33rd annual dining awards Celebrating City Life
www.grmag.com
Official 2013 West Michigan
GR’s best restaurants
Home & Garden Show program
Grove Restaurant of the Year Executive Chef Patrick Wise
*
The LOCAL vegan movement RETRO COCKTAIL PARTY GRIFFINS COACH JEFF BLASHILL
THE GREEN SPACES OF GARFIELD PARK
March 2013
$3.95
TWO PLATE: Bistro Chloe Élan
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HARDEN GRAND OPENING
Celebrate the Grand Opening of our Harden Shop. Now available exclusively at Gorman’s Grand Rapids. The 161-year-old Harden Funiture is all American-made and totally customizable. You can make every item you choose‌uniquely yours. Harden owns and manages their own forests in upstate New York and has been chosen to make furniture and upholstery for the U.S. Capitol and White House.
NOW Harden Furniture for every room in your home can be yours with Grand Opening Savings of
Harden
40% off.
Home Furnishings & interior design
GRAND RAPIDS 28th Street at Breton 616.243.5466 www.gormans.com
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Style
PURE
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As CEO, she works tirelessly to grow her company.
THE RIGHT INSURANCE
works tirelessly to protect it.
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Thank you for making us the Best! Thank you West Michigan for selecting Dr. Brad Bengtson and the Bengtson Center as Grand Rapids Best Plastic Surgeon for three consecutive years. Brad Bengtson MD, FACS • Black Diamond Provider for BOTOX® Cosmetic & Juvéderm® comprising less than 1% of all Plastic Surgery practices in the United States • Best Doctors in America in Plastic Surgery for 17 consecutive years • National Trainer one of the top National Trainers for BOTOX® and Facial Fillers in the U.S. • ExpertInjector™ less than 7% of doctors are qualified to be an ExpertInjector • A Lead Investigator in the U.S. for the Natrelle® Style 410 Form Stable “gummy bear” cohesive gel breast implant • Allergan’s Executive Council founding member of only 10 Plastic Surgeons selected in the U.S. • Member American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and Board-Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery • National Leader, Researcher, Speaker, Educator in Breast and Facial Aesthetics • Voted Best of Grand Rapids in Plastic Surgery for 3 consecutive years in a row! Best of
SKIN CARE
2012-13 Readers Poll
AND LASER CENTER
bengtsoncenter.com
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BENGTSON CENTER FOR AESTHETICS AND PLASTIC SURGERY WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTER
555 MidTowne Street NE, Suite 110
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
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Contents
MARCH 2013 / VOL. 50 / NO. 3
FEATURES 46 / Best bites Grand Rapids Magazine presents its 33rd Annual Dining Awards including the 2012 Restaurant of the Year, Best New Restaurant and half a dozen other categories. BY GRM STAFF AND CONTRIBUTING FOODIES
62 / The vegan movement in Grand Rapids Where’s the meat? Local vegan patronage and menu offerings are gaining ground and reflect national trends. BY ALEXANDRA FLUEGEL
62 Ryan Cappelletti and Matthew Russell at Bartertown Diner.
4 GRMAG.COM \ MARCH 2013
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True Spring The hardest part about visiting Traverse City is deciding what to do first.
True North
wineries & tasting rooms| charming port towns | eclectic boutiques | sugar-sand beaches art galleries | four-season outdoor recreation | resorts & spas | cozy lodging
TraverseCity.com | 800-TRAVERSE /VisitTraverseCity |
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@TraverseCity |
/TraverseCityCVB
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contents MARCH 2013 / VOL. 50 / NO. 3
departments BACK & FORTH 10 / From the Editor
FOOD & DRINK 66 / Restaurant listings for West Michigan
11 / Letters, social media and more
78 / Grand Vine: California wine touring
12 / Contributors LIFE & STYLE 14 / Noteworthy items include a cool pottery and textiles show, fashion consultant Kherington McFarland, urban homesteader Rick Beerhorst, a new book by Gordon Beld and The Mona Lisa Project Revisited. 15 / I Got Face 16 / My Stuff: Chef Angus Campell’s kitchen tools
82 / Top Shelf: Spiked punch 86 / HeFedSheFed: Retro cocktail party
93 24
Jeff Blashill is in his first year as head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, after spending the 2011-2012 season as assistant coach of the Detroit Red Wings.
18 / Living Local: Sustainable businesses 20 / Modifie Wellness 22 / Reading Room: Jaimy Gordon
NEAR & FAR 88 / Garfield Park neighborhood
92
24 / Profile: Jeff Blashill, head coach of the GR Griffins ART & DESIGN 26 / Gallery Profile: Design Quest
AS
OUT & ABOUT 92 / March highlights
Wit Ast insp ord ma Eng har the
93 / Calendar
38
94 / Nightclub & comedy venue listings and highlights
28 / Art gallery listings and highlights.
98 / Museums & attractions listings and highlights
30 / Art Talk: “Girl with Chrysanthemums”
102 / Snapshots
32 / Justagirl: Beautiful beds on a budget
104 / Afterthoughts: D.K. Hamilton
34 / At Home: A truly amazing yard 36 / Frame Works: St. Cecilia Music Center 38 / Art deco opulence
82
ON THE COVER: Photography by Adam Bird of Patrick Wise, executive chef at Grove, Grand Rapids Magazine’s Restaurant of the Year.
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Solid American Craftsmanship
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ASTRID BEDROOM: With its deeply splayed legs producing dramatic cantilevers, the Astrid Bedroom is an engineering feat that defies expectations and inspires a sense of possibility. A true platform bed, Astrid may be ordered without or with 1 or 2 headboard panels. Recommended mattress thickness is 8� to 12�. Astrid cases feature asymmetrical English dovetail joinery, adjustable soft-close drawer glides, solid hardwood interior corner blocks and case backs finished to match the entire piece.
The collection is crafted in solid cherry or maple hardwood and is Made to Order in Vermont, in several finishes (specify conventional or water born finish) and features a small, discreet, metal pull. The Astrid Bedroom is also crafted in a combination of solid walnut and dark chocolate maple.
Design Quest 4181 - 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512 616-940-9911 www.DesignQuest.biz
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Creating greater value for: Community Benefit Community Engagement Education Employee Engagement Healthier Communities Innovation Regional Relationships Research Sustainability
Not just health care, healthier communities. At Spectrum Health, we’re committed to improving the lives of those who are most at risk. By dedicating more than $6 million in funding to our region’s most pressing health issues, our Healthier Communities Department is actively improving the health of adults facing diabetes and cardiovascular disease, improving children’s health, and reducing infant mortality. Last year alone, we connected with community members more than 240,000 times through programs, community education classes, professional staff development and training. To see the full value of a health system creating greater possibilities, visit spectrumhealth.org/csr.
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Health Education Diabetes Education Smoking Cessation
6
Health Advocacy
$ MILLION Amount we dedicate to improving the well-being of those who are underserved
Women and Heart Disease Healthy Kids Health Services for the Uninsured Healthy Cooking
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back & forth CONNECT WITH US
The best of area cuisine — and what’s next
Join Managing Editor Marty Primeau at 9:45 a.m. Thursdays as she presents City Beat with Shelley Irwin on WGVU Radio FM 88.5 and 95.3.
G
GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE this month celebrates a community of foodies and excellence in area cuisine. The GRM Dining Awards and Restaurant of the Year are the result of a year’s worth of trying and retrying food offerings at area restaurants and judging by taste, innovation, quality of ingredients, ambiance, service and more.
Running a successful restaurant is not just about culinary skill but also about the strength of business skills and a trained staff. We salute the restaurants noted in this issue for their achievements — with thanks for taking some big risks along the way. The restaurant industry in this city has rarely been stagnant and is likely to see more changes in the coming year. Improving values among commercial properties is fueling new developments and, once again, building renovations. The city’s “giant flashcube” — the blue and white Bridgewater Place — is now under ownership by a Santa Monica-based investment group and hope springs once more for a rooftop restaurant there with a view of the Grand River. Andy Green’s Locus Development is renovating the old Junior Achievement Building on Fulton Street, where Tower Pinkster architecture and engineering firm is taking up residence. Expect a new restaurant there. Sam Cummings, Scott Wierda and Dan DeVos, partners in CWD real estate, are renovating the Trade Center Building at 50 Louis St. NW, and also have just agreed with the city on a property deal across from the arena at the northeast corner of Fulton Street and Ionia Avenue NW. Maybe new restaurants there, as well? Let this issue guide you to the best dining experiences as you head out for some good laughs, courtesy of the national headliners participating in LaughFest this month (and celebrate the fact that cancer sufferers and survivors are the beneficiaries through the event’s organizer, Gilda’s Club).
Dinner at Trillium Haven, named the 2012 Best New Restaurant by Grand Rapids Magazine.
Correction: Jayson Leek’s name was misspelled in the February issue (“Southern cuisine with ‘foodie’ flair”). Leek is executive chef at Radix Tavern in Eastown.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BUCK
Carole Valade Editor, Grand Rapids Magazine
10 GRAND RAPIDS \ MARCH 2013
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What would your ideal day-trip look like?
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/CATNAP72
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BUCK
“An early start at Ludington beach; late lunch in Traverse City, then hike the trails at dusk. Shorts Brewery for a beer and then home to Grand Rapids.” — Adam Ingraham
Tweeted... “Daytrip to Ann Arbor for Zingerman’s deli and Trader Joe’s. Foodie’s delight.” — Tanya Eby
epiphany! BEER & SPICY GRILLED SHRIMP Dinner at Gilly’s LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC ORDER MEAL ENJOY A CRAFT BEER SAMPLER NOT HAVING TO DEVEIN SHRIMP SATISFIED RIDE HOME
30 MINS 5 MINS 15 MINS TIMELESS 15 MINS
............................................................
“A real winter ski trip topped with snowshoeing in the deep woods surrounding a lake with a picnic in a basket.” — Sandra Oakeson-Clegg
Brews, Small Plates & Oysters
TOTAL TIME GILLY’S PRICE
1.75 HOURS APPROX. $14
* A Culinary Revelation!
Prepared At Home TRAVEL TIME TO MARKET TIME SPENT SHOPPING TRAVEL TIME BACK HOME MEAL PREPARATION TIME CLEAN UP TIME
15 MINS 30 MINS 15 MINS 1 HOUR 15 MINS
............................................................
TOTAL TIME COST OF GOODS
2.25 HOURS APPROX. $40
The B.O.B. / 20 Monroe Ave / Downtown Grand Rapids 616.356.2000 / www.thebob.com MARCH 2013 / GRMAG.COM 11
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contributors BEHIND THE SCENES
GRMAGAZINE STAFFERS Emily Bernath and Dana Blinder started training in February for May’s Fifth Third River Bank Run. Here’s an update on their progress: EMILY BERNATH Recently I was given a Garmin GPS-enabled sports watch with a heart rate monitor. I desperately wanted this little gadget and anticipated its arrival. I was already addicted to having a heart rate monitor, but the GPS added a whole new level. But as I soon discovered, it’s a curse as well as a blessing. I wanted it because I could then accurately track my mileage and pace. Now I despise it because I can accurately see my mileage and pace. I now know I have to concentrate on increasing my speed if I want to reach my personal goal. Let the intervals begin! DANA BLINDER I spent more time in January curled up next to a box of Kleenex than in my running shoes. Hit by a post-holiday bug, I begrudgingly gave my body the rest I knew it needed. Once the hacking and sniffling passed, I cut myself another break — on not being where I wanted to be with my training. Illness, injury, icy conditions and (in my case) Superman ice cream are all dangerous derailers, but even more treacherous is trying to blindly push through these bumps. I’m back on track, even if I’m not on target — and I’m learning to be OK with that.
THIS MONTH’S ONLINE QUESTION:
In honor of our first ever Pizza Challenge, we want to know what you crave on your pie. Respond at facebook.com/grmag.
We’re all ears … tell us what you like or dislike in this issue. Please include your name, address and daytime phone number. Send to Editor, Grand Rapids Magazine, 549 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 201, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or email to letters@grmag.com. Letters may be edited for reasons Visit us Follow us Like us on grmag.com @grmagazine Facebook of space and clarity.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHNNY QUIRIN (TOP); ISTOCKPHOTO.COM (BOTTOM)
What’s your favorite pizza topping?
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Covering Grand Rapids Since 1964 www.grmag.com
info@grmag.com
PUBLISHER: John H. Zwarensteyn
EDITORIAL EDITOR: Carole Valade MANAGING EDITOR: Marty Primeau COPY EDITOR: Donna Ferraro CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Joseph A. Becherer, A. Brian Cain, Ira Craaven, Elissa Hillary, Mark F. Miller, Jon C. Koeze CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Julie Burch, Chris Carey, Alexandra Fluegel, Juliet and Jeremy Johnson, Daina Kraai, Tricia van Zelst EDITORIAL INTERN: Emma Higgins DESIGN PANEL: Joseph A. Becherer, John Berry, Kevin Budelmann, Jim Caughman, Timothy Chester, Sam Cummings, Oliver Evans, James Ludwig, Ray Kennedy, Henry Matthews, Wayne Norlin, Wayne Visbeen DESIGN & PRODUCTION NEW MEDIA, DESIGN & PRODUCTION MANAGER:
Scott Sommerfeld
ASSISTANT DESIGN & PRODUCTION MANAGER:
Chris Pastotnik
ART COORDINATOR: Kelly J. Nugent DESIGNERS/PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS:
Melissa Brooks, Kristen Van Oostenbrugge, Robin Vargo CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Adam Bird, Michael Buck, Jim Gebben, Johnny Quirin SALES GENERAL SALES MANAGER:
Randy D. Prichard
ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANTS:
General Inquiries: advertisingsales@grmag.com Emily Bernath, Theresa Henk, Kathie Manett, John Olsa ADVERTISING SALES ASSISTANT/COORDINATOR:
Karla Jeltema
CIRCULATION & MARKETING CIRCULATION & MARKETING MANAGER:
Scott T. Miller
CIRCULATION & MARKETING COORDINATOR:
Dana Blinder
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHNNY QUIRIN (TOP); ISTOCKPHOTO.COM (BOTTOM)
(616) 459-4545
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) 4594545; fax (616) 459-4800. General e-mail: grminfo@grmag. com. General editorial inquiries: editorial@grmag.com. Periodical postage paid at Grand Rapids, MI. Copyright Š 2013 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. audited by
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life & style PEOPLE / TRENDS / BOOKS / FASHION / FITNESS
noteworthy interesting tidbits we thought you should know
Gardening accessories will abound
Happy 25th Anniversary … to the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council. Several events are planned to honor Women’s History Month. And be sure to check out the collaborative exhibit, The Mona Lisa Project Revisited, on display March 3-April 28 at Fountain Street Church. Twenty women artists pay tribute to Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic image. Visit ggrwhc.org for more info.
< Soar above GR We can always count on longtime journalist Gordon Beld to bring history to life in his books and columns. In “The Early Days of Aviation in Grand Rapids,” Beld shares some fascinating stories, including the day Charles Lindbergh landed at the old Kent County Airport. His book was published by The History Press.
Preparing for the end of the world On March 19, Rick Beerhorst — artist and urban homesteader — will talk about what he and his wife and their six kids have been doing in their front- and backyards for the six years since moving back to GR from Brooklyn. “Laying hens, breeding meat rabbits, permaculture gardening and breaking the law in a nice way,” he said. We’re intrigued. See Lectures & Workshops in the calendar.
Not sure how to wear the latest trends? Kherington McFarland, fashion consultant at Siegel Jewelers, will come to the rescue. “We realized there’s a real need for this service,” said C.J. DeVries, Siegel’s marketing director, “whether it’s choosing accessories for a special event or just wanting to look fabulous on a Friday night.” What’s more, it’s free and no purchase required. McFarland is in the store Wednesday-Friday or by appointment. Call (810) 618-4514 or email gems@ siegeljewelers. com
(counter clockwise from top right) Photography Courtesy West Michigan Potters Guild; The History Press; Diane Carrol Burdick and Patti Sevensma; Brian Kelly Photography and Film/briankelly photo.net; Photos with Flair
at the West Michigan Potters Guild Spring Show March 16, featuring ceramics by more than 30 local artists. There’ll be plenty of indoor stuff as well, like this cute piece by Tonya Rund. Members of the West Michigan Weavers and Spinners also will be at the Cultural Center at St. Nicholas, selling a variety of textiles. Visit westmichiganpottersguild.com.
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Cosmetic concierge Latesha Lipscomb applies blush to model Rayshawnda Temple’s cheekbones. Below, the whole team at I Got Face poses inside the Heartside business that offers a plethora of event services.
Makeup artistry
L
atesha Lipscomb is both the brains and the beauty behind I Got Face, a unique business based in GR’s Heartside neighborhood at 209 S. Division Ave. As a self-proclaimed cosmetic concierge, Lipscomb offers makeup sessions and a host of other services, including hair styling, wardrobe,
photography and logistic planning for events ranging from fashion shows to weddings. Or she’s available to help individuals who crave a whole new look. “If you want to be Janet Jackson for the day, we can make it happen,” she said. “I’ve got the tools to enhance the everyday woman.” Lipscomb has worked as a plussize model since the early 1990s, including strutting her stuff at Chicago Fashion Week, and is signed to Grand Rapids-based Matthew Agency. She used her makeup artistry to pay her way through law school in Boston, where she worked as a paralegal for two years before deciding to make cosmetics her main focus. “In 1998, I became a cosmetic contingent at Filene’s in Boston and I would float between all of the cosmetic counters working wherever gaps needed to be filled,” she said. “By the end of that year, I interviewed and
secured a position with MAC Cosmetics and it has been a fantastic song and dance ever since.’ Lipscomb recently returned to her hometown to be closer to her family. “I really fought coming home to Grand Rapids,” she said. “I thought it was going to be this small town that was not ready for my ideas. Instead, I stumbled upon this renaissance. It has been such a delightful surprise.” I Got Face handled the make-up, hair styling and suite logistics for World AIDS Day hosted by Wealthy Theatre last December and she’s hoping to do similar events in the future, along with makeup parties. “I love to help my community out with my law education, but I also love modeling,” she said. “It’s given me a unique insight into the beauty industry and made me realize you have to bring what is on the inside out.” Visit facebook.com/igotface for information on services and upcom— Emma Higgins ing events.
Photography by Johnny Quirin
“I really fought coming home to Grand Rapids. I thought it was going to be this small town that was not ready for my ideas. Instead, I stumbled upon this renaissance. It has been such a delightful surprise.” — Latesha Lipscomb
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life & style PEOPLE / TRENDS / BOOKS / FASHION / FITNESS
A favorite side dish in Scotland was a blend of rutabagas and carrots. “Add white pepper, butter and a smidge of sugar and salt.”
What else does he consider important? A chopping block: Actually, Chef Campbell has several for different tasks. But his favorite is one he made from a big slab of wood. “It’s a nuisance to have to clean,” he said. “But I cannot exist in the kitchen without a solid cutting board. It weighs about 10 pounds. I had it when I was living in Scotland and when working in the Bahamas and the whole of my 20 years
Pho my stuff
Chef’s choice
NA
Looking for Angus Campbell? Check the kitchen. Whether he’s cooking for his family or working with culinary students, Chef Angus Campbell says he spends 80 percent of his waking hours in the kitchen. The Scottish native, who has taught at the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education at Grand Rapids Community College for more than 20 years, believes it’s important for everyone to eat good food. During the winter, he’s whipping up lots of stews, soups, fresh pastas and hearty breads. This month, he’ll be sharing his knowledge of high-fiber, nutritionally rich grains at the Grand Rapids Home & Garden Show. Campbell is meticulous when it comes to choosing his kitchen tools. “Every single thing I do in the kitchen, I start with a potato peeler, a paring knife and my chef’s knife.” — MARTY PRIMEAU
in the U.S. I couldn’t be without
ent under the tree that was a massive box. I thought it was a large piece of kitchen equipment. When I opened it, there was a lot of packing material and nothing in the middle.” Turns out, the packing material was tea bags — 1,000 in all. “It’s a very nice tea,” Campbell
Pho
noted. Other essentials: “I do like my KitchenAid mixer. It’s extremely
my board.”
versatile. It has a grinding
A sieve: “A sieve to me is a
A ricer: “I think a ricer is cru-
tool of refinement.” Camp-
cial in the kitchen, especially
bell says putting ingredients
for mashing things down. I
through a sieve to get rid of
make a lot of purées. When the
impurities results in a rich,
vegetables are well cooked, I
smooth and velvety sauce. “It’s
drain the liquid and strain the
one of my favorite tools.”
vegetables through the ricer. It
makes them so very smooth.” A tea pot: “When I’m cooking, I have to have tea,” he said. Right now his favorite is a Stash Green & White Fusion. “For Christmas I got a pres-
attachment that is very useful. And I do love my pasta machine. I make a lot of great, great pasta! I love fresh rigatoni. It’s a lot of work but also very satisfying to make fresh pasta.”
Photography by Michael Buck
Chef Angus Campbell demonstrates a technique as culinary students Kirsten Weber and Raman Silquero Jr. look on.
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Great craftsmanship and outstanding design
Photo by Michael Buck
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living local Deep roots, positive impact
Elissa Hillary is executive director of Local First, a nonprofit organization supporting locally owned businesses in West Michigan.
if you go … > Local First’s fifth annual Sustainable Business Conference will be held 1-6 p.m. March 27 at Aquinas College. This half-day conference will feature local leaders in sustainability, business and innovation.
Choose from a selection of breakout sessions, enjoy the keynote speech by King Arthur Flour’s Steve Cochran, and connect to your peers over appetizers and a local brew. Tickets will be available at the door or can be purchased in advance at a discounted rate. Details are available at local first.com.
when i was 8, my mother helped me understand fractions by teaching me how to bake. In third grade, she would quiz me: “You need 21/2 cups of flour for chocolate chip cookies. What if you want to make a double batch? A half batch?” Those early math lessons inspired not just my academic abilities but a lifelong love of good food and quality ingredients. One of those key ingredients is flour. That’s why the baker in me is particularly excited about hearing Steve Cochran, the keynote speaker at Local First’s upcoming Sustainable Business Conference. He’s vice president of King Arthur Flour in Vermont, one of the oldest milling companies in the U.S. All of the company’s flour is grown in this country and the employees are actively involved in their community, using renewable energy sources and working toward zero waste. Not to mention, the company produces some of
These employee ownership models also mean that both businesses will remain deeply rooted in their communities long after the initial founders are gone, creating good jobs and giving back to their place.
the best baking supplies on the market. King Arthur Flour is a shining example of a “local first” business — one that remains deeply rooted in its place even as it continues to grow. But you don’t have to go to Vermont to find companies that share this kind of economic, environmental and social commitment. We’re blessed to have many such companies in Grand Rapids. One example is Atomic Object, a software development company staffed by a team of people very good at fractions (and much more complex math). Atomic Object and King Arthur share a number of business practices: Both provide healthy snacks for their employees along with financial incentives for exercising and using alternative transportation, and both employ a form of openbook finance. Both companies seek to reduce their waste and limit their environmental impact. In addition, Atomic Object and King Arthur have developed employee ownership models, meaning their team members can become the owners/operators of the company. These employee ownership models also mean that both businesses will remain deeply rooted in their communities long after the initial founders are gone, creating good jobs and giving back to their place. While Atomic Object has been in business for 12 years, King Arthur Flour is nearing its 225th anniversary. Personally, these are the kinds of companies that I feel good about supporting. Professionally, I enjoy helping them connect. You can learn more about both, and other companies like them, by joining Local First March 27 at our Sustainable Business Conference. We won’t ask you to do math, but we will ask you to think about the ways your company or household can more positively impact our community. — Elissa HillaRY
Carl Erickson, right, co-founder and president of Atomic Object, and Mike Marsiglia, vice president.
PHOTOGRAPHy By mIcHAEL BucK
B
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2
Coming Soon... Our New Digs!
Co
Emily Sofa with Pillows
Photography by Michael Buck
Best of
$799
2012-13 Readers Poll
mi n so on g Ca sc to ad e!
HUDSONVILLE | HOLLAND | BYRON CENTER WWW.TALSMAFURNITURE.COM
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life & style PEOPLE / TRENDS / BOOKS / FASHION / FITNESS
Working toward realistic change When was the last time you got giddy about a workout? For most folks, there’s nothing thrilling about sweating it out at the gym. They haven’t met Kandi Holmstrom, owner of Modifie Wellness. “Part of our whole-wellness training includes scheduling a date night once a week with a spouse, family member or friend to try a new physical activity together,” she said. “Often, women come back to us after those date nights and say they feel more complete spending deliberate time with loved ones.” The idea of feeling complete is an important part of programs at Modifie Wellness. Whether a client is looking for a new identity or lifestyle modifications, Holmstrom’s programs focus on simple habitual changes. The result is total wellness beyond flattening out a squishy stomach. “We have fitness classes, we offer nutrition advice, and even pair clients up with a corporate firm to help with financial planning and counseling if needed,” she said. “Our goal is to liberate the individual and to teach them to be self-motivated and how to fit wellness into their busy schedule.” And while many folks drop fitnessrelated resolutions by St. Patrick’s Day,
most Modifie Wellness clients are still on the right track to change. The most popular program, Rock Hard Boot Camp, runs in three-month intervals to keep clients engaged. “Our three-month programs allow us to regularly assess success and provide routine consultations,” says Holmstrom. “We work toward realistic change — we don’t believe in quick eggplant-and-tofu diets here.” No matter what program clients choose, Holmstrom says she coaches as many classes as possible to “keep the passion the same.” Her own passion is not in question when you learn she moved into a condo above the facility with her four kids in order to be at the gym more often. “I’m the program, I’m the motivation, and I share my struggles with students to let them know I practice what I preach.” Visit modifiewellness.com for more — Dana BlinDER info.
kandi holMstroM’s wellness tiPs:
Stay accountable: Make a list of people who support your journey and include them in some of your physical activities. Snack smart: Eat snacks and treats you enjoy by distributing them into singleserving grab-and-go bags. It keeps you accountable without being too limiting. Keep a nutrition planner: Clients who see the best results write out a week’s worth of meal planning at a time. And forget about tracking this on your cell phone: Holmstrom says the physical connection stimulate the mind.
At Modifie Wellness, owner Kandi Holmstrom leads a Zumba class. Above, the wellness guru works with Melanie Baker and Joy Li.
PHOTOGRAPHy By JOHNNy QuIRIN
of writing it out helps
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Artisan penmaker sEVEn YEaRs agO, Hal Froot’s wife signed up for a class in pen making at a local wood shop. She took the class; he observed. And as he watched, the Grand Rapids man realized that handcrafted pens might make a nice homebased business. So Froot, who works for Spectrum Health, made a few basic pens and started selling them at local craft shows. As his artisan pens evolved with rare woods and fancy inlays, he graduated to larger shows around the state. Now Froot sells primarily on his website — custom penandpencils.com — shipping around the world to customers as far away as Saudi Arabia, Australia and Japan. “Luckily, there are still a lot of people who write and want a quality pen,” he said. Hal Froot Froot, who creates his pens (roller ball, ball point and fountain) and pencils in the basement of his condo, has designed a wide range of styles. Customers can customize by choosing the wood they prefer and the metal finish of the trim. His collector series includes such gems as the Betsy Ross, a patriotic pen crafted from dyed and stabilized blue and red boxelder wood and 13 stars made from curly maple. Bamboo leaf carvings on the Imperial pen “represent longevity, grace and strength.” Froot’s Puzzle Pen features 16 puzzle pieces made from 16 exotic woods. All of his pens tend to be substantial in size. “It’s not a masculine versus feminine thing,” he explained. “It’s about comfort. The more writing you do, the larger the pen you need. You’ll write neater because you’re not squeezing the pen.”
PHOTOGRAPHy By JOHNNy QuIRIN
PHOTOGRAPHy By JOHNNy QuIRIN
— maRTY PRimEaU
His collector series includes such gems as the Betsy Ross, a patriotic pen crafted from dyed and stabilized blue and red boxelder wood and 13 stars made from curly maple.
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life & style PEOPLE / TRENDS / BOOKS / FASHION / FITNESS
reading rooM
A national winner “I can’t think of anything that doesn’t interest me, except maybe higher engine mechanics.” — Jaimy Gordon
research — with a little fantasy thrown in. She has six notebooks going at a time, recording things from plot ideas to vacation plans, from short story possibilities to books she’s planning to buy. She’s got a couple of short stories in the works, as well. “Basically, I live in a sea of books. I have three working computers in different places around the house, but I work mostly by hand,” said Gordon. She’s married to Peter Blickle, who teaches German at WMU. “There are so many good things about living in Michigan. I can’t find a — ann BYlE better life anywhere.”
BOOKs JaimY gORDOn is REaDing: “The Collective: A Novel” by Don Lee “The Variations: A Novel” by John Donatich “Little Known Facts: A Novel” by Christine Sneed “The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration” by Isabel Wilkerson
Meet Jaimy Gordon > JaiMy gordon will sPeak at 7:30 p.m. March 14 as part of Aquinas College’s Contemporary Writers Series. The event takes place at the Wege Center Ballroom, 1607 Robinson Road SE. It is free and open to the public. Visit aquinas.edu/cw for more information.
PHOTOGRAPHy cOuRTESy BLuE FLOwER ARTS (TOP LEFT, BOTTOm RIGHT); w. w. NORTON & cO.; HENRy HOLT AND cO.; vINTAGE; BLOOmSBuRy uSA (BOOK cOvERS, cLOcKwISE FROm TOP LEFT)
Jaimy Gordon’s life has gotten busy since she won the National Book Award for Fiction in 2010 for her novel “Lord of Misrule” (McPherson & Co.). She’s speaking around the country, reading manuscripts to help decide fellowships for the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Mass., sitting on dissertation committees, reviewing books, reading for pleasure and working on a number of writing projects. “I didn’t expect ‘Lord of Misrule’ to be a national success,” said Gordon, who lives in Kalamazoo and retired last April from Western Michigan University. “The publisher was telling me it would be a National Book Award winner, but I laughed because it was an absurd idea. McPherson, however, put their whole effort into getting it nominated, and it ended up getting a panel of judges who knew my work from the past.” Now the gritty sports novel about horse racing is on bookshelves around the country and netting her accolades and questions about her next book. “It changed my career dramatically when I became an NBA finalist,” said Gordon, 68. “Being a finalist gives you an endorsement as a literary writer, but winning the National Book Award lifts you to a kind of prominence.” Gordon, who worked at the horse tracks in her 20s, said she had the book in mind for 40 years. She started “Lord of Misrule” in 1997 and, by 2001, had a draft. Her writing stalled due to extended-family health issues. When she picked it up again in 2004, she had lost confidence in the book. She dabbled at it through the years until finally her publisher began sending her galleys of the typeset novel. “They said it was coming out in August 2010 whether I liked it or not,” she said with a laugh. “I read it again and decided it wasn’t so bad.” These days Gordon is at work on a novel under contract with Pantheon, an imprint of Random House. The story features a Jewish woman whose work converges with her German husband’s 22 GRmAG.cOm \ March 2013
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SPECTACUL AR WATERFRONT DINING
Award Winning Menu • Elegant Atmosphere Private Dining • Sunday Brunch Happy Hour Starting at $2.50 Monday–Friday 4pm–7pm 63 Market Avenue, S.W. • Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616.459.2500 • Muer.com • Facebook.com/CharleysCrabGR
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life & style PEOPLE / TRENDS / BOOKS / FASHION / FITNESS
C
Maker of champions Family-oriented Jeff Blashill, head coach of the GR Griffins, pays attention to the details. He was born on the east side of the state but spent his growing-up years watching Lake Superior State University hockey in Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He spent hours playing youth hockey,
and went on to play at Ferris State University, where he also met his wife, Erica. “I like to say that my coaching career came about because I wasn’t that good of a player,” he said. “I stayed on after my senior year at Ferris, helping recruit and develop players for four years.” Before his year with the Red Wings, Blashill spent the 2010-11 hockey season with the Western Michigan University Broncos. He previously coached the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League and was assistant coach with the Miami Redhawks of the CCHA. Moving to West Michigan felt like coming home. “Grand Rapids was the best spot for us, personally,” said Blashill of his family’s move to the area. “We knew this town and we love it here. This is a great spot to raise kids.” Blashill and his wife live in East Grand Rapids with their three children: Teddy, 6; Josie, 5; and Owen, 2. Erica, who grew up in the Detroit area, echoes the sentiment that Grand Rapids is home. The couple lived here just after they
Photography by Michael Buck
oach Jeff Blashill spends Grand Rapids Griffins games pacing the narrow space between the benches full of padded players and the wall dividing them from the stands. His arms are crossed, his head swiveling side to side as he studies players from both teams, calculates strategy and watches the puck whiz from one end of the ice to the other. It may not seem like he’s doing much, but this hockey expert is always planning his team’s next move. Blashill is a builder. As coach of the Griffins, he is creating a team built on a foundation of learning the basics and practicing those basics every day, along with teamwork and just plain hard work. The 22 Griffins players plus staff know Blashill is building success both on and off the ice. “I believe in building great habits,” said Blashill. “Everything we do, we do it right to build those habits. Each drill is designed to build good habits, and we pay attention to detail within those drills. Those two things — habits and attention to detail — make a team successful.” Blashill, 39, is in his first year coaching the Griffins, a member of the American Hockey League and affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. He spent the 2011-2012 season as assistant coach of the Detroit Red Wings before accepting the head coach position for the Griffins.
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Photography by Michael Buck
Photography by Michael Buck
were married in 2000. “Right away, everyone fit in here and it’s been a good experience,” she said. This busy mom, who also runs her own marketing company, is unfazed by the three moves in the last three years. “It’s the way it’s always been. Actually, it’s a bit exciting to see what’s going to happen next. I’m so proud of Jeff.” Blashill coaches his team with both sides of the brain. He’s analytical, studying the tapes of each game and making adjustments as needed. He studies the competition and his players, eager to create great players who will move easily into the NHL. He’s media savvy and encourages his players to be the same, as well as to be out in the community introducing Griffins hockey to Grand Rapids. Yet, he says, perspective in important. “I want the players to know that playing hockey is important, but there is a life out there too. I hope through my actions that my players see that family is really important.” Right wing Gustav Nyquist, a native of Sweden in his third year as a Griffin, sees both sides of his head coach.
“In practice, Coach Blashill breaks the drills up to explain the process; he’s good at explaining the systems of the Red Wings. He’s also a really nice guy who knows how to be a head coach, too. You can definitely tell he’s comfortable as a head coach.” Blashill’s office in the Van Andel Arena is full of hockey memorabilia, papers, the odd broken stick, a few pucks and the television he uses to study game tapes. He’s just a couple of steps from the team’s changing
room, where hooks are filled with jerseys and padded pants, and skates hang above each player’s space. White boards line one wall, the showers hidden in the back. He laughs about the locker-room smell, saying it doesn’t even register. For Assistant Coach Jim Paek, Blashill is the consummate coach. “He’s got great credentials, carries himself well, knows what he wants, and communicates that to his staff and players,” said Paek, who has been with the Griffins for eight seasons. He commends Blashill’s organization and preparedness, his attention to detail and work ethic. “Jeff is a great team guy. He makes everyone around him feel good; he leaves sarcasm aside and respects everyone,” said Paek. “Hockey is all about the small things, and Jeff has a plan for everything.” Team captain Jeff Hoggan joins his coach as a first-year Griffin, and admits to being closer in age to the coach than the younger players, many of whom were born around 1990. Hoggan, who plays left wing, played in Germany for several years, and played several seasons in the NHL. “It was a breath of fresh air coming to the Griffins from Germany,” said Hoggan. “I had heard good things about Coach Blashill before, and now I can see what he values — family, finding success, and working hard on the basics.” Mike Knuble, who grew up in Kentwood and played several seasons with the Red Wings, kept in shape during the NHL labor dispute by taking the ice with the Griffins. “Coach Blashill is passionate and enjoys what he’s doing,” Knuble said. “He knows what it takes and gives the guys a chance to do well. They can slide right onto the Red Wings team and do well for them.” While Blashill — who enjoys a game of golf in the off season — may yet end up with a head coach job in the National Hockey League, he doesn’t spend too much time thinking about the next job. Instead, he spends lots of time thinking about doing a good job where’s he’s at. “I’ve learned what it takes to make it in the NHL, what it takes to be a Red Wing and be a great one. My job is to establish a championship standard and remind players what it takes to reach that standard.” — Ann Byle
audio / video / lighting control automation systems
Breton Village Mall East Grand Rapids Mezzanine level avigroup.biz | 616.942.1000 March 2013 / Grmag.com 25
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art & design TrENDS / PEoPLE / INNoVaTIoN / PLacES
The manifestations of beautiful design
> deSIgn QueSt gaLLerY Location: 4181 28th St. SE Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon., Thu., Fri.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue., Wed., Sat.; 1-5 p.m Sun. Contact: (616) 940-9911; design quest.biz/gallery
I
t’s no surprise that many people treat Design Quest like a museum of sorts. With its other-worldly furniture, eyebrow-raising décor and huge gift shop, there’s much at which to marvel. Though the furniture and gift store isn’t widely recognized as a gallery, the retail-
er has been exhibiting art and design in a set-aside space inside the store since 2007. Before that, various works of art had always been incorporated into room settings that display the furniture — which itself is design centric. “People have always come in to look around and admire the work,” said Thor Sorensen, co-owner and son of founders Meg and Jorgen Sorensen. “We decided to dedicate an area to showcasing particular areas of design and artists.” The design gallery spans an area in the center of the store and has carried exhibitions unified by theme, artist, or types of product. “We are interested in design in any way
PHoToGraPHY BY mIcHaEL BUcK
The Design Quest Gallery is a space set aside for changing exhibitions — within a much larger space filled with design-centric pieces.
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design competition since its inaugural year, attracting some of the freshest new designers from West Michigan and around the world. This year’s first-prize winner was an entry by Joshua Carson of Franklin, Wis., titled “Morphing Shelf,” a wall unit whose shape changes based on the objects it’s supporting. Judges included Meg and Jorgen as well as Fabienne Munch of Herman Miller and Rob Scheper of Steelcase. Meg said they don’t adhere to strict
selection guidelines for the gallery exhibits, but rather find artists through craft shows, events such as ArtPrize, or suggestions from designers whose work is sold in the store. Exhibits rotate every two months. Some of the items found in the gallery are for sale, but for the most part, the works are for exhibition only. “We don’t make any money on the gallery,” she said. “It’s for fun.” — ALEXANDRA FLUEGEL
Upcoming events at Design Quest Gallery... > dreaMWeaVerS: Now through mid-April, the exhibit showcases unique rugs and pillows made from recycled objects such as neckties, zippers and teddy bears. Creations are whimsical and eye-catching.
XXXXXXXXXXX PHoToGraPHY BY mIcHaEL BUcK
PHoToGraPHY BY mIcHaEL BUcK
> furnIture deSIgn coMpetItIon: The next
that manifests itself,” explained Meg, who plays an integral role in selecting work and coordinating exhibits. Exhibits often manifest in interesting ways, such as “Modern Nomad,” an exhibit that used the constraint of how much could fit inside an SUV. “The rugs had to be thin, all the furniture folded,” Meg said. “It was the idea that small things can be exquisite.” Gathering pieces in this way helps people understand how good design is a mix of practicality and beauty, Thor said. Other exhibitions have included textiles from Chris Triola and Anna Zaharaakos, lighting from Pablo Pardo, art tiles from Ann Arbor’s Motawi Tileworks, masks by local artist Laura Goodrich and handcrafted boats by John Hamelink, to name a few. Opened in 1972 in Gaslight Village, Design Quest has a rich, 40-year history of carrying items that are remarkable in their craftsmanship and simple beauty. Meg said it’s fitting for West Michigan to have a gallery dedicated to design, given the area’s reputation as a design hub and the wealth of talent found in its midst. The gallery has hosted a furniture
event will be held in spring 2014. Last fall’s competition received submissions from a record 30 countries. More about the competition, including photos of past entries and registration information, can be found at designquest.biz.
A Dreamweavers exhibit at Design Quest features rugs and pillows made from recycled objects. Karen Hunter and Julie Warners check out “An Old Brush in a New Age,” a retrospective by Jim Spoelstra that was on exhibit earlier this year. Opposite page, Spoelstra’s “Strings #1, #2 and #3.” March 2013 / GrmaG.com 27
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art & design TRENDS / PEOPLE / INNOVATION / PLACES
Local art galleries COMPILED BY EMMA HIGGINS
1/ URBAN INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART: Opening March 8, Limit(less), an exhi-
bition featuring artist responses to the theme of limits and whether they are an asset or a burden. “We live with limits. Limits on movement, time, power, tolerance, resources, opportunities, mobility and space. Limits may strengthen or add clarity to a vision and empower a movement, or may repress and weaken a thought.” 2 W. Fulton St., 454-7000, uica.org. 2/ C.O.D.A. GALLERY: March 2-31 (opening reception 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 1), “Into the woods
106 Gallery and Studio: Calvin College-run gallery space features student and nonstudent exhibitions. 106 S. Division Ave., calvin.edu/cent erartgallery/studio. Betsy Ratzsch Pottery: Adabased gallery features ceramics, artwork and gifts made by American artisans. 584 Ada Drive, 682-0266, betsyrpottery.com. Calvin College Center Art Gallery: Opening March 1, Treasures from the Museum of Russian Icons. Calvin FAC, 1795 Knollcrest Circle, 526-6271, calvin.edu/centerartgallery. Cascade Art Gallery: Multi-media art, extensive print collection, framing, gifts. 2840 Thornapple River Drive SE, 949-4056, cascadegallery. blogspot.com. Con Artist Crew: March 30, We Own the Night, annual show that celebrates local artists. See website for details. 1111 Godfrey Ave. SW, North Building, No. 198, (734) 646-6186, con-artist-crew.com.
Craft House: Collaborative art exhibition and discussion space. 40 S. Division Ave., crafthousegr.com and Facebook.
Grand Gallery: Fine art, reproductions, restoration, gifts, framing. 596 Ada Drive, Ada, 676-4604, grandgall ery.com.
DAAC: Artist-run space hosts art, discussions and music from local and national artists and musicians. 115 S. Division Ave., thedaac.org.
Grand Rapids Art Museum: See Museums & Attractions.
Design Gallery at Design Quest: Thru mid-April, Dreamweavers, unique rugs and pillows made from recycled objects such as neckties, zippers and teddy bears. 4181 28th St. SE, 940-0131, designquest.biz. Fire and Water Gallery: Local art, sculpture, jewelry. 219 W. Main St., Lowell, 890-1879, fire-and-water-art. com. Forest Hills Fine Arts Center: March 6-26 (opening reception 6-7 p.m. March 14), Doris and Lars Larson show watercolor, mixed media, fabric art and wood turning. 600 Forest Hill Ave. SE. 493-8966, fhfineartscenter.com.
2/ “Small Children of a Forward Disposition” by Margaret Reed will be on display at C.O.D.A. Gallery March 2-31.
GVSU Art Gallery: Thru March 20, Mystery, Magic and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic, artifacts from the golden era of magic. 1121 PAC, GVSU, Allendale, (616) 331-2563.
GRCC Collins Gallery: Thru March 22, faculty exhibition. 143 Bostwick Ave. NE. cms.grcc.edu/artgallery. Heartside Gallery: Self-taught Heartside residents show outsider and intuitive art. 48 S. Division Ave., 235-7211, ext. 103, heartside.org. Ice Cream Gallery and Toys: Shows and sells artwork and toys. 117 S. Division Ave., 901-4582, Facebook. Kalamazoo Institute of Arts: See Museums & Attractions. Keeler Gallery at Fountain Street Church: Opens March 3, 20 women artists created self-portraits as Mona Lisa, in conjunction with Women’s History Month. 24 Fountain St. NE, 459-8386. Kendall College of Art & Design: Work by students and faculty and nationally recognized artists in four gallery spaces: three at 17 Fountain St. NW and one in the Federal Building. kcad.edu.
Gallery 154: Local and national multi-media art, gifts, jewelry. 1456 Lake Drive SE, 454-2154, gallery154.com.
LaFontsee Galleries: Contemporary gallery also offers framing services. 833 Lake Drive SE, 451-9820; lafontsee.us.
Gallery at ICCF: Diverse work from local artists and craftspeople. 920 Cherry St. SE, iccf.org/current_exhibit. htm.
Lowell Arts: Thru March 9, PunchLine, a look at life on the lighter side. 149 S. Hudson, Lowell, 897-8545, lowellartscouncil.org.
Gaspard Gallery: Artistoperated gallery provides exhibition space for artists and collectors. 235 S. Division Ave., spirituallake.com.
MercuryHead Gallery: Work by local artists, gifts and framing. 962 E. Fulton St. 456-6022, Facebook. Miscellany: Boutique store and gallery space. 136 S. Division Ave., (810) 923-7158, Facebook.
March 8
1/ UICA’s Limit(less) explores how individuals function or deal with the endless limitations imposed on them. Muskegon Museum of Art: See Museums & Attractions. Nice Gallery: Artist-run gallery features contemporary artwork. 1111 Godfrey Ave. SW, No. 4C, 284-1771, thenicegallery.com. Open Concept Gallery: Local and international art. Last Tues. of month, mARTini: Art Talks, a speaker series featuring presentations on issues in the art world. 50 Louis St. NW, open conceptgallery.org. Perception Gallery: Fine art gallery also offers home décor, art restoration, appraisal services. 210 E. Fulton St., 451-2393. Richard App Gallery: Fine art from local and U.S. artists. 910 Cherry St. SE, 458-4226, therichardapp gallery.tumblr.com. Sanctuary Folk Art: Salon-style gallery displays and sells local folk art. 140 S. Division Ave., 454-0401, Facebook. The Shallows Art Gallery: Upand-coming local artists. 1054 W. Fulton St., (906) 748-0941, shallowsart. com. Tanglefoot Artists: Working studio/gallery of Michael Pfleghaar and Tommy Allen. 314 Straight Ave. SW (entrance on north side, dock 8), tangle footstudio.com. Terryberry Gallery: This month: oil paintings by Sheryl Budnik (artist reception TBA). Exhibits of local and international art change monthly. St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Ave. NE (lower level), 459-2224, scmconline.org/building/terryberry-gallery.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY MEGAN STROECH (TOP); MARGARET REED (BOTTOM)
and through the veil,” a group show curated by illustrator and animator Jesse Gregg, a GVSU graduate and former professor who recently worked on the movie “Paranorman.” 44 S. Division Ave., 401-7382, coda-gallery.com/tag/grand-rapids.
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PHoToGraPHY coUrTESY mEGaN STroEcH (ToP); marGarET rEED (BoTTom)
Visual romance, evocative mood SaMueL IShaM’S “Girl with Chrysanthemums” is perhaps one of the most romantically beautiful works of art in West Michigan and a centerpiece in the permanent collection of the Muskegon Museum of Art. Celebrated for his portraits, landscapes and still life subjects, Isham presents a young woman posed in profile against a simple but warm background. Her auburn hair cascades down the top of her voluminous white dress. Placed in the center of the composition, she gazes into the distant spaces off to the viewer’s right. A bold arrangement of the namesake chrysanthemums occupies the bottom left of the picture plane.
Although the 1891 painting describes the visual beauty of the sitter and the flowers, it is also a painting about painting. century. Although a graduate of Yale who went on to study law, he turned his attention to painting and went to study in Paris. Returning to the United States, he developed a successful and influential career marked by aesthetically sophisticated subjects and painting techniques. He also was the author of the highly influential “History of American Painting,” one of the first major works dedicated to painting in this country. “Girl with Chrysanthemums” typifies the visual elegance and mood evocative subjects that typify his repertoire. — JOSEPH A. BECHERER
thIngS to conSIder:
> Enjoy the artist’s use of color. Select any one of the most prominent colors such as yellow, burgundy or white and follow its use across the entire canvas. > Carefully consider the soft Joseph A. Becherer is curator of sculpture at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and a professor at Aquinas College.
descriptions of forms and their contours or outlines. In what ways
would the mood of the painting feel different if Isham painted in a photorealistic style and used bold, crisp brushstrokes?
> Imagine that the young woman was turned to confront the viewer: How would that change the feeling and meaning of the painting?
> When visiting the Muskegon Museum of Art, enjoy masterpieces contemporary with “Girl with Chrysanthemums.” Do any compare in terms of approaches to painting and suggestion of mood?
PHoToGraPHY mUSKEGoN mUSEUm oF arT
art talk
Although the 1891 painting describes the visual beauty of the sitter and the flowers, it is also a painting about painting. Isham has used a very limited palette of related or analogous colors. Whites, creams, tans and yellows abound. The textured warmth of the golden background visually unifies the entire composition. Even the deepest shadowed passages are balanced by the young woman’s tresses and the deep red of several of the chrysanthemums. Note that the brushwork is loose and soft, granting an overall haze to the entirety of the canvas and complementing the artist’s palette. Isham (1855-1914) was a celebrated American painter in New York at the turn of the last
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ENVIRONMENTS
PHoToGraPHY mUSKEGoN mUSEUm oF arT
BRANDED
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art & design TrENDS / PEoPLE / INNoVaTIoN / PLacES
JuStagIrLBLog.coM
Chris Carey is a Rockford wife, mom, teacher and avid-do-it-yourselfer who shares her home projects and decorating tips on her justagirlblog.com.
Beautiful bed on a budget If you like to change up your “bed décor” but have a limited budget (and storage space), here are some tips. I can be rather fickle when it comes to bedding. Not only do I like to change it up for the seasons, but I also tend to get bored with the same look month after month. My budget, however, tends to disagree. If you’re like many who like change but don’t like breaking the bank, I may have some solutions for you. The first step is to choose one comforter or duvet that you love. It’s best if it’s neutral since it makes it much easier to coordinate with a variety of colors. Regardless, make sure it’s something you won’t tire of. The set shown is a Pottery Barn velvet duvet, and I waited patiently for it to go on sale. I plan on using it for a long time, so it was a worthwhile purchase. Instead of spending money on an entire coordinating set — comforter, shams, pillows, etc. — to redecorate your bed, spend it more wisely on the smaller pieces. Throw pillows, throw blankets and shams give the bed an entirely new (and fresh) look for a small percentage of the cost. For those of you thinking that even those items can add up, just be careful where and how you purchase them. My favorite finds are at T.J.Maxx or Marshall’s, and I’ve made many purchases in the clearance section. People usually want to buy entire sets, so leftover accessories often are priced much lower when sold separately. If you can score some down-filled pillow forms, you can save money (and linen space!) by purchasing only covers instead of throw pillows for every arrangement. — CHRIS CAREY
PHoToGraPHY coUrTESY cHrIS carEY
While it’s not necessary, a contrasting throw blanket really sets the bed off. You can always stick to the same tones by adding texture instead of color. The “fur” throw seen here is a nice complement to the cable-knit pillows and velvet background.
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! W O N E L A S TICKETS ON om ter.c go to ticketmas MARCH 7-17, 2013
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LaughFest features free and ticketed events including comedy, performance, improv, film and a variety of seriously funny stuff.
Garfunkel & Oates
GuN LAKE CASINO pRESENTS
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Gary Valentine
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art & design TRENDS / PEOPLE / INNOVATION / PLACES
Do-it-yourself landscaping requires a passion for getting your hands dirty — and accepting advice from experts.
‘A truly amazing yard’ By Marty Primeau
Photography by Johnny Quirin
STEVE WIERINGA ADMITS he’s “very passionate” about landscaping. He can reel off the names of his backyard roses as if they were family members. He handpicked and planted each pear and flowering crab tree on his 2.5-acre lot. And he’ll dare you to find a single weed in his meticulously tended 40-by-40-foot
perennial flower bed. “In my second life,” quipped the retired businessman, “I’d like to come back as a landscaper.” When he and his wife, Nancy, decided to build their 5,800-square-foot home in Caledonia seven years ago, Wieringa had the chance to get his hands really dirty.
Homeowner Steve Wieringa worked with Bruce de Wit of Rosemont Nursery to create a patio space and flowering landscape on his 2.5-acre property in Caledonia. 34 GRMAG.COM \ MARCH 2013
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“Anybody doing yard or landscaping should develop their own thoughts, but be open to listening to something else. You want to make sure what you’re doing fits the property and your lifestyle. The feel and flow of the project is really important.” — Bruce de Wit Not that he hadn’t before: He personally handled the landscaping needs for all five children, including a stay in Dallas during the July heat and 10 days in Nebraska. “I like being outdoors,” he said. But landscaping his own property was a dream come true. “He’s the ideal client,” said Rosemont Nursery owner Bruce de Wit, who installed most of the hardscaping for Wieringa. “We were able to see a blueprint of the house before it was built, and I was able to suggest some changes to make the outdoor flow better.” The Wieringas entertain a lot, so a large patio was top on the list. On that patio would be a two-way fireplace connecting to an indoor family room. Once the final plans were settled, Wieringa got to work, purchasing and planting trees, shrubs, roses and oodles of flowers. “I like to visit nurseries,” he said, adding that he often attends this month’s Grand Rapids Home & Garden Show for ideas. “I like to talk to other landscapers.” He’s learned which plants blossom at different times of the year. He knows how to test the soil for the right balance of nutri-
ents. And he’s read up on the kinds of foliage deer and other critters like to nibble. Applying all that knowledge to his yard, Wieringa ended up with what he modestly describes as “a truly amazing yard. Spring at my house is just gorgeous.” The takeaway lesson for homeowners is to be open to suggestions, de Wit said. “Anybody doing yard or landscaping should develop their own thoughts, but be open to listening to something else. You want to make sure what you’re doing fits the property and your lifestyle. The feel and flow of the project is really important.” He’s had cases where homeowners requested a 12-by-12-foot patio “only to discover that once they get the outdoor furniture in place, chairs are falling off onto the grass.” When it comes to choosing trees and plants, finding a knowledgeable landscape expert is key. “We had one lady who bragged about spending $5 for four plants she put in her garden,” de Wit said. “A few years later, she paid us $450 to get rid of them. The average homeowner doesn’t always realize which plants are invasive or how large gr some things will grow.”
Designer & Custom Jewelry Expert Jewelry Repair Tu-Fr 10-5 Sat 12-4 616-459-5075 820 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids metalartstudioinc.com March 2013 / GrmaG.com 35
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frame works
Architect Mark F. Miller is an urban designer at Nederveld, and has led the Grand Rapids Historic Preservation Commission and the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
> Architect Henry Ives Cobb also designed the original University of Chicago. He was the protégé of acoustics expert Dankmar Adler, who worked on many notable projects such as Chicago’s Auditorium Theater and New York City’s Carnegie Hall. > Royce Auditorium has been host to many famous speakers, including Susan B. Anthony, who spoke at the Woman Suffrage convention in Grand Rapids in 1899. Tony Bennett, Isaac Stern, Victor Borge, and both Branford and Wynton Marsalis have performed at the Royce. > St. Cecilia has earned the reputation as the “Mother of the Arts in Grand Rapids” because the Grand Rapids Symphony, Civic Theatre and Opera Grand Rapids all got their start under its roof.
A temple of music the BuILdIngS cLuStered near Veterans Memorial Park, just north of Fulton Street, represent some of the most historically elegant architectural expressions in downtown Grand Rapids. These buildings, including the Grand Rapids Public Library and Park Church, create a tapestry of dignified forms that exemplify the importance
of architecture and its relationship to the public realm. One of the structures in this ensemble of rich history, substantial materiality and exquisite detail is St. Cecilia Music Center, which first opened to the public in 1894 with a ceremony that was attended by about 4,000 people — 10 percent of the city’s population. The building’s long history of service is marked by its recognition on the National Register of Historic Places and its historic designation from the both the state and the city. Designed by architect Henry Ives Cobb, the Italian Renaissance Revival style building has a symmetrical facade rendered in brick and stone that faces Ransom Avenue. The facade is composed of three distinct parts: a sandstone base, a brick mid-section, and a terra cotta frieze with a partial balustrade. The detailing includes corbelled archways and compositions of stone entablatures and Corinthian pilasters at many of the windows. The tops of these entablatures feature cherubs playing trumpets, horns, musical pipes and cellos that provide a glimpse of the building’s intended use as a “temple of music.” This musical heritage is most evident in St. Cecilia’s Royce Auditorium, considered one of the finest recital halls in the nation and widely acclaimed by performers and audiences for its superb acoustics.
PHoToGraPHY BY mIcHaEL BUcK
St. cecILIa MuSIc center: > While the front of the building contains a majority of the detail, the south wall displays a series of polychromed terra cotta artifacts that were salvaged from the nearby Metz Building, which was torn down in 1971 to make way for a parking lot.
St. Cecilia Music Center, which opened to the public in 1894, is an Italian Renaissance Revival style building with a symmetrical façade rendered in brick and stone. Stone entablatures over the upper windows feature cherubs playing musical instruments. Opposite page is Royce Auditorium, considered one of the finest recital halls in the nation.
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Presents The 650-seat auditorium still boasts chandeliers and wall sconces that were installed in the building’s first renovation in 1925. This vintage lighting, along with seating from the same era (refurbished in 1984), give the auditorium a stately grandeur. St. Cecilia is the only building in the United States that was built and operated by women for the purpose of music, and it remains true to its original mission after a century of continued use. Its original nine founders formed the St. Cecilia Society (named after the patron saint of music) in 1883 to appreciate, study and perform music. This humble beginning has given Grand Rapids a civic treasure that continues to cater to music, but also inspires with its magnificent and well-preserved architecture. — MARK F. MILLER
“In Retrospect” ... a civic treasure that continues to cater to music, but also inspires with its magnificent and well-preserved architecture.
Exceptional new artworks mixed with artworks from Jim’s
PHoToGraPHY BY mIcHaEL BUcK
PHoToGraPHY BY mIcHaEL BUcK
personal archive
On View Through March 23 rd
833 Lake Drive SE, GR MI 616.451.9820 www.lafontsee.us March 2013 / GrmaG.com 37
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art & design TRENDS / PEOPLE / INNOVATION / PLACES
O Art déco
By Terri Finch Hamilton
Photography by Michael Buck
pulence This high-end, glittering home is a mini-mansion, plopped down in a regular southeast Grand Rapids neighborhood.
S
tep through the front door of Cary Howard and Greg Tomasik’s house and you don’t know where to look first. The wall fountain trickling in the living room? The crystal eggs suspended from the kitchen ceiling? The 9-foot-wide curved-glass front window? The opulent beaded crystal chandelier that appears to dangle through the living room ceiling from the room above?
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Wait — what’s that pretty room over there? Bam. Watch your head. It’s a mirrored wall — the first of many that will trick you into thinking there’s another glamorous room beyond. This high-end, glittering home is a mini-mansion, plopped down in a regular southeast Grand Rapids neighborhood near Mulick Park. It wasn’t always this way. Tomasik, 47, lived here with his ailing mother for years, in a plain yellow, 1950s house with avocado kitchen cabinets, copper-toned appliances, sponge-painted walls and linoleum floors. After she died and left him the house, Tomasik’s partner of 14 years, Cary Howard, an interior designer, moved in. When other kids his age were buying comic books and baseball cards, Howard, who owns InDesign, was captivated by lighting fixtures and wallpaper patterns.
Howard’s creativity kicked into high gear, and the house received a magical transformation. “We wanted it to pop,” Howard, 52, explains as he strolls through the sparkling, glamour-drenched home. He’s not kidding. Granite floors with inlaid designs. A mirrored breakfast nook lined with glass shelves with raw, ruffle-cut edges. Mirrored walls everywhere. “It makes everything look bigger,” Howard notes. “It gives sparkle and pizzazz.” If you’re noting a lot of glass in this place, you’re right. Tomasik owns his own company, Absolutely Glass. He likes to push the envelope. In his office downstairs, decorated in an Asian theme, frosted white glass sliding doors mimic Japanese shoji screens. The curved picture window in the living room,
An opulent beaded crystal chandelier is the focal point in the living room. Black paint, dentil molding and chrome bocce balls transformed a boring coffee table. In the kitchen, crystal eggs are suspended from the ceiling. Shaker-style cabinets are coated with high gloss for sheen. Granite counters are Cambrian black with triple waterfall edges. The polished Italian porcelain tile floor mixed with black granite mirrors the pattern of beams on the ceiling. March 2013 / Grmag.com 39
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art & design TRENDS / PEOPLE / INNOVATION / PLACES
at 9 by 5 feet, is the largest of its type possible, Tomasik says. Innovative and creative, Howard has assembled this luxe decor from here, there and everywhere, often shopping online and finding treasures all over the world. (More on his jaw-dropping Egyptian finds later.) But some of his ideas are deceptively simple. When the pair found a coffee table they liked but which lacked pizzazz, they painted it black, added dentil molding and affixed chrome bocce balls as decorative detail. Similarly, Howard attached a gleaming Rolls Royce hood ornament to a marble base to create a stunning sculpture. He added spherical chrome drawer pulls to a plain chair to jazz it up. He spied round mother-of-pearl mirrors in a Pottery Barn
catalog and envisioned them as the backdrop for beaded, crystal wall sconces. When they couldn’t find a storage cabinet narrow enough to fit a space in the snug dining room, Tomasik built one out of onyx. He crafted a movie-star-quality cocktail table from antique mirrors. Upstairs is Howard’s office, decked out in the Egyptian theme he loves. You have to see it to believe it. Even then, you might not. His massive desk chair is an exact replica of King Tut’s ornate throne, complete with gilded lion heads. A necklace in a glass display case is a copy of one King Tut wore. Drawer pulls are shaped like Pharaoh heads. The office includes a shrine to Howard’s most beloved cat, Ramses, and includes his ashes. There’s more. Inside a built-in glass
Cary Howard’s upstairs office is decorated in an Egyptian theme. Inside a built-in glass case is a full-size sarcophagus, direct from Egypt. 40 Grmag.com \ March 2013
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RICHARDS KITCHEN & BATH SHOWROOM www.richardsplumbing.com
400 Mart Street SW Wyoming MI 49548 616-247-0965
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The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Kohler Co. is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.
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art & design TrENDS / PEoPLE / INNoVaTIoN / PLacES
The bath boasts yet another opulent chandelier and gleaming faucets that are so high concept, you can’t quite figure out how to turn them on.
case is a full-size sarcophagus, direct from Egypt. “They told me for $500 more, I could have a mummy,” Howard says. “I said, ‘Nah — I don’t need the mummy.’” Howard pushes on the glass case. Whoa — it’s a door to a secret room. What’s behind
here? A stash of gold? Jewels? The remains of ancient kings? Oh. Just a bunch of Rubbermaid storage bins. “We have a lot of crap,” Howard explains. Across the hall, the master bedroom features walls covered in gray silk, studded
with tiny rhinestones. The bath boasts yet another opulent chandelier and gleaming faucets that are so high concept, you can’t quite figure out how to turn them on. The home’s mostly gray color palette comes from the atmosphere surrounding the death of Tomasik’s mother in 2010. Both men were very close to her and sank into mourning. “It was such a dark time for us,” Howard recalls. “The house had to reflect how we felt. We didn’t feel like light and bright. We needed to feel safe and cocooned.” The décor sprang up from their love of art deco and opulence: crystal chandeliers, granite, marble, silver. “It looks like an alien dropped our house into the neighborhood,” Howard admits. What about that stuff Realtors say about how you shouldn’t have the nicest house in the neighborhood? Oh, well. “We grossly overbuilt this house,” Howard says. “We probably spent three times what it’s worth. We said, ‘Let’s just dive over the cliff.’ “I’m haunting this house,” he says with a laugh. “I’m never leaving.” Contact Howard at his design firm at 241-2000 or at InDesignGR@aol.com. gr
In the media room, the floor is custom-cut imported Italian Provenza porcelain tile with a border of honed travertine marble mixed with slate. Fireplace and walls are clad with cultured, mixed dry-stacked stone. 42 GrmaG.com \ March 2013
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This
adventure takes a village By J. Stapleton Burch
A
S THE ADVENTURE of Design Home 2013 continues, builders Rich and Stacey Rendon of Infiniti Custom Homes orchestrate the various components that must come together to transform a blueprint into a solidly built custom home. Selecting only the best, they work with a trusted cadre of professionals to bring their vision to life. And when Stacey envisions a kitchen, she thinks of everything. “The kitchen is the heart of a home and it’s so important to make it as warm and welcoming as it is functional,” Stacey noted. To warm things up in the “Heartsworth,” she chose a rich, dark hardwood floor in the “pier” color from Rockford Flooring. “The six-inch wide planks have a wirebrushed, natural oil-rubbed finish that contains little to no VOC,” described Brian Tobey, Rockford Flooring sales consultant. “The wire brushing process not only enhances the grain of the wood, but also hardens the surface, making it much more durable and creating a very distinct look.” Adding to that distinction is the beautiful custom designed kitchen cabinetry from Woodways Custom, whose sales and design consultant, Jessica Fitnich, worked with Stacey to bring a feeling of hominess to the space. The “Heartsworth kitchen is extraordinary in size,” Fitnich reported. “With such a large-scale kitchen, it’s easy to feel either overwhelmed or have designs that come off cold and lifeless. To
avoid this, we aimed for a traditional style overall, and implemented modern touches throughout the space to give it that warm, inviting feel with a well-balanced design.” The kitchen’s creamy, warm-glazed silk cabinetry really brightens up the space, and the ceiling treatment with its V-groove accents, which are also incorporated into the design of the cabinetry, lends a casual element. “Stacey is so much fun to work with because she is open to new ideas and very in-tune with current trends and designs,” Fitnich added. The look really comes together with the unique granite chosen for the countertop and island surfaces from Top of the World Granite. It has a marble-like appearance with veins of chocolate and flecks of gold, which makes the perfect companion for the fixtures and faucets Stacey located at Richards Plumbing with the help of sales and design consultant, Mary Cripe. “We chose Kohler fixtures and faucets, which are well known for their high caliber quality and more unique design options,” Cripe reported. “We also selected an apron sink in a deep, rich color that looks gorgeous with the new style granite. It’s a single, extra large bowl, which looks great with the traditional bridge faucet chosen in an oil-rubbed bronze finish.” Stacey believes in supporting local businesses and relies on the family-owned and operated Gerrit’s Appliance when selecting home appliances. According to third-generation co-owner, Curt Geers,
Stacey chose top-of-the-line appliances to complete the kitchen. “She selected a built-in style, 42-inch wide, side-byside Sub Zero refrigerator with a panel front that sits flush and blends in with the cabinetry,” he said, adding that the same custom cabinet treatment will be given to the Swedish-made Asko dishwasher. “The kitchen will also feature profession-
DESIGN HOME 2013 PARTNERS: Belden Brick & Supply, Eikenhout, Engineered Protection Systems, Gerrit’s Appliance, Infiniti Custom Homes, Klingman’s Furniture , Modern Hardware, Overhead Door Company of Grand Rapids, Richards Kitchen and Bath Showroom, Rockford Floor Covering, Top of the World Granite , Visbeen Architects, Wahlfield Drilling Co. , Woodways Custom Cabinets
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Design Home 2013 is Available for Purchase
2013
al-grade Wolf cooking products,” Geers continued. “The range has extra burners, and the Wolf microwave is a unique style, below-counter built-in that springs open like a drawer with the push of a button.” Other key furniture elements from Woodways Custom include an integrated display hutch for dish storage, valance toe kicks, and large-scale decorative legs in-
In collaboration with
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corporated into the design of the oversized island that not only provides plenty of workspace, but also serves as a magnetic gathering spot for casual family meals and for entertaining friends. “The kitchen is open to the adjacent hearth room, which brings a feeling of coziness to the space, while at the same time providing plenty of room to accommodate many guests,”
Stacey concluded. And with its expansive views of the beautiful nature preserve out back, the outdoor kitchen just steps away from the dining room — complete with its own Sub Zero refrigerator and a great Wolf grill — this spectacular kitchen will be the envy of everyone.
Design Home 2013 VIP tour/event this spring to benefit
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GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE’S TOP RESTAURANTS OF 2012 BY MARTY PRIMEAU
Remember The 1913 Room? Even if you never had a chance to eat in the crown jewel of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel — the first and only Michigan restaurant to earn a Five-Diamond Rating from the American Automobile Association — surely you heard about the pricey, French-inspired fare, the opulent Louis XVI dining room and the impeccable service. That was back in the glory days when “haute cuisine” was still a relevant term and restaurants were judged by how well they executed classic, timehonored recipes. About five years ago, things started to change. A new breed of chefs began cooking interesting renditions of comfort foods and adding ethnic twists to traditional American fare. They emphasized a more casual ambiance, cringing at the
Grove
thought of being labeled “fine dining.” Now the farm-to-table movement has taken over as restaurateurs build menus around local farm produce, ethically raised animals and artisan breads and cheeses. Add to that a growing interest in vegan and vegetarian fare, an abundance of ethnic eateries and an invasion of food trucks with tasty offerings. And need we remind anyone that GR has been dubbed “Beer City,” inspiring a wealth of microbreweries that offer new takes on pub foods? So the quest to name the best restaurants in Grand Rapids has become even more interesting. We reached out to trusted foodies in the community for suggestions and were impressed with the variety of responses.
Violinist Emad Ibrahim plays for the diners at Shiraz.
Restaurants are judged primarily on their dinner fare, not breakfast or lunch. This year we chose winners in seven categories: New American, defined as upscale, contemporary cooking, also includes ethnic twists of familiar standbys. These are the restaurants that emphasize creativity. Classic American refers to those places that serve traditional fare. While that sounds easy, just try grilling a perfect steak aimed at a picky customer’s specifications. Ethnic award categories include European, Asian, Latin American and Middle Eastern.
The Best New Restaurant category was packed with nominations this year, a reflection (we hope) of a healthy economy. With so many restaurants in Greater Grand Rapids, we opted not to name a Best Lakeshore Restaurant. We simply don’t have the staff (or time) to fairly judge all the eateries in the coastal cities and towns. The easiest choice was Restaurant of the Year, a place we’ve all come to love for its inspired dishes. We’ve also included other favorites in each category, as well as a few noteworthy mentions of places that didn’t win an award but deserve accolades.
PhotoGraPhy by Johnny Quirin (toP); aDam birD (bottom); illuStration courteSy iStockPhoto.com/aleXkaVa
R
Best bites
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PhotoGraPhy by Johnny Quirin
PhotoGraPhy by Johnny Quirin (toP); aDam birD (bottom); illuStration courteSy iStockPhoto.com/aleXkaVa
Reserve
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919 Cherry St. SE groverestaurant.com
“We’re a very small kitchen staff that communicates very well. One person might see an ingredient online that sparks an idea. Or we start talking about cuisine in a different city someone has been to on vacation, and that gets us thinking about a new dish.” — Patrick Wise
Grove delivers artfully crafted cuisine
W
hen asked about her favorite restaurant, one Grand Rapids foodie quipped: “Grove knocks my socks off every time I go there!” Well said. Since opening nearly two years ago, the East Hills restaurant has delivered amazing cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients in combinations that simply wow the senses. We love the casual yet sophisticated ambience, the enthusiastic wait staff and the attention to detail. Most of all, we admire Chef Patrick Wise, the 32-year-old culinary genius and executive
chef for all three eateries in the Essence Restaurant Group. He was just 19 when he started at Bistro Bella Vita, part-
nering with local farms and pioneering the farm-to-fork concept in Grand Rapids while creating amazing Mediterranean country fare. Next to open was The Green Well Gastro Pub, where Wise and his kitchen crew invented hearty comfort foods to pair with beer. He left to open Grove in 2011 and, from day one, had a devoted following. The food is amazing and creative — like The Barnyard, a winter appetizer with small portions of the following: Creswick Farm barbeque cheek torchon, cornbread pudding, barbeque vinaigrette, S&S country pork terrine, pear-fennel salad, Visser Farms potato salad, honeyDijon gastrique, Otto’s chicken rillette, celery relish, Dijon aioli and crostini. OK, we had to Google some of those terms. But that introduction to new dishes is what makes dining at Grove so special. Nothing goes to waste in
Mike “Sully” Sullivan, left, and Patrick Wise cook on the line at Grove. Opposite page: Harrietta Hills Trout.
PhotoGraPhy by aDam birD
GROVE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
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“We are always working on new things to be fresh and exciting in all aspects.” — Patrick Wise
the sustainable kitchen. Wise makes a point of incorporating all parts of an animal — not always an easy task when planning a menu. “It’s a fun challenge to have,” he said “We embrace it.” Same applies to veggies. When the last of the season’s carrots were delivered — “incredibly sweet” — the Grove team came up with several ways to use them in one dish. Wise said inspiration comes from many places. “We’re a very small kitchen staff that communicates very well. One person might see an ingredient online that sparks an idea. Or we start talking about cuisine in a different city someone has been to on vacation, and that gets us thinking about a new dish.” While the warm weather months provide plenty of Michigan-grown vegetables and fruits, Wise said he has to source from other places in the winter months. “I place a lot of emails.
On any given week, I work with 14 different purveyors.” The chef also knows it’s important to keep things fresh and innovative. “I look at the restaurant business as constantly evolving and adapting,” he said. “Like adding our three-course tasting menu: I spent a lot of time researching to make sure to make it unique and different. We are always working on new things to be fresh and exciting in all aspects.” This spring, Grove will add weekend lunches and a Monday evening wine series. Wise said he loves the East Hills neighborhood, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when he can look up and down Cherry Street and see people walking to various restaurants and shops. “It’s like a pocket neighborhood in New York City,” he said. “I think it’s great that more places are opening here and doing things that are responsible and
creative.” And Wise is quick to credit his staff, both in the kitchen and up front. “This year we’ve had to deal with some adversities and we’ve become really close,” he said. “Everything we do is a team effort, and I’m really proud of my team.”
Server Lauren Jaenicke at Grove.
Worth the drive … EVERYDAY PEOPLE CAFÉ 11 Center St., Douglas; everydaypeoplecafe.com “Simply elegant is the best way to describe this eatery in Douglas. Sitting on the patio during the summer eating fresh ceviche is a Michigan lakeshore pleasure.” MIA & GRACE BISTRO 1133 Third St., Muskegon; miaandgrace.com “One of the best farm-to-table restaurants in the Midwest. The menu changes according to what
they are able to source locally. Owners/cooks Jeremy and Jamie try interesting combinations and flavors and always pull them off.” SALT OF THE EARTH 114 E. Main St., Fennville; saltoftheearthfennville.com “Serving spectacular dishes in a rustic yet elegant setting. Everything on the menu is appetizing. Worth the drive for farm-fresh fare.”
PIPER 2225 South Shore Drive, Macatawa; piperrestaurant.com
ZING EAT/DRINK 310 Blue Star Highway, Douglas; zingeatdrink.com
“A gifted chef and an owner who demands impeccable food and service standards. If that isn’t enough, the view is great and the wine program is excellent.”
“Fun atmosphere and décor. This place is hopping in the summer but is also open on weekends through the winter. The menu is filled with interesting choices. BBQ pork flatbread appetizer with coleslaw is a huge hit.”
PUBLIC 131 E. Main St., Zeeland; publiczeeland.com “Zeeland has finally come into the West Michigan dining scene with comfort food and flair.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADAM BIRD
West Michigan has so many great eateries. While the GRM dining awards are aimed at restaurants in the Greater Grand Rapids area, we wanted to include some lakeshore favorites:
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TRILLIUM HAVEN BEST NEW RESTAURANT 1429 Lake Drive SE trilliumhavenrestaurant.com
Other favorites: MARU SUSHI & GRILL 925 Cherry St. SE marurestaurant.com “Excellent! Fresh and flavorful dishes nicely presented with attentive service and contemporary décor.”
Bringing the farm to the city
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BUCK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADAM BIRD
T
he only bad thing about the opening of this Eastown restaurant is that owners Anja Mast and Michael VanderBrug no longer sell their organic veggies at Fulton Street Farmers Market. Ah, but it’s a small price to pay. Trillium Haven is an exciting new restaurant featuring local ingredients masterfully prepared by Chef Joel Wabeke. Mast describes the fare as “flexitarian cuisine with an international twist.” The menu has vegan and vegetarian dishes (just give the Soy Honey Glazed Tofu a try), as well as Farmer Mike’s Favorite Meatloaf, a unique take on the classic carnivore dish. The flatbread pizzas are inspired (think charred red cabbage and bacon); ditto for the salads, like the Gazelle Perfect Protein salad with French green lentils, toasted quinoa and walnuts accompanying the vegetables. We also love the rustic interior, the open kitchen and the eager-to-please staff. Art of the Table helps select the wines and Wealthy Street Bakery supplies the tasty breads. Must try: Delicata Squash, roasted and stuffed with wild and Arborio rice, fennel sausage, greens, raisins and fresh mozzarella.
Mast describes the fare as “flexitarian cuisine with an international twist.”
BISTRO CHLOE ELAN 445 Ada Drive, Ada chloeelan.com “Impressive food served with style and equally impressive surroundings.” RADIX TAVERN 1420 Lake Drive SE radixtavern.com “Despite the martini lounge atmosphere, farm fresh Southern influenced cuisine appears on the menu. Vegetarian and gluten-free options abound, but carnivores will flock to the poutine.”
Chef Joel Wabeke and his team in the open kitchen at Trillium Haven. The restaurant’s Rabbit Porchetta combines pasture-raised rabbit from the Trillium Haven Farm with fennel sausage, root vegetable hash and tarragon Dijon cream. MARCH 2013 / GRMAG.COM 51
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PhoToGrAPhy By Johnny QUIrIn
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RESERVE NEW AMERICAN 201 Monroe Ave. NW reservegr.com
Other favorites: BISTRO BELLA VITA 44 Grandville Ave. SW bistrobellavita.com “Superb, imaginative, locally sourced fare in beautiful urban surroundings. Always something new and creative. Great wait staff.”
Charcuterie, wine and so much more
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here’s so much we love about this stylish downtown eatery, from the amazing paté maison to the locally sourced burger made from grass-fed beef laced with bits of pork belly (truly one of the tastiest in West Michigan). Chef Matt Millar, a 20-year veteran of the culinary world who says he is enthralled by West Michigan’s farmers and artisans, takes the farm-to-fork concept to new heights.
His Chicken & Dumplings was a fall favorite; ditto for the Fromage Blanc Gnocchi, served with slices of smoked rabbit and cabbage in a vegetable broth. We’re always impressed by the selection of cheeses and charcuterie. And the bar’s fancy Cruvinet system makes it possible to offer more than 100 wines by the glass (or taste, because we really like to sample several).
The friendly staff is happy to make wine suggestions or help with food pairings. The icing on the cake is Reserve’s sophisticated interior with contemporary décor and lighting. Must try: Pork Fat Fries (worth the splurge) and Vanilla Bacon.
“Even though the ambiance is casual, the food is always outstanding. Really clever are the ‘wine lockers’ for regulars who purchase wholesale and want to store their favorite wines.” SIX.ONE.SIX 235 Louis St. NW ilovethejw.com “Summers on the Jdek, jazz in the lobby on weekends, a good Sunday brunch, and a fresh and fun selection of lunch and dinner menus. The New York Strip is amazing.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHNNY QUIRIN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHNNY QUIRIN
Zach Pisciotta and Mathew Green in the kitchen. Above, Lisa Stocke and Steve Miller enjoy the New American cuisine at Reserve. Opposite page: Glazed pork belly with coddled egg, lobster mushroom broth, tempura mushrooms and mustard greens.
OLIVES 2162 Wealthy St. SE eatatolives.com
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LEO’S CLASSIC AMERICAN 60 Ottawa Ave. NW leosrestaurant.com
Other favorites: THE CHOP HOUSE 190 Monroe Ave. NW thechophouserestaurant. com “You want to impress a guest? The Chop House will not disappoint. The classic steakhouse sides are over the moon, almost good enough to make me forget about the exquisite prime-grade steak prepared perfectly every time.” TWISTED ROOSTER 1600 East Beltline Ave. NE twisted-rooster.com “A fun twist on classic dishes, including a sinfully delicious take on mac ’n’ cheese, a cleverly stuffed turkey burger and the amazing campfire cheesecake.” REDS ON THE RIVER 2 E. Bridge St., Rockford reds-live.com “The food is delicious and inventive. Great outdoor deck dining with views of the river. Well worth the drive to Rockford.”
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Honorable mentions … CHEZ OLGA 1441 Wealthy St. SE; chezolga.com
Every course is a delight, from the Warm Goat’s Cheese Salad, with apple slices, candied pecans and balsamic vinaigrette tossed with spring greens, to a plethora of inspired desserts.
Leo’s continues to impress
Y
ou don’t have to be a seafood lover to appreciate Leo’s. Of course, the downtown restaurant is best known for its fresh catch specials prepared any way you want. The ceviche is inspired, the lobster and shrimp cakes are amazing and the oysters earn rave reviews. But please don’t overlook Leo’s steak and landlubber fare. One frequent diner (who turns up his nose at anything fishy) insists the best filet mignon he’s ever eaten was at Leo’s. Every course is a delight, from the Warm Goat’s Cheese Salad, with apple slices, candied pecans and balsamic vinaigrette tossed with spring greens, to a plethora of decadent desserts. The dining room is spacious while the lounge area is cozy. Service is professional and always top notch. Owner Leo Beil is often on hand, greeting customers as they enter or walking through the restaurant to talk to regulars. All that and a wellstocked bar makes Leo’s a perennial favorite. Must try: Leo’s Salmon & Corn Chowder is a creamy soup with roasted corn, potatoes, pancetta and smoked Atlantic salmon. Better yet, order the soup sampler and try three, including the Lobster Bisque.
This little Eastown restaurant in one of the city’s funkiest buildings is an absolute treasure and a must for anyone who enjoys spicy cuisine. Owner Olga Benoit is from Haiti, as she’ll explain while shaking your hand and making you feel welcome. The menu includes authentic Creole and Caribbean dishes — think jerk chicken, gumbo, fried plantains — and you choose the heat level. Be forewarned: Olga’s habanero sauce at full strength is not for sensitive palettes (no problem, she’ll dial it down to the perfect level). The menu also features some amazing rice dishes, a potato lasagna, and some of the tastiest shrimp we’ve ever eaten. On the sweeter side are her island drinks and ice coffees and a rice pudding that is truly to die for. Service isn’t fast, but very friendly. BARTERTOWN DINER 6 Jefferson Ave. SE; bartertowngr.com Don’t expect a bunch of salads or wimpy fare at Bartertown Diner, the first GR eatery to offer true vegan and vegetarian offerings. Owner Ryan Cappelletti and crew churn out creative dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, from veggies to beans and grains. Consider the Michigander, an adzuki bean and barley burger topped with sautéed greens, maple mustard, squash puree, roasted turnip slices, vegan or dairy cheese and tempeh bacon. For the late-night crowd (10 p.m. to 3 a.m.), Bartertown offers a menu of tacos and burritos and no alcohol. New is the adjoining Bread Square Bakery, with vegan breads, cookies, cakes, pies, baking classes, cookie-of-the-month club, a cookbook and more. THE HERITAGE 151 Fountain St. NE; grcc.edu/heritage We’re guessing a lot of people haven’t heard of The Heritage, yet true GR foodies know this restaurant on the campus of Grand Rapids Community College offers some of the most creative gourmet fare in the city. Students in the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education program prepare and serve a variety of dishes, from Braised Pork Shank in a white wine tomato sauce to Tofu Egg Fu Young. You can expect to see many of the culinary grads popping up as chefs in local restaurants. (Alas, the dinner hour ends at 7:30 p.m. and The Heritage is not open during the summer.)
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BUCK (PAGE 54-55)
SAN CHEZ, A TAPAS BISTRO 38 W. Fulton St.; sanchezbistro.com
Leo’s Executive Chef Bernard Lucas. Opposite page: Nantucket Island Bay Scallops are broiled and served in a sherry-garlic butter.
Our GRM dining list classifies San Chez as New American for its contemporary recipes with ethnic twists. Perhaps its menu of Spanish fare means it should be in the European category, but the kitchen also dishes up its version of Mediterranean cuisine. No matter how you define the downtown restaurant that introduced GR to tapas back in 1992, it’s truly a favorite. Nothing beats bellying up to the culinary bar at San Chez with a group of friends and sharing a pitcher of margaritas and lots of small plates to experience new foods and flavors. It’s awfully hard not to order one of everything, so be sure to come hungry. And if great food isn’t enough, we applaud San Chez for being on the cutting edge of green initiatives and supporting local farms and producers.
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AMORE TRATTORIA ITALIANA EUROPEAN 5080 Alpine Ave. NW amoretrattoriaitaliana.com
Other favorites: TRE CUGINI 122 Monroe Center NW trecugini.com “Dining on the patio in summer overlooking Rosa Parks Circle is a great way to spend a summer evening with a bottle of wine and incredible Italian cuisine.”
Authentic Italian — bravo!
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHNNY QUIRIN (PAGES 56-57)
W
hen Amore Trattoria opened two years ago in Comstock Park, we wondered if Grand Rapidians would make the trek to Alpine Avenue and Six Mile Road. The answer is yes. And we keep returning for Chef Jenna Arcidiacono’s authentic Italian fare and her charismatic personality (you’ll often see her stroll through the dining room to chat with guests). Her dishes are simple with a gourmet twist and she incorporates lots of seasonal, local produce and meats. Many of Amore’s recipes are ones Arcidiacono learned while living in Italy with husband Maurizio and cooking with her motherin-law. We love that the wine list is totally Italian and that meals start with a basket of housemade, herb-topped focaccia bread and olive oil. Her Lasagna alla Bolognese
is just the right combination of cheese, pasta and sauce; her Coniglio alla Marsala featuring local rabbit roasted in Marsala wine is stellar. And it’s not every restaurant that offers pizze bianche, white pizzas made without tomato sauce. Must try: The homemade cioccolacello, an amazing chocolate liqueur.
Chef Jenna Arcidiacono prepares her Pescatora with squid ink pasta, mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari and cod in a tomato/white wine sauce. Finished dish is pictured on opposite page.
NOTO’S OLD WORLD ITALIAN 6600 28th St. SE notosoldworld.com “Superbly prepared dishes, world-class wine list and a comfortably romantic atmosphere with topnotch service.” MANGIAMO 1033 Lake Drive SE thegilmorecollection.com/ mangiamo.php “Excellent fare, enjoyable surroundings and accommodating service. Love the Wine Down Wednesdays featuring half off the entire wine-by-the-glass list all day.”
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XO ASIAN CUISINE ASIAN 58 Monroe Center NW xoasiancuisine.com
Other favorites: WEI WEI PALACE 4242 S. Division Ave. “Best handmade dim sum and freshly cooked fish and lobster Cantonesestyle.” SEOUL GARDEN 3321 28th St. SE grseoulgarden.com
Variety is key at XO Asian Cuisine
I
t’s hard to find a consensus when it comes to best Asian fare in Grand Rapids. Everyone has a personal favorite — often it’s the neighborhood eatery near home or office that offers speedy delivery — and don’t even get us started on the different types of cuisine. That said, we can always rely on XO to satisfy our cravings for everything from Won Ton Soup (with fresh veggies) and Crab Ragoons to the fresh sushi bar. Yes, we know the service isn’t always stellar, especially on half-off sushi Tuesdays, but
delivery time is top notch. We love the menu variety, including Chinese, Japanese and Southeast Asian, and XO gets extra points for offering brown rice. The downtown eatery also has a full bar (try the Lychee Martini) so you can order a drink while waiting to be seated. The dining room is pleasant, though we prefer the al fresco seating during warmweather months. must try: Walnut Shrimp — fried shrimp and walnuts in a creamy sauce.
We can always rely on XO to satisfy our cravings for everything from Won Ton Soup (with fresh veggies) and Crab Ragoons to the fresh sushi bar.
“Gracious service, elegant surroundings and great Korean fare.” ASIAN PALACE 825 28th St. SW
Chef Kyle Liu puts the finishing touches on a sushi roll.
PhotoGraPhy by michael buck
“This little hole in the wall serves the best pho and classic Chinese in town.”
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SHIRAZ GRILLE MIDDLE EASTERN/ MEDITERRANEAN 2739 Breton Road SE shirazgrille.com
Other favorites: OSTA’S LEBANESE CUISINE 2228 Wealthy St. SE ostaslebanese.com “Chef John Aouad and his wife run a nice family operation. The food is authentic and tasty. Friendly place, too!” MARIE CATRIB’S 1001 Lake Drive SE mariecatribs.com
A Persian jewel
“Truly in a category of its own. Creative fare with something for every foodie, from vegans to carnivores. Love the atmosphere. Marie’s Marketplace has amazing take-out.”
PhotoGraPhy by Johnny Quirin
PhotoGraPhy by michael buck
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e can find great food at other Middle Eastern restaurants in Grand Rapids — and we’re thrilled to see more open each year — but Shiraz Grille just seems to be a notch above. This Persian jewel continues to impress, with friendly service, cozy ambience and delicious fare seasoned to perfection. There’s a fire-grilled kabob to suit everyone’s taste, from the expected chicken and beef to the more unusual, including Cornish hen, rack of lamb and salmon. Owner Ali Ghebleh has made it his mission to introduce Persian cuisine to West Michigan and he’s done it with his authentic soups and stews — especially when paired with the fluffy basmati rice spiked with saffron. The staff is helpful and eager to explain each dish and ingredient. There’s also a full bar and a nice wine list that pairs well with the food. Did we mention Ali’s Persian ice cream? Dreamy stuff. If you want entertainment while dining, go on a Thursday to catch the belly dancing. must try: Kashk Bademjon, an appetizer of roasted eggplant cooked with sautéed onions, garlic and mint, mixed with whey and topped with caramelized onions.
LE KABOB 4022 Alpine Ave. NE 2923 28th St. SE lekabob.com “The pocket bread is addictive and the garlic spread is intoxicating. The lamb soup is delicious and a perfect precursor to a beef kabob entrée that rivals the best beef in town.”
Chef and owner Ali Ghebleh grills kabobs over an open flame. Below, Lamb Shank is a specialty at Shiraz Grille.
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EL GRANJERO MEXICAN GRILL MEXICAN/LATIN AMERICAN/ CARIBBEAN
Mercedes Lopez strives to offer something for all tastes, from her Mexico City style Alambre Especial … to Tex-Mex favorites — even some vegetarian options.
950 Bridge St. NW elgranjerogr.com
Other favorites:
“Nobody makes it like Maggie. The barbacoa wrapped in those freshly made corn tortillas with just the right smattering of pico is to die for.” EL ARRIERO 2948 28th St. SE “Everything you want when you’re in the mood for Mexican — crispy tortilla chips, spicy salsa, generously sized margaritas and temping platters of burritos, enchiladas and quesadillas.” BELTLINE BAR 16 28th St. SE beltlinebar.com “It’s probably the first place many Grand Rapidians actually tasted Mexican fare years ago. With its margaritas and longtime wait staff, it just kind of gets under your skin and stays there.”
Mexican fare hits the spot
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ercedes Lopez knows how to indulge our hankering for South of the Border cuisine. Her El Granjero restaurant may not be the fanciest in the city, and alas, she doesn’t serve alcohol so we must forgo the margarita. But her enchiladas are authentic, her salsa has zing, and Lopez serves an amazing grilled cactus. Service at the small, family-owned, west-side eatery is always friendly, and Lopez strives to offer something for all tastes, from her Mexico City style Alambre Especial (steak and bacon combined with bell peppers, onions, and melted cheese) to Tex-Mex favorites — even some vegetarian options. Must try: El Molcajete platter: marinated grilled steak or shrimp, chicken breast, grilled cactus, green onion, chorizo and grilled white cheese served with rice, bean soup and avocado. (Be prepared to share or plan to take some home.)
El Granjero’s Bistec Ranchero features tender steak cooked in a hot ranchero sauce. Above, server Clavelia takes an order for Stephanie Dunker and Daniela Garcia.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BUCK
MAGGIE’S KITCHEN 36 Bridge St. NW Facebook
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By Jeremy Johnson
From small plates to elevated appetizers, tavern fare has come a long way.
There’s an app for that
Photography by Johnny Quirin
Photography by Michael Buck
O
nce upon a time, not so long ago, deep-fried mushrooms and mozzarella sticks were considered haute cuisine at your local pub. No more, thankfully! Patrons’ tastes in adult beverages — from microbrews to cocktails made with locally harvested ingredients — have become more sophisticated and they’ve come to expect food to match the drink. Since I’m always seeking out new foodie adventures, I’m no stranger to the local Grand Rapids bar scene. Often, it’s the menu that draws me to an establishment as much as what they have on tap. I am happy to report we have no shortage of thoughtful, upscale offerings! From reconceptualized favorites to “weird” and wonderful munchies, Grand Rapids positively sizzles with culinary imagination. My latest passion is pizza at The Mitten Brewing Co. (527 Leonard St. NW), where the dough is addictive. To complement its baseball-themed beers, like the hophead’s delight Eighty-Four Double IPA, the Sweet and Spicy Pie is gluten-free with jalapenos, onions and Everidae Sweet Habanero Sauce. Whoa! Definitely not for sensitive palates, but if you’re hankering for something less assertive, try Da Meat Hook or Thai Cobb. Now that you’ve got the pizza itch, head toward Eastown for some Aloha Goat at Harmony Brewing Co. (1551 Lake Drive SE) or the Curried Lamb Flatbread at Trillium Haven (1429 Lake Drive SE). Graydon’s Crossing (1223 Plainfield Ave. NE), with 46 beers on draught, is one of our regular haunts. The Curry Chili-Bacon Poppers strike a balance between crisp, hot jalapeno and meat candy that may have you and your dining companions fighting for the last bite. The made-to-order Arcadia Beer Cheese Dip is worth every penny. You can really taste the beer in the blend of three cheeses. And the onion rings are the best in Grand Rapids. Gigantic loops of onion are heavily breaded in spiced beer batter and deep fried until crunchy, yet somehow not greasy. In the mood for fries? Your first stop should be HopCat (25 Ionia Ave. SW) for
The house blend of seasonings may be secret, but you won’t care after the first (and second and third) bite of crispy, beer-battered frites. the famous and aptly named Crack Fries. The house blend of seasonings may be secret, but you won’t care after the first bite of crispy, beer-battered frites. Just across the way, sister restaurant Stella’s (53 Commerce Ave.) offers its version: Chronic Fries. Although less salty, they’re just as addictive, with a mysterious spicy coating. Word on the street? Frank’s Red Hot sauce might be involved. (While you’re there, be sure to try the bacon cheddar Stuffed Tots smothered in jalapenoblue cheese.) Lastly, no french fry lover can pass up the Pork Fat Fries at Reserve (201 Monroe Ave. NW). Thick cut and lightly seasoned, these potato slabs beg to be dipped in the accompanying garlic mayo. Personally, I’d wash them down with a glass of One Time Spaceman. Other favorite stops include Grand Rapids Brewing Co. (1 Ionia Ave. SW), featuring
an eclectic, locally sourced slate of menu options. Vegetarians might want to try the “New” Buffalo Cauliflower in lieu of chicken wings, but I’m preferential to the Pork Belly Lollipops. If you’re at Brewery Vivant (925 Cherry St. SE) for a frosty glass of Big Red Coq, be sure to fill up on Duck Confit Nachos, drizzled in brie cream and infused with a lively citrus bite. A side of Bacon Pesto Potato Salad at The Winchester (648 Wealthy St. SE) really hits the spot, especially with a pint of Odd Sides Citra Pale. If you’re craving Thai flavors, try the Sticky Chicken at Rockwell-Republic (45 S. Division Ave.) or Sautéed Calamari at SpeakEZ Lounge (600 Monroe Ave. NW). I’m curious to explore more venues to see how other chefs transform typical bar food into something unique. Connect with Jeremy at hefedshefed. com.
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Local vegan patronage and menu offerings are gaining ground and reflect national trends.
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Squash Bisque, along with Tempeh “Crab” Cakes and a Chilled Cucumber Melon Shooter, at SpeakEZ Lounge
BY ALEXANDRA FLUEGEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHNNY QUIRIN
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HEN RYAN CAPPELLETTI and his wife moved to Grand Rapids seven years ago, they quickly discovered something important was missing from their new home: places to eat. There was no shortage of quality dining destinations, but finding restaurants offering vegan fare was another story. They were transplants from upstate New York, where Cappelletti said there was “a lot of crazy vegan stuff.” In Grand Rapids, he found himself having to master the art of menu manipulation, piecing together ingredients to create dishes he could enjoy. Before long, Cappelletti was using his knowledge as a vegan chef to assist local restaurant owners in creating menu options for local herbivores. He wasn’t always met with open arms. Brick Road Pizza owners Cindy and Jody Talbert said they were warned about Cappelletti’s vegan ideas before they opened their Wealthy Street eatery. When the restaurant opened in 2008, the Talberts included a handful of vegan options on the menu. Today, Cindy said, vegan selections account for nearly half
of their business. In the past five years, Grand Rapids has seen a major increase in the amount of restaurants offering vegan fare — so much so that Cappelletti remarked, “It’s crazy to think that Grand Rapids has such a large vegan outlet, but it does.” The increase in local vegan patronage reflects national trends suggesting that not only are more people adopting plant-based diets and demanding more options from local establishments, but also that restaurants are beginning to view vegan cooking as a new way of creating fresh dishes and as a means of attracting a new breed of foodies. Thanks to high-profile herbivores such as Natalie Portman, Ellen DeGeneres and even former president Bill Clinton, veganism is becoming a more accepted practice; however, due to oft-cited connections to social justice and animal rights issues, there can still be certain connotations associated with the “vegan” label. “There are a lot of stereotypes. A vegan diet does deprive you of the standard American diet. Thus, more passionate people gravitate toward it,” said former reporter Emily Richett, who adopted a plant-based diet three years ago.
Members of Vegan Grand Rapids gathered for a vegan food and beer pairing at SpeakEZ Lounge last December. Above, server Danielle Slot serves Tempeh “Crab” Cakes to Laura McGuire and others. In the kitchen, Chef Scott Petersen prepares Autumn Wellington, puff pastry filled with bulgur wheat, quinoa, walnuts and mushrooms topped with a burgundy wine vegetable demi glace. March 2013 / GrmaG.com 63
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Adrienne Wallace shares her recipes and tips on vegetarian food blog vegbonvivant.wordpress.com
Jon Dunn, one of the creators of local website and blog VeganGR.com, echoed Richett’s sentiment. “If you say the word ‘vegan,’ a lot of people conjure up images of the all-black Converse-wearing, mink-releasing PETA activists, but vegans come in all shapes and sizes.” Dunn created the online vegan dining guide two years ago with girlfriend Kolene Allen after the couple made the switch to veganism after years of not eating meat. “We were new vegans and were looking for a guide of where to eat, and there really wasn’t one. It was a great way to force ourselves to go out and eat and explore, and at the same time put something together that can help other people,” Allen said. There was no shortage of places to check out, given the number of restaurants beginning to incorporate vegan and vegetarian options into their menus. “Cooking a vegan meal is as creative and can be as interesting as making something involving meat,” Dunn said. Dunn and Allen point to Marie Catrib’s and Stella’s Lounge as early examples of eateries that created dishes that were not only vegan-friendly but so delicious that even fans of red meat were inclined to give them a try. Many of the city’s most lauded establishments, including San Chez, Grove and The Green Well, offer vegan fare. For some chefs and owners, incorporating vegan
options into their menus is just good business. The newly opened Two Beards Deli carries a variety of vegan-friendly sandwiches; SpeakEZ Lounge recently launched an allvegan menu available upon request. “There’s this huge shift in the way Grand Rapids is starting to think about food,” said Margaux Drake, a raw food expert and “healthy eats” specialist on WOTV 4 Women, a new station “for women by women.” “People are having the opportunity to taste plantbased cuisine and see that it can be satiating and taste good,” Drake said. This is the vision Cappelletti had when, in 2011, he helped found Bartertown Diner, one of the city’s first allvegan establishments. “I’m vegan but I’m actually really into food,” he said. In fact, he said, he doesn’t want Bartertown to be known as vegan-only. “It’s just another style of cooking, another way of going out to eat.” Matthew Russell, whose Wednesday Evening Cookies company specializes in vegan confections, agreed. “At first I used to play up the vegan angle because people saw it as a niche market or a health food sort of thing. Now I don’t really make a point to label the things I make anything other than what they are: cookies or cupcakes or pecan pie or whatever. They speak for themselves, and people like to eat them.” Drake pointed out that social
Ryan Cappelletti and Matthew Russell at Bartertown Diner. Above, some of Russell’s pastries sold at neighboring Bread Square Bakery.
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Enjoying a plant-based meal at Rockwell-Republic are Laura Vaughn, Emily Verwys, Emily Richett and Marjorie Behm.
media also has played a role in introducing vegan fare to the masses. “People are constantly posting pictures of what they’re making, and the photos look appetizing.” Adrienne Wallace, creator of vegan and vegetarian food blog Veggie Bon Vivant describes herself as “veganish” and uses her platform at vegbonvivant.wordpress. com to share recipes and tips. She describes the blog as a record of “some successes and some failures. Most of them delicious.” Wallace, who adopted a vegetarian diet while in college, said that for those who choose to adopt a plant-based diet, no matter what the reason, it’s a lifelong process. “It’s a lot of wondering in terms of how you function in the everyday world,” she said. Though not afraid to ask questions about ingredients on the menu, she admits that dining out can be intimidating for vegetarians. “A lot of times people can be afraid to lobby for themselves, but it’s all about educating yourself. When you’re making a lifestyle change of any sort, you need to become educated, and that takes time.” Wallace said she’s begun to examine other aspects of her life, as well — the products she uses and clothes she buys, for example — and said that Grand Rapids is beginning to be home to more than just veganfriendly restaurants. Angela Topp opened Tree Huggers, an “earth-friendly retail and grocery,” in Holland in 2010 and added a Grand Rapids location, 947 Wealthy St. SE, in August 2011. It’s the first package-free grocery in Grand Rapids and gives those looking for vegan ingredients a one-stop shop for their cooking needs. Topp said the initial catalyst for opening her store was to create a retail store that was environmentally friendly, and after being inspired by the folks at Bartertown, she
decided she wanted to provide a vegan-friendly grocery option, as well. “I wanted a place where vegans and vegetarians could feel safe and buy from someone that has gone the same path and found the same frustrations,” said Topp. Tree Huggers has never carried animal products, and Topp said she and her staff aim to create an environment where people can learn about the foods they’re consuming. “I know the frustration of trying to live a certain lifestyle and having information come at you from all different angles,” she said. Just down the street from Topp’s Wealthy Street location is another businesswoman incorporating veganfriendly options into services. Stephanie Strowbridge, owner of Moxie Beauty & Hair Parlor, a full-service salon and hub for vintage enthusiasts, said it wasn’t her intention to cater to a vegan lifestyle, but she wanted to make the option available for those who desired it. “There are really great companies who not only put out safe products but they’re using wind energy, doing everything to reduce their footprint, and for me that’s important because one thing affects the other,” she said. “What we do in our lives will affect someone else’s life in the future and our planet, for sure.” Strowbridge and her husband moved to Grand Rapids a little over four years ago, and she said she’s thrilled with the progress the city has made in terms of vegan options. “There really is this great sense of community and support, which is important when you do have eating habits or a lifestyle that is outside the ‘norm.’” GR
Visit Grand Rapids' online vegan dining guide at vegangr.com
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food & drink restaurants / PeoPLe / reviews
dining listings
a GUIDE TO rESTaUraNTS IN GraND raPIDS aND BEYOND
The recommendations and reviews in the listings are the opinions of the editors. Restaurants are included by virtue of overall quality. We have created symbols to area restaurant amenities, which are defined in a legend at the end of this listing.
neW aMerICan Upscale, contemporary cooking including ethnic twists on familiar standbys. 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 $-$$ Bistro Bella Vita — Big-city casual; fresh French and Italian cuisine, locally sourced and prepared over a wood fire. Mammoth martini bar, nice wine selection. 44 Grandville Ave SW, 222-4600. bistrobellavita.com. L, D $ Bistro chloe Élan — Diverse menu features American cuisine with French, Asian and southwestern influences, as well as soups, salads, burgers and sandwiches. Open daily, Sat dinner only; Sunday brunch and dinner. 445 Ada Dr, Ada, 432-3345. chloeelan.com. L, D $-$$ 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 B.O.B.’s microbrews. Lakeside views, outdoor patio with fireplace, fullservice bar. 5180 Northland Dr NE, 363-5900. thegilmorecollection.com/bluewater.php. L, D $-$$ Brewery Vivant — House-made beer and food in the style of traditional French and Belgian country dishes. The East Hills pub/ brewery is housed in a renovated funeral chapel. Most dishes are made with ingredients sourced from local farmers and purveyors. Open daily. 925 Cherry St SE, 719-1604. brew eryvivant.com. L, D $-$$ _ 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 in-
spired menu executed with pizzazz in attractive surroundings, complete with fireplace, waterfalls and koi pond. 9818 Cherry Valley Ave SE, Caledonia, 588-3223. mycobble stone.com. B (weekends), L, D $
cygnus 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 $$
The heritage — GRCC culinary arts students prepare gourmet dishes from steaks to vegan fare at a reasonable cost. Menu changes weekly. Wine available with dinner. Open Tue-Fri during academic year. Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St NE, 234-3700. grcc.edu/heritage. L, D $-$$ Marco 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, 9429100. marcobistro.com. L, D $-$$ Olives — Seasonally inspired menu of creative fare and comfort foods featuring local produce and meats. Full bar. Alfresco balcony. Closed Sun. 2162 Wealthy St SE, 451-8611. eatatolives.com. L, D ¢-$
Electric cheetah — Eclectic menu changes weekly with an emphasis on locally grown fare and creative combinations in urban setting. Unique Sunday brunch. 1015 Wealthy St SE, 451-4779. electriccheetah.com. L, D ¢-$
One Trick Pony Grill & Taproom — Eclectic menu with samplings of vegetarian, Mexican and European cuisines. Dine alfresco on street-front patio. Occasional live music. Closed Sun. 136 E Fulton St, 235-7669. onetri ck.biz. L, D ¢-$
Gilly’s at The B.O.B. — Hand-crafted microbrews are paired with seasonal, cutting-edge fare. Tavern small plates, oysters, seafood and more. 20 Monroe Ave NW, 356-2000. thebob. com. L (Sat), D $-$$
Freserve — Wine bar with extensive bythe-glass selections and culinary options to match. Opens at 4, closed Sun. 201 Monroe Ave NW, 855-9463. reservegr.com. D $-$$
Graydon’s crossing — English pub serves Indian food with a British influence. Full bar features impressive array of specialty beers. 1223 Plainfield Ave NE, 726-8260. graydons crossing.com. L, D $ Green Well Gastro Pub — Daily menu features comfort fare with a flare, emphasizing local ingredients. Full bar; more than 20 rotating draught beers, many from area microbreweries. Open daily. 924 Cherry St SE, 8083566. thegreenwell.com. L, D $-$$ 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 $-$$ ✯Grove — Earth-to-table concept focuses on three- and four-course meals with a tilt toward sustainable seafood. Closed Mon. 919 Cherry St SE, 454-1000. groverestaurant.com. D $$
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 5513563. republicgrandrapids.com. L, D $-$$ rose’s — Dockside dining on EGR’s Reeds Lake with a varied menu and a three-season porch. 550 Lakeside Dr SE, 458-1122. Takeout at Rose’s Express, 2224 Wealthy St SE, 4584646. thegilmorecollection.com/roses.php. B (weekends), L, D $ San chez, a Tapas Bistro — Spanish fare focusing on tapas-style appetizers, side dishes and entrées. Extensive wine and beer list includes Spanish varieties and sherry. 38 W Fulton St, 774-8272. sanchezbistro.com. L, D $-$$ Schnitz ada Grill — Deli by day, casual fine dining by night. 97 Ada Dr, Ada, 682-4660. schnitzdeli.com. L, D ¢-$$ Six.One.Six
—
Contemporary
American
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fare. JW Marriott, 235 Louis St NW, 242-1500. ilovethejw.com. B, L, D $-$$
SpeakEZ Lounge — Casual and friendly pub setting with eclectic menu that includes vegan and gluten-free options. Creative starters, soups, salads, entrees (available after 4). Open daily. 600 Monroe Ave NW, 458-3125. speakEZlounge.com. L, D $ Tavern On The Square — Tapas-style fare plus house specialties. Patio seating. 100 Ionia Ave SW, 456-7673. tavernonthesq.com. L, D ¢-$ FTrillium haven — Owned by Jenison farmers Anja Mast and Michael Vanderbrug, this Eastown eatery features fresh from the farm fare, including organic veggies and humanely raised meats. Beer and wine. Closed Mon. Sat and Sun brunch. 1429 Lake Dr SE. trillium havenrestaurant.com. B, L, D $-$$
Winchester — Locally sourced menu aims to reinvent bar food in reclaimed centuryold space with shuffleboard court-patio. 648 Wealthy St SE, 451-4969. winchestergr.com. L, D ¢-$
ClassIC aMerICan Restaurants and diners serving traditional dishes popular across the country.
PHotoGraPHY courtesY FounDers BrewinG co.
acorn Grille at Thousand Oaks — Blend of traditional and innovative cuisine, artfully presented in handsome dining room with golf course views. Open daily in season. 4100 Thousand Oaks Dr, 447-7750. thousandoaks golf.com. L, D $$
Top brew returns The granddaddy of Grand Rapids beers is back this month. Founders Brewing Co.’s Kentucky Breakfast Stout has brought beer lovers from across the country to Grand Rapids since it was named one of the top 10 beers of all time by BeerAdvocate. But with that fame, last year Founders ran out of the beer and had to issue an apology. “As great as that was to look out the window and see a long line, it created a whole host of issues and a lot of headaches,” co-founder Dave Engbers said. This year, the brewery will follow a ticketing system similar to last October’s Bolt Cutter release, allowing a certain number of sales March 27-30. Engbers said there will be significantly more Kentucky Breakfast Stout available this year, but was unsure of the exact amount because of barrels’ effect on the beer. The taproom release will culminate with a party March 30 before it becomes available in limited quantities to the brewery’s distribution footprint April 1. — PAT EVANS
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, 4543098; 777 54th St SW, 532-5662; 34 Squires St, Rockford, 866-4306. arniesrestaurants. com. B, L, D $
thegilmorecollection.com/bostwick.php. L (weekends), D $-$$
Monroe Ave NW, 454-3580. thebullsheadtav ern.com. L, D $
Boulder creek restaurant — Boulder Creek Golf Club restaurant serves a varied menu with golf-course views from inside or on the deck. 5750 Brewer Ave NE, Belmont, (616) 363-1330, ext 2. bouldercreekgolfclub.com. L, D ¢-$
cascade roadhouse — Relaxed atmosphere with a diverse menu of traditional fare. Closed Sun. 6817 Cascade Rd SE (at Old 28th St), 949-1540. L, D $-$$
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. mainstreet mediagroup.com. L, D $-$$
Brandywine — Café atmosphere, with extensive breakfasts, lunches with vegetarian choices, dinner selections from Mexican to beef Wellington. 1345 Lake Dr SE, 774-8641; 2844 East Beltline Ave NE, 363-1723. B, L, D ¢-$
Bonefish Grill — Casual, white-linen dining. Seafood selections augmented by innovative sauces and toppings; also chicken, beef and pasta dishes. 1100 East Paris Ave SE, 9497861. bonefishgrill.com. D $-$$
Brann’s Sizzling Steaks and Sports Grille — Famous sizzler steaks with grill items and salads, baskets, Mexican entrées and bar munchies. See website for list of eight locations in Greater Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon, Portage and Caledonia. branns.com. L, D $
Bostwick Lake Inn — Gilmore restaurant offers steaks, pork, fish, chicken, mac and cheese, pizzas, sandwiches, soups and salads. Open daily for dinner, lunch on weekends. 8521 Belding Road, Rockford, 874-7290.
Bull’s head Tavern — A dozen appetizers from brie to pot stickers. Dinners include warm bread and chef-selected sides. 188
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 $-$$ The chop house — In the tradition of the best American chophouses with aged prime beef and more. Downstairs is La Dolce Vita dessert and cigar bar. Closed Sun. 190 Monroe Ave NW, 451-6184. thechophouserestaurant.com. D $$ 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 $-$$ Fall creek — Appetizers, gourmet pizzas and March 2013 / GrmaG.com 67
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food & drink Restaurants / PEOPLE / reviews
creative entrées. Closed Sun-Mon. 201 Jefferson St, Hastings, (269) 945-0100. fallcreek dining.com. L, D ¢-$
Bottomless salad bowl and potato bar. 1071 32nd St (M-40), Allegan, (269) 686-9192. grill house.net. L (downstairs), D $-$$
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 $
Honey Creek Inn — Daily specials are the highlight, mixed with traditional fare. Closed Sun. 8025 Cannonsburg Rd, Cannonsburg, 874-7849. honeycreekinn.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, 897-8523. thegilmore collection.com/ $-$$ flatriver.php. L, D Fleetwood Diner — Extensive diner-style menu with Greek influences. Open 6:30 am for breakfast (8 am-4 pm Sun), serving dinner until 8 pm Mon-Thu, 9 pm Fri-Sat. Outdoor patio. 2222 44th St SE, 281-2300. B, L, D ¢-$ Forest Hills Inn — A casual neighborhood favorite with a broad menu, excellent pizza. Serves alcohol. Closed Sun. 4609 Cascade Rd SE, 949-4771. foresthillsinn.com. B, L, D $ Fry Daddy’s Fresh Fish — Fried fish, wingdings, walleye, orange roughy, catfish, blue gill, perch, smelt and shrimp, by the pound or in baskets with fries. Also to go. Closed Mon. Trinity Plaza, 1720 44th St SE, Kentwood, 455FISH. L, D ¢-$
Hudsonville Grille — Varied menu includes Mexican favorites and breakfast. Full bar. Closed Sun. 4676 32nd Ave, Hudsonville, 662-9670. hudsonvillegrille.com. B, L, D ¢-$ Judson’s At The B.O.B. — Award-winning steak house offers steaks, seafood and chops. Casual atmosphere and award-winning wine list. Closed Sun. 20 Monroe Ave NW, 356$$ 2000. thebob.com. D Kitchen 67:Brann’s Café — Fast-casual restaurant with high-tech design serving Brann’s sizzling steaks and burgers plus bagels, pressed sandwiches, salads and more. Michigan wines and craft beers. Breakfast includes baked goods, oatmeal and smoothies. 1977 East Beltline Ave. NE. kitchen67.com ¢ and Facebook. B, L, D The Landing — Nautical décor with windows overlooking the Grand River. Menu features American favorites and German specials. 270 Ann St NW (Radisson Riverfront Hotel at US 131), 363-7748. radisson.com/ $ hotels/mi grapno/dinings. B, 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 $
FLeo’s — Combines fine dining (fresh seafood is the specialty) and casual comfort. Street level in parking ramp at Ottawa and Louis. Closed Sun. 60 Ottawa Ave NW, 4546700. leosrestaurant.com. L, D $-$$
Great Lakes Shipping Co. — Everything from beef, seafood and beyond in comfortable dockside motif. Patio open in summer. No lunch, but open Sun afternoons. 2455 Burton St SE, 949-9440. greatlakesshippingcompany. com. D $-$$
Louis Benton Steakhouse — Premium Buckhead beef, wet- and dry-aged steaks and more. Closed Sun. Free valet parking at Ionia entrance. 77 Monroe Center Ave NW, 4547455. louisbenton.com. L, D $-$$
Green Restaurant — Sandwiches, salads, burgers and seafood. Menu includes ostrich and elk burgers. 2289 East Beltline Ave NE, 447-8294. L, D $ Grille 29 — Menu includes specialty panini and a variety of entrées. Full-service bar. Open daily for breakfast and dinner. Holiday Inn Select, 3063 Lake Eastbrook SE, 285-7600. holi dayinn.com. B, D $ Grille At Watermark — Innovative menu in relaxing atmosphere overlooking golf course. Mon-Sat; Sun brunch 10 am-2 pm. 5500 Cascade Rd SE, 949-0570. watermarkcc.com. L, D $-$$ Grill House & Rock Bottom Bar — Grill-yourown steakhouse with grillmasters on call.
Marn E. Walkers — Everything from nachos to chicken Marsala, pizzas, burgers, steaks. Weekend breakfast buffet, pizza and pasta lunch buffet Mon-Fri. Open daily; Sun for breakfast only. 4322 Remembrance Rd, Walker, 453-3740. marnewalkers.com. B (Sat, Sun), 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. Seasonal hours; closed Sun. 1 W Campus Dr, Allendale, 895-1000. gvsu.edu/meadows/. L, D $-$$ Middle Villa Inn — Weekly prime rib specials, salad bar, casual atmosphere, occasional live bands. Banquet rooms available. Closed Mon
and Wed. 4611 N Middleville Rd, Middleville, (269) 795-3640. middle-villa-inn.com. L, D $
Pal’s Diner — A real diner offering breakfast, lunch and dinner options all day. Closed Sun. 6503 28th St SE, 942-7257. palsdiner.com. B, L, D ¢ Pearl Street Grill — Bright, airy restaurant in downtown Holiday Inn. Open daily. 310 Pearl St NW, 235-7611. B, L, D $ Radix Tavern — Southern-style fusion food featuring local, seasonal and sustainable products. Slow-cooked barbecue, pulled pork, cornbread, stews, hearty vegetarian options. 1420 Lake Dr SE (Eastown), 458-5583. radixtavern.com. D ¢-$ Rainbow Grill — Breakfasts, homemade soup, chili, steak sandwiches, daily lunch specials, chicken, fish and other dinner staples. Closed Sun. 4225 32nd Ave, Hudsonville, 896-0033; 4158 Chicago Dr SW, Grandville, 534-8645. rainbowgrillmichigan.com. B, L, D ¢-$ Ramona’s Table — EGR deli with madefrom-scratch soups, sandwiches, salads, baked items and meals. Takeout and catering. Closed Sun. 2232 Wealthy St SE, 459-8500. ramonastable.com. B, L, D ¢-$ Red Jet Café — Gilmore Collection restaurant in the former Creston Heights library. Coffee bar and menu ranging from omelets to specialty pizzas. Full bar; opens 8 am. 1431 Plainfield Ave NE, 719-5500. thegilmorecollection. com/redjet.php. B, L, D (Mon-Sat) ¢-$ Reds On The River — Located on the Rogue River, Reds combines casual sophistication with Tuscan sensibilities. Closed Sun. 2 E Bridge St, Rockford, 863-8181. reds-live.com. L, D $-$$ Rio Grand Steak House & Saloon — Texasstyle barbecue ribs, steaks and more. 5501 Northland Dr NE, 364-6266; 1820 44th St SW, 534-0704. riograndsteakhouse.com. L, D $-$$ Rush Creek Bistro — Diverse menu in clublike surroundings. Weeknight and happy hour specials. Sunnybrook Country Club, 624 Port Sheldon Rd, Grandville, 457-1100. sunnybrookcc.com. L, D $ Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse — The classic American steakhouse now in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel’s fully renovated former 1913 Room. 187 Monroe Ave NW, 774-2000. amwaygrand.com. L, D $$ Saburba — Specializes in take-out. Everchanging, diverse menu of entrees, sandwiches, soups, baked goods and coffee. Doughnuts served Sat. mornings. Catering service. Closed Sun. 7277 Thornapple River Dr., Ada, 6825290. saburba.com and Facebook. B, L, D ¢-$
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Grand Rapids | 616.776.6426 | Inside the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel | ruthschris.com
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food & drink restaurants / PeoPLe / reviews
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Sam’s Joint — Award-winning ribs and unique décor of antiques and memorabilia. Extensive menu includes Mexican selections; full bar. Half a dozen locations, plus a couple of banquet facilities. sams-joint.com. 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 $-$$ Sundance Grill — Breakfast-and-lunch spot also offers dinner menu in the California/ Southwestern tradition with a margarita bar. 5755 28th St SE (Esplanade Plaza), 9565644; 40 Pearl St NW (breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Tue-Sat), 776-1616. 4gr8food. com. B, L, D $ Swan Inn restaurant — Home-cooked meals such as pot roast, Salisbury steak and meatloaf. Huge breakfasts. Cygnet Lounge offers cocktails and nibbles, dinner menu. 5182 Alpine Ave NW, 784-1245. swaninnmotel. com. B, L, D ¢-$
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Terrace Grille at Bay Pointe Inn — Casual gourmet dining, martini bar and lakeside terrace. Seasonally changing menu emphasizes regional fare. Sunday brunch. 11456 Marsh Rd, Shelbyville, (269) 672-5202. bay pointe inn.com. L, D $-$$ 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. tillmansrestaur ant.com. L, D $-$$ Timbers Inn — Menu ranges from appetizers to wild game offerings and meat ’n’ potatoes fare in lodge-like surroundings. Sunday omelet bar til 2 pm. 6555 Belding Rd NE, 8745553. timbersinn.net. L, D ¢-$ Twisted rooster — Classic dishes with unexpected twists. Full bar featuring 18 beers on tap, local beers/wines. 1600 East Beltline Ave NE, 301-8171. twisted-rooster.com. L, D ¢-$$ Walker roadhouse — Diverse menu with interesting twists on classic fare in a casual but handsome setting. Lunch served weekdays, dinner Mon-Sat; closed Sun. 3272 Remembrance Rd NW, 453-3740. thewalkerroadhou se.com. L, D $
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Bartertown Diner — Vegetarian/vegan/raw offerings in worker-owned and -operated diner. Promotes use of fresh, local ingredients. Open daily (hours change seasonally, check website). 6 Jefferson Ave SE, 233-3219. bartertowngr.com. L, D $
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Gaia Café — Totally vegetarian fare served in a cozy atmosphere. Closed Mon. No alcohol. 209 Diamond Ave SE, 454-6233. Facebook. ¢ B, L
Pubs & Taverns
B.O.B.’s Brewery At The B.O.B. — Microbrews ranging from unique to standard with a variety of small plates that go beyond standard pub fare. Open Thu (Mug Club)-Sat. 20 Monroe Ave NW, 356-2000. thebob.com/bobs brewery. D ¢-$
84th Street Pub and Grille — American fare from pizzas to steaks in laidback setting, fullservice bar. 8282 Pfeiffer Farms Dr, Byron Center, 583-1650. 84thstpub.com. L, D ¢-$
Bud & Stanley’s — Extensive menu includes Mexican specialties, pasta, burgers and more. Takeout available. 1701 4 Mile Rd NE, 361¢-$ 9782. budandstanleys.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. barlouieamerica.com. L, D $-$$ Bobarino’s At The B.O.B. — Grill on 2nd floor of The B.O.B. offers everything from woodfired pizza to upscale entrées. Full-service bar with The B.O.B.’s microbrews on tap. Live entertainment in Cisco’s Island Lounge. 20 Monroe Ave NW, 356-2000. thegilmore collection. com/bobarinos.php. L, D $
Cascade Sports Grill — Varied menu and sizable bar with 10 brew taps and extensive martini menu. Cascade Centre, 6240 28th St SE, 974-3338. Facebook. 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 Cheero’s Sports & Sushi Grill — Japanese fare along with pizza, burger and microbrews. Outdoor patio next to Michigan Athletic Club. Open daily. 2510 Burton St SE, 608-3062.
cheerosgrill.com. L, D
¢-$
Cheers — Popular neighborhood spot with large menu offering something for everyone in a log-cabin environment. 3994 Plainfield Ave NE, 363-1188. B, L, D ¢ Corner Bar — Rockford’s spot famous for brews and chili dogs, but with extensive menu. 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, 454-9088. cottagebar.biz. L, D ¢ Crooked Goose — Meritage Hospitality Group restaurant offers full menu of “old-school tavern favorites.” Open daily. 355 Wilson Ave NW, Walker. crookedgoose.com. L, D ¢-$ Derby Station — Sophisticated pub grub with full bar featuring an array of specialty beers. 2237 Wealthy St SE, 301-3236. derby station. com. L, D $ Flanagan’s — Popular Irish pub. Imported
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food & drink Restaurants / PEOPLE / reviews
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 — 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 ¢-$ Grand Rapids Brewing Co. — Serving 10 organic brews plus hard cider, wine and spirits. Farm-to-table menu includes sharable plates, house-made sausages, soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees. Open daily. 1 Ionia Ave. SW, 459-7000. grbrewingcompany.com. L (Sat.Sun. only), D ¢-$ GP Sports — Sports bar and restaurant. Menu features create-your-own pizzas and burgers, along with salads and sandwiches. Closed Sun. Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 776-6495. $ amwaygrand.com. L, D Grand Woods Lounge — Year-round alfresco dining complete with fireplace. Eclectic menu selections mix with upscale comfort foods. Live entertainment, pool tables, spacious bar. 77 Grandville Ave SW, 451-4300. grandwoods lounge.com. L, D $-$$ Harmony Brewing Co. — Eastown’s latest addition to the craft-brewing scene offers custom brews with a full bar, wine selections and menu of wood-fired pizzas. 1551 Lake Drive SE. Facebook. L, D $ 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, burgers, Mexican food and thin-crust pizzas. Closed Sun. 1645 Leonard St NW, 453-3571. Facebook. 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. jgardellas tavern.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 ¢-$ McFadden’s Restaurant & Saloon — New York-style Irish menu includes “recreated” pub fare, contemporary and regionally inspired dishes. Transforms into nightclub late at night. Open daily. 58 Ionia Ave SW, 454$ 9105. mcfaddensgrandrapids.com. L, D
entrees, some with a Cajun flavor. Open Tue.Sun. for lunch and dinner (opens 4 p.m. Mon) 1418 Plainfield Ave NE, 451-0010. Facebook. L, D ¢-$ ➧Rockford Brewing Co. — Located alongside the White Pine Trail with an up-north atmosphere. Food menu includes dips, subs, panini, soups and more, served alongside its hand-crafted brews. Closed Mon. 12 E. Bridge St., Rockford, 951-4677. rockfordbrewing.com. ¢-$ L, D
The Score — Restaurant and sports bar with varied menu. 5301 Northland Dr NE, 3010600. thescore-restaurant.com. L, D ¢-$ Shamrock Bar & Grill — Diverse menu includes specialty burgers and wide range of entrees. 2501 Wilson Ave NW, 735-3888. Facebook. L, D ¢-$
Mill Creek Tavern — Comstock Park eatery offers appetizers, from-scratch soups, sandwiches, full dinner options. Full bar with separate dining room. 3874 West River Dr, 784¢-$ 3806. 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, 3509604. Facebook. L, D ¢-$
The Mitten Brewing Co. — Vintage baseballthemed nanobrewery pairs handcrafted beers with gourmet pizzas. 527 Leonard St NW, 608-5612. 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 ¢-$
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 FriSat. 180 Monroe Ave NW, 776-9000. mojospia nobar.com. D (Wed-Sat) ¢-$ Nick Finks — Mexican fare in historic tavern, part of The Gilmore Collection. Draft beer, wine, sangria and cocktails. Occasional live music, open mic nights. 3965 West River Dr NE, Comstock Park, 784-9886. thegilmorecol lection.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 ¢-$ Peppino’s Ristorante Pizzeria and Sports Lounge — Italian specialties, Sicilian-style 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, 456-8444. peppinospizza.com. L, D ¢-$$
Teazers Bar & Grill — Burgers and pastas, sandwiches, salads and Southwestern bites. Kids menu. Open daily. 819 Ottawa Ave NW, 459-2481. teazersbar.com. L, D ¢-$ The Viceroy — Classic hors d’oeuvres (finger sandwiches to tenderloin tips) and desserts to accompany cocktails, house-infused whiskeys, beer and wine. Kitchen open 5 pm-1 am Wed-Sat. 53 Commerce Ave SW, 744-8423. viceroygr.com. 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 and wraps in sportscentric surroundings. Outside deck, live entertainment. Open daily. 3868 West River Dr NE, Comstock Park, 784-2526, takeout 784-5011. vitalessportsbar.com. L, D ¢-$
Pub 43 — Caters to all, but is especially popular with gay crowd. Menu ranges from burgers to upscale items. Jukebox, occasional live entertainment. Open daily at 3 pm. 43 S Division Ave, 458-2205. Facebook. D ¢-$
Woody’s Press Box — Complex includes two bars, a patio and bowling. Menu offers sandwiches and shrimp, barbecue fare. Breakfast and lunch only Sun. 5656 Clyde Park Ave SW, 530-3242. spectrumlanes.com. B, L, D $
Rezervoir Lounge — Former Sazerac Lounge has full menu of appetizers, sandwiches and
Z’s — Sports-themed eatery known for its ribs. Soup-salad-sandwich lunches. Carry-
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Gerrit’s, your full service appliance store. (sales, installation, parts and service department in house)
Now 65 years serving West Michigan Let our experienced staff help you create a dream kitchen with great brands like Viking!
WINE & CUSINE TASTING SERIES Dinner paired with the perfect wine to complement your food awaits you at Jack’s Waterfront Bistro as we present to you the 2013 Wine and Cuisine Series. Chef Todd Riemersma invites you to explore a flavor filled expedition across America. The culinary itinerary includes stops in California for a true fusion experience, then off to the Southwest where the cuisine and wine reflect the native culture. Travel down the bayou of Louisiana and experience the French imprint on southern drink and cuisine, then continue up the Atlantic Coast to New England where you’ll find fishing is not just a job, but a true lifestyle. Whether you are a novice or an aficionado we’ll take the guess work out of making dinner enjoyable in a four part series held each month, February through May. TO VIEW MENUS AND SESSION AVAILABILTY CONTACT US!
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800-311-6947
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food & drink Restaurants / PEOPLE / reviews
out available. 168 Louis Campau Promenade NW, 454-3141. zsbar.com. L, D ¢-$
Italian/ European FAmore 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. 5080 Alpine Ave NW, Comstock Park. 785-5344. amoretrattoriaitali ana.com. L (not Sat), D $
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 tap, available to go. 661 Croswell SE, 233-0123. bigbobspizza.com. L, D $ 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 ¢-$ 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, 7192409. brickroadpizza.com. L, D ¢-$ Chicago 7 Pizzeria — Family-owned pizzeria offers New York and Chicago-style pies along with specialty pizzas. Also subs and calzone. Open daily. 3012 28th St SW, Grandville, 5387777. Facebook. L, D ¢-$ Euro Bistro — European bistro fare plus wood-fired pizzas. 11 am-10 pm Mon-Fri. 4-10 pm Sat, closed Sun. 6450 28th St SE, 7192017. eurobistrogr.com. L (Mon-Fri), D $-$$
lasagna, stromboli plus pizza and subs with fresh ingredients. Limited seating, takeout available (delivery offered). No alcohol. Open daily. 2103 Alpine Ave NW, 361-7307. L, D ¢-$
Fred’s Pizza And Italian Restaurant — Long-time favorite offers Italian fare, including fresh pasta and gourmet pizza. Full-service bar. Closed Sun. 3619 Plainfield Ave NE, 361-8994. fredspizza.com. L, D ¢-$ Fricano’s Pizza Restaurant — Famous for its thin-crust pizza. Also, pasta dinners with a sauce that has made its way to the retail market. Closed Sun. 5808 Alpine Ave NW, Comstock Park, 785-5800. fricanospizza.com. D ¢-$ GoodFellows Pizza — In Byron Center’s former Monelli’s Pizza location. Pizza, full Italian dinners and more. Dine-in, takeout or delivery. No alcohol. Open daily (Sun at 4 pm). 2185 84th St, 878-1100. goodfellowspizza. com. L, D $ G.R.P.D. — Grand Rapids Pizza & Delivery offers traditional, stuffed and specialty pizzas. Delivery Thu-Sat until 2:30 a.m. No alcohol. Open daily, with a handful of tables for dining in. 340 State St, 742-4773. grandrapidspizza. net. L, D ¢-$ Licari’s Sicilian Pizza Kitchen — Specialties include Sfinciuni, thick-crust Sicilian pizza and Sciacciata, stuffed pizza with a crispy crust. Also pasta, entrees, calzones and desserts made from family recipes. Open daily. 2896 Knapp St NE in Celadon New Town. 608-6912. Facebook. L, D $ Mangiamo — Historic mansion houses family-friendly Italian eatery. Italian fare plus steaks and seafood. Extensive wine list, evening entertainment. 1033 Lake Dr SE, 7420600. thegilmorecollection.com/mangiamo. php. D $-$$
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. florentinespizza.com. L, D ¢-$
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 ¢
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. florentineingrandville.com. L, D $
Monelli’s Italian Grill And Sports Bar — Southern Italian cuisine. Sports bar plus family-friendly dining room with fireplace. 5675 Byron Center Ave, Wyoming, 530-9700. monellis.com. L, D ¢-$
Flo’s Pizzeria Ristorante Sports Bar — Pizzas, sandwiches, salads, Italian entrees and even Mexican entrees. Multiple big screen TVs; take-out available. Open daily. 1259 Post Drive, Belmont, 785-1001. florentines.biz. L, D ¢-$
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 $-$$
Franco’s Pizzeria — Spaghetti, manicotti,
Pietro’s Italian Ristorante — Regional and
contemporary Italian cuisine. Tuscan wines, desserts and cappuccinos. Kids menu, meeting room and takeout available. 2780 Birchcrest Dr SE, 452-3228. rcfc.com/pietros. L, D $
Salvatore’s Italian Restaurant — Sicilian and southern Italian fare using family recipes. Separate sports bar; patio seating. Weekday lunch buffet. All menu items, beer and wine available to go. Delivery and catering. Closed Sun. 654 Stocking Ave NW, 454-4280. salvat oresgr.com. L, D ¢-$ Seasonal Grille — Hastings’ Italian-themed eatery features fresh, locally sourced, creative fare in handsome surroundings. Full bar, craft cocktails, nice wine list. Open daily. 150 W State St, Hastings, (269) 948-9222. seasonal grille.com. L, D $ Tre Cugini — Innovative Italian menu, impressive wine list, fresh daily pastas and risotto specialties. Outdoor seating in mild weather. Closed Sun. 122 Monroe Center, 235-9339. trecugini.com. L, D $-$$ 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. the ¢-$ originalvitales.com. L, D Vitale’s Of Ada — Multi-regional, upscale dishes made from scratch. Also pizza, subs and burgers. Family-friendly; microbrews to martinis in separate sports pub. 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. 59 W Washington St, Zeeland, (616) 772-5900, vitaleszeeland.com; 4676 32nd Ave, Hudsonville, 662-2244, vitaleshudson ville.com (no alcohol served); 5380 S Division Ave, Kentwood, 530-8300. vitales.us. L, D ¢-$
Asian Including Thai and Indian fare. 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 ¢-$ 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 ¢-$
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3100 29th St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512
www.whiskerspetresort.com
2855 29th St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512
www.whiskersuniversity.com
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food & drink Restaurants / PEOPLE / reviews
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. angelsthai cafe.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. bangkokviewthai food. ¢-$ com. L, D
Create your escape...
Beijing Kitchen — Hunan, Szechuan and Cantonese cuisines. Lunch specials. No alcohol. 342 State St SE, 458-8383. beijingkitch engr.com. L, D ¢-$
Create ...
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 ¢-$
Outfitting you for your next adventure.
Bombay Cuisine — Traditional Indian dishes with spices and flavors from Northern India. Full bar. Lunch buffet Mon.-Fri. and Sun. Takeout available. 1420 Lake Dr. SE, 4567055. bombaycuisinegr.com. L, D $ China Chef — Family-style restaurant with Szechuan-style entrées and Hunan choices. No alcohol. Closed Mon. 4335 Lake Michigan Dr NW, 791-4488. Facebook. L, D ¢-$
An Impression
China City — Chinese cuisine; lunch prices all day. No alcohol. Closed Mon. 5299 Eastern Ave SE, 257-7038. L, D ¢-$
SiNcE 1968 . . .
Registered Landscape Architects 4353 Three Mile Road N.E. Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525 616-363-6400 www.kappeslandscapes.com
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. chinatowngrand rapids.com. L, D ¢-$ China Yi Wang — Chinese dishes including spicy Hunan dishes. No alcohol. 1947 Eastern Ave SE, 241-3885. L, D ¢-$ East Garden Buffet — Cantonese, Hunan, Szechuan cuisine. Daily buffet. No alcohol.
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TOP WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES
A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
MARCH 6, 2013
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park 11:00 am-1:30 pm Guest speaker, Julie Aigner Clark Founder, The Baby Einstein Company
For more information about the event, contact Dana Blinder at 616-459-3222 or email danab@geminipub.com
Reserve your seats now at GRBJTWOB13.eventbrite.com
PREMIER SPONSOR
GRM_03.13_PG66.87.indd 77
PLATINUM SPONSORS Exhibit Design Consultants Michigan Business and Professional Association MSU Weekend MBA West Michigan Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Expo
2/1/13 2:16 PM
grand vine
Contributing editor A. Brian Cain is a certified wine educator.
> 2010 Joseph Drouhin Rully (Chardonnay), Burgundy, France, $27. It was quite a surprise to find one of the most charming white wines of Burgundy on the Oregon wine trail. The brilliant Chardonnay fruit purity, softened with elements of cream and lemon curd. stays on the palate all the way to the long, rich finish. There is no better wine to serve with seafood.
BEFORE YOU GO...
It’s wise to make an appointment before visiting California wineries. Be prepared to spend $10-$25 per person to taste.
California wine touring ON a rEcENT TOUr of West Coast wineries, one of my favorites was Cline Cellars. In the 1920s, Valeriano Jacuzzi (of spa fame) purchased vineyards in Contra Costa County just outside of San Francisco that had been planted in the 1880s. Back then, land was cheap and labor even cheaper. His grandson, Fred Cline, helped around the farm when there was no winery, just vineyards. After inheriting the property, Cline built a winery ideally located to take advantage of the tourist traffic headed up to Napa and Sonoma. He also purchased cheap property in the Russian River Valley, believed to be too cold to grow grapes. Today, his Contra Costa zinfandel, mourvedre and carignane vineyard — more than a century old — and his Russian River Valley pinot noir, syrah and chardonnay vineyard (40-plus years) allow him to make fabulous wines at a fraction of the price of wineries that bought land in recent decades. The 2011 Cline Contra Costa Ancient Vines Carignane, at $16 a bottle, blew me away. Other favorites in Russian River Valley/ Sonoma Country: 2010 DeLoach russian river chardonnay, $18. It embodies the minerality, fresh citrus acidity and elegance of a French Burgundy while filling the senses with a ripe lush creamy texture found only in California. Perfect with poultry and fish. 2010 Seghesio home ranch Sonoma Zinfandel, $42. This vineyard, planted in 1895, produces a wine so vivid, fresh, raw and peppery that one hardly notices how perfectly sweet oak and earth are woven into the lush, velvety impression.
2010 JcB No. 7 Sonoma collection Pinot Noir, $50. The classic black cherry nose quickly transitions to a massive mid-palate loaded with dark chocolate truffles and dried cherries. 2009 King Estate NxNW columbia Valley Syrah, $31. In Oregon and Washington, syrah’s rich velvety tannins are more pronounced than in California where ripe, fat, black fruit flavors dominate. This peppery wine has good weight on the palate. The smell of berry, cherry and vanilla stays all the way to the finish. Perfect with ham and smoked meats. 2010 Sokol Blosser Dundee hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, $53. This organic estate-bottled wine perfectly defines the rich depth of flavor one gets on a medium frame in Oregon. Classy, subtle, cigar box, tar and earth combine with prickly pearlike fruit, floral nuances and a fine soft finish. 2009 Erath Knight’s Gambit Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, $50. Though not quite as elegant as some of the Oregon pinots, this wine is certainly the biggest and most exotic of any we tasted. Spicy berry and oak come through on the nose while a chocolate-cherry-like nuance emerges on the palate, finishing bright, fresh and firm textured. Ideal with veal roast or shish kebab. 2008 Oak Knoll Oregon Unoaked chardonnay, $14. It spends years “sur lie,” which accounts for the suppleness and complexity. The wine spends its entire life in stainless or glass, which accounts for the fact that a five-year-old white is so fresh, brimming with minerals and pear fruit. Tasted blind, I could mistake it for a dry Finger Lakes Riesling. — A. BRIAN CAIN Great with seafood or poultry.
PHotoGraPHY courtesY istocKPHoto.com/triGGerPHoto
BrIaN’S TOP PIcKS: > 2011 Cline Contra Costa Ancient Vines Carignane, $16. This wine is exotic with spice, perfume and vividly raw fruit aromatics, with a subtle floral smell not unlike that of violets. This is a wine that grows on you with every sip. It is the ultimate wine with grilled meats such as lamb.
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food & drink
Friends will flock.
restaurants / PeoPLe / reviews
Custom Fireplaces Natural Stone 6038 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 698-8933. L, D
Hand-Made Brick
¢-$
Empire chinese Buffet — All-you-can-eat Chinese buffet served all day. Special seafood buffet Sat-Sun. Delivery available. 4255 Alpine Ave NW, 785-8880. empirebuffet.net. 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 ¢ 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 $ 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 chef preparations, or eat in dining room with Chinese, Japanese and Thai selections. Full bar. 1501 East Beltline Ave NE, 7191859. letseat.at/fujiyama. L, D ¢-$
616-459-8367 | BeldenBrickandSupply.com 62o Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI
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. fortunechefcaledonia.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 $
SAVE FEBRUARY 1 – APRIL 2, 2013
PHotoGraPHY courtesY istocKPHoto.com/triGGerPHoto
Golden Dragon — Chinese, Mandarin and Japanese cuisines with Japanese steakhouse. Full bar. 3629 Plainfield Ave NE, 363-1318. goldendragongr.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 ¢ Golden Wok — Knapp’s Corner eatery offers lunch and dinner options, including Hunanspiced dishes. Full bar. 1971 East Beltline Ave NE, 363-8880. goldenwokgrandrapids.com. L, D ¢-$
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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, 9542500. L, D ¢-$ hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet — PanAsian cuisine from sushi to buffet, including Chinese, Japanese, Mongolian and American
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Follow Us At Facebook or Twitter *Manfacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 2/1/13–4/2/13 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. Limitations and restrictions apply. All rebates will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. This rebate offer may not be combined with any other Hunter Douglas offer or promotion. © 2013 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas. 32718
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food & drink Restaurants / PEOPLE / reviews
Ming Ten — All-you-can-eat buffet: Japanese, Chinese, sushi bar, hibachi grill and American selections. No alcohol. 2090 Celebration Dr NE (2nd floor), (616) 365-3989. mingten restaurant.com. L, D ¢-$
dishes. No alcohol. 785 Center Dr NW (Green Ridge Shopping Center), 785-8200. letseat.at/ hibachigrillsupremebuffet. L, D ¢
Full bar, huge sake selection. Takeout, catering and banquet space. 1144 East Paris Ave SE, 575-5858. jusushi.com. L, D ¢-$
Hong Kong Express — Szechuan and Cantonese for dine-in or carry-out. All-you-caneat lunch buffet. No alcohol. 150 E Fulton St, 235-3888. B, L, D ¢-$
Lai Thai Kitchen — Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese fare. No alcohol. Closed Sun. 1621 Leonard St NE, 456-5730. Facebook, laithai kitchen.com. 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, 458-0977. hunangr.com. L, D
Mandarin — Mandarin and Szechuan cuisine; buffets at lunch, dinner and all day on weekends. Cocktails. Open daily. 2460 28th ¢-$ St SE, 530-3300. L, D
India Town — Indian fare including vegetarian and vegan in a humble atmosphere. No alcohol. Closed Tue. 3760 S Division Ave, 2431219. indiatowngrr.com. L, D ¢-$
Marado Sushi — Sushi bar offers a wide selection of Japanese fare and a few Korean specialties. No alcohol. 47 Monroe Center, 7426793. Closed Sun. L, D ¢-$
Jade Garden — Chinese cuisine with some American dishes. Children’s menu, large selection of tropical cocktails. 4514 Breton Rd ¢-$ SE, 455-8888. L, D
Maru Sushi & Grill — Japanese cuisine with a twist, from sushi to hibachi grilled items. 925 Cherry St. SE. marurestaurant.com. 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 ¢-$
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
Osaka Steakhouse — Japanese cuisine, including steak, seafood, sushi. Same owners as XO Asian Cuisine. Open daily. 4977 28th St. SE, 419-4628. Facebook. L, D $
Ju Sushi & Lounge — Sushi and sashimi selections, Japanese hibachi, tempura, soups, salads and entrées in elegant surroundings.
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, 9879307. myntfusion.com. L, D ¢-$ 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
WHERE
FASHION MEETS ART Please Join Us There’s No Place Like Home: Where Fashion Meets Art
For more than 20 years, Liz’s House has welcomed and brought comfort to women facing enormous challenges surrounding homelessness. More recently, Bridge Street Place has become a welcoming solace of permanent housing for survivors of domestic violence. This spring, we will again celebrate the work of Liz’s House and Bridge Street Place and the extraordinary courage of those taking their first steps toward a new life.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 5:30pm – 8:00pm Tickets $50
Goei Center 818 Butterworth St. SW Grand Rapids, MI 49504
To purchase tickets or for more information: Please visit our website at www.dwellingplacegr.org or contact Corrine at 616-855-0425.
There’s No Place Like Home Where Fashion Meets Art
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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. palaceofindia ¢-$ restaurant.com. L, D 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, 447-2060. pfchangs.com. L, D $ Pho Soc Trang — Vietnamese cuisine. No alcohol. 4242 S Division Ave, 531-0755. L, D ¢ Rak Thai Bistro — Thai-fusion fare with Chinese and Japanese influences. No alcohol. 5260 Northland Dr NE, 363-2222. rakthaibis tro.com. L, D ¢-$ 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 available. Closed Sun. 3321 28th St SE, 9561522. 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. shanghaiichiban.com. L, D $-$$
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Soc Trang — Wide selection of Chinese and Vietnamese offerings. No alcohol. 1831 Market Place Dr, Caledonia, 871-9909. gosoc trang.com. L, D ¢-$
Three Happiness Restaurant — Cantonese, Mandarin and Szechuan fare, with daily lunch and dinner specials. No alcohol. 3330 Alpine Ave NW, Target Plaza, 785-3888. Facebook. L, D ¢-$ Tokyo Grill & Sushi — Japanese tatami rooms, sushi bars. Menu includes hibachi, teriyaki, Udon, tempura. Sake, plus Japanese and American beer and wine. Closed Sun. 4478 Breton Rd SE, 455-3433. tokyogrillsushi. com. L, D ¢-$ Wei Wei Palace — Chinese seafood restaurant features Cantonese cuisine, dim sum and
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Sushi Kuni — Japanese and Korean cuisine, plus fusion fare. Private groups can eat in traditional Japanese tatami room. Serves alcohol. Closed Sun. 2901 Breton Rd SE, 241-4141. sushikuni.net. L, D ¢-$$ Thai Express — Thai specialties, spiced to specification. No alcohol. 4317 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 827-9955. thaiexpressgr.com. L, D ¢
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top shelf
Contributing editor Jon C. Koeze has made and tasted beer since 1980.
Historically, the idea of the punch bowl was to induce guests with merriment and conversation, not excess and intoxication.
Punch recipes to try:
h: ’S rOSY PUNc carOL JEaN ine: mb co r, rte To make sta onade 1 can frozen lem juice 1 pint cranberry ½ cup sugar d pineapple 2 cups crushe urbon or gin bo , dy an br t 1 pin s r several hour Refrigerate fo ready to en Wh . rty pa before h rter into punc serve, pour sta d: ad bowl and d Sauternes 1 bottle of chille ch wine) (a sweet Fren club soda 2 liters chilled ces thin orange sli Garnish with ries. raschino cher ma th wi ed pp to ssary. ce ne as ice Add h: NING PUNc aWarD-WIN o ett ar am ) ml 1 bottle (750 ern Comfor t 1 bottle South pple juice ea pin n llo ga 1 ice nch bowl with Combine in pu ute n ice ring to dil ze fro a r d/o an and keep cold.
WhaTEVEr haPPENED TO the big alcoholic punch bowl at parties? It was a common feature at any adult gathering, along with the meatballs, cheese and crackers. Today, if there is a punch, it is likely nonalcoholic and served primarily for nondrinkers. That’s unfortunate because alcoholic punch has been part of the social fabric of communities for centuries. Punch recipes handed down through generations were considered family possessions and often named after the relative who prepared it for gatherings. Before this tradition is lost, I say “Bring back the punch bowl.” Punch as it was known in the late 17th century began in India as paantsch, a word derived from panch, a Hindi word meaning “five” because it was made from five ingredients: alcohol, sugar, lemon, water, and tea or spices. It was imported to England by merchants, sailors and travelers who enjoyed social drinking and consuming rum, the exotic liquor at the time. The English probably associated the word panch with a word they already knew — punch — and it has been that way ever since. Historically, punch always had the same combination of ingredients: a sweet liquor such as rum, brandy or arrack (a distilled liquor common in southeast Asia and similar to rum), a citrus fruit (often lemon but others, as well), an astringent such as a combination of tea, spices and bitters, and a simple syrup made from sugar and water. This may sound like a big cocktail mix, but punch was usually lower in alcohol because it was a social drink. The idea was to induce guests with merriment and conversation, not excess and intoxication. Today’s punch recipes are much more varied and interesting. We have more options for booze and more ingredients to mix into the bowl. Cherry Coke, Vernors Ginger Ale and pomegranate juice
Yum!
are just a few of the mixers used in modern punch. I’ve included two punch recipes. The first was handed down to me by my mother, Carol Jean Ebels, who must have received it from a nonfamily member because she came from a long line of teetotalers. She called it Rosy Christmas Punch but it will work any time of year. I can still remember sneaking sips when no one was looking. The second is an award-winning recipe from a co-worker of mine, Nancy Meyers, who got it from a friend who tended bar. If you have any legacy punch recipes, I encourage you to pass them along to family and friends to keep the tradition of the punch bowl alive. — JON C. KOEZE
PHotoGraPHY courtesY istocKPHoto.com/DeBBie LunD (riGHt); marK PoProcKi (LeFt)
Long live the (spiked) punch
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food & drink restaurants / PeoPLe / reviews
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 Viet-namese cuisine with full service bar. Vegetarian options and lunch specials MonSat. Free valet parking with $30 purchase. Will deliver. 58 Monroe Center, 235-6969. xoasiancuisine.com. L, D $-$$
Yummy Wok — Cantonese, Hunan and Szechuan dishes. No alcohol. 4325 Breton Rd SE, 827-2068. L, D ¢-$
MIDDle easTern/ MeDITerranean Le Kabob — Huge appetizer selection, soups, salads and sandwiches, large choice of Mediterranean entrees and combos. Kids menu. No alcohol. Open daily. 4022 Alpine Ave NE, 647-9722, and 2923 28th St SE, 272-4135. lekabob.com. L, D ¢-$
PHotoGraPHY courtesY istocKPHoto.com/DeBBie LunD (riGHt); marK PoProcKi (LeFt)
Marie catrib’s — Middle-Eastern fare with on-site 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. mariecat ribs.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 $ Mr. Gyros — Family-owned restaurant offering Mediterranean specialties with drivethrough, delivery and catering available. Open daily. 2260 Alpine Ave NW, 791-6660. mrgyrosdrivethru.com. L, D ¢-$
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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 ¢-$ Parsley Mediterranean Grille — Appetizers, salads, soups, pitas, lunch and dinner combos of chicken, beef, seafood and vegetarian entrees, kabobs. No alcohol. 80 Ottawa Ave NW, 776-2590. parsleymg.com. L, D ¢-$ Pita house — Gyros and other Middle East specialties. No alcohol. 1450 Wealthy St SE, 454-1171; 3730 28th St SE, 940-3029; 4533
888-672-5626 | northpointe.com March 2013 / GrmaG.com 83
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food & drink restaurants / PeoPLe / reviews
Ivanrest Ave SW, 261-4302; 134 Monroe Center NW, 233-4875. thepitahouse.net. L, D ¢
Sheshco Grill — Lebanese cuisine including lots of appetizers, salads and soups; entrees such as shish kabob, lamb shanks, quail and sautéed meats, plus vegetarian and seafood options. No alcohol. Open daily. 2121 Celebration Dr. NE (Knapp’s Corner), 364-0600. sheshcogrill.com. 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 $
925 Cherry St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 616.719.1604 www.breweryvivant.com
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Zeytin — Turkish-American cuisine with extensive beer and wine lists. Takeout available. 400 Ada Dr SE, Ada, 682-2222. zeytin turkishrestaurant.com. L, D $
aFrICan Little africa cuisine — Humble storefront café offers hearty vegetable stews; sauces and fixings served on Ethiopian flat bread. Sample other Ethiopian specialties. No alcohol. Cash or checks only. Open daily. 956 E Fulton St, 222-1169. Facebook. L, D ¢ Gojo Ethiopian cuisine & Deli — Authentic Ethiopian dishes including vegetarian options. Watt (stew-like) dishes served with injerra flatbread. Carry-out available. No alcohol. Tue-Fri lunch buffet, dinner 5-8 pm; Sat buffet 4-8 pm; closed Sun and Mon. 421 Norwood SE (Eastown), 459-3383. gojoethio piancuisine.com. L, D $
MeXICan/laTIn aMerICan/ CarIbbean 7 Mares — Authentic Mexican dishes including breakfasts. 1403 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 3018555. Facebook. B, L, D ¢-$$ Beltline 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 $
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café San Juan — Puerto Rican, Mexican and Cuban. No alcohol. 3549 Burlingame Ave SW, 530-2293. cafesanjuan.net. B, L, D ¢-$ cancun restaurant — Neighborhood eatery specializes in Mexican seafood dishes but offers a full range of fare. 1518 Grandville Ave SW, 248-2824. L, D ¢-$ cantina — Extensive menu of Mexican spe-
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After the storm, a rainbow. cialties 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. 123 Courtland St, Rockford, 866-3438; 114 Monroe Center NW, 719-2404. L, D $
We’ll watch your back during the storm.
Corazon — Authentic Mexican food in stylish surroundings. No alcohol. Closed Sun. 122 S Division Ave, 454-3847. L, D ¢ Donk’s Mexican Joint — Tex-Mex selections including wet and dry burritos. Kids menu, drive-thru available. 820 Michigan St. NE, ¢ 883-6036. donksjoint.com. L, D Downtown Trini’s — Sparta destination offers traditional fare. Full bar. Closed Sun and Mon. 134 E Division Ave, Sparta, 887-2500. downtowntrinis.com. L, D ¢-$
616.459.1171 | www.lawweathers.com
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. elbarrio mexicangrill.com. L, D ¢-$ El Burrito Loco — More than 70 authentic Mexican selections. Complimentary chips and salsa. Full bar. 1971 East Beltline Ave NE, 447-0415; 4499 Ivanrest SW, 530-9470; 4174 Alpine Ave NW, 785-4102. L, D ¢-$
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FEl 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. elgranjerogr.com. B, L, D ¢
El Sombrero — Offers the wet burrito, and dry ones too. Weekly specials. No alcohol. Closed Sun. 527 Bridge St NW, 451-4290. L, D ¢
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Grand Villa Dungeon — Mexican food is the specialty. Full bar. Closed Sun. 3594 Chicago Dr SW, 534-8435. villadugeon.com. L, D $ 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 ¢ 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 ¢
Fine estate & costume jewlery, quality furs, sterling silver and select quality pieces.
4747 28th Street SE www.hiltongrandrapids.com March 2013 / Grmag.com 85
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food & drink restaurants / PeoPLe / reviews
See Read The Feed at HeFedSheFed. com for more tips and photos.
She fed: The origins of classic cocktails are fascinating. The Tom Collins was actually named after a hoax that businessmen would play on each other, much like snipe hunting. The trickster implies
Being a beer lover, it’s been awhile since I’ve mixed up any cocktail more complicated than the occasional Bloody Mary. I’m a big believer in following recipes, however, so I kept a printed sheet handy, since I was in charge of the bar. The Champagne Cocktail involves the most steps: Drop in a sugar cube, soak it with bitters, pour champagne and add about 9 milliliters of cognac. If you pour the sparkling wine first and then drop in the sugar, it will bubble over, so the order of steps is important. Many of our guests enjoyed this drink the most and came back for seconds. I find the ritual of making the cocktail soothing, which heightens my appreciation for how it tastes — sweet yet dry, with silky caramel undertones.
— JEREMY
hEFEDShEFED.cOM
that someone named “Tom
Everything old is new again
Collins” is spreading rumors
Juliet and Jeremy Johnson throw a retro cocktail party a la 1960s with pigs in a blanket and savory meatballs. Yum!
is just in the next room, or
about someone. Then he mentions the rumor-monger two bars over, or down the street, sending the hapless
There’s no denying the resurging popularity of classic cocktails. May be the influence of TV shows like “Mad Men” or “The Hour,” or perhaps people have simply tired of masking the taste of vodka with syrupy fruit mixers (we’re looking at you, Cosmo). Having never delved deeply into the art of the cocktail, we decided to expand our horizons by throwing a “yesteryear” shindig. Usually, we stock the bar with wine and homebrew. For this soiree, we selected three time-honored cocktails relatively simple to concoct on demand: for bourbon lovers, an Old Fashioned (Don Draper’s drink of choice); lemony pine Tom Collins for the gin fans; and a Classic Champagne Cocktail with cognac for those who prefer something less assertive. Food choices for the time period are endless, usually finger food or anything on a toothpick! We decided on bacon-wrapped dates (“devils on horseback”), pigs in a blanket, deviled eggs sprinkled with paprika, mixed nuts and savory meatballs. The bacon-wrapped dates were the first to go. The real revelation, though, was the meatballs, which, after simmering in chile sauce and red currant jelly for a few hours, were sticky, salty and sweetly addictive. Finishing touches included background music (think Beach Boys and Del Shannon), napkins with bold graphic prints and witty sayings, and food plated on old school tableware. If you decide to try this at home, be sure to indicate whether pedal pushers and hula hoops are mandatory.
victim on a never-ending search for Mr. Tom Collins. It’s believed the gin and limesoaked Gimlet was invented as a tonic to ward off scurvy. Champagne Cocktails were also called “Chorus Girl’s Milk.” And the Sidecar was reportedly invented for a serviceman who was known for riding around town in the sidecar of a motorcycle. Who knew history could be so tasty?
— JULIET
PHotoGraPHY BY Jim GeBBen
He fed:
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A+ rating with BBB of West Michigan
La huasteca — Homemade recipes. All items can be accommodated for vegetarians. Mostly take-out with a small dining room. No alcohol. Open daily. 1811 Plainfield Ave. NE, 4477733. Facebook. L, D ¢ Lindo Mexico restaurant — Fresh food with “real Mexican flavor.” Happy hour 2-6 pm. Kids menu. 1292 28th St SW, Wyoming, 2612280. lindomexicorestaurant.com. L, D ¢-$ Little Mexico café — Traditional Mexican food and cocktails. Open daily. 401 Stocking Ave NW, 456-0517. L, D $ Maggie’s Kitchen — 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. No alcohol. Open 11 am-2 pm, Mon-Fri. 250 Monroe Ave NW, 4581533. tacobobs.com. L ¢ Tacos El caporal — Two locations serving Mexican fare, with menudo Sat and Sun. No alcohol. 1024 Burton St SW, 246-6180; 1717 28th St SW, Wyoming, 261-2711. B, L, D ¢ Tres Lobos Grill & Bar — Lobster fajitas and parrilladas. Full-service bar. Lunch ’til 4 pm daily. 825 28th St SE, 245-5389. treslobosrest aurant.com. L, D ¢-$
We don’t have a look. We help our clients find theirs.
Dining Guide Legend
PHotoGraPHY BY Jim GeBBen
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 — Chef Profile in this issue ➧ — New listing ✯ — GRM’s 2012 Restaurant of the Year F — GRM’s 2012 Dining Award Winner additions, corrections and/or changes: Please email mprimeau@geminipub.com or write to Dining Guide, Grand Rapids Magazine, 549 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.
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THAI, JAPANESE, CHINESE
Asian Dining Award of Excellence 5 years in a row!
xo
GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE
• Full service Sushi Bar
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• Beer and Wine & Spirits Available
ASIAN CUISINE 58 Monroe Center Phone (616) 235-6969
www.xoasiancuisine.com
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near & far IN OUR BACK YARD / EXPLORING MICHIGAN
A mural on a building in Garfield Park reflects the diversity of the neighborhood. Below, long-time Garfield resident Bunny Swank and neighbor Nati Mendez prepare cupcakes in her kitchen.
By Daina Kraai | Photography by Michael Buck
With a sprawling park as its hub, the Garfield Park neighborhood embraces its diverse population and its greenspace.
A legacy of preserving nature
T
he Garfield Park neighborhood of Grand Rapids is so named because of the large sprawling park set in the center of the area bounded by U.S. 131 to the west, Eastern Avenue to the east, Cottage Grove to the north and 28th Street to the south. “The park is like the hub of the neighborhood,” said long-time resident Bunny Swank, 83. With its Frisbee golf course, basketball courts, new playground, tennis courts, nature center and trees, the park is truly a community gathering place. And that is just how Charles W. Garfield, the park’s benefactor, envisioned it. In 1906, land for the park was given to
the city by Garfield for public recreational use. Garfield, who was a banker and member of the Michigan House of Representatives, was enamored of trees. He planted many of the trees still standing in the park today, along with many in nearby Burton Woods, now known as Garfield Nature Center, where he planted 10 varieties of trees in 1892. In 1914, Garfield gave Burton Woods to the Grand Rapids Park and Boulevard Association as a “forestry park.” “I think Charles Garfield was quite a character,” said resident Michael Scholten. Kathy Woudstra , director of the Garfield Park Neighborhood Association, agreed. “He was unique. There wasn’t a tree left in Northern Michigan because of clear-cutting.
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Garfield started the first forestry commission and got the first land set aside for a state forest, but he had his idiosyncrasies about those trees.” Later, threats to Garfield’s generous gifts became a rallying point for residents. Although Burton Woods had been deeded to the city to remain a “forest preserve,” in 1960 and again in 1968 the city of Grand Rapids proposed selling the land for development. Neighbors came together to preserve Garfield’s original intention.
The Garfield Lodge, 334 Burton St. SE, built in 1908 as a meeting place for the neighborhood, was added to the historical register “so it wouldn’t be torn down,” Woudstra said. Today, the ground floor is rented out by residents who use it for everything from yoga classes to church services. Upstairs is the Garfield Park Neighborhood Association office. Both Garfield Nature Center and Garfield Park are thriving, with new playground equipment built by area residents. Neighborhood residents come from a
Lisa Stoepker walks her dog on the trails in Burton Woods. At left, the Scholten family — baby Theo, Michael, Kelli and son Jack — swing on the front porch of their Garfield Park home. Jorge Salvador Martinez-Santuario shops at Rodriguez Supermarket on Division Avenue.
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near & far IN OUR BACK YARD / EXPLORING MICHIGAN
“We liked older houses and we wanted our kids to be exposed to a diverse community, both ethnically and financially, It seemed more like the rest of the world than some of the other neighborhoods in Grand Rapids.” — Michael Scholten
In the neighborhood On the Saturday after Labor Day, Garfield Park is transformed into a one-day Arts & Crafts Fair with local and regional art and handmade items for sale. Fall 2013 will be the 40th season for the event that attracts up to 10,000 people. Activities include a play area for children, musical entertainment and food. It’s the largest fundraiser for the Garfield Parks Neighborhood Association. For the past 10 years, Health Inter-
mixture of ethnic groups. Scholten said it’s one of the reasons he chose to live there when he moved his family to Grand Rapids a year ago. “We liked older houses and we wanted our kids to be exposed to a diverse community, both ethnically and financially,” he said. “It seemed more like the rest of the world than some of the other neighborhoods in Grand Rapids.” Swank, who has lived on the same street for more than 68 years, is a witness to the changing neighborhood.
“Over on Quigley Street, I’ve found such good neighbors,” she said, pulling out a handwritten paper full of names and addresses, with many crossed out and rewritten. “This is what I use to keep track of people on my street who come and go. It went mostly from white people owning their homes to rentals to diversity. We have some Vietnamese on our street, which was a good experience for my family because this family was just so fascinating and friendly. “And language doesn’t even have to be a
vention Services at 15 Andre St. SE has provided health care to Grand Rapidians who don’t qualify for Medicaid or Medicare, as well as those who have been priced out of the health insurance market. HIS is a nonprofit, faith-based health center that also includes dental and vision care. Run mainly by volunteers, the clinic sees over 1,000 patients per month. South End Community Outreach Ministries is a charitable organization serving those in the area with hunger and poverty issues. Along with a food pantry, it is one of the YMCA’s “healthy living hubs,” offering cooking classes, fresh produce sold from the Veggie Van and fitness classes. Located at 1545 Buchanan Ave. SW, SECOM has been serving the neighborhood since 1971.
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The Garfield Park neighborhood boasts many gathering places, such as the 105,000-square-foot Salvation Army Kroc Center, above. Opposite page, Zumba classes sponsored by the Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation Department are held at the Garfield Park Gym. Below, Gracie Hernandez helps Lashawn McKinney and Natasha Malloy pick out clothes at The Image, a nonprofit that links gently used clothing, housewares, furniture and appliances with families in need.
barrier,” she said. “The woman who moved in next door didn’t know much English, but we gardened together. Finally, she wanted me to be her Michigan mom, because she missed her Mexican mom.” Ludie Weddle said when her family moved into Garfield Park in 1974, they were the only black family in a two- or threeblock area. “Everyone was very friendly and caring,” she said. “Today, there are more black families on our block, along with families from other countries.” The Burton Heights business district on Division Avenue has also changed over the years. At one time it included a trolley stop and featured more than 60 businesses, but urban sprawl resulted in many of the businesses moving out of the neighborhood. A few, such as Holwerda-Snoap Sporting Goods and Tom Willette’s The Place barbershop, still remain. Today, the business district includes a mix of Hispanic groceries stores, restaurants and bakeries. The neighborhood boasts many gathering places, such as the 105,000-squarefoot Salvation Army Kroc Center at 2500 S. Division Ave. and thriving schools that include Burton Middle and Elementary, Hope Academy, and Dickinson, Brookside and Buchanan Elementary.
“There is a high percentage of members at the Kroc Center that are from this area, so it’s been a wonderful asset to join this neighborhood,” said Woudstra. Burton School on Buchanan was recently remodeled and now hosts a health clinic along with English as a Second Language classes for students and families. At Dickinson Elementary, one particular principal was very influential during the ’70s in creating a safe neighborhood school. “Jim Swanlund would visit every student’s home before school started and welcome them to Dickinson,” said Weddle, whose kids attended the school in the late ’70s and early ’80s. “We now have many successful children from this neighborhood, including college graduates and business owners.” Gerald R. Ford grew up in the Garfield Park neighbourhood, but it was Barney Burton who started it all in 1833, when he purchased 320 acres of land from the U.S. government for a farm and later sold some land to the parents of Charles Garfield, whose remains are buried under one of his beloved GR trees.
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out & about where to Go / what to do
room featuring the hottest area restaurants, breweries and wineries. Guests can bid on trips, wine, sports memorabilia and more. Money raised benefits HSWM’s mission to promote responsible care of animals.
Michelle Grzybowski, owner of {re}imagined just for you.
SportS March 23 fouNders BreWiNg co. is partnering with Kisscross Events to host the 5th annual Barry-Roubaix bicycle race, pitting thousands of bikers against gravel, rocks, sand and mud. It begins and ends in downtown Hastings. Founders will host an after-party celebration beginning at 11 a.m. with food, music, beer and more.
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Special eVeNtS March 8-10 West MichigaN WoMeN’s eXPo: The region’s largest consumer show for women is back with more than 400 exhibits and a Caribbean theme. Michelle Grzybowski, who owns {re}imagined just for you, will present “Something Pinteresting Is Going On,” Hoop Happy Hoop Healthy will have a fun cardio workout, and a casino fun area will feature gaming entertainment from Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort.
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March 25 PaWs, cLaWs aNd corKs: Humane Society of West Michigan is throwing a party in DeVos Place Steelcase Ball-
Paint the town green!
March 8-10 ceLtic fiddLe With eiLeeN ivers: GR
There’s be plenty o’ St. Patrick celebrations this month, beginning with Kegs and Eggs breakfast at McFadden’s Irish Saloon and parades and concerts throughout West Michigan.
Symphony’s Pops concert presents the nine-time AllIreland Fiddle Champion at DeVos Performance Hall. See Music
Stage & Film March 10 chiaroscuro iNterNatioNaL fiLM series: “Beirut Hotel” is March’s offering in this free UICA series. Directed in 2011 by filmmaker Danielle Arbid, the film was banned from Lebanon for its politically inflammatory inclusion of the Hariri assassination. Chiaroscuro is coordinated by local educators and members of the community.
March 12 - LuNasa: Touring Irish acoustic group comes to Fenian’s Irish Pub in Conklin. See Music
March 16 - irish oN ioNia: St. Patrick’s
PhotoGraPhy courtesy istockPhoto.com (Bottom); kohlereXPo.com (toP); rick P. kisscross eVents (middle)
march events
McFadden’s on Ionia Avenue. Kegs and Eggs breakfast 7-10 a.m. (free to first 300). Performances by Irish rock band The Waxies, The Crane Wives and others. See Special Events
Day street party hosted by
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“You’ve tried the rest...
To list your event Send calendar information to Grand Rapids Magazine, c/o
NOW EAT THE BEST ”
Calendar Editor, 549 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 201, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, e-mail caleditor@ geminipub.com, fax (616) 459-4800. High-resolution photos welcomed. To meet publishing deadlines, information must be received two months prior to monthly magazine issue by the 15th of the month.
Special eVeNtS thru March 2 - restaurant Week: Cool Brews, Hot Eats: Food specials at area restaurants, beer tastings. Facebook. thru March 3 - disney on ice: “100 Years of Magic” starring all the Disney characters. 7 p.m. Thu.-Fri.; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sat.; 2 and 6 p.m. Sun. Van Andel Arena. $15-$58 (Van Andel and DeVos Place box offices or Ticketmaster).
PhotoGraPhy courtesy istockPhoto.com (Bottom); kohlereXPo.com (toP); rick P. kisscross eVents (middle)
thru March 3 - West Michigan home and garden show: More than 350 exhibitors of home products and services, remodeling, new construction, interior design, landscaping and retail garden centers. 3-9 p.m. Thu., noon-9 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.6 p.m. Sun. DeVos Place. $10 adults, $4 ages 6-14 (at door). grhomeshow.com. March 1-3 - girlfriends Weekend: Downtown Holland hosts three-day event that includes wine tasting, shopping, dueling pianos, fashion show, champagne brunch, yoga lessons, in-store activities. $100 weekend, $55 Sat. only. girlfriendsweekend.org. March 2 - grcM 15th gala: Grand Rapids Children’s Museum celebrates 15 years of leading GR in play. Hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and dinner, plus Darell Hammond, president of KaBoom! 6 p.m. GVSU Eberhard Center. $200 (grcm15gala.eventbrite.com).
March 7 - creativity uncorked: Grand Rapids Art Museum hosts a social evening in the Education Center Studio, includes wine and gallery exploration; in conjunction with exhibition Graphic Design: Now in Production. Age 21 and over. 7-9:30 p.m. $30 adults, $25 members (uncorked.kintera.org). March 7-17 - Laughfest: Gilda’s Club celebrates its 12th anniversary with a 10-day, 40-venue, 60-artist festival of laughter. Comedians include Joe McHale, Bill Burr, Pete Holmes, Jim Breuer, W. Kamau Bell, Wayne Brady and more. Tickets: laughfestgr.org. March 8-10 - West Michigan Women’s expo: More than 400 exhibits and seminars for women. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. DeVos Place. $7-$9 (at door). kohlerexpo.com. March 9 - single Parenting expo: More than a dozen organizations participate, including A Father’s Walk, Divorce Care, Greenpath, SMORE, Family Futures, Compassion This Way. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The DOCK Ministry, 4669 S. Division St., Wyoming. Free. afathers walk.org or Facebook. March 9-10 - spring Bridal show of West Michigan: One-stop wedding shopping. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. DeVos Place. $9 (at door). kohlerexpo.com.
March 2 - theresa caputo: Psychic medium and star of TLC’s “Long Island Medium.” 2 and 7 p.m. DeVos Performance Hall. $35.75-$85.75 (Van Andel and DeVos Place box offices or Ticketmaster).
March 12, 26 - culinary Walking tours: GR Downtown Alliance and Square Peg Events host walking tours in downtown GR with food and beverage sampling. March 12, Giggle Grove Tour. March 26, Mini-Martini March. 21 years or older. 7-9 p.m. $40 in advance only (squarepegevents.com).
March 7 - Bloom Bash: MomsBloom fundraiser with appetizers, beverages and silent auction. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Richard App Gallery, 910 Cherry St. SE. $35, $60/couple (sara@ momsbloom.org or 828-1021).
March 14-16 - fashion and tea: Tour the Streets of Old Grand Rapids and learn about Victorian fashion. 1-2:30 p.m. GR Public Museum, 272 Pearl St. NW. $15, $13 members. grmuseum.org.
March 16 - st. PatricK’s day Parade:
March 16 - WeariN’ of the greeN: Conklin’s
March 16 - sPectruM heaLth irish Jig:
Downtown Grand Rapids parade begins at 11 a.m. at Monroe and Lyon and ends at Veterans Memorial Park with a short ceremony. See Special Events
St. Patrick’s Day parade, a longstanding tradition, starts at 10:55 a.m., followed by allday Irish “hooley” with music, song and dance. See Special Events
5K run in East Grand Rapids starts by high school gym. Start times are 9 a.m. for men, 9:35 a.m. for women. See Sports
Offering delicious pizzas and more... check out our menu online at
www.florentines.biz Dine in and enjoy our multiple big screen TVs or take-out available at 616.784.5555 Banquet area for 80-120 people. Catering available
1259 Post Drive, Belmont (10 Min. N. of Grand Rapids) 616.785.1001 March 2013 / GrmaG.com 93
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The B.O.B: The Big Old Building houses several entertainment options, including live music at Crush, Eve and Bobarino’s, and stand-up comedy at Dr. Grins (see below). 20 Monroe Ave. NW, 356-2000, thebob.com. Eve at The B.O.B presents weekly Eve Has Bass: Dubstep@The B.O.B, a Thursday night extravaganza that begins at 10 p.m., produced by SuperDre and hosted by DJ K2Roc. 18+ welcome, no cover before 11 p.m. 20 Monroe Ave. NW, 356-2000, thebob.com.
March 15
1/ Billy’s Lounge hosts Blue Molly, a local band with a soulful sound.
Dr. Grins Comedy Club: Nationally acclaimed stand-up comedians perform 9 p.m. Thu., 8 and 10:30 p.m. Fri. and Sat. The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave. NW, 356-2000, thebob.com.
The Intersection: Downtown nightclub hosts local and national bands. Tickets available at Purple East, Shakedown, Vertigo Music and Intersection box office. 133 Grandville Ave. SW, 451-8232, sectionlive.com.
Comedy & nightclub venues
Compiled by emma HiGGins
Mulligan’s Pub: Bar and music venue in Eastown. All shows are 21+ with no cover charge. 1518 Wealthy St. SE, 451-0775, mulligans-pub.com.
1/ BiLLy’s LouNge: 8 p.m. Friday, March 15, blues and soul band Blue Molly plays
The Orbit Room: Contemporary regional and national music acts perform with occasional stand-up comedy and other events. Multiple bars. Open floor and seated balcony offers choice of how up close concertgoers want to get. 2525 Lake Eastbrook Blvd. SE, 9421328, orbitroom.com.
2/ suNday Night fuNNies: The creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B, a weekly, free, stand-up comedy event featuring comics from throughout the Midwest, with up to a dozen performing. 8:30 p.m. Sundays, Riverfront Hotel, Landing Lounge, 270 Ann St. NW; and 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, 255 28th St. SW. brianb comedy.com.
River City Improv: Improv group weaves skits, games and songs with audience suggestions. Ladies Literary Club, 61 Sheldon Blvd. SE. Pre-order tickets at rivercityimprov.com or Calvin box office, 526-6282. Rocky’s Bar & Grill: Dance to popular DJs and live acts every Friday. 633 Ottawa Ave. NW, 356-2346, rockysbarngrill. com.
Motown favorites, raspy jazz and classic gospel. The band formed in 2007 and has been playing locally ever since. 21+ only, $5 cover. 1437 Wealthy St. SE, 459-5757, billyslounge. com.
3/ the PyraMid scheMe: March 2, electro-pop band Stepdad. The five-piece group released its debut LP in June 2012, entitled “Wildlife Pop.” Also, guests Alexis and Flint Eastwood. Show is 18+, admission $8. Tickets at FusionShows.com, Vertigo Music and Pyramid Scheme front bar. 68 Commerce Ave. SW, 272-3758, pyramidschemebar.com.
3/ Electro-pop band Stepdad will be performing at The Pyramid Scheme, March 2.
PhotoGraPhy courtesy daniel Van duinen (toP); annaleah de masi (Bottom)
Dog Story Theater: Allvolunteer organization hosts improv, comedy, theater, concerts. Pop Scholars, a local improv and sketch comedy group, performs monthly. 7 Jefferson Ave. SE, 894-1252, dog storytheater.com.
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Custom Cabinets March 14-16 - Just Between friends sale: Kids and maternity clothes, baby equipment, books, toys. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Thu., 9 a.m.7 p.m. Fri., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. 28th St. Showplace, 1256 28th St. SW, Wyoming. $3 Thu., free Fri., Sat. March 15 - art in Bloom cocktail Party: Grand Rapids Art Museum hosts Art in Bloom program and silent auction; meet floral designers and plein air artists. 6-9 p.m. $85, $75 members (831-1000). March 15-16 - MoPs consignment sale: Kids’ clothing, toys, books, baby equipment, furniture, maternity clothes. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fri., 9 a.m.-noon Sat. Sunshine Community Church, 3300 East Beltline Ave. NE. Free. March 15-17 - art in Bloom: Enjoy floral designs inspired by Grand Rapids Art Museum art, vote for your favorite, register for floral-focused classes/events. Cocktail party March 15 raises money for summer camp program (6-9 p.m., $85, $75 members; 8311000 for reservations). More info: artmus eumgr.org. March 15-17 - cottage & Lakefront Living show: Designers, furnishings, lakefront builders and realtors, boats and docks, vacation home services and financing. 3-9 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. DeVos Place. $10 adults, $4 ages 6-14 (at door). showspan.com.
PhotoGraPhy courtesy daniel Van duinen (toP); annaleah de masi (Bottom)
March 15-17 - Monster Jam thunder Nationals: Monster trucks perform. 7 p.m. Fri., 2 and 7 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Van Andel Arena. $16.50-$41.50 (box office or Ticketmaster). March 16 - grand rapids st. Patrick’s day Parade: Parade begins at 11 a.m. at Monroe and Lyon, travels south on Monroe, east on Monroe Center, north on Division, east on Library and ends at Veterans Memorial Park. March 16 - holland st. Patrick’s day Parade: Irish dancers, bagpipers and kilt-wearers. Time TBD. Begins at Eighth St. Marketplace and travels east to Curragh Irish Pub and New Holland Brewing Co. March 16 - irish on ionia: St. Patrick’s Day street party hosted by McFadden’s. Takes place on Ionia from Weston to Oakes streets. Kegs and Eggs breakfast 7-10 a.m. (free to first 300). Performances by Irish rock band The Waxies, The Crane Wives and others. Games, food, and beer. $10 in advance, $15 at gates (McFadden’s, HopCat, GR Brewing Co., Stella’s Lounge and ticketweb.com). March 16 - rockford community expo: More than 180 booths of local businesses, food, entertainment, workshops and more.
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Rockford High School, 4100 Kroes. Free.
March 16 - Wearin’ of the green: Conklin’s St. Patrick’s Day parade starts at 10:55 a.m., followed by all-day Irish “hooley.” feniansir ishpub.com. March 16 - West Michigan Potters guild spring show: Ceramics by West Michigan artists. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Cultural Center at St. Nicholas, 2250 East Paris Ave. SE. westmich iganpottersguild.com. March 16-17 - Kalamazoo Living history show: Largest juried show in the U.S. devoted to pre-1890 living history supplies, accoutrements and crafts. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun. Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St. $7, $10 two-day pass, children 12 and under free with adult. kala mazooshow.com. March 18-23 - rockford restaurant Week: New event benefits Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank. Participating restaurants include Reds on the River, Bostwick Lake Inn, Timber’s Inn, Grill 111, Honey Creek Inn and Blue Water Grill, among others. Cost: $25 for 3-course meal, or 2 entrees for $25. millionmealmarch.org. March 21 - Pillar awards Luncheon: Women’s Resource Center honors efforts of West Michigan-based employers who empower women at work. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Amway Grand Plaza. Tickets TBD. grwrc.org/events. March 21-24 - ultimate sport show: More than 350 exhibitors show outdoor gear, travel info, fishing boats and RV’s. 3-9:30 p.m. Thu., 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. DeVos Place. $10 adults, $4 ages 6-14. ultimatesportshow.com. March 23 - Lowell community expo: Lowell Area Chamber spotlights 150 area businesses, service groups, churches, government agencies. Entertainment, giveaways and food. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Lowell High School. Free. lowellchamber.org.
Produced locally by our talented craftsmen Design Center 4265 28th St. SE Grand Rapids, MI
Factory & Showroom 665 Construction Ct. Zeeland, MI
March 25 - Paws, claws and corks: Humane Society of West Michigan’s fundraiser with food from West Michigan restaurants, breweries and wineries, plus auction. 6 p.m. DeVos Place. $100 (791-8138 or thagedorn@ hswestmi.org). March 26 - grcc salute to Women: Reception to honor GRCC women who exemplify their roles as professionals, volunteers or agents of change. 1:30-3 p.m. GRCC Applied Technology Center. grcc.edu/stw. March 27 - sustainable Business conference: Local First and sustainable business
616.956.3070 woodwayscustom.com March 2013 / GrmaG.com 95
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community of West Michigan. Noon-5 p.m. Aquinas College Wege Ballroom. Tickets TBD. localfirst.com.
March 30 - Toy and Comic Expo: More than 150 dealers and collectors of vintage toys, plus gaming room, costume contest. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Home School Building, 5625 Burlingame Ave. SW, Wyoming. $4 adults, kids 12 and under free; $10/early-bird buyers 6-9 a.m. grtoycomicexpo.com. Wayne Brady
Lewis Black
Laughter for the health of it “Laughter is good for you,” said Leann Arkema, the lady with the big smile who created Gilda’s LaughFest. “We all laugh and we want to celebrate that and offer a broad range of comedy.” The community-wide festival of laughter benefiting Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids returns March 7-17 for a third year, with such big names as Wayne Brady, Lewis Black, Bill Burr, Joel McHale, Brian Regan and Justin Willman. LaughFest 2013 will feature more than 300 acts in 40-plus venues, including a variety of free and family-friendly activities, said Arkema, Joel McHale
president and CEO of Gilda’s Club. “The vast majority of free events, including everything from improv to dance and short films, are put on by other nonprofits and businesses,” she said. “We’re bringing back the Laughter RX series to show how laughter can help people navigate tough times in a healthy way and learn new life skills. There’s something for everybody.” Gilda’s Club, named for comedian Gilda Radner who died of ovarian cancer in 1989, is a support community helping cancer patients and their families by offering free group support and classes. For the full LaughFest lineup, visit laughfestgr. org or call 735-HAHA (4242).
Sports March - Grand Rapids Griffins: GR’s American Hockey League team, primary affiliate of Detroit Red Wings. Home games: March 8 vs. Hamilton Bulldogs. March 9 vs. Lake Erie Monsters. March 13 vs. Chicago Wolves. March 22 vs. Lake Erie Monsters. See website for times. Van Andel Arena. $14-$32 (Van Andel box office, Meijer or Star Tickets). griff inshockey.com. March 14 - St. Patty’s Pacer 5K Fun Run: Course begins and ends in Centennial Park, Holland, and includes food, music and contests. Supports Community Action House. 5:30 p.m. $25 adults. gazellesports.com. March 16 - Spectrum Health Irish Jig: 5K run in EGR, starting by high school gym. 9 a.m. men, 9:35 a.m. women. $25 adults, $20 kids 14 and under. spectrumhealth.org/ irishjig. March 23 - Killer Gravel Road Race: BarryRoubaix gravel road bicycle race with 23-, 35- and 61-mile options. Begins in downtown Hastings. Sponsor Founders Brewing Co. will host after-party celebration, kicking off at 11 a.m. barry-roubaix.com. March 29-30 - NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey West Regional: 4 p.m. Fri., 8 p.m. Sat. Van Andel Arena. $65 two-day pass (Van Andel and DeVos Place box offices or Ticketmaster). March 30 - Golden Gloves Tournament: West Michigan championships. Grand Valley National Guard Armory, 1200 44th St. 0SW, Wyoming. michgangoldenglovesbox ing.com.
Stage & Film March 1-24 - “Fiddler on the Roof”: GR Civic Theatre presents the story of a dairyman who tries to instill in his daughters the traditions of their Jewish community. 8 p.m. 30 N. Division Ave. $18-$34 adults, $18 students (222-6650 or grct.org). March 5 - WMEAC Film Series: West Michigan Environmental Action Council screens
Photography courtesy joel mchale, justin willman, wayne Brady and lewis black
Justin Willman
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environmental documentaries, followed by speaker or panel discussion. This month: “Seeds of Freedom.” 6-9 p.m. GR Public Museum, 272 Pearl St. NW. $5 suggested donation. wmeacfilmseries.org.
March 8-10 - “The Toymaker’s Son”: Hearts in Step Christian Dance Ensemble presents a ballet about the story of Easter. 7 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 3 p.m. Sun. DeVos Center for Arts and Worship, 2300 Plymouth Ave. SE. $8-$15 (dcaw.org). heartsinstepdance. org. March 10 - Chiaroscuro International Film Series: Free film series promotes cultural diversity and awareness. This month: “Beirut Hotel.” 2:30 p.m. UICA, 2 W. Fulton St. March 11 - “60 Minutes to End Racism”: Stand-up comedian W. Kamau Bell, with special guests Calvin Improv. 8 p.m. Calvin FAC. $15 (Calvin box office, 526-6282). calv in.edu/sao/calendar. March 15-17 - “That Darn Plot”: Cornerstone University presents a comedy about a playwright who has to create a play in one night. 7:30 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 2:30 p.m. Sun. Matthews Auditorium, GR Theological Seminary, 3000 Leonard St. NE. $12, $10 seniors and students (516-0000 or cornerstone.edu/ theatre). March 21 - “Night Fever”: Bee Gees tribute production. 7:30 p.m. Van Singel FAC, 8500 Burlingame Ave. SW, Byron Center. $22.50$39.50 (616-878-6800 or vsfac.com).
Photography courtesy joel mchale, justin willman, wayne Brady and lewis black
March 21-24 - “Program 4”: GR Ballet presents “Light Rain” and “The Four Temperaments.” 7:30 p.m., 2 p.m. Sun. Peter Martin Wege Theatre, 341 Ellsworth SW. $40 adults, $35 seniors, $30 children (ballet box office or Ticketmaster). grballet.com. March 28-April 6 - “[title of show]”: Actors’ Theatre presents the story of friends with writers’ block who enter a musical theater festival. 8 p.m. Spectrum Theater, 160 Fountain St. NE. $24-$26 adults, $20-$22 seniors and students (box office or 234-3946). actorstheatregrandrapids.org.
Music March - Music at Mid-Day: Free concerts 12:15-12:45 p.m. every Tue. March 5, Rhonda Edgington, organ. March 12, Grandville Middle School Jazz. March 19, Suzanne Tiemstra, organ. March 26, Jeff Dwarshuis, classical guitar. First Park Congregational Church, 10 East Park Place NE. parkchurchgr.org. March 1 - “Concerti Grossi”: GR Symphony’s Coffee Classics include music by Handel, Dorman and Respighi. 10 a.m. St. Cecilia
Music Center, 24 Ransom Ave. NE. $12 (box office; 454-9451, ext. 4; or Ticketmaster). grsymphony.org.
March 2 - Bands on the Grand Festival: Fifth annual all-day event; adult community bands perform, critiqued by professional music adjudicators. Free. FH Eastern High School, 2200 Pettis Ave. NE, Ada. fhacb.org. March 3 - Handbell Festival: Barker Series presents four church handbell choirs: Central Reformed Church, Trinity UMC, Basilica of St. Adalbert and Trinity Lutheran Church. 4 p.m. Central Reformed Church, 10 College Ave. NE. Free-will offering. March 3 - Resonance: A Celebration of the Performing Arts: Alma College choirs, dance company, percussion ensemble, pipe band and Highland Dancers. 3 p.m. DeVos Performance Hall. $20 (box office or Ticketmaster). alma.edu/resonance. March 3 - Sacred Sounds of St. Mark’s: La Follia and the Gypsies: Ensemble Caprice. 5 p.m. St. Mark’s, 134 N. Division Ave. stmarks gr.org. Free. March 5 - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band: Rock and Roll Never Forgets tour. 7:30 p.m. Van Andel Arena. $72.50 (box office or Ticketmaster). March 5 - Karan Casey and John Doyle: Irish music concert. 8 p.m. Fenian’s Irish Pub, 19683 Main St., Conklin. $30 (8992640). feniansirishpub.com. March 6 - Brit Floyd: Three-hour Pink Floyd tribute light-and-sound experience. 8 p.m. DeVos Performance Hall. $29.50-$44.50 (Van Andel and DeVos Place box offices or Ticketmaster).
MARCH 21 10AM-7PM MARCH 22 10AM-7PM MARCH 23 10AM-5PM
March 8 - MAJIC Concert Series: Musical Arts for Justice in the Community hosts Luminescence. 7:30 p.m. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 250 Commerce Ave. SW. $10 suggested donation; proceeds benefit GR Coalition to End Homelessness. Facebook. March 8-10 - “Celtic Fiddle with Eileen Ivers”: GR Symphony’s Pops concert presents the nine-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion. 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun. DeVos Performance Hall. $18-$90 (Symphony, DeVos Place box offices or Ticketmaster). grsymphony.org.
2845 LAKE EASTBROOK BLVD GRAND RAPIDS • 616.949.7370 WWWW.SIEGELJEWELERS.COM
March 8, 22 - Alley Door Club: Jazz, blues and folk music in downtown Muskegon. March 8, West Side Soul Surfers. March 22, Big Daddy Fox. 7-10 p.m. (doors open 6 p.m.). Frauenthal Theatre, Muskegon. $6 at door or in advance (231-727-8001). March 9 - Janis Ian: Singer, songwriter and storyteller. 8 p.m. Saugatuck Center for the March 2013 / Grmag.com 97
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March 1
1/ John Ball Zoo reopens for the season. New this year: an expanded grizzly bear exhibit.
Coopersville & Marne Railway: Restored 1920s-era railway. Special event: Bunny Train, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. March 16 and March 23; 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. March 30; 1 and 3 p.m. March 17 and March 24. 311 Danforth St., Coopersville; $14.50 adults, $13.50 seniors, $12.50 ages 2-12 (997-7000 for advance tickets). coopersvilleandmarne.org. Coopersville Farm Museum: Special exhibitions: Thru March 30, watercolor exhibit by Alan Adsmond; Dolls of Our Lives, an exhibit of 100 dolls from 100 years ago to the recent past. Activities: Line dancing instruction 7-9 p.m. Fri.; Acoustic Jam Nights 6-9 p.m. first and third Tue.; Quilting Circle 10 a.m.-noon Thu. Permanent exhibitions: Tractors, farm tools, quilts, eclipse windmill, kids area. Tue., Thu. and Sat. $4 adults, $2 children 4-18, 3 and under free. 375 Main St., Coopersville, 997-8555, coopersvillefarmmuseum.org. DeGraaf Nature Center: Maple Sugar Time, March 9-10, 16-17. 18-acre preserve with Interpretive Center, indoor pond, animals, SkyWatch and more than 240 plant species. Workshops and classes (see website). Closed Sun., Mon. and holidays. Trails open daily dawn to dusk. 600 Graafschap Road, Holland, (616) 355-1057, degraaf. org. Free.
Compiled by Donna Ferraro and Tricia van Zelst
1/ John Ball Zoo: Re-opens for season March 1; take advance of low admission prices. New this season: Meijer Bear Exhibit and Jandernoa Children’s Outpost. Attractions include: baboons, lemurs, Lions of Lake Manyara, Mokomboso Valley chimps, Spider Monkey Island and Living Shores Aquarium. Open daily. Until May 10, $5 adults and seniors 62 and older, $4 kids 3-13, kids 2 and under free. May 11-Sep. 16: $8.50/$7.50/$6.50. 1300 W. Fulton St., 336-4300, johnballzoosociety.org. 2/ Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum: Special exhibition: Thru April 21, Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection, exploring the story behind the pins that became the diplomatic signature of the former U.S. secretary of state and ambassador to the U.N. Permanent exhibitions: The 1970s, Watergate scandal, Oval Office, New Mood at the White House. Open daily. $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 college students, $3 kids 6-18, 5 and under free. 303 Pearl St. NW, 254-0400, fordlibrarymuseum.gov. 3/ Blandford Nature Center: 9 a.m-5 p.m. March 9, Sugarbush Festival; theme is local sustainable harvests. Cost: $5 members; $6 nonmembers. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 2, learn how to harvest and process Michigan syrup. Lunch provided. $40 members; $48 nonmembers. Space limited to 15; RSVP (616) 735-6240. 143 acres, trails, natural history exhibits, heritage buildings. Frequent workshops and activities. Interpretive Center open weekdays; trails open daily dawn to dusk. 1715 Hillburn Ave. NW, 735-6240, blandfordnaturecenter.org.
3/ Sugar trail guide shows visitors the first step in harvesting syrup.
Grand Rapids Art Museum: Creativity Uncorked and Art in Bloom social events, see Special Events. Special exhibits: Thru April 14, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill. Thru April 21, Graphic Design: Now in Production. March 8-Sept. 1, Jansma Print Collection: Five Centuries of Masterpieces. March 15-17, Art in Bloom. Permanent exhibitions: 19th and 20th century art; design and modern craft; prints, drawings, photographs. Friday Nights at GRAM: Live music, gallery talks, cash bar, dinner options 5-9 p.m., $5 adults, members free. Sunday Classical Concert Series: 2 p.m. Sundays through March 24; see website for performers. All Day With the Arts: Drop-in activities for kids 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat.; kid-friendly tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Closed Mon. $8 adults, $7 seniors/students, $5 children 6-17, 5 and under free. 101 Monroe Center, 831-1000, artmuseumgr.org. Grand Rapids Children’s Museum: See GRCM Gala in Special Events. Special activity: Thru June 16, Adventures in Balance. Permanent activities: Aunt Daisy’s Farm; Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles; Wee Discover; Mom and Pop Store; Giant Lite Brite; Amigo Amphitheater; Buzzy Buzzy Bees. Toddler Tuesdays, 3 and under (10 a.m.-noon). Thu. Family Nights (5-8 p.m.), $1.50. Closed Mon. $7.50, $6.50 seniors, kids under 1 free. 22 Sheldon Ave. NE, 235-4726, grcm.org.
Photography courtesy john ball zoo/DeniseKozlowski (top); blandford nature center (bottom)
Museums & Attractions
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: Special exhibitions: March 1-April 30, Butterflies are Blooming: Hundreds of butterflies and moths (more than 40 species) from tropical regions fly freely in the conservatory. Thru April 28, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont. Thru Oct. 2013, Bernar Venet, five largescale steel sculptures. Permanent exhibitions: World-class sculptures indoors and in 30-acre park. Indoor attractions: Tropical conservatory, Victorian garden, café, gift shop. Open daily. $12 adults, $9 seniors and students with ID, $6 ages 5-13, $4 ages 3-4. 1000 East Beltline Ave. NE, 9571580, meijergardens.org.
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2/ Gerald R. Ford Museum exhibits some of the newsmaking pins of Madeleine Albright.
The Designer’s Choice
™
Grand Rapids Public Museum: Special exhibitions: Thru July 7, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, compelling stories told through 150 artifacts and room re-creations ($17 adults, $16 seniors, $12 kids 3-18; members: $12/$11/$10). Thru Nov., Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Storms and Stories. Permanent exhibitions: Streets of Old Grand Rapids, Anishinabek and Newcomers: People of This Place, Collecting A-Z, Furniture City, 1928 carousel ($1). Closed Sun. $8 adults, $7 seniors, $3 ages 3-17. Van Andel Museum Center, 272 Pearl St. NW, 456-3977, grmuseum.org. Holland Museum: Special exhibitions: Thru April 14, Lost Holland. Thru May 12, 75th Anniversary Exhibition, Celebrating the Journey: Settlement to City. Permanent exhibitions: Dutch Galleries of 17th- to 20th-century paintings; cultural attractions from the “old country”; local history. Closed Tue. $7 adults, $6 seniors, $4 students, 5 and under free. Cappon House, 228 W. 9th St., Settlers House, 190 W. 9th St., main building, 31 W. 10th St., (616) 7963329, hollandmuseum.org.
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Kalamazoo Institute of Arts: Special exhibitions: Thru April 7, Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay. Thru May 19, Sight and Feeling: Photographs by Ansel Adams. March 2-May 26, Reflections: African-American Life from the Myrna Colley-Lee Collection. Closed Mon. $5 adults, $2 students with ID, kids 12 and under free. 314 S. Park St., Kalamazoo, (269) 349-7775, kiarts.org.
Pure Perfection!
PhotoGraPhy courtesy Gerald r. ford museum
PhotoGraPhy courtesy john Ball zoo/denisekozlowski (toP); Blandford nature center (Bottom)
Meyer May House: Frank Lloyd Wright 1909 prairie-style house restored by Steelcase includes many original furnishings. Guided tours 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tue. and Thu., 1-5 p.m. Sun. (last tour begins one hour prior to closing). 450 Madison Ave. SE, 246-4821, meyermayhouse.steelcase.com. Free.
JUST THE WAY YOU IMAGINED.
Muskegon Museum of Art: Special exhibitions: Thru March 17, Innovators and Legends: Generations in Textiles and Fiber. Thru May 19, Hughie Lee-Smith: Meditations. March 7-May 26, Laurie Keller: Storyteller, Illustrations for Snory Fellers. Permanent exhibitions: Paintings, prints, sculpture and glass. Closed Mon. and Tue. $7 adults (Thu. free); $5 students; members, children under 17 free. 296 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon, (231) 720-2570, muskegonartmuseum.org. Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium: Digistar and laser projectors produce special effects. Themed shows educate young and old about the stars. Van Andel Museum Center (Public Museum). $3 plus museum admission, laser light shows $7. grmus eum.org/planetarium for schedule. Tri-Cities Historical Museum: Permanent exhibitions: Two buildings house exhibits telling history of Northwest Ottawa County. Closed Mon. Free admission. 200 Washington Ave. and 1 N. Harbor, Grand Haven, (616) 842-0700, tri-cities museum.org.
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out & about WHERE TO GO / WHAT TO DO
Arts, 400 Culver St., Saugatuck. $35 (269857-2399), $37 (at door). sc4a.org.
March 10 - Metropolitan Choir of Praise: Sunday concert. 6 p.m. Trinity Baptist, 2050 Aberdeen St. NE. metropolitanchoir.org. March 12 - Campana: Embellish Handbell Ensemble’s companion ensemble presents a mini-concert. 7 p.m. Aquinas College, Kretschmer Recital Hall, 1607 Robinson Road. embellishhandbells.com. Free. March 12 - Lunasa: Irish music concert. 8 p.m. Fenian’s Irish Pub, 19683 Main St., Conklin. $35 (899-2640). feniansirishpub. com. March 14 - Bill Charlap Trio: Premier jazz pianist, presented by St. Cecilia’s Jazz Series. 7:30 p.m. St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Ave. NE. $30-$35 adults, $10 students (459-2224, scmc-online.org).
Creating a floral arrangement inspired by artwork from Grand Rapids Art Muse-
tion range from 1880 to 2012 in a variety of mediums.
um’s permanent collection is the challenge
Designers are given a lot of freedom,
for 19 talented floral designers. On March
with a few common sense restrictions. “No
15-18, their creations will be judged and
soil is allowed in the museum because of
then displayed during Art in Bloom, a fund-
pests,” Waterous said. “And no open water.
raiser benefiting GRAM’s summer art camp.
We are careful to respect the building.”
“It’s a marriage between the designer
A panel of judges, including representa-
and the artwork,” said Alice
tives from the Michigan Floral
Waterous, who serves on the
Association, Meijer Gardens
organizing committee.
& Sculpture Park and a community member with experi-
And like any marriage, it
ence in art and horticulture,
isn’t always easy. floral
will look for interpretation,
composition to be interest-
originality and technical pro-
ing, different and new,” she
ficiency.
“You
want
the
explained, “but at the same
A People’s Choice award
time, you don’t want it to over-
is presented to the arrange-
whelm the artwork. There’s a
ment that receives the most
balance.”
votes from the public. “It’s always fun to see
Waterous, who owns a floral consulting business in Grand Rapids,
how the designers bring the artwork to life
was a participant in the first two Art in
with floral products,” Waterous said. “For
Bloom competitions. Now she serves as a
some, it’s a fairly literal interpretation. Oth-
liaison between GRAM and the designers.
ers go the impressionistic route. There’s
GRAM’s curatorial staff chooses the artwork, and the floral artists randomly draw names.
always a little bit of everything.” The weekend event includes floralfocused classes and events, such as a
“When they see what artwork they have
floral design workshop and Creating Flower
to interpret, the initial response is often, ‘Oh
Arranging Armatures with expert J Schwan-
my gosh, what am I going to do with that?’”
ke. A Friday evening cocktail party will give
Waterous said with a laugh. “It really tickles
guests a chance to meet the designers.
me. But everyone has come up to the task.” Works of art for this year’s competi-
Visit artmuseumgr.org for details.
— Marty Primeau
March 15-16 - “Beethoven and Blue Jeans”: West Michigan Symphony presents Naumburg Award-winning pianist Awadagin Pratt. 7:30 p.m. Frauenthal Theater, Muskegon. $15-$45 adults, $10 students (231726-3231 or westmichigansymphony.com). March 15-16 - Mighty Wurlitzer Concerts: Public Museum’s theater organ concerts feature Steve Schlesing. 7-9 p.m. Fri., 2-4 p.m. Sat. Public Museum, 272 Pearl St. NW. $10 adults, $5 children 3-17, $8/$4 members (ticket counter or 456-3977). March 16 - Afternoon with the Arts: Praise in the World: Music performed by Basilica Handbell Choir, Chamber Choir and harpists from Franciscan Life Process Center. 1 p.m. St. Adalbert, 701 4th St. NW. Reception follows at 654 Davis St. NW (food available for purchase). $15 in advance (897-7842 or registrar@lifeprocesscenter.org); $20 at door. March 16, 30 - Acoustic Saturday Nights: Grand River Folk Arts Society hosts acoustic concerts. March 16, Potato Moon. March 30, Bill Staines. 8 p.m. Wealthy St. Theater, 1110 Wealthy St. SE. $12 adults, $10 seniors and students, $9 members, $3 children (at door). grfolkarts.org. March 17 - Holland Symphony Orchestra: “Carnival of the Animals” family concert. 3 p.m. Zeeland East HS, 3333 96th Ave., Zeeland. $18 adults, $15 seniors, students free (796-6780, hollandsymphony.org). March 17, 22 - GR Choir of Men and Boys: Lenten Stations of the Cross. 4 p.m. March 17, First Presbyterian Church, 508 Franklin St., Grand Haven. 7 p.m. March 22, Cathedral of St. Andrew, 301 Sheldon Blvd., Grand Rapids. grcmb.com. Free.
Photography by Johnny Quirin
art in bloom
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March 18 - Monday Night Jazz: West Michigan Jazz Society presents The Maiden Voyage. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Bobarino’s at The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave. NW. $10, $5 members and students. wmichjazz.org. March 19 - “the Matrix Live”: GR Symphony’s Symphonic Boom concert features the soundtrack along with the full-length movie. 7:30 p.m. DeVos Performance Hall. $18-$90 (Symphony and DeVos Place box offices or Ticketmaster). grsymphony.org. March 22-23 - “vivaldi’s four seasons”: GR Symphony presents 16-year-old violinist Randall Goosby. 8 p.m. DeVos Performance Hall. $18-$90 (Symphony, DeVos Place box offices or Ticketmaster). grsymphony.org. March 24 - chamber choir of grand rapids: Spring concert with guests Ottawa Hills High School choir. 3 p.m. EGR FAC, 2211 Lake Drive SE. $20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 students. chamberchoirgr.org. March 24 - vocal Music Workshop: “TV Land” includes the best and funniest jingles and theme songs from TV history. 7 p.m. Dog Story Theater, 7 Jefferson Ave. SE. $15. vocal musicworkshop.org. March 24 - Winter Jam: Christian music concert headlined by TobyMac and also featuring RED, Matthew West, Jamie Grace, Sidewalk Prophets and Royal Tailor. 6 p.m. Van Andel Arena. $10 (at door). March 28 - Local spins Live: St. Cecilia hosts unplugged contemporary folk music series featuring local musicians. Postconcert meet-the-artists reception includes cash bar and dessert. This month: Seth Bernard and May Erlewine, plus Fauxgrass Quartet. 7:30 p.m. 24 Ransom Ave. NE. $15 adults, $10 students, $40 three-concert pass (459-2224, scmc-online.org).
PhotoGraPhy courtesy claire lea
PhotoGraPhy By johnny Quirin
lectureS & WorKSHopS March - gr Public Libraries: Programs include From Success to Significance, Pretty Funny Movies: I Am Comic, Ask-the-Lawyer Series, Write Michigan Awards Ceremony, Early Childhood Essentials, small business classes, author visits, adult computer classes, reading clubs, kids activities. Complete schedule at Main Library, 111 Library St. NE, or grpl.org. Free. March - Kent district Libraries: Programs include book discussions, Early Childhood Essentials, career transition workshops, kids programs. Complete schedule at kdl.org. March 1, 8, 22 - grand river folk arts society: Dance instruction. 7 p.m. March 1, First
Friday Contra Dance, 5th Street Hall, 701 5th St. NW ($9 adults, $7 members, $5 students/ seniors). 7 p.m. March 8, Second Friday International Folk Dance, Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St. SE ($5). 7 p.m. March 22, Fourth Friday Contra Dance/Jam, Fifth Street Hall, 701 5th St. NW ($9 adults, $7 members, $5 students/seniors). grfolkarts.org.
March 2 - Meijer gardens gallery Walk: Susan Wallsteadt, GRCC psychology professor, guides a walk of Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont. 2 p.m. 1000 East Beltline Ave. NE, 957-1580, meijergardens.org. March 4, 21 - ggr chapter Mothers and More: March 4, Generics vs. Brand Name Foods. March 21, De-Stress with Mary Lawson. 7-9 p.m. St. Thomas Catholic Church, 1448 Grace Drive. grmothersandmore.org. March 9 - “Baby-ready Pets”: Humane Society of West Michigan presents a workshop to help prepare pets for arrival of new baby. Noon-2 p.m. 3077 Wilson NW. $10. Registration: 791-8066 or jaulgur@hswestmi.org. March 13 - grcc diversity Lecture series: “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking,” by Susan Cain, author and lecturer. 7 p.m. Fountain St. Church, 24 Fountain St. NE. Free. grcc.edu/lecture. March 14 - great start Parent coalition of Kent county: Legislative Night: meet with legislators about early childhood programs.
5:45-8 p.m. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 250 Commerce Ave. Free dinner and child care. RSVP: 632-1007. greatstartkent.org.
March 16 - astronomy as a hobby: GR Public Museum and GR Amateur Astronomical Association host a free class: “Looking Up & Ahead” by Greg Comegys. 1 p.m. Schuler Books and Music, 2660 28th St. SE. graaa. org. March 19 - Nourishing Ways of West Michigan: “Urban Homesteading: Small Area, Big Results” by Rick Beerhorst. 7-8:30 p.m. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 134 N. Division Ave., nourishingways.org. Free. March 20 - dyslexia seminar: New Chapter Learning offers info on dyslexia. 6:30 p.m. Grandville Middle School, Room 200, 3535 Wilson Ave. Registration: 534-1385. newchap terlearning.net. Free. March 21-22 - institute for healing racism: Two-day workshop connects people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds to discuss thought-provoking topics, plus a history of race in North America. GRCC Diversity Learning Center. $200-$300 (2343390, grcc.edu/ihr). March 25 - gr audubon club: “Birds & Byways: A West Mexican Sampler” by Carl and Judi Manning. 7 p.m. social hour, 7:30 p.m. presentation. Orchard View Church, 2777 Leffingwell NE. Public welcome, free. glsga. org/grac.
Paper chase Forget silk and and satin. Students at Kendall College of Art and Design are creating high fashion out of paper. The finished garments will be featured in the annual Bodies of Art fashion show March 1 at the Goei Center. The theme, 1001 Sheets, “will push KCAD designers to think outside the realms of fabric and cloth,” said Katie Wright, president of the Bodies of Art Fashion Alliance. “Designers have been inspired by abstract geometric shapes, folds and cuts, contemporary artists’ works on paper, and trending fashion found on the runway for Spring ’13 collections,” she said. “Last spring, Bodies of Art’s show Forest Floor was an immense success, and a wonderful opportunity to showcase the creative ability of Kendall artists and designers.” During the show, works inspired by 1001 Sheets by photographer Claire Lea will be on display. For more information, visit kcad.edu.
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out & about Society / faces / places
Ralston Bowles
Jim and Rebecca Beebe
Gary Paul and Ricki Levine
David Koski and Lori Baker Jaclyn Bates and Eric Domke Nicholas and Jason Manshum
Capturing the action around town:
snap shots
In January, music lovers turned out for the first concert in the Local Spins Live Series at St. Cecilia Music Center, including performances by Ralston Bowles, Michelle Chenard, Michael Crittenden, Lux Land, and Karisa and Lucas Wilson. On New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve, crowds gathered in downtown GR to watch the fifth annual Ball Drop. And thousands of folks were at the Grand Slam Juice Ball at JW Marriott to help local chef Tommy Fitzgerald celebrate another birthday and raise money to provide juice boxes to Kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Food Basket. Tommy Fitzgerald, Deborah Edwards and Jimmy Lee
Photography by johnny quirin (top); michael buck (bottom)
Greg and Jacqueline Gillmore and Michele and Peter Elford
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Kaylah Bailey, Cassie Postma, Sydney Hamilton, Sidney Van Patten and Korrie Bailey
Emilee, Georgia, and Viviann Plamondon Karen and Kevin Kissenger
Crowd at N.Y.E. event
Lisa Rios, Paul DeBartola and Susie Knape
Chad and Traci Kious
PhotoGraPhy By michael Buck
PhotoGraPhy By johnny Quirin (toP); michael Buck (Bottom)
Melissa and MaryKay HoodHood
Elizabeth Van Off and Joe Brandonisio
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after thoughts
Q:a
Grand Rapids comic DK Hamilton serves on the LaughFest advisory committee and is one of the people who makes the 10-day festival a huge success.
Photography by johnny quirin
H
e’s got a law degree, a day job at Grand Valley State University, a wife and an 8-year-old daughter. But make no mistake: DK Hamilton is a full-time comedian. “This is not a hobby,” he said of his stand-up performances at venues across the Midwest. “This is the real deal. I get paid to do this.” Hamilton opened for comic Marc Maron at last year’s LaughFest and will return for this year’s event March 7-17. Check out the LaughFest schedule at laughfestgr.org. What’s your idea of perfect happiness? What would I talk about on stage if I ever attained perfect happiness? What trait do you despise in others? Willful ignorance — the deadliest, most virulent strain of ignorance. Guilty pleasure? I’ve played videogames since the days of the original Atari and haven’t given them up yet. Maybe a grown man should feel guilty about that, but why should I feel guilty about what I enjoy? What’s your most treasured possession? My sense of humor. My material possessions are all covered by insurance. Your motto? “This above all, to thine own self be true.” This doesn’t necessarily mean just be true to yourself but rather to be honest with yourself. Your greatest achievement? At the risk of being cliché, I have to say my daughter, Naomi. I’ve had my share of achievements but I have a bad habit of forgetting them and moving on, but I’m amazed by that girl every single day. Your worst mistake ever? I stopped doing standup for over 10 years. I went on stage one night unprepared and completely bombed. Now I kick myself for stopping. As much as I’d like to think that I’ve made up for lost time over the last five years, that’s impossible. Lost time is lost forever. Your favorite comedian of all time? Richard Pryor. Too many people got caught up in his profanity and missed the humanity in his material. Anyone can use the former. I’m influenced and inspired by the latter.
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