Revue, March 2013

West Michigan’s Entertainment Guide for 25 years » March 2013

Music / Movies / Art / Culture / Beer

LaughFest GR’s Festival of Laughter

Always Free!

Also Inside: American Idiot Stepdad Wade Rouse Brewery Food

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What’s Inside

March 2013 | Volume 25, Issue 3

SCENE: 13 16 18 20

Random Notes Q&A with Brian Borbot Beer Free Market

SPECIAL SECTION: LaughFest

28

Garfunkel and Oates

56

Top 5 Brewpub Menus

26 28 29 29 30 31 32

Comedy in West Michigan Garfunkel & Oates Jim Breuer Jackie Kashian Loni Love Gary Valentine Revue’s LaughFest Picks

SOUNDS: 35 36 38 40

On Tour: Stepdad Sink’s Spins Classical Music in Grand Rapids Unknown Mortal Orchestra

SIGHTS: 43

44 46 48 50 51

Visual Arts: Graphic Design: Now in Production Theatre: American Idiot Literary Life: Wade Rouse Style Notes Indie Film Movie Previews

DINING:

53 Restaurant Listings 56 Taste This

35 Stepdad

SCHEDULE:

61 Daily Event Listings and Best Bets

Letter from the Editor

W est M ic h ig a n ’ s E nterta inment G uide

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lov e L a u g h F e s t. Love, love, love it. After three years of the festival, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids still manages to surprise us and make the festival bigger every year. It’s incredible the way our little city has pulled together some of comedy’s biggest names for 10 days of uninterrupted funny.

In its first year, we had the pleasure of hosting Betty White, Bill Cosby, Kathleen Madigan, Mike Birbiglia and more. Hard act to follow, right? The LaughFest team made it seem like a piece of cake when they booked Whoopi Goldberg, Martin Short, Marc Maron and Jim Gaffigan, to name a few highlights. This year, organizers continue their quality streak by booking Wayne Brady, Joel McHale, Chris Harwick and Brian Regan as headliners. Seriously. Just wrap me up in a McHale/ Hardwick sandwich and I’ll never ask for anything again in my life. What I mean to say is, this month is going to be great.

In addition to raising a ridiculously awesome amount of money for Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, LaughFest has enhanced the local comedy scene in West Michigan. Comedy and open mics now appear more regularly at venues and local talent seems to grow with every year, which our fabulous reporter Alexandra Fluegel examines in this issue. She gets to know local heavyweights like Stu McCallister, Joe Anderson and Brian Borbot and reports on growing open mic nights and the increasing attention local comedy is getting.

So enjoy 10 straight days of laughter this month. And after LaughFest is over, enjoy it even more with our year-round local scene.

Rock on.

Editorial Publisher Brian Edwards / brian@revuewm.com Managing Editor Lindsay Patton-Carson / lindsay@revuewm.com Design Creative Director Kim Kibby / kim@revuewm.com Design Kim Kibby, Kristi Kortman, Kellie Zaplitny Contributing Writers Kyle Austin Nick Manes Missy Black Allison Parker Jayson Bussa Emma Kat Richardson Ben Darcie Matt Simpson Siegel Steven de Polo John Sinkevics Alexandra Fluegel Josh Spanninga Audria Larsen Anya Zentmeyer

Contributing photographers Missy Black, Ben Darcie, Steven de Polo Listings schedule@revuewm.com Revue Minions Lauren Longo Carly Plank Kari Norton Audrey Sochor Diana Nowak

Sales / 616.608.6170 / sales@revuewm.com Molly Rizor / molly@revuewm.com WEB EDITOR Jayson Bussa Find us online!

Website: revuewm.com Twitter: twitter.com/revuewm Facebook: facebook.com/revuewm

Lindsay Patton-Carson, Managing Editor / lindsay@revuewm.com

Revue is published monthly by Revue Holding Company.

65 Monroe Center, Ste. 5, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Office: 616.608.6170 / Fax: 616.608.6182

Advertising index Amway Supper Club. . . . . . . . .57 B.O.B.’s Brew. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Bell’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 69 Billy’s Lounge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Brewery Vivant. . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Calvin SAO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Cascade Optical . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Celebration! Cinema. . . . . . . . 51 Central City Taphouse. . . . . . . 19 Compass Film Academy . . . . . 65 Dog Story Theater . . . . . . . . . . 22 Dr. Grins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Erb Thai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Firekeepers Casino . . . . . . . . . 45

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Founders Brewing Company. . 11 Gilmore Collection. . . . . . . . . . 52 GRAM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 GR Ballet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 GR Brewing Company. . . . . . . 17 GR Public Library. . . . . . . 25, 68 GR Symphony . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Grand Taxi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Grand Woods Lounge. . . . . . . . 71 GrowCo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Gun Lake Casino. . . . . . . . . . . 67 Holiday Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 The Intersection. . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Irish on Ionia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Kalamazoo State Theatre. . . . . 15 Keil Lasik. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 LaughFest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Michigan Irish Music Festival. 21 Miller Auditorium. . . . . . . . . . . 23 The Orbit Room. . . . . . . . . . . . 37 OxBow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Palazzolo’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 The Pyramid Scheme. . . . . . . . . . 5 Ralphie May. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Reserve. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 River City Improv. . . . . . . . . . . 70 Saugatuck Brewing Company. 19 Saugatuck Center for the Arts. 25

Schmohz Brewery. . . . . . . . . . . 19 Schuler Books. . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Seven Steps Up. . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Shanty Creek. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Sight Optical. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Soaring Eagle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 St. Cecilia Music Center . .14, 65 The Union. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 University Musical Society. . . . 39 Vitale’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Wellspring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 West Michigan Symphony. . . . 39 West Side Beer. . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

©2013, Revue Holding Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part granted only by written permission of the publisher in accordance with our legal statement, fools.

On the cover: Read all about this year’s LaughFest festivities, starting on page 26.

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Random Notes

Thirty Steps to Forward

Local Music ///

opened last December and the owners’ goal is to provide a safe environment for music lovers to enjoy local and regional bands from all genres.

National CD Releases ///

In honor of David Bowie’s 66th birthday, instead of receiving gifts, the legendary glam rocker chose to give us all the greatest possible gift: new music. On Jan. 8, the secretive artist released a video for his new single, “Where Are We Now,” on his website, also announcing a new album, The Next Day. The March 12 release marks a decade since Bowie’s last album, Reality … Similarly to Bowie, Justin Timberlake is finally back to what he does best: serenading us. Sure, we liked him in The Social Network and Friends with Benefits, but for every charming role that holds us over, there’s that one cringe-worthy film that makes us beg him to come back to the music. (We’re talking In Time, if you haven’t caught on.) The ever-smooth JT releases The 20/20 Experience on March 19 … There was a time when we thought we’d never hear from The Strokes again. The bandmates were fighting, Julian

Casablancas released a weird solo album and we all tightly clutched Is This It while watching Marie Antoinette. In 2011, the band put aside its differences and released the poppy, electro-synth-inspired Angles and is now set to release Comedown Machine on March 26 … Other notable releases include Depeche Mode (March 26), Kate Nash (March 5) and They Might Be Giants (March 5).

on tour ///

In 2007, Flyleaf burst onto the rock scene with its single “All Around Me” off its 2005 self-titled album. The album solidified the band as one of modern rock’s heavyweights, with the help of lead singer Lacey Strum’s intense vocals. But just mere months ago, Strum left the band, with Kristen May filling her shoes. Can you tell the difference? Find out on March 8 when Flyleaf co-headlines The Intersection with Drowning Pool.

Tickets are $20 for the 7 p.m. show …

Millennials may recognize the name “Janis Ian” from a little movie called Mean Girls.

The inspiration behind the character is actually prolific, politically charged and (at the time) controversial folk singer, Janis Ian. The

legend graces the stage of Saugatuck Center for the Arts on March 9 at 8 p.m. Ian’s songs “Society’s Child (Baby I’ve Been Thinking),” “Jesse,” “Stars” and “At Seventeen” are among her most well-known and have been recorded by several different artists. In the time since her last SCA performance, she has been busy touring and recording an audio version of her autobiography, Society’s Child. Her work was rewarded recently when she took home the Grammy for “Best Spoken Word Album,” where she was up against Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton, Ellen Degeneres and Rachel Maddow. This performance will be Ian’s only 2013 West Michigan stop. The 400 seat theatre promises an intimate night to remember. Tickets are $35 in advance or $37 the day of the show.

dance ///

The fourth annual Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival is commandeering the Epic Center’s Wellspring Theater March 14-17. The event features five different concerts of modern dance maintaining

Continued on page 14 8

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Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Fact: Music venues have a hard time staying in business. That’s not a fate Foundry Hall, or its supporters, are willing to accept.

The cozy South Haven performance venue has been going strong with a steady diet of local and national acts. All the while, the building has been up for sale, and one local band is making sure it becomes the venue’s permanent home. “We always felt that [Foundry Hall] brings a lot of local acts the opportunity to perform, and even national acts,” said Gretchen Powers, half of the folk duo Thirty Steps to Forward.

“We read in the paper they were looking to purchase the building. We thought we could do something.” That something is coming in the form of a benefit show on March 22 at 7:30 p.m. Powers and her brother will appear with the Alabama Spanking Machines and Chicago-based Rebecca Rego. Admission is $7 and all proceeds go to the cause …

Moderately sized music venues have found a niche in West Michigan in recent years, and now music fans of all ages can join in at The Donut Hole (1703 W. Sherman Blvd.) in Muskegon’s Glenside district. The venue

David Bowie

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Random Notes classical elements, with original works by 39 choreographers from across the Midwest – including several from Michigan. Evening performances are March 15 and 16 at 7:30 and 9, with a family friendly event including young dancers on March 17 at 3 p.m.

Anyone interested in developing a few moves of their own should attend one of the master classes held by the festival, such as Afro-Contemporary Dance or Dance Improvisation. All performances and classes are $10, or you can purchase a festival pass to all the shows for $40.

food ///

St., Saugatuck) on June 21 with the musical comedy Xanadu. Forbidden love takes a whole new spin when Greek goddess meets mortal artist during the disco era—roller disco at that. The comedy on wheels runs through July 14. The season gets into full swing with Game Show, which runs from July 26 - Aug. 11, a theatrical comedy about a long-running TV game show that allows audience members to interact with the cast.

Behind-the-scene antics of the playboy host, ambitious producer and a humble cameraman are sure to entertain during “commercial breaks.” The season ends with the Midwest premiere of Closer than Ever, which starts Aug. 16 and runs through Sept. 1. This musical is all about what keeps humans laughing and crying: love, family, cellulite, getting in shape, youth as well as and growing up and getting older. Tickets for individual performances range from $29-$42. Student, senior and group ticket specials are available.

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

Grand Rapids Cooking School recently launched a kickstarter project to fully equip Uptown Kitchen – a shared commercial kitchen where the school holds classes – to better serve and educate local home cooks.

Stocked with upscale large appliances, the spacious kitchen lacks enough small appliances and equipment for all students. The kickstarter aims to raise $8,000 by March St. patty’s day 6 by offering a slew of classes in a Launch Festivities /// Series. A $30 contribution to the kickstarter It’s that time of year where program reserves you a seat in Pasta 101, Pie everyone is a little Irish for and Ice Cream or classes that teach canning a day. Get your fair share and cooking with beer. We won’t be missing of all things Irish at this year’s Irish on that now, will we? The six-session Home Ionia, taking place March 16. The fesCook Boot Camp features local chefs ready tivities begin bright and early at 7 a.m. and to teach you the necessary skills to master include McFadden’s your kitchen. There’s Irish Saloon, HopCat, also a knife skills class Stella’s Lounge and to ensure you keep all Important Dates Grand Rapids Brewing parts of your fingers Ad Space Reservations: March 18 Company. Experience intact while preparing Editorial: March 5 live Irish music, that gourmet dish. Visit Irish-inspired food, Delivery: March 26 grcookingschool.com for bagpipers, Celtic dancmore information. ers and more. General admission tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate (that is if they don’t sell out theatre /// before then). There are also a limited amount The award-winning Mason Street Warehouse of tickets available for the Very Irish People Theatre kicks off its 11th season at the (VIP) for $55 that include a t-shirt, mug and Saugatuck Center for the Arts (400 Culver

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Wellspring RAD Fest the chance to come and go as you please without waiting in any lines. If you’re looking for something a little more low-key, Quinn and Tuites Irish Pub (1535 Plainfield NE, Grand Rapids) will be celebrating St. Patty’s Day on March 16 and 17 with live music from Conklin Ceili Band, Waxies, Billies and more. If beer isn’t your thing, you’re in luck - luck of the Irish, that is. They also have a wide selection of Irish Whiskey to choose from plus Magner’s Irish Cider. Of course, you can always expect authentic Irish activities at Fenian’s Irish Pub. This establishment was voted the No. 1 Irish Pub in Michigan. St. Patrick’s Day is, naturally, a grand event, with a parade and a traditional

Photo: La Vida Creations Photography

Irish Hooley with authentic music and dancing. n Random Notes is compiled by REVUE staff and minions, including Jayson Bussa, Lauren Longo, Kari Norton, Lindsay Patton-Carson, Carly Plank and Audrey Sochor.

For more music, art and entertainment news, including breaking concert announcements and giveaways“Like” us on Facebook (facebook. com/revuewm) or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/revuewm.

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/// Q&A

Funny Business Questions for Brian Borbot, founder of Sunday Night Funnies

H

ow long have you been in comedy?

Since the early ‘90s. I used to work in sales at W-Light FM. Before it closed, the Comedy Den on Cascade was one of our clients and they let me guest set on Thursday nights.

Did you pursue comedy the entire time?

I picked back up in 2008. I went down to Nashville and was briefly in “Last Comic Standing.”

When did Sunday Night Funnies begin?

We had two shows in Douglas in October 2008 and moved to the Riverfront (formerly the Radisson) Hotel in November 2008.

I just started to get back into it in fall 2010 when I got sick. It turned out to be cancer. I’m now getting back to it. Doing my own shows and MCing are different from being a feature comic, plus, my show is top of the list.

How is your health now?

Good. I’ve been cancer free for two years in May. It’s still a struggle … The timing was good for LaughFest because I was going through treatments during it and I was involved in a few events. It was therapeutic to get my mind off cancer for an hour. When I was diagnosed, I thought, “If I have cancer, at least I have a good source of material.”

What would you like to see for comedy in West Michigan?

There are not a lot of entertainment options on Sunday.

I’d like to see more comedy, more of the bigger names like Louis C.K. We need a venue for these types of comics.

What was the first show like?

How about locally?

Why Sunday?

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

You MC Sunday Night Funnies, but do you still tour as a comic?

Slow. I think we had seven comics. A lot of friends and family showed up. But I keep charts and I track the growth each year and each year, we see a growth. Now it’s nice that we turn away people.

More people coming out to my shows and a lot more venues for comedy.

You also started a Wednesday night version at Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel in September. What other kinds of growth have you seen?

I’ve never censored anyone’s material. I say it’s your stage time, but also bear responsibility of how the audience reacts. There’s some areas I don’t go [in my comedy], but I don’t censor anyone.

We saw a big jump in December 2009. This year, the eve of Christmas Eve and the eve of New Year’s Eve, we were full 30 or 40 minutes before the show. Comics now sign up ahead, even though it’s an open mic.

How many comics do you have a night?

We have 12 comics do eight-minute sets. At the beginning, we have Sunday Night Funnies Virgins — we sacrifice them first.

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Recently, Tracy Morgan got heat for a homophobic bit, as well as Daniel Tosh for joking about rape. Are there subjects that are off limits to you?

What goals do you have for Sunday Night Funnies?

I want both shows filled. Other things in mind include a Guinness World Record for most comics in one night. We might approach it in spring or fall when the weather is nice and comics can make the drive. I want to do a documentary of doing that as well. I came up with new ideas for the show, I want to get involved in a festival and possibly ArtPrize. n Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Lindsay Patton-Carson. Courtesy photo.

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/// Beer

by Ben Darcie | ben@revuewm.com

Brewery Spotlight:

Perrin Brewing Company

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a r r e d S p e r m o v e d to We st M i ch i gan in 2010 with an intense love of craft beer, and was intent on starting up a brewery. He had been a homebrewer for years, and upon meeting Randy Perrin, they decided to go all in and work together to make their mutual dream a reality.

The location for Perrin Brewing Company, on Alpine and 7 Mile, was owned by Perrin and was a perfect building to expand upon to host their new project. At the time, nearly all of the breweries around West Michigan were in a state of expansion, and they wanted to embrace the idea of future growth.

“We wanted to bring in very talented, experienced people – artists – and let them make great beer,” Sper said.

Headbrewer Sam Sherwood started professionally brewing at Michigan Brewing Company. Over the next few years, he spent time at Arcadia and Founders before settling in at the Waldorff Brewpub in Hastings for five years before lending his talents to Perrin.

“It was nice to come in to new equipment, with the freedom to do what we want.”

Sherwood said.

On Dec. 14, Perrin opened its doors to an overwhelming response. There was a line out the door and the 250-seat pub was at capacity.

Photos: Ben Darcie

“Hundreds and hundreds of people,” Sper said about the opening. “Every hand was on deck.”

The taproom is spacious with many hightop tables and stunning wood, with three large, bright tanks standing guard behind the bar overlooking the pub. There is also a private section for reservation located on the second floor, and a patio section that runs alongside the front of the brewery.

“We want to make sure everyone who walks into those doors is comfortable,” Sper

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

Beer of the Month

Founders KBS

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ated No. 4 in the United States on Ratebeer last year, and No. 9 in the world on BeerAdvocate, this release is a big deal to a lot of people. The response last year was unprecedented, and Founders has taken steps to make this year’s release easier and more available to the public. KBS hits the shelves April 1, and will go very quickly.

This beer pours pitch black with a deep, brown head and smells of bourbon, coffee and roast; the mouthfeel is very full and slightly thick, bursting with prominent notes of chocolate, coffee, bourbon and vanilla above a bold dark malt backbone. This brew finishes with lingering notes of oak, chocolate, and roast, leaving your palate hungry for another sip.

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“We listen to the people who drink here,” said. “Treat them as a guest, as if they were Sherwood said. “When people want something walking into their own living room. At the end that goes off tap to come back, we’re humbled of the day, this brewpub is their place.” by that.”

The mainstays include a golden ale, a Perrin also hosts an in-house food trailer, black lager, a raspberry blonde and a wonderoffering delicious “pub grub,” including sandfully clean IPA. The pub has 15 taps that are wiches, salads and snacks constantly rotating, with three (including amazing sweet tiers of brews. potato fries and house-made “Our portfolio is clean, sesPerrin Brewing onion rings). sionable and drinkable beers,” Company Perrin opened up a mug Sper said. “We wanted to arm 5910 Comstock Park Dr. NW, Comstock Park club in January, and in three our brewers with the best posperrinbrewing.com, (616) weeks sold more than 300 mugs sible equipment so they can 551-1957 to patrons. They are also beginmake the best beer.” ning bottle distribution this Sper and Sherwood also spring, offering 12 and 22-oz. placed a lot of emphasis on bottles. They are also working on an extensive community involvement in their beer, calling barrel aging program and a sour program. their regulars “loyal locals” who frequent the “You should come here to experience pub and alert them to flavor changes and express concern when their favorite brews go our taproom, but come here for the beer,” off-tap.

Sherwood said. n

Beer Events The Southern Michigan Winter Beer Festival in Jackson is held March 9 and features more than 140 national and local brews, as well as food. For more information, visit jacksoncountyfair.net/beerfest.

Motor City Brew Tours comes to Grand Rapids on March 23 and features Brewery Vivant, Mitten Brewing Co. and Harmony Brewing Co. Visit michiganbrewtours.com for more information.

The Art of Beer Festival at the Mendel Center (Benton Harbor) on March 23 features national craft, food, and music for your enjoyment.Visit artofbeerfestival.com for more information.

S A U G AT U C K B R E W I N G C O M PA N Y P R E S E N T S

St. Patrick’s Day at SBC

BEER SCHOOL 101

SATURDAY MARCH 16TH

LAST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

(in advance only) ($10for Pint Club members)

(available at door only) ($8 for Pint Club members)

9:00AM $12 TICKETS

Ticket price includes your first pint or mimosa! Irish party band, Kinfye playing at 6:30pm. (free admission)

SBC will be hosting a series of tasting events designed to further educate and develop the palate of you, the craft beer lover.

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Get lucky with SBC with a full traditional Irish breakfast and live musical guest Moxie Strings!

7:00PM $10 TICKETS

WORLD BEER STYLES ES Mar. 28 THE FLAVORS OF BEE BEER ER WITH FOOD OD

Apr. 25 5

Admission $15 Pint Club members $12 (this event only)

2948 BLUE STAR HWY DOUGLAS, MI - (269) 857-7222 - WWW.SBREWING.COM

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Steven de polo’s

Free Market

New and exciting things happening in the businesses and nonprofits in West Michigan.

Sky Zone Grand Rapids

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Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

guess the Beat Does Not Go On. With Kangaroo Kitchen & Catering (1007 East Fulton St.) set to replace the forlorn hip-hop mixtape purveyor, the Fulton Heights food scene is looking up. Chef Roman Petrack is endlessly fascinating, like if James Bond became a globetrotting restaurateur.

A son of a renowned pâtissier, he was born in New Zealand and raised in the Netherlands and Australia. He studied in the Culinary Arts Institute of Tasmania and worked in award-winning kitchens in Tasmania and Queensland, both in Australia.

When he moved to the U.S., of course he set aside his toque to work at an animal shelter in Denver.

Deciding to get back into the kitchen, he became a personal chef for professional athletes in the NBA and NFL in St. Louis. His wife moved to Grand Rapids to establish her plastic surgery practice, so Chef Roman continued working as a personal chef for two more years in West Michigan. Then the ratchet record shop on Fulton Street opened up.

Chef Roman closed on the building in December and is working with Roots Construction, Dixon Architecture and Merchandise Equipment to open Kangaroo Kitchen in April.

The gourmet take-out and catering kitchen will offer an eclectic-yet-approachable ever-changing menu with flavors from around the globe and an emphasis on local produce bought at the Fulton Street Farmers Market blocks away. In addition to foods prepared as you wait, Chef Roman will offer grab-and-go items in the deli case. The boutique-style catering service will focus on food quality and personalized attention. Start planning that cocktail party, my pets.

Food with a view: Cygnus 27 Courtesy Photo

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When Poppa Steve was a mere tyke in Detroit, his saintly mom would kick him outside during summer vacation, toss him a couple sharp sticks and hardtack, and tell him not to come back until the leaves start to turn grey (it was Detroit, after all).

You cannot do that anymore. That is why Jester’s Court Party and Play Center (3707 Northridge Dr. NW) in Grand Rapids exists. At 22,000 square feet, Jester’s Court is West Michigan’s largest indoor child entertainment center. Owners Monica and Aaron Wright started the business because they wanted to create a fun and safe place for their own young children. You will find eight to 10 mammoth inflatable slides, obstacle courses, jumps and a

1,500-square-foot Softplay jungle gym. They also have designed an interactive video game system that teens love. The Toddler Court has toddler-sized inflatables and a safe play area for children three years and younger. All the inflatables are made with the highest-quality materials and the Wrights are persnickety about cleanliness, so you can feel good about letting your bashful brood get its bounce on.

Teens and adults can fly at Sky Zone Grand Rapids (3640 29th St.). Imagine a seemingly endless sea of trampolines, all connected to form one massive trampoline surface. Now, imagine that surface enclosed with angled trampolines that allow you to bounce off the walls. Just like when mom accidentally gave you mocha cappuccinos in kindergarten! With the first Sky Zone built in 2004, they know how to have high-flying fun. This 3-D play experience can be enjoyed by just about any age, shape or physical ability. Start free-styling in the open jump, which is a favorite of the bouncy and jiggly Miss Carolita. Join a 3-D dodgeball game and release your inner third grader. Or, get serious with the SkyRobics fitness classes. Sky Zone is not

only fun, it is healthy and great for families and group outings.

After all that exercise, you will want to join the Amway Grand Plaza Supper Club (187 Monroe Ave. NW). The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel has had a dining membership program for years, offering discounted meals at Cygnus 27, Bentham’s, GP Sports and Lumber Baron Bar. Last year, the membership program was extended to include Amway properties such as the JW Marriott and Downtown Courtyard

by Marriott. The club’s benefits now include buyone-get-one-free dinner entrees at six.one.six, 20 percent off breakfast and lunch and six.one.six, and 20 percent off all food and beverage at The Bistro in the Courtyard by Marriott. The program was named the Supper Club to reflect the “club” culture that had developed along with the program, as many members see each other at the participating restaurants and at the special members-only events.

Join the “in” crowd and enjoy some of the best dining and exclusive events in Grand Rapids for only $129 per year. n

I’D TAP THAT...

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

MARCH’S SEASONAL CRAFT BEERS ON TAP: London Calling Porter / Dry Rye ESB Wit Rabbit Double / Robert the Barrel

UNIQUE HANDCRAFTED, SMALL BATCH BEERS MADE FROM THE FINEST & FRESHEST INGREDIENTS.

Try all of our craft beers!

DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS - 616.356.2000 - THEBOB.COM REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

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/// Eclectic

March Eclectic Events

T

Momix: Botanica March 17 at Wharton Center

his month, live cirque entertainment reigns. From old timey, sepia-toned stage shows and boozy St. Patty’s Day street performances to a symphonic cirque extravaganza and a fanciful explosion of sensual dance, immerse yourself in a multi-faceted world where fantasy lives, thrives and inspires.

By Audria Larsen

Lil’ Darlins Vaudeville

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

The Loft, Lansing / March 9-10 $10 / theloftlansing.com, (517) 913-0103

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Vaudeville is alive and well in Lansing. The Lil’ Darlins Vaudeville troupe incorporates old-timey stage acts, bawdy humor and the Heartland Klezmorum band to present two nights of raucous entertainment. “We try to be as authentic as we can,” said Katie Corr, producer, director and strawboss. “A lot of troupes focus on a modern spin. We don’t go for that.” You can expect a fast-paced variety show that includes jugglers, lilting singers, hula hoop dancers and fire eaters.

Wacky skits and one-liners, performed in front of a homemade backdrop, pay homage to a bygone era of comedy, gags and good times. “You’re always getting something different every couple minutes,” Corr said. Performing since 2008, the group plans to spread their vaudevillian spirit near and far this year.

Cirque Musica

Miller Auditorium, Kalamazoo / March 9, 8 p.m. $15–$45 / kalamazoosymphony.com, (269) 387-2300

Nowadays even your great granny is running away to join the circus. As the world hungers for more feats of derring-do, the folks in the upper echelons of the circus world continue to innovate and bring fresh shows to adoring audiences. In recent years, cirque entertainment has joined forces with various symphonies to create unique events showcasing these classic art forms together.

Cirque Musica brings veteran artists from Cirque du Soleil as well as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey to the Kalamazoo Symphony for a rousing night of aerial arts, juggling stunts, strongman acts and more, all to the backdrop of classical, POPS and popular repertoire symphonic sounds.

Irish on Ionia: Michigan’s Largest St. Patrick’s Day Street Party Ionia Avenue, Downtown Grand Rapids March 16, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. / $10-$15, VIP $55 facebook.com/IrishonIonia, (616) 454-9105

St. Patty’s Day is a 24-hour bonanza of booze, ethnic pride and epic bar hopping. This year, downtown Grand Rapids boasts the third annual Irish on Ionia street party, which is the largest event of its kind in Michigan. The festivi-

ties begin at 7 a.m. (yes, you read that correctly) with the popular Kegs and Eggs breakfast buffet at McFadden’s where the first 300 guests will receive free food. Live music kicks off around 10 a.m. on the outdoor stage. Later in the day, you can enjoy roaming street performances including fire, acrobatics and aerial arts by Bangarang Circus and as always, there will be requisite green beer.

“Last year we sold out,” said Shane Philipsen of Barfly Ventures, who encourages patrons to purchase tickets in advance, including VIP tickets that get you savings on beer and cool swag. While it is “a McFadden’s-driven event,” the party encompasses Stella’s, Hopcat and the new Grand Rapids Brewing Co. as well. If you miss out on breakfast, the Stoner Taco Booth will help you soak up all that booze.

Momix: Botanica

Wharton Center, East Lansing / March 17, 3 p.m. $25–$45 / whartoncenter.com, (517) 353-1982

Momix: Botanica revels in the senses. Reaching beyond dance, this rich production takes movement and costuming to the next level. Skilled dancers embody fanciful creatures like centaurs and blossoming foliage that undulates and sways across the stage. Quirky insects and even skeletal dinosaurs make appearances in a combination of raw energy and illusion that incorporates original props, projections and even seamless elements of puppetry. The production is sensual, organic and mesmerizing. One of many original Momix productions, Botanica will surely usher in the springtime with a bang. n

REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

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/// All Ages

Poop Your Pants Funny With the following LaughFest artists and events taking over the month of March, the mood lightens, we forget our troubles and we give in to that funny feeling. If you’re looking to involve the kiddos, you’ve come to the right place. Follow the sound of laughter and join in. Smiles, cost nothing and do wonders for our attitudes — not to mention our faces.

By Missy Black

Justin Willman

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo

Just say the word “magician” and a hush falls over the room — when it’s filled with kids. TV-personality, actor and live entertainer Justin Willman is sure to wow the family friendly crowd at the Knickerbocker Theatre in Holland. He’s the host of the hit shows “Cupcake Wars” and “Last Cake Standing” on the Food Network and is known as the witty correspondent on the Rachael Ray talk show. He’s been on “Ellen” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Kids will be impressed with his appearance on the Disney sitcom “The Suite Life on Deck.” Television gigs aside, his magic and card tricks will delight audience members by bringing a fresh, funniness back to magic shows. Even the Los Angeles Times calls Willman, “a new breed of magician who’s making magic cool again for grown-ups.” If both parent and child can stomach a magic show, you know this performer is top-notch.

If you get the chance to attend a straight up hip-hop dance party with your kids, you should go. Clean enough for the littles but funky for the whole family, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is the King of Kid Hop and positive half-pint party music. The show, held at Crush inside The B.O.B., will combine wordplay, storytelling and pure positivity all on top of thumping drums and sophisticated multi-instrumental pieces. After the show, kids probably won’t stop talking about, “how seeing live music is even more fun than going to the movies or playing video games,” Secret Agent 23 Skidoo said. Songs like “Gotta Be Me” speak to the fact that “everybody in the world rocks their own style,” and to be true to your funky self. This old-school dance party speaks straight to the experience and lives of children while not dumbing down the music or going the sugary, sweet route.

“We rocked a show one time so hard that we made a kid poop his pants from dancing so much — and he stuck around for the rest of the show!”

Knickerbocker Theatre, Holland March 16, 7 p.m. $22.50 laughfestgr.org

Strawberry Shortcake: Follow Your Berry Own Beat!

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids March 17, 1 p.m. $27.50-$20/adults; $20-$15/children laughfestgr.org

Tag along with spirited red-haired girl Strawberry Shortcake in a live theatrical production at DeVos Performance Hall. She brings along her best friends Orange Blossom, Lemon Meringue, Blueberry Muffin, Raspberry Torte, Plum Pudding and Cherry Jam, as well as the Doodlebops, who hit the stage before the show. Strawberry Shortcake will appeal to little girls and grown up girls because, “She’s an all-American girl that has so much sweetness and love — plus she lives in a berry patch,” said Show Director Patti Caplette. The high-energy show features songs such as “Dressing Up is Hard to Do” and is loaded with a personal empowerment message, letting little girls know they can do very big things. The storyline follows all the friends in Berry Bitty City as they prepare for their moment in the spotlight at the Glitzy Glaze Talent Show.

“Introducing kids to things they’re very familiar with, expressing it theatrically, entertaining them through a whole other medium,” is Caplette’s goal. Isn’t it sweet how humor, fun and friendship can mix so well?

24 | REVUEWM.COM | March 2013

Crush at The B.O.B., Grand Rapids March 9, 1 & 3 p.m.; March 10, 1 & 3 p.m. $7 laughfestgr.org

Saturday Night Teen Zone GRCC Ford Fieldhouse, Grand Rapids March 16, 7-10 p.m. $7 laughfestgr.org

The GRCC Ford Fieldhouse opens its doors for teens to come and enjoy laser tag, inflatables (fun at any age), a mechanical bull, a live DJ and dancing. “We wanted to create something that really hit that demographic,” said Joanne Roehm, LaughFest festival director.

“I like to think of it along the same lines as a prom after party.”

Try your hand at tie-dye pillowcases and spin art shutter shades.

You can also belt out a few tunes with live band karaoke. It takes regular karaoke further and will appeal to teens into “Glee” and “American Idol.” The teen zone is in its second year and still offers fun, out-of-the-box activities and the perfect way for teens to let loose with their friends in a safe, Saturday night experience. n

Justin Willman4

AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH JANIS IAN

MARCH 9, 2013

8:00 PM $35/ADVANCE TICKETS $37/DAY OF THE SHOW

Iconic singer, songwriter and storyteller Janis Ian returns to the SCA for a onenight-only performance! This is Ian’s only scheduled stop in West Michigan during 2013.

Sponsored by Hilliard Lyons of Holland, Macatawa Bank, Mike Bojko/ Coldwell Banker

REAL TO REEL: SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN

MARCH 14, 2013

7:00 PM $7/TICKETS $5/SCA/HAAC MEMBERS & STUDENTS.

MARCH 30, 2013 8:00 PM $55/TICKETS

Searching for Sugar Man tells the incredible true story of Rodriguez, the greatest ‘70s rock icon who never was.

Sponsored by Clark Hill Entertainment Industry Team

Experience Manhattan Transfer’s exquisite four-part harmonies in the SCA’s intimate 410 seat theater. These multiple Grammy-winners perform the hits (“Boy from New York City,” “Birdland”, “Java Jive”) that have earned them audience and critical acclaim in the worlds of jazz and pop music.

Sponsored by: Hilliard Lyons of Holland, Macatawa Bank, Mike Bojko/Coldwell Banker

TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION 269.857.2399 OR WWW.SC4A.ORG REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER

“Do NOT miss it. Astonishing.”

– Roger Ebert

25

Local Comedy At LaughFest

finding The funny in west michigan | by Alexandra Fluegel

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

T

h r e e y e a r s a g o , Sarah Cavanaugh was a self-described “average West Michigan mom.” She added “comedian” to her resume when coworkers encouraged her to sign up for a community comedy showcase during the inaugural year of the 10-day comedy festival LaughFest.

“I’d messed around with comedy for years, but decided to go the route of mom and corporate girl instead,” she said.

But her colleagues wouldn’t let up.

“They told me, ‘You’ve got to do this,’ and eventually I agreed, entered, and got accepted,” Cavanaugh said. “I didn’t think anything would come of it, I just wanted to check it off my bucket list.”

MAKING IT HAPPEN

Something did come of it. Cavanaugh’s act was an audience favorite and after it was posted on YouTube, Cavanaugh received a phone call she wasn’t expecting. It was a producer from “The View” informing her that she had been selected to appear on the show’s “So You Think You’re Funny” contest.

Though Cavanaugh didn’t win, she said the series of events got her thinking of comedy as a viable career choice, and now she’s doing much more than just messing around.

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Cavanaugh is now part of Grand Rapidsbased sketch comedy troupe “Nobody Gets Us,” which performed to a sold-out crowd at San Chez Bistro during last year’s LaughFest and regularly entertains audiences with its mix of sketches based on politics, life and pop culture.

“LaughFest can really help anybody trying to grow their comedy career,” she said. “For someone like me, it was the perfect scenario. I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do that anywhere else.”

LaughFest takes local comedy to the next level

2013 marks the third year for Gilda’s LaughFest, which draws big names such as Whoopi Goldberg, Martin Short and Betty White, raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, and is quickly becoming one of the best-attended annual events in the area.

It’s also served as an accelerant. Many of West Michigan comedy veterans agree that LaughFest has fueled new interest in local comedy from performers and audiences alike and given the scene the visibility that it’s long deserved.

Teresa Thome was a member of an improv group in the ‘90s, and like Cavanaugh, she chose a more corporate route for her career. Yet

Sarah Cavanaugh there was always the desire to pursue comedy lingering within her.

Four years after the death of her mother, Thome began writing a one-woman show that used comedy as a way to cope.

“I no longer wanted to hate my dead mother,” she said, describing the show as “coming to terms with how to grieve someone you don’t want to grieve.”

After LaughFest representatives saw her perform an excerpt of the show at a local college, she was asked to perform during the 2012 festival.

“LaughFest was the first real presentation of it as comedy. It really helped me take it to the next level and recognize that I had something viable,” she said.

Thome is still developing the show and said she has plans to take it to a larger stage

Funniest Person in Grand Rapids March is the perfect time to get acquainted with local funny people. Of course, LaughFest highlights tons of national and local comedy, but Dr. Grins takes it one step further by giving local up-and-comers the chance to compete for the Funniest Person in Grand Rapids, in addition to a cash prize. Past winners include Adam Degi and Jacob Kubon, who you can see perform all over Michigan. Find out who’s funniest in the final round on March 27. Dr. Grins, Grand Rapids, March 6, 13, 20,

27. 9 p.m., $5, laughfestgr.org, (616) 356-2000

West Michigan is funny on the Internet too.

Here’s some people whose tweets might make you pee a little.

@benwilke @StuMcCallister @ADAMDEGI @whoo_mi989 @davelyzenga

when it’s ready, something she never would have felt prepared to do if not for the opportunity she’s found in West Michigan.

When Thome was performing with the improv group she said, the few clubs in West Michigan were mostly for out-of-state performers. Now, there are a variety of open mic nights and venues like Dog Story Theater that regularly host comedy events.

live entertainment director at Shakespeare’s Pub. “But all of a sudden open mic local comedy has blown up.”

Shakespeare’s Pub began hosting an open mic night last winter, and Micklin said he’s seen an upsurge of both people wanting to get on stage and sit in the audience.

The night’s host, Bob Federicks, is a fulltime student at Western Michigan University, and said he began performing a couple of years ago and is excited to see the newcomers that have begun attending regularly.

The open mic boom

Building a reputation

One of the longest running open mic nights is at Dr. Grins in The B.O.B., and current host Stu McCallister said he’s also watched the scene pick up steam in the eight years he’s been actively performing.

“When the only open mic night was Dr. Grins, you could just show up and go on,” said McCallister, who was a regular performer before landing the job as host. “Now I have to book acts weeks in advance.”

Lou Moratti, Dr. Grins’ general manager, said the increase in performers has translated into a heightened level of talent, as well as great expectations from audience members.

“The general public knows there’s good talent out there, and they expect more from comedians,” he said.

Brian B., who hosts the popular Sunday Night Funnies open mic night at the Riverfront Hotel’s Landing Lounge, said he has also noticed the level of talent increase.

“There are people that do Sunday Night Funnies that are just as funny as some nationally touring acts,” he said. “I’d put up five minutes of somebody locally against a lot of guys that are making big bucks.”

But at times, that’s not always the case.

“I get a lot of people who are ‘funny at parties’ and think they can just show up and wing it,” Brian said. “They eat it.”

McCallister, who performs nationally, said one of the biggest misconceptions of comedy is that anyone can do it.

“If it looks easy, it’s because the guys are good,” he said. “The only way you get better is by getting on stage.”

And Grand Rapids isn’t the only West Michigan city that’s seen growth on the comedy scene.

“Kalamazoo has really struggled with opening comedy clubs,” said Sean Micklin, the

Ben Wilke, who trained with Chicago’s famous Second City, admits that when he first began performing at open mic nights he “pretty much bombed.” As time went on, he got used to being onstage and now performs all over the Midwest, including being a featured LaughFest comic.

@juliodavidgomez @srdailey @casey_stoddard @FakeMLive @annaflora

He said LaughFest has contributed to him landing more gigs, and perhaps more importantly, it’s helped him feel empowered to ask for more money.

Malinda Petersen, whose MP Talent Agency represents comics including Wilke, Cavanaugh and Thome, works to give entertainers that empowerment to request paid gigs.

“It’s put a spotlight on these talented performers who are on par with the headliners.”

LaughFest has drawn huge names in comedy each year and helped solidify West Michigan as a place where comedians want to come, not just pass through. Associate Director of Kalamazoo’s Miller Auditorium Rob Pennock said that though LaughFest helps raise awareness of big names, large acts have long been stopping in West Michigan. Bill Cosby was one of the venue’s first performers back in 1969 and the show was sold out.

“I think LaughFest is helping us build a reputation,” Thome said. “You can say to

people, even if they don’t know where Grand Rapids is, ‘These are the acts that were brought in for LaughFest,’ and it lends a credibility to our community in terms of the comedy scene.”

The large scope of LaughFest has given audiences the opportunity to see major acts and become acquainted with the local comedy scene, but some say given the broad spectrum of shows and easy accessibility for performers, those encounters may not always be positive.

“If the event someone attends during LaughFest doesn’t impress them, they might be less likely to try out another live comedy performance during the rest of the year,” said Joe Anderson, member of sketch comedy group Don’t We Boys.

However, Anderson also said it isn’t the job of LaughFest to ensure quality material at every performance.

Continued on page 31 8

Stu McCallister REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

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/// LaughFest

Garfunkel and Oates Create Comedy with a Melody | by Josh Spanninga

F

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

olk-comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates started out with a series of lo-fi YouTube videos that Kate Micucci and Riki Lindhome had created for the amusement of friends and family.

Thousands of hits later, it became apparent the duo was on to something.

“We said, ‘Let’s make another one! Oh wow, people liked that one, let’s make another one!’ And it kind of went from there,” Micucci said.

Eventually, Micucci and Lindhome decided to take the show live.

“All of a sudden we were playing shows with really fun people and it was kind of infectious,” Micucci said.

While at first, they weren’t sure how to approach the live set, they figured out their niche quickly.

“When we started, we didn’t know if we were going to do comedy clubs or music clubs because it’s a little bit of both, and then once we were on stage it was just so much more fun to make people laugh,” Lindhome said.

28 | REVUEWM.COM | March 2013

Since then they have released three albums, toured extensively, had their music featured on “Scrubs” (on an episode where Micucci appeared briefly as the beloved Stephanie Gooch) and collaborated with artists such as Childish Gambino.

Micucci and Lindhome also have strong careers outside of Garfunkel and Oates. Micucci has her own solo musical act titled “Playin with Micucci,” and Lindhome currently hosts the Nerdist podcast “Making It.” Both regularly act in television and film roles as well. They admit it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find time for Garfunkel and Oates, but they remain committed to the project. Recently, this means working late into the night on new material.

“We just take any chance when we have free time to try and work,” Micucci said.

Currently, they are writing and recording their fourth studio album, and will soon film a handful of videos to promote it.

Grand Rapids will have a chance to see Garfunkel and Oates perform at LaughFest. The girls make it clear that it will be an R-rated performance, and with songs such as “F--- You” and “Handjob, Blandjob, I Don’t Understand Job,” it’s probably best to keep the kids at home.

“One time, a town actually said we were doing a children’s brunch,” Micucci said. “So that was interesting.” n

Garfunkel and Oates The Pyramid Scheme March 8, 9, show times at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. $22.50 / 16+ pyramidschemebar.com, (616) 272-3758

Jim Breuer:

Stand-Up and Step Back

F Jim Breuer Fountain Street Church, Grand Rapids March 10, 7 p.m. $27.50–$32.50 fountainstreet.org, (616) 459-8386

or Jim Breuer, stand-up comedy is a crass and priceless art form.

“It’s probably the only thing you’ll see live that’s unedited and completely raw,” he said. “You just don’t know what you’re getting when you go see live comedy, and I love that.”

Breuer’s breakout was his 1995-1998 stint on “Saturday Night Live,” where one of his characters was the memorable-yet-slightly annoying Goat Boy. “I was just a blue collar kid and then the next thing you know I was with the biggest stars and rock bands in the world,” he said about his early success. “I always had one foot back home in awe as a fan, and then I had my other foot in waiting to get up to the plate and smash a home run.”

After “SNL,” Breuer co-starred with Dave Chapelle in the cult stoner comedy Half-Baked and soon after, ventured back into stand-up.

In the early 2000s, Breuer toured heavily and made various television and film appearances. When he got married and had kids he took on a hosting gig for Sirius Radio, which allowed him to stay at home with his family.

In 2008, Breuer decided it was time to return to the stand-up circuit.

While on the road he filled much of his free time writing anecdotes he later compiled in his book, I’m Not High (But I’ve Got a Lot of Crazy Stories about Life as a Goat Boy, a Dad, and a Spiritual Warrior).

With all on his plate, however, he feels it’s time to ease up on the touring once again.

“I’m getting older, my wife has breast cancer, my oldest daughter is going into high school,” Breuer said. “To me, it’s about being a family warrior first. You’ve got to set an example and you’ve got to be there.

And if you’ve got to cut back, you’ve got to cut back.”

Breuer still plans on touring, but he will be ditching small comedy clubs and bars in favor of performing arts centers and larger venues.

During LaughFest he’ll be performing a clean set of jokes at the Fountain Street Church. And who knows? He might break out Goat Boy or his iconic Joe Pesci impression. Remember, when it comes to comedy you never know what to expect. n —Josh Spanninga

Jackie Kashian: Queen of the Dorks

“I was immediately told by management to shut up and that open mic was on Sundays,” Kashian said. “I came back three weeks later and did a little stand-up comedy.”

This incident kick-started what would become a lucrative career for Kashian, complete with a half-hour televised comedy special, guest appearances on “The Bob & Tom Show” and two comedy albums (the most recent, It Is Never Going to Be Bread made it onto Amazon.com’s “Best of 2010” list). She tours extensively, sometimes spending literally half the year on the road.

She has also performed her one-woman stage show titled, “It’s a Terrible Burden Being Right,” which is comprised of her telling in-depth, poignant personal stories. Some of the material from this show is also featured in her stand-up act, though she presents it in a condensed format.

“When you take a story and you turn it into stand-up, what you do is just end up tightening it up,” she said.

On March 8 and 9, Kashian will be part of LaughFest’s Clean Comedy Showcase, where fans can see the act she’s honed over the past 15 years. n —Josh Spanninga

Jackie Kashian Dr. Grins, Grand Rapids March 8 and 9, show times at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $17.50 laughfestgr.org, (616) 356-2000

REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

P

odcasts are all th e rage th ese days.

Whether you’re a political junkie, music snob, science geek, foodie or basically a fan of any subject, chances are there is a podcast out there tailor-made for you. And if you happen to be a fan of fandom? Look no further than Jackie Kashian’s “Dork Forest.”

“I have people on the show that talk about something they love, something they’re very enthusiastic about for an hour,” Kashian said. “It could be anything from baseball to comic books and science fiction.”

Topics highlighted in past episodes include (but are not limited to): origami, ventriloquism, LARPing, Aquaman and Dungeons and Dragons. She even broadcasts live versions of the show where she travels, meets up with a “local dork luminary” and records the podcast live (one such episode features her interviewing a man who transformed his DeLorean into a replica of the time machine in Back to the Future).

It’s no surprise that Kashian makes her living having conversations with people. She’s always been an avid talker, which got her into comedy. The story involves seven shots of tequila, a Sam Kinison show and Kashian’s loquacious personality.

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/// LaughFest

“Now people are starting to see that the female voice is a little different than the male voice, but when it comes to comedy, funny is funny.”

Love Leads the Way | by Josh Spanninga

Loni Love McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon March 15 and 16, show times at 10 p.m. and 12 a.m. / $17.50 mcfaddensgrandrapids.com, (616) 454-9105

30 | REVUEWM.COM | March 2013

L

on i Love has a se e m i ngly ub iquitous presence on television.

She has appeared as a correspondent on Dr. Oz and on D.L. Hughley Breaks the News (during which she covered President Obama’s first inauguration). She can be seen providing commentary for VH1’s I Love the… series, she’s a regular panelist on “Chelsea Lately” and she’s made numerous guest appearances on television shows.

This is just a small portion of her ever-expanding catalog of television projects, a mode of exposure she has come to greatly appreciate.

“Most of the time for comedians it’s better for them to do a television show because people get to actually really know who they are as a comic,” Love said. “So for me, I like television a little more.”

She has also appeared in various feature films such as Soul Plane, and even dabbled with acting in serious dramatic plays, though it wasn’t for her.

“When you’re a performer you should try all forms of performing, and that’s what I did, but my heart is with comedy.”

Her comedy interest began when she performed at amateur standup events during college. Love went on to get a

steady job as an electrical engineer, but continued to perform comedy on the side, and became a finalist on Arsenio Hall’s reboot of “Star Search.” Soon after, she became a full-time comedian.

“One day at my engineering job we were having layoffs and I said, ‘Lay me off and save somebody else’s job,’ and I became a professional comedian.”

Critics and fellow comedians quickly took notice. She won the Jury Prize for “Best Stand-Up” at the US Comedy Arts Festival, and made it onto “best of” lists for Variety and Comedy Central.

Love is proud to help represent a growing female voice in comedy, and commends performers such as Tina Fey and Amy Poehler for their hard work and success in a shifting industry.

“Now people are starting to see that the female voice is a little different than the male voice, but when it comes to comedy, funny is funny.”

And being funny is what Love does best. Throughout all of her endeavors she always has one goal: to make people smile.

“As a performer there’s nothing greater than standing there looking at people laughing.” n

Gary Valentine:

Funny is a Family Business

S

ometimes comedy is a family affair – at least for Gary Valentine. Take for instance the way he was introduced to the world of comedy.

“It was in 1988 when my mother signed me up for an open mic night at a local comedy club,” Valentine said.

Where most comedians have to explain to their parents why they decided to give up their office job and toss out their college credentials to pursue a career in comedy, Valentine had his mother there egging him on.

But his mom isn’t his only enabler. For a while, he had a recurring role as Cousin Danny on the hit show “King of Queens,” where he acted alongside his brother, Kevin James.

“I have a bit in my stand-up act about an Italian pizza maker in New York,” he said. “And we figured it’d be a funny way to work my character onto ‘King of Queens.’”

At the get-go, Valentine proved to be a natural while filming in front of a live audience, but that’s probably in part to his years of experience in stand-up.

“With television, it’s an immediate reaction,” Valentine said. “It’s more like stand-up because there’s a live audience, and when you say a

funny line you get an immediate response, and you know if something is funny or not.”

“King of Queens” isn’t the only time Valentine and James collaborated. Valentine has also worked with his brother on The Zookeeper and Here Comes the Boom. And while sibling rivalry is slim, Valentine says the hardest part of working on these movies is keeping a straight face.

“You laugh a lot,” Valentine said. “It’s hard to get through the scenes sometimes.”

Of course, the acting gigs and collaborations make up only part of Valentine’s career. He has an impressive history of stand-up from performing at the Montreal Comedy Festival to appearing on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and other late night talk shows. He has also been headlining comedy clubs for more than 15 years, delivering his own brand of comedy inspired by the silliness of Steve Martin, but with a twist.

“It’s more of the guy who thinks he’s on top of it and has it all figured out, and really he has no clue.” n —Josh Spanninga

Gary Valentine Lowell High School Performing Arts Center March 17, 7 p.m. $22.50 (Reserved Seating) laughfestgr.org

Comedy in West Michigan, Continued from page 27 to exposing the public to the variety of options there are when it comes to seeing a live show.

“In Grand Rapids, we’ve had the good fortune of a great improv comedy scene developing, but not as many people are familiar with live sketch comedy,” Anderson said.

Lyzenga credits the local venues’ support for comedy as a big portion to the scene’s growth.

“Dog Story has been pivotal in being a place where we could incubate a show,” he said.

This year, LaughFest’s headliners are Lewis Black, Wayne Brady, Brian Regan and Joel McHale, and the range of quality local performances includes comedians from every genre. Thome described the festival as an event that not only brings in big names, but also celebrates West Michigan comedy.

“LaughFest has been always been putting more local comedians in the festival, and the response has been people saying, ‘Yes, more please.’” n

REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Don’t We Boys

“The pressure is on the comedians to be funny and on the booking agents and managers to make sure what they’re putting in front of people is high quality,” he said.

Dave Lyzenga, another member of the Don’t We Boys and other local improv troupes, agreed.

“LaughFest’s role is to take all of the enthusiasm it’s able to generate on a mass scale and plug it into the right places and throw these kind of fair-weather fans that show up once a year to the right shows.”

Matt Sterenberg is the third member of the group, which came together when the three comedians were all performing at Dog Story Theater. He said it can be frustrating to see such a large interest during the 10-day period and not as much during the rest of the year, but that it remains up to individual comedians to capitalize on what the festival is able to do.

The Don’t We Boys currently tour the country performing their routine and say they’ve appreciated Laughfest’s commitment

31

Revue’s LaughFest Picks 3.08

Bill Burr Fountain Street Church, Grand Rapids 8 p.m. $27.50-$32.50

This new event gives audiences a sampling of the best Laughfest comedians for two nights. The secret lineup – which includes national and local comedians – will not be announced ahead of time.

It’s like one of those mystery bags you can buy at the dollar store – but actually worth your money.

If you don’t know who Bill Burr is now, you will very soon. “Breaking Bad” fans know Burr as Saul Goodman’s hired hand, Kuby, but Burr is jumping from the small to big screen in upcoming months. In April, he appears next to some of Hollywood’s hottest ladies, Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy in

You’d think ‘comedy’ and ‘Shaquille O’Neal’ wouldn’t go together. But from a guy who got a Doctor of Education, launched a basketballthemed jewelry line and recently premiered the television show “Upload with Shaquille O’Neal” since his 2011 retirement, the combination shouldn’t be a surprise. Don’t get too excited though. The big guy himself is not set to visit our little city.

Instead, he’s assembled a group of well-known comedians and slapped his name on the bill. Businessman, indeed. Enjoy a night with D.L. Hughley, Bruce Bruce, Finesse Mitchell and Gary Owen.

32 | REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 2011

JOEL McHALE

LaughFest’s Best The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids March 8 and 16, 11:59 p.m.

Wealthy Theatre, Grand Rapids $10

Shaquille O’Neal Presents …

All-Star Comedy Jam GRCC Ford Fieldhouse, Grand Rapids 8 p.m. $42.50-$49.50

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

3.09

The Heat. Currently, he’s filming Walk of Shame with the charismatic Elizabeth Banks.

Joel McHale Grand Rapids Community College Ford Fieldhouse 8 p.m. $32.50-$37.50 Joel McHale has been a solid source of our laughter within the past few years. His big break came when he took over hosting duties at “The Soup” on the E! network. His fame got an extra boost when, in 2009, he signed on to play masterof-sarcasm Jeff Winger on NBC’s “Community.” (If you’ve ever been on the Internet, you’ve probably

heard of it.) In between, he makes digs at Ryan Seacrest, films a couple movies here and there, stops by the Home Shopping Channel and entertains us at LaughFest.

WAYNE BRADY

For the past three years, Gilda’s LaughFest has given us a healthy dose of laughter for 10 straight days a year. It’s brought us giant stars like Bill Cosby and Betty White, up-and-comers like Anthony Jeselnik and Hannibal Buress and reminded us of the wealth of comedy we have at home, such as River City Improv, The Don’t We Boys and many others that contribute the funny to our community. Oh, and how can we forget? It’s raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, a cancer grief and support organization. To say we’re excited for round three is an understatement.

3.10

Seriously Funny Adventure Challenge 12:30 p.m., Central District Cyclery Early registration: $40 for a team of two/$80 for a team of four Regular price: $50 for a team of two/$100 for a team of four For two hours, teams race through downtown Grand Rapids to compete in challenges and battle for prizes.

In true LaughFest fashion, the final stage involves a joke showdown where competitors will wring every last bit of laughter from the crowd.

3.12

Wayne Brady Devos Place, Grand Rapids 5:30 p.m. $250 Some people know Wayne Brady as Barney Stinson’s gay wingman brother on “How I Met Your Mother.”

Some may know him as being maybe, possibly (yes, he was) the star cast member on “Whose Line is it Anyway?” And a great number of people not only know,

but idolize him from this line alone: “Is Wayne Brady gonna have to choke a bitch?” So, to say Wayne Brady is a versatile performer is an understatement. His performance at LaughFest is just as eclectic as the man himself, with dinner and a show tied into a night where all proceeds go toward Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids.

Natasha Leggero & Neal Brennan The Orbit Room, Grand Rapids 8 p.m.

Free 21+ Don’t write Natasha Leggero off as just another pretty face. The gal has a biting wit and isn’t afraid to get dirty with her words. A pal of fellow dirty gal Chelsea Handler, Leggero was a judge on “Last Comic Standing” and co-hosted The Lavender Hour podcast with her ex, Dustin Trussell, until, you guessed it, they broke up. In March 2011, she released her comedy album,

Coke Money, which cracked the iTunes top 10.

All you need to know about Neal Brennan is that he co-wrote Half Baked and co-created “Chappelle’s Show.” That’s it. The brilliant work speaks for itself. But if you need more proof, look no further than his gig writing The Whitehouse Correspondents Dinner and his millions-downloaded podcast, The Champs. There. Now we’re really done.

3.14

Best of the Midwest Competition Dr. Grins, Grand Rapids 7 p.m. $15 Show your Midwest pride and support these homegrown comedians as they compete for a $2,500 prize. These funny guys and gals ain’t small potatoes, either.

They’ve performed in some of the biggest comedy clubs across the country and have appeared on “Last Comic Standing,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “The Bob and Tom Show” and “Live at Gotham.”

Lewis Black DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids 8 p.m. $45.50-$55.50

LEWIS BLACK

March 7–17, Grand Rapids

LAUGHFEST TICKETS AND INFORMATION

Lewis Black is angry. He yells, he vents, he comments on his issues with this country and audiences love him for it. He says all the things we wish we could say, but are too afraid to. And that’s why Mr. Black is an important part of our lives – he says what we need to hear. Think America is the greatest country on Earth? Spend an hour with Lewis Black and he’ll convince you otherwise.

Visit www.laughfestgr.com

Michigan native Mary Lynn Rajskub, who you may know as the brainy and loyal Chloe O’Brien from “24.”

3.15

Stand-Up Competition Dr. Grins, Grand Rapids March 15-16, show times at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

In this event, $10,000 is on the table for the comic who can best win over the audience. On Friday night, all competitors take the stage, but only five continue to the final round, based on audience votes. On Saturday, the remaining five will perform with one taking home the $10,000 prize. Competitors include up and comers, as well as familiar faces like Andrew Schulz, Al Jackson and Michigan native Mary Lynn Rajskub,

who you may know as the brainy and loyal Chloe O’Brien from “24.”

3.16

LaughFest’s Best The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids March 8 and 16, 11:59 p.m.

Wealthy Theatre, Grand Rapids $10 This new event gives audiences a sampling of the best Laughfest comedians for two nights. The secret lineup – which includes national and local comedians – will not be announced ahead of time.

It’s like one of those mystery bags you can buy at the dollar store – but actually worth your money.

Stand-Up Competition Dr. Grins, Grand Rapids March 15-16, show times at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $32.50 dinner and show, $17.50 show only

win over the audience. On Friday night, all competitors take the stage, but only five continue to the final round, based on audience votes. On Saturday, the remaining five will perform with one taking home the $10,000 prize. Competitors include up and comers, as well as familiar faces like Andrew Schulz, Al Jackson and

Compiled By Lauren Longo, Kari Norton and Carly Plank Additional reporting by Lindsay Patton-Carson

mary lynn rajskub

$32.50 dinner and show, $17.50 show only

Brian Regan has successfully proven that you don’t need to be crude to be funny. But if you need proof, please note that Regan sold out his 7 p.m.

LaughFest showcase so fast, that a 9 p.m. show had to be added.

He’s just that good. And what’s best about Regan is his ability to connect with his audience through universal topics such as food serving sizes, the guy who only talks about himself at dinner parties and UPS stress.

The best part about River City Improv’s LaughFest performance is that you don’t have to wait a year to see this Calvin College-alumni improv group perform again. River City Improv is not only performing at LaughFest, but West Michigan natives can catch their clean wit, songs, skits and games throughout the year, as they host at least one show every month. n

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Once upon a time, Chris Hardwick sat in the shadow of ‘90s bombshells Jenny McCarthy and Carmen Electra while hosting MTV’s hit game show, “Singled Out.” People may remember his penis-shaped haircut or oversized button-up shirts, but chances are, they were too busy looking at other things. (Specifically, a pair of “other things.”) But years later, Hardwick got a sexy new haircut and found his place in the world, right smack dab in the middle of nerd culture.

He got nerd-centric gigs such as host of “Wired Science” on PBS and a writer for Wired magazine and slots on various G4 shows.

In 2010, he brought nerd culture to the masses with his weekly Nerdist podcast, which he hosts with Jonah Ray and Matt Mira.

The podcast combines comedy, popular culture and all things nerdy. Watch a live taping of The Nerdist during LaughFest.

chris hardwick

Nerdist Podcast Live! With Chris Hardwick, Jonah Ray and Matt Mira Fountain Street Church, Grand Rapids 8 p.m. $22.50-$27.50

Brian Regan DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids March 16, show times at 7 and 9:30 p.m. $42.50

River City Improv Ladies Literary Club, Grand Rapids March 16, 7:33 p.m. $10

In this event, $10,000 is on the table for the comic who can best

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34 | REVUEWM.COM | March 2013

/// ON TOUR

by Nick Manes

“[The Warped Tour] was such a mixed bag. It was a ton of fun, but incredibly hard work. It wasn’t really our audience, but it was a good experience overall ... We made a lot of good friends.”

I

REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

FOR STEPDAD, Success is ALL ABOUT WHO YOU KNOW

t pro bab ly g o e s with o ut say- festival that attracts a mostly teen demographic. “It wasn’t really our audience, but it was a good experience overall ... ing that the music industry has changed in We made a lot of good friends.” the last decade. A garage band no longer has to Stepdad’s rise to Internet — and eventually, in real shop around a demo to the biggest labels to “make life — fame really begins with the music video it.” Nowadays, a simple SoundCloud for their hit single, “My Leather, My Fur, My or Bandcamp can make that possible.

Nails,” according to Tafel.

Or if you’re a couple of years older, it was Stepdad wsg Alexis, “The night we put it up, we played a MySpace page, as is the case with Grand Flint Eastwood The Pyramid Scheme, with [electronic musician] Dan Deacon in Rapids-based electropop act, Stepdad, signed Grand Rapids Kalamazoo,” he said. “The video got 10,000 to Brooklyn label Black Bell Records.

March 2, 8 p.m. views overnight.”

Stepdad started when Mark “Ultramark” $8 in advance, $10 day Through a series of connections, the band Tafel was attending Central Michigan of show was introduced to their manager, who took University and performed solo shows. He was pyramidschemebar.com, them to Austin, Texas for South By Southwest. contacted via MySpace by Ryan McCarthy, (616) 272-3758 A photographer friend introduced them to who had seen him perform. The two moved their future lawyer, who put them in contact to Chicago together and began performing with acclaimed producer Chris Zane, who went on to prounder the moniker “Stepdad.” Eventually, the duo moved to Grand Rapids in an effort to save money, Tafel said. duce their 2012 release, Wildlife Pop. Since then Stepdad has had its music on shows like “Gossip Girl” and “Weeds.”

Since 2009, they have added three additional members “It was a lot of insane luck,” Tafel said. “You never and more to their music resume, including a spot on the know who the person is that is going to help the most.” n Vans Warped Tour. “[The Warped Tour] was such a mixed bag. It was a ton of fun, but incredibly hard work,” Tafel said of the touring

35

/// Sink’s Spins on Music CD Releases

Romance for Ransom Five Ways to Keep a Secret

If Melissa Dylan and Grand Rapids’ Romance for Ransom (with roots in Walking Ionia) are likened to Paramore because of the whole femaledriven, alt-rock/pop punk thing, so be it. But from the outset of the group’s five-track debut EP co-produced by Mike Cervantes at The Foxboro, Dylan’s emotion-drenched performances of expertly crafted takes on breakups and fierce independence prove that her transition from folk-pop solo artist to rock siren has paid off. And that means this guitar-propelled band — Dylan, lead guitarist Ben Soper, bassist Mike McNally, guitarist Josh Stover and drummer Aaron Flint — won’t be a secret for very long.

Joshua Davis

Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

A Miracle of Birds Inspired by his voyage last year to the West Bank for the Run Across Palestine to support fair-trade olive farming, veteran Lansing singer-songwriter Joshua Davis’ life-changing experience in this severely oppressed region hatched a thought-provoking folk/ Americana collection with world music accents (“The Market”) and gospel-infused charm (“It Won’t Be Long,” “Valley of Fire”). As a Jewish-American traveling through Israeli-controlled Palestine, Davis struggled with conflicting emotions and returned home “with more questions than answers.” But his heartfelt documentation of “people as people” offers up compassionate songs of darkness, hope and perseverance.

Music critic and entertainment writer John Sinkevics comments on the local and national music scene at localspins.com (Spins on Music), spotlighting artists at 10 a.m. Wednesdays on Local Spins Live at News Talk 1340 AM.

36 | REVUEWM.COM | March 2013

Peter Fox and The Bangups at Sound House Recording

ON THE MUSICAL RADAR

T

he Bangups’ journey in fashioning its new rock album, Hellcat, took its share of twists and turns, from an invigorating stint on 2012’s national Warped Tour to a “crazy” detour into the realm of “chiptune” bands that create electronic music using sound chips from video game consoles.

In the end, Joey Dornbos (guitar) and Brent French (drums) returned to their roots in recording their sophomore album with Peter Fox at Grand Rapids’ Stone House Recording.

“We went to a time of reflecting and a deeper understanding of who we are as a band,” Dornbos said. “We come from Delta blues and old country to ‘50s and ‘60s rock ‘n’ roll and on into punk rock. We had to come to grips with that.”

The result? More refined and focused rock songs that still bristle with “this scrappy meanness” of a two-piece band.

Tracked over five days, the album by this powerhouse Grand Rapids-area duo forms part of a serious business plan with “national connections” afoot to broaden exposure.

“It was intense,” Dornbos says of recording the new songs that represent a stronger collaboration with French, his musical brother for 15 years. “It feels like a Bangups record to me.

Lyrically, this record is just so exciting.”

The Bangups credit Fox for seamlessly integrating their rawness with natural reverb and precise drum sounds French has long sought.

“It was really refreshing to work with Pete,” French said.

“We’re sort of from the same tribe.”

With new material to unthrottle, expect The Bangups to hit the road again in 2013, honing live shows and growing audiences.

L

ineup changes in a band can be painful and anxietyinducing. They can also be rewarding. Pop Evil frontman Leigh Kakaty says the Grand Rapids-based hard rock band’s personnel shakeups over the past year may have helped spark the group’s best studio experience ever.

The well-traveled band returned early this year to Chicago’s Groovemaster Recording Studio with producer Johnny K to lay down tracks for the follow-up to 2011’s War of Angels, an album that spawned several Top 20 mainstream rock hits and a series of high-profile U.S. and European tours. North Muskegon native Kakaty calls the new album “the record we’ve always wanted to do,” a harder-edged project sure to

Leigh Kakaty of Pop Evil please loyal fans with its “guns a-blazing” style. Longtime members Kakaty, Matt DiRito and Dave Grahs entered the studio after welcoming drummer Chachi Riot (formerly of Saraph) and guitarist Nick Fuelling to the fold following the departure of Dylan Allison and Tony Greve. “We know what our core audience wants and we wanted to do a record for them this time,” says Kakaty, who expects release of the first single in March.

C

ontemporary folk s i n g e r R a ch a e l Davis concedes that moving from her native Michigan to Nashville last year with her husband, bassist Dominic John Davis, who tours with rock icon Jack White, was an adjustment. But Davis has started making significant Rachael Davis connections in Nashville, PHOTO: John Sinkevics developing a relationship with a publisher and collaborating on songs with other writers. There are “so many avenues” to explore, says Davis, who’s recording two new songs at a time this year so she can release vinyl 45s every six weeks or so. Eventually, she’ll compile them into a full-length album. n

REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

37

/// Local Music

Classical Revolution: Grand Rapids Style

| by Elizabeth Slowik / Syndicated from Spins on Music, localspins.com © 2013

Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

S

top me if you’ve heard this one: A violin, a cello and a clarinet walk into a bar in Grand Rapids.

That was no joke last week at the SpeakEZ Lounge, which hosted the Grand Rapids debut of Classical Revolution, a movement that aims to release classical music from the traditional concert hall and bring it into taverns and nightclubs.

Rick Robinson, a former bassist for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, fostered a small group of Grand Rapids classical musicians for an evening of chamber music at the 1930s-style pub at 600 Monroe Ave. NW. Robinson, in town to sit in with the Grand Rapids Symphony, brought Classical Revolution to Detroit and is working to expand its reach.

“I’d always been very excited about reaching new audiences for classical music in clubs,” said Robinson, who regularly organizes Classical Revolution events at cafes around Detroit.

Dressed-down Classical Revolution chamber concerts began in Europe about a decade ago, and the trend has migrated to locales such as San Francisco, New York City, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Boise and Cleveland. Today there are at least 35 chapters, Robinson said.

Leanne King MacDonald, violist in her sixth season for the Grand Rapids Symphony, said she first encountered Classical Revolution in the Cincinnati area in 2006.

“I just thought it was incredible, just — wow,” MacDonald said. “Someone found a venue, gathered musicians who had a program ready to play and we just showed up in a bar, and people were really, really excited about it. It is like a chamber music party. We show up, bring our instruments and we all take turns playing parts.”

At the SpeakEZ debut in February, Robinson gave one audience member honorary musician status by giving him a cowbell to play along with the group. Out came the smartphones, and videos and pictures were quickly posted on Facebook, MacDonald said.

Last week’s Classical Revolution Grand Rapids included musicians on violin, viola, cello, bassoon, clarinet, string bass, flute and percussion.

SpeakEZ manager Elinor Frances said she is ready to host Classical Revolution again.

“The house was absolutely packed, and bubbling with excitement. Honestly, I couldn’t be happier,” Frances said.

38 | REVUEWM.COM | March 2013

“It is like a chamber music party. We show up, bring our instruments and we all take turns playing parts.”

Although no additional dates had been set as of mid-February, “we are definitely going to have them back,” she added.

The Classical Revolution might never have occurred at places such as the SpeakEZ but for Michigan’s 2010 law that bans smoking in bars, restaurants and cafes, Robinson added.

“I knew as long as there was smoking in bars, we’d never get classical musicians to play in clubs,” Robinson said.

“Fortunately, smoking bans started to hit, state by state. Classical musicians, particularly wind players, have to suck a lot of wind, and while jazz players are used to it, classical players clearly are not. That’s just too much of a hurdle.”

Robinson stepped away from the DSO after 23 years, following the musicians’ strike in 2010 and the death of his father. He now works to spread the Classical Revolution movement, and plays with his two ensembles, CutTime Players and CutTime Simfonica. He also publishes arrangements and original compositions.

MacDonald is a member of the GRSO Community Engagement Committee. She notes that Classical Revolution, while complementing the Grand Rapids Symphony’s mission, is a separate and entirely voluntary activity.

“People are asking, and they want more,” MacDonald said. “I love this community and I love to see classical music in venues other than St. Cecilia (Music Society) or DeVos Hall, so it’s actually where we hang out, where we eat, we drink and socialize. It’s a place where you’re not going to be shushed.

“The Classical Revolution was started by young musicians that like to, after a concert or even after day of practicing at the university, go out to the bar and hang out. We see people up on stage, rock musicians, and it’s like, ‘Why can’t we do that?’ This is the music we like to play and we like to listen to, and these are the places we like to go to. How can we bring this all together?” n

The first Classical Revolution show at SpeakEZ Lounge.

PHOTO: Elinor Francis

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

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REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

/// On Tour

Unknown Mortal Orchestra Brings Psychedelic Carnival to Holland | by Carly Plank

Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

A

40 | REVUEWM.COM | March 2013

lth o u g h yo u s h ove d Rolling Stone recognized UMO as a band to your Halloween costume watch, thanks to their rough-hewn fusion of into a closet months ago, you will psychedelic rock and pop sensibilities.

This sound is due in part to Portrait’s soon have an occasion to dust it off.

For fans of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, production skills, which he has honed since he quirky attire that corresponds with scenes from was 15, when he dropped out of high school to work at a Portland recording the band’s more trippy music studio. After listening to Nirvana, videos is the dress code for the Lou Reed and late-‘70s ambient band’s shows.

Unknown Mortal pop, Portrait is often introduced “There are a slew of kids in Orchestra weird costumes dancing,” said to new influences by Nielson.

Park Theatre, Holland “Ruban is constantly buyJake Portrait, the group’s bassist March 6, 8 p.m. / $5-$10 hollandparktheater.com, ing strange albums based on the and producer, noting that rabbit (616)355-7275 way the cover looks. He’ll walk ears are not uncommon.

Costumed fans weren’t the out of the store with like seven only thing the band members albums I’ve never seen before.”

Much like their musical tastes and audiexperienced during their first world tour. Sleep deprivation and partying on the road got the ence attire, the band’s live performances are best of them and according to Portrait, the constantly evolving. good and bad experiences influenced front“I think on this tour, there is much more man Ruban Nielson lyrically on UMO’s of an idea of the environment we want to create,” Portrait said. “We’re playing hand-picked sophomore album, II. “To me, [it’s] a little darker and a little rooms, so you can expect this to be very much more saturated sound than the first album,” representative of the band and the music as a whole.”

Portrait said.

UMO plays Holland’s Park Theatre, a hisReleased on Feb. 5, the album represents a band that has greatly matured, having played toric and intimate venue that provides an ideal more than 400 shows worldwide since 2011. setting for the carnival-type atmosphere the The press took notice, as well. In January, group has come to expect from their fans. n

REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

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42 | REVUEWM.COM | March 2013

Visual Art

by Alexandra Fluegel

Warning: Graphic Content

G

rap h i c d e s i g n g ive s s h a p e to t h e t h o u sands of messages we encounter every day — from soup can labels to your favorite online news source.

A genre that often goes overlooked in the art world is getting this special treatment this month in a collaborative exhibition between two well-established Grand Rapids arts institutions.

“Graphic Design: Now in Production,” the exhibition between the Grand Rapids Art Museum and Kendall College of Art and Design, explores the way designers use color, typography, images and systems to make surfaces around us come alive with meaning. The ambitious exhibition looks at cutting-edge ideas and breaking cultural revolutions in the world of visual communication, paying special attention to examples of the 21st century.

Each site will devote gallery space to different aspects of graphic design, creating cohesive looks at the various manifestations of artform.

The Fed Gallery at Kendall will include posters, magazines, books, storefront design, and film and television, while the GRAM will look at typography, branding and identity, and information design.

The exhibition marks a historical moment in the histories of two important institutions as both the GRAM and Kendall have long played integral roles in the art and design culture of the community. Kendall recently expanded its presence downtown, renovating and moving into the Old Federal Building, which was home to the GRAM for quite some time.

It is the first time Kendall and the GRAM have worked on such a project, and GRAM

Director and CEO Dana Friis-Hansen said the exciting collaboration “simply makes sense.”

“West Michigan is a center for design and creativity,” Friis-Hansen said. “GRAM is committed to the presentation and interpretation of design history and contemporary expressions, and Kendall is a recognized leader in design education. The continued collaborative spirit between the two organizations creates a strong base of knowledge and opportunity in the community.”

Experimental Jetset, Detail. “Statement and Counter-Statement,” 2011, Courtesy the artists.

Oil & Water Do Not Mix. Anthony Burrill, 2010, conceived and produced in collaboration with Happiness, Brussels. Courtesy the artist.

Dr. David Rosen, president of Kendall College of Art and Design, agrees.

“Joining these two extraordinary forces for art and design in the region provides the exhibition even greater energy and meaning. The new relationship brought about by the union is also energizing each of our two exceptional institutions.”

The collaboration between Kendall and the GRAM isn’t the only partnership taking place. The exhibition was co-organized by the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, and the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York. Co-curators of the exhibition are Andrew Blauvelt, curator of architecture and design, Walker Art Center and

Ellen Lupton, curator of contemporary design, Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.

A variety of additional programming including presentations, lectures and interactive events will be held in conjunction with the exhibitions, creating an environment ripe for discovery, exploration and connection. n

Graphic Design: Now in Production Grand Rapids Art Museum and Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids Through April 21 artmuseumgr.org, (616) 831-1000 kcad.edu, (616) 451-2787

A Nickel and a Kopek Photographs

by Bill Franson, 1952

Inner City Christian Federation, Grand Rapids Through April 1 Free! iccf.org, (616) 336-9333

The Inner City Christian Federation occupies one of the most recognized buildings in the Cherry Hill Business District, and the organization has recently begun to host art exhibitions that parallel the beauty of the architecture. Currently on display are a series of black and white photos by Bill Franson over a period of seven years that documents his family’s adoption of a child from Russia. The exhibit is on loan from Calvin College and can be viewed Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

In Retrospect: James Karsina

Reflections: African American Life from the Myrna Colley-Lee Collection

LaFontsee Gallery, Grand Rapids Through March 23 Free! lafontsee.us, (616) 451-9820

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts / March 2–May 26 $5, $2 for students / kiarts.org, (269) 349-7775

This month, a retrospective of one of Grand Rapids’ most celebrated artists will be on display, showcasing more than 30 years of work. Karsina is known for his bold palette and abstract explorations of the environments of the Midwest. His pieces have been shown all over the country and are collected in more than 40 corporate collections and 450 private collections. New and old works ranging from delicate drawings on paper to bold acrylics on canvas will be featured, an explosive mix ready to be rediscovered or seen for the first time.

Costume designer and heralded arts patron Myrna Colley-Lee shares 50 works from her collection, creating a narrative of community and place. Paintings, collages and fabric works comprise this selection, which focuses on figurative and representational scenes and landscapes of the American South. Noted artists such as Romare Bearden, James VanDerZee, Elizabeth Catlett, Eudora Welty and Betye Saar are featured in the exhibition, which was organized by International Arts & Artists, Washington DC, in collaboration with the office of Myrna Colley-Lee.

REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights Diing | Schedule

Other Art Events

43

by Allison Parker

Theatre

Other Performing Arts Events The Acting Company: Of Mice and Men

Wharton Center, East Lansing March 22-23, 8 p.m. $15-42 whartoncenter.com, (517) 353-1982 The heart-wrenching relationship between two down-and-out migrant workers takes center stage in the celebrated masterpiece, Of Mice and Men. As gruff softie George and his simple friend Lennie pursue a farm of their own, harsh realities turn their hopes into delusions. This gritty, emotional story is brought to life by America’s premier touring repertory theater, which boasts distinguished alumni such as Patti LuPone, Kevin Kline and Rainn Wilson.

Fiddler on the Roof

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre March 1-24; show times at 2 and 7:30 p.m. $18-34 grct.org, (616) 222-6650 Charming the stage for nearly five decades, Fiddler on the Roof has earned a special place in the hearts of many Broadway fans. This classic explores loyalty and letting go through the eyes of a religious Jew whose daughters defy convention. Unforgettable songs like “Tradition,” “If I Were a Rich Man” and “Sunrise Sunset” make this vintage tale all the more irresistible.

Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene

The Matrix Live

Grand Rapids Symphony March 19, 7:30 p.m. $32 & up grsymphony.org, (616) 454-9451

The Grand Rapids Symphony amps up the kick-butt action of The Matrix with a gigantic high-def screen and explosive live accompaniment. Fastpaced songs such as “Dragula (Hot Rod Herman Remix),” “Du Hast” and “Spybreak!” take slowmo gunfights and black leather roundhouse kicks to a new level of intensity.

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The company of American Idiot.

Photo: Litwin

American Idiot: Rock Out or Walk Out

I

f th e r e’s o n e wo r d that d o e s n ot describe Miller Auditorium’s production of American Idiot, it’s ‘low-key.’ Since its debut in 2009, the punk-rock stage musical has delighted and offended audiences alike with its rebellious music, outrageous lyrics and defiant spirit.

Featuring songs from Green Day’s Grammy Award-winning concept album American Idiot, the musical pieces together and expands upon this album’s implied storyline.

Essentially, the plot centers around three protestors of the status quo who resolve to leave their meaningless suburban lives behind. As in the album, Green Day songwriter Billy Joe Armstrong’s scathing social critiques and blatant Bush-bashing represent an audacious stand for honesty and freedom of expression.

“This is Billy Joe Armstrong spilling out his feelings on the political world,” said Jenna Rubaii, who plays Extraordinary Girl. “The show is totally uncensored. We do have a lot of people walk out, but that is the point here — fighting for what’s right and for what you believe is what the show is all about … It’s a very in-your-face show.”

With its adaptation to a stage musical, the boiling anger and frustration of the original album take on a new dynamic and heightened expression through explosive choreography.

“There’s a lot of head banging and a lot of throwing yourself because there’s a lot of anger,” Rubaii said. “When choreography comes from [Steven Hoggett], it’s an emotion — it’s what your body has to

get out. The dancing just doesn’t go with the tempo just to look cool, although it does.”

While the choreography is heavy on slam dancing and erratic movements, more subtle motions in softer songs such as “Wake Me Up When September Ends” create emotional intensity as well.

“I’ve never have seen a choreographer put so much feeling to movement in such a simple way. The movements are so specific and small and tangible … They are so simple but so beautiful going to the soft songs,” Rubaii said.

Like the choreography, American Idiot’s Tony Award-winning stage design amps up the burning passion of the music and storyline as well. Most notable are the 32 television screens built into the set that assault audiences with politically charged footage and emotional images. These images not only symbolize the internal states of the characters, but also introduce additional narratives that contribute to the overwhelming dazzle of the show.

“It’s really a spectacle. While the storyline happens, the TVs tell a whole separate story. It’s visually an eye feast filled with things to look at,” Rubaii said.

With American Idiot, audiences connect with Green Day’s songs in new ways, whether this includes witnessing the embodiment of the concept album’s characters or storming out of the theater.

“Green Day fans are so excited to see the music put in the story they’ve always imagined it having,” Rubaii said. Green Day’s “Be ready to rock out when you see it. American Idiot We love when an audience gets into it. Miller Auditorium, Kalamazoo Join with us, or be offended or whatever, March 26, 7:30 p.m. / $28-55 millerauditorium.com, but it’s an amazing show.” n

“There’s a lot of head banging and a lot of throwing yourself because there’s a lot of anger.”

(269) 387-2300

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by Kyle Austin

Lit Life

Memoirist Wade Rouse Helps to Celebrate the Voices of Michigan

H

ad it not b e e n for th e sage advice of a Cape Cod innkeeper, Wade Rouse may never have set foot in Michigan.

After learning that Rouse and his partner had driven all the way from St. Louis for a vacation, the woman wondered why they hadn’t just gone to Michigan instead.

“I said, ‘Michigan has beaches?’ and she almost slapped me in the face,” Rouse said.

After visiting Saugatuck, the nationally recognized memoirist and humor writer decided to make The Mitten home.

Rouse has since embraced the state’s literary scene, appearing several times at Schuler Books and incorporating Write Michigan Award various Michigan cities Ceremony wsg Wade Rouse into his traveling workGrand Rapids Public Library shop, Wade’s Writers.

March 19, 7 p.m.

Currently, he’s involved writemichigan.org, (616) 988-5400 with Write Michigan, an inaugural statewide short story contest developed by the Kent District Library, Grand Rapids Public Library and Schuler Books.

“Write Michigan gives emerging writers encouragement and most importantly, community support,” he said. “Like ArtPrize, it gets folks talking about writing, embracing the work, reading it and promoting it, and that’s really what’s so vital.”

The contest challenged writers of all ages to tell their best short story in 3,000 words or less. After receiving an

“Write Michigan gives emerging writers encouragement and most importantly, community support.

Like ArtPrize, it gets folks talking about writing, embracing the work, reading it and promoting it, and that’s really what’s so vital.” overwhelming number of submissions, a group of 90 volunteer reviewers whittled the pile down to the top 10 entries from each of the two age groups. Those 20 stories were then examined by both a panel of accredited judges and the general public, who were able to cast their votes online. With the winners now chosen, organizers are focused on the special night that will commemorate the winning authors and celebrate the growing vibrancy of writing culture in Michigan.

Rouse’s presentation will highlight the event, and all area writers (even those who didn’t submit) benefit from hearing this seasoned pro share his wisdom, inspiration, humor and intimate knowledge of the publishing business Rouse’s four critically acclaimed memoirs strike the perfect balance between humor and soul-searching, tackling everything from growing up gay in the Ozarks to dealing with wealthy mothers while working for an elite private school.

“I think the best fiction is typically grounded in some sort of truth in the writer’s life, and it’s the same in memoir,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s fiction or non-fiction. Reading a good book is like holding a mirror in front of your face. It forces you to take a deeper look at yourself and the world, and hopefully you’re changed by what you see.”

It’s this kind of transformative power that drew Rouse to writing, and despite his commercial success, he’s committed to supporting emerging writers by encouraging them to fearlessly express their own unique voice.

“Not that much separates Sedaris from Shakespeare,” he said. “We only have so many stories to tell; it’s the way we tell them that sets them apart.” n

Wade Rouse

PHOTO: Johnny Quirin

Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene

Other Literary Events Dr. Seuss Storytime Event

Book Signing with Rob Bell

Barnes and Noble, Holland March 9, 2 p.m.

(616) 994-6015

Schuler Books, 28th Street March 10, 2 p.m. schulerbooks.com, (616) 942-2561

Admit it. You can enjoy the wonderful imagination of one Theodor Seuss Geisel as an adult. But if you’re too ashamed to say that you still get inspired by Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, Barnes and Noble has graciously scheduled an event that provides the perfect cover. Bring your kids, or your inner child, and enjoy readings from Dr. Seuss’ memorable books. As an added bonus for adults, there will also be a coffee tasting that explores flavors and styles from all over the world.

Whatever your religious beliefs, you can’t deny that Mars Hill Bible Church founder and nationally bestselling author Rob Bell knows how to create a dialogue. Named one of the 100 most influential people by Time magazine in 2011, the native Michigander has continued to make waves and influence the conversation surrounding contemporary faith. Don’t miss this opportunity to get a signed copy of one of Bell’s numerous works and meet the man behind the message.

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Aquinas College Contemporary Writers Series: Jaimy Gordon

Wege Ballroom, Aquinas College March 14, 7:30 p.m. aquinas.edu/cw, (616) 632-8900

In its first installment of 2013, the Aquinas College Contemporary Writers Series welcomes poet, novelist, essayist and Western Michigan University Professor Jaimy Gordon to the stage. With a wealth of writing and teaching experience at her disposal, Gordon will enliven audiences with a dynamic and genre-crossing reading that does justice to the breadth of her literary prowess. For those interested in a more personal interaction, a Q&A style author talk will be held at 12:30 the same day in the college’s Wege Center Loutit Room.

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Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene

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The Cheeky Strut crew gets all up in your makeup bag, Pantone puts us in a tizzy and a local boutique takes egg hunting on for style.

P

antone’s color of the year is Emerald, which is your cue to buy up the shade in mass amounts. It’s hailed as a lively, radiant and lush green, and if you’re starting to worry on where to find it, jb and me has you covered. With a store in Holland and one in Grand Rapids, co-owner Jamie Grasman says jb and me plans to play with this color in their accessories, shoes and skinny jeans selection. Watch for hints of the emerald green hysteria and when spring nears, the store will “explode with shades of green.” It’s a color that translates well into different styles and is a fun hue to experiment with this season. “It can be poppy with a bit of sass,” Grasman said. “It can be worn with a bohemian vibe and it also can be a subtle pop to your classic work ensembles.” Preppy, zesty and energetic, this color is your style compass this spring. Kermit was wrong — it is easy being green.

The Cheeky Strut crew is at it again, this time with a spring-cleaning alert for your makeup bag. Bring in your cosmetics bag and Makeup Artist and Event Coordinator Lisa Richards will give it a good cleaning and tell you what you might want to throw out. Brushes will be cleaned and sterilized for only $1 per brush. Does your bag need a personal shopper? That Pantone’s color of the year can happen, too. Drop your bag off in the morning on your way to work and pick it up on your way home all fresh, clean and with a list of recommendations on what you might be lacking. “Dirty brushes hold bacteria and mix with different colors creating a dull, muddy color,” says Richards. “Getting a clean brush really helps the makeup go on better and be more true to color.” The lesson here is that a clean makeup bag is a happy makeup bag.

The dream of a girlfriends’ weekend is a reality in Holland. The first weekend in March is all about you and your gal pals. The Girlfriends Weekend, in its fifth year, is full of things women love with plenty of focus on fashion and shopping. The Breakfast and a Show event is held Saturday, March 3 and highlights include a breakfast fashion show featuring Downtown Holland’s clothing boutiques with a DJ spinning a custom mix for the occasion. “It’s still high energy, even though it’s very early in the morning,” said Kara de Alvare, interim marketing director for Downtown Holland. The girls-only weekend features shopping opportunities, a pajama party (complete with refreshments, DJ and photo booth) and activities from trunk shows, personal style advice, jewelry making and more. Come for the whole weekend or pick up a Saturday-only pass, but do come for BFF shopping, shrieking and shenanigans.

A huge fashion show is going down in Kalamazoo. A La Mode AFFAIR is held March 29 at 7 p.m. at the Radisson Plaza Hotel at Kalamazoo Center. Put on by the Michael J Modeling Agency, this fashion extravaganza features participating boutiques and designers from Grand Rapids, Detroit, Kalamazoo and Lansing. The show is hosted by Bianca Golden, “America’s Next Top Model” All Star. Fashion industry leaders showcase their best and boutiques involved range from Gibson Girl, Cakes Boutique, i heart ipanema and many more. Mingle among show owners, designers, models, photographers, magazine columnists, fashion bloggers and stylists for a night filled with photo opps. We hear red carpet entry is at 5 p.m. and tickets range from $20 to $35. DJ Angelo is on hand for the fashion show as well as the VIP Fashion Network after party, which is black tie attire at Webster’s in the Radisson. Look for the event on Facebook.

Gina’s Boutique and Lia Rose in downtown Grand Rapids have something to hide. On March 27, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the stores will be peppered with more than 50 eggs that when opened, feature discounts ranging from 10 to 50 percent off one item or gifts. Get into the holiday spirit and find the “Golden Egg” and you’ll receive a $100 gift certificate good toward new spring fashions. Gina VanGessel, owner of Gina’s Boutique, predicts that black and white will be a big trend along with bold stripes, Bermuda shorts and sporty dresses. Wine and treats will be served, but don’t get distracted — keep your eyes on the eggs.

“Fashion will last a lot longer than candy,” VanGessel said. n

Bianca Golden

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by Anya Zentmeyer

FILM

S

omewhere between winter and spring, in a perpetually thawing purgatory of strong winds and even stronger whiskey, there is the month of March. Cozy up to a film while you await spring.

Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene

FRESH FACES

Liz Merriman has played a lot of different roles in her tenure as a filmmaker — from production manager to photographer to makeup and wardrobe, she wears a lot of hats. So when Merriman decided to create a new production company, she combined her multifaceted work ethic with positive nature, and Happy Hat LLC was born.

Merriman is no stranger to the local film scene, her name attached to a whole host of other film-related endeavors in West Michigan.

A graduate of Grand Rapids’ Compass College of Cinematic Arts, she has not only been on an impressive number of rosters, but has also done work with the West Michigan Film and Video Alliance and she said the idea to create her own production company was, in part, born from those experiences.

“Getting to the core of it is, I love the film and media industry,” she said. “I love learning new tools and tricks of the trade. I love making people’s visions for things a reality and I always will.”

Happy Hat specializes in producing, production management and photography — and though they haven’t gotten a lot of work off of the ground yet, she said she’d ideally like to make films and documentaries that capture the human experience — people in pursuit of their passions, and the all-too-familiar struggles they face along the way.

She hopes Happy Hat can be a selfsustaining business one day; a company that produces feature films, short films and documentaries off of its own time, using its own facilities and hiring the kind of fresh-faced filmmakers that Merriman herself is right now.

“I want to lift people in their lives and careers, take my blessings and pay them forward, and ultimately help others bring their dreams to life,” she said. “I think I can do that through Happy Hat.”

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Ève Ringuette (Osalic) and Victor Andrés Trelles Turgeon (Dave) in Mesnak. Photo: Stefan Ivanov

LE FESTIVAL DU FILM This month, Western Michigan University’s Little Theatre presents the four-day Francophone Film Festival. The festival was spearheaded in 2001 by WMU Associate Professor of Foreign Language Vincent Desroches, and runs from March 20-24.

In 2010, the festival forged a friendship with Alliance Française of Chicago, collaborating to bring in films and filmmakers from Africa, North Africa, the Caribbean, Quebec and Europe. “[The films] are nearly never shown to the U.S. public,” Desroches said. “They show a great vitality and diversity, and will challenge many assumptions and stereotypes.”

Last year’s Gold Kazoo feature film winner was Monsieur Lazhar by Phillipe Falardeau. It went on to be nominated for a Foreign Film Oscar. In this year’s lineup, Desroches said audiences should keep an eye out for Mesnak — the first Native American

Keep up with Happy Hat LLC on Facebook, or by visiting happyhatllc.com.

IN THE WORKS

PegMar Productions — another new kid in the local filmmaking scene — is teaming up with the fellow aforementioned newcomer Happy Hat LLC to bring you the story of Buster Mathis Sr. in their upcoming feature-length documentary, From Tokyo to Ali.

film made in French, filmed in Quebec and presented by Yves Francophone Film Sioui-Durand and the premiere of Festival a Burkina Faso film called The Weight Little Theatre, Western of the Promise by Daniel Kollo Sanou, Michigan University who Desroches said is coming in March 20–24 from West Africa to present his film. Tickets $5, $8 students, “The Francophone Film Festival passes available presents images and moving stories wmich.edu/fffkazoo coming from countries about which the American public knows little,” he said. “And so we can educate ourselves about other cultures and broaden our views.”

Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for general admission, with festival passes — which will get you unlimited access to all screenings and events — are $18 for students, and $40 for the rest of ‘em.

Ashley Mathis, the creator of PegMar Productions and co-producer of the film, wanted to tell a narrative of the boxer’s journey not only through the lens of his achievements, but by helping audiences foster an understanding of his hardships. Buster Mathis Sr.’s career was one that blossomed in struggle as he faced scrutiny from his peers for learning disabilities, and ended in abrupt heartbreak when Mathis Sr. sustained an injury that kept him from competing in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Buster Mathis Sr. is the great uncle of Ashley

Mathis, so the film (like their genetics) runs in her blood.

“This film is my dedication to Buster, who was so unfairly treated during his career,” Ashley said. “I want to give him the recognition he deserves and celebrate the sweet demeanor within Buster that caused him to give so much back in so many ways.”

Right now, the producers are just starting to film, but hope to premiere From Tokyo to Ali locally before hitting the festival circuit. n

Oz: The Great and Powerful

Movie///pREVIEWS

by Diana Nowak Opening March 8

Dead Man Down Acclaimed director Niels Arden Oplev (of the Swedish Girl with the Dragon Tattoo franchise) debuts his first American film with Noomi Rapace as Beatrice, a crime victim obsessed with vengeance. The unforgiving Beatrice goes to extreme lengths to trap Victor (Colin Farrell), a man also seeking retribution for the death of his family, in a web of blackmail and murder that not only brings them together but turns all of NYC upside down.

Oz: The Great and Powerful

Opening March 22

Admission Turning away hopeful college applicants is the perfect job for Portia Nathan (Tina Fey), the uptight admissions officer at Princeton. Finally tired of saying “no,” she agrees to visit her old college classmate John Pressman (Paul Rudd) at the alternative high school he oversees. Portia

The Croods DreamWorks Animation (How to Train your Dragon) tells the prehistoric tale of Eep (Emma Stone) and her naïve cave family (Nicholas Cage, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman) as they struggle to find a new home after a devastating earthquake. Forced to venture into a world of dangerous animals and unsafe terrain, the Crood family’s only hope for survival depends on a nomadic caveboy (Ryan Reynolds) who leads them to safety while falling in love with the curious Eep.

Opening March 29

G.I. Joe: Retaliation In this sequel, the United States Armed Forces must find a way to seek revenge upon their mortal enemy after their base is unexpectedly attacked. With only a handful of survivors left (Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis), the remaining G.I. Joe operatives train tirelessly to take down the Cobra Commander, who ordered the surprise raid before they carry out secret mission “Second American Revolution.” n

Scene | Sounds | Sights Diing | Schedule

With the help of Disney Digital 3-D, Sam Raimi directs a fresh take on L. Frank Baum’s classic novel that focuses on the adventure of a Kansas conman who later becomes the Wizard of Oz. After mistakenly landing in Oz, Oscar Diggs (James Franco) convinces its inhabitants that he is the great wizard they’ve been waiting for. Oscar is just about to settle into his magical new home when three skeptical witches (Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz) decide to put his powers to the ultimate test.

is reluctant in opening up to John and his students until he introduces her to Jeremiah (Nat Wolff), the son she might have put up for adoption.

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Dining Restaurant listings arranged by region

Angel’s Thai Café 136 Monroe Center NW. 616-454-9801 THAI. This downtown restaurant makes your order fresh, fast, and hot. You can order your entree with your choice of meat and spice level, or create your own. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Thai Steak and Yum Talay.

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BarterTown Diner 6 Jefferson St. SE. 616-233-3219 VEGAN. This workerowned-and-operated restaurant offers a variety of tasty healthy dishes fresh and hand-picked right from local family farms. Want a certain recipe or cooking lessons?

Events and programs are BarterTown’s way of getting the community involved. So don’t be surprised if one day there’s Greek and Mediterranean cuisine and the next it’s all about pizza. SERVING: Breakfast (Saturday & Sunday), Lunch, Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Locally based vegan meals.

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Bentham’s Riverfront Restaurant 187 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-774-2000 AMERICAN. Enjoy great breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert options while looking out at the Grand River. Bentham’s now offers a lunch buffet with choices of salads, breads, soups and roast beef and poultry carved to order — not to mention stir-fry stations with fresh vegetables, meats or seafood and unique sauces. Casual attire. SERVING: Breakfast Lunch OPEN ON: Open 7 days, closes at 2 p.m. GO THERE FOR: Lunch buffet.

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Big O Café 80 Ottawa NW. 616-451-1887 ITALIAN. The downtown (and downstairs) restaurant has a reliable menu featuring pizza, pasta, and sandwiches that are Italian and Cuban influenced. A great spot for lunch or a quick glass of wine and plate of pasta before a downtown event. SERVING: Lunch

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openings and closings, editorial space, budgets, deadlines, acts of God, congressional hearings and, of course, visits and meals at restaurants throughout the region. The listings are not intended to be reviews of West Michigan restaurants, although we will inject some opinions into the listings based on experiences or the personal preferences of staff. Our intention is to expand and sharpen the content every month to make it the region’s most user-friendly and accurate dining guide. To submit or correct information

Cuisine is a hot spot for those who like to add a little flavor to their lives. With a lunch buffet served every weekday, this restaurant provides its eaters with an array of traditional Indian cuisine. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Naan, Butter Chicken.

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The Bistro 11 Monroe Avenue NW (at Courtyard Marriott).

616-242-6000 AMERICAN. Serving American food bistro-style, whether it’s grab-and-go or guests dining in for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Bistro offers fresh seasonal options, serves Starbucks beverages and has a full-service bar. SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Sandwiches.

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Bistro Bella Vita 44 Grandville Ave. SW. 616-222-4600 ITALIAN. One of Grand Rapids’ best dining experiences, featuring Mediterraneaninspired country cuisine, a swanky yet comfortable downtown atmopshere and personable service. BBV’s culinary team creates authentic, housemade recipes made with locally grown produce, fresh seafood and rotisserie roasted meats.

Specialty gluten-free menu, and can prepare custom dishes for lactose intolerant, vegetarian, and vegan diets.

SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Mediterranean Country Cuisine and Martinis.

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Blue Water Grill 5180 Northland Dr. 616-363-5900 SEAFOOD. One of Grand Rapids’ most inspired restaurants in terms of overall ambiance, with Frank Lloyd Wright-style architecture, a stunningly massive fireplace, and some of the best water views in West Michigan. The food is similarly inspired, drawing from Italian, Mediterranean and classic American influences. All the traditional favorites are accounted for with a wide variety of wood-fired pizzas, seafood, steaks, chops, salads, and sandwiches. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Grass Fed Beef.

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Bobarino’s 20 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-356-2000 ITALIAN. A melting pot of food, live entertainment and fun. Live music Tuesday through Saturday, including rock, jazz, retro, country, rockabilly and more. Large game room with video games, billiards and shuffleboard. Menu includes vast array of wood-fired pizzas, plus burgers, entrées and classic appetizers. Lunch buffet with pizza, pasta, and salad for $6.45. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Wood-fired pizzas.

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Bombay Cuisine 1420 Lake Dr. SE 616-456-7055 INDIAN. Offering savory and subtly spiced dishes from northern India, Bombay

Brandywine 1345 Lake Dr./2844 East Beltline NE 616-774-8641/616363-1723 AMERICAN. Both locations do brisk business at breakfast, especially on Sundays, but also offer a solid lunch and dinner menu featuring sandwiches, pasta, Mexican favorites and the legendary beehive potatoes. SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Breakfast.

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Bulls Head Tavern 188 Monroe NW. 616-454-3580 AMERICAN. Downtown eatery is a great spot for business lunch or casual pre-show dinner, with a wide-ranging menu that includes salads, burgers, pasta, seafood and steaks. Specialties include the ostrich burger, sashimi tuna and smoked Gouda chicken pasta.

SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed on Sunday. GO THERE FOR: The Ostrich Burger.

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Charley’s Crab 63 Market SW. 616-459-2500 SEAFOOD. A staple on the finedining scene in Grand Rapids. Fresh seafood, a world-class Sunday brunch and a comfortable, upscale atmosphere for drinks and dining. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The Sunday brunch buffet.

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Cherie Inn 969 Cherry SE. 616-458-0588 BREAKFAST. The East Hills restaurant is one of the area’s most-loved breakfast and lunch spots. A neighborhood staple for more than 60 years, the eatery offers a cozy, café-style setting complete with French flags, weathered brick walls, pressed tin ceiling, and intimate tables. Breakfast is the true star, with a variety of regular dishes like eggs Florentine and blueberry pancakes, as well as specials like red-flannel hash and almond joy pancakes. SERVING: Breakfast Lunch OPEN ON: T W Th F Sa Sn. GO THERE FOR: Eggs Florentine.

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The Corner Bar 31 N. Main St. 616-866-9866 AMERICAN. The downtown Rockford tavern serves a solid menu of burgers, burritos, salads and sandwiches, but it is best known for hot dogs — serving almost 1,000 per day. Its hot-dog-eating challenge has been conquered by more than a few, but it raises the question: Why would you want to consume Corner Bar dogs in a hurry rather than savor each bite? SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Hot dogs.

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Cornucopia 187 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-774-2000 DELI. A refreshing option for on-the-go, or casual, lighter fare. Enjoy deli options such as homemade soups, salads, Panini sandwiches and freshly brewed gourmet coffee.

SERVING: Breakfast Lunch OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Sandwiches.

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Cygnus 27 187 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-776-6425 ECLECTIC. Enjoy the skyline as you dine atop the Glass Tower. Indulge in a variety of globally infused dishes at this AAA Four-Diamond restaurant. Casual attire; no jacket required. Private dining also available. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Seasonal Sunday Brunch.

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Erb Thai 950 Wealthy St. SE #1A. (616) 356-2573 THAI. Food rooted in traditional Thai cuisine, but also made to accommodate health conscious and special diets. Not too strong, not too weak, like harmony and melody.

Marketing representative Molly Rizor was a Thai virgin when she went and is now glad Erb Thai was her first experience. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays. GO THERE FOR: Peanut Curry Noodles.

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Founders Brewing Company 235 Grandville SW. 616-776-1195 BREWPUB. A beer-lover’s paradise with a national reputation for flavorful, awardwinning beers. Likewise, the brewpub’s menu consists mainly of flavorful handcrafted deli sandwiches that can stand up and complement the beers (or vice versa).

SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Award-winning beer, handcrafted sandwiches.

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Garden Court Lounge 187 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-774-2000 LOUNGE. An excellent choice for a quick drink with friends or when you desire relaxing with your favorite drink. The Garden Court Lounge offers a fine array of beer, wine, cocktails and liqueurs. SERVING: Drinks OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Specialty cocktails.

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Gilly’s 20 Monroe NW. 616-356-2000 SEAFOOD. Gilly’s may not be the biggest name on the seafood block, but it takes

REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining Schedule

Big Bob’s Pizza 661 Croswell Dr. 616-233-0123 ITALIAN. Located in Gaslight Village in East Grand Rapids (across from Jersey Junction), Big Bob’s is a cozy restaurant that serves up specialty pizzas, pastas, burritos, sandwiches and salads.

Sit out on the deck and enjoy Happy Hour from 4-6 p.m. and 9p.m.-close seven days a week. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 Days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza and beer (is there a better combination?).

restaurants. Our magazine listings will constantly change and grow in scope based on

in a dining listing, please send an e-mail to editor@revuewm.com.

Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Dead Head Vegetarian Pizza, Cuban dinners on Friday nights.

Grand Rapids

REVUE’S dining listings are compiled by staff and minions. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of restaurants in the region; for our full list, visit revuewm.com/

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Dining second place to no one in regards to quality, freshness and inspiration. A vast array of exotic fish is line-caught, flown in and prepared fresh daily. Every facet of Gilly’s speaks to impeccable attention to detail. SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Closed on Sunday. GO THERE FOR: Fresh seafood at a great price.

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GP Sports 187 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-776-6495 SPORTS BAR. Three large screens, more than 30 HD flat screens, pool tables, video games, outdoor patio seating, pizza, signature burgers and more. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays. GO THERE FOR: Score Big Burgers.

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G.R.P.D. (Grand Rapids Pizza and Delivery) 340 State St. SE. 616-454-9204 ITALIAN. The current GR location opened in 2004 as the first established pizzeria in the Heritage Hill district. A common meeting spot for local folks, business professionals and college students, a place where one could gather for a quick meal or a reflective lunch.

It offers both hand-tossed pizza and Chicago-style stuffed pizza, as well as pasta, sandwiches, salads, and wings.

Online ordering, too. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza.

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Grand Rapids Brewing Company 1 Ionia Ave SW. 616-458-7000 BREWPUB. Good for the environment and your palate, GRBC is Michigan’s first certified organic brewery and features a menu stocked with locally grown ingredients. With a diverse selection of beers on tap inspired by historical Grand Rapids figures and a hearty array of burgers, melts and hand-cranked sausages, this place represents the best of the Grand Rapids Brewing Company’s 120-year legacy. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Organic beer and locally sourced food.

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Grand Woods Lounge 77 Grandville Ave SW. 616-451-4300 AMERICAN. The restaurant’s interior exudes a warm, casual ambiance reminiscent of the great eateries of the Pacific Northwest; the outdoor porch features two outdoor bars and a fireplace.

Menu stocked with affordable appetizers great for sharing, plus salads, sandwiches, and entrées. Lots of domestics and microbrews, plus an array of martinis including the “Woodstini,” a tasty mix of Stoli Orange Vodka, mandarin oranges and raspberries. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Cocktails.

Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene

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Graydon’s Crossing 1223 Plainfield NE. 616-726-8260 TAVERN. An authentic take on the English Pub, with a huge selection of beers on tap and a menu that includes classic English dishes like Fish & Chips, Shepherd’s Pie and Irish Stew, as well as Indian specialties like Tandoori Chicken and Tikka Masala. A great casual atmosphere for drinking and dining. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Beer and authentic pub food.

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The Green Well 924 Cherry SE. 616-808-3566 Eclectic. REVUE’s “Free Market” columnist Steven de Polo writes, “Green Well is the best restaurant in GR.” The East Hills gastro-pub serves up an ever-changing menu featuring local ingredients, and a wide array of local craft brews and wines. The green refers also to the LEED© certified building and management’s commitment to a small carbon footprint. SERVING: Lunch

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Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Baked local goat cheese, Michigan maple whiskey chicken over risotto.

The Holiday Bar 801 5th St. NW, Grand Rapids. 616-456-9058 AMERICAN. For 107 years, The Holiday Bar has been serving its loyal customers great beer and food, with 12 specialty beers of tap and its homemade “Porter” Pulled Pork sandwiches.

Fully stocked with pool tables and nine HD flat screens, this dive is the perfect spot for cheap beer and good times..

SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Cheap beer.

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Harmony Brewing Company 1551 Lake Dr. SE (616) 233-0063 BREWPUB. The newest addition to the Grand Rapids brewpub scene features five craft-brewed beers in addition to signature root beer for the kiddos. Harmony’s real specialty, however, is a take-out combo that features one of its gourmet wood-fire pizzas and a growler of beer. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza and brews.

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HopCat 25 Ionia SW. 616-451-4677 TAVERN. Rated the 3rd best beer bar on the planet by Beer Advcoate, HopCat’s spin on its food is thus: “It’s the food your Mom would feed you, if your Mom loved beer.” That’s specifically true for HopCat’s beerbar cheese, cheese ale soup and porter braised beef, but mom would also love the Hippie wrap (it’s vegetarian), the crack fries (not real crack), and Killer Mac and Cheese. Because what mom doesn’t like mac and cheese? SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Widest variety of beers, crack fries.

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J Bar 20 Monroe NW. 616-356-2000 STEAKS. Grass-fed beef selections and an ample variety of seafood, chops and house specialties. Extensive wine cellar and tastefully upscale ambiance that’s comfortable rather than stuffy.

SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Closed on Sunday. GO THERE FOR: Choice-cut prime rib, 10-oz. Filet, 14-oz. Top Sirloin.

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JD Reardon’s Bar & Grill 940 Monroe Ave NW. (616) 454-8590 AMERICAN. Neighborhood pub offers 15 Michigan beers on tap and more bottled, along with a full menu of handmade appetizers, pizzas, salads, sandwiches and 16 half-pound burgers.

Nightly drink specials and karaoke on Tuesday night.

SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Burgers.

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Lumber Baron Bar 187 Monroe Ave. NW. (616) 774-2000 LOUNGE. Settle into the warmth and charm of this historic bar — complete with a fireplace, leather club chairs and a large selection of premium drinks and appetizers.

SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays and Mondays GO THERE FOR: Scotch or Brandy after a Symphony concert.

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Maggie’s Kitchen 636 Bridge St. NW. 616-458-8583 MEXICAN. The storefront restaurant on GR’s west side has quietly built a reputation as one of the best places in town for authentic Mexican food, especially its tacos and breakfast items like huevos a la Mexicana (scrambled eggs with onions and jalapenos).

SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: T W Th F Sa Sn. GO THERE FOR: Tex-Mex.

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Marie Catrib’s 1001 Lake Dr. 616-454-4020 ECLECTIC. The East Hills eatery has one of the most hard-to-categorize menus in West Michigan, but this line from its website begins to do it justice: “a twist of Lebanese, a hint of Yooper and yen for unique pastries.” Everything is made from scratch with local ingredients, and there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Get there early for lunch, as there is almost always a wait. SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Salads, soups and sandwiches.

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Mixology 235 Louis St. NW. 616-242-1448 LOUNGE. Casual, upscale service and atmosphere allows guests to relax and enjoy the city views. This type of service allows guests to complete business tasks while still enjoying the accessibility to great food and libations.

SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Specialty cocktails.

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O’Toole’s 448 Bridge St. 616-742-6095 PUB. This West side pub is equipped with delicious and outrageously topped burgers, as well as an extensive beer selection, and arguably, the best happy hour specials in town. If food is not your passion, this is a prime place to kick off your Sunday Funday with its $3 Absolut Bloody Mary bar.

SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 Days. GO THERE FOR: Gourmet burgers, Absolut Bloody Mary bar.

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Olive’s Restaurant 2162 Wealthy St. SE. 616-451-8611 ECLECTIC. Gaslight Village mainstay for Easties looking to have a cocktail and casual dinner. The menu is surprisingly broad, with innovative starters (e.g., Napoli fritters, Paella cakes) and diverse entrées like Southern meatloaf, braised short ribs and mobu tofu. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: A broad selection.

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The Pita House 1450 Wealthy SE, 3730 28th Street, 4533 Ivanrest SW (Grandville). 616-454-1171 MEDITERRANEAN. Gyros so big you can club someone with them, the smoothest hummus in town and other Mediterranean fare, including kibbe, kafta and falafel. Additional locations on 28th Street and Kalamazoo SE. Sandwiches are made to order with fresh vegetables and ingredients. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh pita wraps.

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Radix Tavern 1420 Lake Dr. SE 616-458-5583 SOUTHERN. Radix Tavern provides its diners with delicious Southern-styled food made from traditional Michigan ingredients. Using local, seasonal and sustainable products whenever possible, Radix Tavern is sure to delight its visitors with home-styled cooking, selection of beers and wines and vegetarian and vegan options. SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays GO THERE FOR: Michigan beers on tap.

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Red Jet Cafe 1431 Plainfield Ave. NE. 616-719-5500 ECLECTIC. The funky restaurant in Creston’s old library is the kind of place you’d find in Chicago’s hip neighborhoods, offering non-sequitur menu items that somehow seem to work. Seriously, how many other places in town can you find that serve high-end organic coffees, crepes, wood-fired pizzas and artisan baked goods. Is it a bistro? Is it a coffeehouse? Does it matter?

SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days.

GO THERE FOR: Crepes.

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Reds on The River 8 E. Bridge St. 616-863-8181 AMERICAN. This highly acclaimed restaurant in the Rockford area promises no processed foods. Red’s sports a cylindrical fireplace and is known for its incredible views and outdoor dining. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays.

GO THERE FOR: Steak and Wine.

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Reserve 201 Monroe Ave. NW (616) 855-9463 ECLECTIC. With 102 wines available by the glass and more than 300 by the bottle, paired with an ever-changing food menu influenced

by West Michigan grown foods, Reserve promises diners a unique experience. Cocktails and craft beers add depth to the primarily wine-centered menu. SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Closed on Sunday GO THERE FOR: Wine and food pairings, charcuterie.

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Rinaldi Pizza and Sub Shop 966 E. Fulton St. 616-458-3737 ITALIAN. The tiny pizza shop at the corner of Fulton and Diamond is publisher Brian Edwards’ favorite spot to stop for a large slice after a late night at the office. “It’s got the four C’s of pizza going for it: chewy, cheesy, crusty and cheap — with a perfect balance of sauce and cheese,” Edwards says. Fold it over, New Yorkstyle, he recommends. SERVING: Lunch, Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza.

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Rockwell-Republic 45 S. Division Ave. 616-551-3563 ECLECTIC. Menu offerings range from sushi to burgers and everything in between.

The cocktail menu runs the gamut from classics like the Manhattan to more modern variations and the beer and wine menus are nothing to sneeze at either. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Specialty cocktails, broad menu, lively atmosphere.

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Rose’s On Reeds Lake 550 Lakeside Dr. SE. 616-458-1122 ECLECTIC. The East Grand Rapids landmark is one of those places that has a different feel in each season. In the summertime, it’s a great spot to hang on the decks and have cocktails and light appetizers; when the snow is falling, it’s a warm and cozy spot for a hearty meal and big glass of wine. The menu draws from a multitude of influences including Mediterranean, Italian, and Casual American. SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Root Chips.

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Ruth’s Chris Steak House 187 Monroe Avenue NW. 616-776-6426 STEAKHOUSE. Serving only the best steaks, Ruth’s Chris hand-selects its steaks from the top two percent of the country’s beef, which is then broiled to perfection at 1800 degrees. Enjoy the freshest seafood, classic sides and homemade desserts that satisfy any craving.

SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays. GO THERE FOR: Steak.

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San Chez a Tapas Bistro 38 West Fulton St. 616-774-8272 ECLECTIC. Using available local products, San Chez a Tapas Bistro is a social setting where people can remember the one rule of kindergarten: sharing. Featuring small, delicious dishes, San Chez a Tapas Bistro can satiate your desire for variety. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 Days. GO THERE FOR: Tapas.

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Bag the Brown Bag. With a full menu of Chef Matt’s best work to choose from, who can wait until 5 PM? Starting in April, Reserve will be open for lunch at 11:30 AM, Monday through Friday.

201 Monroe avenue nw downtown grand rapids

reservegr.coM

616 855 wine

Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining Schedule REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

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Taste This

by Matt Simpson Siegel

San Chez Cafe 38 West Fulton St. 616-774-8272 ECLECTIC. This comfy venue allows customers to “walk on sunshine” with its windowed-out structure. A hidden secret for breakfast in downtown Grand Rapids, San Chez Cafe promises a great start to any day.

SERVING: Breakfast Lunch OPEN ON: Open 7 Days.

GO THERE FOR: Sandwiches.

Top 5 Brewpub Menus

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Six.One.Six. 235 Louis St. NW. 616-242-1448 ECLECTIC. Marketinspired menus, sweeping views and progressive rhythms combine to create a memorable dining experience. The dishes tempt taste buds and is the perfect spot for foodies. SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 Days GO THERE FOR: Variety and being seen.

Brewery Vivant

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Brewery Vivant’s ever-evolving rotation of French, Belgian and Bavarian-inspired dishes deserve a published cookbook. Dinner specials change often and past plates have included roasted halfchickens in a vivacious pan jus and a cumin and bee pollen rubbed pork tenderloin sided with rosemary scented beets. 925 Cherry St. SE, Grand Rapids; (616) 719-1604, breweryvivant.com

TC’s Wood-Fired Fare (Arcadia Brewing Co.)

Although construction delays have pushed back the opening of Arcadia’s new production facility and brewpub in Kalamazoo, TC’s Wood-Fired Fare in Battle Creek hints at what the future site may offer. The house-smoked Texas spiced brisket has many ardent defenders and first timers should try the KC dry rub ribs.

For something lighter, try a Lamb Roll-Up, a flaky pastry roll of seasoned lamb, spinach and red onion, in tangy marmalade. 103 W. Michigan Ave., Battle Creek; (269) 963-9690, arcadiaales.com

Lucky Stone Pub (Saugatuck Brewing Co.)

The best fish and chips are Saugatuck Brewing’s ESB Amber battered Pollock fillets and a heap of hand-cut chips. Many skip the sweets at brewpubs, but don’t overlook the spiced oatmeal cake created with spent grains, spices and beer-drizzled caramel.

Chocoholics beware, the ginger chocolate stout cake sends you beyond food coma sugar shock and into hibernation. 2948 Blue Star Hwy., Douglas; (269) 857-7222, saugatuckbrewing.com

Grand Rapids Brewing Co.

Local farm-to-table freshness can be found in the hand-cranked sausages and succulent pork belly lollipops. GRBC has a lot going on beyond the beer. Where else can you find a Porchetta like this, a roasted pork belly seasoned with sage, stuffed with sausage and

Dining

TC’s Wood-Fired Fare (At Arcadia Brewing Co.) pumpkin, in smoky cheddar risotto? 1 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids; (616) 458-7000, grbrewingcompany.com

Harmony Brewing Co.

Harmony has been around Eastown for just more than a year.

A small, contemporary brewery, its wood-fired pizzas beat most pizza shops in the area. The Handsome Ben lacks red sauce but has prosciutto, goat cheese, arugula and lemon-infused olive oil and cracked black pepper. Vegans can indulge in the saucy white cannellini bean Slide Whistle with artichoke hearts, red onions and spinach. Build your own starting at $8 and up. Technically, you could add everything for a touch under $30. 1551 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids; (616) 233-0063, harmonybeer.com

Stella’s Lounge 53 Commerce Ave. 616-356-2700 TAVERN. The Chicagostyle whiskey bar has more than 200 varieties of distilled spirits, old-school video games, a superexcellent jukebox stocked with rock and punk classics, and a menu filled with vegetarian and vegan bar food — and stuffed burgers. Did we mention you can sip cans of PBR, Blatz and other classic beers, as well as sangria, out of a mason jar? REVUE’s British ex-pat David Smith calls Stella’s his favorite bar in the world. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Vegetarian and vegan bar food.

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The Score 5301 Northland Dr. NE. 616-301-0600 SPORTS BAR. Multi-faceted restaurant and sports bar has a lot to offer, including expansive menu with discount options, happy hour specials, countless big screen and projection TVs broadcasting big games and pay-per-view UFC matches, outdoor beach volleyball and live music in the summertime … the list goes on. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Sports Bar Atmosphere.

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Tavern on the Square 100 Ionia Ave. SW. 616-456-7673 ECLECTIC. The refashioned former Irish pub still has that neighborhood feel, and offers up a unique menu with salads, antipasto, appetizers, a pub burger, and an array of unique “Yankee Tapas” like Fish Tacos, Loaded Carnival Fries and the ultimate West Side tapas: Pierogies. A hodgepodge to be sure, but fun. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: PBJ Tuna.

Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene

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Cheap Eats: Charlie’s Crab Happy Hour It’s lent — time for fish. Feast upon Charley’s Crab $4 craft beer battered cod with malt vinegar tartar sauce. For a dollar more, steamed mussels with orange zest and fennel will put your post-February Valentine blues on the back burner. If you want cheaper and require a quick and succulent stomach plug, the portobello mushroom fries and honey jalapeno aioli will do so for $3. Of course, this leads more pocketbook room for $3 wells and $4 wines. 4-7pm, Monday-Friday. 63 Market Ave. SW, Grand Rapids; (616) 459-2500, muer.com/charleys-crab/ grandrapids.asp

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Dining Events: Cheeeeeeeeese... The Kind that Oozes!

Cheesemonger Kate Leeder from Art of the Table presents Valencay, Harbison, St. Felicien, Epoisses and more cheeses with a sampling of wine or beer. This hour-and-a-half $40 class will have five to six cheeses and include a coupon for 10 percent off your next cheese purchase at Art of the Table. If your cheese exposure is modest or you have a hankering addiction that can’t be met, mark your calendar. Uptown Kitchen, Grand Rapids, March 18, 6:30 p.m., $40. uptownkitchengr.com, (616) 776-2655

Vitale’s Restaurants Various Grand Rapids locations. vitalespizza.com ITALIAN. The Vitale family has served West Michigan for more than 40 years. Each of the five locations in the Greater Grand Rapids area offer traditional Italian family recipes and award-winning pizza, but provide their own unique dining experience. Whether you go there to watch the big game, enjoy a brew or dine on authentic Italian dishes, these locations have something for everyone. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days GO THERE FOR: Pizza and Italian dishes.

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a premier dining rewards program

SUPPER CLUB

PULL UP A CHAIR AND JOIN US .

We are pleased to introduce our exclusive Supper Club program, providing guests with extraordinary rewards every time they dine.

Memberships may be purchased at any of the participating Amway Grand Plaza, JW Marriott, and Downtown Courtyard by Marriott restaurant locations, online at amwaygrand.com/sc, or by calling 616.776.6980.

• Buy one dinner entrée at six.one.six or Cygnus 27 and receive one complimentary dinner entrée • 20% off entire guest check at Lumber Baron Bar, Garden Court Lounge, GP Sports, or Cornucopia located inside the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel or The Bistro located in the Downtown Courtyard by Marriott • Earn a $20 gift card from the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel for each new Supper Club member that you refer • And so much more!

REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

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Dining The Winchester 648 Wealthy St. SE. 616-451-4969 ECLECTIC. Upscale Wealthy Street bar and restaurant feels like it was plucked from Chicago’s Bucktown or Logan Square neighborhoods.

A comfortable spot to drink or dine, with an always evolving menu featuring shared plates, salads and inventive sandwiches. The Cuban Reuben, originally created as something of a joke, remains a (very tasty) staple item. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: DIY Bloody Mary Bar Special, Yucca Fries.

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Wolfgang’s Restaurant 1530 Wealthy St. SE. 616-454-5776 BREAKFAST. The bustling Eastown breakfast spot is home to some of the heartiest breakfast dishes and funniest menu descriptions.

Courteous staff never fails to offer a cup of coffee to go after we’ve finished breakfast. SERVING: Breakfast Lunch OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Breakfast all day.

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Lakeshore

Everyday People Cafe 11 Center St., Douglas. 269-857-4240 AMERICAN. REVUE Publisher Brian Edwards calls Everyday People Café his favorite restaurant along the lakeshore. The atmosphere is casual and upbeat, the staff knows its stuff about wine and food, and the seasonal menu is filled with meticulously prepared, eclectic comfort food like Butternut Squash Risotto, Braised Lamb Shank and Ahi Tuna. A great wine list and tremendous desserts. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Gorgonzola Pork Chop, Greek Salad with Grandma Gigi’s Dressing (Edwards).

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Fricano’s Pizza Tavern 1400 Fulton Ave., Grand Haven. 616-842-8640 ITALIAN. Claims to be the first pizzeria in Michigan, but customers care less about its longevity than the amazingly crispy thin crust and simple ingredients atop its much-lauded pies. Four other locations around West MI, including Comstock Park, Muskegon, Holland and Kalamazoo. SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza.

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8th Street Grille 20 W. 8th St., Holland. 616-392-5888 AMERICAN. This traditional grille located in the heart of Holland offers a mix of draft and bottled craft beers and a variety of pub classics, including their world-famous Chicken Corn Chowder. Enjoy happy hour from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, which includes delicious half-off appetizers and $1 off drafts. SERVING: Lunch, Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: 28 taps of craft beer, hometown atmosphere.

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84 East 84 East 8th St., Holland. 616-396-8484 ITALIAN. While we categorize it as “Italian,” that’s a bit limiting for this downtown Holland spot, which specializes in creating inventive pasta dishes. Housed in an old industrial building, 84 East is a favorite splurge spot among REVUE’s Hope College minions. 84 East also serves up designer pizzas and a few non-pasta house specialties like Pork Marsala and Mahi Mahi. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sunday GO THERE FOR: Baked Spaghetti Pie, Tuxedo Chicken Pasta.

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Bil-Mar Restaurant 1223 S. Harbor St., Holland. 616-842-5920 AMERICAN. A destination restaurant for locals and tourists for more than 60 years. Dazzling sunsets and an All-American menu featuring fresh seafood and hand-cut steaks. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Lake perch, lobster strudel, prime rib.

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Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene

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change with the seasons. SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Flatbreads.

Blue House Bistro 220 W. 8th Street, Holland. 616-355-1994 AMERICAN. Chef-owned boutique bistro located in downtown Holland, with an extensive menu featuring small plates, sandwiches, soups, salads, pizza, desserts, dine-in, take-out, delivery catering, beer and wine to-go. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN: Tu–Sun. GO THERE FOR: Seafood gumbo, Saturday and Sunday brunch.

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CityVu Bistro 61 East 7th Street, Holland. 616-796-2114 AMERICAN. Located atop CityFlats Hotel in downtown Holland, CityVu Bistro offers unique breakfast creations, an array of flatbread dinners, and small plates. Full bar with extensive wine list and great views of Holland. Hours of operation

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Kirby House 2 Washington, Grand Haven. 616-846-3299 AMERICAN. The Grill Room doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is — a chop house and grill. Atmosphere is warm with Tuscan tones, atmospheric lighting, classically cool music and leather booths. The menu focuses on steaks and chops and makes no apologies. The steaks are prime USDA choice, the seafood selection immaculate, and the wine and beverage list is top shelf. Relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days.

GO THERE FOR: Nightlife.

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Mia & Grace 1133 3rd St., Muskegon. 231-725-9500 AMERICAN. Calls itself a bakery and bistro, but that’s too limiting to describe the creativity of Mia & Grace’s menu. The farm-to-table eatery in downtown Muskegon is casual and comfortable and serves lots of one-of-a-kind items like the Pork Belly Reuben or the Duck PB&J (duck confit, carmelized onions, cashew-peanut butter, green pepper jelly, anadama bread).

SERVING: Breakfast Lunch OPEN ON: Closed on Sunday.

GO THERE FOR: Salads, Soups, Creme Brulee.

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New Holland Brewing Company 66 E. 8th St., Holland. 616-355-6422 BREWPUB. One of West MI’s premier microbreweries serves up better than average pub grub, including the Tarheel barbecue Pulled Pork, Grilled Portobello and The Treehugger, which is billed as “a vegetarian sandwich utopia.” SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Mad Hatter IPA, Dragon’s Milk.

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Phil’s Bar & Grille 215 Butler St., Saugatuck. 269-857-1555 AMERICAN. This cozy (some would say “small”) bar and grille in downtown Saugatuck is one of those unassuming spots you might easily overlook, though locals in Saugatuck will tell you about their love affair with Phil’s. Eclectic menu is all over the place, but in a good way, and the staff is super-friendly.

SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Portabella Mushroom Fries.

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Salt of the Earth 114 East Main St., Fennville. 269-561-7258 AMERICAN. Salt of the Earth is a farm-to-table-inspired restaurant, bar, and bakery located in the heart of SW Michigan farm country in

Fennville. Focuses on fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients whenever possible. Also serves up live music on weekends.

SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: House made rustic cuisine.

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Saugatuck Brewing Company 2948 Blue Star Highway. 269-857-7222 BREWPUB. Enjoy a traditional Irish-style pub that features quality beer, wine, food and service. Try one of 12 unique brews that are served in the pub and bottled and distributed throughout the Midwest. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days.

GO THERE FOR: Beer in a family friendly pub environment.

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Vitale’s of Zeeland 59 W. Washington St. (616) 772-5900 ITALIAN. This family owned restaurant specializes in Italian dining, but also has a full menu including Mexican and American specialties. Family friendly atmosphere with newly remodeled dining, and an expanded sports bar with big screen TVs. Happy hour specials, live music every Saturday and has been voted Best Pizza seven years in a row by the Grand Rapids Press. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza.

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Food Dance 401 E. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo. 269-382-1888 AMERICAN. An eclectic American menu that reflects ownership’s fixation on “finding honest-to-goodness fruits, vegetables, meat and eggs that come from the farm, not the factory.” Lots of unique choices, for breakfast (gingerbread pancakes), lunch (crab cake sandwich) and dinner (beer roasted chicken). SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh Local Foods.

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Old Burdicks Bar & Grill 100 W. Michigan Ave. (269) 226-3192 AMERICAN. Old Burdick’s Bar & Grill features tasty sandwiches, burgers, salads and entrees, as well as a great selection of cocktails, wines and beers. SERVING: Lunch Dinner. OPEN: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The Old Burdick Burger.

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Olde Peninsula 200 E. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo 269-343-2739 BREWPUB. Downtown brewpub serves up the expected (e.g., steaks, ribs), the authentic (e.g., London Broil) and some pleasant surprises (e.g., extensive vegetarian offerings, Italian food).

Offers a range of beers brewed on the premises and served on tap, plus a full bar. Check out the seasonal porters on tap right now, including the Vanilla Porter (5.5% ABV) and Stout Chocula (5.25% ABV). SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days.

GO THERE FOR: Beer-B-Que Ribs, London Broil.

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Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Arcadia Brewing Co. 103 Michigan Ave., Battle Creek. 269-963-9520 BREWPUB. You’ll find some of the usual suspects on the Battle Creek brewpub’s menu, including wood-fired pizzas and some of the best barbecue in the region. But you’ll also find some delightful surprises — Osso Bucco in a brewpub?! — on the menu, courtesy of award-winning Chef Sean Kelly.

SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Handcrafted ales and barbecue.

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Bell’s Eccentric Cafe 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave. 269-382-2332 BREWPUB. Eccentric Café’s regular menu of appetizers, sandwiches, sides and salads — plus the daily soups and specials — exists for a simple and important purpose: to complement the Kalamazoo microbrewery’s award-winning beers. Eat up while you drink up. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The Beer.

Martell’s 3501 Greenleaf Blvd., Kalamazoo. 269-375-2105 AMERICAN. Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood that overlooks Willow Lake, Martell’s offers casual ambiance and an expansive menu with steaks, prime rib and other comfort food entrées like Italian style meatloaf and pork shank.

SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days (Sundaysdinner only) GO THERE FOR: Quiet casual ambiance.

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Union Cabaret & Grille 125 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo. 269-384-6756 AMERICAN. A partnership with Western Michigan University, Union features eclectic food and cocktails, plus live jazz music performed by WMU faculty and students. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sunday. GO THERE FOR: Portabella Fries, Bloody Maries with infused vodkas. n

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Bravo!

5402 Portage Rd., Kalamazoo 269-344-7700 ITALIAN. Much-lauded restaurant has earned its stripes over past 23 years as one of the region’s best dining experiences, including a 3-star rating in the 2010 Forbes Travel Guide (formerly the Mobil Travel Guide). The Tuscan-inspired cuisine is spectacular, the atmosphere comfortable and intimate, and the service first-rate. Also brews its own beer in small batches for pairings with menu offerings.

SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. (Closed Sat. lunch) GO THERE FOR: A great dining experience.

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Fieldstone Grille 3970 W. Centre St., Portage. 269-321-8480 AMERICAN. Lodge-retreat atmosphere overlooking the Moors Golf Club natural wetlands. The “field-to-plate” menu features burgers, pizzas, steaks and some eclectic items like quail. Try the FSG chips, a combination of potato, beet and sweet potato chips. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Blue Burger, Almond Crusted Walleye, FSG Chips.

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For our full list of restaurants, visit revuewm.com/ restaurants.

To submit or correct information in a dining listing, please send an e-mail to editor@ revuewm.com.

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The Schedule Get Scheduled! E-mail your info to schedule@revuewm.com or add your events into our calendar at revuewm.com.

The Pyramid Scheme The Palindrome Infection: Comedy, Hip Hop, Live Art Showcase River City Saloon Tetrad Spectrum Theater Based on a Totally True Story St. Cecilia Music Center Grand Rapids Symphony Presents Coffee Classics Van Andel Arena Disney on Ice Presents 100 Years of Magic

saturday

friday

3.01

The 411 Club The JR Clark Band Bell’s Eccentric Café Roster McCabe Billy’s Lounge Asamu Johnson Blackhawk Bar and Grill HairMania Calvin College Covenant Fine Arts Center Mutemath wsg Midnight Faces City Sen Lounge Beer Inspired Dinner Coopersville Farm Museum Country Line Dancing Czar’s 505 Jamaica Me Crazy, Roots Vibration The DAAC Great Black Night wsg Cains & Abels

Downtown Holland Girlfriends Weekend Dr. Grins Tom Simmons Foundry Hall Delilah Dewylde & the Lost Boys Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Civic Theatre Fiddler on the Roof GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill

Grand Valley State University Art Gallery Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic Howmet Playhouse Finvarra’s Wren Kzoo Institute of Arts Sight and Feeling: Photographs by Ansel Adams, Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Kzoo State Theater WRKR Budweiser Blues Series: Magic Slim and the Teardrops LaFontsee Galleries James Karsina Exhibit Mulligan’s Pub Husband & Wife, Pistolbrides, Congress Muskegon Civic Theater Crimes of the Heart New Holland Brewing The Turnips Old Dog Tavern ART HOP with Jonathan Wijnberg

3.02

The 411 Club No Bueno, Invisible Mansion, The Soft Act, The Evil Deauxerz Billy’s Lounge Cabin Fever Blues Series feat. Peaches Staten Blackhawk Bar and Grill Decades Curragh Irish Pub Aidan O’Toole Czar’s 505 Justine Blazer DeVos Performance Hall Theresa Caputo Live Downtown Muskegon Bike Time Winter Bash Dr. Grins Tom Simmons FireKeepers Casino Billy Currington Founders Brewing Company Serita’s Black Rose CD Release Party, Me3Mind’s Joel Rydecki and Friends

Foundry Hall Christopher Mark Jones with Greg Winters Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Howmet Playhouse Just Before Sleep Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Ladies Literary Club River City Improv Mulligan’s Pub Flood the Desert, Sleepeater, Silent Lapse Muskegon Civic Theater Crimes of the Heart The Muze Electrik Toyz Old Dog Tavern Ziggy and the Bitches, Duffield Caron Project The Pyramid Scheme Stepdad, Alexis, Flint Eastwood River City Saloon Tetrad San Chez Bistro Looking for Mrs. San Chez Saugatuck Brewing Company An Dro

Best Bet: Hip Hop

sunday

3.03

Amway Grand Plaza Hotel The Grand Affair: Free Bridal Event Art Center of Battle Creek Class Act: Elementary and Secondary School Art Billy’s Lounge Revival 80s Night with DJ Hustlah DeVos Performance Hall Alma College presents Resonance Foundry Hall Kristen Ford, Elisabeth Pixley-Fink CD Release, The Mittenauts Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Kellogg Arena Scooby Doo! Live Musical Mysteries Muskegon Civic Theater Crimes of the Heart Saugatuck Center for the Arts Sky Hempy Keyboard Series: James Giles

monday

3.04

Kool Keith

Art Center of Battle Creek Class Act: Elementary and Secondary School Art Billy’s Lounge Bass Bin DeVos Performance Hall 25th Annual Hope College Musical Showcase Foundry Hall Tip Top Tails Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont

REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining Schedule

So yeah, more than three decades in, and it looks like this whole “hip-hop” thing might actually be catching on after all. Praise be to the heavenly jam-masters that Kool Keith, one of rap’s most senior perpetrators, is still around to shake the establishment loose by slicing beats and spitting out choice rhymes. As the self-proclaimed founder of “horrorcore,” Kool Keith has been reducing the competition to puddles of quaking fear for nearly 20 years – a pretty impressive feat, considering how quickly the revolving door of here-today-forgotten-tomorrow fortune tends to toss celebs out like bad milk. Having now released more than 10 albums, Kool Keith wsg with plenty of notable colAssorted Anonymous laborations to accompany solo The Pyramid Scheme, success, Kool Keith continues Grand Rapids even now, amidst all the T.I.s, March 24, 8 p.m. / $15 T-Pains and the T-whoevers, pyramidschemebar.com to bring a unique surrealism (616) 272-3758 to the rap game. Reported by Emma Kat Richardson

Seven Steps Up Event and Banquet Center Neil Jacobs Shakespeare’s Lower Level R&B Show Featuring DJ Playhouse and Stylz n Play Spectrum Theater Based on a Totally True Story UICA Nosferatu

61

Schedule Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition Grand Valley State University Art Gallery Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay The Pyramid Scheme Royal Thunder, Ancient Vvisdom, Mean Mother

tuesday

3.05

Art Center of Battle Creek Class Act: Elementary and Secondary School Art Billy’s Lounge Billy’s Open Mic Night Downtown Kalamazoo Belly Dance Class Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies

are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont, Murder Mystery Dinner Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill

Grand Valley State University Art Gallery Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Lemonjello’s Coffee American Opera, Red Legs, Alex & The Brave, and Jake Down Van Andel Arena Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band Wealthy Theatre Meanwhile Movie: They Live

wednesday

3.06

AWOLNATION

Schedule Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

Best Bet: Indie In his early twenties, Aaron Bruno was AWOLNATION wsg Blondfire, a Warped Tour darling as frontman for postMother Mother grunge/punk band Home Town Hero. The The Intersection, Grand Rapids group went kaput before its second album March 26, 6:30 p.m. $20 was released, so homeboy was out a job. Post sectionlive.com, (616) 451-8232 HTH, the singer took advantage of his boyish good looks and fronted the cartoonish, Bee Gees-esque Under the Influence of Giants, which released one full-length album in 2006. Bruno eventually emancipated himself from the ‘60s-influenced band and formed the electro/synth-heavy AWOLNATION. A big sonic departure from previous efforts, Bruno took creative control of the project, writing all the tracks and signing onto Red Bull Records to release the band’s first full-length, Megalithic Symphony, in 2011. The band is still riding the success of its hit single, “Sail,” even two years after the release. Currently, the band is touring and working on a second album, and it looks like Bruno’s finally found his niche. Reported by Lindsay Patton-Carson

62 | REVUEWM.COM | March 2013

Art Center of Battle Creek Class Act: Elementary and Secondary School Art Bar Divani Guess The Grape: Blind Wine Tasting Billy’s Lounge Nate Holley DeVos Performance Hall Brit Floyd Forest Hills Fine Arts Center Doris & Lars Larson Exhibit Dr. Grins Funniest Person in GR Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Grand Valley State University Art Gallery Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Old Dog Tavern Patricia Pettinga The Melting Pot Fondue Cooking Class Park Theatre Unknown Mortal Orchestra

thursday

3.07

Art of the Table Art of the Table In-Store Wine Tasting The B.O.B. LaughFest Opening Night Preview Shows Bell’s Eccentric Café Wilson Brothers Band

Billy’s Lounge The 90s Holla Back The DAAC Smash Your Enemies, All Wave, Losing Sight, No Longer Bound, & Tall Tales Deltaplex Arena Bow Wows and Brews Founders Brewing Company Afro Zuma Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Creativity Uncorked, Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Grand Valley State University Art Gallery Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay McFadden’s LaughFest Opening Night Preview Shows The Pyramid Scheme Gilda’s Laughfest Presents Preview Shows Salt of the Earth Virtue Cider Dinner- Welcome to the Neighborhood Shakespeare’s Lower Level Comedy Open Mic Night Wealthy Theatre Reel Rock 7

friday

3.08

The 411 Club Fools Gold Presents a Comedy Showcase + Music Bell’s Eccentric Café Twin Cats Bethlehem Lutheran Church MAJIC Concert: Luminescence and 12th Street Harmony Billy’s Lounge Funktion Blackhawk Bar and Grill Shelagh Brown Coopersville Farm Museum Country Line Dancing DeVos Performance Hall Grand Rapids Symphony Presents Celtic Fiddle with Eileen Ivers Dog Story Theater Pop Scholars Four Winds Casino Resort Little Big Town wsg David Nail Frauenthal Center for the Arts 2013 Alley Door Club: West Side Soul Surfers; An Evening with Phillips, Craig, and Dean

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Grand Valley State University Art Gallery Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic GRCC Ford Fieldhouse LaughFest All-Star Comedy Jam Holland City Flats LaughFest Amateur and Semi-Pro Stand-Up Showcase Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Master Arts Theater LaughFest presents Forever Plaid McFadden’s College Stand-Up Showcase, Late Night Comedy Pros Mulligan’s Pub The Campanellis New Holland Brewing Company Romance for Ransom The Pyramid Scheme LaughFest presents Garfunkel and Oates, LaughFest’s Best River City Saloon Classic Fix Shakespeare’s Lower Level Back From the Dead Tour Wealthy Theatre International Folk Dancing

saturday

3.09

The 411 Club The Gas House Gorillas The B.O.B. Music and Theater Showcase Bell’s Eccentric Café Corn Fed Girls wsg Cold Tone Harvest Billy’s Lounge The Outer Vibe Blackhawk Bar and Grill Kari Lynch Band Czar’s 505 Country Night Dos Story Theater DMNK Improv First Baptist Church of Kalamazoo All Ears Theatre Presents: Johnny Forrest and His Gal Pal Sue in the Dragonfly Founders Brewing Company The Appleseed Collective Fountain Street Church LaughFest presents Bill Burr

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining Schedule

63

REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

Schedule Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill GRCC Ford Fieldhouse Joel McHale Holland City Flats LaughFest Amateur and Semi-Pro Stand-Up Showcase Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Little River Casino Resort Air Supply Master Arts Theater LaughFest presents Forever Plaid McFadden’s Pete Holmes Mulligan’s Pub Fake Limbs The Pyramid Scheme LaughFest presents Garfunkel and Oates, LaughFest presents the Dirty Show River City Saloon Classic Fix San Chez Bistro Looking for Mrs. San Chez Saugatuck Brewing Company Tony Reynolds and Wally Michaels Saugatuck Center for the Arts An Intimate Evening with Janis Ian Shakespeare’s Lower Level Crazy 80s Party Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill Root Doctor Wealthy Theater LaughFest presents 50/50, Hannah Fralick in Concert

sunday

Schedule Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

3.10

Billy’s Lounge Revival 80s Night with DJ Hustlah Dr. Grins LaughFest Amateur and Semi-Pro Stand-Up Showcase East Grand Rapids Library Purple Printmaking Fountain Street Church LaughFest presents Jim Breuer Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection

64 | REVUEWM.COM | March 2013

GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill GRCC Ford Fieldhouse Seriously Funny Adventure Challenge Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay The Platinum Room Howl N Blues UICA Beirut Hotel, Short Film Showcase Wealthy Theater Traditional African Dance

monday

3.11

Billy’s Lounge Bass Bin Calvin College Covenant Fine Arts Center The W. Kamau Bell Curve: Ending Racism in About an Hour Coopersville Farm Museum BINGO! Foundry Hall Tip Top Tails Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Library Pretty Funny Movies: I Am Comic GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition Grand Valley State University Art Gallery Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic Grand Valley University Club, Pew Grand Rapids Campus GVSU Writers Series: Poet Traci Brimhall Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay The Pyramid Scheme Laughfest presents: Late Night Comedy Pro Showcase, Blackout Diaries

tuesday

3.12

Billy’s Lounge Billy’s Open Mic Night DeVos Place - Steelcase Ballroom Wayne Brady Dimnent Memorial Chapel Arunesh Nadgir Fenian’s Irish Pub Lunasa

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Grand Valley State University Art Gallery Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay The Orbit Room Natasha Leggero and Neal Brennan Wealthy Theatre Meanwhile Movie: The Thing Wege Ballroom at Aquinas College Aquinas College Lecture Series Presents: Women Composers

wednesday

3.13

The 411 Club Blues Control, Brown Company, Kyle Landstra Bar Divani Rimple’s Favorites: A Wine Social Billy’s Lounge Nate Holley Cook-DeWitt Center, GVSU Allendale Campus Arts at Noon Series: Perugino String Quartet Curragh Irish Pub DJ Rodney Essenburg and DJ Dan Van Hekken DeVos Performance Hall Gilda’s Laughfest: Dr. Bernie Siegel & Scott Burton Dos Story Theater Don’t We Boys and Charles Preview Show Dr. Grins Funniest Person in GR Fountain Street Church GRCC DIversity Lecture Series: The Power of Introverts with Susan Cain Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Library Literary Showcase GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm:

Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Grand Valley State University Art Gallery Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic Hawthorne Interphase LaughFest Writer’s Workshop Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay McFadden’s Late Night Comedy Pros The Pyramid Scheme LaughFest presents: Late Night Comedy Pro Showcase, Full Frontal Nerdity

thursday

3.14

Art of the Table Art of the Table In-Store Wine Tasting Billy’s Lounge The 90s Holla Back DeVos Performance Hall Gilda’s Laughfest: Lewis Black Dog Story Theater Shock T’s Dr. Grins Best of the Midwest Competition Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Library Pretty Funny Movies: Bill Burr’s Why Do I Do This?

GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Grand Valley State University Art Gallery Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic Kirkhoff Center, GVSU Allendale Campus Samuel J Comroe Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay McFadden’s LaughFest presents Homegrown Stand-Up Showcase The Pyramid Scheme The Wonder Years, Fireworks, Hostage Calm St. Cecilia Music Center Bill Charlap Trio Williams Theatre WMU University Theatre presents MacBeth

friday

3.15

Bell’s Eccentric Café Rootstand Billy’s Lounge Blue Molly Blackhawk Bar and Grill Electric Throwdown Central Reformed Church Back Chorale of Grand Rapids presents Bach Festival 2013 Coopersville Farm Museum Country Line Dancing Downtown Grand Haven Grand Haven Girlfriends Weekend Dr. Grins Stand-Up Competition Epic Center, Wellspring Theater Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival Farmer’s Alley Theater Crawlspace Eviction presents Fertile Beach Frauenthal Center for the Arts Beethoven and Blue Jeans presented by the West Michigan Symphony Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill, Floral Design Workshop, Art in Bloom Cocktail Reception Grand Valley State University Art Gallery Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Kzoo State Theater WRKR Budweiser Blues Series: Deanna Bogart Master Arts Theatre Glad to Have this Time Together: Comedy Sketches from the Carol Burnett show Matthews Auditorium You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown The Pyramid Scheme Grand Rapids Soul Club River City Saloon Litt Up Seven Steps Up Willy Porter St. Cecilia Music Center GRCC Music Department

Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill The Danger Damsel Burlesque Presents Stockings and Shenanigans Van Andel Arena Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam and Thunder Nationals Williams Theatre WMU University Theatre presents MacBeth

saturday

3.16

The 411 Club The Dread Return, Onn, End of Reason The B.O.B. Music and Theater Showcase Arena District, Grand Rapids Irish on Ionia 2013 Bell’s Eccentric Café Slim Gypsy Baggage Billy’s Lounge Hip Pocket Blackhawk Bar and Grill Montage Band Czar’s 505 Country Night DeVos Performance Hall Gilda’s LaughFest: Brian Regan Downtown Grand Rapids Grand Rapids St. Patrick’s Day Parade Downtown Holland St. Patrick’s Day Parade Downtown Muskegon 2nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade Dr. Grins Stand-Up Competition Epic Center, Wellspring Theater Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival Fenn Valley Vineyards Ethnic Winemaker’s Dinner FireKeepers Casino Lynyrd Skynyrd Founders Brewing Company Black Jake & The Carnies Frauenthal Center for the Arts Beethoven and Blue Jeans presented by the West Michigan Symphony Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill, Art in Bloom Studio Class with Beth Charles, Art in Bloom J Schwanke Floral Demonstration

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Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining Schedule REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

65

Schedule Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Kent County Youth Fair Relay for Life Euchre Tournament Ladies Literary Club River City Improv LowellArts! LaughFest Amateur and Semi-Pro Stand-Up Showcase Master Arts Theatre Glad to Have this Time Together: Comedy Sketches from the Carol Burnett show Matthews Auditorium You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown The Pyramid Scheme Bello Spark CD Release Show River City Saloon Litt Up San Chez Bistro Looking for Mrs. San Chez Saugatuck Brewing Company St. Patty’s Breakfast featuring Moxie Strings, Kinfyre Shakespeare’s Lower Level Sponge record release show Wealthy Theater LaughFest’s Best, Potato Moon

sunday

3.17

Billy’s Lounge Revival 80s Night with DJ Hustlah Dr. Grins LaughFest Amateur and Semi-Pro Stand-Up Showcase

Epic Center, Wellspring Theater Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival First Presbyterian Church of Grand Haven Grand Rapids Choir of Men & Boys - Lenten Meditations Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Kretschmer Recital Hall, Aquinas College Aquinas College Chorus and Valenti Handbells Concert The Oribit Room Slightly Stoopid wsg. The Expendables and Tribal Seeds The Pyramid Scheme Kate Nash Shakespeare’s Lower Level St. Patrick’s Day Music St. Cecilia Music Center GRCC Instrumental Music Department Concert Wealthy Theater Annex Traditional African Dance

monday

3.18

Billy’s Lounge Bass Bin Foundry Hall Tip Top Tails Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition Grand Valley State University Art Gallery Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay

tuesday

3.19

Billy’s Lounge Billy’s Open Mic Night Cook Carriage House, Aquinas College Broadway Revue DeVos Performance Hall Grand Rapids Symphony Presents The Matrix Live

The DAAC Real Friends, Act As One, Midwest, Adversary, and Way To Fall Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Library Write Michigan Awards Ceremony GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Grand Valley State University Art Gallery Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic John Ball Zoo Animal Enrichment Series Kirkhof Center, GVSU Allendale Campus GVSU Writers Series: David Shields Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay The Pyramid Scheme lalaPERUza feat. Elliot Street Lunatics St. Cecilia Music Center, Royce Auditorium GRCC Jazz Night Wealthy Theatre Meanwhile Movie: Big Trouble in Little China

Bar Divani Wine Social: A Tour of Italy Billy’s Lounge Nate Holley Downtown Lowell Rise and Shine Breakfast Club Dr. Grins Funniest Person in GR Frederik Meijer Gardens Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Grand Valley State University Art Gallery Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay

Billy’s Lounge The ‘90s Holla Back Dr. Grins Vice Morris Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Grand Rapids Public Museum Great Lakes Shipwrecks: Storms and Stories Grand Rapids Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay, Glam Slam: 6th Annual Fashion Show The Melting Pot Murder Mystery Dinner Peter Martin Wege Theatre Grand Rapids Ballet Company Program 4 The Pyramid Scheme Local H wsg State & Madison, Nobody’s Favorite Wealthy Theatre Freeform Dance with Dinah

thursday

friday

wednesday

3.20

3.21

Art of the Table In-Store Wine Tasting

3.22

Arcadia Brewing Company Eat, Drink, Give 2013

Schedule Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

Best Bet: Classic Rock

66 | REVUEWM.COM | March 2013

If you grew up in or around the Detroit area, or perhaps Bob Seger and the even anywhere generally in the Mitten, it’s likely that “Bob Seger” is Silver Bullet Band one of those names you’ve learned to pause dramatically at the sound Van Andel Arena, of. Like the mention of a revered household god, “Seger” is an utterGrand Rapids ance that carries the power to render any Michigan native instantly full March 5, 7:30 p.m. of knee-knocking awe. And why not? With more chart topping hits $72.50 than almost anyone else who can point out their hometown on their vanandelarena.com hand, his decades of pop culture dominance are more than enough (616) 742-6600 to skyrocket the Seeg into demigod status. Indeed, found among the Seger super song list are bona-fide classics like “Old Time Rock and Roll,” “Like a Rock,” and other lighters-in-the-air anthems that don’t include the word “rock” in them. Even though plenty of Seger’s contemporaries have long since hung up their guitar straps and retired to a life of sailing on Golden Pond (probably), Seger himself is still admirably plowing through his own golden years by continuing to rock out harder and faster than almost any young gun on the scene. Any self-respecting Michigander would do well to take in Seger’s performance at Van Andel Arena. Seriously, don’t make us send the Nuge after you. Reported

by Emma Kat Richardson

Bob Seger

REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

67

Schedule Bell’s Eccentric Café The Coop Bennucci’s Chicago Oven & Grill BluesTime Band Billy’s Lounge Classic Fix Blackhawk Bar and Grill Tetrad Coopersville Farm Museum Country Line Dancing DeVos Performance Hall Grand Rapids Symphony Presents Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Dr. Grins Vice Morris Foundry Hall Thirty Steps Forward: Foundry Hall Benefit Show Frauenthal Center for the Arts Alley Door Club: Big Daddy Fox Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill John Ball Zoo John Ball Zoo Twilight Tour Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay, Crafty Date Night Lemonjello’s Coffee Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, Adversary, The Koh Kohs, and Bennett River City Saloon Yard Sale Underwear Performing Arts Center, GVSU Allendale Campus GVSU Spring Dance Concert, Min Jin, tenor, and Robert Byrens, piano The Pyramid Scheme LadyFestGR St Andrew’s Cathedral Grand Rapids Choir of Men & Boys Lenten Meditations

Schedule Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

saturday

68 | REVUEWM.COM | March 2013

3.23

The 411 Club Beast in the Field, Blue Snaggletooth, Bonehawk, No Bails Bell’s Eccentric Café The Crane Wives Billy’s Lounge King Crabapple and Lady Ace Boogie Blackhawk Bar and Grill Drop 35 Czar’s 505 Country Night Downtown Grand Haven Grand Pizza Fest Downtown Lowell Lowell Community Expo

Dr. Grins Vice Morris First Baptist Church of Kalamazoo All Ears Theatre Presents: The Canterville Ghost Founders Brewing Company Fauxgrass Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Little River Casino Resort Kellie Pickler Performing Arts Center, GVSU Allendale Campus GVSU Spring Dance Concert O’Connor’s Home Brew Two Year Anniversary Sale and Party The Pyramid Scheme LadyFestGR River City Saloon Yard Sale Underwear Rivertown Sports Grand Raggidy Roller Girls vs. Fort Wayne Saugatuck Brewing Company The Trace Seven Steps Up Dan Navarro Shakespeare’s Lower Level Hardcore Show St. Andrew’s Cathedral Grand Rapids Choir of Men & Boys Lenten Meditations

sunday

3.24

The 411 Club KVBA Sunday series with Marci Linn and Brian Michael Fischer Billy’s Lounge Revival 80’s Night with DJ Hustlah Dog Story Theater TV Land Frauenthal Center for the Arts Ralphie May Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition

GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Kretschmer Recital Hall, Aquinas College Aquinas College Band and Chamber Strings Concert The Pyramid Scheme Kool Keith, Assorted Anonymous, DJ Snax Shakespeare’s Lower Level Second Annual Oberon Eve Party SpeakEZ Lounge Classical Revolution Detroit Van Andel Arena Winter Jam 2013

monday

3.25

Billy’s Lounge Bass Bin DeVos Place- Steelcase Ballroom Paws, Claws, and Corks Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Kzoo State Theater Ralphie May

tuesday

3.26

Billy’s Lounge Billy’s Open Mic Night Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Knickerbocker Theater Visiting Writers Series: Mark Winegardner Miller Auditorium American Idiot

NE IL JA CO BS MARCH 2

8:00PM

WILLY PORTER MARCH 15

8:00PM

DAN NAVARRO MARCH 23

8:00PM

SEVEN STEPS UP: 116 S Jackson Street, Spring Lake, MI 49456 (616) 678-3618 - www.pindropconcerts.com

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining Schedule

SEE YOUR LOVE CLEARLY IN THE MORNING.

Michael L. Keil, D.O., FAOCO 2500 E. Beltline SE, Suite C Grand Rapids, MI info@keillasik.com (616) 365-5775

REVUEWM.COM | March 2013 |

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Schedule Wealthy Theatre Meanwhile Movie: Flash Gordon

wednesday

3.27

Bar Divani Wine Social: Demystifying France Billy’s Lounge Nate Holley Dr. Grins Funniest Person in GR Frauenthal Center for the Arts Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company presents Macbeth Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Kzoo Valley Community College Jerry Dennis speaks “About Writing” UICA Wheelhouse Talks: Leann Arkema

Whether you need transportation for a special night out, a lift to the airport, or a ride home from the store, start by contacting Grand Taxi today.

thursday

3.28

Reserve your ride at migrandtaxi.com or westmichiganrides.com

Schedule Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

Advance reservations of 24 hours or more recommended, but not required.

70 | REVUEWM.COM | March 2013

LADIES LITERARY CLUB 61 SHELDON BLVD SE

MARCH 2 MARCH 16 APRIL 6 APRIL 20 ALL SHOWS 7:33 PM RIVERCITYIMPROV.COM

Art of the Table In-Store Wine Tasting Billy’s Lounge The 90s Holla Back Dr. Grins Derek Richards Founders Brewing Company Dirty Bourbon River Show Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay

Kzoo Valley Community College Jerry Dennis speaks “About Writing” The Pyramid Scheme Retro D’Luxe Spectrum Theater [title of show] St. Cecilia Music Center Local Spins Live III

friday

3.29

The 411 Club Big Boss Blues Blackhawk Bar and Grill Billy Sloan Band Dr. Grins Derek Richards Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Kzoo State Theater WRKR Budweiser Blues Series: Samantha Fish and Rocky Lawrence The New Vic Theatre The Love List The Pyramid Scheme Gringo Star, The Boss Mustangs Riviera Theatre Montana Skies Shakespeare’s Lower Level Venice Gas House Trolley, Stikyfut, Combat Corduroy Spectrum Theater [title of show]

saturday

3.30

Bar Louie Otis Blueswell Jr. Billy’s Lounge Westside Soul Surfers Blackhawk Bar and Grill Dani Jamerson Band Czar’s 505 Country Night Dr. Grins Derek Richards Founders Brewing Company KBS Draft Release Party Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Kzoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay Lemonjello’s Coffee The After Effect, Red Legs, The Dockside Fever, and Krimson Saint Old Dog Tavern Combat Corduroy The Pyramid Scheme Mustard Plug, Mixtapes River City Saloon Electric Jug Saugatuck Brewing Company Ry Petermann Shakespeare’s Lower Level Glowstick Willy with That Freak Quincy Spectrum Theater [title of show] Wealthy Theatre Bill Staines in Concert

sunday

3.31

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies are Blooming, Connected and Disconnected: The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection GR Public Museum Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition GRAM Graphic Design: Now in Production, Stephen Frykholm: Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Jon McDonald: Slavery’s Chill Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay The Orbit Room A Day To Remember wsg Of Mice And Men and Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!

The Pyramid Scheme Stick to Your Guns, Rotting Out n

For more events, check out our calendar at revueWm.com.