade itive love s active and g

Are you a texter or caller? Texter Do you like to do the asking out or be asked out? Asked out. What are your dealbreakers? Judgmental and a bad kisser. Ideal first date? He asks my input but makes the decisions (I’m really indecisive!). And, if live music is involved, I’m always a fan. Favorite location for a date in GR? Stella’s or SpeakEZ Lounge. Least favorite location for a first date in GR? Anywhere that closes before 9 or 10 p.m. Who is your celebrity crush? Chris Evans. What is your love language? Words of affirmation and receiving gifts. Do you believe in astrology? If so, what’s your sign? Yes! Libra sun, Gemini moon and rising. Favorite rom-com? “Crazy, Stupid Love” and “Two Can Play That Game.” Would you rather do the traditional dinner date or something more unique? More unique, but food must be involved! What makes a good impression on a first date? Having amazing taste in music and making me laugh. What makes a bad impression? Being rude to any staff or persons we encounter — and a cheap tipper. Number one quality you are looking for in a partner? Empathy. Do you have a daily mantra or quote you live by? If so, what is it? Think good thoughts, speak good works, take good actions. If you could go on a double date with any couple living or dead who would you choose? Bill Burr and Nia Renee Hill. Which fictional character do you relate to the most? All of the Golden Girls, lol. Favorite movie, book, album, and/or game? “Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen, “Almost Here” by The Academy Is... Where are you likely to be on a Saturday night? Dancing somewhere (in or out of the

Malissa Moore

Age: 31 Occupation: Campus recruiter Looking for men or women: Men

house, lol). Introvert or extrovert? Ambivert. What is making you feel positive these days? Reading stories of random acts of kindness. Favorite song to dance to? “Work” by Rihanna. Go-to karaoke song? “Tearin’ Up My Heart” by N'SYNC. What was the last thing you treated yourself to? A new pair of workout shoes. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Night. What are you kind of obsessed with these days? Documentaries on capitalist corruption. What’s next on your bucket list? Travel to Australia to see my favorite DJs.

FOWLING Fowling, the hybrid mix of football and bowling, is a different type of Friday night out. Fowling Warehouse, 6797 Cascade Road SE, hosts a competitive date night for those who love sports and a wholesome active experience. Grab a beer and game on!

Fowling Fowling, the hybrid mix of football and bowling, is a different type of Friday night out. Fowling Warehouse, 6797 Cascade Road SE, hosts a competitive date night for those who love sports and a wholesome active experience. Grab a beer and game on!

AXE THROWING Channel your inner lumberjack for this unique date idea. As Michiganders, we are no strangers to chopping wood. But have you ever thought of doing it on a date? Grand Rapids has multiple axe-throwing facilities — one being FlannelJax’s, 601 Lake Michigan Drive.

GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM Do it Ferris Bueller style. Take your next date downtown to Grand Rapids Art Museum, 601 Monroe Center St. NW, and stare at beautiful works of art and contemplate life with your partner. A romantic night out on the town.

DIY CLASS A night full of carbs, Italian herbs and yummy smells is what this date consists of. At The Local Epicurean, 1440 Wealthy St. SE, make homemade pasta from scratch at one of its private cooking classes while enjoying imported cheeses, soft baguettes and tasty cocktails.

GR M AG .CO M

Noah C. Nedd Age: 23 Occupation: Quality assurance and technical business writer/part-time master’s student (data analytics) Looking for men or women: Women

Are you a texter or caller? I’m gonna call you. Do you like to do the asking out or be asked out? Asked out. What are your dealbreakers? A lack of respect — doesn’t matter if it’s toward me, yourself or others. Any rules you set about how soon you text after a date? About a day; no strict rules though. Favorite location for a date in GR? Grand Rapids Public Museum. Least favorite location for a first date in GR? The movie theater. We can do that later. I want to get to know you. Who is your celebrity crush? Bill Nye. What is your love language? What’s the one where I receive a Gatorade shower after doing something romantic? Do you believe in astrology? If so, what’s your

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

sign? Idk Sarcophagus??? Next question. Favorite rom-com? “Amélie.” Number one quality you are looking for in a partner? Wisdom. Do you have a daily mantra or quote you live by? If so, what is it? “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” If you could go on a double date with any couple living or dead who would you choose? Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Which fictional character do you relate to the most? Peter Parker, Abed Nadir (“Community”), Scott Pilgrim. Where are you likely to be on a Saturday night? Playing games with my friends. Cat or dog person? Cats. Introvert or extrovert? Extrovert. Name one thing

you are passionate about? Social justice. What is making you feel positive these days? I saw someone walking a dog and a cat at the same time; pretty neat in my book. Favorite song to dance to? “More Than A Woman” (Bee Gees). Go-to karaoke song? “We Didn’t Start the Fire” (Billy Joel). Last movie you saw? Or show that you binged? “The Queen's Gambit.” What was the last thing you treated yourself to? Deep tissue massage and fascial stretch. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Morning person. Are you an outdoors or an indoors person? How cold is it? What’s next on your bucket list? Visit every continent.

Jessica Laidlaw

Age: 30 Occupation: Account executive Looking for men or women: Men

Are you a texter or caller? Both. What are your dealbreakers? Not having a job, living with parents, not wanting kids. Ideal first date? Something outdoors or public. Favorite location for a date in GR? The blue bridge to get that real GR feel. Do you have a code word you call to a friend to save you from a bad date? Yes, “This is bad.” How do you dress for a first date? Comfortable, but nice. Nothing too revealing and nothing too business. Do you consider yourself romantic? Yes, to an extent. What is your love language? Acts of service. Number one quality you are looking for in a partner? Motivation. Do you have a daily mantra or quote you live by? If so, what is it? Power of choice. If you could go on a double date with any couple living or dead, who would you choose? My closest friend and her significant other. Who would play you in a movie? Dakota Johnson. Favorite game? Golf. Cat or dog person? Dog. Introvert or extrovert? Introvert. What is making you feel positive these days? The constant reminder of the things I have to be grateful for such as a job, home and people who care about me. Favorite season and activity you enjoy? Summertime for fishing, kayaking and camping. Dream vacation? Switzerland. Favorite song to dance to? All songs, cuz I love to dance. What was the last thing you treated yourself to? A new kitchen table. Go-to conversation starter? “What’s a day in your life like?” What are you kind of obsessed with these days? Sushi, always. What’s next on your bucket list? Road trip in 2021 making pit stops across the country for sightseeing.

Pimple on the big date? We ask a dermatologist how to hide it. “Aside from using concealer, you could use over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide preparations to dry it up quickly if you don't have any medicine from your dermatologist! It doesn't work immediately but could help a night or two before the date,” said Dr. Kurt Ashack from Dermatology Associates of West Michigan. GR M AG .CO M

Are you a texter or caller? Caller. Do you like to do the asking out or be asked out? I like to do the asking. What are your dealbreakers? Faith and family are two of the most important aspects of my life, and I’d look for the same in a girlfriend. Any rules you set about how soon you text after a date? Not really. I think it’s nice to send a “had a good time” type of text shortly after the date (if that was the case). Ideal first date? Out to dinner, walk the pier and watch the sunset in Grand Haven, and then grab drinks or dessert. All about the threefold date. Favorite location for a date in GR? One Twenty Three Tavern — great atmosphere, good food and walking distance to other great spots in GR. If money and time were not an issue, what would you do to impress someone? Probably charter a jet to St. Thomas and then spend the day cruising around on a catamaran. Who is your celebrity crush? Jennifer Anniston during her “Friends” years. What is your love language? Quality time. Favorite rom-com? “Just Go with It.” What makes a good impression on a first date? Eye contact and engagement in the conversation. Asking questions and actually listening. What makes a bad impression? If one person talks too much or too little, or if the conversation stays too surface level. Number one quality you are looking for in a partner? Drive. I find it super attractive when someone is really driven to pursue what they’re passionate about. Do you have a daily mantra or quote you live by? If so what is it? “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Which fictional character do you relate to the most? Schmidt from “New Girl.” Name one thing you are passionate about? Adoption. I have two siblings who were adopted, so it’s a cause that’s near and dear to me. Go-to karaoke song? “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston. What was the last thing you treated yourself to? A long weekend trip to Florida. Are you a morning person or a night owl? I used to be such a night owl but am becoming more of a morning person. I love the feeling of accomplishing things on my to-do list right away in the morning. Are you an outdoors or an indoors person? Definitely an outdoors person. I love being on the water in the summer and love to ski in the winter. What’s next on your bucket list? Either skydiving or a tattoo.

Connor Dood Age: 25 Occupation: Internal auditor Looking for men or women: Women

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

Tegan VanLoo Age: 29 Occupation: Accounts receivable Looking for men or women: Open to both

Are you a texter or caller? Texter. Do you like to do the asking out or be asked out? I like to be asked out. What are your dealbreakers? Poor hygiene, ultra-religious, or wanting to have additional children. Ideal first date? A hike and then a picnic. Favorite location for a date in GR? I really enjoy walking around downtown near the water, over the blue bridge and through the catwalks. Least favorite location for a first date in GR? Any place where you have to yell to talk to your date. Who is your celebrity crush? Kristen Stewart/Bruce Willis circa 1995. What is your love language? Touch. Words of affirmation is a close second. Favorite rom-com? “Bride and Prejudice.” Yes, the Bollywood rendition of the classic by Jane Austen. Would you rather do the

traditional dinner date or something more unique? I'd prefer something more intimate like cooking dinner together or walking in the park. What makes a good impression on a first date? When someone talks about their passions or what they are currently working on for self-care or improvement. What makes a bad impression? When someone isn’t respecting my boundaries or has prejudiced attitudes. Number one quality you are looking for in a partner? Empathy. If you could go on a double date with any couple living or dead who would you choose? Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa. Which fictional character do you relate to the most? Fleabag. Favorite movie, book, album, and/or game? Favorite movie: “Jurassic Park.” And I can and have reread Neil Gaiman’s “American

Gods” multiple times. Introvert or extrovert? Introvert. Name one thing you are passionate about? Conservation. What is making you feel positive these days? Extra time spent with family. Favorite song to dance to? “Footloose.” Go-to karaoke song? I will never sing in public. Last movie you saw? Or show that you binged? I have binged all the seasons of the “Great British Baking Show.” What was the last thing you treated yourself to? Sushi. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Morning person — I rarely stay up past 10 p.m. Are you an outdoors or an indoors person? Outdoors. What are you kind of obsessed with these days? Weightlifting. Just getting into it but I'm really enjoying it. GR M AG .CO M

en ga Wi er sh ley

by A Ph ot os

ey ew eD lsi ha r

By C

New market with big ambitions joins the southeast community.

The renovated interior of the South East Market is able to fit a lot of products within a small footprint. The market is stocked with staple items like ketchup, beans, jam and more.

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

GR M AG .CO M

The renovated interior and wood and metal shelving give the market a modern feel that makes shopping enjoyable.

he South East Market sits just a short distance from the intersection of Kalamazoo Avenue and Hall Street on the southeast side of Grand Rapids, at 1220 Kalamazoo Ave. SE. The narrow brick storefront with two large windows and a red book cart out front labeled “free books” could easily be missed by someone walking by. It’s an unexpected find along this small stretch of roadway, with a run-down liquor store on one side and a row of homes on the other, but what this storefront lacks in space it makes up for in ambition. The South East Market is looking to not just feed its surrounding community but improve the health outcomes of its neighbors along the way. To understand the origins of the South East Market and its vision, you must go back several years to Alita Kelly’s experience with pregnancy. “When I was 20 years old, I gave birth to my daughter Willow, and during that time I had preeclampsia, which is pregnancy induced hypertension or high blood pressure, pretty much,” Kelly explained. Unfortunately, her doctors did not catch the symptoms during her pregnancy and Kelly found herself in the hospital giving birth when things began to get scary. “I was put on stroke watch and heart attack watch because my blood pressure was so out of control,” Kelly said. Kelly was being fed from the hospital’s heart healthy menu, but she said seeing items like mac and cheese and a burger among the listings was also concerning. “They were feeding me from this heart healthy menu at the hospital and I was alarmed with what was on it,” she said. The situation was a wakeup call for Kelly, who said she’d had no prior health issues aside from childhood obesity — and very little understanding of nutrition either. Kelly had a lot of thoughts racing through her mind during that scary time. “Having the understanding that I could stroke out or have a heart attack and wondering who is going to care for my baby? How did we get here? And what am I going to feed this little human? So, after having that traumatic experience in the hospital, that is when I started to do some research.” And the findings were grim.

 BY T H E N U M B E RS

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study conducted from 48

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

2007-2016, Black women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancyrelated causes than white women, and cardiomyopathy, thrombotic pulmonary embolism, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy contributed more to pregnancyrelated deaths among Black women than among white women. Other recent studies have reported Black women are up to four times more likely to die from pregnancyrelated health issues than their white counterparts. Diet plays a big part in these differences. An article published in Science Daily in March 2017 that looked at a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and led by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health noted that “healthy maternal diets have been linked to reduced risks of preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia and maternal obesity.” The study found that none of the women in any racial and socioeconomic group evaluated achieved recommendations set forth by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, but that Black, Hispanic and less-educated women consume a less nutritious diet than their better-educated, white counterparts in the weeks leading up to their first pregnancy. The article quotes lead author Lisa Bodnar, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., associate professor and vice chair of research in Pitt Public Health's Department of Epidemiology: “While attention should be given to improving nutritional counseling at doctor appointments, overarching societal and policy changes that help women to make healthy dietary choices may be more effective and efficient.” Black Americans face health disparities beyond pregnancy as well, including higher rates of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, childhood asthma and more due to myriad reasons. “I’ve had so many family members experience issues around diabetes or heart disease, and so, seeing the connection that this isn’t something that just happened to me, but it’s something that is likely to happen to my daughter and continue in my community if we don’t do something,” Kelly said. In addition to learning about the disparities Black women face during pregnancy and in general when they interact with health care providers and systems, Kelly also began to learn about

how better nutrition could have helped her. “I realized I’m one of many that have these really tough experiences and having a sound nutrition plan would have been one way for me to protect myself against having to operate within a medical system that, quite frankly, hasn’t done a good job of caring for us.”

 CHANGING COU RSE

Kelly began training as a dietician, which led her to jobs with Access of West Michigan and D.A. Blodgett St. John’s Home — managing nutrition programs. “In both spaces I was the first to hold the position, so I had a lot of autonomy and creativity as far as how to execute,” she said. “And that was really fun for me, and I was successful in both of those roles and growing nutritional quality for both programs.” While in these positions, though, Kelly became aware of another big problem — food waste. “I was able to see all of the food waste that is happening at the institutional level. It really broke my heart. Within the context of learning more about climate change and the dire situation we are in as earthlings, I decided to switch my focus not just on health and wellness of people but of the earth as a whole. So, now I work within the intersection of climate justice and food issues.” Kelly attended the University of Michigan’s Environmental Science program, earning her degree this past May. Her graduation coincided with the onset of COVID-19, which was hitting Black and brown communities the hardest. Again, Kelly could see how early nutrition could have helped communities of color lower their risk factors for becoming victims of COVID-19. She realized a preventive approach through using food as medicine could make a big impact. “So, at the core of our mission at South East Market, and our understanding and philosophy, is we understand that food is medicine,” Kelly said. “What we are doing at South East Market is we are trying to

encourage people to view food as medicine.” Kelly has been working to open the doors of the South East Market for several months now. In October, the market began a partnership with 30 families who agreed to spend $50 every week from October through December at the store. “These 30 customers are providing patience for us as we figure out how to run a grocery store,” Kelly said. “We are working with them and they are giving us a lot of feedback. We are providing these collections of food called produce bundles. It’s curated produce boxes, mostly working with local farms and seasonal food, and they spend $30 for a produce bundle every week and they can supplement that with additional things — meats, cheeses, milk, breads, chips, salsa, etc.”

“

So, at the core of our mission at South East Market, and our understanding and philosophy, is we understand that food is medicine.” — ALITA KELLY

GR M AG .CO M

Alita Kelly stands in the doorway of the South East Market.

acknowledge the importance of being as close to your food source as possible, and farmers markets are one step up from growing your own food. “We have our seasonal market from July through November, and we have a year-round bulk-buying program,” she said.

Our Kitchen Table works with the community to improve health.  BY CHARLSIE DEWEY SINCE 2003, Our Kitchen Table has worked with families on the southeast side of Grand Rapids to improve their access and knowledge around nutrition. Executive Director Lisa Oliver-King said while many would consider the southeast side a “food desert” due to its lack of a full-service grocery store like Meijer, the community does have several bodegas that carry fruits and vegetables as well as pantry systems that now are prioritizing nutritious food options over calories, and she believes many of the community’s residents are able to obtain healthy foods, so the issue her organization focuses on is helping them learn how to utilize these foods for optimal nutrition. To achieve this, the organization concentrates on three key programs: Program for Growth; Educate to Elevate; and Sense of Place. Program for Growth Our Kitchen Table works with parents and caregivers of students attending Grand Rapids Public Schools’ Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy in food growing and healthy eating education. “We work primarily with pre-K through first grade. … We also work with their student council around the issue of food,” said Oliver-King. Educate to Elevate Our Kitchen Table works with pregnant women, nursing moms, and moms with low birthweight babies and children three years or younger helping them to plan and prepare healthy foods. “We started that strategy as a mechanism to get children’s first food to be the healthiest it can be, while helping moms in those families to grow their own food and plan and prepare food,” Oliver-King said. Sense of Place Our Kitchen Table operates the Southeast Area Farmers Market. Oliver-King said that while the organization doesn’t consider the area a food desert it does

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

Hands-on programming Within these strategies, Our Kitchen Table offers its Food Diversity Project program and its Cook, Eat and Talk program. “The first two strategies include a food growing piece called the Food Diversity Project, where we help families to grow their own food,” Oliver-King said. “They are assigned a food gardening coach who visits them like visiting nurses. “Our first-year families grow from May-November and each week they receive a visit from the food garden coach who helps them to plant, grow, maintain, address challenges like pest management, things like that, harvesting food.” The Cook, Eat and Talk program is an optional program focused on helping families with meal planning and preparation through food demos and assigning the family a cooking coach. “So, they are growing food and learning how to incorporate that into their meal planning and preparation. It gives us the opportunity to help them create a food portfolio,” Oliver-King explained. The programming also focuses on teaching the government’s nutritional recommended daily allowance and how to reach those percentages with the food available, including by understanding the dietary needs being met by school cafeteria menus for families with school-age children. “They are matching that up to the school menu. I know I’m getting 10% of my calcium from the school menu; where am I getting my other 90%?” Oliver-King said. Financial assistance Even with the help families are receiving through programs like Our Kitchen Table there is a huge need for more help within the community, Oliver-King added. “95% of our patrons coming to the farmers market are shopping with food subsidies, and the families with our Program for Growth and Educate to Elevate are on some sort of subsidies, and the Growth program, they are also on the free and reduced lunch program. … I would say food insecurity is a huge issue based on who we see our market sales with.” She added, “Black families are dealing with a confluence of issues from food insecurity to lack of jobs, health care, educational attainment, social justice and more. All of these issues contribute to negative health and long-term illnesses.” COVID-19 has only added to the day-to-day stress within Black communities, but Oliver-King is quick to note the problems have been ignored for far too long. “We are in this situation because we haven’t been dealing with the injustices pre-COVID.” Oliver-King said she thinks the best strategy currently is to focus on food justice on multiple levels. “I hope your story will speak to diversification … you need all these different options for people.”

 FI NA NC I NG H EA L T H Y OUTCOMES

At the time of our conversation, Kelly was hoping to be able to officially open the doors of the South East Market by January, but she said it was all dependent on the store’s approval to accept EBT and SNAP transactions. Kelly said bad health outcomes are not just a part of not having access to healthy food, but also due to not being able to afford those foods. “Even when there has been access to healthy food in areas that experience health issues or dietary related issues at disproportionate rates, there is this other issue we can’t forget to talk about and it’s the financial challenges these communities are experiencing,” she said. “So, we have to talk about access and affordability if we are really going to talk about how to empower people to be healthy and well.” Once the store is fully open to the public, it will operate like any other smallscale market with a wide selection of produce and shelf stable items. Right now, the 700-square-foot store includes two refrigerators and a freezer stocked with items as well as wooden shelves piled with canned goods and more. Chalkboards with handwritten prices and product names abound throughout the store and it’s been fully renovated so everything looks fresh and new.

 S U P P O R T I N G B L A C KOWNED BUSINESSES

Kelly said one thing that sets South East Market apart from other markets is that the store focuses on procuring items from minority and women farmers and food makers. “If there is kale in the store, and there is kale that a Black farmer is selling, we’re going to buy that kale first,” she said. “Sometimes that is not the most convenient thing to do. We are going out of our way to support those farms.” Kelly notes that Black farms make up a shrinking percentage of the farms across the country. “At the beginning of the 1900s, it was one in seven farmers was a Black farmer and now 1.3% of farmers are farmers of color, from a leadership standpoint.” In Michigan, Black farmers make up a very small portion of the farms and most of them are located in the Detroit area. One local Black-owned farm is GR M AG .CO M

The South East Market expects to expand to a larger space in the near future.

Groundswell Community Farm, a 7-acre farm located in Zeeland. The farm was started by Bruce Michael Wilson in 2006 and has been a USDA Certified Organic farm since 2009. “As a grower, we raise 200 different varieties of 40 different vegetables,” Wilson said. “Our produce is distributed all throughout Ottawa and Kent counties.” Wilson is committed to helping provide food for the community — and specifically communities of color. “It might be one of the single most important efforts that farmers like me have ever embarked upon,” he said. “A real crisis is upon us. As Black people, if we do not take it seriously, our very existence could be in jeopardy. Food shortages and nutrientinefficient foods threatened already disenfranchised communities. There was a time when Black communities owned their own land and raised their own crops, but that time has long passed over 100 years ago. Land ownership is vitally important. Re-educating ourselves on what our ancestors taught us about the value of the land and growing on the land is paramount. The importance of growing and eating organically cannot be overstated.” Wilson said South East Market is already having a positive impact on his farm and praised Kelly for her “trailblazing” work. 52

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

“In just a few short weeks and the start of her soft opening she has improved my farm's bottom line,” he said. “How many people do you know that can pull off such a remarkable feat with such a profound message in a few short months by getting an actual grocery store up and going in an unlikely neighborhood?”

 F U T U R E E X PA N S I O N

Even as she is preparing to open the South East Market, Kelly also is preparing to expand. “In the next year, we will be moving to a larger space,” she said. The space will allow Kelly to provide even more grocery offerings, as well as a commercial kitchen and space for food entrepreneurs. She hopes to use the additional space to help introduce the community to produce they may not be familiar with and to turn would-be food waste into prepared meals. She also will work with food entrepreneurs by offering them opportunities to get their products into the hands of shoppers. Right now, Kelly is looking for additional investors to help her fully realize her dreams for the South East Market. In the long-term, she hopes the South

East Market can play a part in changing the nutritional foundation of the community in which she lives and, in turn, have an impact on the rates of disease within the community and improve the neighborhood’s health outcomes. “We want to share with our community that prevention isn’t just for rich people that have all the grocery stores in the world, it is attainable for our community as well and it starts with us,” she said. “As someone who lives here … my family is included in those stats, so I feel passionate about it. I don’t want to be a part of those numbers and I don’t want my neighbors to be a part of those numbers. I felt like I had the responsibility because of my privilege and education and social capital to carry out this project.”

CANNABIS CONNECTION

the medical cannabis industry has been abuzz in Michigan for several years now, but since adult recreational cannabis use became legal in the state in 2018 and the first commercial stores began opening, the industry has boomed to a new level of acceptance. With medical and recreational and combined, it’s already a multi-milliondollar industry and is projected to reach billions of dollars as it continues to mature. What’s more, it has the potential to positively affect a variety

of commercial enterprises and have far-reaching influences on business approaches and developments. A substance that was once taboo, often the theme of bad after-school specials, internet memes, cautionary tales, and raucous stoner films, cannabis has emerged in Michigan as a darling that could not only contribute to the wellbeing in the community, but also boost local economies through tax revenues while creating jobs in agriculture, manufacturing, retail, and

the legal sector. In this section, we’re featuring established experts who have made their own space in the industry, whether it’s cultivating, developing, and selling products; providing access to quality seeds from reputable breeders; serving as legal advisers to help business owners navigate the complexities of licensing and regulations; or building a community to connect industry leaders for the exchange of information and ideas.■

DISPENSARY

TYPE

ADDRESS

3Fifteen Michigan Ave. Curbside

1525 Michigan Ave. W., Battle Creek, MI 49307

B C

Joyology Grand Rapids

3769 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512

Bella Sol Wellness Centers

1845 Peck St., Muskegon, MI 49441

D E F

Cannaisseur

3200 N. East St., Lansing, MI 48906

Cannamazoo

2233 N. Burdick St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Compassionate Care By Design

401 N. Sage St., Kalamazoo, MI 49006

G H

Doja

4203 E. Centre Ave., Portage, MI 49002

Edgewood Wellness

134 E. Edgewood Blvd., Lansing, MI 48911 1213 Phillips Ave. SW Grand Rapids, MI 49507 616-208-9934, fluresh.com/shop

I J K L

Gage Lansing

3425 S. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Lansing, MI 48910

Good Intentions

3219 Blue Star Hwy., Saugatuck, MI 49453

Green Koi Provisioning Center

435 Blue Star Hwy., Douglas, MI 49406

Herbology Kalamazoo

1986 S. Sprinkle Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49048

Homegrown Cannabis Company

5025 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing, MI 48910

O P

KKind

521 E. Mosel Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49004

Lake Effect

8314 Portage Rd., Portage, MI 49002

Lume Cannabis Co. Kalamazoo

3406 Stadium Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49008

R S T

Meds Cafe

1965 W. Main St., Lowell, MI 49331

Old 27 Wellness

2905 N. East St., Lansing, MI 48906

Park Place Provisionary

1922 Park St., Muskegon, MI 49441

U V W X Y

Pharmhouse Wellness

831 Wealthy St. SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Pure Options

5815 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing, MI 48911

Skymint

11999 Cleveland St., Ste. A, Nunica, MI 49448

Stateside Wellness

1900 E. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, MI 48912

The Refinery

3650 Alvan Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49001

The WellFlower

217 Maple St., Big Rapids, MI 49307

Exit 9 Provisionary

12261 Cleveland St., Nunica, MI 49448

Z AA

= medical dispensary = recreational dispensary

C A U

I B

R D S X W J N V H

O E M Q Y P G

Special Advertising Section

Fluresh 1213 Phillips Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49507 | 616-208-9934 | fluresh.com

LURESH OFFERS PREMIUM , CURATED CANNABIS PRODUCTS TO

both medical patients and recreational consumers, with traditional items such as flower and edibles, as well as unique offerings including its own Fluresh Fast-Acting Drink Enhancers and Be Well Softgels. When entering the Fluresh storefront, you can expect to be greeted by an expert cannabis adviser who will help navigate the wide variety of options and find the best products for your individual needs. The team at Fluresh knows the cannabis experience is different for everyone and takes a “no-one-size-fits-all” approach. They seek to understand the physical and emotional outcomes you desire so they can match customers with the right products for their lifestyle and preferences. With cannabis, the possibilities are endless, and ever nuanced. Whether you’re a patient or a recreational consumer, the Fluresh team will partner with you to enrich your experience and improve your well-being. 

Seed Cellar 1620 E. Michigan Ave., Jackson, MI 49202 | 517-879-2801 | seedcellar.com

RIGINALLY STARTED AS THE J ACKSON C OUNTY C OMPASSION Club in 2012 — a resource for medical patients seeking clean medicine — The Seed Cellar is now one of the largest cannabis seed banks in the United States, with seeds from all over the world, as well as from Michigan. Located in Jackson and open for in-store shopping as well as online ordering, the company stocks more than 2,000 different strains from 90-plus quality, reputable breeders. Seed Cellar carries a wide variety of genetics, from today’s newest and most popular strains to the old-school classic landraces. Seed Cellar is a seed-only retailer and the seeds are sold as adult souvenirs only. Though cannabis laws vary by state, it is legal to order seed no matter where you live in the U.S. because the seeds contain no THC. 

The Business of Marihuana.®

WE ARE MICHIGAN’S CANNABIS ATTORNEYS.

Established in 2009, we were Michiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first cannabis business law firm. Founded and led by pioneer Denise Pollicella, our Firm has been advocating for Michiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cannabis industry and providing comprehensive legal counsel and representation to cannabis businesses for over a decade. We assist cannabis business start-ups in in everything from structuring and licensing to permitting and real estate transactions. Once licensed, we continue to create longterm partnerships with our industry clients to help them stay compliant and growing. With only one call, our clients can access intellectual property, litigation, and labor & employment expertise. As a full service business law firm, we continue to expand our talent, services and locations, with offices coming to Troy and Grand Rapids in 2021. With over 45 years of combined legal experience, Cannabis Attorneys of Michigan continues to provide leadership, education and guidance to the industry at large, all with a dedicated focus on the lasting success of our client. WWW.CANNABISATTORNEYSOFMICHIGAN.COM | PH: 1-800-413-1669

Cannabis Advertorial // GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE

Pollicella, PLLC 4312 E. Grand River Ave., Howell, MI 48843 | 800-413-1669 | cannabisattorneysofmichigan.com

A. POLLICELLA FOUNDED CANNABIS ATTORNEYS OF MICHIGAN 2009 with the goal of providing focused expertise to the growing and ever-evolving Michigan cannabis industry. With 25 years of private and corporate practice, as managing partner, she assists clients with cannabis licensing and regulatory compliance, along with business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, labor and employment issues, litigation, regulatory and corporate law. She and her team at Cannabis Attorneys of Michigan provide specialized cannabis industry legal services, from selecting and creating the appropriate business structure, to securing a state license, to navigating the complexities of local ordinances. Once a business is off the ground, they also apply their breadth of experience to continue to provide clients with valuable support, resources, and programs. In addition to regularly writing, speaking, and educating on Michigan’s cannabis laws, Pollicella lobbied for and helped craft the legislation that is now the Medical Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act. She was an inaugural member of the State Bar of Michigan Marijuana Law Section and is a VIP Member of the Small Business Association of Michigan, and is a panelist on Focus on Business, which airs weekly ENISE IN

on WLNS-TV in Lansing. As a passionate advocate for cannabis business start-ups and the industry as a whole, Pollicella continues to be a leading influence in policy development in Michigan. Though their emphasis is in addressing the needs of cannabis industry, Pollicella’s Cannabis Attorneys of Michigan is a full-service business law firm with a solid foundation of knowledge pertaining business law. The firm is equipped to handle all business legal needs, not just the cannabis aspects. Centrally located in Livingston County, with plans to open two additional Michigan locations in 2021, Cannabis Attorneys of Michigan has seven full-time attorneys and a dedicated support staff to serve every corner of Michigan’s cannabis business community. 

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE // Cannabis Advertorial

Sensi Connects 616-414-0890 | sensiconnects.com

CONNECTS, CREATED BY JAMIE COOPER, STARTED OUT AS CannaBIZ Connection, but quickly shifted to become a two part model: Sensi Connects, an online community for B2B cannabis industry professionals and Sensi Magazine, a resource that connects cannabis businesses with consumers. Sensi Connects initially hosted weekly, in-person networking events where business owners could meet physically and build relationships with other entrepreneurs and service providers in the cannabis industry. When the pandemic hit last year, they pivoted without missing a beat to virtual events and have not slowed down since. Today, it continues to be a space to exchange with other likeminded leaders, and a vehicle for empowering each other to build stronger connections, share knowledge, and support one another. Cooper says the word “community” describes not only the closeknit circle that has emerged from the creation of Sensi Connects, but also the areas throughout Michigan and nationwide that the network is building up, through tax revenues, job creation, accessibility, and more. As a membership-based program, Sensi Connects is more than just a directory; it’s a facilitating partner that helps cannabis ENSI

business owners and professionals navigate the nuances and strict regulations of this emerging industry. Cooper says members understand that existing in a brand-new space has its challenges and opportunities. Working together, they introduce one another to potential prospects, strategic partners, and the resources they need to be successful, whether equipment, cultivators, legal counsel, or marketing support. Sensi Connects thrives in part from the de-stigmatization of cannabis in the last five-plus years. “I’m proud of the work that we have done to open up more minds to the use and benefits of cannabis and the opportunities that it can provide,” Cooper says. “Our challenges are far from over, but, together, we’ve helped this community come a long way.” 

MICHIGAN

COMMUNITY - CULTURE - CONNECTION Sensi Media Group is one of the fastest-growing nationally recognized media enterprises in North America. We are well known as an industry leader and culture creator whose core values elevate people and cultivate community. We publish print and digital magazines, create community events, and connect people in local markets with a focus on fun-loving, healthy lifestyles.

SENSIMAG.COM/MICHIGAN

MEET - CONNECT - COLLABORATE

MICHIGAN

Virtual B2B Speed Networking for Cannabis Business Professionals

Weekly on Wednesdays 6 p.m. EST PRESENTED BY:

SENSICONNECTS.COM

dine / estau ants

dine

OUR STAFF'S GUIDE TO THE AREA'S BEST EATERIES For any additions or changes: // Please email cdewey@geminipub.com or write to Grand Rapids Magazine, c/o Dining Guide, 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

Downtown GR ANGEL’S THAI CAFÉ Extensive Thai fare. Menu includes your-choice stir-fry option. Vegetarian friendly. No alcohol. Open daily. // 136 Monroe Center NW, 454-9801. angelsthaicafe.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ APERITIVO A wine bar with a small menu that includes cheese and charcuterie plates and monthly sandwich specials. The retail section includes tinned fish, which can be enjoyed on-site with pickled veggies, cultured butter and Field & Fire bread. It is located within the Grand Rapids Downtown Market. Open Daily. // 435 Ionia Ave. SW, 259-7045. aperitivogr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ ART CARIBBEAN FUSION CUISINE Featuring a Caribbean menu with items like empanadas, croquettes, mofongos, Cuban sandwiches and more. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 55 Monroe Center NW, 724-4370. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ BANGKOK TASTE CUISINE Thai fare with lunch buffet and kids menu. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 15 Jefferson Ave SE, 356-5550. bangkoktastegr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ BEIJING KITCHEN Hunan, Szechuan and Cantonese cuisines. Lunch and dinner specials. No alcohol. Open daily. // 342 State St SE, 458-8383. beijingkitchenmi.com. Lunch (SunFri), Dinner $-$$

2020 DINING AWARD WINNER BISTRO BELLA VITA Big-city casual; modern French and Italian cuisine, locally sourced and prepared over a wood fire. Mammoth martini bar, nice wine selection. Open daily. // 44 Grandville Ave SW, 222-4600. bistrobellavita.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ BOBARINO’S AT THE B.O.B. Grill on second floor of The B.O.B. offers everything from wood-fired pizza to upscale entrées. Lunch menu has deli sandwiches, salads, burgers. Full bar. Outdoor seating. Closed Sun. // 20 Monroe Ave NW, 356-2000. thebob.com/bobarinospizza. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ BRICK & PORTER Appetizers, burgers, salads, sandwiches and a nice

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

selection of entrées; 20 beers on tap (“the darker, the better”). Open daily. // 47 Monroe Center NW, 226-6928. brickandportergr.com. Brunch (Sat-Sun), Lunch, Dinner $-$$ BRICKYARD TAVERN Located inside the historic Boardwalk Building, BrickYard Tavern offers a varied menu with items including a selection of burgers, sandwiches and entrées such as beer-battered salmon and chips, fish tacos and rib eye. Enjoy cocktails and 24 beers on tap. Open daily. // 940 Monroe Ave NW, 805-3280. brickyardtaverngr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ BULL’S HEAD TAVERN Large selection of appetizers, soups and salads. Entrées include pasta, fish, chicken and steak along with burgers and sandwiches. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 188 Monroe Ave NW, 454-3580. thebullsheadtavern.com. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $$-$$$ THE CHOP HOUSE Aged prime beef, seafood, pork, lamb chops, chicken and more. Downstairs is La Dolce Vita dessert and cigar bar. Closed Sun. // 190 Monroe Ave NW, 451-6131. thechophousegrandrapids.com. Dinner $$$ CITY BUILT BREWING CO. Taproom featuring a variety of craft beer. Plus, Puerto Rican-inspired appetizers, small plates, entrées, soups and salads. Closed Mon. // 820 Monroe Ave NW, 805-5755. citybuiltbrewing.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ CINCO DE MAYO Offers the usual Mexican fare plus carnitas and steak asada. Full bar. Open daily. // 114 Monroe Center NW, 719-2401. cincodemayogr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ CITYSEN LOUNGE Soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers and small-plate creations. Beer and wine; happy hour 4-7 pm. Open daily. // CityFlatsHotel, 83 Monroe Center NW, 6081725. cityflatshotel.com/location/grand-rapids. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$ COTTAGE BAR Longtime favorite since 1927. Famous Cottage burgers and fries, signature chilis and more. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 18 LaGrave Ave SE, 454-9088. cottagebar.biz. Lunch, Dinner $ DIVANI European-inspired food includes small plates for sharing and a variety of entrées. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 15 Ionia Ave SW, 774-9463. divanigr.com. Dinner $$-$$$ FLANAGAN’S Downtown Irish pub features imported beers, entrées with Irish influence. Frequent live music. Open Daily. // 139 Pearl St NW, 454-7852. flanagansgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $

FORTY PEARL A wine bar serving oysters, cured meats and cheeses, baked goods and sweets, soups and salads, shareables, sandwiches, rice bowls and entrées like salmon, seared scallops and Cornish hen. Open daily. // 40 Pearl St. NW, 608-7741. fortypearl.com. Lunch, Dinner $$$ FOUNDERS BREWING CO. Spacious taproom, serpentine bar and live music Thu and Sat. Menu features appetizers, deli sandwiches. Outdoor beer garden. Open daily. // 235 Grandville Ave SW, 776-1195. foundersbrewing.com. Lunch, Dinner $ FRIESIAN GASTRO PUB A cozy neighborhood eatery offering comfort food items with an eclectic twist. Menu items include handhelds like the harissa hot chicken sandwich and vegan Rueben, as well as entrées including ramen bowls and Korean short ribs. Full bar. Patio and rooftop deck. Open daily. // 720 Michigan St NE, 825-3001. friesiangr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ GILLY’S SMOKEHOUSE Twelve rotating craft beers from The B.O.B’s Brewery paired with smokehouse fare, including smoked beef brisket, Amish chicken, pork butt and more. Closed Sun-Mon. // 20 Monroe Ave NW, 356-2000. thebob.com/gillysrestaurant. Dinner $-$$ GINZA SUSHI & RAMEN BAR Wide selection of authentic Japanese cuisine, sushi, ramen, poke bowls, hibachi dinners, appetizers, soups and salad. Open daily. Catering available. // 1015 Michigan St NE, 272-4116. ginzasushiramen.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ GP SPORTS Sports bar and restaurant. Menu features create-yourown pizzas and burgers, salads and sandwiches. Open daily. // Amway Grand Plaza, 187 Monroe Ave NW, 776-6495. amwaygrand.com/dining/gp-sports. Lunch, Dinner $$ GRAND RAPIDS BREWING CO. Organic brews, hard cider, wine and spirits. Farm-totable menu includes sharable plates, sausages, soups, salads, sandwiches, entrées. Open daily. // 1 Ionia Ave SW, 458-7000. grbrewingcompany.com. Lunch (SatSun), Dinner $-$$ GRAND RAPIDS GARAGE BAR AND GRILL “All-American grub” includes burgers, nachos, sandwiches, soups and salads, full bar. Live entertainment Fri and Sat. Open daily. / 819 Ottawa Ave NW, 4540321. garagebargr.com. Lunch, Dinner $ GRAND WOODS LOUNGE Eclectic menu with upscale comfort foods. Live entertainment, pool tables, spacious full bar. Yearround alfresco dining with fireplace. Open daily. // 77 Grandville Ave SW, 451-4300. grandwoodslounge.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

HERITAGE HILL PIZZA Offers traditional, stuffed and specialty pizzas. No alcohol. Open daily with a few tables for dining in. // 340 State St SE, 742-4773. grandrapidspizza.net. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

LUNA TAQUERIA Y COCINA Upscale Latin American menu pairs with locally sourced meat and produce. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 64 Ionia Ave SW, 288-6340. lunagr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

2020 BEST NEW RESTAURANT THE HERITAGE GRCC culinary students prepare gourmet dishes from steaks to vegan. Menu changes weekly. Wine and beer. Open Tue-Fri during school year. // Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St NE, 234-3700. grcc.edu/heritage. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ HONG KONG EXPRESS Szechuan and Cantonese. All-you-can-eat lunch buffet. No alcohol. Open daily. // 150 E Fulton St, 235-2888. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ JAMAICAN DAVE’S Chicken, goat, oxtail, beef, fish and vegetarian fare in Jamaican style. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 530 S Division Ave, 458-7875. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $ J. GARDELLA’S TAVERN Massive full bar and gargantuan menu includes hearty appetizers, salads, burgers, entrées. Three floors of seating. Closed Sun. // 11 Ionia Ave SW, 459-8824. jgardellastavern.com. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $ JUDSON’S AT THE B.O.B. Award-winning steakhouse offers steaks, seafood and chops. Notable wine list. Closed Sun. // 20 Monroe Ave NW, 356-2000. thebob.com/judsonssteakhouse. Dinner $$$ THE KITCHEN BY WOLFGANG PUCK Comfort fare and global classics in a casual atmosphere overlooking the Grand River. Menu includes appetizers, gourmet pizzas, salads and entrées. Full bar. Open daily. // Amway Grand Plaza, 187 Monroe Ave NW, 776-3230. amwaygrand.com/dining/the-kitchen-bywolfgang-puck. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ LEO’S Fresh seafood, soups, salads and more in elegant yet casual atmosphere. Early dinner menu 4:30-6 pm MonFri. Closed Sun. // 60 Ottawa Ave NW, 454-6700. leosrestaurant.com. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $$-$$$

2020 DINING AWARD WINNER LINEAR Riverfront eatery featuring seasonal menu with fresh modern American fare and outdoor-seating options; plus, a display of rotating works by local artists. Full bar. Closed Mon. // 1001 Monroe Ave NW, 200-4343. linearrestaurant.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ LITTLEBIRD Café-style restaurant featuring made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch, including a full coffee menu, house-made sodas and egg creams, and pastries. Full bar. Open daily. // 95 Monroe Center NW, 419-4168. thelittlebirdgr.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Tue-Sat) $

MARGAUX A contemporary French bistro. Fine wines and cocktails. Alfresco dining overlooking the Grand River. Open daily. // JW Marriott, 235 Louis St NW, 242-1448. ilovethejw.com/dining. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$$ MAX’S SOUTH SEAS HIDEWAY A tiki-themed restaurant that includes a raw bar, hot appetizers, salads, sides, land and sea dishes, and vegan options. Appetizers include ceviche and puhahana rock shrimp, and entrées include a poke bowl, citrus-glazed faroe and an island lobster roll. Full bar. Open daily. // 58 Ionia Ave SW, 551-0016. maxstiki.com. D $$-$$$ MDRD Overlooking the Grand River from its location on the 27th floor of the Amway Grand Plaza, this restaurant serves modern Spanish cuisine including tapas and paella. Reservations available. Closed Sun and Mon. // 187 Monroe Ave. NW, 776.6425. amwaygrand.com/dining. Dinner $$$ *MDRD was in the midst of rescheduling its grand opening at the time of print. Please visit its website to ensure it is open before visiting.

2020 DINING AWARD WINNER MERTENS PRIME French-inspired, upscale dining on restored historic site of original, early-20th-century-era hotel. Steaks, chops, seafood, pasta, entrées and small plates. Local wine options. Open daily. // 35 Oakes St SW, 551-1713. mertensgr.com. Brunch (Sat-Sun), Breakfast (Mon-Fri), Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $-$$ MEXO Features tequila/mezcal bar and a modern touch on classic pre-Hispanic foods of Mexico. Full bar. Open daily. // 118 E Fulton St, 828-4123. mexogr.com. Breakfast (Sun), Lunch, Dinner $$ MOJO’S DUELING PIANO BAR & RESTAURANT Lively downtown spot opens for dinner at 5 pm Wed-Sat. Appetizers, sandwiches, salads, flatbread pizzas, full bar. Shows start at 8 pm Wed-Fri, 7 pm Sat. Closed Sun-Tue. // 180 Monroe Ave NW, 776-9000. mojospianobar.com. Dinner (Wed-Sat) $$-$$$ ONE TRICK PONY GRILL & TAPROOM Eclectic menu with vegetarian, Mexican and European cuisines. Dine alfresco on street-front, dog- friendly patio. Full bar. Closed Mon. // 136 E Fulton St, 2357669. onetrick.biz. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ ONE TWENTY THREE TAVERN Part of Studio Park, One Twenty Three Tavern offers starters, small plates and handhelds, large plates, and a kids menu. Offering elevated American fare, including a fried chicken sandwich, jackfruit carnitas, meatloaf, veggie

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

meatballs, quinoa bowl and more. Full bar. Open daily. // 123 Ionia Ave SW. 123tavern.com. Lunch, Dinner $$$

2020 DINING AWARD WINNER OSTERIA ROSSA Casual Italian-inspired cuisine with Michigan roots from executive chef/owner Chris Perkey. Wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta. Full bar. Open daily. // 16 Monroe Center NE, 988-9350. osteriarossa.com. Lunch (MonFri), Dinner $-$$ PALACE OF INDIA Indian cuisine with a sizeable menu including vegetarian selections. Lunch buffet 11-3. Open daily. // 138 E Fulton St, 913-9000. palaceofindiarestaurant.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PARSLEY MEDITERRANEAN GRILLE Appetizers, salads, soups, pitas, combos. Catering available. No alcohol. Open daily. // 80 Ottawa Ave NW, 776-2590. parsleymg.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PIND INDIAN CUISINE A fine-dining Indian restaurant offering traditional dishes, such as tandoori, biryani, chicken tikka masala, malai kofta and samosas with gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. No alcohol. Open daily. // 241 W Fulton St, 805-4767. pindgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$$ RESERVE Wine bar offers extensive by-the-glass selections and culinary options to match, including charcuterie. Closed Sun. // 201 Monroe Ave NW, 855-9463. reservegr.com. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $$-$$$ ROAM BY SAN CHEZ BISTRO The San Chez Bistro team introduces global street food, including cuisine from China, Morocco, Spain, France, Poland, U.K., Indonesia and more. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 250 Monroe Ave NW, 288-9129. roambysanchez.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$ ROCKWELL REPUBLIC Diverse menu emphasizes local ingredients from sushi to comfort food. Upper-level outdoor seating. Full bar. Open daily. // 45 S Division Ave, 551-3563. rockwellsrepublic.com. Dinner $$-$$$ RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE Classic American steakhouse in the Amway Grand Plaza. Serves alcohol. Closed Sun. // 187 Monroe Ave NW, 776-6426. amwaygrand.com/dining/ruthschris-steak-house. Lunch, Dinner $$$ SAN CHEZ BISTRO Spanish fare focusing on tapas-style small plates; sides and entrées. Wine and beer list includes Spanish varieties and sherry. Open daily. // 38 W Fulton St, 774-8272. sanchezbistro.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ SANDY POINT BEACH HOUSE GR Originating in West Olive, dishes include “traditional beach house favorites,” such as prime beef burgers, fresh halibut, steak and frites, and roasted chicken and GR M AG .CO M

dine / estau ants

mussels. Full bar. Open daily. // 822 Ottawa Ave. NW, 828-1118, sandypointbeachhouse.com. Brunch (Sat-Sun), Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ SLOWS BAR-B-Q Detroit-based restaurant offers extensive menu, including barbecue, sandwiches and sides. Michigan and national craft beers on tap. Open daily. // Downtown Market, 435 Ionia Ave SW, 454-1588. slowsbarbq.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ SOCIAL HOUSE A casual pub serving American-style food. Menu features a variety of offerings: starters such as veggie, meat and cheese shared platters, goat cheese fritters, spicy tuna wontons and avocado toast; soups and salads; burgers and sandwiches; and pizza. Full bar. Closed Mon. // 25 Ottawa Ave. SW, 551-1412. socialhousegr.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$$ SPARKS BBQ Offering barbecued meats by the pound, à la carte, sandwiches, appetizers, salads, sides, specialty entrées and desserts. Sparks BBQ originated in Traverse City. Full bar. Open daily. // 15 Ionia Ave. SW, Suite 140, 888-2170. home.eatsparksbbq.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ SPEAKEZ LOUNGE Casual pub setting with eclectic menu, including vegan and gluten-free. Creative starters, soups, salads, entrées (after 4 pm). Full bar. Open daily. // 600 Monroe Ave NW, 458-3125. speakezlounge.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ STELLA’S LOUNGE Award-winning stuffed burgers, plus vegan and vegetarian items. Full bar, known for its whiskey selection. Open daily. // 53 Commerce Ave SW, 7424444. stellasgr.com. Lunch (Fri-Sun), Dinner $-$$ TAVERN ON THE SQUARE Tapas-style fare, plus house specialties. Patio seating. Full bar, happy hour 3-7 Mon-Fri. Open daily. // 100 Ionia Ave SW, 456-7673. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ Z’S BAR & RESTAURANT Sports-themed eatery known for its BBQ ribs. Soups, salads, sandwiches, entrées. Carry-out available. Open daily. // 168 Louis Campau Promenade NW, 4543141. zsbar.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

West Side ANDO SUSHI + BAR Asian fusion eatery featuring small plates, bentos, rice bowls, raw bar, noodles, soup, salad and more. Wide selection of wine, plus local, domestic and international beer. Full bar. // 415 Bridge St NW, 608-0789. andosushi.com. Lunch, Dinner $$

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

BLUE DOG TAVERN West Michigan craft brews on tap. Good selection of tots, dogs and burgers. Open daily. // 638 Stocking Ave NW, 608-6050. bluedogtaverngr.com. Lunch, Dinner $

LONG ROAD DISTILLERS Craft, small-batch distillery featuring variety of housemade snacks, sandwiches and entrées. Open daily. // 537 Leonard St NW, 228-4924. longroaddistillers.com. Brunch (Sat-Sun), Dinner $-$$

BROADWAY BAR & GRILL Neighborhood bar known for burgers and holiday decorations, especially at Christmas. Outdoor grilling during summer. Hours change seasonally. // 740 Broadway Ave SW, 454-0565. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $

MAGGIE’S KITCHEN Mexican fare in café setting, cafeteria-style ordering. No alcohol. Closed Sun and Mon. // 636 Bridge St NW, 458-8583. Facebook. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $

BUTCHER’S UNION Meat-and-whiskey-centric gastro pub. Full bar. Outdoor seating available. // 438 Bridge St NW, 551-1323. butchersuniongr.com. Brunch (Sun), Lunch, Dinner $$ EL GRANJERO Mexican fare from steak and shrimp to menudo on weekends. No alcohol but tasty virgin coladas. Open daily. // 950 Bridge St NW, 458-5595. Facebook. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $ EL SOMBRERO Offers “the original” wet burrito. Weekly specials. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 527 Bridge St NW, 451-4290. elsombrerorestaurantmi.com. Lunch, Dinner $ FRATELLI’S KITCHEN & BAR Italian cuisine based on family recipes from Sicily with a “modern twist.” Full service bar. Open daily. // 443 Bridge St NW, Suite 2. 389-4963. fratellisgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ HARMONY HALL West Side brewpub with a German beer hall atmosphere serves comfort food including sloppy joes, grilled cheese sandwiches, hamburgers and a variety of dishes based on French fries, including poutine. Sausage menu. Vegan and vegetarian options for every dish on the menu. Open Thurs.-Sat. // 401 Stocking Ave NW, 2339186. harmonybeer.com/harmony-hall. Dinner $-$$ THE HOLIDAY BAR Established in 1905, menu features appetizers and sandwiches. Seating includes 40-foot horseshoe bar, tables and a beer garden in warm months. Open daily. // 801 Fifth St NW, 456-9058. theholidaybargr.com. Lunch, Dinner $ JOLLY PUMPKIN PIZZERIA & BREWERY Dexter-based brewery offers salads and sandwiches in addition to pizza. Kids menu available. Open daily. // 428 Bridge St NW, 419-4676. jollypumpkin.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ THE KNICKERBOCKER – NEW HOLLAND BREWING Craft brewery featuring a variety of locally sourced shared plates, sandwiches, soups, pizzas, barbecue and more. Open daily. // 417 Bridge St NW, 3455642. newhollandbrew.com/knickerbocker. Brunch (Sun), Lunch, Dinner $-$$

THE MITTEN BREWING CO. Vintage baseball-themed nanobrewery pairs handcrafted beers with gourmet pizzas. Open daily. // 527 Leonard St NW, 608-5612. mittenbrewing.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ MONARCHS’ CLUB Starters, sausages, hot dogs, panini, Italian beef sandwiches and Grand Rapids Stackers. Michigan beer on draft. Open daily. // 646 Stocking Ave NW, 2339799. monarchsclubcornerbar.com. Lunch, Dinner $ ONE BOURBON Trendy, two-level restaurant serving creative shareable plates, burgers, hot sandwiches and entrées. Full bar features more than 120 whiskies. Closed Sun-Mon. // 608 Bridge St NW, 608-5766. onebourbongr.com. Dinner $-$$ O’TOOLE’S PUBLIC HOUSE Pub grub includes appetizers, sandwiches and burgers served on a mountain of fries. Open daily. // 448 Bridge St NW, 742-6095. otoolesgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PEARL STREET GRILL Bright, contemporary restaurant features diverse menu in downtown Holiday Inn. Full bar. Open daily. // 310 Pearl St NW, 235-1342. higrdt.com/dining/ pearl-street-grill. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$ SALVATORE’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT Sicilian and southern Italian fare. Separate sports bar; patio seating. Food, beer and wine available to go. Delivery and catering. Open daily. // 654 Stocking Ave NW, 454-4280. salvatoresgr.com. Lunch (MonFri), Dinner $-$$

2020 RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR THE SOVENGARD Midwest heart meets New Nordic spirit. This cozy West Side farm-to-table restaurant focuses on seasonal and local sourcing and offers two separate dining spaces/ menus with an outdoor biergarten. Closed Mon. and Tues. Open for brunch Sat. and Sun. Reservations accepted. // 443 Bridge St NW, 214-7207. sovengard.com. Dinner $-$$ TWO SCOTTS BARBECUE Authentic barbecue smoked in-house daily with homemade sides and sauces. Features draft root beer and weekly specials. Catering and food truck available. Closed Sun. // 536 Leonard St NW, 608-6756. twoscottsbbq.com. Lunch $-$$

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

WESTSIDE SOCIAL “Reimagined” American-style tavern with locally sourced, house-made appetizers, burgers, seafood and other entrées. Full bar. Happy hour specials available Mon-Fri. Open daily. // 2802 Lake Michigan Dr NW, 453-5877. westside.social. Lunch (Tue-Sun), Dinner $-$$

Uptown BOMBAY CUISINE Traditional Indian dishes with spices and flavors from northern India. Full bar. Open daily. Takeout available. // 1420 Lake Dr SE, 456-7055. eastownbombaycuisine.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ BREWERY VIVANT Beer and food in tradition of French and Belgian country dishes. Housed in a renovated funeral chapel. Most dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. Open daily. // 925 Cherry St SE, 719-1604. breweryvivant.com. Lunch (Sat-Sun), Dinner $$-$$$ BRICK ROAD PIZZA Traditional, gourmet and vegan pizzas (glutenfree crusts available); also soups, salads, pastas, sandwiches. Sun Brunch Bar. Full bar. Closed Mon. // 1017 Wealthy St SE, 719-2409. brickroadpizza.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ BROWN BUTTER CREPERIE & CAFÉ Locally sourced, made-from-scratch sweet and savory crepes and liege waffles. // 1436 Wealthy St SE, 2885038. brownbuttercrepes.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Wed-Sat) $ CHEZ OLGA Caribbean and Creole fare. Veggie/vegan options. Takeout available. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 1441 Wealthy St SE, 233-4141. chezolga.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

2020 DINING AWARD WINNER THE COMMONS 1970s-themed restaurant with “retro comfort food.” Full bar, including craft beer and ’70s-inspired cocktails. Takeout available. Closed Mon. // 547 Cherry St SE, 458-2704. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $$ CURRY KITCHEN Authentic Indian cuisine. Daily lunch buffet. Kids menu. Takeout. Open daily. No alcohol. // 961 E Fulton St, 242-1300. currykitchengr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$

botanas and tortas in a former 1920s service station. Full bar. Open daily. // 665 Wealthy St SE. donkeygr.com. Breakfast (Sat-Sun), Lunch, Dinner $-$$ EAST WEST BREWING CO. Traditional American-style beers. Fresh, made-to-order American-style food and seasonal vegetarian menu items from local vendors. Open daily. // 1400 Lake Dr SE, 288-5250. eastwestbrewingcompany.com. Lunch (Fri-Sat), Dinner $-$$ ELECTRIC CHEETAH Eclectic menu with an emphasis on locally grown fare and creative combinations. Beer and wine available. Open daily. // 1015 Wealthy St SE, 451-4779. electriccheetah.com. Brunch (Sun), Lunch, Dinner $-$$ ELK BREWING CO. Brewery with rustic industrial interior. Menu includes innovative sandwiches and snacks. Open daily. // 700 Wealthy St SE, 238-5227. elkbrewing.com. Lunch (Fri-Sun), Dinner $ ERB THAI Thai fare; will accommodate vegetarian, gluten-free, no MSG. No alcohol. Open daily. // 950 Wealthy St SE, 356-2573. erbthaigr.com. Lunch, Dinner $

2020 DINING AWARD WINNER FORTY ACRES SOUL KITCHEN “Authentically American” southern comfort food, featuring po’boys, grits, gumbo and more. To-go catering available. Closed Mon. // 1059 Wealthy St SE, 481-6971. fortyacresgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ GOJO ETHIOPIAN CUISINE & DELI Authentic dishes including vegetarian options. Watt (stew) dishes served with injera flatbread. Carry-out available. No alcohol. Closed Sun and Mon. // 421 Norwood Ave SE, 459-3383. gojoethiopian cuisine.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ THE GREEN WELL GASTRO PUB Not your run-of-the-mill New American fare. Full bar with more than 20 rotating draft beers, many from local breweries. Open Tue–Sun. // 924 Cherry St SE, 8083566. thegreenwell.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ HANCOCK Nashville hot chicken restaurant with sandwiches, fried chicken, an assortment of Southern picnic sides, salads and desserts. Also serves breakfast. Open daily. // 1157 Wealthy St. SE, 805-4232. hancockgr.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$

DANZÓN CUBANO Authentic Cuban fare, including vegetarian and vegan options, as well as locally made and Cuban sodas. Full bar; happy hour specials Mon-Thu. Open daily. // 1 Carlton Ave SE, 988-9788. danzoncubano.com. Lunch, Dinner $$

HARMONY BREWING CO. Custom brews with a full bar, wine and wood-fired pizzas. Sandwiches served 11 am-4 pm. Dog-friendly patio. Open daily. // 1551 Lake Dr SE, 233-0063. harmonybeer.com. Lunch, Dinner $$

DONKEY TAQUERIA Authentic Mexican food, including tacos, tostadas,

KCM A Japanese/Korean fusion restaurant specializing in sando (Japanese cut white bread sandwiches or open-faced

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

toast with meat, egg salad or other filling); curry and other rice bowls; tonkatsu (Japanese deep-fried tenderized pork loin, tenderloin and shoulder cutlets); chicken katsu; and kimbap (Korean-style fish and vegetable hand rolls wrapped with seaweed). Open Tues.-Sun. // 209 Diamond Ave. SE. kcmgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ LITTLE AFRICA ETHIOPIAN CUISINE Hearty vegetable stews; sauces and fixings served on Ethiopian flat bread. No alcohol. Cash or checks only. Closed Sun and Mon. // 956 E Fulton St, 222-1169. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $ MARU SUSHI & GRILL Large menu of Japanese cuisine with a twist, from sushi to hibachi grilled items. Vegetarian options. Full bar. Open daily. // 927 Cherry St SE, 458-1900. marurestaurant.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ MATCHBOX DINER & DRINKS Breakfast all day, deli sandwiches, burgers, appetizers and seasonal entrées. Also, milkshakes and malts. Carry-out available. Open daily. // 1345 Lake Dr SE, 774-8641. matchboxdiner.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$ QUARANTINO’S Detroit-style pizza restaurant offering unique pizza options finished with Satori Wisconsin Parmesan. Vegan and gluten-free options are available. No alcohol. Closed Sun and Mon. // 1444 Lake Drive SE, 734-6833. quarantinosgr.com. Dinner $$ THE PUB AT PADDOCK “Happy hour all the time” with elevated pub fare. Full bar. Closed Mondays. // 1033 Lake Dr SE, 3562627. thegilmorecollection.com/pubatpaddock. Dinner $-$$

2020 DINING AWARD WINNER TERRA Eastown eatery features food from local, ethically raised and sustainable sourcing. Specialty cocktails, Michigan craft beers, wines from small wineries. Open daily. // 1429 Lake Dr SE, 301-0998. terragr.com. Brunch (Sat-Sun), Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $$-$$$ WEALTHY STREET BAKERY Breakfast pastries; sandwiches, salads and soup; pizza available after 4 pm. Beer and wine. Kids menu. Closed Sun. // 610 Wealthy St SE, 301-2950. wealthystreetbakery.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$ WIKIWIKI POKE SHOP Fast-casual seafood restaurant featuring customizable poke bowls, plus oyster bar and rotating specials. Carryout available. Closed Sun. // 1146 Wealthy St SE, 2885646. wikiwikipokeshop.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ THE WINCHESTER Locally sourced menu includes sharable plates in centuryold space. Craft brews on draft. Full bar. Open daily. GR M AG .CO M

dine / estau ants

// 648 Wealthy St SE, 451-4969. winchestergr.com. Breakfast (Sat-Sun), Lunch, Dinner $-$$ YESTERDOG Specializes in the “good old-fashioned hot dog.” Cash or check only. Catering available. Open daily. // 1505 Wealthy St SE, 336-0746. yesterdog.com. Lunch, Dinner $ ZIVIO Modern European tavern and grill serving Bosnian cuisine melded with Turkish, Greek and other Central European countries' cooking traditions. Salads, wraps, gyros, dinner entrées. Full bar. Open daily. Catering available. // 724 Wealthy St SE, 608-3534. ziviogr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$$

East Grand Rapids

Northeast GR

3619 Plainfield Ave NE, 361-8994. fredsitalian.net. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

7 MONKS TAPHOUSE Beer bar with more than 50 taps and gastropub food, including pretzel bites, burgers, salads. Open daily. // 740 Michigan St NE, 265-5417. 7monkstap.com/ grand-rapids. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ BIRCH LODGE Menu includes wet burritos, sandwiches, burgers, gyros, fish baskets. Daily specials. Full bar. Open daily. // 732 Michigan St NE, 458-1918. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $ BLUE WATER GRILL Entrées include steaks and fish, wood-fired pizzas. Nice wine selection. Lakeside views, outdoor patio. Beer, wine and cocktails. Open daily. // 5180 Northland Dr NE, 363-5900. thegilmorecollection.com/bluewater. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$

BIG BOB’S PIZZA Neighborhood pizza parlor in EGR’s Gaslight Village also offers appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, subs. Full bar. Open daily. // 661 Croswell Ave SE, 233-0123. bigbobspizza.com. Lunch (Tue-Sun), Dinner $-$$

BUD & STANLEY’S Extensive menu includes Mexican specialties, pasta, burgers and more. Daily specials. Takeout available. Serves alcohol. Open daily. // 1701 Four Mile Rd NE, 361-9782. budandstanleys.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

BOWDIE’S CHOPHOUSE An upscale steakhouse “perfect for date nights, business dinners and late-night cocktails.” The restaurant serves various items: starters; soups and salads; shareables; and entrées, including chicken, salmon and steak. Full bar. Open daily. // 2237 Wealthy St. SE, 805-5044. bowdieschophouse.com. Dinner $$$

CHARLIE’S BAR & GRILLE Well-rounded menu features dinners from ribs, steaks and seafood to kielbasa and kraut. Also, Mexican fare and sandwiches. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 3519 Plainfield Ave NE, 364-0567. charliesbarandgrille.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$

CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY KITCHEN Coastal South Carolina-inspired fare, including seafood, chicken, pork, beef and greens. Full bar. Open daily. // 2213 Wealthy St SE, 805-5231. carolinalck.com. Dinner $$ JOSÉ BABUSHKA’S Starters, salads, burritos, chimichangas, flaming fajitas, tacos and special plates. Full bar. Open daily. // 2232 Wealthy St SE, 272-4472. josebabushkas.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ OLIVE’S Seasonally inspired menu of creative fare and comfort foods featuring local produce and meats. Full bar. Alfresco balcony. Closed Sun. // 2162 Wealthy St SE, 451-8611. eatatolives.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ OSTA’S LEBANESE CUISINE Large selection of Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine. Serves beer and wine. Takeout and catering available. Closed Sun-Mon. // 2228 Wealthy St SE, 456-8999. ostaslebanese.com. Lunch (Tue-Fri), Dinner $-$$ ROSE’S Dockside dining on Reeds Lake with varied menu, including pastas and wood-fired pizzas. Three-season porch. Serves beer and wine. Open daily. // 550 Lakeside Dr SE, 458-1122. thegilmorecollection.com/ roses. Lunch, Dinner $$

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

CHEER’S GOOD TIME SALOON Menu offers something for everyone in a log-cabin environment. Takeout available. Full bar. Open daily. // 3994 Plainfield Ave NE, 363-1188. cheersgrandrapids.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $ CRESTON BREWERY More than a dozen house-brewed beers on tap at all times; plus, seasonal menu, featuring chicken, pork and beef entrées; tacos, burritos and quesadillas; soups and salads. // 1504 Plainfield Ave NE, 805-4523. crestonbrewery.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ DETROIT WING CO. Serves classic wings, boneless wings and chicken tenders with 19 house-made sauces. Its menu also includes mac n’ cheese, poutine, coleslaw, cornbread muffins and cheesecake. Detroit Wing Co. was founded in Detroit. Open daily. // 2004 East Beltline Ave. NE, 214-8331. detroitwingco.com. Lunch, Dinner $ FLO’S PIZZERIA RISTORANTE & SPORTS BAR Pizzas, sandwiches, salads, Italian and Mexican entrées, full bar. Big screen TVs; takeout available. Open daily. // 1259 Post Dr NE, Belmont, 785-1001. flossportsbar.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ FRED’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT Longtime favorite offers Italian fare, including fresh pasta and gourmet pizza. Full-service bar. Closed Sun. //

FUJI YAMA ASIAN BISTRO Hibachi grill tables or eat in dining room with Chinese, Japanese and Thai selections. Full bar. Open daily. // 1501 East Beltline Ave NE, 719-1859. fujiyamabistro.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ GOLDEN WOK Chinese cuisine with some Hunan-spiced dishes. Sunday specials. Full bar. Open daily. // 1971 East Beltline Ave NE (Knapp’s Corner), 363-8880. goldenwokgrandrapids.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ GRAVITY TAPHOUSE GRILLE Menu items pair with craft beer suggestions. 64 craft beers on tap. Open daily. // 3210 Deposit Dr NE (East Beltline at I-96), 719-4944. gravitytaphouse.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ GRAYDON’S CROSSING Global pub serves traditional English pub food and world-inspired dishes. Full bar with large selection of microbrews and imported beers. Open daily. // 1223 Plainfield Ave NE, 726-8260. graydonscrossing.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ JAKU SUSHI Japanese and Korean fare, including a large selection of sushi; plus, bento, bibimbap, hibachi, katsu, udon and more. Open daily. // 2289 East Beltline Ave NE, 6490407. jakusushi.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ KITCHEN 67 Large menu uses Michigan ingredients and includes Brann’s sizzling steaks, sandwiches, salads, small plates, pasta and more. Full bar with craft beers. Open daily. // 1977 East Beltline Ave NE, 272-3778. kitchen67.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ LA HUASTECA Authentic Mexican restaurant offering burritos, tacos, enchiladas, flautas and more. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 1811 Plainfield Ave NE, 447-7733. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $ LAI THAI KITCHEN Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese fare. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 1621 Leonard St NE, 456-5730. laithaikitchen.net. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ LICARI’S SICILIAN PIZZA KITCHEN Specialties include thick-crust Sicilian pizza and stuffed pizza with a crispy crust. Also pasta, entrées, calzones and desserts. Full bar. Open daily. // 2869 Knapp St NE, 608-6912. licarispizzakitchen.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ LUCY’S CAFÉ Family café offers breakfast, lunch and baked goods. Crepes, omelets, deli sandwiches and build-yourown breakfast plates. Open daily. // 1747 Plainfield Ave NE, 591-3149. lucyscafegr.com. Breakfast, Lunch $$-$$$

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

Natural gray diamond strand and pendant MAI’S THAI Thai fare for counter service only. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 820 Michigan St NE, 451-3441. maisthaigr.com. (Mon-Fri), Lunch, Dinner $ MILL CREEK TAVERN Comstock Park eatery offers appetizers, soups, sandwiches, full dinner options. Full bar with separate dining room. Closed Sun. // 3874 West River Dr NE, Comstock Park, 784-3806. millcreektaverngr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ MING TEN All-you-can-eat Japanese/Chinese buffet, sushi bar, hibachi grill and American selections. No alcohol. Open daily. // 2090 Celebration Dr NE (2nd floor), 3653989. mingtenrestaurant.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ NICK FINK’S Mexican fare and burgers in historic tavern. Draft beer, wine, sangria and cocktails. Closed Sun and Mon. // 3965 West River Dr NE, 784-9886. thegilmorecollection.com/nickfinks. Dinner $$ POKE TOKI Build-your-own bowls featuring a fusion of Hawaiian, Japanese and Korean cuisine. Catering available. Closed Sun. // 5150 Northland Dr NE, 729-4414. poketoki.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ PALIO Ann Arbor-based eatery with an expansive menu of Italian fare. Full bar and happy hour. Open daily. // 545 Michigan St NE, 719-0660. paliograndrapids.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ REDS AT THOUSAND OAKS Large menu features sandwiches, salads, artisan pizza and entrées. Extensive wine list, craft beers, full bar. Patio with fire pits and covered deck. Open daily. // 4100 Thousand Oaks Dr NE, 447-7750. eatatreds.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ REZERVOIR LOUNGE Full menu of appetizers, pizzas, sandwiches and entrées, some with Cajun flavor. Serves alcohol. Open daily. // 1418 Plainfield Ave NE, 451-0010. rezlounge.com. Lunch (Tue-Sun), Dinner $-$$ RIO GRAND STEAK HOUSE & SALOON Texas-style barbecue ribs, steaks and more. Full bar. Open daily. // 5501 Northland Dr NE, 364-6266. riograndsteakhouse.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ RIVER NORTH PUBLIC HOUSE A “family-friendly” pub serving a variety of shareables, burgers and sandwiches. You’ll also find entrées, including Knapp Mac & Cheese and grilled sirloin tip steak. Full bar. Open daily. // 2115 Plainfield Ave NE, 288-7888. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $$$ THE SCORE Restaurant and sports bar with large menu, more than 100 beers on tap. Open daily. // 5301 Northland

Dr NE, 301-0600. thescore-restaurant.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ SHESHCO GRILL Mediterranean cuisine, including surf, turf and vegetarian options. No alcohol. Open daily. // 2121 Celebration Dr NE (Knapp’s Corner), 364-0600. sheshcogrill.net. Lunch, Dinner $$ THAI CHEF Knapp’s Corner restaurant has large menu, including duck, seafood and vegetarian options. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 1971 East Beltline Ave NE, 570-0032. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $$ VANDER MILL Seasonal menu with locally sourced ingredients. Starters, salads, entrées and large plates served family style. Hard ciders on tap. Open daily. // 505 Ball Ave NE, 259-8828. vandermill.com. Lunch, Dinner (Mon-Sat) $$-$$$

Northwest GR 2020 DINING AWARD WINNER AMORE TRATTORIA ITALIANA Regional Italian dishes using local products and Italian imports. Italian wines and liqueurs. House-made desserts. Banquet facility. Closed Mon. // 5080 Alpine Ave NW, 785-5344. amoretrattoriaitaliana.com. Dinner (Tue-Sat) $$ CHINA CHEF Family-style restaurant with Szechuan-style entrées and Hunan choices. No alcohol. Open daily. // 4335 Lake Michigan Dr NW, 791-4488. chinachef49534.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ CHINA CITY Chinese cuisine; lunch prices all day. No alcohol. Open daily. // 1140 Monroe Ave NW, 451-3688. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ DEHOP’S BREWING CO. AND CAFÉ Specialty and build-your-own burgers, “authentic Mexican” tacos, salads and sharable appetizers. Closed Sun-Mon. // 363 Cummings Ave NW, Walker, 8053363. dehops.com. Dinner $$ EMPIRE CHINESE BUFFET II All-you-can-eat buffet. Seafood buffet Sat-Sun. No alcohol. Open daily. // 4255 Alpine Ave NW, 7858880. empirechinesebuffet2.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ FRANCO’S PIZZA Italian entrées, stromboli, pizza and subs. Takeout available. No alcohol. Open daily. // 2103 Alpine Ave NW, 361-7307. Dinner $-$$ FRICANO’S PIZZA RESTAURANT Famous for its thin-crust pizza. Pasta dinners with sauce that made its way to the retail market. Full bar.

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

Redefining fine jewelry

www.metalartstudioinc.com 978 Cherry St SE, GR MI (616) 459-5075 (Park free in our lot)

GR M AG .CO M

dine / estau ants

Closed Sun. // 5808 Alpine Ave NW, 785-5800. fricanospizza.com. Dinner $-$$ HIBACHI GRILL & SUPREME BUFFET Pan-Asian cuisine, including Chinese, Japanese, Mongolian and American. No alcohol. Open daily. // 785 Center Dr NW (Green Orchard Shopping Center), 785-8200. hibachigrillsupremebuffet.letseat.at. Lunch, Dinner $$ HOME TEAM GRILL Sports-themed eatery with a selection of local, domestic and international beers. Open daily. // 4322 Remembrance Rd, 551-3457. hometeamgrill. wordpress.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ HUMMUS & FALAFEL MIDDLE EASTERN GRILLE Located near the Allendale campus of Grand Valley State University, eatery serves “healthy and tasty” Mediterranean food, including hummus and falafel starters; salads; lentil soup; sandwiches, entrées and more. Closed Sun. // 10897 48th Ave., Suite B100, Allendale. hummusandfalafel.org. Lunch, Dinner $ HUNAN CHINESE RESTAURANT Full menu of Chinese options. No alcohol. Open daily. // 1263 Leonard St NE, 458-0977. hunangrc.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ THE LANDING Casual atmosphere with views of the Grand River. AllAmerican favorites and monthly specials. Full bar. Open daily. // 270 Ann St NW (Riverfront Hotel at U.S. 131), 363-9001. riverfronthotelgr.com/dining/the-landingrestaurant. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$ MR. GYROS Family-owned restaurant offers Mediterranean specialties. Drive-thru, takeout, delivery and catering available. Closed Sun. // 2260 Alpine Ave NW, 7916660. mrgyrosdrivethru.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PERRIN BREWING CO. Comstock Park craft brewery/taproom menu includes tacos, salads, burgers, panini and more. Kids menu available. Open daily. // 5910 Comstock Park Dr, 5511957. perrinbrewing.com. Lunch, Dinner $ STAN DIEGO BAJA TACO KITCHEN Baja California-inspired menu, featuring a-la-carte taco menu, chorizos, tamales, handcrafted margaritas and kids menu. Full bar. Open daily. // 355 Wilson Ave NW, 591-9806. standiegogr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ SWAN INN RESTAURANT Home-cooked meals, huge breakfasts. Cygnet Lounge offers cocktails and nibbles. Open daily. // 5182 Alpine Ave NW, 784-1245. swaninnmotel.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$ THREE HAPPINESS RESTAURANT Cantonese, Mandarin and Szechuan fare. Daily specials. No alcohol. Open daily. // Green Ridge Square, 3330 Alpine Ave NW, 785-3888. threehappinessgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

WALKER ROADHOUSE Diverse menu with interesting twists on classic fare. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 3272 Remembrance Rd NW, 791-9922. thewalkerroadhouse.com. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $$

meats. No alcohol. Catering available. Closed Sun and Mon. // 2921 Eastern Ave SE, 818-5522. daddypetesbbq.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ EAST GARDEN BUFFET Cantonese, Hunan, Szechuan cuisine. Daily buffet. No alcohol. Open daily. // 6038 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 6988933. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

Southeast GR 7 MARES Authentic Mexican dishes including breakfast. No alcohol. Closed Mon. // 1403 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 301-8555. Facebook. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$$ AL-BOS EUROCAFE-BAKERY Authentic southeastern European cuisine. Menu includes appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta, entrées and kids options. Daily specials. Open daily. // 2930 Shaffer Ave SE, 325-2800. al-bos.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ ASIAN PALACE Chinese and Vietnamese fare with extensive menus for each. No alcohol. Closed Mon. // 141 28th St SE, 5347770. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ BELTLINE BAR Americanized Tex-Mex menu, including wet burritos. Full bar. Curbside service. Open daily. // 16 28th St SE, 245-0494. beltlinebar.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ BRASS RING BREWING Small-batch, style-specific brewery in the Alger Heights neighborhood. // 2404 Eastern Ave SE, 460-1587. brassringbrewing.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ BROAD LEAF LOCAL BEER Pub fare including snacks, meat and veggies on a stick and entrées like drunken noodles, burgers, tempeh and more. Open daily. // 2885 Lake Eastbrook Blvd. SE, 803-0602. broadleafbeer.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ CABANA TRES AMIGOS Authentic Mexican fare including vegetarian selections. Full bar. Takeout available. Open daily. // 1409 60th St SE, 281-6891. cabanatresamigos.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ CAFÉ DE MIRO A café offering Kurdish, Armenian and Greek foods. The menu consists of traditional Mediterranean breakfast and side dishes, such as skillets, scrambles and acai bowls; pastries; toasts; soups; sandwiches; salads; Turkish coffee; tea; desserts; and more. No alcohol. // Breton Village Shopping Plaza, 1878 Breton Rd SE, (616) 7191462. Facebook. Open daily. Breakfast, Lunch $ CANTINA MEXICAN GRILL Menu offers extensive Mexican specialties. Full bar. Drive-thru window. Outdoor patio. Open daily. // 2770 East Paris Ave SE, 949-9120. cantinamexicangrill.biz. Lunch (Sun-Thu), Dinner $$ DADDY PETE’S BBQ Slow-smoked ribs, pulled pork, brisket and other

EL ARRIERO MEXICAN GRILL Extensive menu offers specialty dishes, à la carte selections. Mexican and domestic beers, margaritas. Open daily. // 2948 28th St SE, 977-2674. elarrieromexicangrill.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ EL GLOBO RESTAURANT Authentic Mexican fare; weekly specials. No alcohol. Closed Mon. // 2019 S Division Ave, 734-6869. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ FIREROCK GRILLE Guests can cook signature dishes on 500-degree lava stone. Offers soups, salads, sandwiches and entrées. Full bar. Brunch on Sundays. Open daily. // 7177 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 656-9898. firerockgrille.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ FLORENTINE PIZZERIA RISTORANTE & SPORTS LOUNGE Italian fare with American and Mexican choices and thin-crust pizzas. Full bar. Open daily. // Towne & Country Shopping Center, 4261 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 455-2230. florentinespizza.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ GANDERS Features American cuisine with a twist and Michigan products, including craft brews. Open daily. // 4747 28th St SE (inside DoubleTree Hotel), 957-1111. Facebook. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$$ GOLDEN GATE Chinese fare with all-inclusive lunch combination plates, some hot and spicy choices. No alcohol. Open daily. // 4023 S Division Ave, 534-7087. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $ GURSHA ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT Authentic Ethiopian dishes, traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Buffet lunch and dinner on Sat. No alcohol. Open daily. // 4301 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 350-0009. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $$ HALL STREET BAKERY Breakfast pastries; sandwiches, salads and soup served for lunch and dinner. Beer and wine. Kids menu. Closed Sun. // 1200 Hall St SE, 214-7604. hallstreetbakery. com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$ INDIA TOWN Indian fare including vegetarian and vegan. Lunch buffet Mon-Sat. No alcohol. Open daily. // 3760 S Division Ave, 243-1219. indiatowngrr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ LA TAQUERIA SAN JOSE Authentic Mexican fare in a casual, takeout setting.

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 1338 S Division Ave, 2842297. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $$ LAST CHANCE TAVERN AND GRILL Appetizers, soups, burgers and sandwiches and a huge selection of Michigan craft beers. Open daily. // 1132 Burton St SE, 719-4270. thelastchancetavern.com. Lunch, Dinner $ LE KABOB Soups, salads, sandwiches, large choice of entrées and combos. Kids menu. Carry-out available. No alcohol. Open daily. // 3122 28th St SE, 272-4135. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ MI TIERRA Traditional Mexican, eat in or drive-thru. No alcohol. Open daily. // 2300 S Division Ave, 245-7533. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $ MIKADO SUSHI Sushi and sashimi à la carte. Dinners offer full range of Japanese cuisine. Lunch specials. Serves alcohol. Closed Sun. // 3971 28th St SE, 285-7666. mikadogr.com/main. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $-$$ NU-THAI BISTRO Appetizers, soups, Thai salads, fried rice, seafood, duck, curries. No alcohol. Open daily. // 2055 28th St SE, 452-0065. nuthaibistro.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ THE OLD GOAT Creative cuisine from Electric Cheetah owner Cory DeMint includes appetizers, entrées, sandwiches and salads. Kids menu. Full bar. Open daily. // 2434 Eastern Ave SE, 288-6976. baaaaaaaa.com. Breakfast (Mon-Fri), Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PAL’S INDIAN CUISINE Authentic Indian food, including lunch buffet 11-3. No alcohol. Open daily. // 2915 28th St SE, 957-2271. palsindiancuisine.com. Lunch, Dinner $ PHO ANH TRANG Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai cuisine. Daily specials. Catering. Open daily. No alcohol. // 3633 Eastern Ave SE, 246-9966. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PHO SOC TRANG Wide selection of Vietnamese offerings. No alcohol. Open daily. // 4242 S Division Ave, 531-0755. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PIETRO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT Regional and contemporary Italian cuisine. Tuscan wines, desserts and cappuccinos. Kids menu. Takeout available. Open daily. // 2780 Birchcrest Dr SE, 4523228. pietrosgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ SHANGHAI ICHIBAN Chinese and Japanese cuisine. Food prepared tableside by hibachi chefs in Japanese area. Serves alcohol. Open daily. // 3005 Broadmoor Ave SE, 942-5120. shanghaiichiban.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$

SUSHI KUNI Japanese and Korean cuisine, Asian fusion fare. Traditional Japanese tatami room for groups. Serves alcohol. Closed Mon. // 2901 Breton Rd SE, 2414141. sushikuni.net. Lunch, Dinner $-$$$ TAQUERÍA EL RINCÓN MEXICANO Wide variety of Mexican breakfast, small plates, dinner dishes and soups, including several vegetarian options. No alcohol. Closed Mon. // 2055 28th St, 246-7000. Facebook. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $ THAI EXPRESS Thai specialties, spiced to customer specification. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // Towne & Country Shopping Center, 4317 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 827-9955. thaiexpressgr.com. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $ THAI FUSION Thai cuisine and fusion specials with good selection of starters and salads. Kids menu. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 3097 Broadmoor Ave SE, 301-8883. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ TOKYO GRILL & SUSHI Tatami rooms, sushi bars. Hibachi, teriyaki, udon, tempura. Sake, Japanese and American beer and wine. Open daily. // 4478 Breton Rd SE, 455-3433. tokyogrillsushi.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ VILLAGE INN PIZZA & SPORTS GRILLE Longtime favorite for pizza, pasta, burgers, chicken, Mexican. Daily specials. Mon-Fri pizza lunch buffet. Full bar. Open daily. // 2215 44th St SE, 281-1444. vipizza.net. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ WEI WEI PALACE Chinese seafood restaurant features Cantonese cuisine, dim sum and barbecue. No alcohol. Open daily. // 4242 S Division Ave, 724-1818. weiweipalace.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ YUMMY WOK Cantonese, Hunan and Szechuan dishes. No alcohol. Open daily. // 4325 Breton Rd SE, 827-2068. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

Southwest GR 84TH STREET PUB & GRILLE American fare from pizzas to steaks. Full-service bar. Kids menu. Daily specials. Open daily. // 8282 Pfeiffer Farms Dr SW, 583-1650. 84thstpub.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ ALEBIRD TAPHOUSE AND BREWERY Community-focused brewery offering creative sandwiches along with a variety of burgers and entrées, including summer chicken and pea ravioli. Open daily, lunch on weekends. // 2619 84th St SW, 288-7888. alebird.com. Lunch, Dinner $$$ BLUE GINGER ASIAN KITCHEN Noodle-based Thai dishes, chicken, seafood, beef and pork

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

entrées, curries. Vegetarian options. No alcohol. Open daily. // 5751 Byron Center Ave SW (Bayberry Market), 261-8186. bluegingerkitchen.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ FAR-EAST CHINESE RESTAURANT Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean dishes. Carry-out and catering available. No alcohol. Open daily. // 3639 Clyde Park Ave SW, 531-7176. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ FRANKIE V’S PIZZERIA & SPORTS BAR Appetizers, subs, stromboli, pizza, pasta, burgers and Mexican. Outdoor patio. Full bar. Open daily. // 1420 28th St SW, 532-8998. frankievs.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ GOLDEN 28 Szechuan, Hunan, Mandarin, Vietnamese cuisine. No alcohol. Open daily. // 627 28th St SW, 531-2800. Lunch, Dinner $$ KITZINGEN BREWERY German-style appetizers and entrées, plus kids menu and some American classics. Selection of wine and locally made German craft beer. Closed Sun-Mon. // 1760 44th St SW, 805-5077. kitzingen-brewery.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ LINDO MEXICO RESTAURANTE MEXICANO Fresh food with “real Mexican flavor.” Kids menu. Serves alcohol. Open daily. // 1742 28th St SW, 2612280. lindomexicogr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ LITTLE BANGKOK Extensive Thai standbys plus some unique items. Kids meals available. Serves beer and wine. Closed Sun. // 2359 Health Dr SW, Suite 140, 929-2306. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $-$$ MAIN STREET PUB Varied appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches and entrées. Full bar. Open daily. // 1730 28th St SW, 532-2510. mainstpub.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ MI CASA RESTAURANTE Fresh, authentic Dominican appetizers, dishes and seafood, plus weekly specials, in Dominicanthemed, family-friendly atmosphere. No alcohol. Closed Mon-Tues. // 334 Burton St SW, 350-9123. micasagr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ MONELLI’S ITALIAN GRILL & SPORTS BAR Southern Italian cuisine. Sports bar plus family-friendly dining room with fireplace. Open daily. // 5675 Byron Center Ave SW, 530-9700. monellis.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ NOBLE Breakfast favorites along with vegan and gluten-free options, handhelds, burgers and small bites. Open daily. // 1851 44th St SW, Wyoming, 530-8750. eatnoble.com. Breakfast, Lunch $$ PETE’S GRILL & TAVERN Casual bar and grill with tavern burgers, Detroit

GR M AG .CO M

dine / estau ants

style pizza, sandwiches and entrees. Open daily. // 2588 84th St SW, Byron Center, 878-9582. petesgrillandtavern.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ TAMALES MARY Tamale-centered Mexican restaurant featuring 15 types of tamales, plus other Mexican dishes and daily buffet specials. No alcohol. Open daily. // 1253 Burton St SW, 288-5007. tamalesmarygr.com. Lunch, Dinner $ WOODY’S PRESS BOX Complex includes two bars, patio and bowling. Sandwiches, pizza, Mexican and more. Full bar. Open daily. // 5656 Clyde Park Ave SW, 530-2400. spectrumlanes.com. Breakfast (Mon-Sat), Lunch, Dinner $$

HAMBURGER MARY’S This LGBTQ-friendly burger franchise offers an open-air burger bar along with 40 beers on tap. Drag events such as karaoke, game night and trivia night, as well as drag shows, occur most days of the week. Outdoor patio seating. Full bar. Open daily with brunch hours on Sat and Sun. // 6240 28th St. SE, 551-2305. hamburgermarys.com. Dinner $$ JU SUSHI & LOUNGE Sushi and sashimi, Japanese hibachi, tempura, soups, salads and entrées in elegant surroundings. Full bar, huge sake selection. Takeout, catering and banquets. Open daily. // 1144 East Paris Ave SE, 575-5858. jusushi.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$$

Ada/Cascade/Lowell Area

LA LAGUNA Authentic Mexican dishes including shrimp, wraps, salads, kids menu. No alcohol. Open daily. // 6250 28th St SE, 805-8821. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

ARYANA RESTAURANT & BAR Comfortable dining room in Crowne Plaza Hotel offers breakfast buffet, lunch and dinner selections from a seasonal menu and a full bar. Open daily. // 5700 28th St SE, 957-1775. hiaryana.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$

LITTLE BANGKOK Extensive Thai standbys, plus some unique items. Kids meals available. Serves beer and wine. Closed Sun. // 850 Forest Hill Ave SE, 808-3153. littlebangkokgr.com. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $-$$

BIG BOILER BREWING Brewpub features a wide selection of original beer and cider. Plus, new American cuisine, including burgers, fish, sandwiches and kids menu. Open daily. // 318 E Main St, Lowell, 987-3155. bigboilerbrewing.com. Dinner $$ CASCADE ROADHOUSE Relaxed atmosphere with a diverse menu of traditional fare. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 6817 Cascade Rd SE, 2597439. cascaderoadhousemi.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ CORK WINE & GRILLE Contemporary dining with indoor and outdoor seating. Seafood, steaks, burgers, fish, sandwiches, salads. Extensive wine list, specialty cocktails. Open daily. // 5500 Cascade Rd SE, 949-0570. corkwineandgrille.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ EMONAE KOREAN BBQ Korean delicacies and tabletop grills allow patrons to grill meats and veggies to their liking. Soups, chicken, beef, pork, vegetarian, seafood. No alcohol. Delivery available. Closed Mon. // 6246 28th St SE, 649-3984. emonaekoreanbbq.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ THE EURO BISTRO European bistro fare includes entrées, small plates, salads, wood-fired pizzas. Takeout available. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 6450 28th St SE, 719-2017. eurobistrogr.com. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $$-$$$ FLAT RIVER GRILL Casual atmosphere in turn-of-century building. Comfort food, wood-fired pizzas. Full bar plus The B.O.B.’s House of Brews beers. Alfresco dining on patio. Open daily. // 201 E Main St, Lowell, 897-8523. thegilmorecollection.com/ flatriver. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

MAIN STREET BBQ Wood fire used to smoke ribs, brisket, chicken, sausage and pork. Rubs and sauces are gluten-free. Also serves sandwiches, wings, salads and soups. Catering. Takeout/delivery at 1539 Plainfield Ave NE. Full bar. Open daily. // 210 E Main St, Lowell, 987-3352. bbqlowell.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ MARCO NEW AMERICAN BISTRO French country casual offers small, medium and large plates for dinner fare; salads, sandwiches and mains for lunch. Full bar. Takeout menu. Closed Sun. // 884 Forest Hill Ave SE, 942-9100. marcobistro.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ MYNT FUSION BISTRO Thai, Korean and Chinese. Renowned for its curries. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 800 W Main St, Lowell, 9879307. myntfusion.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ NOCO PROVISIONS Laid-back, regionally inspired comfort cuisine. Outdoor seating on the patio. Full bar. Open daily. // 4609 Cascade Rd SE, 747-0300. nocogr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ NONNA’S: THE TRATTORIA Fresh, European-style pastries, salads, soups and entrées made from scratch. Breakfast and lunch served seven days a week. Pizza available during lunch TuesSat. Brunch specials available Sat-Sun. // 584 Ada Dr SE, Ada, 920-7028. eatwithnonna.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Tue-Sat) $-$$ NOTO’S OLD WORLD ITALIAN DINING Elegant décor, extensive classic Italian menu. Special wine cellar dinners. Lounge menu features lighter

fare. Closed Sun. // 6600 28th St SE, 493-6686. notosoldworld.com. Dinner $$-$$$ OSAKA STEAKHOUSE & JAPANESE RESTAURANT Asian fare, including sushi, hibachi, shabu-shabu and more. Full bar. Open daily. // 4977 28th St SE, 4194628. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $$ SAPPORO RAMEN & NOODLE BAR Fresh, traditional Japanese “soul food” with an innovative twist. GF options available. No alcohol. Takeout available. Closed Mon. // 5570 28th St SE, Cascade, 608-6657. sappororamenbar.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ SCHNITZ ADA GRILL Schnitz Deli by day, casual fine dining by night. Full bar, happy hour 3-6. Closed Sun. // 597 Ada Dr SE, Ada, 682-4660. schnitzadagrill.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$$ SHEPARDS GRILL & TAVERN Bar food with flair, from appetizers to sirloin. Open daily. // 6246 28th St SE, 350-9604. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ THORNAPPLE BREWING CO. Brewpub features a wide selection of original beer, cider, wine and spirits brewed in seven-barrel brewing system. Plus, artisan pizza, appetizers and dessert. Brunch on Sun. // 6262 28th St SE, 288-6907. thornapplebrewing.com. Lunch (Sat), Dinner $$ TRAILHEAD CAFÉ Family-owned and -operated café with specialty breakfast items, plus gourmet burgers, wraps, sandwiches, salads, soups and more. // 1200 East Paris Ave SE, 284-3664. trailheadcafegr.com. Breakfast, Lunch $ VINTAGE PRIME & SEAFOOD Intimate setting with upscale menu that includes prime steaks and fresh seafood. International wine list. // 5500 Cascade Rd SE, 949-0570. vintageatcork.com. Dinner $$$ ZEYTIN Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine. Full bar, beer and wine lists. Takeout. Open daily. // 7437 River St, Ada, 682-2222. zeytinturkishrestaurant.com. Lunch, Dinner $$

Grandville/Hudsonville Area BANGKOK TASTE Thai fare. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 674 Baldwin St, Jenison, 667-8901. bangkoktaste.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ THE DUNGEON Mexican food and American favorites. Specialty burgers. Full bar with Michigan craft beers. Kids menu. Open daily. // 3594 Chicago Dr SW, Grandville, 538-1360. villadungeon.com. Lunch (Fri-Sun), Dinner $-$$

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

EL BURRITO LOCO More than 70 Mexican selections, plus a few American options. Daily food and drink specials. Full bar. Open daily. // 4499 Ivanrest Ave SW, Grandville, 5309470. elburritoloco4.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ GRANDVILLA Steaks, all-you-can-eat fish, specialty burgers, daily specials, salad bar. Kids menu. Full bar. Open daily. // 3594 Chicago Dr SW, Grandville, 538-1360. villadungeon.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ HUDSONVILLE GRILLE Varied menu includes Mexican favorites and breakfast. Full bar, catering and banquet services. Closed Sun. // 4676 32nd Ave, Hudsonville, 662-9670. hudsonvillegrille.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$ MICHIGAN MOONSHINE DISTILLERY A distillery with starters, sandwiches, salads and sides with a barbeque theme. Many of the items include Bobby Q sauce. Closed Sun. and Mon. // 4005 Chicago Dr SW in Grandville, 259-1000. michiganmoonshine.us. Dinner $$ OSGOOD BREWING CO. Craft brewery serves shareables, specialty pizzas, sandwiches, pasta and salads. Kids menu. Open daily. // 4051 Chicago Dr SW, Grandville, 432-3881. osgoodbrewing.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PIKE 51 BREWING CO./ HUDSONVILLE WINERY Craft brewery and winery under one roof. Appetizers, salads, sandwiches and entrées. Open daily. // 3768 Chicago Dr, Hudsonville, 662-4589. hudsonvillewinery.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

Hudsonville, 209-5098. whiteflamebrewing.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ THE WIN TAVERN A family-friendly restaurant offering fresh ingredients and cooked-to-order meals, including starters and salads, burgers, sandwiches, and steak and onion meals. It also offers a Sunday breakfast from 10 a.m.1 p.m. with a build-your-own hash bar and more. Full bar. Open daily. // 7628 Georgetown Center Dr, Jenison, 734-6724. thewintavern33.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$

Rockford Area BOSTWICK LAKE INN Menu includes steaks, pork, fish, chicken, mac and cheese, pizzas, sandwiches, soups and salads. Large deck. Full bar. Open daily. // 8521 Belding Rd, 8747290. thegilmorecollection.com/bostwick. Lunch (Sat-Sun), Dinner $$-$$$ BOULDER CREEK RESTAURANT Golf Club restaurant has varied menu. Golf course views from inside or deck. Serves alcohol. See website for seasonal hours. // 5750 Brewer Ave NE, Belmont, 363-1330, ext 2. bouldercreekgolfclub.com/ restaurant. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

CEDAR SPRINGS BREWING CO. German-style brewery features American pub and traditional Bavarian menu. Open daily. // 95 N Main St, Cedar Springs, 696-2337. csbrew.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ GRILL ONE ELEVEN American-with-a-twist menu, full-service bar and lounge. Open daily. // 111 Courtland St, 863-3111. grilloneeleven.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ HONEY CREEK INN Pub setting offers beyond pub fare and daily specials. Closed Sun. // 8025 Cannonsburg Rd NE, Cannonsburg, 874-7849. cannonsburgvillage.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ MARINADES PIZZA BISTRO Wood-fired pizzas, salads, pastas, sandwiches. Michigan craft beer. Catering. Open daily. // 109 Courtland St, 863-3300. marinadespizzabistro.com. Lunch, Dinner $ RAMONA’S TABLE Gourmet sandwiches, salads, soups, burgers, small plates, homemade desserts. Farm-to-table specials. Michigan beers, wine. Kids menu. Open daily. // 17 Squires St Square NE, 951-7100. ramonastable.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

Connect from home.

Treating anxiety, depression, and more.

RAINBOW GRILL Breakfast, soup and sandwiches, daily lunch specials, chicken, fish and other dinner staples. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 4225 32nd Ave, Hudsonville, 8960033; 4158 Chicago Dr SW, Grandville, 534-8645. rainbowgrillmichigan.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$

Teletherapy available for all ages. 200+ licensed, West Michigan clinicians. pinerest.org/telehealth | 866.852.4001

RUSH CREEK BISTRO Diverse menu in club-like surroundings. Weeknight and happy hour specials at full-service bar. Open daily. // Sunnybrook Country Club, 624 Port Sheldon Rd, Grandville, 457-1100. rushcreekbistro.com. Lunch, Dinner $$

Psychiatric Urgent Care Center: in person and virtual walk-in psychiatry for adults. pinerest.org/urgent | 616.455.9200

SONDER EATERY Focused on fresh foods including greens, sandwiches and shareables. Items include deviled eggs, chicken and waffles, sloppy Joes and more. Full bar. Daily specials and weekend brunch. Closed Mondays. // 3380 Chicago Dr, Hudsonville, 616-202-6379. sondereatery.com. Breakfast, Lunch $$ WHITE FLAME BREWING CO. Small production brewery with taproom. Sandwiches, wraps, appetizers and a couple twists on the classic macaroni and cheese. Open daily. // 5234 36th Ave, $ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

GR M AG .CO M

dine / estau ants

ROCKFORD BREWING CO. Located alongside Rogue River. Menu features wings, salads, gyros, burgers, as well as gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. Handcrafted brews on tap. Open daily. // 12 E Bridge St, 951-4677. rockfordbrewing.com. Brunch (Sun), Lunch, Dinner $-$$

FIRST WOK Mandarin, Hunan, Szechuan cuisine. Full bar. Open daily. // 2207 44th St SE, 281-0681; 6740 Old 28th St SE, 575-9088; 3509 Alpine Ave NW, 784-1616. firstworkgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$

TIMBERS INN Appetizers to meat ’n’ potatoes fare in lodge-like surroundings. Full bar. Open daily. // 6555 Belding Rd NE, 874-5553. timbersinn.net. Lunch (Wed-Sun), Dinner $-$$

GRAND CONEY Classic diner offering custom hot dogs, traditional breakfast items and comfort foods. No alcohol. Open daily. Downtown location open 24 hours. // 809 Michigan St NE, 776-5580; 5121 28th St, 9303596; 6101 Lake Michigan Dr, Allendale, 895-9999. thegrandconey.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $

THIRD NATURE BREWING COMPANY Located near the White Pine Trail and the Rogue River, Third Nature Brewing is a rustic brewery and taproom offering “comfort foods” such as pizzas and hot sandwiches, as well as healthier options like power bowls and salads. Open daily. // 7733 Childsdale Ave. NE in Plainfield Township, 616-512-9314. thirdnaturebrewing.com. Lunch, Dinner $$

HERB & FIRE PIZZERIA Fast-casual atmosphere with Italian accent. Signature and create-your-own pizza options, flatbread sandwiches and salads. // 3180 44th St SW, Grandville, 773-1443; 2121 Celebration Dr NE, Suite 250, 7731895. herbandfirepizzeria.com. Lunch, Dinner $$

Multiple Locations

HOPCAT Crafted brews with some 50 beers on tap and 150 bottled. Full bar and creative fare, including sharables, signature fries, burgers, wraps and more. Open daily. // 25 Ionia Ave SW, 451-4677; 84 W. Eighth St in Holland, 965-9780; 2183 East Beltline Ave NE. hopcatgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

ANNA’S HOUSE Breakfast, sandwiches, baked goods and exceptional desserts; dinner menu, too. No alcohol. Open daily. // 3766 Potomac Circle, Grandville; 3874 Plainfield Ave NE; 2409 East Beltline Ave SE, (866) 672-6627. annashouseus.com. Breakfast, Lunch $$ ARNIE’S BAKERY & RESTAURANT Breakfast, burgers and sandwiches. Menu includes extensive gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian options. No alcohol. Open daily. // 722 Leonard St NW, 454-3098; 2650 East Beltline Ave SE (Centerpointe Mall), 956-7901; 777 54th St SW, 532-5662; 34 Squires St, Rockford, 866-4306. arniesrestaurant.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$ BAGEL BEANERY Bagel and coffee cafè offering healthy whole grain and sugary sweet bagels, breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Magnum coffee. No alcohol. Open daily. Catering available. // 455 Michigan St NE, 235-7500; 2845 Breton Rd SE, 245-4220; 5316 Clyde Park Ave SW, 2499500. bagelbeanery.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $ BIG E’S SPORTS GRILL Sports lounge serving pizza, classic American appetizers and other entrées. Full bar includes a variety of Michigan-made beer and cider. Happy hour specials available Mon-Fri. Open daily. // 2321 East Beltline Ave SE, 608-8825. 710 Monroe Ave NW, 512-5716. bigessportsgrill.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ BRANN’S STEAKHOUSE & SPORTS GRILLE Famous sizzler steaks, small plates, sandwiches, salads, gluten-free and vegetarian choices, bar munchies. Full bar. // 401 Leonard St NW, 454-9368; 3475 Fairlanes Ave SW, Grandville, 531-6210; 4157 S Division Ave, 534-5421; 5510 28th St SE, 285-7800. branns.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

MORNING BELLE This “garden-themed” brunch spot is part of Meritage Hospitality Group. Its menu features breakfast entrées; lighter options, such as salads and grain bowls; glazed doughnut waffles; specialty beverages, such as freshly squeezed orange juice and breakfast cocktails; and more. Limited bar. Open daily. // 1600 East Beltline Ave NE, 301-8171; 434 Bridge St NW, 855-6907. morningbellebrunch.com. Breakfast, Lunch $$ MR. BURGER Breakfast, burgers, chili dogs, sandwiches, homemade soups and desserts. // 2101 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, 453-6291; 950 44th St. SW, 538-0363; 1750 44th St. SE 455-8604; 5181 Northland Dr. NE, 363-3888; 2300 28th St. SW; 538-4439; 5835 Balsam Dr., Hudsonville, 662-5088. mrburger.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $ MUDPENNY Coffee bar with all-day breakfast, sandwiches, burgers and salads. Catering available. Closed Sun. // 570 Grandville Ave SW, 259-5353; 496 Ada Dr SE, 2595353. mudpenny.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $ PEPPINO’S PIZZERIA AND SPORTS GRILLE Italian/American menu. Full bar. Open daily. // 130 Ionia Ave SW, 456-8444; 1515 Eastport Dr SE, Kentwood, 554-8880. peppinospizza.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$$

REAL FOOD CAFÉ Fresh, locally sourced traditional favorites, scrambles and made-from-scratch baked goods; plus, soups, sandwiches and salads for lunch. Cash only. Closed Mon. // 2419 Eastern Ave SE, 241-4080; 3514 Plainfield Ave NE, 361-1808. Facebook. Breakfast, Lunch $ RED GERANIUM Breakfast and lunch favorites, omelettes, pancakes and burgers. No alcohol. Open daily. // 6670 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 656-9800; 5751 Byron Center Ave SW, 5328888. redgeraniumcafe.com. Breakfast, Lunch $ SUNDANCE BAR & GRILL Southwestern-infused cuisine, margarita bar. Open daily. // Waters Building, 151 Ottawa Ave NW, 776-1616; 5755 28th St SE, Cascade, 956-5644. sundancegrill.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (MonSat) $$ TACOS EL CAPORAL Mexican fare, with menudo Sat and Sun. No alcohol. Open daily. // 1260 Burton St SW, 246-6180; 1717 28th St SW, 261-2711. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $ TACOS EL CUÑADO Fajitas, tacos, burritos and other Mexican fare. No alcohol. Locations are individually owned and operated. // 1342 Grandville Ave SW, 452-1266; 455 Burton St SW, 248-9099; 1024 Bridge St NW, 475-800. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ THE OMELETTE SHOPPE Fourteen signature omelettes, selection of quiches and baked goods. No alcohol. Open daily. // 545 Michigan St NE, 726-5800; 1880 Breton Rd SE, 726-7300. omeletteshoppe.com. Breakfast, Lunch $ UCCELLO’S RISTORANTE, PIZZERIA & SPORTS LOUNGE Italian specialties, including pizza, entrées, burgers, sandwiches. Full bar. Open daily. // 122 Monroe Center NW, 773-1687; 2630 East Beltline Ave SE, 954-2002; 3940 Rivertown Pkwy SW, Grandville, 249-9344; 4787 Lake Michigan Dr NW, Standale, 735-5520; 8256 Broadmoor Ave SE, Caledonia, 891-1100; 19 N Main St, Rockford, 866-0666. uccellos.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ VITALE’S PIZZERIA Multiple locations serving pizza, pasta and more from family recipes. Full bar. // 6650 E Fulton St, 676-5401, vitalesada.com; 5779 Balsam Dr, Hudsonville, 662-2244, vitaleshudsonville.com; 834 Leonard St NE, 458-8368, theoriginalvitales.com; 3868 West River Dr NE, Comstock Park, 7845011. vitalessportsbar.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

PITA HOUSE Sami’s gyros, Middle East specialties. No alcohol. Open daily. // 1510 Wealthy St SE, 454-1171; 3730 28th St SE, 940-3029. thepitahouse.net. Lunch, Dinner $

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

Special Advertising Section Special Advertising Section

omen W GRAND RAPIDS

Meet the Powerful and Influential Forces that Drive Our City. Behind every thriving city are its people,

In this special section, Grand Rapids

intuition, and experience to find the house of

and for Grand Rapids — one of the fastest

Magazine brings the stories that celebrate

your dreams. She gives you peace of mind by

growing economies in the country — many of

local women who are trailblazers in their

helping plan your retirement or your legacy.

those individuals are women. They lead large

industries and make a difference in a variety

She nourishes your neighbors and those in

companies; they run small businesses; they

of meaningful ways.

provide medical, dental, and childcare. They provide food, counseling, housing,

Maybe you know her? She’s the one who creates colorful jewelry to brighten up your

financial assistance, and educate residents

style and put a strut of confidence in your

of the community. They are networkers and

step. She sets your children up for success

relationship builders. They are advocates and

with early learning programs. She works in

mentors. They are wives, mothers, sisters,

what was once a male-dominated world

and daughters. These are Women Who Move

and paves a smoother path for the women

Grand Rapids.

who come after her. She uses her instincts,

need with food and with empowerment, and puts a healthy smile on your face. She volunteers, sits on committees and boards, and juggles family and professional life seemingly with ease. But it isn’t always easy and that’s what makes what she does all the more amazing.

omen W GRAND RAPIDS

Special Advertising Section

is our curated e-Newsletter highlighting the best food, drinks, experiences and more in Grand Rapids! Monday through Friday, we send out the latest stories on all things happening in GR right to your inbox.

Head to GRMAG.COM to sign up today!

Julie Benson, LPC, BLC, is a business and career counselor who specializes in coaching and mentoring business owners and entrepreneurs. As an accountant turned licensed counselor, Benson learned early in her career that her gift was less tied to her business acumen and more aligned with her ability to identify pain points of others and guide them toward finding solutions. Benson says she finds that when she meets business leaders, she intuitively understands what they are struggling with and, through conversation and counseling sessions, helps them break through those roadblocks. Benson says she has created a safe space to explore their mindsets and processes and help them learn how to better recognize and utilize their resources; buying them more time and energy and greater work/life fulfillment.

Julie Benson, LPC, BLC Not Your Average Business Coach enCouragedU.com 967 Spaulding Ave. SE, Ste. C Ada, MI 49301 616-350-9251 encouragedu.com

omen W GRAND RAPIDS

Special Advertising Section

Bethanie Pollock and Amanda Gondhi co-founded Balans Consulting LLC to provide tax, accounting, and consulting services to closely held businesses and individuals. Between a decade of working in the Big Four accounting firms, running a smaller firm’s tax department, and working for herself, Pollock says she has developed a passion to strike the right balance amongst her personal pillars of faith, family, health, and entrepreneurism. Pollock’s desire to mentor professionals and further expand her business with these pillars resonated with Gondhi, her former colleague, friend, and triathlon-training partner, whose experience was in public accounting and internal auditing. Their shared personal values, complimentary skills and experience, and understanding of being a small business owner sparked their partnership and is the underlying DNA of “Balans,” the Dutch word for balance.

Amanda Gondhi & Bethanie Pollock Co-founders Balans Consulting LLC 4670 Fulton St. E, Ste. 202 Ada, MI 49301 616-676-7770 balansconsultingllc.com

In the last 23 years, Monica Mitidieri has taken Monica’s Gourmet Cookies from a personal, creative outlet to a business that has boomed far beyond her expectations. That’s thanks to her dedication to perfecting her signature recipe to achieve a delicious product that has grabbed the attention — and delighted the taste buds — of everyone from West Michigan to nationally known clients. Her handcrafted cookies are sold online and in more than 65 retail stores. Mitidieri says in anxious or stressful times as this, people want chocolate. “It’s just that simple,” she says. “Cookies are a happy moment and we like happy here at Monica’s.” Through her Corporate Client Program that she added last spring, she’s been able to bring more of that happiness to more people, and as a result, has more than doubled her revenue in less than a year.

Monica Mitidieri Owner Monica’s Gourmet Cookies 3668 29th St. Grand Rapids, MI 49512 616-977-7200 monicasgourmet.com

omen W GRAND RAPIDS

Special Advertising Section

Roseanna P. Noordhoek, DDS, and Emily J. Van Heukelom, DDS, co-owners of The Center for Oral Surgery & Dental Implants, may have been discouraged early on to pursue their specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery because of their gender, but that didn’t stop them from following their dreams. Though it is rare — nationwide, fewer than 10 percent of oral and maxillofacial surgeons are female — both Noordhoek and Van Heukelom consider it their trail to blaze in the community. They hope to act as role models for many other women entering dentistry, encouraging them to pursue specialties beyond general dentistry, all while balancing motherhood, owning a business, and serving on staff in the trauma center at Spectrum Hospital. Photo (left to right): Emily J. Van Heukelom, DDS, and Roseanna P. Noordhoek, DDS.

Roseanna P. Noordhoek, DDS Emily J. Van Heukelom, DDS Co-Owners

Center for Oral Surgery & Dental Implants 4349 Sawkaw Dr. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525 616-361-7327 grandrapidsoralsurgery.com

As president, CFO, and COO of Grand River Bank, Liz Bracken has worn many hats since the bank’s opening in April 2009. With more than 30 years of banking and financial experience behind her, she willingly embraced the challenge of opening an independently owned, locally focused, relationship-driven banking institution in the midst of the Great Recession. It was an opportunity to build a bank on a cultural foundation she and the other founders were passionate about: to treat others the same way they would want to be treated. Today, that core operating principal of mutual respect and caring for others has afforded them tremendous growth and success. “We succeed when our team members succeed,” Bracken says. “We succeed when our customers succeed. We succeed when our community succeeds.”

Liz Bracken President/CFO/COO Grand River Bank 4471 Wilson Ave. SW Grandville, MI 49418 616-929-1600 grandriverbank.com

omen W omen GRAND RAPIDS W GRAND RAPIDS

Special Advertising Section Special Advertising Section Special Advertising Section

ERISA Assurance Services; Assurance Sara Hendrix, Services; Sara Hendrix, what motivates tax partner; Ferris, taxKatie office Ferris, tax office day; that’s atax big partner; Katie managing Kelli Olson, partner; taxKelli Olson, tax y morning.” managing partner; partner; and Carlye partner; Klimek, and Carlye tax Klimek, tax partner. partner.

200 Ottawa Ave. 200NW, Ottawa Ste. Ave. 300 NW, Ste. 300 MI 49503 Rapids, MI 49503 ping peopleGrand Rapids,Grand nd her 616-774-7000 616-774-7000 regularly, it’s a bdo.com bdo.com

Katie Ferris Katie Tax OffiFerris ce Managing Partner

Tax Office Managing Partner BDO West Michigan BDO West Michigan 200 Ottawa Ave. NW, Ste. 300 200 Ottawa Ave. Ste. 300 Grand Rapids, MI NW, 49503 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616-774-7000 616-774-7000 bdo.com bdo.com Photo (left to right): Photo to right): Luanne(left MacNicol, partner, ERISA Luanne MacNicol, ERISA Assurance Services;partner, Sara Hendrix, Assurance Sara tax Hendrix, tax partner;Services; Katie Ferris, office tax partner; Katie Ferris, tax offitax ce managing partner; Kelli Olson, managing partner; Kelli Olson, tax partner; and Carlye Klimek, tax partner; partner. and Carlye Klimek, tax partner. much to their ves and their (left to Photo right): (left to right): ited to help Photo our ur community Luanne MacNicol, Luanne partner, MacNicol, ERISApartner,

Katie FerrisKatie Ferris

partner, ERISA Assurance Services; and Kelli Olson, tax partner. While Services; inclusion and has Kelli partner, ERISA Assurance been key partner. goal, more importantly, these Olson,a tax While inclusion has roles ahave lled organically with been key been goal, fimore importantly, these individuals who fihave the positions roles have been lled earned organically with they hold and individuals whohave haveestablished earned thethemselves positions as respected they hold andprofessionals. have established themselves coreprofessionals. purpose is helping people as BDO’s respected thrive, every For Ferris and her BDO’s coreday. purpose is helping people colleagues, regularly, thrive, everywho day.collaborate For Ferris and her it’s a driving forcewho thatcollaborate applies as much to their colleagues, regularly, it’s a clients as it does themselves andtotheir driving force thatto applies as much their other “We to all themselves get excited and to help clientspeers. as it does theirour clients,peers. our employees our community other “We all getand excited to help our succeed,” Ferris says. and our community clients, our employees “Helping people succeed,” Ferris says.thrive is what motivates us “Helping and keepspeople us going every day; that’s a big thrive is what motivates part ofkeeps what gets us upevery everyday; morning.” us and us going that’s a big part of what gets us up every morning.”

rvices; and Kelli lusion has Tax Office Managing Tax OffiPartner ce Managing Partner tantly, these cally with the positions BDO West Michigan BDO West Michigan ed themselves

BDO USA, LLP is a leading national professional and accounting BDO USA, services LLP is a leading national firm providing assurance, advisoryfirm professional servicestax, andand accounting services toassurance, privately held andadvisory publicly providing tax, and traded businesses. services to privately held and publicly BDO’sbusinesses. West Michigan practice is one traded of BDO’s more than across the United West60 Michigan practice is States one and has been in United the local of more than established 60 across the States communities more than 100 local years. and has been for established in the Exciting changes havethan emerged more communities for more 100 years. recently, while have the fiemerged rm has always Excitingand changes more placed anand emphasis on diversity and recently, while the firm has always inclusion, theon last decade and they have placed an within emphasis diversity welcomedwithin severalthe women partners. inclusion, last decade they have The Westseveral Michigan practice in Grand welcomed women partners. Rapids is proud to celebrate five those The West Michigan practice in of Grand womenispartners work hard lead Rapids proud towho celebrate five and of those every day. women partners who work hard and lead They are: Katie Ferris, tax office managing every day. partner; SaraKatie Hendrix, taxtax partner; Carlye They are: Ferris, office managing Klimek, Luanne MacNicol, partner;tax Sarapartner; Hendrix, tax partner; Carlye Klimek, tax partner; Luanne MacNicol,

omen W GRAND RAPIDS

Special Advertising Section

For Janet Romanowski, working in the real estate industry is less about the properties she buys and sells and more about the people she helps along the way. Whether it’s assisting clients achieve the dream of home ownership for the first time or guiding them through the process of saying goodbye to a home they raised their family, she takes pride in her work. In her nearly 20 years of experience as an agent, Romanowski always creates a positive, memorable experience for her clients. “The goal of my work is to ensure that my clients have an expert in their corner to navigate all of the ins and outs that can come up in any transaction,” Romanowski says. “Your Realtor should be someone you trust and someone you’re confident that has your back every step of the way.”

Janet Romanowski Realtor, ABR Greenridge Realty EGR, Romanowski Homes 2213 Wealthy St. SE East Grand Rapids, MI 49506 616-318-0065 romanhousekey.com

GIBSON is a bit of an anomaly in the insurance arena — and that’s a good thing. With a team comprised of nearly 70 percent women — including leadership and on the board of directors — the company is changing perceptions about the industry in more ways than one. GIBSON is driven by a phenomenal culture that empowers its employees and is rooted in a holistic approach to risk management. Working with organizations who see value in keeping their people as safe as their assets, Risk Advisor Lindsay Kronemeyer assists with strategies to proactively mitigate hazards through comprehensive risk assessments. Kronemeyer and GIBSON as a whole, view insurance not as a mere product, but as one facet of the greater risk management picture for companies.

Lindsay Kronemeyer Risk Advisor | Commercial Risk Management

GIBSON 650 Trade Centre Way, Ste. 310 Kalamazoo, MI 49002 269-682-8850 thegibsonedge.com

Courtney Quist 200 Ottawa Ave. 200NW, Ottawa Ste. Ave. 300 NW, Ste. 300 MI 49503 Rapids, MI 49503 ping peopleGrand Rapids,Grand nd her 616-774-7000 616-774-7000 regularly, it’s a bdo.com bdo.com

Founding Partner

Quist Law Firm, PLLC 4760 E. Fulton St., Ste. 102 Ada, MI 49301 616-454-9008 quistlawfirm.com much to their ves and their (left to Photo right): (left to right): ited to help Photo our ur community Luanne MacNicol, Luanne partner, MacNicol, ERISApartner,

Katie FerrisKatie Ferris

based, a collaborative divorce is an optionbased, team approach. By generating options, we can explore different ideas and methods to resolve an issue,” Quist adds. “I have also found that if we can find out the concerns behind a particular position, we can brainstorm an appropriate resolution.” The collaborative divorce process works especially well for families with special needs children, special needs adults, parents with unusual work hours, and parents or families with unique circumstances. Almost all families can benefit from the collaborative process, as opposed to litigation. “Every family is unique, and a resolution for one family will not necessarily serve the needs of another family,” Quist says. “There is no ‘one size fits all.’ Instead, settlements must be narrowly tailored to meet the individual needs of each family.”

rvices; and Kelli lusion has Tax Office Managing Tax OffiPartner ce Managing Partner tantly, these cally with the positions BDO West Michigan BDO West Michigan ed themselves

Courtney Quist is an attorney who has been in practice for nearly 25 years in the areas of family law, divorce, custody, and post judgment procedures. She is a former trustee of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, past vice president of the Collaborative Divorce Professionals of Grand Rapids, former trustee of the Family Law Section of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, and co-founder of the Ada Collaborative Center. Quist was a speaker at the annual Mid Summer Conference for the State Bar on Mackinac Island in 2020. Her primary focus in family law is to advocate for collaborative divorce, as opposed to destructive litigation. “A collaborative divorce is a smarter divorce,” Quist says. “A collaborative divorce is low conflict, cost-effective, and preserves family relationships. “Importantly, while litigation is position

omen W GRAND RAPIDS

Special Special Advertising Advertising Section Section

omen W GRAND RAPIDS

Special Advertising Section

Jessica Harrison is the new executive director at Urban Roots, a farm and education center in Grand Rapids. With 10 years of experience working to bring neighborhoods together to create change in the Grand Rapids area, she says she is ready to give much-needed attention to help the Madison neighborhood. While being devoted to educating newcomers on how to grow their own food within the space they have, she says she is truly driven by providing neighbors access to fresh and colorful produce they can pick on their own to provide a healthy option to bring home. Urban Roots’ mission is to cultivate healthy communities, and while the mission is simple, the current times are anything but that. Urban Roots encourages new partners who want to make a direct impact in the Madison neighborhood to donate. All funds donated to Urban Roots stay within their underserved neighborhood and volunteers are always welcomed.

Jessica Harrison Executive Director Urban Roots 1316 Madison Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507 616-228-4707 urbanrootsgr.org

With a background in childcare and preschool teaching and a passion for educating young children, Kelly Russell founded Milestones Child Development Center in 2005. Since then, Milestones has grown into an institution that now serves more than 1,000 families at five program locations across West Michigan. The programming lays the foundation of early education and also focuses on nature as a way to enrich each student’s learning. As the creator, developer, and owner of the center, Russell’s mission has been to provide a safe and nurturing environment designed to meet the developmental needs of young children. As a pillar in the world of education, Kelly “moves” anyone she comes into contact with; Moves to educate. Moves to impact. Moves to change their future.

Kelly Russell Owner and President Milestones Child Development Center 4527 Cascade Rd. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546 616-551-3200 milestonescdc.com

Anne Ficeli, CPM 200 Ottawa Ave. 200NW, Ottawa Ste. Ave. 300 NW, Ste. 300 MI 49503 Rapids, MI 49503 ping peopleGrand Rapids,Grand nd her 616-774-7000 616-774-7000 regularly, it’s a bdo.com bdo.com

President

PURE Real Estate Management 32 Market Ave. SW, Ste. 500 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616-631-7769 purerealestatemanagement.com much to their ves and their (left to Photo right): (left to right): ited to help Photo our ur community Luanne MacNicol, Luanne partner, MacNicol, ERISApartner,

Katie FerrisKatie Ferris

Ficeli says she learned to see the value of a property through the eyes of an owner early in her career while working directly with owners. “This, to me, was the first step in transforming a property into a community and understanding what makes it valuable beyond its financial worth,” Ficeli says. “This philosophy and commitment to service has been paramount to managing a portfolio exceeding $375 million at 95100 percent occupancy.” Besides being an advocate for women, Ficeli serves as a board member of the Humane Society of West Michigan, and is a lover of yoga. She co-founded her property management firm in 2018 with principal partners Michael Maier and Ryan Wheeler.

rvices; and Kelli lusion has Tax Office Managing Tax OffiPartner ce Managing Partner tantly, these cally with the positions BDO West Michigan BDO West Michigan ed themselves

Having spent more than 25 years in a male-dominated industry and earning her reputation as a knowledgeable professional with insight and experience, Anne Ficeli, president of PURE Real Estate Management, says she understands the struggles many women face in the real estate industry. To that end, she and a small group of female peers, founded the West Michigan chapter of the Commercial Real Estate Women, known as CREW, a network for information sharing, ongoing learning, and career advancement. “I’m driven to support other women in all professions, but especially those in commercial real estate,” Ficeli says. “Through my efforts and through CREW, I strive to make it a little easier for them than it was for me.”

omen W GRAND RAPIDS

Special Section Special Advertising Advertising Section

Women GRAND RAPIDS

Special Advertising Section

When Coleen King started her career in marketing, she knew two things: she wanted to be the best, and she was willing to put in the time, effort and energy it took to get there. Over the next 40 years, she built a career that included breaking barriers as the first woman in sales at a local Lansing TV affiliate and founding an internationally recognized marketing agency. King grew up in West Michigan and credits one of her teachers at Forest Hills Central with pointing her to the media and communication industry. After graduating from Michigan State University, she worked at Avery Knodel, a prestigious national rep firm in Chicago, where she negotiated with the nation’s largest ad agencies on behalf of Kellogg, Sears, Unilever, American Dairy and Proctor & Gamble. Eventually, her love of Michigan brought her home and she became the very first female sales representative in the history of WLNS TV, Lansing’s CBS affiliate. Not deterred by the challenges of breaking into a male-dominated field, King quickly rose to become the top-performing regional sales manager for two different local television affiliates during her career in media. In 1999, King decided to retire. Her clients, however, had other ideas and continued to seek her expertise in communications and strategic planning. She loved being able to maintain the strong relationships she’d developed, and quickly realized that her next adventure was King Media.

Coleen King

President & Founder King Media 660 Ada Dr. SE, Ste. 202 Ada, MI 49301 616-263-2390 kingmedianow.com

King Media now provides full-service marketing, advertising, public relations and digital media services to clients across the country. King leads a talented team of professionals and uses her expertise in strategic communications to help clients move the needle. She is especially passionate about projects that strengthen communities. King has located each of her three offices in places that have special meaning for her: East Lansing, home of her alma mater; St. Joseph, a place of century-old family roots; and most recently Ada, where a high school teacher changed the trajectory of her life. “Opening an office in Ada was intentional. I wanted to give back to the community that shaped me,” King says. “Our commitment to building foundations, relationships and success stories is what defines King Media. Now we can invest in new relationships as well as strengthen our current ties in West Michigan.” Her work has garnered 40 national and international awards since 2015 – including PRNEWS Boutique Firm of the Year – demonstrating that King Media’s work is on par with industry leaders around the world. In addition to awards that recognize her agency’s public relations work, King has been named an honoree for the PRNEWS Top Women in PR and PR People of the Year awards. She was also humbled to receive the Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences 2020 Outstanding Alumni Award.

omen W GRAND RAPIDS

Special Advertising Section

Tracey Hornbeck is responsible for all aspects of Legacy Trust’s business, including strategic planning, profitability, employee, and client engagement. Legacy Trust is a full-service wealth management firm and trust bank that offers a local, high touch customized experience. Previously, Hornbeck built her career in the banking industry. Hornbeck’s achievements have earned her recognition as a Top Woman in Finance, Regional Thought Leader, YWCA Women of Achievement, Inforum Inner Circle Leader, and named among 40 Under 40 business leaders by the Grand Rapids Business Journal. She was also named among the publication’s Top 200 Business leaders in West Michigan in 2019 and 2020. She serves on a number of boards including John Ball Zoo as board chair, the WMCAT and the Grand Rapids Symphony.

Tracey Hornbeck President and CEO Legacy Trust 99 Monroe Ave. NW, Ste. 600 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616-454-2852 legacygr.com

Laina Mills, chief investment officer, leads the development, execution, and oversight of Legacy Trust’s investment philosophy and asset management strategies, including asset allocation guidelines, tactical positioning, portfolio construction, and investment policy design. She also directly manages key individual and family office portfolios. Mills says she has made a commitment to the highest professional standards in the investment industry by earning the Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Planner designations. Mills has been named to the Grand Rapids Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Business Leaders and the American Bankers Association’s national 40 Under 40 wealth management list in recognition of her accomplishments. Mills serves on several company boards, including Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, the Downtown Market, Opera Grand Rapids, and Catholic Charities West Michigan.

Laina Mills Chief Investment Officer Legacy Trust 99 Monroe Ave. NW, Ste. 600 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616-454-2852 legacygr.com

Special Special Advertising Advertising Section Section

As part owner of Carroll Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, which she co-runs with her father, Joel T. Carroll DDS, Jocelyn R. Davis, DDS, cares for her patients’ needs by combining compassion with the best dental care available and the latest dental technology. Together, she says, they have built a culture that fosters the utmost respect for their clients’ desires and input. They work with their patients to create a beautiful, healthy smile that exceeds their patients’ expectations. At Carroll Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, professional skill is paramount, complemented by a positive atmosphere that promotes a relaxed and pleasant dental experience. Dr. Davis is a general dentist who treats all ages and focuses on all aspects of dentistry from root canals and extractions to kids’ treatment, dentures, and periodontal cleanings. She holds a strong emphasis on

cosmetic dentistry with extensive training in crown and bridge, bonding, restoring implants, and clear aligner orthodontics. She is also a certified Botox provider. Dr. Davis says one of the most rewarding parts of dentistry is continuing to improve her patients’ quality of life through their dental care — and understanding that every individual’s priorities and expectations are unique and different. “My goal is to make sure my patients feel comfortable and fully understand their dental needs and treatment,” Davis says. “Patients of all ages and comfort levels receive my same focus, which results in a positive dental experience and full confidence in their visit and treatment.” At Carroll Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, Jocelyn R. Davis, DDS, provides quality care and a family-oriented, personal focus that’s backed by stable, dependable staff and personalized treatment planning.

omen W GRAND RAPIDS

Jocelyn R. Davis, DDS

Part owner, General Dentist Carroll Family & Cosmetic Dentistry 4310 Leonard St. NW, Ste. 202 Grand Rapids, MI 49534 616-453-6323 carrollfamilydentistry.com

omen W GRAND RAPIDS

Special Advertising Section

Crown Real Estate Partners Inc. is a boutique-oriented residential real estate firm operated by owner Jennifer Gesik and partner Heather Garbaty. Gesik says she takes pride in treating her clients like family and building solid relationships based on transparency and trust and feels that empathy is one of the top traits that elevates her as a broker. As someone who has bought, sold, built, and renovated homes, Gesik says she truly understands the emotions that can accompany the process. Garbaty joined the firm in 2019 and brings nearly 20 years of counsel, strategy, tenacity, and determination. She says her attention to detail, commitment to clients, and expert negotiation tactics have produced multi-million dollar results in the market.

Jennifer Gesik

Owner, Broker, Realtor

616-292-8793 gesik@grar.com

Heather Garbaty Partner, Realtor

616-893-1159 garbaty@grar.com Photo (top, from left to right:): Jennifer Gesik and Heather Garbaty; (bottom, from left to right): Greta, June and Gertie.

Crown Real Estate Partners Inc. crowngr.com

As uncommon as it may be to see a woman practice law in the white-collar criminal defense realm, what’s more uncommon might be finding a law firm that characterizes itself as compassionate and warm. However, that’s Britt Cobb’s signature approach and it’s what makes Cobb and her colleagues at Willey & Chamberlain stand out from other firms in the field. Cobb says her team truly cares about the people they represent and that they understand there’s a human side to every situation and that every individual has a story to tell. While they’re backed by their experience and the resources they need to skillfully handle their cases, her team also focuses on helping people get their lives back on track — and not let their humanity get lost in the criminal process.

Britt Cobb

Attorney and Partner Willey & Chamberlain LLP 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Ste. 810 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616-458-2212 willeychamberlain.com

Special Special Advertising Advertising Section Section

Leading an award-winning human resources team that supports 27,545 colleagues across a statewide health system, from home, during a global pandemic is no easy feat; but Ane McNeil, Chief Human Resources Officer for Mercy Health (and Trinity Health Michigan, Georgia and Florida), does so with grace by striving for balance. “My job has many challenges, especially in trying times. It’s an honor to support our frontline colleagues and our teams working around the clock and behind the scenes. I’m in awe of what everyone’s doing to keep the hospitals safe and open for our patients. It’s humbling work.” In an effort to seek balance, McNeil turned to fitness four years ago. It became her outlet, and is something she looks forward to daily. “Finding balance through fitness has been one of the greatest gifts I’ve given myself,” she says. “I’m healthier

and more clear-minded. It’s my time to work off stress and center myself for my colleagues and my family.” A mother of two, McNeil feels empowered by being a working mother, and she’s drawn to Mercy Health for many reasons, one of which is because it’s like a family. “We have an expert team of clinicians; they inspire me to be my best. It’s such a great place to work, and in times like these we come together even more. That’s something that sets Mercy Health apart — it’s truly a family atmosphere.” McNeil encourages anyone considering a career in health care to visit mercyhealth.com/careers.

omen W GRAND RAPIDS

Ane McNeil Chief Human Resources Officer Trinity Health Michigan (Mercy Health + St. Joe’s) 1600 S. Canton Center Rd. Canton, MI 48188 800-231-2211 mercyhealth.com/careers

Women GRAND RAPIDS

Special Advertising Section

Mercy Health is a non-profit health care system serving Grand Rapids, Muskegon, the Lakeshore, and the surrounding communities in West Michigan. It is known for providing compassionate care, employing the latest technology, and harnessing its award-winning expertise to improve the health of the residents and communities it serves. Among its staff are the following four women leaders who have earned their status as Women who Move. Kristen K. Brown, M.D., MMM, president of Mercy Health Physician Partners, presides over Mercy Health’s employed medical group in West Michigan, which includes nearly 800 physicians and advanced practice providers and 1,200 staff members in more than 85 locations. Brown is passionate about improving the health of communities throughout the region by reducing social disparities, promoting wellness, and creating convenient access to high-quality health care. She strives to return joy to the practice of medicine for the physicians, providers, and colleagues who these days with COVID-19, bravely serve the people of West Michigan. In addition, Brown has served as a mentor to women who strive to achieve professional excellence and advance their leadership skills. Karen M. Kennedy, M.D., regional medical director and lead family physician for Mercy Health Physician Partners, is a transplant from Brooklyn, New York. During her decade with Mercy Health, Kennedy has continued her leadership and dedication to residency physician programs, served in underserved offices, and direct-to-employer care realms. She is known for representing her colleagues on various Mercy Health and community boards and cultivates community partnerships by fiercely

Mercy Health 200 Jefferson Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616-685-5000 mercyhealth.com

supporting her organization’s core values. A vivacious speaker for local and national health organizations such as the American Heart Association, Kennedy practices what she preaches with regard to healthy eating and exercise to optimize mental and physical health. Michelle Peña, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, is chief nursing officer for Mercy Health Saint Mary’s, and leads more than 2,000 nurses and clinicians. Peña strives to create an environment where individuals can grow professionally and practice at the highest level of their abilities. In such an environment, the very best patient care excellence is achieved. This professional environment is one reason why Mercy Health Saint Mary’s has earned Magnet Recognition, a designation that less than 7 percent of health systems have achieved. Peña believes that the excellence in care extends beyond the hospital walls and works to improve the overall health of communities in the areas of COVID-19, human trafficking, and health disparities. Michelle Rabideau, CFRE, MPA, president of Saint Mary’s Foundation, is a national leader in philanthropy, raising more than $100 million for various organizations including the Saint Mary’s Foundation, the fundraising arm for Mercy Health Saint Mary’s. Rabideau is passionate about health care, empowering women, and community service. She is a recognized leader in our community promoting her passions into purpose and people. Rabideau believes that mentoring others to be their very best self means that they will be more highly engaged and simply happier. She is inspired when people come together for common goodwill to make a positive difference, and believes that’s when true transformation happens.

omen W GRAND RAPIDS

Bridgett VanDerhoff founded AppleTree & Gilden Woods early care and preschool in 1998 with the goal of creating an environment where her infant daughter could learn, grow, and thrive — and in doing so, ultimately, created an experience that would change the course of her life. Today, with 26 locations and proprietary, age-appropriate curriculum to support children ages 6 weeks to 10 years, AppleTree & Gilden Woods continues its mission as an early care and preschool to provide a safe, nurturing environment, high-quality programming, and a strong foundation for children and families in the community.

Special Advertising Section

Bridgett VanDerhoff Founder, CEO

AppleTree & Gilden Woods 555 Cascade W. Pkwy. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546 616-454-5432 appletreekids.cc

As a K-12 art educator turned small business owner of The Color Forest, Elizabeth Usadel makes handmade polymer clay earrings, silicone-beaded, baby-friendly statement necklaces, and hand-stamped mantra bracelets. She also offers workshops in her downtown studio/storefront. “I believe getting dressed should be a fun way to express yourself, and including bright colors in your outfit brings confidence and energy,” Usadel says. “I hope to inspire women to pursue their dreams and look and feel great while doing it.”

Elizabeth Usadel Owner

The Color Forest 341 Division Ave S. Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616-617-6702 thecolorforest.com

Since 1972, Muskegon Surgical Associates has provided innovative, comprehensive, primary surgical care in Muskegon and along the lakeshore. The practice offers an extensive range of services and unparalleled expertise, with a dedication to improving the health and wellness of all residents in the community. Muskegon Surgical Associates’ is proud to spotlight its female team of surgical experts, which is comprised of Dr. Jennifer Bradley, whose areas of interest include surgical endoscopy and colonoscopy; Dr. Laura Lozier, who primarily focuses on general surgery and female health; Dr. Kristina Gaunt, a member of the breast cancer team specializing in general surgery and breast surgery; and Dr. Dena Thayer, focuses on breast cancer treatment and reconstruction. All are advocates for women interested in pursuing a career in health care and are examples of the heights that can be achieved. Photo (from left to right): Dr. Jennifer Bradley, Board Certified General Surgeon; Dr. Kristina Gaunt, Board Certified General Surgeon; Dr. Laura Lozier, Board Certified General Surgeon; and Dr. Dena Thayer, Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon.

Muskegon Surgical Associates 1316 Mercy Dr. Muskegon, MI 49444 231-739-9461 msapc.com

Special Advertising Section Section Special Advertising

Smart, strategic, and service minded are just some of the characteristics embodied by Foster Swift. Providing legal guidance and representation to businesses, municipalities, organizations, and individuals, 30 percent of Foster Swift attorneys are women and more than 40 percent of the leadership roles are filled by women. The firm is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, exemplified by the fact that Foster Swift president Anne Seurynck is one of the first female presidents at a large Michigan law firm. Other women at the firm that are in leadership roles include Laura Genovich, Mindi Johnson, and Jennifer Van Regenmorter. Foster Swift’s attorneys are experienced in nearly every type of law to help businesses and other professional organizations achieve their goals. Accomplished problem solvers and legal strategists, the Foster Swift team can help clients address any size legal

question they may have — professional or personal. Seurynck says they are passionate about sharing their legal expertise and practical experiences with business owners and organizational leaders in ways that help them excel and grow. A component of their successful practices, Foster Swift’s women attorneys are involved with professional and community organizations — often those that positively impact women, including mentoring the next generation. While women and men have traditionally faced very different challenges when charting their own career paths and ways of life, Foster Swift’s women attorneys have experienced some of the same obstacles, and, just like the other women who move Grand Rapids forward, they’ve overcome those challenges to become locally and nationally recognized as outstanding professionals and community leaders.

omen W GRAND RAPIDS

Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC 1700 E. Beltline NE, Ste. 200 Grand Rapids, MI 49525 616-726-2200 fosterswift.com

omen W GRAND RAPIDS

Special Advertising Section

Carol Carlson

Anurima Deshpande

Kristen Guinn

Laura Johnson

Beth Kromer

Vanessa McCamant

Patricia Hertel

Mary Pigorsh

Jane Hofmeyer

Ashley Quackenbush

Charissa Huang

Rachael Roseman

Krista Jackson

Katie Wendt

Directly after graduation from college in 2011, Kendra Pfaff, who grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, opened a cash-for-gold store. It became the launching point for Pfaff Jewelers, a fine and custom jewelry store she owns and operates today. Born out of the desire to bring new life into family heirlooms brought into her store, Pfaff Jewelers is now a go-to for those who want to create custom pieces from their precious gems and metal treasures. Pfaff says she takes great pride and pleasure in rescuing these pieces, which otherwise might be salvaged and sold just for the individual parts. Pfaff says thanks to her teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expertise and modern equipment, she and her employees are able to offer this service for a fraction of the price that other stores might charge.

Kendra Pfaff Owner

Pfaff Jewelers 4000 Chicago Dr. SW Grandville, MI 49418 616-532-4435 pfaffjewelers.com

Feeling Abandoned? 97% OF PEOPLE LEAVE YOUR WEBSITE WITHOUT TAKING ACTION. How do you get those prospects back? By grabbing their attention! It’s called retargeting and we’ve been doing it for years. You’ve seen those ads that seem to follow you around the internet, offering just what you were previously searching for. We know it’s a little strange, but let’s face it, it’s effective! Targeted Display Advertising focuses on users who previously visited your website. As your future customers browse the Internet, we will display your ad message to remind them of your brand. When they’re ready to make a purchase, customers will remember your business above other options. Another painful statistic – 72% will abandon their cart with items in it. Without retargeting, only 8% will go back to complete a purchase. With retargeting, 26% will return! Successful marketers spend 10 - 50% of their digital budgets on retargeting and 7 out of 10 business owners currently use retargeting. Will those customers be returning to you?

Adding digital marketing to your campaigns will increase your touch points and ROI. https://www.grmag.com/digital-studio

gr gems / histo y

Dr. Eugene Browning with his wife, Gertrude, and two of their daughters, Jean and Shelley.

Breaking barriers Dr. Eugene Browning paved the way for Black doctors in Grand Rapids. BY JULIE TABBERER, GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY

Notable physician Dr. Eugene Browning practiced medicine in Grand Rapids for over 50 years. When he graduated from Detroit Medical College in 1905 he was the only African American in a class of 54 students. Dedicated to continuous learning, Browning later studied at the University of Chicago and the University of Vienna, Austria, gaining expertise in urology and dermatology. He broke racial barriers in Grand Rapids by obtaining admitting privileges in local hospitals and was the first African American to serve on the Michigan State Board of Health. Beyond his accomplishments, Browning is remembered for his 96

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021

commitment to providing medical care in the community, especially for those who couldn’t pay. He was ahead of the times when he opened a weekly well-baby clinic in 1923. Year after year, he provided free checkups for kids so they could attend summer camps. In 1954, Browning said that he had seen thousands of kids, “but how many thousands I have no way of knowing.” He died in 1955 and his legacy is honored through the Browning Claytor Health Clinic, located in the Madison Square neighborhood, and through an annual Giants Award given in his name. FAMILY COURTESY GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY

Cozy happ y places Up and with wide open spaces

Find your happy place in Traverse City. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where winter adventures take you from wooded trails to the top of the world. Where everything looks brighter under twinkling lights or with a fresh cover of snow. No ma er how you choose to explore, you know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in a pre y great place.

TraverseCity.com TraverseCity.com

“I think true success is intrinsic... It’s love. It’s kindness. It’s community.” T O M S H A D YA C

Katie-K Team 616.575.0119 Katie@Katie-K.com 1555 Arboretum Dr. SE, Suite 101, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 | Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated

Grand Rapids Magazine February 2021

Articles inside

cheers

create

gr gems

table

expert

guide

issues

city

home

voice

wellness

profile