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) 2:04 , Steaks d o fo a e ars) 1:57 a, S eries, B ers, Pizz w g e r r u b o B r ( ic G y) 2:17 , Jewelr ouses, M 1. DININ e h r e u it 3:12 fe f n r o u G (C ks, F , Parks) o IN s o K m B u , IN e s R s e 2. D ntiqu es, Mu PING (A lf Cours ns) 1:50 • air Salo 3. SHOP T (Galleries, Go H , s f e h ER G OU pair, C e E IN R T o T t E u B 4. G N ICES (A TI 5. SERV ES
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Volume 49 number 1
January 2012 FEaTurEs beSt of granD raPiDS
The results of the 2011-2012 Readers Poll are revealed, along with a handful of staff favorites. ..............................42
2 grand rapIds January 2012
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78
Volume 49 Number 1
January 2012 Tattoo art by Shane Madden of Mos Eisleys. Photography courtesy istockphoto.com/pixhook. on the cover:
10
In Every Issue Life & Style
Eyewear trends, Author Ivan Jenson, Smooch Beauty Boutique; Greater GR Ski Club. . ..................................9-14 Profile
Award-winning author Caitlin Horrocks says teaching creative writing is the truest part of her job. ....... 20
Speaking Up Etc.
By Carole Valade..................... 7 Grand Times
By Alexandra Fluegel Martin and Desdemona Sweet. .................................... 16 Critic’s Choice
By Mark F. Miller, AIA Van Andel Institute: in a class by itself. . ..................... 28
Design
David Weston of Think Design created a new look for Ju Sushi; Globe Vise & Truck created a new line of furniture for the home using old blueprints. . .............. 23-30 City Guide
Restaurant listings; profile of Chef Aaron Burrows at Graydon’s Crossing; The Winchester; Hot Shots at local events and more. . ..............................61-104 Calendar of Events. ............93
Art Appreciation
By Joseph Antenucci Becherer Alexander Calder’s animobiles. .......................... 30 Dining Review
By Ira Craaven The Electric Cheetah. ........62 Grand Vine
By A. Brian Cain Best wines of 2011. .............. 78 Fresh Hops
By Jon C. Koeze “Best of” in beer categories............................. 90
48 4 Grand Rapids January 2012
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Best of 2011-12 Readers Poll
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Matt Baker, Joseph A. Becherer, Gordon G. Beld, A. Brian Cain, Ira Craaven, Mark F. Miller, AIA, Jon C. Koeze Contributing Writers
Julie Burch, Alexandra Fluegel, Tricia van Zelst Editorial Intern
Timothy McAllister Design Panel
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ENJOY A LATTE and in-store consultations, our compliments.
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Grand Rapids Magazine (ISSN 1055-5145) is published monthly by Gemini Publications, a division of Gemini Corporation. Publishing offices: 549 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 201, 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. Copyright © 2012 by Gemini Publications. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Grand Rapids Magazine, 549 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 201, 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 $3.95 (by mail $6); back issue $6 (by mail $7.50), when available. Advertising rates and specifications at www.grmag.com or by request. Grand Rapids Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited contributions.
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Etcetera
One of a kind by Carole ValaDe
GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE’S Best of Grand Rapids gives everyone an opportunity to sound off about the special places and people making the city and the region unique. It’s a big deal! That “uniqueness” is what sets the community apart and creates a marker, rather than just another blip on the GPS. The community becomes unique because of the people living in and around it. The magazine’s dining section this month offers examples of the continued evolution of the city. Mike Brann Jr., grandson of Brann’s founder, Johnny Brann, is moving the family restaurant business to a new level, one that anticipates a new generation of customer — and the first franchise. He opened his new restaurant in Caledonia and is zeroing in on a family-friendly sports bar. Or take note of Tom Ryan, Grand Rapids native and founder of Smashburger, based in Boulder, Colo. He recently opened a second restaurant in his hometown with plans for more. The West Michigan locations will be the only ones selling olive burgers, in homage to the area’s unique fondness for the special topping. Grand Rapids also has the “best” participation levels anywhere in the country: • River City is second only to Salt Lake City in contributions to nonprofits. • GR is home to the world’s first Gold LEED-certified art museum. • Volunteers have made the annual Festival of the Arts the country’s largest all-volunteer arts festival. • A few friends put their common interests toward a goal and are creating a movement to restore the rapids to the Grand River. • A similar group already measures its success with the city’s inclusion of street bike lanes
PHoToGraPHy by JoHnny QuIrIn
letters We welcome letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and include the writer’s name, address and phone number. Please send letters in care of: Editor, Grand Rapids Magazine, 549 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids MI 49503, or e-mail to letters@grmag.com. Letters may be edited for reasons of clarity and space.
best of Gr winner of Women’s and men’s apparel a.K. rikks, General manager Jim murray dresses a mannequin.
and pedestrian/bike paths. • Community members joined together to support the Local First chapter and created one of the most successful groups in the country. • Community members spontaneously gathered a thousand people (or so) downtown to Lip Dub their disapproval of inclusion on a national list of “dying cities” and reversed the perception. • This is not the only city in the world with an ArtPrize, but GR offers the world’s largest purse to the winners. Because you can. More importantly, because you Do. The reflection of that “doing” is carried widely now on communication devices, giving viewers around the world a look in. The metro community “face” is cumulative, and it is important to acknowledge the sheer will and hard work of past residents who were tireless in building the foundations offering the present … and your contributions in future. That is the Best of Grand Rapids.
January 2012 grand rapIds 7
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Life & Style
What your eyes will be wearing this year. » pg10
Photography by Michael Buck
ars
s
Inside » Eyewear trends 10
» Author Ivan Jenson 11
» Smooch 12
» Greater GR Ski Club 13
January 2012 Grand Rapids 9
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Life & Style
The hip styles for 2012 are going to be a fascinating mixture of the future and the past. But if you’re still wearing rimless glasses, stop immediately!
What’s in — and out — in eyewear
“I am seeing people shifting away from neutral colors and starting to go with more lively colors.” — Michael McConnell
there are no solder points. It’s just sheet metal that’s bent to form a hinge. Everything is done on a press.” “You can’t break it; it’s very light, and they can do any color,” Conens said. “It has a fresh edge to it, because it doesn’t look like anything else out there at all.” The one bone of contention among the optometrists was wood frames. “Wood is making a huge push right now,” McConnell said. “Designers like Rolf out of Austria and Drift Eyewear out of Chicago are doing amazing things with wood.” “People who consider themselves ‘fashionistas’ will always have exaggerated styles, like eyewear made of wood,” agreed Schulze. Conens, however, dislikes wood frames. “Wood frames are not adjustable, and that’s the issue,” Conens said. “They can’t
be tailored to the head; they’ve got to fit perfect off the bat. So that will limit who winds up in them.” However, if you can’t bear to part with your retro frames, don’t worry. “The one trend that is not going away is the vintage, chunky, plastic frame,” McConnell said. But Schulze predicts a move away from the 1950’s “Buddy Holly” style that has been popular the last several years. “I’m really starting to see more 1960’s London ‘mod’ type of things,” Schulze said. In the “totally uncool” category for 2012 are rimless frames, frames with logos on the side, aviator-style frames and frames with gaudy embellishments such as rhinestones. “This year it’s more about refinement, quality, simple classic lines, and color done right,” McConnell said. — Tim McAllister
Photography by Michael Buck
Michael McConnell, owner of Sight Optical Boutique, 924 Cherry St. SE, predicts the year’s biggest trend will be colored frames. “I am seeing people shifting away from neutral colors and starting to go with more lively colors,” McConnell said. Christopher Conens, owner of HyperOptik, 1134 Wealthy St. SE, agrees. “Color, but color against the grain,” he said. “And hopefully men will start to get in on color too.” Bob Schulze, owner of Globe Design & Vision, 49 E. 8th St. in Holland, predicts a surge in the futuristic/techno style. “Industrial materials like steel and titanium, which are very lightweight and durable, are on their way in.” Some frames are made from sheet metal and are infinitely adjustable. “It’s very technologically advanced,” McConnell said. “There are no screws and
10 Grand Rapids January 2012
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life & style
“one day my girlfriend told me i should send some of my poems to magazines. in a few weeks, i was getting acceptance letters, and that just fueled my desire to keep writing.” — ivan Jenson
OTHEr nOVELs BY iVan JEnsOn
PhotograPhy by Johnny Quirin
PhotograPhy by Michael buck
Living writer Ivan Jenson is as interesting as the main character in his debut novel, “Dead Artist.” In fact, fictional pop artist Milo Sonas is eerily similar to Jenson. Milo achieved instant fame as a young painter in New York City. Now in his 40s, he’s living in the Midwest with his mother, hoping for a comeback. Yep, very similar. “Except I don’t talk to Picasso,” Jenson quipped, pointing out that Milo is visited by famous dead artists. And Jenson isn’t painting these days. Instead, he’s writing — churning out poetry, short stories and novels. “I’ve always had kind of a frenetic energy,” he said, sitting in the small basement office where he has written seven novels since moving to Grand Rapids. His second effort, “Seeing Soriah,” is due to be published by Hen House Press later this month. Throughout his life, Jenson has always pursued the arts. Originally from California, his artsy family lived in Indiana for a few years before settling in New York. “I’ve tried many things,” he said. “For a while, I was a singer/songwriter in New York City.” His mother’s house is filled with his artwork, from a bust of his grandfather that he sculpted as a teenager to an origi-
nal painting commissioned by Absolut Vodka for a national advertising campaign in the early 1990s. It was his artwork that brought him success at age 20. “I did a couple of paintings and hung them in Times Square,” he said. “It was all very spontaneous. And people bought them. So I did more, and those sold, too.” Spurred by his success, he quit his job as a caterer and started painting full time, eventually moving to the East Village to open a studio. “Yuppies would pay $150 for a painting and then take me to dinner.” Even then, Jenson — who wrote his first novel at age 14 — was writing poetry and short stories. “One day my girlfriend told me I should send some of my poems to magazines. In a few weeks, I was getting acceptance letters, and that just fueled my desire to keep writing.” In 2005, he decided to return to the Midwest to regroup and focus on a publishing career. Jenson can be spotted in coffee shops around the city where he typically writes his first draft. “I have a quota of five pages a day,” he said. Jenson will sign books and talk about “Dead Artist” at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at Schuler Books & Music, 2660 28th St. SE.
“seeing soriah” — the novel is the story of Jordan, an art dealer who represents his 80-year-old father, a distinguished abstract painter with a violent past. with elements of mystery, the book opens as Jordan’s father begins to see a beautiful young woman about town who has an uncanny resemblance to his late wife. (due out this month) “skinny dipping in a car pool” — story about a “one hit wonder” pop star who lives in grand rapids. after the sudden death of his sister and brother-in-law, he raises their children. “erotic rights” — a cross between “fight club” and “a clockwork orange.” four midlife friends who shared a horrific weekend as teens must relive that trauma with the help of a newly developed drug that takes a person’s mind back to the past in real time and then alters the memory.
— marty Primeau January 2012 Grand rapids 11
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life & style
Time for replenishing January can be brutal. Once the glow of the holidays fades, the reality of cold dreary winter settles in — the perfect time for a little Smooch. The Gaslight Village beauty boutique with the signature lipstick logo offers soothing facials, sumptuous pedicures, makeup lessons, custom airbrush tanning, and skincare lines you won’t find elsewhere in West Michigan. Mia Walker opened the shop at 2213 Wealthy St. SE in 2006 and expanded last year after deciding to close her Holland location. “We were busting at the seams in East Grand Rapids,” she said. “The expansion allowed us to add a second waxing and facial room, another airbrush tanning room and two more manicure stations.” She also added a new service: massage therapy. “This is the time of year when people need to replenish themselves,” she said. “No matter what the economy, everyone wants to look and feel their best.” A Michigan native, Walker spent 18 years on the road as a corporate sales executive for Estee Lauder, traveling weekly to stores around the country. After starting a family with husband, Doug, she traded in her frequent flyer card and decided to open her own cosmetic business. Smooch offers a variety of skin care products, including Arcona, a holistic line based in Los Angeles, and Kiehl’s — “exclusive to us in West Michigan. It’s a great brand that appeals to all ages and both men and women.” Popular cosmetics include Nars and Stila. Right now, multi-use products are hot sellers. “Customers are watching their dollars, so it’s nice to find a lip tint that also acts as a cheek tint,” she said. Her trained staff is always ready to answer questions and offer makeup help. Each month, Walker brings in high-caliber makeup artists and skin care experts to demonstrate new products. For upcoming events, check out www.smoochbeautyboutique.com.
at smooch beauty boutique, samantha boss gives winter makeup tips to susan kohloff. on Jan. 18, the gaslight village store will team up with seva yoga for an event featuring french skincare line decléor.
PhotograPhy by Michael buck
— marty Primeau
12 Grand rapids January 2012
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PhotograPhy by Michael buck
2011-12 Readers Poll
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Life & Style
Greater Grand Rapids Ski Club members on a trip to Snowmass; below, on a summer tour of covered bridges.
A club for all seasons You don’t have to ski to be a member of the Greater Grand Rapids Ski Club. More important is a friendly personality and a yen for adventure. “About 30 percent of our members are social,” said Carl Hagstrom, president. “They go on trips to have a good time.” The club is a four-season organization with activities that include golf, kayaking, motorcycle riding, sailing — and frequent Happy Hour get-togethers. Of course, skiing is the main draw and members go on organized trips to resorts in Michigan, out West — even to Europe. Formerly the Lincoln Ski Club, the organization is 40 years old and run by volunteers. Right now, GGRSC has about 265 members, from novices to pros. In January, an instructional clinic is planned at Shanty Creek Resort “for all levels and ways to get down a ski slope, whether you’re a boarder, downhiller or cross-country enthusiast.” A few days later, expert skiers will hit Mount Bohemia in the Upper Peninsula for a four-day
extreme ski trip — “not for the faint of heart,” the website warns. The benefits of joining (yearly dues are $40 for singles and $60 for a household) mean “getting more bang for your buck,” Hagstrom said. “We get group rates and we have a great reputation. When we call a hotel up north or rent several condos in Colorado, they know we’re serious.” Besides several weekend and day trips to Michigan ski areas, the 2012 roster includes a trip to Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana and another to Keystone, Colo. “Another perk is that we’re members of the Metropolitan Detroit Ski Council and the Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council, so our members can go on their trips,” Hagstrom said. “We have some people who like to ski year round, and the Chicago club goes to Argentina and Chile to ski in July.” To check out all the activities, visit www.ggrsc.org.
— Marty Primeau
Photography courtesy Greater Grand Rapids Ski Club
The
14 Grand Rapids January 2012
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I lost 70 pounds. I have confidence. I feel beautiful. I can accomplish
anything.
i am PhotograPhy courtesy greater grand raPids ski club
what wIll
Your Story Be?
Best of 2011-12 Readers Poll
Start tODay.
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history: Grand times
Recalling the sweet life sweet’s became the premier hotel in the region, rivaling those in large cities such as chicago and new york. it became the Pantlind in 1916, and eventually, the amway grand Plaza.
the sweet family’s residence on east fulton street, one of the best examples of late 19th century architecture in grand rapids, is now home to the women’s city club.
MARTIN L. SWEET’S STORY is one of great fortune and misfortune. Rising to prominence in the latter half of the 19th century as a savvy entrepreneur, Sweet even served as mayor of Grand Rapids in 1860. Yet he eventually went on to lose it all — except for his dream house. Sweet arrived in Grand Rapids in 1846 with his wife, Desdemona, and quickly found his first successful venture coowning the “Big Mill,” a large grist mill near the banks of the Grand River. He became a leading grain dealer and began investing his earnings in personal and commercial real estate and the railroads. At the time, Grand Rapids was growing and changing into an industrial metropolis, said Tim Gleisner, director of Grand Rapids history and special collections at the Grand Rapids Public Library. By 1860, Sweet’s personal real estate was valued at approximately $10,000, and his commercial holdings were near $20,000. By 1870, the amounts had nearly quadrupled.
The Grand Rapids population was around 8,000 people in 1860 and doubling roughly every decade. The agricultural and shipping industries were gaining momentum, and manufacturing, especially furniture manufacturing, was taking off. “Basically, as the city and region was prospering and growing at such a fast clip, you had people like Martin Sweet,” Gleisner said. The entrepreneur, a railroad stock owner, built the Sweet’s Hotel on what was then the corner of Canal and Pearl. “The railroad owners would build these magnificent hotels to get people to travel and use their railroads,” Gleisner said. Sweet’s became the premier hotel in the region, rivaling those in large cities such as Chicago and New York. It became The Pantlind in 1916, and eventually, the Amway Grand Plaza. Sweet Street on the city’s northeast side was named for the native New Yorker. He owned a farm on the land that is now home to Kent Country Club, importing the first Holstein-Friesian cattle from the Netherlands, a major development for local agriculture. He was also the president of First National Bank, which became Old Kent Bank and later Fifth Third Bank. The Sweet family’s residence on East Fulton Street is now home to the Women’s City Club. Sweet built the two-story Italianate villa in 1860 and later built a nearby duplex on Lafayette Street for his two daughters. A tunnel connected the two residences. The home is now one of the best examples of late 19th century architecture in the city. Desdemona kept the house in order and was a sight to be seen when she rode the coach to church on Sundays. “That was the talk of the town — to see her in her finery,” Gleisner said.
PhotograPhy by Michael buck (bottoM); courtesy grand raPids Public library (t0P)
by aleXandra fluegel
16 Grand rapids January 2012
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Photography by Michael Buck (bottom); Courtesy Grand Rapids Public Library (t0p)
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she was a member of the ladies literary club, founded in 1873 to augment the education of women, bringing in significant guest speakers and giving high society women a beneficial social outlet.
PhotograPhy courtesy grand raPids Public library
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Little else is known about the first mistress of 254 E. Fulton. “Her life revolved around her family and her home,” he said. She was a member of the Ladies Literary Club, founded in 1873 to augment the education of women, bringing in significant guest speakers and giving high society women a beneficial social outlet. Desdemona died in 1890, and shortly after, Sweet’s business ventures failed. Near the turn of the century, he lost everything — except the family home. Records show that Sweet was given work incinerating garbage at the city dump and did so until his death in 1905. “The city lauded him for his contributions and his work ethic. Despite everything that happened, he still worked till the day he died.” gr
18 Grand rapids January 2012
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Photography Courtesy Grand Rapids Public Library
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Profile: Influential
Living as a writer Award-winning author Caitlin Horrocks says teaching creative writing is the “truest part of my job.” By Alexandra Fluegel
Looking for a few good books to curl up with this winter? Here’s what Caitlin recommends: “Let the Dead Bury Their Dead” by Randall Kenan “Once Upon a River” by Bonnie Jo Campbell
Caitlin Horrocks Profession: Writer and assistant professor of creative writing at Grand Valley State University Residence: Grand Rapids Family: W. Todd Kaneko, partner Community Involvement: Volunteer at Humane Society of West Michigan; coordinator for GVSU’s 2011-2012 Visiting Writers Series Event: Horrocks will be reading with other GVSU writing department faculty at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at the CookDewitt Center on the Allendale campus. For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/writing.
A
t 16, Caitlin Horrocks talked her way into creative writing classes at the University of Michigan. “I just walked in and sat down,” she said, and even though she wasn’t on the roster, no one made her leave. “I worked really hard, and they just let me stay.” Horrocks, who now teaches creative writing classes at Grand Valley State University, always had a passion for writing, yet never thought it would be a viable career path. “I lied to myself for a really long time about writing. I knew it was something I loved, but I just didn’t think it was a thing that real people were allowed to do. I thought it was something I could do as a student, but then I’d have to grow up and get a law degree.” Now an award-winning author, with stories appearing in The New Yorker and The Paris Review, and her collection of short stories “This Is Not Your City” draw-
ing rave reviews from critics and readers alike, the Ann Arbor native has proven that it is possible to make a living as a writer. Yet she admits it’s still strange to know that people are reading her work. “Much like I didn’t let myself believe I was really going to be a writer,” she said, “I didn’t let myself believe I’d publish a book, and people would actually read it.” Horrocks said she enjoys the ups and downs of being a working author (yes, she’s also been rejected by The New Yorker and has a Google alert set for her name), and said she pays close attention to how the publishing world is changing the way people read. “This is Not Your City” was also published as an e-book and did quite well. “That was really interesting and exciting,” she said. “I don’t feel scared of that as a write. I worry about bookstores; I worry about the browsing experience. I don’t think anyone’s figured out how to replicate that.”
Photography by Johnny Quirin
“The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore” by Benjamin Hale
20 Grand Rapids January 2012
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Profile: Influential
Photography by Johnny Quirin
“I lied to myself for a really long time about writing. I knew it was something I loved, but I just didn’t think it was a thing that real people were allowed to do. I thought it was something I could do as a student, but then I’d have to grow up and get a law degree.” — Caitlin Horrocks When asked whether she identifies herself more as an author or a professor, she paused for reflection. “I’d say ‘teacher.’ I feel like that’s what I do, I teach — that’s the truest part of my job.” It’s not a role she takes lightly. After graduating from Kenyon College, a small liberal arts school in Ohio, with a degree in English literature, Horrocks made the decision to teach English overseas. “I was interested in teaching in an abstract way, but I just hadn’t spent time in a classroom. One of the things I hoped the experience would show me was whether I liked teaching, and more importantly, whether I’d be good at it.” She spent a year teaching English in Finland and later another year teaching in Prague. While the experiences helped her decide to pursue a career in teaching, they also had an effect on her writing. “I’m fed by the place that I find myself in,” she explained. But don’t expect any stories about Grand Rapids to pop up quite yet. “I find it hard to write about a place until after I’ve left it. I have to ask myself whether the experience has given me enough knowledge about the place.” Michigan is a different place than when Horrocks left years ago, and while the challenges facing the state are many, she said it encourages a sense of resiliency. “There is this sense that you have blank-slate buildings and blocks, people needing to re-invent their lives. I think it comes out of necessity, but it’s really quite exciting. There’s room for things to happen.” GR January 2012 Grand Rapids 21
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Best of 2011-12 Readers Poll
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Design
oll
“We’re like the anti-Ikea. This stuff will last a lifetime.” — Ted Velie » pg26 Photography by Alissa Lane
Inside » David Weston 24
» Globe Vise & Truck 26
» Critic’s choice 28
» art appreciation 30
January 2012 Grand Rapids 23
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A global sense of style “The most important thing is to talk to the client. We want to know how they live or how they see their business running. And we start building from that.” — David Weston
F
olks who dined at Naya Bistro & Wine Bar or Rock Fire Grille — both former restaurant tenants at 1144 East Paris Ave. SE — won’t recognize the place. David Weston made sure of that. The co-founder of Think Design work ed with the owners of the new Ju Sushi & Lounge to transform the dining space into a sophisticated Asian eatery. “They wanted something cozy but chic,” said Weston. He expanded and revamped the bar, chose pale colors to highlight the architectural features, and designed custom furniture in rich metallic finishes. Settling into one of the banquettes in the lounge, he noted that they are as comfortable as they are attractive. “I’m really proud of the seating,” he said. “We tried to draw from elements of
the past, creating something contemporary with slight Asian influences.” The owners wanted Ju to have a big city vibe, he said — “like Chicago or New York.” And who better to hire than a designer who has lived in London, Paris and New York City. Weston, who still maintains a proper British accent, graduated from St. Martin’s College of Art in London and launched his design career in 1986. Six years later, he accepted a partnership at MacDonald Weston Interiors, which specialized in restoration, drapery fabrication and furniture production. From there he moved to southwest France and founded his own interior design firm, helping relocating Americans renovate their homes. In 2004, Weston moved to New York
Photography by Johnny Quirin
David Weston loves a design challenge, whether it’s revamping a residence or creating a new restaurant. By Marty Primeau
24 Grand Rapids January 2012
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Design: People
Photography by Johnny Quirin
Photography by Johnny Quirin
City, where he renovated a large coach house and other high-profile projects. While there, he met a Grand Rapids native and the pair moved to West Michigan, where Weston worked as a designer with Rock Home Studio. Two years later, he and Melanie Rogers, who also worked at Rock Home, opened Think Design to focus primarily on environmentally friendly design. “David has a really cool sense of global style and an appreciation of fine things,” Rogers said. “That’s something you can’t teach in design school. David has a background seeped in design classics and he’s able to extricate those concepts and apply them to modern interpretations.” Their projects have included upscale condos in River House as well as the interiors of HopCat and Bar Divani. They’ve also designed several retail establishments. “The most important thing is to talk to the client,” Weston said. “We want to know how they live or how they see
their business running. And we start building from that. At Ju, we had multiple meetings to figure out what the owners envisioned.” While Weston welcomes projects of all kinds, green design is his passion. Growing up in Europe gave him an appreciation for natural fibers. He encourages clients to consider recycled and sustainable materials whenever possible. “Europe has always been far more ahead on green issues than the United States,” he said. “Chemicals that are still in use here in the U.S. have been banned for 30 years in Europe.” He recently returned from a trip abroad and said he was impressed with the way things are being repurposed. “There were some extraordinary kitchen cabinets made out of recycled glass that are incredibly durable,” he said. “They are very expensive at the moment, but things have a way of filtering down to the mainstream after a year or so.” GR
All of the furnishings at Ju Sushi were designed by David Weston of Think Design. Opposite page, a communal table in the lounge area was made in Grand Rapids. The center three-piece table is 27 feet long and made of Cambria stone with flecks of mother of pearl on a brushed stainless steel base. The banquettes are upholstered in a metallic vinyl. The paper chandeliers were custom made to represent Japanese lanterns. Above, a wall was removed to open up the dining areas and extend the bar. Weston, seated at left, chose soft colors to highlight the architectural features overhead. Sea grass in acrylic hangs over the banquettes. A private VIP cove at the front of the restaurant features a revamped fireplace, custom drapes and an antique screen belonging to the owner.
January 2012 Grand Rapids 25
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Design: Legacy
From the factory floor Globe Vise & Truck is taking old blueprints and creating a new line of furniture for the home. By Tim McAllister
T
he philosophy behind Globe Vise & Truck’s new line of furniture can be found in the place where form meets function. The company was officially founded in 1904 as a factory furniture company — producing carts, dollies, racks and other material handling equipment — and has business records on site dating back to the 1890s. There also are hundreds of industrial blueprints from the 20th century. Ted Velie, who describes himself as Globe’s “proprietor,” has based a new line of furniture on these blueprints, resulting in pieces that are functional and pleasing to the eye. The former English teacher has a clear set of ideals behind his designs. “There’s a real nice balance between looking industrial and being sturdy, and being aesthetically pleasing and being something you’d want to have in your house,” he said. The Monarch Dining Table ($2,100) is named after Monarch Hydraulics, a Grand Rapids company that started in 1856 and remained local for 150 years. The original tables used in Monarch’s steam engine factory were made with a steel top. Velie adapted the mid-20th-century blueprint to create a modern table made of steel legs on a steel frame with a slab of local ash wood for the top. It’s on wheels, so it can be easily moved. The corners on one of the prototypes in the shop were chipped by hand to give the piece a distressed look, but this is an optional effect.
Ted Velie, proprietor of Globe Vise & Truck, has created a new line of furniture based on old industrial blueprints. Below, the G.R. Packing Co. Console with its steel frame and ash top is ideal to house an entertainment system. It was originally designed for the harsh conditions of the meat packing industry.
Workman’s Shelving ($620) — a shelving unit that at first glance wouldn’t look out of place in an automotive garage — is revealed upon closer inspection to be made from local cherry wood and steel worked on site. For added adaptability, the shelves are removable and the whole thing is on wheels. The simple, straightforward design makes it adaptable to just about any décor. While Globe normally uses new materials for its furniture, it sometimes reuses pieces that appear to be ruined. In the shop on Michigan Street are two carts made by Globe that were used by a local furniture manufacturer to haul pallets around the warehouse. The wood on one cart is dry and shredded; the metal fixtures are rusty and loose. It looks like a safety hazard — a workplace injury waiting to happen. The other cart has been restored, and while the wood retains its well-used look, it has a deep, shining glow. Dubbed The Globe Cart, it sells for $1,400.
Photography by Alissa Lane
All of the new furniture is manufactured on site, including the woodwork. Adrian Callaghan, Globe’s master wood craftsman, uses pristine vintage equipment, including saws and lathes dating back to the 1920s.
26 Grand Rapids January 2012
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Design: Legacy
All of the new furniture is manufactured on site, including the woodwork. Adrian Callaghan, Globe’s master wood craftsman, uses pristine vintage equipment, including saws and lathes dating back to the 1920s. He also uses as much local wood as possible — cherry, ash and maple — primarily sourced from sawmills in Kalamazoo and Paw Paw. For a more unusual look, Callaghan keeps a stock of exotic woods, such as purpleheart from
South America, lacewood from Australia and zebrawood from Central Africa. With the various types of wood and the different stains and lacquers, the pieces are infinitely customizable and can be ready for pick-up in approximately one month. “We’re like the anti-Ikea,” Velie said. “This stuff will last a lifetime.” Check out Globe’s website: www. globeviseandtruck.com. GR
Photography by Alissa Lane
Photography by Alissa Lane
The Globe Cart, once used to haul pallets in most furniture manufacturing warehouses in Grand Rapids, has been revamped to take a place in the living room. Below, the Monarch Dining Table was named for Monarch Hydraulics, founded in 1856 and a Grand Rapids company for 150 years. The original tables were used in Monarch’s steam engine factory.
January 2012 Grand Rapids 27
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Design: Critic’s Choice
VAI: In a class by itself Downtown Grand Rapids is blessed with great architecture. The city has such a wonderful collection of iconic buildings, both old and new, that choosing the best becomes almost impossible. Is it the emblematic City Hall with its Calder sculpture that symbolizes our city logo, or the urbane Grand Rapids Art Museum? Is it a building that expresses archi-
tectural greatness in detail, form and materiality, or is it a structure that expresses greatness in the uses that go on inside its walls? The answer may be that a combination of both external sophistication and societybenefitting internal function is what makes a building great. Using that criteria, one building stands out for me as the best architecture in Grand Rapids: Van Andel Institute. Perched atop an impressively steep hillside, this cascading composition of glass, concrete and steel overlooks downtown and anchors the western end of the Medical Mile. It gracefully gestures to both the Grand River and the city skyline, while establishing the new benchmark for medical research facilities. From the sleek, highly sophisticated laboratories to the 14-foot Chihuly sculpture hanging in the lobby, the Institute majestically balances art and science in a physical infrastructure that creates a framework for world-class disease research and medical education. The architect, Rafael Vinoly, masterfully took cues from the site and designed the structure into the hillside with a dramatic stepped silhouette that follows the topography. The result is an elegant composition of cascading forms flowing from
Photography by Michael Buck (top and bottom left); courtesy Van Andel Institute (bottom)
By Mark F. Miller, AIA
28 Grand Rapids January 2012
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Design: Critic’s Choice
Photography courtesy Van Andel Institute
Photography by Michael Buck (top and bottom left); courtesy Van Andel Institute (bottom)
Within these terraces are the laboratory spaces that provide researchers with unprecedented light-filled workspaces, flexible floor plans and inspiring views — things that are not typical for this kind of building.
a massive concrete spine that seemingly tethers them to the earth. This spine anchors the building’s contextually sensitive mass and acts as an ordering device for the dynamic forms that flank it. It also contains the building’s circulation cores and service functions. The iconic silhouette is formed by a series of terraced floors that have been enclosed by roofs of segmented glass arcs. On the west side of the building, five terraces step down to Division Avenue, terminating onto a robust, double-height concrete plinth that accentuates the ethereal qualities of the lighter glass curves above it. The east facing terraces flow toward Bostwick Street, but stop short and hover above the ground. These cantilevered floor plates provide a dynamic shelter for the entry plaza and give the
building a modern and dignified street presence. Within these terraces are the laboratory spaces that provide researchers with unprecedented light-filled workspaces, flexible floor plans and inspiring views — things that are not typical for this kind of building. Also not typical is the vision and commitment of the Van Andel family. The VAI’s facility, its programs and its scientists and doctors have helped to propel West Michigan into a leadership role in health sciences. Grand Rapids has a wealth of great architecture, from the creations of Frank Lloyd Wright and Erich Mendelsohn to the everyday buildings where we live and work. But the Van Andel Institute is in a class by itself. Contributing editor Mark F. Miller, AIA, is an architect and urban designer at Nederveld.
January 2012 Grand Rapids 29
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Design: Art Appreciation
The art of play Although they have a childlike appearance, what sets them apart from the average toy is the use of skilled engineering and composition that borrow directly from Calder’s sculpture.
Playfulness is not a description commonly encountered when studying the great masters of the history of art. Most painters and sculptors have leaned toward serious and sobering, or at least toward more intellectual pursuits. Alexander Calder (1898-1976) is among the rare exceptions, infusing much of his work with playfulness in both form and content. “Blunt Tailed Dog,” on display at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, is a treat to be enjoyed over and again. Calder was born into a family of artists in Philadelphia and exhibited a creative sensibility early on. As a child, he was given a little workshop and allowed to freely create. Among his earliest endeavors were whimsical toys and gadgets to delight his family. After studying engineering at the university level, he turned his attention to art in the 1920s, creating kinetic animal toys. Such a vein of interest was nurtured in the 1920s when Calder spent weeks sketching acts from the famous Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. This experience influenced his first great masterpiece, “Circus,” which enthralled audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. The playful demeanor of this work and
the technical skill to create hundreds of moveable figures and forms were a landmark for the artist. Even as he developed a solid career as an abstract artist, the energy and innocence of this early work remained with him. “Blunt Tailed Dog” is fine example of his “animobiles.” As a unique genre with Calder’s repertoire, these sculptures vary greatly. What remains constant are references to animals — frequently barnyard creatures or staples of the circus experience — cut from metal and brightly paint-
ed. Although they have a childlike appearance, what sets them apart from the average toy is the use of skilled engineering and composition that borrow directly from Calder’s sculpture. Calder’s sculptures are divided into three primary categories whose distinctions date back to the late 1930s when he was a young artist in Paris. “La Grande Vitesse” is a large-scale example of a stabile. These works may imply movement but have no kinetic elements. Next there are the mobiles for which Calder may be most celebrated. “Red: Rudder in the Air,” also on display at GRAM, clearly illustrates the carefully considered and graceful movement of a sculpture whose interconnected elements move through space according to the currents of the air. The final category is “standing mobiles,” which, like “Blunt Tailed Dog,” combine the former categories in a highly inventive manner. The body of “Blunt Tailed Dog” has striking similarities with “La Grande Vitesse” in the use of shape and composition. The head is reminiscent of the master’s many independent mobiles. Yet these elements have been combined to a playful and engaging end. He created the standing mobile in 1970, nearly a half century after he sketched the circus and 40 years after “Circus” first captured the imaginations of audiences. Another admirable aspect of Calder in Grand Rapids is the Keeler family, who gifted the sculptures to GRAM. Getting to know and befriend Calder was a meaningful experience for Miner S. and Mary Ann Keeler, champions for the arts in Grand Rapids. Their legacy is profound. Contributing Editor Joseph Becherer is a professor at Aquinas College and curator of sculpture at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
Photography Courtesy Grand Rapids Art Museum
By Joseph Antenucci Becherer
30 Grand Rapids January 2012
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Van Andel Institute thanks our sponsors for their generous support of the 11th annual Hope on the Hill Gala.
www.vai.org
100% of the proceeds go directly to disease research and science education at Van Andel Institute.
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Special Advertising SEction
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Special Advertising Section
Dynamic duo of home build and design By J. Stapleton-Burch
Photography by Michael Buck
Building a custom home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make. Wrought with a myriad of decisions every step of the way, it’s a process that can be overwhelming. That’s why choosing a qualified builder and designer is the most important decision of all.
Janel Joppie, designer and Gary Byker, builder
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Grand Rapids | Home
GR Home Showcase: Homes by Gary Byker
The award-winning team of Gary Byker and Janel Joppie at Homes by Gary Byker stand ready to guide you through the process from initial concept to completion with as little stress as possible. With close to 35 years combined experience, Gary and Janel joined forces a little over two years ago to make Homes by Gary Byker the premier custom home designer and builder in our area. Together they provide a design and build collaboration that is rare in the industry, handling every detail in-house to help transform your vision of a dream home into reality.
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Special advertiSing Section
HOMES BY GARY BYKER
Grand rapids | Home
4324 Canal St., Grandville (616) 292-1398 Buildanddesign.net Gary Byker, owner Credentials: With over two decades in the business, Gary Byker has earned a solid reputation in the construction industry. He brings integrity as well as a true passion to residential design and new home construction. His award-winning custom homes are locally renowned for their quality as well as their beauty. Unlike many designers, Janel Joppie brings construction project management experience to home and interior design. Her impressive home designs are equally well known in the industry and have been featured in many magazines. They are always a “must see” during the Parade of Homes. Together they have over 50 Parade of Homes behind them and their spring 2011 Parade of Homes earned the “People’s Choice” award for overall favorite Parade Home. Inspirations: Gary: “To have a client that was referred to us by a prior client — that is the greatest compliment.” Janel: “I continue to keep up on the latest trends by attending different seminars and visiting various markets to stay on top of what’s happening in the industry.” Career Highpoint: “We focus exclusively on custom home building and every one is a career highpoint. The awards and achievements are a third-party evaluation that proves the point.” Personal Highpoint: Janel and Gary agree: “Putting this team together. It just seems to work.”
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Parade Home — winner of multiple awards 2007
“that’s a benefit to our clients because we don’t have to send them out to a third party for anything,” Gary pointed out. “We eliminate the guessing games about what things are going to cost or what is happening on the jobsite because we take care of them from start to finish with both exterior and interior design.” the two handle initial client consultations together in order to fully understand the vision and convert it into a buildable set of blueprints. From then on, Janel stays in touch with the homeowners and coordinates the process while Gary can most often be found on a jobsite. “I make sure we can build it and she makes sure they’ll love it,” he said with a smile. “She begins the design process with the end vision in sight and guides them through all of the issues that people typically worry about the most. We do it one step at a time, so the homeowner is never overwhelmed.” With her experience in the building industry, Janel has a keen understanding of construction timing issues and knows when things need to be done. “other
builders may bring in a designer, but they’re not with you from the beginning,” Janel explained. “they typically do specific entities of the job so you’re handed off from one designer to another, which can cause a lot of communication issues and missed details. the common thread here is that you start with me and you finish with me for a fully integrated design. the homeowner doesn’t have to baby-sit every step of the job because we’re dealing with it. that’s why we like drawing the plans because we get to know our clients very well before we even start to dig the hole.” “Without someone like Janel, it can get to be a game of ping-pong for the client,” Gary acknowledged. “using a variety of design specialists doubles the amount of meetings necessary and adds time to the process; whereas Janel can handle everything and keep the project moving.” ultimately, choosing your builder is about choosing a relationship. While there are many builders who can build you a house, homes by Gary Byker can
12/2/11 9:51 AM
Special Advertising Section
GR Home Showcase: Homes by Gary Byker
Grand Rapids | Home
“The best part of building with Gary and Janel was the personal attention to every detail — we know they cared about our project and us as their client too.”
Great Room — Winner of People’s Choice Award — Best Overall Parade Home of Spring Parade 2011
build you a home. They don’t stop at just a vacant house. With Janel’s interior design style reflecting a timeless, warm and welcoming environment, she can add the finishing touches and exquisite design details that solidify the dream — from furniture and lighting to window treatments, wall coverings and beyond. They offer added value in a quality built and designed home that is unsurpassed. But you don’t have to take our word for it… Homes by Gary Byker plans to have two homes on display in this spring’s Parade of Homes. If you’re planning on building a new home, you owe it to yourself to check out the very best.
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Master Bathroom Spring Parade 2011 — Attention to detail is what Byker and Joppie are known for.
12/6/11 12:24 PM
Grand Rapids | Home
Special Advertising Section
By J. Stapleton-Burch
Treading respectfully on the past
T
here was a time when the words “wall-to-wall carpeting” defined the height of luxury. It was mid-last-century and unadorned floors were becoming a thing of the past. Unappreciated hardwood floors were soon buried beneath yards of shag, only to emerge decades later as home fashions came back around to embrace the beauty of allergen-free hardwoods once again. But time had taken its toll.
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That’s where brothers Tim and Rich Postma, owners of Kingstree Flooring Company in Hudsonville, come in. Specializing in reclaiming the beauty and character of hardwood flooring — either through restoration or installation — the brothers have been rescuing old heavy woods since they were teenagers helping their father in his piano restoration business. They bring a respect and reverence for the natural beauty and craftsmanship of the past to their
reclamation efforts. You can see their work around the city at such places as the cabinet room at Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, St. Cecilia’s, and the former Steketee mansion. They bring artisan skills to sanding and finishing or sourcing and installing flooring from the past. “The woods we reclaim are from a bygone era and we can reach into the past and bring some of it back,” Tim
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Grand Rapids | Home
Special Advertising Section
Photography courtesy Naturally Rustic (opposite page); Cottage Home (top)
Selected for its stability and durability, this quarter sawn white oak floor was installed by Kingstree Flooring Co. in a lakeshore home south of Saugatuck.
noted. “There’s a mystical aspect associated with old things that appeal to us as humans. They are beautiful, full of character, and have a story to tell.” He explained that before the de-forestation of America, trees grew larger and their wood harder. “The medullar rays, cross growth rings or ‘flake’ you see in a quarter-sawn white oak from the past is amazing. They have an exquisite grain pattern that is a rare thing to find in wood today. And the old wood seems to take a stain more deeply. There is a richness that comes from time and oxidation and even its former use.” Reclaimed flooring can also be built
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into new construction or an existing home. Old lumber is typically sourced from now defunct factories — often from the east coast — or other aged structures, as well as found buried in the silt in rivers and lakes. The cold water acts as a preservative and adds character to the wood. It’s the extraction, milling and skillful tooling that makes reclaimed lumber a premium product. Tim Syswerda, owner of Syswerda Construction/Naturally Rustic in Middleville, is a master of reclamation and reuse. He carefully disassembles old barns by hand to preserve as much lumber as possible for future applications. In the construction busi-
ness since he was a kid, Syswerda has honed his focus to the artistic creation of cabinetry, unique home furnishings and flooring from reclaimed materials. Well outside the mainstream, his oneof-a-kind projects add real character to a home. Like Postma, Syswerda also believes that wood from the past imparts a quality hard to find in modern lumber. “The color and character that we bring out in the wood is from old-growth lumber that you just can’t find any more. Color embeds in the wood as it ages and if the tree gets a crack or a split, water gets into it and the sunlight treats it
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Special Advertising Section
Grand Rapids | Home
Left: This is a wide plank pine flooring with heavy character and a tung oil and wax finish by Naturally Rustic. Below: Wide plank and hand scraped, this American Walnut floor warms the kitchen of a home on Reed’s Lake installed by Kingstree Flooring Co.
with an ageing that just can’t be faked. The American chestnut was practically wiped out in the early 1900s,” he continued. “A lot of Michigan farms were being built around that same time and they made use of the standing dead trees, so a lot of these barns are built out of chestnut. Any American Chestnut trees found today just don’t grow to lumber size.” Syswerda is meticulous when it comes
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to quality and acknowledges that he has encountered a common misconception. “A lot of people turn their nose up at a rustic floor,” he said. “When they hear ‘barn wood’ they envision old, gray, nondescript wood with rough splinters. It’s not like that at all. We use milled-up beams that create a great patina and we get so much character out of the aged wood. People get excited about it once they see the possibilities.”
And while it just makes good sense to reclaim, recycle and reuse commodities wherever possible, Tim Postma summed it up: “The real value and benefit of a reclaimed floor is the pleasure of looking at it, feeling it and knowing its history. It’s an individual expression. If you set your sights on having something old and unique in your home, reclaimed flooring is the right product for you.”
Photography courtesy Naturally Rustic (left); Jeffery Roberts Design (right)
One of Syswerda’s special projects involved end cut tiles — taking the barn beams and slicing them crossways like a loaf of bread. “We call them beam bricks, and we lay them out to create a pattern and then grout between the gaps just as you would with tile. They make pretty neat floors that you won’t find anyplace else,” he said.
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Member FDIC
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more than 200 reasons to love this city! By Jocelyn Burkett
Plus 11 Staff Picks
Photography by Michael Buck and Johnny Quirin
Readers PICK Mani/pedi:
There is no indulgence quite like the experience at Design 1 Salon Spa.
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Readers poll
S
ome friends meet up at a restaurant in town. As they dine, they talk about everything, with questions flying back and forth.
How’s your salad? Where did you buy that coat? Your lawn looks great! Who do you use? I had a lovely time at your daughter’s wedding. Who catered it? Your husband always looks so put together. Where does he get his clothes? I want a better rate at my bank. What’s your bank offering? I’m still hungry. Where can we go for coffee and dessert? See where we’re going with this?
Photography by Michael Buck
The Best of Grand Rapids Readers Poll is much like a conversation with an old friend. We ask several questions of you, and you willingly respond. The results of this poll reflect your preferences, and in most cases, your exceptional experiences within West Michigan. We want to know what you like, so that we (and others) might like it, too. To spice things up, in addition to the 67 Readers Poll categories, we mixed in some staff picks of places we thought you should know about. GR
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staff
Best place to Picks play video games Stella’s lounge, 53 Commerce Ave. Sw Tired of playing Angry Birds? Step away from the smart phone and join the crowds at Stella’s, the hip lounge with such classic arcade games as Donkey Kong, Street Fighter II and Tetris. In fact, Stella’s has about 100 games (some machines offer several). You can even play pinball. There’s just something about the clink of coins, the flashing lights, the unmistakable sound of flippers and bumpers, and of course, the sweet satisfaction of seeing your initials on the leader board. Regulars like to come in, order a beer and spend hours playing Robotron, Galactica and
Friendly gamers Mike button and Jason tokarchick
Ms. Pac-Man. Check the website for monthly competitions. Even if you aren’t a pinball wizard or a diehard gamer, it’s worth a visit for the blast from the past.
APPEtIZER mENu The Best: San Chez Other favorites: Rockwell Republic 25 Kitchen + Bar
DElI The Best: Schnitz Deli Other favorites: Cherry Street Deli Marie Catrib’s
BAGEl The Best: Panera Bread Other favorites: Bagel Beanery Big Apple Bagel
ICE CREAm PARloR The Best: Jersey Junction Other favorites: Sundaes at the Cottage Sundaes in the Heights
BAKERy The Best: Wealthy Street Bakery Other favorites: Arnie’s Van’s Pastry
NEw REStAuRANt The Best: Amore Trattoria Italiana Other favorites: Bartertown Diner Brewery Vivant
BREAKFASt/BRuNCh The Best: Real Food Café Other favorites: Cherie Inn Omelette Shoppe
outDooR/DECK SEAtING The Best: Rose’s Other favorites: Reds on the River Grille at Watermark
BuRGER The Best: Cottage Bar Other favorites: Choo Choo Grill Cascade Roadhouse
PIZZA The Best: Uccello’s Other favorites: Vitale’s in Ada Peppino’s
BuRRIto The Best: Beltline Bar Other favorites: El Burrito Loco Trini’s Downtown
RIBS The Best: Sam’s Joint Other favorites: Sandmann’s Brann’s
CoNEy DoG The Best: Yesterdog Other favorites: Corner Bar One Stop Coney Shop
RomANtIC DINING The Best: Reds on the River Other favorites: Tre Cugini Cygnus 27
PhotorgraPhy by Johnny Quirin (toP); Michael buck (oPPoSite Page)
regulars like to come in, order a beer and spend hours playing robotron, Galactica and ms. Pac-man. and it’s not uncommon to happen upon impromptu competitions between fellow gamers.
Dining
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ReadeRs Pick Best RiBs:
PhotorgraPhy by Johnny Quirin (toP); Michael buck (oPPoSite Page)
There’s never been a better time or place to be a carnivore than at Sam’s Joint.
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Emily Lewakowski, women’s buyer at A.K. Rikk’s
Readers PICK Men’s & Women’s Apparel:
Photography by Johnny Quirin
Having the salesperson at A. K. Rikk’s tie your half-Windsor: priceless
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SANDwICh The Best: Schnitz Deli Other favorites: Panera Bread Marie Catrib’s
Deafheaven, a black me tal band from San Francisco, per forms at the Pyramid Schem e.
SEAFooD The Best: Leo’s Other favorites: Charley’s Crab Bonefish Grill SouP The Best: Panera Bread Other favorites: Uncle Cheetah’s Soup Shop Zoup! StEAK The Best: Chop House Other favorites: Louis Benton Reds on the River
Drinking BEER/wINE mERChANt The Best: Martha’s Vineyard Other favorites: G.B. Russo & Son Crushed Grape CoFFEEhouSE The Best: Biggby Other favorites: Kava House MadCap
PhotograPhy by Johnny Quirin
PhotograPhy by Johnny Quirin
mICRoBREwERy The Best: Founders Brewing Co. Other favorites: Brewery Vivant HopCat NIGhtCluB/BAR The Best: HopCat Other favorites: The BOB Bar Divani REStAuRANt wINE lISt The Best: Reserve Other favorites: Bar Divani Reds on the River
Best music venue
Pyramid Scheme, 68 Commerce Ave. Sw
staff Picks
For three decades we’ve been catching live music at The Intersection, a fantastic local venue. But now there’s a new kid in town. Since opening last April, The Pyramid Scheme has brought an awesome selection of national acts to town (Meat Puppets, Nobunny, Guided By Voices and more), while also featuring local bands at every event. There’s a ton of beers on tap, a friendly staff, and some cool, vintage arcade games. The smaller size of the room results in a more intimate live music experience than at the larger local venues.
Services ANImAl ClINIC The Best: Cascade Hospital for Animals Other favorites: Family Friends Veterinary Hospital Weisner Innis & Schoen Auto REPAIR The Best: Veenstra’s Garage Other favorites: Community Automotive Repair Spaanstra Brothers Automotive BANK/CREDIt uNIoN The Best: Macatawa Bank Other favorites: Lake Michigan Credit Union Fifth Third Bank CAR wASh The Best: Southland Auto Wash Other favorites: Breton Village Auto Wash Waterworks Car Wash
the Pyramid scheme has brought an awesome selection of national acts to town, while also featuring local bands at every event. January 2012 Grand rapids 47
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Mike Veenstra, right, and technician Ben Palasek
Curry Chili-Bacon Poppers
Staff Picks
Best use of bacon
Graydon’s Crossing, 1223 Plainfield Ave. NE
It’s not just for breakfast anymore: Bacon has become the darling of the gourmet dinner menu. At Reserve, the chef is adding bits of bacon to the burgers. Twisted Rooster serves up some mean Spiced Carmelized Bacon Bites. But we had to go with the Curry Chili-Bacon Poppers and other bacon fare at Graydon’s Crossing. Chef Aaron Burrows only buys whole pigs from farmers he knows. They’re all free range and well cared for, and he carries on that respect when he prepares the animal, brining and smoking. The poppers start with jalapenos infused with cheeses that are then wrapped in bacon treated with the chef’s special chili rub.
Beer Battered Devils
Pigs Face
Mouth watering samples of bacon fare at Graydon’s Crossing.
Photography by Michael Buck
Irish Envy
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Readers PICK Auto Repair:
Photography by Johnny Quirin
Photography by Michael Buck
We can accurately identify only the wheels in this photo; the rest we leave to the experts at Veenstra’s Garage.
Catering Company The Best: Applause Other favorites: Above & Beyond Tommy Fitzgerald
Dermatologist The Best: Richard Ashack Other favorites: Evelyn Vanderveen Robert Lamberts
Chef The Best: Eric Chaitin/Grille at Watermark Other favorites: Andrea McFarland/Women’s City Club Tommy Fitzgerald
Dry Cleaning The Best: Sheldon Cleaners Other favorites: Afendoulis One Hour Martinizing
Dentist The Best: Michael Crete Other favorites: Matthew Gietzen Thomas Lambert
Hair Salon The Best: Design 1 Salon Spa Other favorites: Tanaz Hair Boutique & Spa Panopoulos Salons January 2012 Grand Rapids 49
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Housecleaning Service The Best: Cascade Fresh Cleaning Co. Other favorites: Molly Maid Merry Maids
Mani/Pedi The Best: Design 1 Salon Spa Other favorites: Panopoulos Salons Douglas J
Interior Design Firm The Best: Think Design Other favorites: Via Design Kathryn Chaplow
Plastic Surgeon The Best: Brad Bengtson Other favorites: John Renucci Scott Brundage
Landscaping Company The Best: Harder & Warner Other favorites: Kappes Landscapes Rooks Landscaping
Real Estate Company The Best: RE/MAX of GR Other favorites: Five Star Keller Williams
Law Firm The Best: Kuiper Orlebeke Other favorites: Warner Norcross & Judd Varnum
Retirement Community The Best: Clark Retirement Other favorites: Porter Hills Beacon Hill
Readers PICK Grocery store:
D&W Fresh Market gets it: Offer great selection and service and your loyal community will support you.
Photography by Johnny Quirin
“The staff is fast, funny, and will refill your coffee cup as many times as you can handle. Don’t get too carried away though ...”
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Best 2 a.m. breakfast
staff Picks
the Grand Coney, 809 michigan St. Nw
Sometimes a 24-hour breakfast joint is just what you need, and The Grand Coney, on the corner of Michigan and Eastern, fills that niche. The menu features breakfast diner staples, including monster omelets and skillets and pancakes that bring you back to childhood. The staff is fast, funny, and will refill your coffee cup as many times as you can handle. Don’t get too carried away though, and keep your eye on the clock.
tAttoo PARloR The Best: Mos Eisleys Other favorites: Screaming Needle Laughing Gremlin
Shopping ANtIQuE ShoP The Best: Eastown Antiques Other favorites: Blue Door Windsor Cottage
PhotograPhy by Johnny Quirin
PhotograPhy by Johnny Quirin
Auto DEAlERShIP The Best: Fox Motors Other favorites: Betten Imports Todd Wenzel BICyClE ShoP The Best: Village Bike Shop Other favorites: Ada Bike Shop Freewheeler Bike Shop BooKStoRE The Best: Schuler Books & Music Other favorites: Barnes & Noble Literary Life
Best place for cooking lessons … and a wrench staff Picks
Rylee’s Ace hardware, 1234 michigan St. NE
It sells plumbing gizmos and electrical sockets — all the stuff you expect to find at a hardware store. But Rylee’s Ace Hardware on Michigan Street also features a killer housewares department with everything from La Creuset cookware to every color of Fiestaware. Thank owner Lori Terpstra, whose granddad started the store in the late ’40s. She took over in 2000 and moved 10 years later to the current larger location, where Terpstra has room for all the fun stuff — including a full working kitchen on the sales floor. Once or twice a month, chef Kathleen Schiefler (shown above) offers classes, showing people how to use all the great gourmet gadgets for sale. Definitely not your grandfather’s hardware store.
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Best vegan dish
heritage Restaurant, 151 Fountain St. NE (GRCC Applied technology Center)
staff Picks
We applaud the menu at Bartertown Diner and truly enjoy the breakfasts at Gaia. But hey, Chef Kevin Dunn (at left) was doing vegan before vegan was cool. The culinary instructor at Grand Rapids Community College’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education started cooking plant-based dishes in the early ’90s to overcome his health issues and has been a vegan fanatic every since. Our fave is his Mock Eel, a sweet-andsour gourmet specialty made with dried shitake mushrooms, soy sauce, scallions and more. Yum.
ChIlDREN’S ClothING StoRE The Best: Snapdragon Other favorites: Children’s Place Hop Scotch
GRoCERy StoRE The Best: D&W Fresh Market Other favorites: Meijer Forest Hills Foods
FloRISt The Best: Eastern Floral Other favorites: Kennedy’s Daylily Floral
homE ACCESSoRIES The Best: Wealthy at Charles Other favorites: D2 Design Quest Northwestern Home Furnishings
FuRNItuRE StoRE The Best: Northwestern Home Furnishings Other favorites: D2 Design Quest Stone’s Throw
JEwElRy StoRE The Best: DeVries Jewelers Other favorites: Preussers Jewelers Paul Medawar Fine Jewelry
GARDEN CENtER The Best: Fruit Basket Flowerland Other favorites: Romence Gardens Koetsier’s
mEN’S APPAREl The Best: A.K. Rikk’s Other favorites: Fitzgerald’s Jurgens & Holtvluwer
PhotograPhy by Michael buck (toP & oPPoSite Page)
our fave is his mock eel, a sweet-and-sour gourmet specialty made with dried shitake mushrooms, soy sauce, scallions and more. yum.
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ReadeRs Pick Best Bike sHoP:
PhotograPhy by Michael buck (toP & oPPoSite Page)
Let’s face it, that Huffy you had as a kid was a gateway bike. Get your fix at Village Bike Shop.
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ReadeRs Pick sHoe stoRe:
Dear mieras Family Shoes … you had us at sandals. And boots. And athletic and children’s shoes. And …
RESAlE/CoNSIGNmENt The Best: Georgie’s Other favorites: Gild the Lily Windsor Cottage
hEAlth CluB The Best: MVP Sportsplex Other favorites: YMCA East Hills Athletic Club
ShoE StoRE The Best: Mieras Family Shoes Other favorites: DSW Van Hoecks
muSEum The Best: GR Public Museum Other favorites: GR Art Museum Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
womEN’S APPAREl The Best: AKA (A.K. Rikk’s) Other favorites: Leigh’s Hot Mama
outDooR FEStIVAl The Best: ArtPrize Other favorites: Festival of the Arts Celebration on the Grand
ARt GAllERy The Best: LaFontsee Galleries Other favorites: UICA Perception Gallery GolF CouRSE The Best: Thousand Oaks Other favorites: Egypt Valley Cascade Hills Country Club
PlACE FoR A RECEPtIoN The Best: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Other favorites: Women’s City Club Noto’s Old World Italian Dining
PhotograPhy by Johnny Quirin
Getting Out
PERFoRmING ARtS The Best: GR Civic Theatre Other favorites: GR Ballet Company GR Symphony
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staff Picks
Best place to see and be seen
madCap Coffee, 98 monroe Center Nw The coffee drinks are amazing, and we love placing orders on an iPad, but honestly, we go to MadCap to see and be seen. All sorts of GR professionals, artists and other important people schedule conferences and interviews in the happening coffee bar located smack dab in the middle of downtown. One marketing whiz noted, “It’s funny that the chairs are not comfortable and there is limited seating, but that does Miranda and Monica elliott
not seem to deter anyone from meeting there.” Enough said.
the coffee drinks are amazing, and we love placing orders on an iPad, but honestly, we go to madcap to see and be seen.
PuBlIC PARK The Best: Millennium Park Other favorites: John Collins Park Rosa Parks Circle
PhotograPhy by Johnny Quirin (toP); Michael buck (bottoM)
PhotograPhy by Johnny Quirin
ShoPPING mAll The Best: Woodland Mall Other favorites: RiverTown Crossings Breton Village touRISt AttRACtIoN The Best: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Other favorites: ArtPrize Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
ReadeRs Pick tattoo PaRloR:
The folks at mos Eisleys clearly understand that not all ink belongs in wells.
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READERS PICK NEW RESTAURANT:
La Dolce Vita’s small but wellstocked humidor features popular brands of cigars.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BUCK
In ancient Italian, Amore Trattoria Italiana literally translates to “The Best New Restaurant in Grand Rapids.”
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Best chicken wings Birch Lodge, 732 Michigan St. NE
STAFF PICKS
Though it’s known more for beer than barbecue, the Birch Lodge on Michigan Street does not fool around when it comes to its wings. Served in a hefty stack, these wings require you to bring your appetite if you plan to tackle them alone, but to tell the truth, they’re best shared with friends and coupled with the Brew City Fries or onion rings. Whether you’re in the mood for sweet or spicy, Birch has you covered: The sauce selection includes Asian Ginger, Sweet BBQ, Fire (caution: it’s hot!), Chipotle Honey BBQ and Buffalo. Make sure you order them Beer Battered — any other way just wouldn’t make sense.
“Served in a hefty stack, these wings require you to bring your appetite if you plan to tackle them alone ...” Best place to enjoy a stogie
STAFF PICKS
La Dolce Vita, 190 Monroe Ave. NW In this cozy lounge below The Chop House, the friendly wait staff will cut and light your hand-rolled cigar. Meanwhile, you PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BUCK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BUCK
can order a sinful dessert or a selection from the bar — we’re partial to the impressive flaming Spanish Coffee. La Dolce Vita’s small but well-stocked humidor features popular brands of cigars. The smoke-handling equipment functions very well, to the point that dining patrons generally are unaware the lounge is beneath them. JANUARY 2012 GRAND RAPIDS 57
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Staff Picks
Best root beer menu Electric Cheetah, 1015 Wealthy St. SE
Ever heard of Wild Bill’s Root Beer? If not, head over to Electric Cheetah, the Wealthy Street eatery with the most impressive selection of craft root beers in town. Probably in the whole state. The place has more than 20 different kinds, from Virgil’s out of Los Angeles to Detroit’s Faygo. The restaurant didn’t wanted to offer a drink that was different and unique to accompany our unique and different food,” said Michael Maher, general manager. Root beer is still Cheetah’s most popular beverage. As for Wild Bill’s, made at Northwoods Soda & Syrup Co. just outside Traverse City — “It’s local, organic and sustainable, just about everything you could want in a bottle.”
Photography by Johnny Quirin
have a liquor license when it first opened, “so we
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ReadeRs Pick HousecleaninG seRVice:
No dust bunnies were harmed in the making of this picture. (Cascade Fresh had already shooed them out of the house!)
PhotograPhy by Johnny Quirin
PhotograPhy by Johnny Quirin
audrey Mccarty and chris Mckinney
“... standing in the lobby at Wolfgang’s on a weekend morning offers an eclectic mix of interesting folks, from pierced and tattooed hipsters to smiling seniors craving Uncle ron’s skillet (you’ll have to look that up on the menu).
Best people watching wolfgang’s, 1530 wealthy St. SE
staff Picks
Sure, there are lots of places to view humanity — certainly any mall or airport. But standing in the entry at Wolfgang’s on a weekend morning offers an eclectic mix of interesting folks, from pierced and tattooed hipsters to smiling seniors craving Uncle Ron’s Skillet (you’ll have to look that up on the menu). Despite typically long waits and overflow crowds at peak hours, no one ever seems grumpy. Entertainment is provided by the wait staff as they maneuver through the tiny space juggling gigantic trays heaped with plates and scorching coffee — rarely spilling a drop. (Oh, and the breakfasts are divine!)
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Clark Retirement residents don’t spend much time talking about the good old days. They are too busy looking forward to tomorrow. We have spent more than 100 years mastering the art of Clark, which means creating a vibrant community rich with opportunities for personal growth, friendships, and lots of fun. To learn more about how you can enjoy life at Clark, call us at 616-452-1568 or visit clarkretirement.org.
Independent & Assisted Living | Skilled Nursing Dementia Care | Rehabilitation | Clark At Home
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Best of 2011-12 Readers Poll
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City Guide MORE THAN 300 GUESTS CHECKED OUT THE LATEST FASHIONS AT Couture For a Cure, THE ANNUAL FASHION EVENT BENEFITING THE VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE. » PG103
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BUCK
INSIDE » DINING REVIEW 62
» CHEF PROFILE 74
» GRAND VINE 78
» FRESH HOPS 90
» CLUBS ‘N’ PUBS 100
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City Guide: Dining Review
two popular entrees on the Electric Cheetah’s menu are Pan-seared salmon, front, and bangers and mash.
A roar for Cheetah oNE MEMBEr oF THE magazine’s dining panel is especially picky. Hard butter? Points off. Red wine served a tad too warm? More points subtracted. Spotty service? Huge reduction. You get the picture. But the stickler is quick to praise innovative cuisine and a friendly vibe, so we took him to The Electric Cheetah. This wasn’t our first visit, of course, but we hadn’t been since the urban Wealthy Street eatery added beer and wine options. Cheetah’s eclectic menu includes several small plates and a dozen or so “green cuisine” options, many with such ingredients as quinoa, couscous, locally sourced produce and add-ons of grilled chicken, tofu or Portobello mushrooms. There are two daily soups, 20 serious sandwiches and 10 “dinners that delight.” Also notable are
the hand-cut Michigan russet or sweet-potato fries, seasoned with rosemary from plants that line the picture windows along the front of the dining room. The beverage menu has craft beers and a selection of wines to go along with the signature 26-plus craft root beer selections. With the help of a knowledgeable server, our party of four selected a bottle of Kono Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Marlborough, New Zealand ($26) to accompany our shared small-plate starters of Aunt Allie’s Rumaki ($8), Hot Goat Dip ($8) and Crock of Peppers ($8). The dip consisted of goat and cream cheeses whipped together with roasted tomatoes, garlic and spinach, broiled to bubbling and served with warm wedges of grilled naan.
PhotograPhy by Johnny Quirin
by ira CraavEn
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PhotograPhy by Johnny Quirin
City Guide: Dining Review
The 13 bacon-wrapped water chestnuts of the rumaki had been baked just right and served with a “sticky, sweet, tangy, smoky sauce.” Our favorite was the tiny peppadew peppers stuffed with herbed feta cream cheese, covered with provolone and baked. The dish was spicy and delightful, especially when spread on the warm, soft naan. Picky panel member was pleased. There are other fun appetizers, including the Southern Raw Fries ($5): thin-sliced Michigan potatoes fried to the point that they are crispy yet floppy and topped with kosher salt and white balsamic vinegar. For entrees, one member of our party ordered the Singing Eggplant ($9) from the Green Cuisine section. The most decoratively assembled of all of our dishes, it consisted of three thick-cut, cornmeal-crusted, pan-fried slices of eggplant. One was topped with a grilled Portobello mushroom, another with roma tomatoes roasted in olive oil and garlic, and the third with a thick slice of fresh mozzarella. The trio was topped with a sprinkling of Mudlake microgreens and drizzled with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and sea salt. It was a definite palate-pleaser with its crispy coating and combination of flavors. A praiseworthy selection was the Classic Gnocchi ($14). The house-made potato dumplings were bathed in a velvety Maytag bleu cheese cream sauce and topped with shaved parmesan and chopped chives. One guest described it as “heavenly little pillows of fluffiness.” Another was just as pleased with the Bangers and Mash ($17): Three large panseared savory Irish sausages were perched on a pile of house-made buttermilk mashed potatoes with caramelized cipollini onions in a demi-glace, accompanied by buttery sautéed Brussels sprouts. The fresh and tasty sprouts had a touch of lemon; the bangers were tender and flavorful, with the sweet cipollinis providing a perfect foil against the savory sausage. The tangy buttermilk mashed potatoes made a perfect companion. Picky diner opted for the meatloaf ($17). The Electric Cheetah has elevated this classic comfort food to star status. The house-made meat loaf includes a combination of pork, lamb, beef, Portobello mushrooms and caramelized onions. The two sizable slices — each at least an inch-and-a-half thick — were grilled to flavorful perfection and topped with a ladle of jus and a drizzle of black truffle oil. Whatever magic mojo Electric Cheetah performs on this meat-
loaf, it ranks among the best, with the density of the meat and smoky tastes of the grill making it almost steak-like. The dish included a generous serving of French green beans and a pile of mashed potatoes. Dinners include a choice of house salad or soup. We chose the salad of mixed greens, slivered carrots, cherry tomatoes and red onion strips. Be forewarned: The HOT smoked jalapeno vinaigrette is indeed as described. The creamy buttermilk ranch dressing is a much more tongue-friendly choice. Dessert options that night — there are several homemade creations — included pumpkin pie. Picky diner ordered it, asking if it was possible to get a little extra whipped cream on top. “You got it,” the server replied. Imagine our surprise when the manager, who’d been by a few times throughout the evening to make sure everything was satisfactory, came by with a large bowl and whisk. “When I was a server, this was one of my specialties,” he explained as he whipped the cream to fluffy perfection. “There’s enough here for a table of eight.” Picky diner was grinning ear to ear as he polished off the pie with a cup of Grand Rapids Coffee Roasters organic, fair trade Cheetah Blend. Our only minor complaint was the noise level. The LEED-certified space is cozy with exposed ductwork, original artwork, paper lantern globes and open kitchen. But all those hard surfaces can make the din pretty loud when the place is packed. Cheetah has a parking lot behind the restaurant and offers Saturday and Sunday brunch. And don’t forget about sister eatery Uncle Cheetah’s Soup Shop, just down the street at 1133 Wealthy St. SE, with a dozen scratch soups every day, plus sandwiches, salads, the occasional pot pies, and desserts (including homemade ice cream). GR
DINERS AWARDED
98
POINTS
THE ELECTRIC CHEETAH 1015 wealthy st. sE grand rapids (616) 451-4779 www.electriccheetah.com
ira’s Rating System Food: Selection, variety, product quality, taste, preparation, innovation and consistency. Service: Hospitable, knowledgeable and prompt. Value: Pricing, number of à la carte items, consistency. Beverages: Selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Ambiance: General atmosphere; overall cleanliness. (grand rapids magazine editors, american Culinary federation greater grand rapids chapter, grCC’s secchia institute for Culinary Education instructors and beverage distributors all contributed to these established guidelines.)
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City Guide
Dining listings
Dining listings are not determined by advertising. While the magazine staff updates listings periodically, calls to confirm information are recommended. If you know of any additions or corrections, please email mprimeau@ geminipub.com. Symbols are defined in a legend at the end of this listing.
New American
Upscale, contemporary cooking including ethnic twists on familiar standbys.
local ingredients. Full bar; more than 20 rotating draught beers, many from area microbreweries. Open daily. 924 Cherry St SE, 808-3566. the $-$$ greenwell.com. L, D
25 KITCHEN AND BAR — Dining and bar space on separate levels and a menu that offers 25 pizzas, 25 beers, 25 specialty cocktails, 25 appetizers and inventive entrees artfully presented. Open daily. 25 Ottawa Ave SW, 805-5581. twentyfivegr. com. L, D $-$$
GRILL ONE ELEVEN — American-with-a-twist menu, full-service bar and lounge. Sunday Brunch buffet 10 am-2 pm, otherwise opens at 11 am. 111 Courtland Dr, Rockford 863-3300. grilloneeleven. com. B (Sun), L, D $-$$
BAR DIVANI — Wine flights, large array of spirits; classy surroundings. European-inspired food with plates meant for sharing, flatbreads, sushi and a variety of entrees. Closed Sun. 15 Ionia Ave SW, 774-9463. bar-divani.com. L, D $-$$ FBISTRO BELLA VITA — Big-city casual; fresh French and Italian cuisine, locally sourced and prepared over a wood fire. Mammoth martini bar, nice wine selection. 44 Grandville Ave SW, 2224600. bistrobellavita.com. L, D $ BLUE WATER GRILL — Wood-burning rotisserie and wood-fired pizza oven allow for inspired dishes from fresh seafood to beef. Nice wine selection and The BOB’s microbrews. Lakeside views, outdoor patio with fireplace, full-service bar. 5180 Northland Dr NE, 363-5900. thegilmorecollection. com/bluewater.php. L, D $-$$ _ CITYSEN LOUNGE — Limited but tantalizing selection of soup, salads, sandwiches and sharable small-plate creations. Happy Hour daily 4-7 pm. CityFlats Hotel, 83 Monroe Center, (866) 609-CITY. cityflatshotel.com. L, D ¢-$ COBBLESTONE BISTRO — Eclectic, globally inspired menu executed with pizzazz in attractive surroundings, complete with fireplace, waterfalls and koi pond. 9818 Cherry Valley Ave SE, Caledonia, 588-3223. mycobblestone.com. B (weekends), L, D $ FCYGNUS 27 — Stylized décor reflects a celestial theme that matches the views from the 27th floor of the Amway Grand Plaza. Seasonally driven menu encourages sharing. Open Tue-Sat eves; Sun brunch Labor Day to Mother’s Day. 187 Monroe Ave NW, 776-6425. amwaygrand.com. D $$ -ELECTRIC CHEETAH — Eclectic menu changes weekly with an emphasis on locally grown fare and creative combinations in urban setting. Unique Sunday brunch. 1015 Wealthy St SE, 4514779. electriccheetah.com. L, D ¢-$ GILLY’S AT THE BOB — Innovative takes on seafood on the 1st floor of The BOB, complete with raw bar. Seasonal menu offers cutting-edge fare. 20 Monroe Ave NW, 356-2000. thebob.com. L (Sat), D $-$$ GRAYDON’S CROSSING — English pub serves Indian food with a British influence. Full bar features impressive array of specialty beers. 1223 Plainfield Ave NE, 726-8260. graydonscrossing. com. L, D $ GREEN WELL GASTRO PUB — Daily menu features comfort fare with a flare, emphasizing
GROVE — Earth-to-table concept focuses on three- and four-course meals with a tilt toward sustainable seafood. Open 5-9 pm Tue-Sat. 919 Cherry St SE, 454-1000. groverestaurant.com. D $$ THE HERITAGE — GRCC culinary arts students prepare gourmet dishes from steaks to vegan fare at a reasonable cost. Menu changes weekly. Wine available with dinner. Open Tue-Fri during academic year. Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St NE, 234-3700. grcc.edu/heritage. L, D $-$$ FMARCO NEW AMERICAN BISTRO — Frenchcountry-casual offers creative dinner fare and pizza with a more casual lunch menu. Full bar. Closed Sun. 884 Forest Hill Ave SE, 942-9100. marcobistro.com. L, D $-$$ OLIVES — 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. L, D ¢-$ ONE TRICK PONY GRILL & TAPROOM — Eclectic menu with samplings of vegetarian, Mexican and European cuisines. Dine alfresco on street-front patio. Occasional live music. Closed Sun. 136 E Fulton St, 235-7669. onetrick.biz. L, D ¢-$ RESERVE — Wine bar with extensive by-the-glass selections and culinary options to match. Opens at 4, closed Sun. 201 Monroe Ave NW, 855-9463. reservegr.com. D $-$$ ROCKWELL-REPUBLIC — Diverse menu emphasizes locally sourced ingredients from sushi to creative comfort food. Upper-level outdoor seating. 45 S Division Ave, 608-6465 or 551-3563. $-$$ republicgrandrapids.com. L, D ROSE’S — Dockside dining on EGR’s Reeds Lake with a varied menu and a three-season porch. 550 Lakeside Dr SE, 458-1122. Takeout at Rose’s Express, 2224 Wealthy St SE, 458-4646. thegilmore collection.com/roses.php. B (weekends), L, D $ SAN CHEZ, A TAPAS BISTRO — Spanish fare focusing on tapas-style appetizers, side dishes and entrées. Extensive wine and beer list includes Spanish varieties and sherry. 38 W Fulton St, 7748272. sanchezbistro.com. L, D $-$$ SCHNITZ ADA GRILL — Deli by day, casual fine dining by night. 97 Ada Dr, Ada, 682-4660. schnitzdeli.com. L, D ¢-$$ SIX.ONE.SIX — Contemporary American fare. JW Marriott, 235 Louis St NW, 242-1500. ilovethejw. com. B, L, D $-$$
TAVERN ON THE SQUARE — Tapas-style fare plus house specialties. Patio seating. 100 Ionia Ave SW, 456-7673. tavernonthesq.com. L, D ¢-$ WINCHESTER — Locally sourced menu aims to reinvent bar food in reclaimed century-old space with shuffleboard court-patio. 648 Wealthy St SE, 451-4969. winchestergr.com. L, D ¢-$
Classic American
Restaurants and diners serving traditional dishes popular across the country. ACORN GRILLE AT THOUSAND OAKS — Blend of traditional and innovative cuisine, artfully presented in handsome dining room with golf course views. Open daily in season. 4100 Thousand Oaks $$ Dr, 447-7750. thousandoaksgolf.com. L, D ARYANA RESTAURANT & BAR — Comfortable dining room in the Crowne Plaza Hotel offers breakfast buffet, lunch and fine dining selections from an extensive seasonal menu. Open daily. 5700 28th St SE, 957-1770. mainstreetmedia group.com. L, D $-$$ BENTHAM’S RIVERFRONT RESTAURANT — Upscale selections served in casually elegant surroundings. Open daily in the Amway Grand Plaza, 774-2000. amwaygrand.com/benthams.html. B, L, D $ BONEFISH GRILL — Offers fresh-from-the-seas fare. Casual, white-linen dining. Seafood selections augmented by innovative sauces and toppings; also chicken, beef and pasta dishes. 1100 East Paris Ave SE, 949-7861. bonefishgrill.com. D $-$$ BOULDER CREEK RESTAURANT — Boulder Creek Golf Club restaurant serves a varied menu with golf-course views from inside or on the deck. 5750 Brewer Ave NE, Belmont, (616) 363-1330, ext 2. bouldercreekgolfclub.com. L, D ¢-$ BRANN’S SIZZLING STEAKS AND SPORTS GRILLE — Famous sizzler steaks with grill items and salads, baskets, Mexican entrees and bar munchies. Brann’s of Grandville, 3475 Fairlanes, Grand Village Mall, 531-6210; Mike & Johnny Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille, 401 Leonard St NW, 454-9368; Tommy Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille, 4157 S Division Ave, 534-5421; John Brann’s of Cascade, 5510 28th St SE, 285-7800; Brann’s of Holland, 12234 James St, (616) 393-0028; Brann’s of Muskegon, 5510 Harvey St, (231) 7981399; Brann’s of Portage, 700 Martin Luther King Dr, (269) 321-8852; Brann’s Caledonia, 6450 100th St, 891-6055. branns.com. L, D $ BULL’S HEAD TAVERN — A dozen appetizers from brie to pot stickers. Dinners include warm bread and chef-selected sides. 188 Monroe Ave NW, 454-3580. thebullsheadtavern.com. L, D $ CASCADE ROADHOUSE — Relaxed atmosphere with a diverse menu of traditional fare. Closed Sun. 6817 Cascade Rd SE (at Old 28th St), 9491540. L, D $-$$ CHARLEY’S CRAB — Fresh seafood from a menu that changes nightly. Located on the Grand River. Early menu (4:30-6 pm daily), Sun brunch. GR Steamer Bar has its own menu. 63 Market Ave SW, 459-2500. muer.com. L, D, C $-$$ FTHE CHOP HOUSE — In the tradition of the best American chophouses with aged prime beef and more. Downstairs is La Dolce Vita dessert and cigar bar. Closed Sun. 190 Monroe Ave NW, 4516184. thechophouserestaurant.com. D $$
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City Guide DUGAN’S PUB & GRILLE — Casual dining with steaks, seafood, pasta and more at The Elks at the Highlands Golf Club. Adjacent Glendevon offers banquet facilities. 2715 Leonard St NW, $-$$ 453-2451. grandrapidselks.org. L, D FALL CREEK — Appetizers, gourmet pizzas and creative entrées. Closed Sun-Mon. 201 Jefferson St, Hastings, (269) 945-0100. fallcreekdining. com. L, D ¢-$
in parking ramp at Ottawa and Louis. Closed Sun. 60 Ottawa Ave NW, 454-6700. leosrestaurant. $-$$ com. L, D LOUIS BENTON STEAKHOUSE — Features premium Buckhead beef, wet- and dry-aged steaks and more. Closed Sun. Free valet parking at Ionia entrance. 77 Monroe Center Ave NW, Suite 100, $-$$ 454-7455. louisbenton.com. L, D
MAXFIELD’S — Vast lunch and dinner menus are enhanced by daily feature buffets. Open Tue-Sun. 11228 Wyman Rd, Blanchard, (800) 550-5630. maxfieldsrestaurant.com. L, D $$ MEADOWS RESTAURANT — GVSU’s professional and student-staffed restaurant; patio and dining room overlook golf course. Full menu offers everything from burgers to NY strip steak.
FIREROCK GRILLE — Country club dining plus option to cook your own filet, shrimp or ahi tuna on a 500-degree stone. Open daily. Sun brunch 10 am-2 pm. Stonewater Country Club, 7177 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 656-9898. stonewatercc. com. L, D $ FLAT RIVER GRILL — Casual atmosphere in turnof-century building on the river. Al fresco dining on patio. Menu ranges from comfort food to wood-fired pizzas. Full bar plus The BOB’s House of Brews beers on tap. 201 E Main St, Lowell, 8978523. thegilmorecollection.com/flatriver.php. L, D $-$$ GRAND VILLA — Longtime favorite serving prime rib, seafood, complete salad bar, full service bar. Closed Sun. 3594 Chicago Dr SW, 538-1360. $ grandvillarestaurants.com. L, D GREAT LAKES SHIPPING CO. — Everything from beef, seafood and beyond in comfortable dockside motif. Patio open in summer. No lunch, but open Sun afternoons. 2455 Burton St SE, 9499440. greatlakesshippingcompany.com. D $-$$ GRILLE 29 — Menu includes specialty panini and a variety of entrées. Full-service bar. Open daily for breakfast and dinner. Holiday Inn Select, 3063 Lake Eastbrook SE, 285-7600. holidayinn.com. B, $ D GRILLE AT WATERMARK — Innovative menu in relaxing atmosphere overlooking golf course. Mon-Sat; Sun brunch 10 am-2 pm. 5500 Cascade Rd SE, 949-0570. watermarkcc.com. L, D $-$$ GRILL HOUSE & ROCK BOTTOM BAR — Grillyour-own steakhouse with grillmasters on call. Bottomless salad bowl and potato bar. 1071 32nd St (M-40), Allegan, (269) 686-9192. grillhouse. net. L (downstairs), D $-$$ HONEY CREEK INN — Daily specials are the highlight, mixed with traditional fare. Closed Sun. 8025 Cannonsburg Rd, Cannonsburg, 874-7849. honeycreekinn.com. L, D ¢-$ HUDSONVILLE GRILLE — Varied menu includes Mexican favorites and breakfast. Full bar. Closed Sun. 4676 32nd Ave, Suite F, Hudsonville, 6629670. hudsonvillegrille.com. B, L, D ¢-$
Photography by Johnny Quirin
J BAR — The BOB’s steakhouse restaurant. Closed Sun. 20 Monroe Ave NW, 356-2000. the bob.com. D $$ KOPPER TOP — Raw copper tops the bar and tables at this GR staple with a long-standing tradition of seasonal decorations. No lunch Sat, closed Sun. 638 Stocking Ave NW, 459-2001. Facebook. L, D ¢ THE LANDING — Nautical décor with windows overlooking the Grand River. Menu features American favorites and German specials. Live music and dancing in the lounge. 270 Ann St NW (Radisson Riverfront Hotel at US 131), 363-7748. radis son.com/hotels/migrapno/dinings. B, L, D $ OLEO’S — Combines fine dining (fresh seafood is the specialty) and casual comfort. Street level
Return of the olive burger Smashburger, which recently opened a second location in Grand Rapids, is the brainchild of a local guy. “I was born and raised in Grand Rapids,” said Tom Ryan, Smashburger’s founder who now lives in Boulder, Colo., where his burger empire is headquartered. “I went to grade school at St. Adalbert’s, and I went to high school at West Catholic. I graduated in 1975 and then had a really nice run at Michigan State. I did my undergraduate degree, my master’s degree and my doctorate there.” Ryan said he intends to “bring burgers back into people’s lives.” More importantly, he has brought back the Michigan Olive Burger. Since the demise of West Michigan chains Mr. Fables and Hot ’N Now, these local faves have been harder to come by. The Grand Rapids locations are the only Smashburgers nationwide that sell the olive burger, made with chopped green olives, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo on an egg bun. “I remember, growing up, the allure of olive burgers, which are really only popular in West Michigan, so I wanted to bring that back,” Ryan said. “I’ve always missed them.” Though he stays busy opening new Smashburgers across the country, Ryan does have occasion to visit his hometown where his father still lives. “I get back to Grand Rapids about three or four times a year,” he said. The first local Smashburger opened in a rather odd location for a burger joint: in the food court at Spectrum Health, 25 Michigan St NE on the Medical Mile. The second location is in the long-vacant Blockbuster building at 2650 East Beltline Ave. north of 28th Street. “We’re thrilled and delighted to be opening stores in Grand Rapids,” Ryan said. “Right now, the plan is for six total restaurants in the area.” January 2012 Grand Rapids 65
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City Guide Seasonal hours; closed Sun. 1 W Campus Dr, Allendale, 895-1000. gvsu.edu/meadows/. L, D $-$$ MIDDLE VILLA INN — Weekly prime rib specials, salad bar, casual atmosphere, occasional live bands. Banquet rooms available. Closed Mon and Wed. 4611 N Middleville Rd, Middleville, (269) $ 795-3640. middle-villa-inn.com. L, D PEARL STREET GRILL — Bright, airy restaurant in the downtown Holiday Inn. Open daily. 310 Pearl St NW, 235-7611. guestservice@higrdt.com. B, L, D $ RED JET CAFÉ — Gilmore Collection restaurant in the former Creston Heights library. Coffee bar and menu ranging from omelets to specialty pizzas. Full bar; opens 7 am. 1431 Plainfield Ave NE, 719-5500. thegilmorecollection.com/redjet.php. B, L, D (Tue-Sat) ¢-$ FREDS ON THE RIVER — Located on the Rogue River, Reds combines casual sophistication with Tuscan sensibilities. Closed Sun. 2 E Bridge St, Rockford, 863-8181. reds-live.com. L, D $-$$ RIO GRAND STEAK HOUSE & SALOON — Texasstyle barbecue ribs, steaks and more. 5501 Northland Dr NE, 364-6266; 1820 44th St SW, 534-0704. michiganmenu.com. L, D $-$$ RUSH CREEK BISTRO — Diverse menu in clublike surroundings. Weeknight and happy hour specials. Sunnybrook Country Club, 624 Port $ Sheldon Rd, Grandville, 457-1100. L, D RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE — The classic American steakhouse now in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel’s fully renovated former 1913 Room. 187 Monroe Ave NW, 774-2000. amway grand.com. L, D $$ SAM’S JOINT — Award-winning ribs and unique décor of antiques and memorabilia. Extensive menu includes Mexican selections; full bar. 2412 Briggs Rd, Gun Lake, (269) 795-3965; 7449 68th St, Dutton, 698-1833; 107 E Main St, Caledonia, 891-1128; 19 N Main St, Rockford, 866-3324; 6618 Old Grand Haven Rd, Norton Shores, (231) 7987155; 15520 48th Ave, Coopersville, 837-8558; 1665 Viewpond SE, Kentwood, 455-2111. L, D $ SPINNAKER — Menu features seafood and landlubber entrees. Sunday brunch. 4747 28th St SE (Hilton Grand Rapids Airport), 957-1111. thehilton. com. B, L, D $-$$ SUNDANCE GRILL — Breakfast-and-lunch spot also offers a dinner menu in the California/ Southwestern tradition with a margarita bar. 5755 28th St SE (Esplanade Plaza), 956-5644; 40 Pearl St NW (breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Tue-Sat), 776-1616. 4gr8food.com. B, L, D $
Metal Art Studio
SWAN INN RESTAURANT — Home-cooked meals such as pot roast, Salisbury steak and meatloaf. Huge breakfasts. Cygnet Lounge offers cocktails and nibbles, dinner menu. 5182 Alpine Ave NW, 784-1245. swaninnmotel.com. B, L, D ¢-$
fine jewelry
TERRACE GRILLE AT BAY POINTE INN — Casual gourmet dining, martini bar and lakeside terrace. Seasonally changing menu emphasizes regional fare. Sunday brunch. 11456 Marsh Rd, Shelbyville (off US 131), (269) 672-5202 or (888) GUN-LAKE. baypointeinn.com. L, D $-$$
Tu-Fr 10-5 Sat 12-4 616-459-5075 820 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids metalartstudioinc.com
TILLMAN’S — Chicago-style chophouse that’s been “hidden” in a warehouse district for more than 25 years. Known for steaks but something for every taste. Closed Sun. 1245 Monroe Ave NW, 451-9266. L, D $-$$
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TIMBERS INN — Menu ranges from appetizers to wild game offerings and meat ’n’ potatoes fare in lodge-like surroundings. Sunday omelet bar til 2 pm. 6555 Belding Rd NE, 874-5553. timbersinn. ¢-$ net. L, D TULLYMORE — Restaurant at Tullymore Golf Club offers seasonal menu in beautiful surroundings. Large patio for outdoor dining. 11969 Tullymore, Stanwood, (800) 972-4837. tullymoregolf.com. $-$$ L, D TWISTED ROOSTER — Classic dishes with unexpected twists. Full bar featuring 18 beers on tap, local beers/wines. Open daily. 1600 East Beltline Ave NE, 301-8171. twistedrooster.com. L, D ¢-$$ WALLDORFF BREWPUB & BISTRO — Microbrewery with varied menu. 105 E State St, Hastings, (269) 945-4400. waldorffbrewpub.com. L, D ¢-$ WINTER INN — Seafood, steaks and prime rib along with seafood specialties in historic inn setting. Banquet facilities. 100 N Lafayette St, Greenville, (616) 754-7108. thewinterinn.com. L, D $
Daytime casual Eateries that specialize in breakfast and lunch.
ANNA’S HOUSE — Family dining with breakfast and lunch until 2 pm. 3874 Plainfield Ave NE, 361¢ 8500. B, L CHERIE INN — Relaxed setting for upscale breakfasts and innovative specials, served until 3 pm. Closed Mon. 969 Cherry St SE, 458-0588. Facebook. B, L ¢ FAT BOY BURGERS — Legendary burger joint in the Cheshire neighborhood offers breakfast 6-11 am weekdays (7 am Sat) and lunch until 3 pm. Closed Sun. 2450 Plainfield Ave NE, 361-7075. B, ¢ L THE GATHERING PLACE — Cozy setting and imaginative menu, including homemade soups and dessert selections. Open daily until 2 pm. 6886 Cascade Rd SE, 949-3188. B, L $ OMELETTE SHOPPE & BAKERY — A plethora of omelets, along with pecan rolls, pastries and more. Open daily til 3 pm. 545 Michigan St NE, 726-5800; 1880 Breton Rd SE, 726-7300. ¢-$ omletteshoppe.com. B, L REAL FOOD CAFÉ — Open early for breakfast and lunch. Open until 2 pm; closed Mon. 2419 Eastern Ave SE, 241-4080; 5430 Northland Dr NE, 3611808. Facebook. B, L ¢ RED GERANIUM CAFÉ — Popular spot for specialty omelets, homemade soups, breads and desserts. Two locations: 6670 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 656-9800; 5751 Byron Center Ave. 532-8888. redgeraniumcafe.com. B, L ¢ SUSIE’S CAFÉ — Breakfast served through lunch. Sandwiches, soups and burgers from the grill with malts, smoothies and ice cream. 1120 Knapp St NE, 363-1530. B, L ¢ WOLFGANG’S — Popular Eastown spot renowned for breakfasts. Lunch includes salads, sandwiches. Open 6:30 am-2:30 pm daily. 1530 Wealthy St SE, 454-5776. mattwolfgang.com. B, L ¢
Vegetarian GAIA CAFÉ — Totally vegetarian fare served in a
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Grand Rapids | 616.776.6426 | Inside the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel | ruthschris.com
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LITTLE AFRICA CUISINE — Humble storefront café offers hearty vegetable stews; sauces and fixings served on Ethiopian flat bread. Sample other Ethiopian specialties. Cash or checks only. Open daily. 956 E Fulton St, 222-1169. Facebook. L, D ¢
Pubs & Taverns 84th STREET PUB AND GRILLE — Menu offers American fare from pizzas to steaks in laidback surroundings with flat-screen TVs and full-service bar. 8282 Pfeiffer Farms Dr, Byron Center, 583¢-$ 1650. 84thstpub.com. L, D BAR LOUIE — Urban décor at Woodland Mall, with sandwiches, appetizers, burgers and hearty entrées. More than 20 beers, along with a nice wine selection and specialty cocktails. Outdoor seating. 3191 28th St SE, 885-9050. barlouieamer ica.com. L, D $-$$
Family-style Brann’s The 10th Brann’s Sizzling Steaks & Sports Grille — the first franchise in the family-owned operation — opened at 6450 100th St. in Caledonia. It seems fitting that the owner is Mike Brann Jr., the grandson of the late John Brann Sr. who launched the family’s first steakhouse in 1960. While the concept in the new restaurant is the same, Brann said the Caledonia restaurant is a smaller, family-style sports bar. “Some of the Brann’s have a sports bar in one room and a restaurant in another,” he said. “Here, we’ve combined the two into one space. People tell me they feel comfortable bringing their children in, yet they can also come for happy hour.” Brann, who worked with his father, Mike Sr., for eight years at the Cascade Brann’s, said he hopes the new steakhouse will encourage others to open a Brann’s franchise. “We’re looking at other cities around Michigan.” For more information, visit branns. com or call (616) 891-6055.
BOBARINO’S AT THE BOB — Grill on 2nd floor of The BOB offers everything from wood-fired pizza to upscale entrées. Full-service bar with The BOB’s microbrews on tap. Live entertainment in Cisco’s Island Lounge. 20 Monroe Ave NW, 3562000. thegilmorecollection.com/bobarinos.php. $ L, D BUD & STANLEY’S — Extensive menu includes Mexican specialties, pasta, burgers and more. TVs galore and takeout available. 1701 4 Mile Rd ¢-$ NE, 361-9782. L, D CASCADE SPORTS GRILL — Varied menu and sizable bar with 10 brew taps and extensive martini menu. Games, TVs and live DJ Sat night. Cascade Centre, 6240 28th St SE, 974-3338. Facebook. L, D $ CHEERO’S SPORTS & SUSHI GRILL — Japanese fare along with pizza, burger and microbrew. Several TVs and outdoor patio next to Michigan Athletic Club. Open daily. 2510 Burton St SE, 608¢-$ 3062. cheerosgrill.com. L, D CHEERS — Popular neighborhood spot with something for everyone in a log-cabin environment. 3994 Plainfield Ave NE, 363-1188. B, L, D ¢ CORNER BAR — Rockford’s spot for a brew and a chili dog. 31 N Main St, Rockford, 866-9866. rockfordcornerbar.com. L, D ¢ COTTAGE BAR — Longtime favorite since 1927. Famous Cottage burgers and fries, signature chili and more. Closed Sun. 8 LaGrave Ave SE, 4549088. cottagebar.biz. L, D ¢ DERBY STATION — Sophisticated pub grub with full bar featuring an array of specialty beers. 2237 Wealthy St SE, 301-3236. derbystation.com. L, D $ ELBOW ROOM BAR & GRILL — Cozy neighborhood watering hole serves burgers, nachos and more. Games and jukebox. 501 Fuller Ave NE, 454-6666. L, D ¢-$ FLANAGAN’S — Popular Irish pub. Imported beers, 20 on tap. Entrees with an Irish influence. Frequent live music. Closed Sun. 139 Pearl St NW, 454-7852. flanagansgr.com. L, D ¢ FOUNDERS BREWING CO. — Sip microbrew samples in the spacious taproom, serpentine bar and stage for live music Thu and Sat. Menu features appetizers, deli sandwiches. Covered (heated) porch. 235 Grandville Ave SW, 776-
1195. foundersbrewing.com. L, D
¢
FRANKIE V’s PIZZERIA & SPORTS BAR — Roomy space with pool tables, jukebox, covered patio. Appetizers, subs, stromboli, pizza, pasta entrées, plus burgers and Mexican. Weekday lunch buffet. Tap your own 100-ounce beer tower. 1420 28th St SW, 532-8998. frankievs.com. L, D ¢-$ GP SPORTS — Sports bar and restaurant with three big screens and 40 flat-screen TVs. Menu features create-your-own pizzas and burgers, along with salads and sandwiches. Closed Sun. Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 776-6495. amway grand.com. L, D $ GRAND WOODS LOUNGE — Year-round alfresco dining complete with fireplace. Eclectic menu selections mix with upscale takes on comfort foods. Live entertainment, pool tables, spacious bar. 77 Grandville Ave SW, 451-4300. grandwoods lounge.com. L, D $-$$ HOLIDAY BAR — Classic horseshoe bar with 12 beers on tap, bar food, pool tables, darts and more. 801 5th St NW (at Alpine Ave), 456-9058. Facebook. L, D c-$ HOLLY’S BACK DOOR BAR & GRILL — Full menu and good selection of munchies at the bar in Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel. Closed Sun & Mon. 255 28th St SW, 241-1417. hojogr.com. B, L, D $ HOPCAT — Crafted brews with close to 50 beers on tap and 150 bottled. Full bar and creative fare from meatloaf to mussels. Open daily. 25 Ionia Ave SW, 451-4677. hopcatgr.com. L (Sat-Sun), ¢-$ D HUB’S INN — Sandwiches, wet burritos and thincrust pizza. Closed Sun. 1645 Leonard St NW, ¢ 453-3571. hubsinn.com. L, D INTERSECTION CAFÉ — Roomy entertainment venue offers sandwich wraps, burgers, vegetarian options and more. 133 Grandville Ave SW, 4590977. sectionlive.com. L, D ¢ JD REARDON’S — Restaurant and lounge in The Boardwalk offers American, Southwest, Thai and more. Banquet facilities; outdoor seating. 940 Monroe Ave NW, 454-8590. jdreardons.com. B, L, D $-$$ J. GARDELLA’S TAVERN — Massive bar is matched by gargantuan menu ranging from homemade chips to build-your-own burger. Three floors of seating. Open Sun for arena events. 11 Ionia Ave SW, 459-8824. jgardellastavern.com. L, D ¢ LOGAN’S ALLEY — Free popcorn complements a premium-libation special. Sandwich-and-appetizer menu. Seasonal deck seating. 916 Michigan St NE, 458-1612. logansalley.com. L, D ¢-$ MAIN STREET PUB — Large-screen TVs and varied menu of appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches and entrées. Open 11 am daily; breakfast 8 am Sun. 11240 University Parkway, Allendale, 895-1234. mainstpub.com. B (Sun), L, D ¢-$ MILL CREEK TAVERN — Comstock Park eatery offers appetizers, from-scratch daily soups, sandwiches as well as full dinner options. Full bar with separate dining room. 3874 West River Dr, 784-3806. L, D ¢-$ MOJO’S — Lively dueling piano bar and restaurant open for dinner at 5 pm Wed-Sat, plus late night “munchy menu.” RSVP for dinner early, show starts at 8 pm Wed-Thu, 7 pm Fri-Sat, DJ, dancing, pool tables, VIP Room and flat-screen TVs on 2nd floor. 180 Monroe Ave NW, 776-
Photography by Johnny Quirin
cozy atmosphere. Closed Mon. No alcohol. 209 Diamond Ave SE, 454-6233. Facebook. B, L ¢
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20% OFF
reserve your table by calling 616.242.1448. Bring this coupon in to receive 20% off of your next bill at six.one.six. 2 3 5 Lo u i s s t r e e t N W g r a N d r a p i d s m i c h i g a N i Lov e 6 1 6 . c o m 6 1 6 . 24 2 . 1 4 4 8
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valid for dinner only
Photography by Johnny Quirin
EAT. DRINK. CONNECT. Serving American food, bistro-style, whether it’s grab-and-go for someone on-the-run or guests dining in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The Bistro offers fresh seasonal options that are satisfying favorites.
Located inside the downtown courtyard by marriott
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616.776.3400
ourcourtyardgr.com
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City Guide 9000. mojospianobar.com. D (Wed-Sat)
¢-$
NICK FINKS — Mexican fare and drinks in historic tavern, part of The Gilmore Collection. Draft beer, wine, sangria and cocktails. Occasional live music, open mic nights. Daily happy hour 3-6 pm. 3965 West River Dr NE, Comstock Park, 7849886. thegilmorecollection.com. L, D $ NITE CAP BAR & GRILL — Roomy with outdoor patio, pool tables, video games, big-screen TVs, Keno and karaoke Thu-Sat evenings. Soups, salads, sandwiches, flame-broiled burgers, Mexican
selections and dinners. 801 W Fulton St, 451¢ 4243. nitecapbar.com. L, D 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. L, D ¢-$ OTTAWA TAVERN — Full-service, full-menu sister restaurant sharing space with Bite. Sports venue with weekday Happy Hour 4-7 pm. Closed Sun. 151 Ottawa Ave NW, 451-8000. thegilmorecoll ¢-$$ ection.com/ot.php. L, D
PEPPINO’S RISTORANTE PIZZERIA AND SPORTS LOUNGE — Italian specialties, Sicilianstyle steak and chicken, burgers, etc. Separate sports bar. 5053 Lake Michigan Dr NW, Allendale, 895-1615. Family-friendly Peppino’s Sports Lounge in downtown GR, 130 Ionia Ave SW, 4568444. peppinospizza.com. L, D ¢-$$ PUB 43 — Caters to all, but is especially popular with gay crowd. Board games, TVs, fully stocked bar. Menu ranges from burgers to upscale items. Jukebox, occasional live entertainment. Open daily at 3 pm. 43 S Division Ave, 458-2205. D ¢-$ QUEEN’S PUB SPORTS BAR — Adjacent to Bombay Cuisine in Eastown with English pub grub, full bar and lots of beers on tap. Pool table, dart boards, WiFi. 1420-1424 Lake Dr SE, 456¢-$ 7055. Facebook. L, D
shopdwfreshmarket.com
Thank You West Michigan for Selecting D&W Fresh Market as the Best Grocery Store in Grand Rapids! The associates who work at D&W Fresh Market care about our guests and love sharing their food expertise with you. It’s our people and quality products that make the difference.
QUINN & TUITE’S IRISH PUB — Large selection of Irish whiskies and Guinness on tap. Typical bar fare. Irish music, live bands Sat. 1535 Plainfield Ave NE, 363-8380. quinnandtuites.com. L, D ¢-$ ROCKY’S BAR & GRILL — Burgers, appetizers and more. Art Deco bar, pool table. Kitchen open late; some evening entertainment. Open Sun at 5 pm with $1 beer specials. 633 Ottawa Ave NW, ¢-$ 356-2346. myspace.com/rockysgr. L, D SAZERAC LOUNGE — New Orleans-style lounge featuring bar food with a Cajun bent. Live entertainment Sat nights. Open for lunch Tue-Sat, Mon at 4 pm. 1418 Plainfield Ave NE, 451-0010. myspace.com/sazeraclounge. L, D $ THE SCORE — Restaurant and sports bar with varied menu. 5301 Northland Dr NE, 301-0600. ¢-$ thescore-restaurant.com. L, D SHAMROCK BAR & GRILL — Diverse menu includes special burgers and a wide range of entrees. 2501 Wilson Ave NW, 735-3888. L, D ¢-$ SHEPARDS GRILL & TAVERN — Bar food with flare, from appetizers to Kobe top sirloin. Open daily. Weekday happy hour specials 3-6:30 p.m. Cascade Center, 6246 28th St SE, 350-9604. ¢-$ Facebook. L, D STELLA’S LOUNGE — Mostly vegan menu but a stuffed burger for carnivores. Advertises strong drinks and more than 200 whiskies. 53 Commerce Ave, 742-4444. stellasgr.com. L, D ¢-$ TEAZERS BAR & GRILL — Burgers and pastas, sandwiches, salads and Southwestern bites. Kids menu. Look for live music on the stage. Open daily. 819 Ottawa Ave NW, 459-2481. teazersbar. ¢-$ com. L, D VILLAGE INN PIZZA PARLOR — Longtime favorite for pizza, pasta, burgers, chicken, Mexican and more. Karaoke nights Thu-Sat. Open daily; weekday lunch buffet. 2215 44th St SE, Kentwood, 281-1444; 934 Washington St, Holland, (616) 392-1818. vipizza.net. L, D ¢-$ VITALE’S SPORTS LOUNGE & PIZZERIA — Pizza and pasta plus panini sandwiches and wraps in sports-centric surroundings. Multiple screens, outside deck, live entertainment. Open daily. 3868 West River Dr NE, Comstock Park, 7842526, takeout 784-5011. vitalessportsbar.com. L, D ¢-$ WEST SIDE BAR — No-frills neighborhood tavern with bar-food menu. Live entertainment weekends. 1568 Broadway NW, 459-1240. L, D ¢
19857SR11/11
WOODY’S PRESS BOX — Complex includes two
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SOUP’S ON FOR ALL! warming hearts one bowl at a time
A benefit for the food & pantry programs of God’s Kitchen A program of Catholic Charities West Michigan
Monday, January 23, 2012 | 6:30–9:30 P.M.
At The B.O.B. | 20 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids Advance tickets are available for $50 at Schuler Books & Music, Gallery 303 at God’s Kitchen, Michigan Church Supply at Cathedral Square, and online at soupsonforall.org ($60 at the door). Contact Catholic Charities West Michigan with event questions at 616.551.5659 or events@ccwestmi.org. Soup’s On Along the Lakeshore! is Thursday, February 23 in Muskegon.
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City Guide bars, a patio and bowling. Menu offers sandwiches and shrimp, barbecue fare. Breakfast and lunch only Sun). 5656 Clyde Park Ave SW, 5303242. spectrumlanes.com. B, L, D $ Z’S — Sports-themed eatery known for its ribs. Soup-salad-sandwich lunches. Features 43-foot bar and multiple TVs. Carry-out available. 168 Louis Campau Promenade NW, 454-3141. zsbar. ¢-$ com. L, D
Delis, Dogs & Bagels
Places that serve sandwiches, bagels and/or hot dogs.
A beautiful smile can be easy ...
BAGEL BEANERY — All locations serve breakfast and deli sandwiches plus specialty coffees. Vegetarian options. Catering, kids meals, free Wi-Fi, outdoor seating. 455 Michigan St NE, 2357500; 2845 Breton Rd SE, 245-4220; 5316 Clyde Park Ave SW, Wyoming, 249-9500. bagelbeanery. com. B, L, D ¢-$ BIG APPLE BAGELS — Fresh bagels and 15 cream cheese mixtures. 3915 Plainfield Ave NE, 364-1919; 2058 Lake Michigan Dr NW, 735-2390; 6670 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 554-7915. babcorp. com. B, L, D ¢
CARROLL FAMILY & COSMETIC DENTISTRY
Joel T. Carroll, D.D.S.
4310 Leonard St. NW, Suite 202, Grand Rapids, MI
(616) 453-6323
carrollfamilydentistry.com
Complete Dental Services Available: • Free Cosmetic Consultation • Gentle Dentistry for Children and Adults • Immediate Emergency Treatment • Latest Laser Technology • Dentures (Same Day Repair) • Cosmetic Dentistry, Bleaching
BOARDWALK SUBS — 20 huge Jersey-style subs in addition to familiar choices. Catering and delivery. Open daily. 5422 S Division Ave, Kentwood, ¢ 724-2492. L, D
Pain free dentistry is our goal! THAI, JAPANESE, CHINESE
Asian Dining Award of Excellence 4 years in a row!
xo
(Half-price every Tuesday, dine in only).
• Beer and Wine & Spirits Available
ASIAN CUISINE 58 Monroe Center Phone (616) 235-6969
www.xoasiancuisine.com
BITE — Deli side of Ottawa Tavern features daily soups, big wraps, salads and build-your-own burgers. Weekday Happy Hour drink and appetizer specials 4-7 pm. Closed Sun. 151 Ottawa Ave NW, 451-8000. thegilmorecollection.com/bite. ¢-$$ php. B, L, D BITTER END —Specialty coffee drinks, bagels, muffins, pastries and deli sandwiches in atmosphere of a 1930s French café. Free Wi-Fi. Open 24/7. 752 W Fulton St, 451-6061. B, L, D ¢
CROWNS THE SAME DAY OF APPOINTMENT HOUR USING E 4D TECHNOLOGY
• Full service Sushi Bar
BIGGBY COFFEE — East Lansing-based chain offers specialty coffee and non-coffee drinks, baked goods, fruit cups, yogurt parfaits, bagel sandwiches. Wi-Fi. For locations, see biggby. com. ¢
GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE
CHERRY DELI — Extensive menu offers more than 50 sandwiches, a dozen salads, five soups, with catering and takeout options. Outdoor patio; closed Sun. 834 Cherry St SE, 459-6182. cherry deli.com. L, D ¢-$ CORNUCOPIA — Bakery, sandwichs, pizza, takehome specialties, coffees, one-of-a-kind wine selection. Open daily. Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 776-6428. amwaygrand.com. B, L, D ¢-$ CRAZY CHARLIE’S — Coney Island-style dogs and more. 2184 Wealthy St SE, 451-6720. L, D ¢ DAM DOGS — On the dam in downtown Rockford serving several hot dog plus ice cream. 51 E Bridge St, Rockford, 863-9565. L, D ¢ THE DOG PIT — Several hot dog variations with house-made chili topping and variety of condiments. Also daily soups. Closed Sun. 132 Monroe Center NW, 988-1508. Facebook. L, D ¢ THE GRAND CONEY — Home-style dinners, Mexican fare and all-day breakfast in addition to Coney Island dogs. Open 24/7. 809 Michigan St NE, 776-5580. Facebook. B, L, D ¢ JONNY B’Z DOGS AND MORE —All-meat dogs, burgers and sandwiches, plus vegan options.
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City Guide Closed Sun, open until 2 am Thu-Sat. 638 Wealthy St SE. Facebook. L, D ¢
weekend entertainment. 1503 Plainfield Ave NE, 805-5245. wiredgr.com. B, L, D ¢
JW’S — Art gallery meets coffeehouse with rotation of local artists’ works. Light fare plus coffee drinks. Closed Sun. Free Wi-Fi. 850 Forest Hill Ave SE, 285-1695. Facebook. B, L ¢
YESTERDOG — Hot dogs in a fun, nostalgic Eastown setting. Closed Sun. 1505 Wealthy St SE, 262-3090. yesterdog.com. L, D ¢
KAVA HOUSE — Popular Eastown spot with bakery items (from scones to spinach pies) and java served in bowl-sized cups. 1445 Lake Dr SE, 4518600. On Facebook. B, L, D ¢ LOCAL MOCHA — Downtown location offers coffee specialties and smoothies as well as grilled breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Closed Sun. Free Wi-Fi. 96 Monroe Center NW, 459-0082. ¢ localmochagr.com. B, L
Family Casual ARNIE’S BAKERY & RESTAURANT — Breakfast, sandwiches, baked goods and desserts; dinner menu too. No alcohol. Open daily. 3561 28th St, 956-7901; 710 Leonard St NW, 454-3098; 777 54th St SW, 532-5662; 34 Squires St, Rockford, 866-4306. arniesrestaurants.com. B, L, D $
NUNZIA’S CAFÉ — Combo specials plus Italian dishes. Open 8:30 am-2 pm weekdays. In Merrill Lynch building, 250 Monroe Ave NW, No. 140, 458-1533. B, L ¢
THE BISTRO — Urban décor with large-screen TVs, wraparound bar and barrista serving Starbucks. Casual menu covers all tastes. Open daily. Marriott Downtown Courtyard Hotel, 11 Monroe Ave NW, 242-6000, ext 6646. marriott. com. B, L, D $
ONE STOP CONEY SHOP — Hot dogs plus salads, sandwiches, fries and house-made condiments in downtown GR. Open 11 am-7:30 pm Mon-Fri. 11 am-3 pm Sat. 154 E Fulton, 233-9700. onestopconeyshop.com. L, D (M-F) ¢
BRANDYWINE — Café atmosphere, with extensive breakfasts, innovative lunches with vegetarian choices, dinner selections from Mexican to beef Wellington. 1345 Lake Dr SE, 774-8641; 2844 East Beltline Ave NE, 363-1723. B, L, D ¢-$
RICO’S DELI — Large array of breakfast and lunch items, coffees and teas. Vegan-friendly. Closed Sun. 940 Monroe Ave NW (in The Boardwalk), ¢ 451-0225. Facebook. B, L, D
CAJUN CAT — Cajun-influenced menu features fish and seafood selections, gumbo, sandwiches. Take-out or small seating area. 3280 Remembrance Rd, Walker, 735-2416. Facebook. ¢-$ L, D
RITZ KONEY BAR & GRILLE — Hot dogs, gourmet sandwiches and more. Full bar with limited wine list. Closed Sun. 64 Ionia Ave SW, 451-3701. ritzkoneybarandgrille.com. L, D ¢-$ RIVERFRONT CAFÉ @ THE BLUE BRIDGE — Breakfast plus sandwiches, soup and salads in Plaza Towers complex. Ferris coffee drinks served. Art of the Table sells gourmet foods. 235 W Fulton St, 459-6257. riverfrontcafegr.com, ferris ¢-$ coffee.com. B, L, D
CHARLIE’S BAR & GRILL — Well-rounded menu features dinners ranging from ribs, steaks and seafood to kielbasa and kraut. Also Mexican fare, sandwiches and more. Full-service bar. 3519 Plainfield Ave NE, 364-0567. L, D ¢-$ COUSIN’S TASTY CHICKEN — Local alternative to the chains with tasty fried chicken and side dishes. Also seafood and other fried fare. Closed ¢-$ Sun. 1209 Leonard St NE, 456-5244. L, D
SCHNITZ DELICATESSEN — Deli with a German flair. Ada location has full bar. Closed Sun. 1315 E Fulton St, 451-4444; Schnitz East, 597 Ada Dr SE, 682-4660; Schnitz South, 1529 Langley St SE, 281-5010. schnitzdeli.com. L, D (Ada only) ¢-$
FLEETWOOD DINER — Extensive diner-style menu with Greek influences. Open 6:30 am for breakfast (8 am-4 pm Sun), serving dinner until 8 pm Mon-Thu, 9 pm Fri-Sat. Outdoor patio. 2222 44th St SE, 281-2300. B, L, D ¢-$
URBAN MILL CAFÉ — Deli-style specialty sandwiches, soups and salads plus baked goods. 629 Michigan St NE, 855-1526. urbanmill.com. B, L, ¢-$ D
FOREST HILLS INN — A casual neighborhood favorite with a broad menu, excellent pizza. Closed Sun. 4609 Cascade Rd SE, 949-4771. B, $ L, D
VANILLAS COFFEE TEA CAFÉ — Gourmet coffees, teas plus special-order bakery for cakes, cookies, cupcakes. Closed Sun. 3150 Plainfield Ave NE, Plainfield Plaza, 447-0080. vanillascafe. com. B, L, D ¢
FRY DADDY’S FRESH FISH — Fried fish, wingdings, walleye, orange roughy, catfish, blue gill, perch, smelt and shrimp, by the pound or in baskets with fries. Also to go. Closed Mon. Trinity Plaza, 1720 44th St SE, Kentwood, 455-FISH. L, ¢-$ D
WEALTHY STREET BAKERY — Fresh breads, pastries with sandwiches and daily soup specials. Vegetarian options. Free Wi-Fi. Closed Sun. 608 Wealthy St SE, 301-2950. wealthystreetbakery. com. B, L ¢ WG GRINDERS — Variety of grinders plus salads, soups and desserts. A few hot pasta selections. Catering, delivery and takeout. Closed Sun. Esplanade Center, 5769 28th St SE, 974-3354. wggrinders.com. L, D ¢-$ WINDY CITY GRILLE — Chicago-style gyros, Italian beef, dogs and more. Closed Sun; will cater. 5751 Byron Center Ave. SW, Wyoming, 2612489. Facebook. L, D ¢ WIRED ESPRESSO BAR — Coffee concoctions, baked goods, sandwiches and more in Creston Business District. Free Wi-Fi and occasional
Thank you Grand Rapids for voting BIGGBY COFFEE Best Coffee Shop for the 2nd year in a row!
GRAND TRAVERSE PIE CO. — Bakery and café offer extensive menu, with quiche, soups, salads, sandwiches and pastries. Open daily. 3224 28th St SE, 977-7600. gtpie.com. B, L, D ¢-$ THE LYON DEN — Bakery, deli and convenience store with breakfast burritos, baked goods, salads, sandwiches, hotdogs, pizza bar and cotton candy. Also gluten- and sugar-free selections. Open daily. 200 Ionia Ave NW, 805-5692. thelyon dengr.com. B, L, D ¢ MAMA’S PIZZA & GRINDERS — Thornhills Plaza eatery offers grinders, pizza, salads and pastas. 6504 28th St SE, 954-1964. mamaspizzaand grinders.com. L, D ¢ MR. BURGER — Longtime favorite serving break-
continued on page 76
BIGGBY COFFEE
We love serving you! January 2012 Grand Rapids 73
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City Guide: Chef Profile
Emphasis on local At Graydon’s Crossing, Executive Chef Aaron Burrows cooks with beer, spices and plenty of locally sourced meats and vegetables. By Julie Burch
Chef Aaron Burrows’ Porchetta Makes: 6 Servings
Time: 3 1⁄2 hours plus 24-hour rest time
Temperature: 325°
5-pound slab pork belly 2-pound pork loin 1 orange, zested 3 tablespoons fennel seed 2 tablespoons fresh, minced sage 2 tablespoons fresh, minced oregano 2 tablespoons fresh, minced parsley 4 garlic cloves, minced 2 cups hard cider Salt & pepper Toast fennel seeds and grind; mix with sage, oregano, parsley, garlic and orange zest and set aside. Pound out both sides of the pork belly, taking two minutes per side, and then score both sides with a knife and liberally salt and pepper. Place skin side down and rub herb and zest mixture into meat side. Place loin in the center of the belly and wrap belly around loin. Tie with butcher’s twine to secure. Place roast in refrigerator on a resting rack in roasting pan for 24 hours. Pour hard cider over roast, cover with foil and bake in oven at 325 degrees for 2½ hours. Pull off foil and finish baking until skin is brown and crisp, about 30 minutes.
Photography by Michael Buck
T
he English-Indian and fusion fare found at Graydon’s Crossing offers a complex mix of flavors that dance across the tongue. Aside from the global spices, practically every ingredient is sourced locally, and it all comes together under the skillful culinary stylings of Executive Chef Aaron Burrows, who joined the team as lead line cook in 2010. Originally from Otsego, he admits that he “pretty much lives and breathes food.” His other passion is family, which includes wife Amber, their 2-year-old daughter Sage, and by the time this goes to press, a newborn son. How did you get started cooking? I was working construction and, as a foreman, I was often away from home for long stretches of time. I didn’t like being away so much, especially once the baby was coming. I had done quite a bit of cooking throughout high school. … Amber convinced me to give it another try. It was when I got involved with Salt of the Earth 74 Grand Rapids January 2012
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PhotograPhy by miChaEl buCk
City Guide: Chef Profile
in Fennville — they do their own butchery and use local products — that my passion was sparked. How would you describe the menu at graydon’s Crossing? We have a core menu that features cooking with beer as well as the worldly spices of the English Trading Co. Just as important is staying fresh and local. We grind our own beef from Creswick Farms’ cows, I get lamb from S&S Farms, my chickens are all local, and I get three whole pigs in each month from Rakowski Farm in Wayland. Even my shrimp comes from a spot on the east side of the state that is farm-raising shrimp. How do you manage to maintain a “local” philosophy year-round? I’ve got a farm, the Ham Family Farm, that’s working for me almost exclusively next year. We have two gardens of our own for fresh local produce. My connection with a lot of these farmers is through Farm Link. They’re on the west side of the state and they link chefs with farmers. To prepare for winter, I’ll buy enough to preserve and put up so we can still stay local throughout the winter. In the coming year, we are going to put in a greenhouse behind the restaurant. What are you most likely to cook at home for friends or family? Pork belly and a pork roast. My wife and I are very outdoorsy people. We like to go rustic camping and we build a campfire, bring out the cast irons, and I always bring the pork belly. What five ingredients do you always keep stocked at home? Onion, garlic, salt, fresh herbs of some sort, usually parsley, and I have a massive thyme patch in my herb garden that doesn’t die in the winter — I brush the snow away and pick fresh thyme all winter. We always have lemons at our house, and some sort of dairy – cream or milk. Does graydon’s Crossing have a signature dish? On the core menu, our signatures include the Lamb Vindaloo, Carriage House Beef that’s cooked all day, and Shepherd’s Pie. Those are things people come in for. Tell us about the recipe you’re sharing with us here. It’s for the Porchetta — a pork loin wrapped in a pounded and herbed pork belly. GR
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Extraordinary Clean for Extraordinary Lives.
City Guide continued from page 73 fast, lunch and dinner. 2101 Lake Michigan Dr NW, 453-6291; 5181 Northland Dr NE, 363-3888; 2300 28th St SW, 538-4439; 1750 44th St SE, 4558604; 950 44th St SW, 538-0363; 5835 Balsam Ave, Hudsonville, 662-5088. mrburger.com. B, L, D ¢ NOEL RESTAURANT — Christmas year-round in this former church and parsonage. Family-style dinners, lighter fare on lunch menu. Gift shop. Hours by reservation only; parties of 10 or more preferred. 2371 Riley St, Jamestown, 896-6427. ¢-$$ noelrestaurant.com. L, D
Thank you Grand Rapids for voting us the best!
OLGA’S KITCHEN — Greek-style sandwiches, salads, desserts and smoothies. 2213 Wealthy St SE, 456-0600; 3195 28th St (Woodland Mall), 9428020; 3700 Rivertown Parkway SW, Grandville, 2011-12 Readers Poll ¢ 531-6572. olgaskitchen.com. L, D
Best of 2011-12 Readers Poll
PAL’S DINER — A real diner with breakfast, lunch and dinner all day. Closed Sun. 6503 28th St SE, ¢ 942-7257. palsdiner.com. B, L, D 2011-12 Readers Poll
RAINBOW GRILL — Breakfasts, homemade soup, chili, steak sandwiches, daily lunch specials, chicken, fish and other dinner staples. Closed Sun. 4225 32nd Ave, Hudsonville, 896-0033; 4158 Chicago Dr SW, Grandville, 534-8645. B, L, D ¢-$
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RAMONA’S TABLE — EGR deli with made-fromscratch soups, sandwiches, salads, baked items and meals. Takeout and catering. Closed Sun. 2011-12 Readers Poll 2232 Wealthy St SE, 459-8500. ramonastable. com. B, L, D ¢-$
RUSS’ RESTAURANTS — Fast service, inexpensive fare. Closed Sun. 3966 Plainfield Ave NE, 2011-12 Readers Poll 381-7545; 2750 28th St SE, 949-8631; 2340 28th St SW, 538-3410; 531 Alpine Ave NW, 784-2230; 6444 S Division Ave, 281-2790; 4440 Chicago Dr, Grandville, 531-1146. russrestaurants.com. B, L, ¢ D
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POP’S FAMILY RESTAURANT — Breakfast all day long, plus classic comfort food and Mexican specialties. 1339 Walker Village Dr NW, 4539339. B, L, D ¢-$
616-957-0700 & 616-791-0110
SANDI’S FAMILY RESTAURANT — Home-cooked meals in casual surroundings. Daily specials; allyou-can-eat ocean perch Fri. Senior discount Mon-Tue. Closed Sun. 6597 S Division Ave, 2813160. sandisfamilyrestaurant.com. B, L, D ¢-$ THAT PLACE ON PLAINFIELD — Classic American diner food along with some ethnic and vegetarian dishes. Closed Sun. 2162 Plainfield Ave NE, 365-6669. B, L, D ¢
Italian/ European AMORE TRATTORIA ITALIANA — Regional Italian dishes using some local products as well as Italian imports. Italian wines and liqueurs a specialty. House-made desserts. Banquet facility. Closed Mon; no lunch Sat. 5080 Alpine Ave NW, Comstock Park. 785-5344. amoretrattoriaitalia na.com. L (not Sat), D $
49 e 8th st downtown Holland | 616.394.9103 info@globe-vision.com | globe-vision.com | facebook.com/globevision
ANGELA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA — Italian dinners, pizza, stromboli, subs and desserts. Lunch buffet, full-service bar. Delivery and catering available. Closed Sun. 240 E Division, Sparta, (616) 887-1913. L, D ¢-$ BIG BOB’S PIZZA — A neighborhood pizza parlor in EGR’s Gaslight Village with wine and beer on
continued on page 80
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JANUARY 2012 GRAND RAPIDS 77
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City Guide: Grand Vine
The year’s memorable favorites by A. Brian Cain
Throughout 2011, my wife and I have participated in more than 30 wine tastings and competitions, some involving thousands of wines. We also make wine and we drink wine daily. When my editor asked me to list my “best of” picks, the assignment sounded pretty easy. But people who taste wine with me on a regular basis have dubbed me with the name “Brian — never met a wine he didn’t like — Cain.” Narrowing my choices has proven to be an impossible task. Keeping in mind that I would not be able narrow the list down to less than my top 10 in any category, I decided to instead list some great wines that have stuck in my memory for a variety of reasons. In my November 2010 column, I listed my “desert island” wines — those you could drink every day for the rest of your life. One of them was the 2008 Pagos Penelope Sanchez Garnacha/Syrah, Campo de Borja, Spain, $13. Among the many wonderful Mediterranean wines that we have enjoyed this year, I single this one out again for the simple reason that I probably tasted it at least 25 times this year, and it surprised me every time with its vivid Grenache fruit and rich composty Syrah nuanc-
es. I’m giving this one the “you’ll never get tired of it” award. A similar bottle that we enjoyed is 2009 Red Guitar Old Vine Grenache, Navarra, Spain, $10. Our biggest surprise among Chardonnays had to be a dusty bottle of 2002 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Chardonnay, $26, purchased at a local party store. Knowing that it may have been sitting under fluorescent lighting for a good five or six years, I expected the worse. Yet, it turned out to be one of the finest mature white wines we had ever witnessed. Still fresh with vital citrus notes, the perfect marriage of soft creamy oak subtleties and lemon curd made it memorable. I guess it takes a lot of abuse to kill a good bottle of wine! For totally different reasons, I cannot help but recall encountering the delightful Bogle California Chardonnay (under $10) that we tasted for a recent column. The Mondavi Chardonnay is my pick for the “iron man” award; my “supermarket pick” goes to the Bogle. Having been deluged with hundreds of Michigan wines in August at the annual Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition, many of the wines honored in the Best of Class Sweeps quickly faded from my memory. One exception is the Best of Show Dry Red Fenn Valley Lake Michigan Shore Capriccio, $12, which just keeps popping up at parties, restaurants — even while vacationing up north. Many times this wine quietly disappeared unnoticed — that is, until we all stared at the empty bottle wishing for a second one. I had almost forgotten about one of the Double Gold award wines until I was talking about new cultivars with a colleague and, all of a sudden, I was salivating at the thought of 2009 Tabor Hill Lake Michigan Shore Valvin Muscat, $14. The aromatic purity, off dry textural clarity and white fruit finesse of this little known varietal is breathtaking. Making a baseball analogy, I’d give the Fenn Valley Capriccio my “relief ace” award, and the Tabor Hill Valvin Muscat my “rookie of the year.” With all of the recent interest in aromatic and sweet wines, I have had to suffer through many really bad versions of Moscato this year
Photography by johnny quirin
78 Grand Rapids January 2012
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City Guide: Grand Vine from all over the globe. A couple exceptions are the semi-sweet 2010 Woodbridge by robert Mondavi California Moscato, $8, and the dry 2010 Diseno Mendoza Torrontes, $10, from Argentina. The Woodbridge is clean, crisp and appetizing. Though fairly sweet, there is nothing cloying, just fresh aromatic fruit. The Torrontes, a dry aromatic wine, is balanced, brilliantly fruity and clean — great with stir fries, quiche, smoked meats and sausages. I’ll give these wines my “sweet smell of success” award. We recently tasted a jaw-dropping Cabernet of astounding presence: 2007 Paul Hobbs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, $90, made us think of the finest of the finest red Bordeaux. It is enormously powerful, yet fine, silky, elegant and classy. It gets my “it just doesn’t get any better than this” award.
Thank You Grand Rapids for voting us Best Caterer for nine years in a row! Corporate | Weddings | Special Occasions
PhotograPhy by Johnny Quirin
PhotograPhy by Johnny Quirin
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At the annual Pinot Party, the two wines that tied for second place (out of 37) were value-priced offerings. The 2009 and 2010 Sterling Vintner’s Collection Central Coast Pinot Noir, California, $14, beat last year’s winner that cost $40 per bottle. What is most surprising at this price level is the big texture and intense fruit concentration. If you can find either of these vintages at your local grocery store, expect a lesson on finesse, complexity and strength. Contributing editor A. Brian Cain is a certified wine educator and freelance wine writer.
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January 2012 Grand rapids 79
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City Guide FRICANO’S PIZZA RESTAURANT — Famous for its thin-crust pizza. Also, pasta dinners with a sauce that has made its way to the retail market. Closed Sun. 5808 Alpine Ave NW, Comstock ¢-$ Park, 785-5800. fricanospizza.com. D
Sweet treats Even after a car accident left Mat-
G.R.P.D. — Grand Rapids Pizza & Delivery offers traditional, stuffed and specialty pizzas. Delivery Thu-Sat until 2:30 a.m. No alcohol. Open daily, with a handful of tables for dining in. 340 State St, (616) 742-4773. grandrapidspizza.net. H, L, D ¢-$
thew Russell unable to ride his bike, he didn’t stop making deliveries of his homemade vegan goodies. Owner of Wednesday Evening Cookies, Grand
MANGIAMO — Historic mansion houses familyfriendly Italian eatery. Italian fare plus steaks and seafood. Extensive wine list, evening entertainment. 1033 Lake Dr SE, 742-0600. thegilmorecol $-$$ lection.com/mangiamo.php. D
Rapids’ bike-friendly vegan cookie outlet, Russell has been delivering cookies, muffins and scones all over the
MARINADE’S PIZZA BISTRO —Wood-fired pizzas, salads, pastas, sandwiches and more. No alcohol. Catering available. 109 Courtland St, Rockford, 863-3300. marinadespizzabistro.com. ¢ L, D
city since 2009. It all started when he was baking cookies to take on Wednesday Evening Rides, a group of bicycling friends who
MONELLI’S ITALIAN GRILL AND SPORTS BAR — Southern Italian cuisine. Sports bar plus familyfriendly dining room with fireplace. 5675 Byron Center Ave, Wyoming, 530-9700. monellis.com. L, D ¢-$
met for leisurely rides. “People kept asking me if I’d make them cookies, and I’ve been doing it ever since.” (The bicycle gang still meets up on Wednes-
NOTO’S OLD WORLD ITALIAN DINING — Elegant décor and extensive menu. Special wine cellar dinners in unique surroundings; lounge menu features light fare. Closed Sun. 6600 28th St SE, 493-6686. notosoldworld.com. D $-$$
days in the parking lot at 120 S. Division Ave.). He uses seasonal produce and tries to source his ingredients from places that
PIETRO’S ITALIAN RISTORANTE — Regional and contemporary Italian cuisine. Tuscan wines, desserts and cappuccinos. Kids menu, meeting room and takeout available. 2780 Birchcrest Dr $ SE, 452-3228. rcfc.com/pietros. L, D
offer unrefined and unbleached flours and sugars, making most things in his own kitchen. For larger orders, Russell said he uses community kitchen spaces such as The Kitchen Sinc and Uptown Kitchen, a perfect example of his mission of using baked goods to bring the community together. Local retailers such as Sparrows Coffee, Tea and Newsstand, and Bartertown Diner carry an array of Russell’s goods, including S’mores cookies, Oatmeal Madisons (peanut butter oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips) and sweet empanadas. Russell also offers a yearly subscription program delivering a different type of cookie each month. For one-time delivery, he asks customers to order one day ahead. Orders can be placed by calling (269) 267-0218 or via e-mail at wedsevecookies@ gmail.com. To keep tabs on what’s in the oven, follow Wednesday Evening Cookies on Twitter (@WedsEveCookies) and on the Tumblr page, www.wedsevecookies.tumblr.com.
¢-$
BELLA MIA PIZZERIA & ITALIAN GRILL — Italian dishes and New York-style pizza. Daily lunch buffet. 6333 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Suite 450, 554¢-$ 9930. L, D
FLORENTINE RISTORANTE — Italian and American cuisine. Pizza and pasta served in the lounge until midnight; full-menu dinner 4-10 pm. Closed Sun. 3245 28th St SW, 534-5419. florentine ingrandville.com. L, D $
BRICK ROAD PIZZA — Specializing in gourmet, traditional and vegan pizzas. Gluten-free crusts available on request. Serves beer and wine. Open daily. 1017 Wealthy St SE, 719-2409. brickroad pizza.com. L, D ¢-$
FRANCO’S PIZZERIA — Spaghetti, manicotti, lasagna, stromboli plus pizza and subs with fresh ingredients. Limited seating, takeout available (delivery offered). No alcohol. Open daily. 2103 ¢-$ Alpine Ave NW, 361-7307. L, D
FLORENTINE PIZZERIA & SPORTS LOUNGE — Spacious location features Italian fare with American and Mexican choices, thin-crust pizzas. Big-screen TVs, pool tables, darts, video games, Foosball. 4261 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 455-2230.
FRED’S PIZZA AND ITALIAN RESTAURANT — Long-time favorite offers Italian fare, including fresh pasta and gourmet pizza. Full-service bar. Closed Sun. 3619 Plainfield Ave NE, 361-8994. fredspizza.com. L, D ¢-$
UCCELLO’S RISTORANTE — Pizzeria, grill and sports lounge. 2630 East Beltline Ave SE, 9542002; 4787 Lake Michigan Dr NW, 735-5520; 8256 Broadmoor SE, 891-5958. uccellos.com. L, ¢-$ D VITALE’S — Serving traditional regional dishes from family recipes since 1966. 834 Leonard St NE, 458-8368 (Vitale’s Sports Lounge next door, 458-2090), takeout 458-3766. theoriginalvitales. com. L, D ¢-$ VITALE’S OF ADA — Multi-regional, upscale dishes made from scratch. Family-friendly; microbrews to martinis in separate sports pub. Open daily. 400 Ada Dr SE, Ada, 676-5400. vitalesada. com. L, D ¢-$ VITALE’S PIZZERIA — Multiple locations serving pizza and pasta from original Vitale family recipes.
Photography by Johnny Quirin
florentinespizza.com. L, D
SEASONAL GRILLE — Hastings’ Italian-themed eatery features fresh, locally sourced, creative fare in handsome surroundings. Full bar, craft cocktails, nice wine list. Open daily. 150 W State St, Hastings, (269) 948-9222. seasonalgrille. com. L, D $ TRE CUGINI — Innovative Italian menu, impressive wine list, fresh daily pastas and risotto specialties. Outdoor seating in mild weather. Closed Sun. 122 Monroe Center, 235-9339. trecugini. $-$$ com. L, D
continued from page 76 tap, available to go. 661 Croswell SE, 233-0123. bigbobspizza.com. L, D $
SALVATORE’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT — Sicilian and southern Italian fare using family recipes. Separate sports bar; patio seating. Weekday lunch buffet. All menu items, beer and wine available to go. Delivery and catering. Closed Sun. 654 Stocking Ave NW, 454-4280. salvatoresgr.com. ¢-$ L, D
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City Guide 59 W Washington St, Zeeland, (616) 772-5900, vitaleszeeland.com; 4676 32nd Ave, Hudsonville, 662-2244, vitaleshudsonville.com (no alcohol served); 5380 S Division Ave, Kentwood, 530¢-$ 8300. vitales.us. L, D
Including Thai and Indian fare.
EMPIRE CHINESE BUFFET II — All-you-can-eat Chinese buffet served all day. Special seafood buffet Sat-Sun. Delivery available. 4255 Alpine Ave NW, 785-8880. www.empirebuffet.net. L, ¢-$ D
AKASAKA SUSHI — Sushi plus Korean and Japanese offerings in low-key atmosphere in Cascade Centre. Serves alcohol. Closed Sun. 6252 28th St SE, 977-0444. L, D ¢-$
ERB THAI — Traditional Thai fare, will accommodate special diets: vegetarian, gluten-free, no MSG. No alcohol. 950 Wealthy St SE, Suite 1A, 356-2573. L, D ¢
AKITA BUFFET — Across from RiverTown Crossings Mall, with sushi bar, hibachi grill and Chinese buffet with set price for lunch and dinner. Serves alcohol. 3540 Rivertown Point Ct SW, 257¢-$ 7777. L, D
FAR-EAST RESTAURANT — Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean dishes; vegetable-oil-only cooking. Carryout and catering available. No alcohol. 3639 Clyde Park Ave SW, 531-7176. Facebook. L, D $
Asian
ANGEL’S THAI CAFÉ — Extensive Thai fare; menu includes a your-choice stir-fry option. Vegetarian-friendly. No alcohol. Open daily. 136 Monroe Center NW, 454-9801. angelsthaicafe. ¢-$ com. L, D ASIAN PALACE — Chinese and Vietnamese fare with extensive menus for each cuisine. Family owned and operated. No alcohol. Closed Mon. 825 28th St SW, 534-7770. L, D ¢-$ BANGKOK TASTE — Thai fare with lunch buffet. No alcohol. Closed Sun. 15 Jefferson Ave SE, 356-5550; 674 Baldwin St, Jenison, 667-8901. ¢-$ bangkoktaste.com. L, D BANGKOK VIEW — Thai food and Chinese fare. Lunch buffet. No alcohol. Closed Mon. 1233 28th St SW, 531-8070. bangkokviewthaifood.com. L, D ¢-$ BEIJING KITCHEN — Hunan, Szechuan and Cantonese cuisines. Lunch specials. No alcohol. 342 State St SE, 458-8383. beijingkitchengr.com. L, D ¢-$ BLUE GINGER ASIAN KITCHEN — Noodle-based Thai dishes, chicken, seafood, beef and pork entrees, curries. Vegetarian options. No alcohol. 5751 Byron Center Ave (Bayberry Market strip mall), 261-8186. bluegingergr.com. L, D ¢-$
Photography by Johnny Quirin
EAST GARDEN BUFFET — Cantonese, Hunan, Szechuan cuisine. Daily buffet. No alcohol. 6038 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 698-8933. L, D ¢-$
FIRST WOK — Mandarin, Hunan, Szechuan cuisine. Dine-in and take-out. Full bar. Three locations: 2301 44th St SE, 281-0681; 3509 Alpine Ave NW, 784-1616; 6740 Old 28th St SE, 575$ 9088. firstwokgr.com. L, D FUJI YAMA ASIAN BISTRO — Hibachi grill tables with show-chef preparations, or eat in the dining room with Chinese, Japanese and Thai selections. Full bar. 1501 East Beltline Ave NE, 719-1859. lets ¢-$ eat.at/fujiyama. L, D FORTUNE CHEF — Chinese and American fare. Opens 6 am weekdays, 8 am weekends with breakfast served all day. No alcohol. 9353 Cherry Valley Ave SE, Caledonia, 891-1388. fortunechef caledonia.com. B, L, D ¢-$ GOLDEN 28 — Szechuan, Hunan, Mandarin cuisine complemented by a Vietnamese menu. No alcohol. Closed Mon. 627 28th St SW, Wyoming, 531-2800. L, D $ GOLDEN DRAGON — Chinese, Mandarin and Japanese cuisines with Japanese steakhouse. Full bar. 3629 Plainfield Ave NE, 363-1318. golden $ dragongr.com. L, D GOLDEN GATE RESTAURANT — Chinese fare with all-inclusive lunch combination plates, egg rolls, sweet-and-sour dishes, with some hot and spicy choices. No alcohol. 4023 S Division Ave, 534-7087. Facebook. L, D ¢
BOMBAY CUISINE — Indian fare includes tandoori and vindaloo dishes. Full bar service, live music Thu-Sat eves. Takeout available. Closed Tue. 1420 Lake Dr SE, 456-7055. Facebook. L, D $
GOLDEN WOK — Knapp’s Corner eatery offers lunch and dinner options, including Hunan-spiced dishes. No alcohol. 1971 East Beltline Ave NE, ¢-$ 363-8880. L, D
CHINA CHEF — Family-style Chinese restaurant with Szechuan-style entrées and Hunan choices. No alcohol. Closed Mon. 4335 Lake Michigan Dr NW, 791-4488. Facebook. L, D ¢-$
GRAND LAKES — A wide selection of Chinese dishes and specialties, along with daily lunch combination plates. No alcohol. Next to Breton Village D&W. 1810 Breton Rd SE, 954-2500. L, D ¢-$
CHINA CITY — Chinese cuisine; lunch prices all day. No alcohol. Closed Mon. 5299 Eastern Ave SE, 257-7038. L, D ¢-$
HIBACHI GRILL & SUPREME BUFFET — PanAsian cuisine from sushi to buffet, including Chinese, Japanese, Mongolian and American dishes. No alcohol. 785 Center Dr NW (Green Ridge Shopping Center), 785-8200. letseat.at/ hibachigrillsupremebuffet. L, D ¢
CHINA GOURMET BUFFET — Daily lunch and dinner buffets with more than 100 items. Dinner buffet served all day weekends; discount for seniors and children 10 and under. No alcohol. 2030 28th St SW, 252-1379. L, D ¢-$ CHINATOWN RESTAURANT AND JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE — Chinese and Japanese cuisine with tabletop, Benihana-style meals available. Lunch and dinner buffets. Full bar. 69 28th St SW, 452-3025. chinatowngrandrapids.com. L, D ¢-$ CHINA YI WANG — Chinese dishes including spicy Hunan dishes. No alcohol. 1947 Eastern Ave SE, 241-3885. L, D ¢-$
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HONG KONG EXPRESS — Szechuan and Cantonese for dine-in or carry-out. All-you-caneat lunch buffet. No alcohol. 150 E Fulton St, 2353888. B, L, D ¢-$ HUNAN — Full menu of Chinese options, house and family dinners for groups. No alcohol. 1740 44th St SW, 530-3377; 1263 Leonard St NE, 4580977. hunangr.com. L, D $ INDIA TOWN — Indian fare in a humble atmosphere. No alcohol. Closed Tue. 3760 S Division
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City Guide Ave, 243-1219. indiatown4u.com. L, D
¢-$
JADE GARDEN — Chinese cuisine with some American dishes. Children’s menu, large selection of tropical cocktails. 4514 Breton Rd SE, 4558888. L, D ¢-$ JU SUSHI & LOUNGE — Sushi and sashimi selections, Japanese hibachi, tempura, soups, salads and entrees in elegant surroundings. Full bar, huge sake selection. Takeout, catering and banquet space. 1144 East Paris Ave SE, 575-5858. jusushi.com. L, D ¢-$ LAI THAI KITCHEN — Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese fare. No alcohol. Closed Sun. 1621 Leonard St NE, 456-5730. Facebook, laithaikit chen.com. L, D ¢-$ MANDARIN — Mandarin and Szechuan cuisine; buffets at lunch, dinner and all day on weekends. Cocktails. Open daily. 2460 28th St SE, 5303300. L, D ¢-$ MARADO SUSHI — Sushi bar offers a wide selection of Japanese fare and a few Korean specialties. No alcohol. 47 Monroe Center, 742-6793. Closed Sun. L, D ¢-$ MIKADO SUSHI — Sushi and sashimi à la carte. Dinners offer full range of Japanese cuisine. Serves alcohol. Closed Sun. 3971 28th St SE, ¢-$ 285-7666. Facebook. L, D
Celebrating Michigan One Beer at a Time. A GrAnd rApids trAdition since 1927
MING TEN — All-you-can-eat buffet: Japanese, Chinese, sushi bar, hibachi grill and American selections. A la carte sushi. No alcohol. 2090 Celebration Dr NE (2nd floor), (616) 365-3989. mingtenrestaurant.com. L, D ¢-$ MYNT FUSION BISTRO — Asian fare that includes Thai, Korean and Chinese. Renowned for its curries: blue, peanut or yellow. No alcohol. Closed Sun. 800 W Main St, Lowell, 987-9307. ¢-$ myntfusion.com. L, D
credit: diAnne cArroil Burdick
NING YE — Family-owned Chinese restaurant also serves Korean fare. No alcohol. Closed Sun during winter. 6747 E Fulton St, Ada, 676-5888. ningye.info. L, D $ NU-THAI BISTRO — Appetizers, soups, Thai salads, fried rice, curries and noodle dishes; seafood and duck specialty plates. No alcohol. 2055 28th ¢-$ St SE, 452-0065. nuthaibistro.com. L, D PALACE OF INDIA — Indian cuisine with a sizeable menu that includes vegetarian selections. Lunch buffet 11 am-3 pm. No alcohol. 961 E Fulton St, 913-9000. palaceofindiarestaurant.com. L, ¢-$ D
Best of 2011-12 Readers Poll
Best Antique store 5 YeArs in A row! 2011-12 Readers Poll
Eastown Antiques 2011-12 Readers Poll
Furniture, vintage jewelry, linens, glassware and pottery. 1515 Lake Drive SE | 776-1076
Time to cuddle up with an Old Favorite ... The Cottage Bar Best of 2011-12 Readers Poll
Voted “Best Burger” 8 years in row!
PHO SOC TRANG — Vietnamese cuisine. No alcohol. 4242 S Division Ave, 531-0755. B, L, D ¢ RAK THAI BISTRO — Thai-fusion fare with Chinese and Japanese influences. No alcohol. 5260 Northland Dr NE, 363-2222. rakthaibistro. com. L, D ¢-$
2011-12 Readers Poll
Recently recognized as the “Best Burger” in Michigan by USA TODAY 2011-12 Readers Poll
P.F. CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO — Upscale chain known for modern Chinese dishes from Mongolian Beef to Chicken Lettuce Wraps. Cocktails, beer and wine. Order online for takeout. The Village at Knapp’s Crossing, 2065 Apple Orchard Ave, 4472060. pfchangs.com. L,D $
18 LaGrave SE | 454-9088 www.cottagebar.biz
RED SUN BUFFET — All-you-can-eat international buffet: sushi, Chinese, American, Italian and Japanese selections. No alcohol. 4176 28th St SE, 940-9999. redsunbuffet.com. L, D ¢-$ SEOUL GARDEN — Chinese and Korean cuisine with full bar. Banquet and catering facilities avail-
82 Grand Rapids January 2012
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Open 4-12 Mon-Th, 4-1 Fri & Sat
ONE DISH SIX FARMS
201 Monroe Ave Grand Rapids, MI 49423 616.855.9463 ww www.reservegr.com
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Best of 2011-12 Readers Poll
2011-12 Readers Poll
January 2012 Grand Rapids 83
2011-12 Readers Poll
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We take our creations to
Heart
City Guide able. Closed Sun. 3321 28th St SE, 956-1522. grseoulgarden.com. L, D $-$$ SHANG HAI ICHIBAN — Chinese and Japanese cuisine; food prepared tableside by hibachi chefs in Japanese area. Serves alcohol. 3005 Broadmoor Ave SE (at 29th St), 773-2454. shang haiichiban.com. L, D $-$$ SOC TRANG — Wide selection of Chinese and Vietnamese offerings. No alcohol. 1831 Market Place Dr, Caledonia, 871-9909. gosoctrang.com. L, D ¢-$ SUSHI KUNI — Japanese and Korean cuisine, plus fusion fare. Private groups can eat in traditional Japanese tatami room. Serves alcohol. Closed Sun. 2901 Breton Rd SE, 241-4141. sushi kuni.net. L, D ¢-$$ SZECHUAN GARDEN — Diverse Chinese menu in Eastown. Lunch specials daily 11 am-4 pm. No alcohol. 1510 Wealthy St SE, 456-9878. L, D ¢-$
AlwAys fresh, creAtive And Authentic …the true nature of fine Italian cuisine. Four time winner of Grand Rapids Magazine’s Award of Excellence.
www.trecugini.com Cuisine
Authentic Italian
122 Monroe Center St. NW (616) 235-9339
Trust your insurance to The Shaun Harding Agency. We know the Grand Rapids area. Shaun Harding is proud to serve West Michigan as a Farm Bureau Insurance agent in Caledonia. Shaun lives and works right in our community and has a passion for protecting local families, homes, farms, and businesses. Call today for local service and local savings. • Life • Home • Auto • Farm • Business • Retirement • Lake Estate® We also offer several discounts—including multipolicy discounts, safe driver discounts, and mature discounts—to help you save even more. Call Shaun today to find out all the discounts you qualify for.
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THAI EXPRESS — Thai specialties, spiced to specification. No alcohol. 4317 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 827-9955. thaiexpressgr.com. L, D ¢ THREE HAPPINESS RESTAURANT — Cantonese, Mandarin and Szechuan fare, with daily lunch and dinner specials. No alcohol. 3330 Alpine Ave NW, Target Plaza, 785-3888. Facebook. L, D ¢-$ TOKYO GRILL & SUSHI — Japanese tatami rooms, sushi bars. Menu includes hibachi, teriyaki, Udon, tempura. Sake, plus Japanese and American beer and wine. Closed Sun. 4478 Breton Rd SE, 455-3433. tokyogrillsushi.com. L, D ¢-$ WEI WEI PALACE — Chinese seafood restaurant features Cantonese cuisine, dim sum and barbecue. Serves beer. 4242 S Division Ave, 724-1818. L, D $ WONTON EXPRESS — No-frills ambience serving authentic Chinese fare from spicy Hunan and Kung-Po dishes. No alcohol. 6719 S Division Ave, 281-8816. L, D ¢-$ FXO ASIAN CUISINE — Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine in downtown GR with full service bar. Vegetarian options and lunch specials MonSat. Free valet parking with $30 purchase. Will deliver. 58 Monroe Center, 235-6969. xoasiancui sine.com. L, D $-$$ YUMMY WOK — Cantonese, Hunan and Szechuan dishes. No alcohol. 4325 Breton Rd SE, 8272068. L, D ¢-$
Middle Eastern/ Mediterranean MARIE CATRIB’S — Middle-Eastern fare with onsite bakery, seasonal specialties and Turkish coffee. Vegetarian options. Breakfast 7 am Mon-Fri, 8 am Sat. Lunch/dinner starts 11 am weekdays, noon Sat. Closed Sun. No alcohol. 1001 Lake Dr SE, 454-4020. mariecatribs.com. B, L, D ¢-$ MEDITERRANEAN GRILL — Gyros, kabobs, shwarma, falafel, fattousch, hummus, kafta. All meats are halal, in accordance with Islamic requirements. Closed Sun. No alcohol. Cascade Center, 6250 28th St SE, 949-9696. L, D $ OSTA’S LEBANESE CUISINE — Lebanese cuisine, from grape leaf appetizer and tabbouleh to shish kebob, falafel and baklava. Takeout and catering. Features Lebanese beer and wine. Closed Sun-Mon. 2228 Wealthy St SE in EGR, 456-8999. ostaslebanese.com. L, D ¢-$
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City Guide
CRUNCH Now what?
osta’s lebanese Cuisine
When you’ve been in an accident, we have you covered with the industry’s highest customer satisfaction rating! Servicing Grand Rapids since 1958.
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PARSLEY MEDITERRANEAN GRILLE — Mediterranean appetizers, salads, soups, pitas, lunch and dinner combos of chicken, beef, seafood and vegetarian entrees, kabobs and more. No alcohol. 80 Ottawa Ave NW, 776-2590. parsleymg.com. L, D ¢-$
DETAILING • BODY REPAIR • RESTORATION • CUSTOMIZING • AUTO GLASS • CAR RENTAL
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PITA HOUSE — Gyros and other Middle East specialties. No alcohol. 1450 Wealthy St SE, 4541171; 3730 28th St SE, 940-3029; 4533 Ivanrest Ave SW, 261-4302; 134 Monroe Center NW, 2334875. thepitahouse.net. L, D ¢ FSHIRAZ GRILLE — Persian cuisine: fire-grilled kabobs, khoreshts, vegetarian options. Full bar, wine list, martinis. 2739 Breton Rd SE, 949-7447. shirazgrille.com. L (Sun), D $ ZEYTIN — Turkish-American cuisine with extensive beer and wine lists. Takeout available. 400 Ada Dr SE, Ada, 682-2222. zeytinturkishrestau rant.com. L, D $
Mexican/Latin American/ Caribbean
PhotograPhy by miChaEl buCk
7 MARES — Authentic Mexican dishes including breakfasts. 1403 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 301-8555. Facebook. B, L, D ¢-$$
WoodFired
ADOBE IN & OUT — Mexican offerings served quickly (Grandville location is drive-through only). 617 W Fulton St, 454-0279; 1216 Leonard St NE, 451-9050; 4389 Chicago Dr, Grandville, 2577091. L, D ¢
warms the soul
FBELTLINE BAR — Americanized Tex-Mex menu; wet burritos are the claim to fame. Full bar. The Big Enchilada curbside service: call in your order and have it delivered to your car. 16 28th St SE, 245-0494. beltlinebar.com. L, D $
Experience the warm, rustic flavors of our delicious wood-fired menus.
CABANA TRES AMIGOS — Authentic Mexican fare with full bar, take-out service, vegetarian selection. Spacious with fireplaces and Mexican décor. 1409 60th St SE, 281-6891. L, D ¢-$ CAFÉ SAN JUAN — Puerto Rican, Mexican and Cuban menu. No alcohol. 3549 Burlingame Ave SW, 530-2293. cafesanjuan.net. B, L, D ¢-$
Rose's • Mangiamo! • Bobarino's • Rose’s Express Flat River Grill • Blue Water Grill • Red Jet Cafe • Kirby House
www.thegilmorecollection.com
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City Guide CANCUN RESTAURANT — Neighborhood eatery specializes in Mexican seafood dishes but offers a full range of fare. 1518 Grandville Ave SW, 2482824. H, L, D, V, MC ¢-$ CANTINA — Extensive menu of Mexican specialties with full-service bar. 2770 East Paris Ave SE, 949-9120. L, D $ CHEZ OLGA — Caribbean and Creole fare. Vegetarian/vegan options. Lunch specials. No alcohol. Open until 2 am Fri-Sat, closed Sun. 1441 Wealthy St SE, 233-4141. chezolga.com. L, D ¢ CINCO DE MAYO — Mexican eatery offers the usual fare plus carnitas and steak asada. Full bar service. 123 Courtland St, Rockford, 866-3438; 114 Monroe Center NW, 719-2404. L, D $ CORAZON — Authentic Mexican food in stylish surroundings on the Avenue for the Arts. No alcohol. Closed Sun. 122 S Division Ave, 454-3847. L, D ¢
Tastefully designed, professionally installed.
DON JULIO’S — Mexican restaurant and bar offers specialties, combination plates, vegetarian options. 5039 28th St SE, 575-9171. L, D ¢-$
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DOWNTOWN TRINI’S — Sparta’s destination offers traditional fare. Full bar. Closed Sun and Mon. 134 E Division Ave, Sparta, 887-2500. down ¢-$ towntrinis.com. L, D
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EL ARRIERO —Extensive menu offers specialty dishes, with à la carte selections for smaller appetites. Mexican and domestic beers, Margaritas. 2948 28th St SE, 977-2674. L, D ¢-$ EL BARRIO MEXICAN GRILL — Tasty and creative twists on otherwise-traditional Mexican. Full bar. 545 Michigan St NE, 301-0010. elbarriomexi ¢-$ cangrill.com. L, D EL BURRITO LOCO — More than 70 authentic Mexican selections. Complimentary chips and salsa. Full bar. 1971 East Beltline Ave NE, 4470415; 4499 Ivanrest SW, 530-9470; 4174 Alpine Ave NW, 785-4102. L, D ¢-$ EL GRANJERO — Mexican fare, from steak and shrimp dishes to à la carte selections and menudo on weekends. No alcohol but tasty virgin coladas. ¢ 950 Bridge St NW, 458-5595. B, L, D
Servin g grand rapidS authentic c hineSe cuiSine fOr 24 yearS
EL SOMBRERO — Offers the wet burrito, and dry ones too. Weekly specials. No alcohol. Closed Sun. 527 Bridge St NW, 451-4290. L, D ¢ GRAND VILLA DUNGEON — Mexican food is the specialty. Full bar. Closed Sun. 3594 Chicago Dr SW, 534-8435. villadugeon.com. L, D $
CHINESE RESTAURANT / Mandarin / Hunan / Szechwan Special OccaSiOn catering available
2301 44th St SE
(Breton Meadows Mall)
281-0681
6740 Old 28th St. SE (1Blk. W. of Cascade Rd)
575-9088
3509 Alpine Ave. NW (Highpoint Center)
784-1616
Open 7 days a week
www.firstwok.com
JAMAICAN DAVE’S — Jerked, fricasseed or curried chicken; curry goat, oxtail, beef and chicken patties; jerked wings; salt fish and “escoveitched” fish; tofu-with-veggies. Limited seating; takeout is best bet. 1059 Wealthy St SE, 458-7875. jamaicandaves.com. L, D ¢ JOSE’S RESTAURANTE — Authentic Mexican fare, with jukebox, pinball and video game. No alcohol. 3954 S Division Ave, 530-7934. L, D ¢ LAS CAZUELAS — Open for breakfast at 10 am, serves lunch and dinner daily. Genuine Hispanic flavors.411 Wilson Ave NW, Walker, 726-6600. B, L, D ¢ LINDO MEXICO — Daily specials, including tacos de barbacoa, tripitos or lengua. No alcohol. 1292 28th St SW, 261-2280. lindomexicorestaurant. com. L, D ¢-$ LITTLE MEXICO CAFÉ — Traditional Mexican food and cocktails. Open daily. 401 Stocking Ave
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City Guide NW, 456-0517. L, D
$
MAGGIE’S KITCHEN — Homemade Mexican fare in café setting, cafeteria-style ordering. No alcohol. 36 Bridge St NW, 458-8583. B, L, D ¢ MICHOACAN — Mexican fare plus seafood, chicken and steak dishes. No alcohol. Open at 9 am. 334 Burton St SW, 452-0018. B, L, D ¢-$ MI TIERRA RESTAURANT — Traditional Mexican, eat in or drive through. No alcohol. 2300 S Division Ave, 245-7533. Facebook. L, D ¢ TACO BOB’S — Fresh-Mex offerings, taco salads and the “funny taco,” a hard-shell wrapped in a soft shell, with nacho cheese in between. No alcohol. Open 11 am-2 pm, Mon-Fri. 250 Monroe Ave ¢ NW, 458-1533. tacobobs.com. L TACO BOY — Traditional Mexican offerings. No alcohol. 3475 Plainfield Ave NE, 363-7111; 6539 28th St SE, 956-3424; 509 44th St SE, 257-0057; 2529 Alpine Ave NW, 365-9255; 180 Monroe Ave ¢ NW, 233-0701. tacoboy.biz. L, D TACOS EL CAPORAL — Two locations serving Mexican fare, with menudo Sat and Sun. Takeout. No alcohol. 1024 Burton St SW, 246-6180; 1717 28th St SW, Wyoming, 261-2711. B, L, D ¢
from appetizers, pasta and wood-fired pizza to creative entrées and homemade desserts. Large selection of beer, wine, martinis. Closed Sun and Mon during winter. 2225 South Shore Dr, Macatawa, (616) 335-5866. piperrestaurant.com. D ¢-$$ SALT & PEPPER SAVORY GRILL & PUB — Pubgrub with creative twists using Michigan-sourced ingredients. Full bar. Back patio for alfresco dining. Closed Sun. 11539 E Lakewood Blvd, Holland, (616) 355-5501. saltandpepperpub.com. L, D $
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SALT OF THE EARTH — Rustic fare and bakery emphasize locally sourced products ranging from wood-fired pizzas to affordably priced entrees. Full bar. 114 E Main St, Fennville, (269) 561-7258. saltoftheearthfennville.com. D ¢-$ THEODORE’S — Eclectic menu features American/Spanish/Mediterranean-influenced dishes in stylish surroundings with granite bar, glassed-in wine cellar and outdoor patio. Open Thu-Sat at 5 pm. 217 E 24th St, Holland, (616) 392-6883. theo doresholland.com. D (Thu-Sat) $-$$
Best of 2011-12 Readers Poll
2011-12 Readers Poll
2011-12 Readers Poll
TACOS EL RANCHERO — Mexican fare in low-key surroundings to eat in or take out. Cash only. No ¢ alcohol. 1240 Burton St SW, 245-6514. L, D TRES LOBOS GRILL & BAR — Lobster fajitas and parrilladas. Full-service bar. Lunch ’til 4 pm daily. 825 28th St SE, 245-5389. treslobosrestaurant. ¢-$ com. L, D
Lakeshore: New American BLUE HOUSE BISTRO — Neo-American Creole fusion fare from New Orleans-trained chef/ owner. Also, appetizers, soups, sandwiches/ wraps and pizza. No alcohol. Closed Mon. 220 W 8th St, Holland, (616) 355-1994. bluehouse bistro. com. L, D $ BUTCH’S — New York-style deli by day, fine cuisine by night. Menu changes seasonally. More than 200 bottled beer selections and 700 varieties of wine available for takeout. Closed Sun. 44 E 8th St, Holland, (616) 396-8227. butchs.net. L, D $$ – CITYV U BISTRO — Top-floor restaurant in Holland’s City Flats Hotel specializes in creative flatbreads and small-plate fare with emphasis on seasonal ingredients. 61 E 7th St, Holland, (616) 796-2114. cityvubistro.com. B, L, D $-$$ EVERYDAY PEOPLE CAFÉ — Changing bistro menu from appetizers through dessert. Impressive wine list with appropriate food pairings. 11 Center St, Douglas, (269) 857-4240. everydaypeoplecafe.com. D $-$$ LAKE HOUSE WATERFRONT GRILLE — Overlooks Muskegon Lake. Small plates, salads, pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, specialty burgers. Live entertainment. 730 Terrace Point, Muskegon, (231) 722-4461; thelakehousemi.com. L, D $-$$ MIA & GRACE BISTRO — Husband/wife chef/ owners serve locally grown products in artsy space. Breakfast/lunch year-round, special dinners during growing season. Bakery, too. No alcohol. 1133 Third St, Muskegon, (231) 725-9500. miaandgrace.com. B, L, (D) $ PIPER — Lake view and a menu with everything
6464 Broadmoor SE Caledonia MI 49316 (616) 698-6910 harderandwarner.com We are working all winter to bring you the latest cutting edge landscape designs. Get your design done NOW and enjoy your new surroundings for the entire summer! January 2012 Grand Rapids 87
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City Guide WILD DOG GRILLE — Appetizers, salads, sandwiches, stone-baked pizzas and entrees marry a complexity of flavors. Closed Mon in winter. Full-service bar. 24 Center St, Douglas, (269) 857-2519. thewilddoggrille.com. L (Fri-Sun), D $-$$
golfclub.com. L, D
Lakeshore: Classic American
FALCON’S NEST — Creative lunch menu with hot and cold sandwiches, barbecue ribs, appetizers, chili and salads. Open 11 am-7 pm. 17000 Lincoln Ave, Grand Haven, (616) 842-4040. grandhaven golfclub.com. L, D ¢-$
8TH STREET GRILL — Entrées range from meatloaf to ribs, with sandwiches, salads and pasta also on the menu. Beer and wine served. Closed Sun. 20 W 8th St, Holland, (616) 392-5888. $ 8thstreetgrille.com. L, D 84 EAST FOOD & SPIRITS — Neat restoration lends atmosphere. Varied menu includes unique pasta dishes and thin-crust pizzas. Full bar. Closed Sun. 84 E 8th St, Holland, (616) 3968484. 84eastpasta.com. L, D ¢-$ ARBOREAL INN — New England-style inn offers fresh whitefish, Alaskan king crab, tournedos Oscar and more. Separate dining and bar area. Closed Sun. 18191 174th Ave, Spring Lake, (616) 842-3800. arborealinn.com. D $$ BEAR LAKE TAVERN — Historic North Muskegon tavern fare ranges from yellowbelly lake perch to wet burritos. 360 Ruddiman Rd, North Muskegon, (231) 744-1161. thebearlaketavern.com. B (weekends), L, D ¢-$ BIL-MAR RESTAURANT — Beachfront dining with a great view of Lake Michigan. Wide selection of fine-dining entrées. Full bar. 1223 S Harbor St, Grand Haven, (616) 842-5920. bil-margrand haven.com. L, D $$ BOATWERKS WATERFRONT RESTAURANT — Vintage ambiance overlooking Lake Macatawa. Spacious patio. Two menus: casual in main dining room, bar and patio, with another room for fine dining. 216 Van Raalte Ave, Holland, (616) 396$-$$ 0600. boatwerksrestaurant.com. L, D BONFIRE GRILL & PUB — Muskegon smokehouse. Rotisserie chicken, ribs and brisket are claim to fame; extensive menu with items such as lobster tacos, alligator snaps, creative “samiches,” specialty dogs, burgers. 2536 Henry St, Muskegon, (231) 760-5204; bonfiregrillpub.com. L, D $-$$ C.F. PRIME CHOPHOUSE & WINE BAR — Prime NY strips, seafood, vegetarian options and desserts made on-site. Full-service bar. Closed Sun. 950 W Norton, Muskegon, (231) 737-4943. $-$$ cfprime.com. D
$-$$
DOCKERS FISH HOUSE & LOUNGE — Waterside dining on Muskegon Lake with summer tiki bar. Seafood and land-lubber options. Full bar. Dockhands assist with boat tie-up. Closed OctMar. 3505 Marina Point View, Muskegon, (231) 755-0400. dockersfishhouse.com. L, D $-$$
GRAND SEAFOOD & OYSTER BAR — In Grand Haven’s former Grand Theatre. Oyster and sushi bar, seafood and steaks. 22 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, (616) 847-8944. harborrestaur ants.com/thegrand. D $-$$ THE GRILL ROOM — Aged steaks/chops, fresh seafood and fine wines in top chophouse tradition. Closed Sun during winter. Kirby House, 2 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, (616) 846-3299. thegilmoreollection.com.grillroom.php. D $$ HANDSOME HENRY’S — Big-city vibe dining room and sports bar offer signature twists. Extensive menu ranges from pizzas to hand-cut, aged steaks. 3065 Henry St, Muskegon, (231) 747-8583. L, D $ JACK’S — Breakfast and lunch, plus dinner menu with wide range of entrées, wine by the glass. On Grand River at Waterfront Holiday Inn. 940 W Savidge St, Spring Lake, (616) 846-1370. higrand haven.com. B, L, D $-$$ KIRBY GRILL — Casual side of the Kirby House offers innovative touches to the American menu. Family-friendly dining upstairs. 2 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, (616) 846-3299. thegilmorecol lection.com/kirby.php. L, D $ ROSEBUD BAR AND GRILL — Sandwiches, soups and pizza for lunch; steaks, ribs, pasta and pizza for dinner. Open daily. 100 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, (616) 846-7788. rosebudgrill.com. L, D ¢-$ WEST COAST GRILLE — Daily breakfast buffet, lunch fare and dinner menu ranging from quesadillas and burgers to prime rib and seafood. Open daily. Doubletree Hotel, 650 E 24th St (just off US 31), Holland, (616) 394-0111. holland.doubletree. com. B, L, D $
Lakeshore: Pubs & Taverns
CRAZY HORSE STEAK HOUSE & SALOON — Southwest style family-friendly eatery, known for steaks and prime rib. 2027 North Park Dr, Holland, (616) 395-8393. crazyhorsesteakhouse. com. L, D $$
CHEQUERS — Creative cuisine with British flair ranges from beef tips Sherwood to Welsh rarebit and shepherd’s pie. Imported beer served in English pub atmosphere. Open daily in summer. 220 Culver St, Saugatuck, (269) 857-1868. L, D $
DEE-LITE BAR & GRILL — “Fresh-Mex” dinner selections, plus American fare. Diner-style breakfasts. Live music and martinis in the Theatre Bar. Sun brunch. 24 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, (616) 844-5055. harborrestaurants.com/dee lite/. B, L, D $
THE CURRAGH — Downtown Holland Irish pub features foods, spirits, music and environment of Old World Ireland. Authentic Irish fare from a full menu. Outdoor seating, live entertainment, valet parking. 73 E 8th St, Holland, (616) 393-6340. ¢-$$ curraghholland.com. L, D
DINING ROOM AT CLEARBROOK — Menu features locally grown products. More casual dining in The Grill Room. Open daily in summer. Clearbrook Golf Club, 6594 Clearbrook Dr (just north of Saugatuck), (269) 857-2000. clearbrook
NEW HOLLAND BREWING CO. — Gourmet pizzas, salads and sandwiches augment handcrafted beer and artisan spirits. Live music every Fri and Sat. 66 E 8th St, Holland. (616) 355-6422. newhollandbrew.com. L, D ¢-$
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City Guide
New Year ~ New Menu Here’s a sampling of some of our new lunch & dinner items:
Lakeshore: European ALPENROSE — European fare ranges from Certified Aged Black Angus steaks to poultry and fish dishes. Five private dining rooms, banquet facility, bakery and café. Sun brunch buffet. 4 E 8th St, Holland, (616) 393-2111. alpenroserestau ¢-$$ rant.com. B, L, D MARRO’S — Italian fare and house-baked goods, extensive array of pizza toppings. Open mid-April through autumn; closed Mon. 147 Waters St, Saugatuck, (269) 857-4248. L, D $-$$ PEREDDIES — Italian fine-dining and deli with baked breads, salads, meats, pâté, desserts and imported food. Wine list, full bar, wine to go. More casual fare in Scusi lounge. Closed Sun. 447 Washington Ave, Holland, (616) 394-3061. pered $-$$ diesrestaurant.com. L, D
DINNER
LUNCH ~ Spinach Artichoke Grilled Cheese ~ Hunters Melt ~ Greek Salad ~ Mad Hatter Burger
Stop in and try something new! Real Food | Real Fresh | Real Fast Open daily for breakfast, lunch & dinner
RESTAURANT TOULOUSE — Seasonally inspired menu with French classics such as cassoulet and bouillabaisse. Award-winning wines. Hours vary seasonally; private parties can be arranged. Sun brunch during summer. 248 Culver St, Saugatuck, (269) 857-1561. restauranttoulouse. $$ com. L, D TWO TONYS TAVERNA GRILLE — Italian, Greek and American specialties with full-service bar, extensive wine list. Menu includes wood-fired pizzas and nightly specials. Open kitchen, large patio. Closed Sun. 723 E Savidge Rd, Spring Lake, (616) 844-0888. L, D $
Dining Guide Legend GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE has created these symbols to area restaurant amenities as a service to our readers.
B — Serves breakfast L — Serves lunch D — Serves dinner ¢ — Inexpensive (under $10)* $ — Moderate ($10-$20)* $$ — Expensive (Over $20)* * Prices based on average entrée. - — Reviewed in this issue ➧ — New listing . — Listing update O — GRM’s 2010 Restaurant of the Year F — GRM’s 2010 Award of Excellence — Chef Profile in this issue Additions, corrections and/or changes must
be submitted for the editors’ consideration by calling Grand Rapids Magazine, 459-4545, or write: The Dining Guide, Grand Rapids Magazine, 549 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, Ml 49503.
~ Hot Crab Dip Appetizer ~ Seafood Portobello ~ Rack of Lamb ~ Vegetarian Ravioli
Buy one get one free. Good for one free lunch or dinner entrée with the purchase of a second entrée of equal or greater value. Dine in only. • Not valid on groups of 8 or more, or on banquet functions. • Not valid with any other discount promotions or coupon offers. • An 18% gratuity will be added to check before discount.
310 Pearl St. NW Grand Rapids | (616) 235-1342
• Complimentary parking when dining in restaurant. • Offer expires January 31st, 2012
tomers s cu l a y lo d n a ed ks to our valu he honor of t My sincere than s u g in iv g d n a e e to vot for taking the tim award. the “Best Ribs” forward k o lo s y a lw a e w d nks an Again, many tha Sam’s Joint o t in g in m co y il m to you and your fa Restaurants! Respectfully, Sam
Best of 2011-12
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City Guide: Fresh Hops
‘Best of’ when it comes to beer
There are more than a few excellent beer stores in Grand Rapids, but what sets Siciliano’s apart is the focus not only on beer drinking but also on beer making.
Siciliano’s Market
by Jon C. Koeze
Grand Rapids has a lot to be proud of when it comes to beer. We have fabulous breweries and beer stores within easy driving distance. We also have a sophisticated beer culture that demands quality. This all makes declaring the “best of” for beer very dicey — even risky. I am sure there will be many to take issue with the following, but perhaps it will foster a good conversation about beer in general and quality in particular. The really fun part for me was getting to pick my categories: BEST BEER STORE: Siciliano’s Market, 2840 Lake Michigan Drive NW. Name your vice — beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, tobacco — it is all here in quality and quantity. There are more than a few excellent beer stores in Grand Rapids, but what sets Siciliano’s apart is the focus not only on beer drinking but also on beer making. It has the best homebrew supplies in the area and a knowledgeable and friendly staff. Want to brew your own beer? Go here. Want to drink a beer you have never tried before? Go here. BEST BREWERY: Founders Brewing Co., 235 Grandville Ave. SW. Only a few breweries in West Michigan have enjoyed the
success of Founders, and none of them can say they make better beer than what is made right here in the city limits. Founders beer is now found on retail shelves in at least 13 states, and the number is growing. The tasting room is a cavernous hotspot for beer lovers and downtown GR nightlife. BEST BREW PUB: HopCat, 25 Ionia Ave. SW. Pub breweries differ from other breweries because of their focus on the dining experience. HopCat can only sell its beer to customers on premises, so food and entertainment become an important part of the attraction. Not only is HopCat a great brewpub, it is a great beer bar. It offers excellent food, a wide selection of beers and weekend entertainment. I’m not alone in this determination. Beer Advocate magazine recently gave HopCat an A+ — its highest peer review rating, and in a separate peer review awarded it with the honor of Third Best Beer Bar on the Planet. BEST PLACE TO HAVE A BEER AFTER WORK: Hideout Brewing Co., 3113 Plaza Drive NE. Sometimes after work you just want to have a beer in a nice cozy bar with a few friends. You don’t want to wait in line to show someone your ID to get in, and then have to yell over the music and crowd noise to carry on a conversation. The Hideout, if you’ve never been, makes excellent beer, has a wonderfully relaxed “ski lodge” atmosphere, and a pleasant staff. BEST SELECTION OF BEERS: Logan’s Alley, 1916 Michigan St. NE. If you are wondering who has it all, look no further. With more than 200 bottled alcoholic drinks on the menu, I do believe they carry every beer permitted to be sold in Michigan. Logan’s is a neat old neighborhood bar with a lot of character. The crowd is a bit younger and rowdier, but if you looking for something different to drink, chances are you will find it here. Contributing editor Jon C. Koeze, cable administrator for the city of Grand Rapids, has made and tasted beer since 1980.
Photography by michael buck
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one of the featured bands at Winter Wheat grand rapids will be the crane Wives, a grand rapids indie-folk/americana band. Members, from left, are: ben Zito, bass; emily Petersmark, guitar and vocals; dan rickabus, drums and vocals; kate Pillsbury, guitar and vocals; and tom gunnels, banjo. the quintet released its full-length debut album, “safe ship, harbored,” last summer.
Traditional music & dance Winter Wheat Grand Rapids, an event in its third year, is presenting just that. The Jan. 7 show is organized by the Wheatland Music Organization, a nonprofit dedicated to “preservation and presentation of traditional music and arts.” Genres include traditional country, blues, bluegrass, Celtic and folk — all played with spirit and fire. Local favorites Crane Wives are headlining with other bands, including Red Sea Pedestrians, Jive at Five and many more. There are 12 bands in total. There will also be square dancing and contra dances, as well as a performance by Wheatland’s 2011 music scholarship winners. Check out www.wheatlandmusic.org or call (989) 967-8879 for more details. See MuSIc
PhotograPhy courtesy toMMy valdeZ
When was the last time you spent 12 hours listening to passionate live music?
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City Guide
Calendar of Events
Grand rapids Magazine is pleased to provide this extensive list of area events. commonly requested venue and ticket outlet information is at the end of this listing.
BABY YOU CAN DRIVE MY CAR The 2012 Michigan International
Special events Thru Jan 1 - NITE LITES: Drive-thru Christmas light show with more than 1 million lights and two miles of animated displays. Open 6-10 pm. Fifth Third Ballpark, Comstock Park. $12/car. www. nitelitesshow.com. Thru Mar 4 - ICE SKATING AT ROSA PARKS CIRCLE: Outdoor ice skating in downtown GR. Skates available 6-9:30 pm Mon-Tue, noon-9:30 pm Wed-Thu and Sun, noon-10 pm Fri-Sat. $1 skating, skate rentals free with picture ID. www. visitgrandrapids.org. Jan 6 - WINE ABOUT WINTER: Downtown Grand Haven hosts an evening art and walking tour featuring wine tasting at participating stores. www. downtowngrandhaven.com. Jan 6-7 - GRAND RAPIDS BRIDAL SHOW: Onestop-shopping for brides, plus a fashion show of wedding gowns, tuxedos and flowers. 5-9 pm Fri, 11 am-5 pm Sat. DeVos Place. $5 (at door), free to brides who pre-register at www.grbridalshow. com. Jan 6-7 - HOLLAND ICE SCULPTING COMPETITION: Downtown Holland and the National Ice Carving Association host a collegiate competition in the streets of downtown Holland, where 300-pound blocks of ice are turned into art. www. downtownholland.com. Jan 7-8 - GRAND RAPIDS ANTIQUES MARKET: More than 130 antique dealers, repair services and appraisers, plus on-site buyers, live vintage fashion show, record swap and live auction. 9 am-7 pm Sat, 10 am-4 pm Sun. DeVos Place. $8 weekend pass, children 18 and under free. www. grandrapidsantiquesmarket.com. Jan 14 - ROCKFORD ICE FESTIVAL: Free family fun includes craftsmen carving giant blocks of ice, ice mini-golf, scavenger hunt, shopping and hot chocolate. Noon-4 pm. Downtown Rockford.
14th annual benefit includes soups, desserts and live entertainment. 6:30-9:30 pm. The BOB, 20 Monroe Ave NW. Tickets TBD. www.soupsonfor all.org.
Auto Show is shaping up to be a
Jan 26-29 - GRAND HAVEN WINTERFEST: Events include a Family Dog Pull and Cardboard Sled Race at Mulligan’s Hollow. The Luau Extravaganza (ages 21 and up) includes music 7 pm-midnight Jan 28 in municipal marina parking lot. Kids Day is Jan 28; see Kidstuff for more info. www.winterfestonline.org.
week earlier than usual, Jan. 26-29,
Jan 26-29 - MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW: More than 300 new vehicles, including sedans, trucks, vans, hybrids, SUV’s and sport cars, are joined by concept cars and pre-production displays. 3-10 pm Thu, 11 am-10 pm Fri, 10 am-10 pm Sat, 10 am-6 pm Sun. DeVos Place. $10 adults, $5 ages 6-14. www.grautoshow.com.
cars with proceeds benefiting the
Jan 28 - CLC NETWORK AUCTION: Christian Learning Center Network hosts an auction of household items, vacations, restaurant certificates and more. 5 pm silent auction and dinner, 6 pm live auction. Calvin Christian Middle School, 3740 Ivanrest, Grandville. www.clcnetwork.org.
featuring only vehicles priced at
Jan 28 - GRCC GIANTS AWARDS & BANQUET: GRCC salutes African-American individuals and organizations for contributions to the community. Supports the Milo Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund. 6 pm. DeVos Place. Tickets TBD (234-3390 or www.grcc.edu/giants).
Music Jan - FRIDAY NIGHTS AT GRAM: GR Art Museum hosts live music, social games, gallery talks, cash bar and dinner options 5-9 pm. Jan theme: Culture and Community. See website for details. 101 Monroe Center. $5 adults, members free. www.artmuseumgr.org.
doozy. The annual event is happening a at DeVos Place. Kicking off the festivities from 6:30-10 p.m. Jan. 25 is the Auto Show Charity Spectacular, a $150 per ticket VIP preview of the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation. Show organizers are claiming this year’s Million Dollar Mile — $100,000 or more — will be the best ever, with 10 cars from Detroit, as well as two Bentleys, a RollsRoyce, and Aston Martins, Maseratis and Lamborghinis. The Gilmore Car Museum will display several classic cars, and GM will be doing its popular “Drive and Ride” thing, where you can testdrive new cars indoors — kind of like go-karts on steroids! Check out www.GRAutoShow. com for more information. See SpecIAL eVeNtS
Jan 16 - MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATION: GRCC’s 26th annual “Inherit the Dream” community-wide program. Keynote speaker: Bakari Kitwana. 6:30-8:30 pm. GRCC’s Ford Fieldhouse. www.grcc.edu/mlk. PhotograPhy courtesy shoWsPan
PhotograPhy courtesy toMMy valdeZ
Jan 14 - SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE CIVIL WAR: GR Public Museum event offers tours of its Thank God for Michigan!: Stories From the Civil War exhibit, 3rd Michigan Regiment re-enactors, dancing, live music, samples of hardtack and presentations on a Civil War spy, Company K and more. 10 am-3 pm. 272 Pearl St NW. Free with admission ($8 adults, $7 seniors, $3 ages 3-17). www.grmuseum.org.
Jan 20-21 - WINTER BRIDAL SHOW OF WEST MICHIGAN: One-stop wedding shopping expo. 5-9 pm Fri, 11 am-4 pm Sat. DeVos Place. $6 (at door). www.kohlerexpo.com. Jan 22-29 - HUNTIN’ TIME EXPO: Includes seminars, products, taxidermy displays, clothing and hunting equipment. 3-9 pm Fri, 9 am-7 pm Sat, 10 am-6 pm Sun. DeltaPlex. Tickets TBD. www. huntingshows.net. Jan 23 - SOUP’S ON FOR ALL: God’s Kitchen January 2012 Grand rapids 93
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Jan - THE INTERSECTION: Nightclub hosts local and national bands. Jan 8, High School of Rock: Battle of the Bands. Jan 14, Mega 80s. Jan 19, The Lemonheads. Jan 21, Keb Mo. Jan 27, Mega 80s. See website for updates. Ticket prices vary (Beat Goes On, Purple East, Vertigo Music, Intersection box office or Ticketmaster). 133 Grandville Ave SW. www.sectionlive.com.
at door, $10 students with ID. www.wheatland music.org.
Jan - ONE TRICK PONY: Downtown restaurant features live music (Acoustic Stew) every Thu, plus some Sat evenings. Check website for schedule. Reservations recommended. 136 E Fulton St. www.onetrick.biz.
Jan 12 - NEWSBOYS: Christian pop/rock band performs “God’s Not Dead” tour with guests Abandon, Anthem Lights and speaker Bob Lenz. 7 pm, doors open 6 pm. Central Wesleyan Church, Holland. $15-$35 (www.startickets.com).
Jan - THE PYRAMID SCHEME: Pub and music venue in Heartside. Jan 14, Still Remains. Jan 20, Strange Arrangement and Twin Cats. See website for updates. Ticket prices vary (Vertigo Music or www.ticketweb.com). 68 Commerce SW. www. pyramidschemebar.com.
Jan 13 - MAJIC CONCERT SERIES: Musical Arts for Justice in the Community hosts Keith Hall Trio. 7 pm. Bethlehem Church Sanctuary, 250 Commerce Ave SW. $10 suggested donation; proceeds benefit GR Coalition to End Homelessness. www.grmajic.org.
Jan 3, 17 - FARM MUSEUM JAM NIGHT: Bring your guitar, fiddle or other non-electric instrument. Singers and listeners welcome. 5 pm doors open, 6-9 pm jam. Coopersville Farm Museum, 375 Main St, Coopersville. Free with admission ($4). www.coopersvillefarmmuseum.org.
Jan 13-14 - ST CECILIA WINTER CONCERTS: 7 pm Jan 13, Winter Concert Band performing traditional band music plus works by local musicians. 5 pm Jan 14, Winter Sinfonia and Concert Orchestra featuring contemporary and classical music for strings. 8 pm Jan 14, Winter Philharmonic. Royce Auditorium, St Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Ave NE. $10, kids 10 and under free (459-2224 or www.scmc-online.org).
Jan 4 - TAIZE SUNG PRAYER SERVICE: Repeated choruses accompanied by instruments and vocal solos. 7 pm. First United Methodist Church, 227 E Fulton St. www.grandrapidsfumc.org.
Jan 8 - SUNDAYS AT GRAM: GR Art Museum hosts classical chamber music of composer “American Mystic” Alan Hovhaness. 2-3 pm. 101 Monroe Center. Free with admission. www.art museumgr.org.
Jan 6-7 - “CINEMATIC SHOSTAKOVICH”: GR Symphony presents Russian music and the film “Battleship Potemkin.” 8 pm. DeVos Performance Hall. $18-$90 (Symphony and DeVos Place box offices; 454-9451, ext 4; or Ticketmaster). www. grsymphony.org.
Jan 13-15 - “SWINGIN’ WITH SINATRA AND DORSEY”: GR Symphony’s pops concert features Sinatra hits such as “My Way,” “New York, New York” and “Fly Me to the Moon.” 8 pm Fri and Sat, 3 pm Sun. DeVos Performance Hall. $18-$90 (Symphony and DeVos Place box offices; 4549451, ext 4; or Ticketmaster). www.grsymphony. org.
Jan 7 - WINTER WHEAT GRAND RAPIDS: Wheatland Music Organization presents the 3rd annual celebration of traditional music and dance, featuring 12 bands in 12 hours on two stages. 1 p.m.- 1 a.m. The Intersection. $15 in advance, $20
Jan 14, 21 - ACOUSTIC SATURDAY NIGHTS: Grand River Folk Arts Society hosts acoustic concerts. Jan 14, Blue Water Ramblers. Jan 21, Cairn to Cairn. 8 pm. Wealthy St Theater, 1110 Wealthy St SE. $12 adults, $10 students and
Photography courtesy keppler speakers bureau
THANK
Several events are planned by local Bakari colleges to celebrate Martin Luther King Kitwana Day in Grand Rapids, including a 26th Annual Commemoration Program at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at GRCC’s Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse. Political analyst Bakari Kitwana, author of “The Hip-Hop Generation,” is the guest speaker with a special appearance by Pastor Dr. Marvin Sapp. Kitwana will also speak at 12:30 p.m. at Grand Valley State University’s MLK program on Monday at the Kirkhof Center on the Allendale campus following a silent march at noon. Grand Rapids Community College is planning a community peace march at noon Monday starting at the Ford Fieldhouse, followed by a community peace program at 12:30. Davenport University is holding several celebration events, including a 1 p.m. silent march and program at the Lettinga Campus, and a 4:30 p.m. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Renewal Celebration at its new downtown center at 45 Ottawa Ave. NW. On Tuesday, a program, “Civil Rights in Post-Racial Times,” will take place at 10 a.m. in Sneden Auditorium on the Lettinga Campus.
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City Guide seniors, $9 members, $3 children (at door). www. grfolkarts.org. Jan 21 - JAZZ VESPERS: Live jazz by Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra. 6 pm. First United Methodist Church, 227 E Fulton St. www.grandrapidsfumc. org. Free. Jan 27 - “ETHEL WITH ROBERT MIRABEL”: Hope College Great Performance Series presents a string quartet with flutist Robert Mirabel. 7:30 pm. Dimnent Chapel, Holland. $18 adults, $13 seniors, $6 students and children 18 and under (DeVos ticket office or 616-395-7890). www.hope.edu. Jan 27-28 - “MOZART AND BEETHOVEN”: GR Symphony presents music from two masters. 8 pm. DeVos Performance Hall. $18-$90 (Symphony and DeVos Place box offices; 4549451, ext 4; or Ticketmaster). www.grsymphony. org.
Art Thru Jan 31 - KIA ART FAIR APPLICATIONS: Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is accepting artist applications for the 2012 KIA Art Fair, to be held Jun 1-2. $30 application fee, $224 booth fee. More info at www.kiarts.org. Jan 5, 12 - GRAND VALLEY ARTISTS: 7:30 pm Jan 5, Artist Critique Night. 7:30 pm Jan 12, Program Night. Free and open to public. 1345 Monroe Ave NW, Ste 130, www.grandvalleyartists.com. Jan - AQUINAS COLLEGE GALLERY: Jan 15-Feb 10, Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition; reception 2-4 pm Jan 15. Aquinas Art & Music Center (enter off Fulton St), 632-2408, www.aquinas.edu/art/ gallery.html. Jan - BETTYE CLARK-CANNON GALLERY: Thru Jan 30, Canvas in the Sky, photographs by Terry Hancock and Marc Hoeksema. Frauenthal Center, 425 W Western Ave, Muskegon, (231) 332-4102, www.frauenthal.org. Jan - CALVIN CENTER ART GALLERY: Jan 6-Feb 18, Alumni Painting Exhibition, and In My Own Back Yard by Mary Abma. Calvin College FAC, 1795 Knollcrest Circle, 526-6271, www.calvin. edu/centerartgallery. Jan - CALVIN (106) GALLERY: Thru Jan 6, Art Education Exhibition. 106 S Division Ave. www. calvin.edu/centerartgallery/studio/.
Photography courtesy keppler speakers bureau
Jan - DEPREE GALLERY: Jan 13-Feb 11, guest artist Calla Thompson; reception 5-6 pm Jan 13. Hope College, Holland, (616) 395-7500, www. hope.edu. Jan - DEVOS PLACE: Thru Jan 8, Kendall College of Art and Design MFA Juried Exhibition. 303 Monroe Ave NW. Jan - FOREST HILLS FAC: Jan 6-27, Steven Huyser-Honig; reception 6-7 pm Jan 12. 600 Forest Hill Ave SE, 493-8965, www.fhfineartscen ter.com. Jan - FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS & SCULPTURE PARK: Jan 27-Apr 29, Essence: The Horses of Deborah Butterfield. Permanent exhibits include world-class sculptures indoors and in the 30-acre park. See Museums & Attractions. Jan - GALLERY UPTOWN: Jan 3-25, January Invitational, including winning artwork from Grand Haven’s ArtWalk; reception 5:30-8 pm Jan 6. 201 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, (616) 846-5460, www.galleryuptown.net.
Jan - GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM: Thru Jan 15, Warrington Colescott: Cabaret, Comedy and Satire, and Inside Jokes: The Tradition of Satire in Art. Thru Jan 22, Director’s Choice: A New Perspective. Thru Jan 28, Prophets, Priests and Kings: Woodcuts by Chris Stoffel Overvoorde. See Music for Friday Nights at GRAM and Sundays at GRAM. 10 am-5 pm Tue, Wed, Thu and Sat; 10 am-9 pm Fri; noon-5 pm Sun; closed Mon. $8 adults, $7 seniors/students with ID, $5 children 6-17, 5 and under free. 101 Monroe Center, 8311000, www.artmuseumgr.org. Jan - GVSU ART GALLERY: Jan 9-Mar 1, Saudi Arabia: 1946-1954 by Ilo Battigelli, Red Wall Gallery, Lake Ontario Hall, Allendale Campus. Jan 9-Apr 28, PIC’s Pics: A Study Abroad Photo Contest, Faculty/Staff Dining, Kirkhof Center. Jan 9-Apr 28, Tjukurrpa: Aboriginal Dreamtime Paintings: Works from the GVSU Permanent Collection, West Wall Gallery, Eberhard Center. Jan 16-Mar 23, Regionalism and Art of the WPA: Selections from the Muskegon Museum of Art; reception 5-7 pm Jan 19, 1121 PAC, Allendale campus. www.gvsu.edu/artgallery. Jan - HOLLAND AREA ARTS COUNCIL: Thru Jan 2, Sacred Art, Sacred Acts. 150 E 8th St, Holland, (616) 396-3278, www.hollandarts.org.
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Jan - HOLLAND MUSEUM: Dutch Galleries exhibit 17th- to 20th-century Dutch paintings and cultural objects. See Museums & Attractions. Jan - KALAMAZOO INSTITUTE OF ARTS: Thru Jan 22, Kirk Newman Art School Faculty Review. Thru Mar 4, The Strange Life of Objects: The Art of Annette Lemieux. Thru Mar 18, Infrared Photography by Christopher Light. 10 am-5 pm Tue-Sat, noon-5 pm Sun, closed Mon. Free; $5 suggested donation. 314 S Park St, Kalamazoo, (269) 349-7775, www.kiarts.org. Jan - LAFONTSEE GALLERIES: Thru Jan 2, Small Works by Enormously Talented Artists. 833 Lake Dr SE, 451-9820, www.lafontsee.us. Jan - LEEP ART GALLERY: Thru Jan 3, Boundless by Lydia Larson. Jan 4-Apr 3, Unspoken by Julie Quinn. Pine Rest Postma Center, 300 68th St SE, 222-4530, www.pinerest.org. Jan - LOWELLARTS!: Jan 10-Feb 5, Works in Progress. 149 S Hudson St, Lowell, 897-8545, www. lowellartscouncil.org. Jan - MERCURYHEAD GALLERY: Thru Jan 31, Rex Tower, Al Cianfarani and George Peebles, oil on canvas. 962 E Fulton St, 456-6022. Jan - MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART: Thru Jan 15, Process and Revelation: The Textiles of Frank Connet. Thru Jan 29, The First 100 Years: Pictures of the Best Kind, and Portfolios, Series and Collections. Thru Feb 19, Tiny Treasures: Small Scale Works from the MMA Collection. Noon-4:30 pm Sun; closed Mon and Tue; 10 am-4:30 pm Wed, Fri and Sat; 10 am-8 pm Thu. $5 adults (Thu free); members, students, children under 17 free. 296 W Webster Ave, Muskegon, (231) 720-2570, www.muskegonartmuseum.org. Jan - RIVERTOWN ARTISTS GUILD: Thru Jan 6, Mary E Andersen, Walker Library, 4293 Remembrance Rd. Jan - TERRYBERRY GALLERY: Thru Jan 30, Kathleen Putnam and Connie Kuhnle, oil and pastel. Lower floor, St Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Ave NE, 459-2224, www.scms-online.org. Jan - VAN SINGEL FINE ARTS CENTER: Jan
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Free and informative
Adventurers of the Year 2012 for completing the 2,175-mile footpath that stretches from Georgia to Maine in 46 days, 11 hours and 20 minutes, trimming 26 hours off the previous record. Pharr Davis, who has logged more than 11,000 miles of long-distance trails on six continents, wrote about her first Appalachian Trail hike in 2005 in a memoir entitled, “Becoming Odyssa.” Alternative farmer Joel Salatin’s Virginia farm
The January Series of Calvin College begins its 25th year of free noontime lectures Jan. 4 with a lineup of fascinating experts speaking on a wide range of topics — from social media expert Sherry Turkle’s “Alone Together: Why We Expect More From Technology and Less From Each Other” to Grand Rapids Symphony’s John Varineau talking about “The Uses, Misuses and Abuses of Music.” On Jan. 13, the guest speaker will be “long-distance hiker” Jennifer Pharr Davis (pictured below), named one of National Geographic’s
achieved iconic status as the grass farm featured in “Omnivore’s Dilemma,” the bestselling book by food writer Michael Polan. Salatin (pictued above) has written a number of books, including “Folks, This Ain’t Normal,” a farmer’s advice for happier hens, healthier people and a better world. He will speak Jan. 16 on “Dancing With Dinner.” Lectures will be in Calvin’s Covenant Fine Arts Center and several remote webcast sites. For the lineup of speakers and sites, visit www. calvin.edu/january. See Lectures & Workshops
Lee. Jan 19-21, TBD. Jan 26-28, Jon Reep. See website for updates. The BOB, 20 Monroe Ave NW. Ticket prices vary (356-2000, www.thebob. com).
Film
Jan 7, 21 - RIVER CITY IMPROV: Calvin College alumni improv team weaves skits, games and songs with audience suggestions. 6:30 pm doors open, 7:33 pm show. Ladies Literary Club, 61 Sheldon Blvd SE. $10 (at door or Calvin box office). www.rivercityimprov.com.
Jan - WINTER FILM SERIES: Jan 9-14, “Senna.” Jan 16-21, “Restless.” 7:30 pm. Knickerbocker Theater, Holland. $6 adults, $5 seniors and students. Jan - UICA: Urban Institute for Contemporary Art shows independent, foreign and documentary films ($8, $4 members). Also, 7 pm Jan 3, “Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock” (free). 2 W Fulton St, 454-3994, www.uica.org.
Stage Thru Mar 1 - ACTORS’ THEATRE SCRIPT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Ninth annual 10-minute play festival Living on the Edge with theme “Evil Things” invites Michigan writers to submit scripts. Final 12 selected for public reading in Apr. Five finalists produced in Jun. Submit to script_submissions@atgr.org with “LOTE IX” in subject line or to Actors’ Theatre, LOTE IX, 143 Bostwick NE, Grand Rapids 49503. Jan - COMEDY MONDAYS: Dog Story Theater presents improv, standup, sketches, films, music, puppets, magic, one-act plays at 8 and 9 pm ($5); free, open improv jam at 10 pm. 7 Jefferson Ave SE. www.dogstorytheater.com. Jan - DR GRINS COMEDY CLUB: Stand-up comedians perform 9 pm Thu, 8 and 10:30 pm Fri and Sat. Jan 5-7, Andrew Kennedy. Jan 12-14, Pete
Jan 12-14 - “TBONE-N-WEASEL”: Presented by GRCC Players. 8 pm. Spectrum Theater, 160 Fountain St NE. Tickets TBD. www.grcc.edu/ theater. Jan 13-29 - “HARVEY”: Grand Rapids Civic Theatre presents a comedy about a man and his imaginary friend, a 6-foot rabbit. 7:30 pm, 2 pm Sun. 30 N Division Ave. $14-$25 adults, $14 students (Civic box office or Star Tickets). www.grct.org. Jan 17-22 - “MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET”: Broadway Grand Rapids presents a musical inspired by the real-life recording session of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. 7:30 pm Tue-Thu, 8 pm Fri, 2 pm and 8 pm Sat, 1 pm and 6:30 pm Sun. DeVos Performance Hall. $34-$64 (DeVos Place, Van Andel and BGR box offices or Ticketmaster). www.broadwaygrandrapids.com. Jan 26-Feb 4 - “NEXT FALL”: Actors’ Theatre presents a witty and provocative look at faith, commitment and unconditional love. 8 pm. Spectrum Theater, 160 Fountain St NE. $24 adults, $20 students and seniors (234-3946). www.actorstheatregrandrapids.org.
Jan 27-28 - EISENHOWER DANCE ENSEMBLE: Hope College hosts this contemporary dance group from Detroit. 8 pm. Knickerbocker Theatre, Holland. $10 adults, $7 seniors, $5 children 18 and under.
Museums & Attractions
Jan - BLANDFORD NATURE CENTER: 143 acres of diverse ecosystems, trails, natural history exhibits, Heritage Buildings (log cabin, blacksmith shop, one-room schoolhouse). Interpretive Center open 9 am-5 pm Mon-Fri. Trails open daily dawn to dusk. 1715 Hillburn Ave NW, 735-6240, www.blandfordnaturecenter.org. Free. Jan - CAPPON & SETTLERS HOUSE MUSEUMS: Restored Cappon House is the Italianate Victorian home of Holland’s first mayor, 228 W 9th St, Holland. Tiny Settlers House recalls hardships of early settlers, 190 W 9th St, Holland. For admission prices and hours, see Holland Museum. (616) 392-6740, www.hollandmuseum.org. Jan - COOPERSVILLE FARM MUSEUM: Regular exhibits include tractors from 1930 to present, eclipse windmill, 100-year-old barns, interactive kids area. 10 am-2 pm Tue, Thu and Sat. $4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 children 3-18, under 3 free. 375 Main St, Coopersville, 997-8555, www.coopers villefarmmuseum.org. Jan - DEGRAAF NATURE CENTER: 18-acre preserve includes Interpretive Center, indoor pond, animals, SkyWatch and more than 240 plant species. Trails open daily dawn to dusk. 9 am-5 pm Tue-Fri, 10 am-5 pm Sat, closed Sun, Mon and holidays. 600 Graafschap Rd, Holland, (616) 355-1057, www.degraaf.org. Free.
Photography courtesy January Series/Calvin College
4-Feb 10, Textile Figures: Coming Full Circle by Jennifer Gould; reception 2-3:30 pm Jan 15. 8500 Burlingame SW, Byron Center, 878-6800, www. vsfac.com.
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City Guide Jan - FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS & SCULPTURE PARK: Thru Jan 8, Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World features international-themed trees and displays and Railway Garden, a model train that travels past Grand Rapids’ landmark buildings. 9 am-5 pm Mon-Sat, 9 am-9 pm Tue, 11 am-5 pm Sun. $12 adults, $9 seniors and students with IDs, $6 ages 5-13, $4 ages 3-4. 1000 East Beltline Ave NE, 957-1580, www. meijergardens.org.
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Jan - GERALD R. FORD MUSEUM: Thru Jan 8, Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World explores the multi-faceted man and his achievements. Permanent exhibits include The 1970s; Watergate scandal; White House Oval Office; New Mood at the White House. 9 am-5 pm daily. $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 college students, $3 kids 6-18, 5 and under free. 303 Pearl St NW, 2540400, www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov. Jan - GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC MUSEUM: See Sights and Sounds of the Civil War in Special Events. Thru Feb 29, All Dressed Up: 1950s Style. Thru Jun 11, Thank God for Michigan!: Stories from the Civil War. Permanent exhibits include Streets of Old Grand Rapids and 1928 carousel ($1). 9 am-5 pm Mon, Wed-Sat, 9 am-8 pm Tue, noon-5 pm Sun. $8 adults, $7 seniors, $3 ages 3-17. 272 Pearl St NW, 456-3977, www.grmuseum.org. Jan - HOLLAND MUSEUM: Cultural attractions from the “old country” and exhibits that explore local history. I Spy Adventure and kids activities in Mark’s Room. 10 am-5 pm Mon, Wed-Sat, noon5 pm Sun. $7 adults, $6 seniors, $4 students, children 5 and under free, members free. 31 W 10th St, Holland, (888) 200-9123, www.holland museum.org. Jan - KALAMAZOO NATURE CENTER: 1,100 acres of forests, prairies and wetlands. See website for programs. 9 am-5 pm Mon-Sat, 1-5 pm Sun. $6 adults, $5 seniors 55 and over, $4 children 4-13, children under 4 free. 700 N Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo, (269) 381-1574, www.naturecenter.org.
PhotograPhy courtesy January series/calvin college
Jan - KALAMAZOO VALLEY MUSEUM: Thru Jan 22, Fractals: Mathematics and Science as Art. Jan 21-May 28, Disease Detectives. Permanent exhibits include simulated mission to space, 2,300-year-old mummy and Science in Motion. See website for planetarium shows ($3) and activities. 9 am-5 pm Mon-Thu and Sat, 9 am-9 pm Fri, 1-5 pm Sun. 230 N Rose St, Kalamazoo, (800) 772-3370, www.kalamazoomuseum.org. Free.
610 Wealthy SE · Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Phone (616) 301-2950 · Fax (616) 301-3080
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Jan - LAKESHORE MUSEUM CENTER: Thru Jan 31, Hooker/De Jong Architects and Engineers: Celebrating 75 Years. Exhibits include Coming to the Lakes; Michigan: From the Depths of Time; Habitats and Food Webs; Science Center; Voices of Muskegon. 9:30 am-4:30 pm Mon-Fri, noon-4 pm Sat-Sun. 430 W Clay, Muskegon, (231) 7220278, www.muskegonmuseum.org. Free. Jan - LOWELL AREA HISTORICAL MUSEUM: Exhibits about Lowell history, and a Victorian parlor, dining room and porch. 1-4 pm Tue, Sat and Sun, 1-8 pm Thu. $3 adults, $1.50 children 5-17, under 5 free, families $10 max. 325 W Main St, 897-7688, www.lowellmuseum.org. Jan - MEYER MAY HOUSE: Frank Lloyd Wright 1909 prairie-style house restored by Steelcase in 1986-87 features many original furnishings. Open for guided tours 10 am-2 pm Tue and Thu, 1-5 pm Sun (last tour begins one hour prior to
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City Guide
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Jan - ROGER B. CHAFFEE PLANETARIUM: Stateof-the-art, Digistar-powered sky shows. 6 pm Tue and 1 pm Sat-Sun, “Solar System Safari.” 7 pm Tue and 2 pm Sat-Sun, “Discover Your Universe.” 3 pm Sat and Sun, “Under Starlit Skies.” GR Public Museum, 272 Pearl St NW. See website for prices. www.grmuseum.org.
Jan - TRI-CITIES HISTORICAL MUSEUM: Thru Feb 28, Bling: A History of Costume Jewelry. Exhibits include train depot, Michigan Logging and Fur Trading. 9:30 am-5 pm Tue-Fri, 12:30-5 pm Sat and Sun. 200 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, 842-0700, www.tri-citiesmuseum.org. Free.
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Jan - ENHANCEFITNESS: Senior Neighbors fitness program increases strength and endurance and improves balance. 11:30 am Mon, Wed and Fri. Baxter Community Center, 935 Baxter Ave. (616) 233-0283 or www.seniorneighbors.org. $2 suggested donation. Jan - GRAND RIVER FOLK ARTS SOCIETY: Dance instruction events. 7:30 pm Jan 6, First Friday Dance, 5th St Hall, 701 5th St NW, $8 adults, $7 students/seniors, $6 members. 7 pm Jan 13, Second Friday International Folk Dance, Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St SE, $5. 7 pm Jan 27, 4th Friday Contra Dance with music jams, 5th St Hall, 701 5th St NW, $6. www.grfolkarts. org. Jan - GR PUBLIC LIBRARIES: Programs include adult computer classes, reading clubs, History Detectives and kids activities (see Kidstuff). Also see Ask-the-Lawyer Series below. Complete schedule at GRPL Main Library, 111 Library St NE or www.grpl.org. Free. Jan - GR TANGO: Beginner and intermediate dance lessons 8-9:30 pm Thu, followed by free practice 9:30-10:30 pm. Richard App Gallery, 910 Cherry St SE, www.grtango.org. $12 drop-in. Jan - KENT DISTRICT LIBRARIES: Programs include book discussions, computer classes, career transition workshops, Early Childhood Essentials, Hot Tech Topics and kids activities (see Kidstuff). Complete schedule at www.kdl.org. Jan - PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES: 7 pm Jan 5, In-Studio Beginner Photography Class for Parents. 7 pm Jan 10, Photography for Scrapbooking. 1 pm Jan 14, Improve Your Photography. 1 pm Jan 14, Intro to Studio Lighting. Will Fields Photography, 1415 Plainfield NE. $120 (745-5497 or www.will fields.com). Jan 4-24 - THE JANUARY SERIES: Calvin College’s 25th annual lecture series offers free lectures on a variety of topics by renowned speakers. 12:30-1:30 pm weekdays (doors open 11:30 am). Covenant Fine Arts Center; also many remote webcast locations, see website for list. See www.calvin.edu/january for speakers and topics.
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Jan 8-Feb 12 - GOD IN AMERICA: First United Methodist Church presents a community-wide project “2012 Year of Interfaith Understanding” series. 9:30 am Sun. 227 E Fulton St. www.grand rapidsfumc.org. Free. Jan 10 - TORCH CLUB: “Education and Writing, Historical Summary and Real Life Experiences”
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City Guide
“The 18th best detour in the Entire United States is now in GR!” — Esquire Magazine
by Falinda Geerling. 5:30 pm social hour and dinner; program to follow. Reservations required, guests welcome. University Club, 111 Lyon St NW. $28 (www.torchclubgr.org). Jan 11, 21 - BABY BELOVED CLASSES: 6 pm Jan 11, “Breastfeeding: Getting a Strong Start,” $40. 10 am Jan 21, “Maximizing Your Milk Supply,” $20. Registration required. 555 Midtowne St NE, Ste 100, 977-5683, www.babybelovedinc.com. Jan 12 - GREAT START PARENT COALITION: Kent County Coalition’s monthly meeting includes info on advocating for children and preparing them for success in life and school. Free dinner and child care. RSVP: 632-1007. 5:45-8 pm. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 250 Commerce Ave. www.greatstartkent.org. Jan 12, 21 - GREATER GRAND RAPIDS WOMEN’S HISTORY COUNCIL: Jan 12, “St Mark’s Episcopal Church: Active in 175 Years of Grand Rapids History” by Karen Hunter, St Mark’s Episcopal Church, 134 N Division Ave. Jan 21, “Local History Detectives: A 1918 Grand Rapids Treasure Trove” by Diana Barrett, Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library St NE. 7 pm. Free. www.ggrwhc.org. Jan 13, 20 - INSTITUTE FOR HEALING RACISM: Two-day workshop focuses on becoming positive agents for change and allies in building an inclusive and anti-racist community. Interactive exercises, dialogue, videos and story-telling let participants create a safe place where diverse views and experiences are validated. GRCC Diversity Learning Center. $200-$300 (234-4497, www. grcc.edu/ihr).
scholars and worshipers in dialogue from more than 30 denominations and 25 countries, hosted by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and Center for Excellence in Preaching at Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary. $90/ one day, $180/two days, $270/three days, $15/$30/$45 students. www.calvin.edu/worship. Jan 28 - DANCEgr: Ballroom dance lesson (7-8 pm), followed by social dance (8-11 pm). Social Dance Studio, 4335 Lake Michigan Dr NW, www. dancegr.com. $10 lesson, $11 dance, $16 both. Jan 30 - GR AUDUBON CLUB: “Restoring Wetlands” film, plus Q&A with co-creator Dr Chuck Nelson. 7 pm social, 7:30 pm program. Orchard View Church, 2777 Leffingwell NE. Free. www. glsga.org/grac.
Sports Jan - GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS: Grand Rapids’ American Hockey League team, primary affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Home games: Jan 11 vs Houston Aeros. Jan 13 vs Texas Stars. Jan 20 vs Lake Erie Monsters. Jan 21 and Jan 25 vs Rochester Americans. Times vary. Van Andel Arena. $13-$30 (Van Andel box office, Meijer or Star Tickets). www.griffinshockey.com. Jan - MUSKEGON LUGE AND SPORTS COMPLEX: Luge, cross-country skiing on lighted ski trails, ice-skating and snowshoeing. Jan 15, Midwest Icebreaker Luge Race. Jan 20, Mad Media Luge. Muskegon State Park. www.msports.org.
Jan 14 - CROSS COUNTRY SKIING 101: Ada Township Parks presents a lesson and guided outing for beginners and intermediates. Children welcome with adults. 10 am-noon. Roselle Park. $5 (676-0520).
Jan 6-8 - AMA ARENACROSS: Indoor motorsports racing. 7 pm Fri and Sat (professional racing), 10 am Sun (amateur racing). Van Andel Arena. $16.50-$36.50 adults, $11.50 kids 2-12 (Van Andel and DeVos Place box offices or Ticketmaster).
Jan 17 - ASK-THE-LAWYER SERIES: GR Public Library and GR Bar Association present a legal series. This month: GRBA attorneys answer general questions about bankruptcy. 6:30 pm. 111 Library St NE. www.grpl.org. Free.
Jan 22 - HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS: “Class of Newcomers” world tour showcases family entertainment. 2 pm. Van Andel Arena. $18.50$92.50 (Van Andel and DeVos Place box offices or Ticketmaster).
Jan 17 - DYSLEXIA SEMINAR: New Chapter Learning offers info on thinking styles, learning differences and gifts of visual thinkers. 6:30 pm. Grandville Middle School, 3535 Wilson Ave, Grandville. Registration: 534-1385. www.new chapterlearning.net. Free.
Kidstuff
Jan 19 - CALVIN PASSPORT TO ADVENTURE SERIES: “The Heart of San Francisco” by Sandy Mortimer. 7 pm. Calvin Covenant FAC. $5 adults, $2 students (at door, box office or 526-6282). Jan 19 - DIVORCE SEMINAR FOR WOMEN: Monthly seminar for women provides basic legal, psychological and financial info about divorce. 6 pm. Forest Hills Aquatic Center, 660 Forest Hill Ave. $55 (www.divorceseminar.org). Jan 19-21 - MICHIGAN MUSIC CONFERENCE: Workshops and performances for music educators. DeVos Place and Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. $210, $160 members. www.michiganmusicconfer ence.org. Jan 21, 28 - SECRETS FOR SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE: Workshop for couples preparing for marriage includes healthy relationship skills, conflict resolution and communication skills. 8:30 am-12:30 pm. Pine Rest Postma Center, 300 68th St SE. $110/ couple (455-5279). www.pinerest.org. Jan 26-28 - CALVIN SYMPOSIUM ON WORSHIP: Worship planners, pastors, musicians, artists,
Jan - ALL DAY WITH THE ARTS: GR Art Museum offers drop-in art-making activities in the Education Studio 10 am-3 pm every Sat. Kidfriendly tours 11 am and 1 pm. 101 Monroe Center. Free with admission. Jan - CALEDONIA DANCE CENTER REGISTRATION: Dance classes for kids ages 2.5 and up. Register at 891-1606 or www.caledoniadancecen ter.com. 131½ E Main St, Caledonia. Jan - DEANNA’S PLAYHOUSE: 15,000-squarefoot play environment includes art room, imagination village, performing arts stage, music room, infant-parent area, café. 10 am-3 pm Mon-Sat. 11172 Adams St, Holland, (800) 577-7661, www. deannasplayhouse.com. $5 per person, under 1 free. Jan - GRAND RAPIDS CHILDREN’S MUSEUM: Thru Jan 16, To the Rescue safety exhibit. Jan 23-Apr 16, Open Wide, dentist exhibit. Permanent activities include Aunt Daisy’s Farm; Light Table; Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles; Wee Discover; Mom and Pop Store; Giant Lite Brite; Amigo Amphitheater; and Buzzy Buzzy Bees. Toddler Tue for ages 3 and under (10 am-noon). Thu Family Nights (5-8 pm), $1.50. 9:30 am-8 pm Tue, Thu; 9:30 am-5 pm Wed, Fri-Sat; noon-5 pm
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Over varieties of Jerky You will also find: • Best-priced hand cut steaks • 7 varieties of Summer Sausage (including our Morel & Swiss) • 15 varieties of Brats • 5 varieties of Hotdogs • 12 varieties of Beef Sticks • $1.99/lb Lunchmeat • Smoked & Aged Cheeses • Wisconsin Cheese Curds • Spices, Rubs & Sauces and of course… • THE Dublin Jerky Dip
www.dublinjerky.com 4763 Wilson Avenue Grandville, Michigan Tel: 616 726-7900
Located across from Rivertown Crossings Mall (Next to Costco)
JANUARY 2012 GRAND RAPIDS 99
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City Guide: Clubs ’n’ Pubs
Safe meeting place On a stretch of Wealthy Street that has found new life, The Winchester is an urban haven. By Erin Price
F
ans of the horror/comedy flick “Shaun of the Dead” will went into the building’s renovation. The bar, floors, tables and remember The Winchester as the hero’s favorite neigh- seating are varying shades of dark, polished wood. The mood borhood pub. When the world is taken over by zombies, is merry but laid-back, and the music is a good range of mostly it’s the safe place where he brings his loved ones to escape alternative rock — not so loud as to inhibit a friendly conversation. the onslaught of the undead. The Winchester has something for everyone when it comes Unlike the movie version, Grand Rapids’ own Winchester to drinks. There are 17 beers on draft, including six has no rifle above the bar, but like its namesake, this Michigan brews. With choices like Dead Guy Ale, Winchester is a great place to share a pint with “That name and Old Leghumper and Blueberry Apple Cider, how friends or family, have a date night, or escape do you decide? There are also more than 35 from zombies. You never know. what it represented to bottled beers, including options from Denmark, “My wife and I were trying to come up with us was how we wanted to Thailand, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy. a name and we popped in ‘Shaun of the Dead,’ do our business: to have a If you’d prefer wine, there are at least 25 choicone of our favorite movies, and thought, ‘It’s local pub that was a highes, all available by the glass. A fully stocked perfect,’” said Paul Lee, owner of the Winbar includes a selection of specialty martinis. chester. “That name and what it represented quality, affordable, locally Hungry? The smells are enticing. It seems to us was how we wanted to do our business: to sourced meeting place for almost every table is sharing some sort of plate. have a local pub that was a high-quality, affordfamily and friends.” “We really wanted to differentiate ourselves with able, locally sourced meeting place for family our food,” Lee explained. Using locally sourced and friends.” — Paul Lee ingredients whenever possible, The Winchester’s The Winchester is located on a stretch of Wealthy menu includes made-from-scratch dinner and lunch spethat five years ago was mostly boarded-up buildings. Now, thanks to it and other nearby businesses, the area is boom- cials, including small plates, burgers, soups, salads and sanding. On a cold Friday night around 10, the inside was warmed by wiches. From spring to late fall, much of the produce used comes dark woods and good vibes. There were mostly 20- to 30-some- from The Winchester’s urban garden right across the street. A word of warning: The Winchester becomes packed in a things reflected in the mirrors opposite the bar and sitting at hurry on Friday and Saturday nights, so if you want a place to the tables. It is obvious a lot of hard work and high-quality material sit, get there early. GR
The Winchester Location: 648 Wealthy St. SE Hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Mon.Sat., noon-2 p.m. Sun.
Drink Specials: Happy Hour 3:30-6:30 Mon.-Sat., $1 off all drinks. Saturday Bloody Mary bar and Sunday Bloody Mary or Mimosa bar ($3). Monday nights are open mic.
Photography by Michael Buck
Contact: (616) 451-4969, www.winchestergr.com, also on Facebook and Twitter.
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City Guide Sun, closed Mon. $7, under 1 free, $6 seniors. 22 Sheldon Ave NE, 235-4726, www.grcm.org. Jan - GR PUBLIC LIBRARIES: Literacy classes for babies, toddlers and kids include storytelling, music, dramatic play and art activities. Times and locations vary. Complete schedule at any branch or www.grpl.org. Free. Jan - GYMCO: Noon-2 pm Mon-Fri, Lunch Bunch. Noon-1 pm Mon-Sat, Open Gym. See website for prices. Gymco Sports, 2360 Camelot Ridge Ct SE, 956-0586, www.gymco.com. Jan - HOP SCOTCH: Children’s store offers free events 10:30 am every Mon. Jan 2, Play Along With Papa’s Blocks. Jan 9, Story and Music Time: Snow People. Jan 16, Come and Play: It’s Sensory Bucket Day. Jan 23, Story and Music Time: Feet Day. Jan 30, Puzzles, Puzzles: Let’s Swap and Then Do Puzzles. 909 Cherry St SE, 233-4008, www.hopscotchstore.com. Jan - JAVA GYM: Children’s entertainment center with four levels of soft play, toddler area and party rooms; coffee and free wi-fi for parents. 9 am-5 pm Mon and Wed-Fri, 9 am-8 pm Tue and Sat, 10 am-5 pm Sun. 2211 East Beltline Ave NE (near Knapp), 361-9800, www.javagymgr.com. $7 ages 3 and up, $3 ages 2 and younger.
Parks Junior Naturalist presents a hike for kids 6-11. 10 am-noon. Ada Township Park. $5 (6760520). Beg Jan 23 - GIRLS COUNT MATH CLUB: Mind Boggle offers a free six-week drop-in math club to boost confidence and increase math skills. Math activities and games geared to girls in grades 3-6, but others welcome. 6-7 pm Mon. Wyoming Public Library, 3350 Michael Ave SW. www.mindboggle.org. Jan 26-27 - “SKIPPYJON JONES”: Circle Theatre presents a musical about a little kitten with a big imagination. For kids in grades K-3. 10 am and 12:30 pm. Jan 26 at Van Singel FAC, Byron Center. Jan 27 at East Kentwood High School Auditorium FAC. Tickets TBD (456-6656, www. circletheatre.org). Jan 28 - GRAND HAVEN WINTERFEST KIDS DAY: Kids can enjoy entertainment, face painting, balloons and creative projects, plus a hamster/ gerbil race (bring your pet and gerbil ball); 2 pm registration, 3 pm races. Also see Grand Haven Winterfest in Special Events. 2-5 pm. Grand Haven Community Center, 421 Columbus. www. winterfestonline.org.
Jan - KENT DISTRICT LIBRARIES: Story times for young children, Alphabet Safari, and Project Sleuth: An Art History Mystery. Teen programs include Wii games. See www.kdl.org for complete schedule with dates and locations. Jan 7 - FIRST SATURDAY FOR KIDS: Literary Life Bookstore hosts a story time. 11 am. 758 Wealthy St SE, 458-8418, www.literarylifebookstore.com. Jan 7, 21 - YMCA KID ZONE DATE NIGHTS: Activities, movies, swimming and gym time for age 2 months to 12 years. 5-10:30 pm. Visser Family YMCA, 3540 Fairlanes SW, Grandville. $15 child or $30 family members, $20/$40 nonmembers. 530-9199, www.grymca.org. Jan 10 - AMERICAN GIRL PARTY: Home School Building Bookstore and Library hosts American Girl party for moms and daughters (6 and older) with crafts, history-focused games, snacks and doll parade. 6:30-8 pm. Home School Building, 5625 Burlingame Ave SW, Wyoming. $5 per child. Registration: 532-9422, ext 6, or resourcecenter @homeschoolbuilding.org. Jan 12-14 - MARTIN LEADERS WEEKEND: youth conference for more info: 526-6749, pre-college/mlk.
LUTHER KING YOUNG Calvin College hosts a ninth-12th graders. For www.calvin.edu/admin/
PhotograPhy by Michael buck
Jan 16, 27 - HOPE COLLEGE VISIT DAYS: Prospective college students and families can tour campus, attend classes; complimentary lunch in dining hall. Pre-registration requested (616395-7850 or www.hope.edu/admissions/visit). Begins 8:30 am. Maas Conference Center, 11th St and Columbia Ave, Holland. Free. Jan 17 - “THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS”: Join Ms Frizzle and her class as they ride a magical school bus on exciting field trips. 10 am and 1 pm. Van Singel FAC, 8500 Burlingame SW, Byron Center. Tickets TBD (878-6800 or www.vsfac.com). Jan 18-19 - WONDERFUL WINTER: Ada Township Parks Discovery Days presents activities for preschoolers and parents. 10 am-noon. Ada Township Park. $5 (676-0520). Jan 21 - SNOWSHOE STOMP: Ada Township
calendar legend COMMONLY REQUESTED VENUE AND TICKET OUTLET INFORMATION FOLLOWS.
VENUES Aquinas performing Arts center, 1607 Robinson Road SE, 456-6656 the Deltaplex entertainment & expo center, 2500 Turner Ave. NW, 364-9000, www.deltaplex.com DeVos place (DeVos performance hall), 303 Monroe Ave. NW, 742-6600, www.devosplace.org Forest hills Fine Arts center, 600 Forest Hill Ave. SE, 493-8966, www.fhfineartscenter.com Frauenthal center for the performing Arts, 425 W. Western Ave., Muskegon, (231) 722-9750, www.frauenthal.info St. cecilia Music center, (Royce Auditorium, Dexter Ballroom), 24 Ransom Ave. NE, 459-2224, www.scmsonline.org Spectrum theater, 160 Fountain St. NE, 234-3946 urban Institute for contemporary Arts (uIcA), 2 W. Fulton St., 454-7000 (film hotline 454-3994), www.uica.org Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton St., 742-6600, www.vanandelarena.com Van Singel Fine Arts center, 8500 Burlingame Ave. SW, Byron Center, 878-6800, www.vsfac.com
TICKET OUTLETS
Grand rapids Symphony office, 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, 454-9451, www.grsymphony.org Star tickets, (800) 585-3737, www.startickets.com ticketmaster, 456-3333, www.ticketmaster.com
list your event calendar items must be submitted two months prior to the magazine issue date. Please send submissions for the March calendar no later than Jan. 15. e-mail caleditor@geminipub.com, fax (616) 4594800 or mail to grand rapids Magazine, 549 ottawa ave. nW, suite 201, grand rapids, Mi 49503. January 2012 Grand rapids 101
Sight AdMonday, GRMAG November 28, 2011 16:37 page 1 Magenta Yellow Cyan Black
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Business luncheons, intimate dinners, appetizers and cocktails. Or, our award winning Sunday brunch. Charley’s Crab is dedicated to ensuring your visit is excellent. Mon - Thurs 11:30 - 10 and Fri 11:30 - 11 Sat 4:30 - 11 (no lunch) Sun Brunch 10 - 3, Dinner 4:30 - 9
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City Guide: Hot Shots 1
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Fashion raises money for VAI New York fashion designer Douglas Hannant made a return appearance in Grand Rapids for the Oct. 20 Couture for a Cure event at Van Andel Institute, featuring a cocktail reception and preview of the latest fashion trends. Patrick Plank, creative director of Leigh’s clothing store in Breton Village, pulled together fall/winter fashions ranging from “Hot to Trot” equestrian1. Sarah Oomen and inspired styles to dressy cocktail gowns. Anna Koning-Ogg The second half of the show featured 2. Rebecca Wierenga, designs by Hannant, an Illinois native Douglas Hannant, Carol and Midwesterner who recently opened a Dave Van Andel boutique in the Shops at The Plaza on 3. Sandy Jelinski and Julie Blitchok Fifth Avenue in New York City. “Doug4. Karen Olson, Janielle Moss las was our guest designer last year and Mary Coniglio at Couture for a Cure and was very 5. Alex Rush popular, so we asked him to come back.” 6. Kathleen Ponitz and The event attracted a record number of Lorna Schultz guests with proceeds supporting disease 7. Michelle Hoexum, Patrick Plank, research and science education at VAI. Ann Liefer and Patti Griswold
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Photography by Michael Buck
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City Guide: Hot Shots
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Gastronomic festival pleases palettes
1. Sara Desgranges and Misty Gougeon
The fourth annual Grand Rapids International Wine, 2. Darcel Smith, Daniela McClure, Beer & Food Festival brought in a record number of people Ray Sierengowski and — 12,000 — from oenophiles and craft beer fanatics to novices Jen Gritters looking for an introduction to the world of gourmet food and 3. Michelle and Brian spirits. And there was plenty to sample. The three-day event, 4 Scheidmantel Nov. 17-19, featured more than 1,000 wines, beers and spirits, 4. Michelle Burke, as well as seminars by authors, wine professionals and chefs, Beth Kaphing and food-and-wine pairings hosted by five restaurants, a Riverfront Lisa O’Brien Market of specialty foods and a Michigan Craft Brew Hall. 5. Kristie Vos and Organizers said attendance jumped more than 12 percent for Michele Anderson the fourth-annual event, which was held in the 40,000-square6. Kylene Schipper samples foot Steelcase Ball wine from Amy Clay room inside DeVos 7. Shannon Spencer 5 Place. Plans are and Marie West already underway for next year’s festival Nov. 8-10. “Grand Rapids is the perfect size city for this type of event,” said Henri Boucher, show producer. “It comes alive because it’s such a dynamic downtown — an area that is the envy of all of Michigan. We’re proud to host this event, which is the true kickoff to the holiday season.”
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Photography by Johnny Quirin
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