May 2015, Revue Magazine

West Michigan’s Entertainment Guide for 27 years

» May 2015

Free! / Music / art / Culture / Dining / Beer

Inside: Farmers’ Market Guide Weird Local Dishes Ethnic Markets Sushi Spots

Taste this: The Beach Party sushi roll at Maru

The Food Issue Dining ideas all over West Michigan for the food fascinated

© 2014 Bell’s Brewery, Inc., Comstock, MI

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What’s Inside

May 2015 | Volume 27, Issue 5

SCENE:

11 Random Notes 14 Eclectic 16 All Ages 18 Roller Derby

SOUNDS:

21 Local Music: The Omecs 22 GVSU Student Radio 24 Jake Simmons Q&A 25 Colony House 26 Ballroom Thieves 28 Pokey LaFarge 29 Albums Reviews 30 Built to Spill

The Food Issue

28

Pokey LaFarge

33 46

Style notes

SPECIAL SECTION: 33 34 35 36 38 39 40 42 43

The Food Issue Weirdest Local Foods Farmers Markets Guide Ethnic Food Markets Top Sushi Spots Social Kitchen & Bar Bakeries San Chez, Songs About Food Ice Cream & Gelato

SIGHTS:

45 46 48 50 52

Performing Arts: Tosca Style Notes Indie Film Lit Life Visual Arts: Holland Museum

DINING & DRINKING: 55 Restaurant Listings 58 Beer: Newaygo Brewing 60 Beer News

SCHEDULE:

63 Daily Event Listings & Best Bets 70 Last Call: The Meanwhile

W est M ichig a n ’ s E nterta inment G uide

Letter from the Editor

W

hile this is Revue’s annual Food Issue, please resist the reasonable urge to jump straight to the munchies — there’s some solid non-edibles in this issue, as well.

Journalist Steve Miller contributed a profile on the GVSU student radio station, WCKS The Whale.

At a glance, it would seem enthusiasm for new careers in radio is on the decline, but Len O’Kelly, the station’s faculty adviser, says the program is experiencing a growth spurt and his students love what they do.

Being a child of the late ‘80s, this is music to my ears. The FM dial was an integral part of my life. I remember sitting idly by my boombox, waiting for a certain song so I could hastily mash the record button and document the song on a blank Memorex cassette. Prior to having every song at your fingertips via the web, your favorite radio station was a tastemaker — it mattered.

While talk radio seems to be thriving these days, the Internet quickly made music stations all but obsolete. On YouTube alone you can find: rare out-of-print 45 rpms, full albums, live unreleased concerts, outtakes and even bootlegs. Falling down the Youtube rabbit hole can lead you to your new favorite band. Meanwhile, FM stations insist on playing the same tired rotation ad nauseam. In fact,

Advertising index Battle Creek Spring Arts. . . . . . 49 Bell’s Brewery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Bell’s Live Music . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 BMW Motorcycles. . . . . . . . . . . . 67 BOB’s Brewery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Boba Bliss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Brann’s Steakhouse. . . . . . . . . . 43 Brewery Vivant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Broadway GR. . . . . . . . . . . 10, 49 Buttermilk Jamboree. . . . . . . . . 23 Cascade Optical . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Celebration! Cinema. . . . . . . . . 49 Central City Taphouse. . . . . . . . 67 CityFlats Hotel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

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Civic Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Downtown Zeeland . . . . . . . . . . 72 Dr Grin’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Eastown Antiques. . . . . . . . . . . 66 Erb Thai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Firekeepers Casino . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Foot Outfitters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Founders Brewery . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Ganders Restaurant . . . . . . . . . 13 Grand Rapids Public Library. . . 51 Grand Rapids Symphony. . . . . . 51 Gravel Bottom Brewery . . . . . . . 61 Grand Rapids Brewing Co. . . . . 54 Grand Woods Lounge. . . . . . . . . 71

if I hear “More Than a Feeling” one more time I may uninstall my radio and jettison it on the highway.

Thanks to the Internet, we can hear any song at any time — meanwhile “classic rock” radio can’t manage to play more than three different Doors songs? It’s a hyper-limited format in an age where everything is accessible within a few clicks. It baffles me.

So while I’m happy college students are still interested in the art of radio I encourage them to disregard the old-school radio dinosaurs who insist on not taking risks and not having passion for music.

These new radio jocks need to bring back the urgency FM once had. Perhaps one day soon I’ll click on the dial and instead of “Stairway” I’ll hear a rare Led Zeppelin B-side. That’s when I’ll know there is someone with a pulse working at the station. Give music fans a reason to listen again.

Later,

Editorial Publisher Brian Edwards / brian@revuewm.com Associate Publisher Molly Rizor / molly@revuewm.com Editor Joe Boomgaard / joe@revuewm.com Managing Editor Rich Tupica / rich@revueholding.com Design Creative Director Kim Kibby / kim@revuewm.com Ad Design Rachel Harper, Kim Kibby Contributing Writers Kyle Austin Steve Miller Missy Black Allison Parker Steven de Polo Carly Plank Mark Deming Allan I. Ross Dwayne Hoover Josh Spanninga Lexi Kadlec Kerri VanderHoff Nolan Krebs Anya Zentmeyer Audria Larsen

Contributing Photographers Katy Batdorff, Nicole Rico, Kim Kibby, Phil Artz Revue Minions Gabriella Patti, Abigale Racine, Josh Veal

Sales / 616.608.6170 Kelli Belanger / kbelanger@revuewm.com Molly Rizor / molly@revuewm.com Digital Editor Jayson Bussa / jayson@revuewm.com

Rich Tupica, Managing Editor

Holiday Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hero Mud Run/JJED Ent. . . . . . .

Kendall College of Art/Design. .

Kzoo State Theatre. . . . . . . . . . .

Kzoo Valley Comm. College. . . .

Literacy Center of WM. . . . . . . .

New Belgium Brewing. . . . . . . .

New Horizons Computer Learning Center. . . . . . . . . . .

Old Dog Tavern. . . . . . . . . . . . .

One Trick Pony. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Orbit Room. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Palazzolo’s Gelato . . . . . . . . . . .

Pearl Street Grill . . . . . . . . . . . .

Right Brain Brewery. . . . . . . . . .

River City Improv. . . . . . . . . . . .

River City Saloon. . . . . . . . . . . .

30 12 52 20 27 53 31 53 26 28 19 19 12 59 66 57

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. . 17, 69 Salt of the Earth . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 San Chez Bistro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Saugatuck Brewing Company. . 59 Schuler Books. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Seven Steps Up. . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort. . 3 St. Joe BBQ/Blues Fest. . . . . . . . 68 Terra GR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 The Intersection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Pyramid Scheme. . . . . . . . . . 5 The Score. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 UICA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 The Union. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 West Michigan Symphony. . . . . 51 Wharton Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Find us online!

Website: revuewm.com Twitter: twitter.com/revuewm Facebook: facebook.com/revuewm 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 ©2015, 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: The Beach Party sushi roll at Maru.

Read more on page 38.

Photo: Katy Batdorff

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Random Notes

Gordon Lightfoot

TV ///

MOVIES ///

Back in 2012, Marvel Studios made cinematic history when it threw its entire roster of superheroes — Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, the Hulk — into the mix together and accidentally hit upon the formula for printing money. On May 1, the burgeoning Marvel Cinematic Universe enters the next phase with Avengers: Age of Ultron, which adds a few new supers to the team to ward

off the titular A.I. android, its biggest threat yet. Ray Kurzweil, eat your heart out.

On May 15, Pitch Perfect 2 catches up with the Barden Bellas as they enter an international a cappella competition so they can get reinstated at school after flashing the President (seriously). Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow and Rebel Wilson are all back, as they engage in riff-offs with their Euro-trash nemeses and cover girl-power songs like “Wrecking Ball” and “Run the World (Girls).”

Fact: Every time a Beyoncé song is performed a capella, an angel gets its wings.

And Disney continues to transform its theme park attractions into films with Tomorrowland (May 22). Starring George Clooney and directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol), the sci-fi adventure follows a mission by an unlikely duo to discover the secrets of a futuristic city. Please, please, please let there be flying DeLoreans and hoverboards.

COMEDY ///

With his gruff “Joy-zee” accent and barrelchested, pot-bellied physique, Joey “Coco” Diaz looks like an extra from The Sopranos.

He may not have crossed paths with Tony Soprano et al, but Diaz has appeared on Brooklyn Nine Nine, Children’s Hospital and The Mentalist. And May 7-9, he’ll bring his shtick to Dr. Grins inside the B.O.B. in

Montage of Heck downtown Grand Rapids. And if you want to get a taste of his style, you can check out his podcast, The Church of What’s Happening Now. Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort hosts one of comedy’s hardest working underdogs on June 6. Kathy Griffin has made no bones about her life on the D-list, on her show, My Life on the D-List, which isn’t bad considering her small-but-memorable appearances on Seinfeld, Glee and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Last year she fulfilled the prophecy of being Joan Rivers’ heir apparent when Griffin took over the late icon’s E! show, Fashion Police.

Griffin’s love for the F-bomb has gotten her banned from talk shows and CNN, but it’ll probably fit in nicely in the college town of Mount Pleasant.

MUSIC ///

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of touring for folk singer Gordon Lightfoot, but that’s not stopping him from celebrating a little early. On May 21, the 76-year-old troubadour, who wrote some of the 21st century’s most indelible folk songs — including “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” “Carefree Highway” and “Sundown” — comes to the Kalamazoo State Theatre for an intimate, one-night performance. He’ll weave in behind-the-scenes stories and personal anecdotes, making this a must-see event for Lightfoot fans. Maybe he’ll share what he ate in March that gave him food poisoning,

which delayed the tour. If we could read his mind …

In the late ‘70s, Ronnie Milsap became one of country music’s biggest stars, laying out seven No. 1 songs in a row and paving the way for everyone from Kenny Rogers to Taylor Swift to make the jump from twang to mainstream. On May 29, he’ll bring his impressive setlist, which includes the hits “(There’s) No Getting Over Me” and “Smoky Mountain Rain” to FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek. This is Milsap’s final concert tour. “You get to a place where you still have your health, but you know it’s not given,” the 72-year-old said last year before hitting the road. “Before I get to a place where it’s not a celebration of the music, I want to go out and play all these hits for the people who love them as much as I do.”

He won a Grammy for Best New Artist in 1987. He was an unofficial member of the Grateful Dead. His most popular song was sampled by 2Pac, Snoop Dogg and parodied by Chevy Chase on an episode of “Community.” And on May 23, he brings his new(ish) lineup to Bell’s Brewery’s Eccentric Café. Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers, an experimental, laid back ensemble, will play a rain-or-shine show in the Kalamazoo brewery’s beer garden.

Continued on next page 8

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

With the shredding opening riff of 1991’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Nirvana singlehandedly rendered the vapid pop music of the day moot. But when frontman Kurt Cobain committed suicide three years later at age 27, he left a void in rock music that still hasn’t been filled to this day. Cobain: Montage of Heck, debuting May 4 on HBO, is the first official documentary about the tortured artist, and goes a long way toward digging into the mindset of a man who has been hailed as the voice of a generation.

Directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Brett Morgen (The Kid Stays in the Picture), Cobain features rare home videos, interviews with family members, and glimpses of Cobain’s previously unreleased recordings, journal entries and artwork. And it may be able to provide closure to fans still grieving the loss of what could have been.

Kathy Griffin

11

Random Notes With the Noisemakers, Hornsby dips into multiple genres that have influenced him over the years, including jazz, bluegrass and modern classical. He’s even been known to take requests … but if you shout out “Free Bird,” don’t be surprised if someone dumps an Oberon over your head — not cool.

BEER ///

Ah, spring, when a craft beer aficionado’s fancy turns to thoughts of … well, craft beer.

On May 2, nearly four dozen West Michigan breweries will offer samples of their ware at Hudsonville Fairgrounds for the 2nd Annual Beer City Springfest. Attendees will have more than 200 beers, spirits, ciders, wines and meads to choose from, as well as a variety of games, food vendors and live entertainment options.

The event runs from 1–6 p.m. General admission tickets ($35) net you 12 sample tokens, while VIP tickets ($45) are good for 18 samples — plus the VIP passes get you in the gates at noon, one hour early.

Last year’s inaugural event drew more than 2,000 craft beer fans and this year’s attendance is expected to surpass that. And to

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

Downtown Grand Rapids

12 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

help you get in the Memorial Day spirit a little early, all proceeds will benefit local veterans. For the latest information, go to beercityfestivals.com or check out the event’s Facebook page.

And on May 30, New Belgium Brewing Co. will host CRANK, a partnership event with Grand Rapids cycling group Spoke Folks and the Belgian-style brewpub Brewery Vivant.

The event will be an all-day, family-friendly bike festival with games, food and beer.

Two locally made Tour de Fat-style “fun bikes” (think: multiple tires, insanely engineered custom frames and/or mind-bending designs) will be on hand for folks to test ride and vote on. The winner(s) will move on to the Chicago Tour de Fat in July to showcase their creation. Check out the Events page at newbelgium.com to get your wheels spinning. n

Random Notes were compiled by Allan I. Ross.

For more music, beer and entertainment news (and free stuff !), find us on Facebook and Twitter and sign up for our weekly e-newsletter at revuewm.com.

Join us for our Mother’s Day Brunch.

Call 616-235-7611 for reservations.

Room is limited.

Inside Holiday Inn 310 Pearl St. NW (616) 235-1342 higrdt.com/pearlstreetgrill

A Michi-gander

is passionate about our state.

At Ganders,

we’re passionate about Michigan too.

Michigan grown, Michigan made, Michigan brewed.

Ganders specializes in American cuisine with a modern twist. Michigan grown, sourced, and produced products are at the center of our menu. Our chefs take pride in their ingredients and work with local vendors to create a variety of thoughtful entrees. We work directly with local breweries to create a multiple-course beer tasting dinner. And a local brewer is often available for a little beer education.

Stop by for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

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4/21/15 2:55 PM REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 | 13

/// Eclectic

At The B.O.B. Grand Rapids, MI 616.356.2000 www.thebob.com

May Eclectic Events When you’re not busy skipping around a maypole and sucking down a Whitsun Ale, you can frolic off to a bevy of events sure to give gusto to your spring fever. This month, you can witness glassblowers battle it out, watch lowriders bounce into West Michigan and support a good cause led by local lady BAMFS. By Audria Larsen

JOEY DIAZ

Grand Raggidy Roller Derby Sideshow Spectacular

May 7-9

Tip Top Deluxe, Grand Rapids, May 24, 8 p.m. $5, grandraggidyrollergirls.com

PAT D14IX-O16N May

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May

Battle of the Glassblowers

Photo: Dawn Bennett-Dailey

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Battle of the Glassblowers & Flame-Off

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

West Michigan Glass Art Center, Kalamazoo May 1–2 (Friday 5–9 p.m., Saturday noon–5 p.m.)

Free! mglass.org, (269) 552-9802

INS M M U DAN C 8-30 May 2

ADAM CAYTON-HOLLAND

June 4-6

14 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

The 9th Annual Battle of Glassblowers & FlameOff pits torch-wielding artisans against one another over the course of two days. Watch glassblowers and flameworkers duke it out as they transform “hot molten glass into exquisitely delicate objects.” Each competition is based on a theme. The first battle features dueling teams striving to create the most magnificent “Stellar Table Piece.” Other challenges include the “Best Pulled Pony” (whatever that is) and a “Bodacious Beer Mug.” The final competition is “People’s Choice Mystery Art Piece.” This event draws glassblowers from around the region and is family-friendly.

LAUP Fiesta

Holland Civic Center May 1–2 Free! laupholland.org/fiesta, (616) 392-5058

The Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP) returns with its annual Fiesta. Featured along the Eighth Street Marketplace in Holland during Tulip Time, the event draws more than 20,000 attendees each year. While the Fiesta is a celebration of Hispanic cultures, LAUP seeks to be a multicultural event, showcasing art and entertainment traditions from around the globe. Live performances from mariachi musicians and dancers liven up the twoday event with vibrant sights and spirited sounds.

Enjoy plentiful food booths, a carnival, numerous exhibits and a car show featuring lowriders, custom motorcycles, trucks and more. As described on its website, “LAUP’s mission is to empower Latinos to participate in creating a better community for all through advocacy, celebration and education.”

May stands for roller derby mayhem. This month, the Grand Raggidy Roller Girls are not only celebrating 10 years, but it’s also changing its name to the Grand Raggidy Roller Derby. Perhaps more importantly, the full-contact team of athletes is throwing a fundraiser bash called the Sideshow Spectacular. “It’s going to be a super night of music and sideshow fun,” said event organizer Jamie Springer, aka The Brixton Bomb. In addition to glass walkers and acrobats, you can enjoy music by the ska band Spooky and the Interlopers.

“It’s a chance to mingle with Grand Rapids’ only roller derby team and support a great cause,” Springer said. The evening will be packed with giveaways, door prizes and entertainment. You can win a “super bonus pack” that includes tickets for the next season, GRRD merchandise and PBR swag, like beer cozies and bar-style logo mirrors.

“Vintage” Roller Girl shirts will be available as well as the newly branded Roller Derby styles.

Treasured Technique: Japanese Mezzotint Masters Saugatuck Center for the Arts, Saugatuck Through May 29, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Free! sc4a.org, (269) 857-2399

Mezzotint is a striking method of printmaking.

It creates a stunning richness in tone and detail.

Through May 29, you can catch a lush exhibition at Saugatuck Center for the Arts that “highlights the partnership between contextual themes of Japanese Printmaking and the technique of Western Mezzotint” — as seen through the work of masters like Katsunori Hamanishi and Yozo Hamaguchi.

This style of printmaking was originally used to create reproductions, but the images curated here depict a photorealistic, contemporary exploration of everyday objects. n

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

15

/// All Ages

Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee State Trail

Golden Tickets Top Notch Family-Friendly Hot Spots

By Steven G. de Polo

I Join us for a fantastic

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH Sunday, May 10 from 10a-3p

616.301.0998 • terragr.com Insta: TerraGRrestaurant • facebook.com/terragr 1429 Lake Drive Southeast • Grand Rapids

16 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

f Willy Wonka and Orville Redenbacher had a baby, it would open Wirtz Family Popcorn, 898 Capital Ave. SW, in Battle Creek. A candycolored explosion of popcorn goodness, Wirtz is the perfect destination for a family suffering from cabin fever. Grab an Authentic Original 1-Gallon Refillable Bottomless Popcorn Pail and make your own special mixture. The Amazing Fantastic Galactic Interactive Popcorn Center always has more than 30 flavors to choose from. The perfectly popped palate pleasers include old standbys like caramel corn and kettle corn that gramps bought as a kid, as well as Traverse City Cherry Chocolate Drizzle, Circus Blend and Red Cinnamon. Suckers for savory saltiness will grab a handful of Creamy Dill or Buffalo Ranch.

Wait, it gets better: Master munchers will be ready for White Chocolate Caramel Macchiato and Chewy Chocolate Bacon Caramel Corn. You can watch the popcorn being popped and see the chefs invent new flavors before your tongues.

Families looking to ditch Motel 6 should look into a suite at the Stony Brook Lodge at the Homestead in Glen Arbor. The luxury resort built the lodge as a modern lodging venue for travelers in 1998. But it had begun to show its age and the Homestead recently undertook a multi-million dollar remodeling effort that transformed the property into a modern, yet warm lodging option at the resort. The design team took cues from handsome, historic lodges in Yellowstone, Banff, Bryce and Glacier National Parks. The vision was rustic yet stylish and flawlessly modern. Look for timber-frame beams, flat-screen smart TVs, old tile hearths and luxury baths.

The Michigan Activity Pass gets renewed for its third season May 24. The free online system allows library patrons to enjoy hundreds of activities

statewide for free. Started by the Library Network in Southeast Michigan, the program is now available through 400 libraries, consisting of 650 branches, in every town and village and two-bit truck stop in the state. Go to your library, log on to michiganactivitypass.info, search for a fun activity and enter your library card number. You can get one free pass or other discounts (printing charges may apply) that are good for a week. In addition to more than 100 cultural attractions, a new partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources adds over 230 state parks, historic sites, forest campgrounds and recreation areas families can access for free.

Local participating institutions include the Muskegon Heritage Museum, Midwest Miniatures Museum and the White River Light Station Museum. Now, get exploring!

The 42-mile Fred Meijer Clinton-IoniaShiawassee State Trail opened to the public this spring. The highly anticipated pedestrian and bike trail connects the communities of Ionia, Muir, Pewamo, Fowler, St. Johns, Ovid and Owosso, utilizing a former railroad corridor previously owned by the once-mighty Michigan Central Railroad. It is part of a 125-mile regional-trail system made possible with support from Fred Meijer and an alphabet soup of federal and state agencies. The 22-year, multimillion-dollar construction effort included repair and replacement of nine trestles and bridges, asphalt paving within the towns and laying compacted limestone surfacing between the cities. Trailblazers will enjoy the charming landscapes from Stony Creek and the Maple and Grand Rivers to fertile farm fields, wonderful woodlands and five quaint communities conveniently spaced eight miles apart. But remember: The trail is non-motorized. n

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Grand Rapids | 616.776.6426 | Inside the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel | ruthschris.com

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

200 Varick St. New York, NY 10014 : Phone 212-805-7500

17

/// feature

Keep on Rollin’

Grand Raggidy Roller Derby turns 10, re-brands

by Anya Zentmeyer

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

I

n the event Amy Zyck and her husband should ever decide to leave Grand Rapids, she’s already made it very clear wherever they go next will be contingent on the town’s roller derby ranking.

“I told him, ‘These are the towns I will move to because they are ranked better than Grand Raggidy,” Zyck said. “I will move up, I will not move down.”

Zyck has been a member of Grand Raggidy Roller Derby, formerly known as Grand Raggedy Roller Girls, since its inception in 2005, celebrating a decade with the league’s 10-year-anniversary this year. She took over partial ownership of GRRD about seven years ago, which she has shared for the past five years with co-owner Jenn Lynch.

“I got hooked as soon as I got there on that first day,” Zyck said. “I haven’t looked back. I can’t imagine my life without it, really.”

As far as full-contact sports go, roller derby is relatively new in town. However, GRRD was one of only 30 founding member leagues of what is now the sports international governing body, the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, which since its start in 2005 has grown to include over 300 member and apprentice leagues worldwide.

Recruiting wise, GRRD organizers host basic training sessions, open to women ages 18 and up. The practices teach the basic skating skills and knowledge of the game. From there, derby go-getters can eventually land a spot on one of the competitive team rosters.

The game itself is played in short match-ups between two five-person teams – each is comprised one jammer (the designated scorer) and four blockers. While jammers’ main objective is to gain points by lapping the opposing team’s skaters, blockers are tasked with both impeding the opposing jammer and protecting and advancing their own.

“For me, as a jammer, it’s just mostly survival,” said Jenn Lynch, her team’s jammer and the current co-owner of GRRD. “There are a lot of people coming

18 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

Derby Double Header:

Grand Raggidy Roller Derby vs Deathrow Maidens Grand Raggidy All Stars vs Carolina Rollergirls Saturday, May 2, 4–9:30 p.m., $12 (616) 752-8475, grandraggidy.com

at you and you’ve just got to keep going and you’ve got to score points and help your team out.”

Kristin Bileth was a skater at the beginning of her now eight-year tenure with GRRD, but after an ACL injury took her out of the game, she’s now a referee and WFTDA liaison. Her duties are now focused on enforcing rules and ensuring the skaters’ safety.

Bileth said the overall game has become more serious as it’s matured into a more mainstream place in today’s sports culture.

“It’s not as much of a spectacle sport,” she said. “There used to be people wearing tutus and we had a penalty wheel and pillow fights and penalty spankings. Probably about six years ago it started really changing and shifting.”

Breaking the Mold: As leagues make further strides toward legitimization in their own communities, roller derby has begun its transition into the mainstream with players from larger leagues in New York and earning national recognition on ESPN. However, as the WFTDA seeks to create new avenues for more men to get involved not only with its governing body, but also with the sport itself through the creation of new men’s and junior leagues, the all-inclusive attitude has rubbed off on GRRD. The team says part of the name change from Grand Raggedy Roller Girls to Grand Raggedy Roller Continued on page 39 8

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

19

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

May 13 TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND

May 28

RODNEY CARRINGTON Coming Soon!

Friday, May 1 - 9pm Ralphie May wsg The Smash Brothers

Wednesday, May 13 7:30pm

October 18

THE FAIRFIELD FOUR THE MCCARY SISTERS THE SOUL EXPERIENCE

Tedeschi Trucks Band wsg Matt Andersen

Thursday, May 21 7:30pm Gordon Lightfoot

Thursday, May 28 - 7pm Rodney Carrington

20 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

Friday, September 18 - 8pm The Lalas Burlesque Show

Sunday, October 18 - 7pm

Rock My Soul with The Fairfield Four & The McCary Sisters wsg The Soul Experience

November 14 - 8:30pm Australia’s Thunder From Down Under A Girl’s Night Outback

Friday, December 4 - 8pm Live Comedy Tour Brian Regan

by Nolan Krebs

/// local music The Omecs: Luke Bonczyk, center,

handles guitar and lead vocals, with Hank McHenry, right, on bass.

local music news West Michigan’s No Bails opens up a wicked punk-rock show at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe on May 9, with White Reaper and Twin Peaks anchoring the bill. Fans of Goner Records-style rock ‘n’ roll may want to stop by.

In the garage

Founders hosts an eclectic lineup of local favorites with Mustard Plug, Unlikely Alibi and I Believe in Julio on May 9. Also at Founders this month is the 8th Annual Bob Dylan Tribute on May 16, featuring performances from The Carboys, Great Notion, Nicholas James & the Bandwagon, Jesse Ray & the Carolina Catfish and Bigfoot Buffalo.

PHOTO: Will Mosqueda

The Omecs Echo West Michigan’s Primitive Past

M

Iron Chic, Spraynard and Grand Rapids’ Bong Mountain take over the Pyramid Scheme on May 10. Aside from having one of the most bodacious band names in memory, Bong Mountain play slick pop-punk and it’s safe to assume its live show is worth checking out.

Grand Rapids’ songwriting savant Shane Tripp plays May 10 at Mulligans Pub with The Omecs and Letralux. Tripp released an excellent new album, “Silk Challenge,” and the new songs sound just as good live and on stage.

Kalamazoo’s BoneHawk plays at Louie’s Trophy House Grill on May 30 with Slow Season (California) and Dead Feathers (Chicago). Sinker, a Kalamazoo band plays its debut show.

BoneHawk

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

former drummer Michael McFarlane, who now fronts local punk ichigan is responsible for spewing outfit Black Monuments. The group now consists of Bonczyk on out some primal iconic garage rock bands. From high guitar and vocals, bassist Hank McHenry, drummer Mara Furlich velocity acts like The Stooges and MC5, to the primitive and former Haunted Leather keyboardist Ross Turcotte. sounds of the Gories, White Stripes and the Hentchmen “(We) started The Omecs in a basement as a way to blow off – Michigan is notorious for its noise. steam. We’ve jammed with a few different friends, but we’ve always But it’s not all about the Motor City. Hordes of other lesser tried to keep things simple and keep the music dirty,” Bonczyk known bands called West Michigan home in the mid ‘60s. The said. “We’re all about 60’s garage-psych music and having fun with “Scream Loud” compilation is an essential collection of West our buds.”

Michigan and Lansing area garage singles recorded at the now The group’s record also brought about a coldemolished Fenton Records in Sparta. The JuJus’ laboration with the ambitious Brooklyn-based King 1966 “Do You Understand Me” single is a definitive Pizza Records. After playing a show with fellow piece of Grand Rapids’ underground rock history.

Holy Wave garage-punks Crazy Pills, who hail from Brooklyn, The Omecs, out of Grand Rapids, carries on that w/ The Omecs, Heaven’s the group was introduced to King Pizza owner Greg fuzzy-Fenton sound. And while the Omecs echo Gateway Drugs Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids Hanson.

“Nuggets” collections, its signature sound comes May 20, 8:30 p.m. “(Hanson’s) label is geared toward garage, punk, laced with psychedelic shreds of reverb-laden punk. $10, $8 adv., 18+ lo-fi, fuzzy music, so it was right up our alley,” The group’s first release, a self-titled collection of pyramidschemebar.com Bonczyk said. “The King Pizza Family has brought eight songs, was released in October. It’s hooky as a lot of really cool bands together and has created a hell, a tastefully frenetic ripper-rock album – and it’s whole community of musicians along the east coast streamed at: theomecs.bandcamp.com. and through the Midwest, so when Greg said he was interested in Recorded with Don Carlisle at Knavish Audio in Grand Rapids, putting our stuff on cassette we were totally psyched.” it’s surprising to hear guitarist Luke Bonczyk say the record only The Omecs plans to hit the studio in the next couple months took a couple days to lay down, considering how tight it sounds. with Matt Ten Clay at Amber Lit Audio.

“We pretty much recorded everything live in two days for a “We’ve come up with a lot of new material since our first couple of hours at a time,” Bonczyk said. “We had a good time dorelease,” Bonczyk said. “We’ve also been throwing around the idea ing it and everything was nice and relaxed. Mixing was more tedious of setting up a tour this summer. and took longer because it was hard to get everyone in a room “Unfortunately, like most garage bands, we’re all broke so we’re together. Now that it’s done, we dig how everything turned out.” trying to come up with ways to make some money to pay for this While the group has toyed with a few different lineups, The stuff.” n Omecs started out as a project between guitarist Bonczyk and

LaFontsee Galleries, in conjunction with AdventureMusic.org, presents the third installment of “The Underground Concert Series” on May 3. The afternoon show features some stellar jazz players, including Chicago bassist Harrison Bankhead’s Quartet, saxophonists Mars Williams and Edward Wilkerson Jr. and drummer Avreeayl Ra.

21

/// feature

Tune In: Resurrecting GR’s Radio Mojo

Airwaves Vet Helms a Softer, Gentler Era of GVSU Airplay

by Steve Miller / photos by Nicole Rico

Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

F

o r alm o st a d e cad e, r a d i o stat i o n WSR X b road caste d from the basement of the student center at Grand Valley State University — then Grand Valley State College.

Lore has it that one enterprising and curious young man once took a hit or three of LSD and put in a 48-hour stint as deejay.

He was one of the responsible ones at the student radio station.

From the mid-70s until 1982, Grand Rapids had a genuine underground station in WSRX, although you could barely hear its 10 watts much past Standale. DJs routinely missed their shifts if the party they were at was really happening, whole album sides were played, and pot was smoked.

It was a renegade station that made WKRP look like WJR. But when the FCC ruled that stations could no longer operate on just 10 watts, Grand Valley’s leadership decided it might be a bad scene for anyone other than the locals to hear the free-form radio with the college’s name attached, and the station became an NPR-simulcast station now known as WGVU-FM, or more precisely, ESTABLISHMENT-FM. Student radio at the area’s largest university was dead, sunk by Garrison Keillor and Mahler. Mozart would be repulsed by the cowardice that “student” radio in the Valley became.

Grand Rapids radio has always been a step ahead on the commercial airwaves because of WLAV, considered by many a premier FM station all the way through the ’70s. You could hear a B-side from Patti

22 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

Smith’s Horses LP segueing into Pink Floyd’s 23-minute “Echoes.”

Today, the cutting edge is led by WYCE, 88.1, a community station staffed by mostly volunteers — there’s no money in playing the real deal anymore. There’s a smattering of specialty stations with faithbased programming. Most of the waves have for decades been dominated by the dull conformity of conglomerates. Cumulus owns WLAV, which on occasion defies the odds with a deep track. Clear Channel, now iHeartMedia Inc., owns a bunch of stations.

Meantime, downstairs at the student center at Grand Valley, there is a renaissance of sorts. No one’s tripping balls at the control board these days, so don’t get too excited.

But after the public radio sellout, the four-room studio that once housed WSRX for years languished and Grand Valley stopped offering classes in radio.

Len O’Kelly came along with 25 years of radio experience — a lot of it in Chicago, the nation’s third largest radio market. He grew up in the shadow of the WLS tower, “so close that I heard it in my phone,” he says.

Radio imbued his spirit. He jumped around as most media people do. Itinerant by necessity, bouncing around to: Davenport, Iowa; Joliet, Ill.; Springfield, Ill.; Chicago in 2007; and now Grand Rapids.

O’Kelly began programming oldies at the university’s AM station, WGVU in 2009. In 2010, he began advising the kids at the station and proposed a radio class, the first in years at the college.

Radio veteran Len O’Kelly, faculty advisor for Grand Valley’s student-run radio station WCKS The Whale, teaches GVSU students the art of radio production.

“At that time, the station here in the basement was just a club,” says O’Kelly, 46, sitting in the main broadcast studio on a Friday afternoon in March. “Six kids came in and did shows on WCKS, which is what WSRX became, for no one.”

The administration didn’t think the class would sail. It drew 13 students the first semester. This year, 18 signed up to look into making radio a career, making it a full class.

On Tuesday nights, Kyle Callaghan runs a talk show on WCKS, which is Internet only for now.

“It’s mostly talk with some music in between,” he says. He’s a junior from Grand Rapids and his future will be “anything in broadcasting.”

Ditto Jeana Gondek, who’s the news director at WCKS and also produces the morning show at WOOD-AM.

GVSU student Steve Kearney, 20, (left) and the station’s General Manager Zak DeBeaussaert, 22, broadcasting from the station in the lower level of the Kirkhof Center in Allendale.

“I can’t think of doing anything else but radio,” Gondek says.

But what about the notion of having a career with the same future as a typewriter mechanic?

“The Internet will keep radio alive,” she says. “So many people are now listening to radio with apps, and that will keep growing.”

WCKS is not the reckless, adventurous blast of past college radio that is being kept alive by stations like Western Michigan University’s WIDR and Rice University’s online station, KTRU. Instead, the station plays from a rotation of 5,000 songs that includes acts like Eminem, the Doobie Brothers, Jay Z, Shakira and Springsteen. It’s a mainstream listener’s dream and a purist’s nightmare.

“When there was college radio in the ’80s, you had this limited spectrum,” O’Kelly says. “Now you have 50,000 stations you can get on the Internet. They want to be heard, so if the public wants to hear Katy Perry, you better play Katy Perry.”

That sounds like the talk of a sellout, but it’s more about making his radio devotees ready for a job.

“Because kids are making such an expensive investment in education, they need to be able to pay off their loans when they graduate,” O’Kelly says.

Sadly true. The airwaves of Grand Rapids and cities across the U.S. are filled with the big business end of life, from corporate talk to corporate rock.

“People keep saying radio is dying, that young people are not interested in radio. It’s not true.”

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

O’Kelly is keeping alive a science that’s been called a fading livelihood, a passé art/ business relatively few will dare to love.

“There is every reason this shouldn’t be happening, yet we have this (student station) with this constant activity,” O’Kelly says. “People keep saying radio is dying, that young people are not interested in radio. It’s not true.”

As such, he sees no sign of a sign-off in the future. n

Steve Miller is the author of Detroit Rock City: The Uncensored History of Rock ‘n Roll in America’s Loudest City (Da Capo) and is at: Avalanche50.com and @penvengeance.

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

23

/// Local Music

No Frills: Jake Simmons unveils new LP | by Rich Tupica PHOTO: Ellen Arden

Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

When Jake Simmons gets home from his day job at a family-owned scrapyard, the Kalamazoo-based blue-collar rocker goes down to his basement, plugs in and continues to work. The dim basement is where he labors over his signature brand of Springsteenspirited Americana songs, and his time in the cellar has paid off. His new Jake Simmons & the Little Ghosts LP, “No Better,” is testament to his diligence — the disc is hooky and sonically ambitious.

But this likely comes as no surprise to Kalamazoo-area scenesters. With the selfawareness of the Hold Steady and oomph of The Clash, Jake Simmons & the Little Ghosts has been a West Michigan fixture since its 2010 genesis. Vocalist/guitarist Simmons, along with Matt Blasco (guitar), Ben Bojanich (bass), and drummer Ian Cooper, play simple rock‘n’roll and honest roots songs. They make it look easy, but trust me, it’s not. Weeding out the frills and bullshit is harder than it appears. It no doubt takes countless hours of honing in the basement. Simmons, 27, chatted with Revue about the album and what he’s up to.

You’re releasing your new record this month.

How many are under your belt now?

This is the third Little Ghosts record, the second full length. I’d say it’s much more focused than the others. We put a lot more time into this one and approached the whole process of writing and recording it a little differently.

Did anything specific fuel your inspiration on the disc?

General early-to-mid-twenties stuff. That type of nonsense. You spend a lot of time f*****g up and getting frustrated with yourself and everyone else. Then you decide, hopefully, to fix it. Make the best of it. I think that’s the gist of the record.

Where do you usually get your best songwriting ideas?

24 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

At work. It’s funny that the best ideas seem to come to me when I have absolutely no way or time to work on them.

After listening to your new record, can you pick a favorite track?

“Take Me with You” and “Little Dagger, Little Sweetness” are definitely two of my favorite songs I’ve ever written. I have a hard time with love songs. They just always seem boring to me and I don’t think “Take Me with You” is just another boring bullshit love song. It hits me hard every time I sing it. “Little Dagger” took a long time to write. I had the music for quite a while but the lyrics just weren’t happening.

Then a good friend passed away, it was a lot to deal with over a long period of time. All the words just kind of spilled out after that.

Aside from songwriting, what is Jake Simmons usually up to?

I work and watch Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson movies with my girlfriend and our cats, like any good American.

Shakespeare’s is always a ton of fun. We love Mulligan’s. Pyramid Scheme is the Pyramid Scheme. Even when we’re not playing, it’s just a great place to be. Black River Tavern in South Haven has been amazing to us over the past few years. And we love Louie’s Trophy House.

You’ve spent a lot of time Do you find yourself listening touring. What are the best to more new or older bands and worst parts of it?

Jake Simmons & the these days?

We’ve toured out east and down Little Ghosts I’ve always been into The south a lot. In the last few years, “No Better” Record Release Clash, Elvis Costello, The we’ve gone as far as Boston, w/ The Fever Haze, Camp Dad May 8, 9 p.m., $5, 21+ Replacements, Otis Redding, Nashville and Minneapolis. This Shakespeare’s Pub, Kalamazoo Hank Williams and plenty summer, we’re hitting most of shakespearespub.com of other stuff. In the last few the country. So, that’s exciting years I’ve gotten into The Hold and incredibly intimidating.

Steady, Deer Tick and Kevin Exciting because we’re going to see new things and meet new people and all Devine. I’ve definitely taken in more new that jazz. Intimidating because spending most music in the last few years than ever before. of your day driving a 20-year-old van with four The Internet has made it way too easy to find to seven relatively unwashed dudes for two good music. There’s really no excuse to listen to bad music anymore. months likely can have its drawbacks.

West Michigan has a lot of music venues.

Which are you digging the most?

Over the last five years, we’ve had a ton of fun playing the various basements in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and all over the state. We’ve met a lot of great people. As far as venues,

What’s next for the band?

We’re going to play a lot this year. Then, this winter, start working on the next record. We’ve got a lot of stuff written and we can’t wait to record it. n

Jake Recommends 3 Michigan Bands The Fever Haze: “Insanely talented young dudes that are going to go very far.”

Camp Dad: “A new band of old friends making good music.”

The Mushmen: “They’ve been through so many different line-ups and always come up with something different and exciting.”

/// ON TOUR

Carving a Path: Colony House goes its own way

| by Carly Plank

L

on Late Night with Seth Meyers in September 2014, and its ife on tour agrees with Colony debut album When I Was Younger earned supportive reviews House, and things have only gotten better since from the likes of Paste. the group found a sound representational of its true The band, which also includes Chapman’s brother inspirations.

Will on drums and Scott Mills on guitar, openly acknowlSince two of the members are children of Steven edges its favorite bands greatly influenced the latest record.

Curtis Chapman, a Grammy-Award winning Christian The LP echoes U2, The 1975, and Lord Huron. And what singer-songwriter, the pressure from record labels to head do all of those bands have in common with Colony in their father’s direction could have nudged Colony House? “Honesty,” according to Chapman.

House to follow someone else’s vision. But the trio has “What people care the most about when they’re havultimately played to their strengths to churn out melodic, ing a conversation is honesty, and playing guitar-driven indie rock. for an audience is like having a conversa“Through trial and error, we found tion,” Chapman said. “So when we write the music we were passionate about,” Colony House our songs, we don’t have an agenda. What said Caleb Chapman, lead vocalist for the supporting we write about are our lives, and this is how group. “From the beginning, (Christian Needtobreathe, we tell our story.” music) never felt like where we were supw/ Ben Rector and Drew Writing a frank, tight album didn’t posed to be. Trying it out wasn’t a negative Holcomb & the Neighbors come easy. But it did pay off. experience, but we purposely followed a DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids “We’ve worked so hard for the little different route. It’s the standard ‘be true to Monday, May 4, 6 p.m., things, like writing and rewriting songs,” yourself’ story.” $36-$46 Chapman said. “So the big milestones: the Listening to their instincts has brought devosperformancehall.com, album, the Seth Meyers appearance — those the band from the Nashville indie-rock 616-742-6500 are big celebrations.” n scene to the national stage. The group performed the glistening single “Silhouettes”

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

25

/// On Tour

MONDAYS

CRAFT PINTS ALL DAY $1 OFF CRAFT BEERS $3.50 DRAFTS $2 DOMESTICS $3 OFF PIZZAS

TUESDAYS $2 WELLS $5 BBQ PORK OPEN MIC

WEDNESDAYS

LADIES NIGHT STARTING AT 6PM LATE NIGHT HAPPY HOUR STARTING AT 10PM DJ DANCE PARTY 9PM

THURSDAYS

$2 RETRO BEERS $5 NACHOS 10PM FREE LIVE MUSIC 9PM

FRIDAYS

BUMP AND WASH $5

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SATURDAYS

BLOODY MARY BAR AND BRUNCH 10AM DUFFIELD CARON PROJECT EVERY SATURDAY 5-8PM FREE! $3 CAPTAIN MORGAN $5 GLASS OF WINE

SUNDAYS

BLOODY MARY BAR AND BRUNCH 10AM WEEKLY BLUES JAM 6PM FREE 402 E KALAMAZOO AVE KALAMAZOO, MI 49007 (269) 381-5677

26 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

PHOTO: One Love Photo

They Like Both Kinds of Music: Folk & Rock

The Ballroom Thieves bring their living to the stage | by Carly Plank

M

ixing folk melodies with rock ‘n’ roll’s backbone is nothing new. The Byrds and Donovan were doing it back in the 1960s. And, ahem: Bob Dylan.

But some contemporary bands are still able to carve out their own niches with true songwriting. The Ballroom Thieves is one of those bands. The Boston-based trio birthed a signature blend of rustic Americana and rock.

Or, as the band’s bio puts it, they’re a “rock band in a folk suit.”

After building a strong following driven by two independent EPs, the group completed its full-length debut, “A Wolf in the Doorway,” released last month. Fans of genuine, Avett Brothers-style songwriting might want to pick it up.

“As far as current music goes, I like everything from power pop to the folksiest stuff out there,” said Martin Earley, the group’s guitarist.

The three members of the band come from diverse, but utterly complementary backgrounds. Two of the three members emerged in the college music scene in Boston in 2010

The Ballroom Thieves

Seven Steps Up, Spring Lake May 17, 7:30 p.m., $22-$32 pindropconcerts.com, (231) 557-7687

and melded together a spacious sound that’s interwoven with emotional undercurrents.

Earley and percussionist Devin Mauch added classically trained cellist Calin “Callie” Peters into the mix in 2013 to lend a hand on vocals and strings. The group’s live performances are reminiscent of the three-part harmonies of Fleetwood Mac, the unvarnished rhythms of The Lumineers, as well as soulful, foot-stomping Delta Blues and gospel inspirations.

“Our sound came together very organically,” Earley said. “We feel comfortable with how we sound now, but at the same time, we’re not restricted. I did a lot of singersongwriter type stuff during college, and Devin was more hardcore. Callie pushed us towards a sound we were already heading towards, but she expedited the process.”

While Earley was still logging hours at his day job, a home-goods company near Boston,

the band gigged all over New England, traveling econo-style in a crammed Subaru Outback. The constant push and pull of work and touring provided the impetus for Earley to focus solely on music.

“The daily grind of that job helped me realize that music was what I really wanted to do,” Earley said. “So I began to take it more seriously.”

One of the obligations tied to becoming a full-time musician is finding an impeccable studio engineer to professionally, but earnestly, capture recordings.

“Having a producer is kind of like the concept of ‘kill your darlings,’” Earley said.

“What we as a band think might be the best song may not actually be the best song. A detached ear can be best.”

Since recording its debut disc, the band has completed several national tours, further honing its intimate stage presence.

“When we play live, we want to create an experience that is comfortable for listeners,” Earley said, noting the goal is to “create something that feels like you’re in your living room, but still at a rock show.” n

Culinary Arts & Craft Brewing

Programs designed to fit today’s aspiring chefs and beer makers.

REGISTER TODAY! Classes begin Fall 2015.

MAY 1 MAY 2 MAY 7 MAY 8 MAY 9

Dar Williams* • $25 Mustard Plug* • $10 J Fernandez wsg King Median • Free Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers*

$10 advance, $12 day of

Twin Peaks wsg White Reaper, No Bails*

$10 advance, $12 day of

Square Dance Kalamazoo • $5 7:30pm Lesson, 8pm Dance MAY 15 The Corn Fed Girls wsg Moxieville • $8 MAY 16 Lil’ Darlins Vaudeville • $10 MAY 21 Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles* • $15 MAY 22 Kalamazoo Pride presents the She-Gees • $10 MAY 23 Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers* $30 advance, $35 day of – Bell’s Beer Garden MAY 28 Kaitlin Rose Album Release wsg Hired Hands • $5 MAY 29 House of Boogie, All Vinyl Funk & Soul Dance Party • Free MAY 30 Elephant Revival* • $15 JUN 8 Shabazz Palaces wsg Eaters* $13 advance, $15 day of JUN 11 Soul Asylum/Meat Puppets* $25 advance, $30 day of – Bell’s Beer Garden JUN 26 May Erlewine* • $15 JUL 9 Jamaican Queens • Free AUG 1 Donna the Buffalo* $18 advance, $20 day of AUG 23 Lake Street Dive* • $25 advance, $30 day of SUNDAYS Trivia every Sunday • 5-8pm *pre-sale tickets available at bellsbeer.com, frontgatetickets.com and Bell’s General Store.

MAY 11

355 E. Kalamazoo Ave. • Kalamazoo, MI • 269-382-2332 Must be 21 for concerts. • For questions, email entertainment@bellsbeer.com.

Thank you for supporting live music at Bell’s Eccentric Café.

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

www.kvcc.edu/worthit

UPCOMING EVENTS

Visit bellsbeer.com for show times and event details.

© Bell's Brewery, Inc., Comstock, MI

THE PERFECT PAIRING

GREAT BEER DESERVES GREAT MUSIC.

27

/// On Tour

PHOTO: Joshua Black Wilkins

No Place Like Home Pokey LaFarge Sticks to His Roots | by Eric Mitts

M great food Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

live music MUSIC EVERY THURSDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT

HOURS:

&

NEW MENU! NOT YOUR AVERAGE BAR FOOD.

T U E - W E D 1 1 AM- 1 0 PM T H U R - F R I 1 1 AM- 1 1 PM S A T 5 PM- 1 1 PM & S U N 1 1 AM- 4 PM

may SHOWS MAY 2 Organissimo MAY 7 Drew Nelson and Mark Schrock MAY 9 Lazy Blue Tunas MAY 14 Third Time Lucky MAY 16 Mid Life Crisis MAY 21 Steve Hilger Trio MAY 23 No Music MAY 28 Faux Grass MAY 30 TBD

136 East Fulton, Grand rapids | 616.235.7669 | onetrick.BIZ

28 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

o r e than a d e cad e afte r h itch h i ki n g his way out of small town Illinois, singer-songwriter Pokey LaFarge has come to proudly embrace his Midwestern roots.

Fresh-faced and 17, LaFarge left home in 2001 with little more than a mandolin, an honest appreciation for American history – both musical and otherwise – and the sort of audacious ambition only greats like Hemingway and Kerouac can rouse in a young man.

“For me I feel like I had no choice,” LaFarge said about leaving home. “And it wasn’t so much of a negative desperation as a positive desperation. I think I was just really hungry. I just really knew what I had to do, even if I didn’t know what I had to do.”

Raised on the rich traditions of ragtime, country blues and Western swing, he played everywhere he could, busking on street corners from coast to coast, before briefly playing with free-wheeling string band The Hackensaw Boys and releasing his solo debut Marmalade in 2006.

After releasing his second set, 2008’s Beat, Move, & Shake, LaFarge teamed with St. Louis musicians Ryan Koening, Joey Glynn and Adam Hoskins. The group became his backing band The South City Three. Together they released 2009’s Riverboat Soul and 2011’s Middle of Everywhere, racking up awards and festival appearances before longtime fan Jack

White signed them to his Third Man Records and selected them to open his 2012 North American tour.

“The farther you go from where you’re from, the more you will think about that place,” said LaFarge, who has since toured five continents. “Like the farther you travel away from America, the more American you’ll get, and I mean that in a good way.”

His latest album, Something in the Water, released last month on Rounder Records, is something of a departure and a homecoming all in one.

Recorded in Chicago, the set features all Midwestern musicians playing on strongly Midwestern songs like “Knocking the Dust off the Rustbelt Tonight” – while including a full-drum kit and four-part harmonies for the first time in his career.

“I like where I’m at in the creative process,” LaFarge said. “I have things that I want to experiment with in the future, like some different tempos and some different grooves.

But definitely the drums and the bass and the harmonies are going to be a big part of my music going forward.” n

Pokey LaFarge wsg Caroline Rose The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids May 14, 8 p.m. $15, Ages 21+ pyramidschemebar.com, (616) 272-3758

/// album reviews

MUSIC. DEFINED.

New Release Hank Williams III Take As Needed For Pain (Bruc/Curb Records)

When is a Hank Williams III album not a Hank Williams III album? Hank III may have ran out his contract with Curb Records in January 2011, but you wouldn’t know that to look at Curb’s release schedule.

Take As Needed For Pain is the fourth album of stray Hank III tracks Curb has dropped since he moved on and formed his own label, and this eight-song collection of punk, metal, and bad-attitude country tunes feels like it was lashed together from spare parts. And it was. Four of the songs were first released on various tribute albums, one is Hank III doing guest vocals with Rebel Meets Rebel (a studio project featuring David Allan Coe and members of Pantera), and the rest have circulated on bootlegs for years.

There are a few great moments on this album. Hank’s cover of Black Flag’s “No Values,”

MAY 1 - $30

ALICE PEACOCK MAY 9 - $30 first released in 2002, burns hard and clean, the noisy “King Cartel” is properly assaultive, and “Gotta Buy Paw a Truck” is top-shelf hardcore.

But you don’t need the title track, a 10-minute Eyehategod cover, and even if you think you do, you’re better off getting the album where it first showed up: 2007’s For The Sick: A Tribute to Eyehategod. Hank III’s standard line to fans on Curb’s post-contract releases has been, “burn it, and give it away,” and that’s the treatment Take As Needed For Pain deserves. —Bob Bowen

THE BALLROOM THIEVES

MARY FAHL (FORMERLY OF THE OCTOBER PROJECT)

MAY 15 - $35

KYLE COOK

(OF MATCHBOX TWENTY)

MAY 17 - $22

THE BALLROOM THIEVES JUNE 6 - $30 MELISSA FERRICK

Back Catalogue

JUNE 12 - $22

MICHAEL MCDERMOTT

The Left Banke Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina (Sundazed) The Left Banke Too (Sundazed) There’s Gonna Be A Storm: The Complete Recordings 1966-1969 (Island Mercury)

JUNE 19 - $25

ARI HEST JUNE 25 - $25 MICHAEL MCDERMOTT

Steve Martin-Caro shows he can handle just about anything from whisper-quiet pop to fullon rock. 1968’s The Left Banke Too only features Brown on two cuts, as he’d already left the band, but Martin-Caro, guitarist Tom Finn, and drummer George Cameron follow his template with remarkable skill, and “Desiree,” “My Friend Today” and “There’s Gonna Be A Storm” are masterful psych-tinged pop.

If you still buy physical product, Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina is the one to get, while The Left Banke Too is an excellent supplement.

If you prefer to buy your music digitally, the superb collection There’s Gonna Be A Storm: The Complete Recordings 1966-1969 is the way to go.

It includes everything the band released during their original run, including some non-LP singles and relevant solo sides, and practically all of it is excellent, an outstanding testament to Brown’s greatest moment. —Mark Deming

LINDSAY LOU, JOSHUA RILKO & FRIENDS CHECK WEBSITE FOR SEATING OPTIONS. BAR AVAILABLE. MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED. 21+

FOR A FULL SCHEDULE, VISIT ARI HEST

PINDROPCONCERTS.COM.

SEVEN STEPS UP LIVE MUSIC & EVENT VENUE: 116 S JACKSON ST. SPRING LAKE, MI 49456 PINDROPCONCERTS.COM (616) 930-4755

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

For a brief moment, Michael Brown was one of the great innovators of ‘60s pop music. As the principal songwriter and keyboard player with the Left Banke, in 1966 Brown was responsible for a pair of hit singles, “Walk Away Renee” and “Pretty Ballerina,” that ushered in a new sound merging sophisticated pop/rock with strings, harpsichords, and woodwinds, creating a baroque pop sound that remains influential to the present day.

Unfortunately, inter-band tensions led to Brown leaving the group in 1967, about 18 months before they finally collapsed. While Brown went on to make fine records with Montage, Stories and the Beckies, he never enjoyed the same commercial success he did with the Left Banke’s first two singles. Brown died on March 19, 2015, but thankfully his work with the Left Banke is still available to fans eager to pay homage.

Sundazed Records reissued the Left Banke’s two original albums in 2011 on CD and vinyl.

1967’s Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina features the group’s biggest hits, and the songs are gorgeous, the arrangements (by Brown’s father Henry Lookofsky) are brilliant, and lead singer

MELISSA FERRICK

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/// On Tour

Monday

1/2 off all MI craft drafts, 8pm-1am

Tuesday

Tall Boy Tuesday $3.5 domestic tall boys

Wednesday

Karaoke and 1/2 off bottles of wine 9pm-1am

Thursday

$2 domestic bottles 9pm-midnight

Friday & saTurday

Live entertainment

Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

sunday

Bloody Mary & Mimosa Bar $4 burger basket $6 PBR pitcher

$4 appeTizers

Sun-Thurs, 9pm-1am

The WesTbar on The besTside 801 5th St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 (616) 456-9058 theholidaybargr.com Like us on Facebook!

30 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

PHOTO: Stephen Gere

Built to Last

Indie rock innovators rekindle the flame

E

— has proven they’re anything but convenve n th o u g h B u i lt To tional rock stars.

S pi ll f o u n d e r D o u g Last month, the band returned with the Martsch has been an indierelease of Untethered Moon, its first new album rock icon for more than two decades in nearly six years. It’s also the first set with with a direct influence on bands like new rhythm section Jason Albertini (bass) and Modest Mouse, Death Cab For Cutie and othSteve Gere (drums) following the departure of ers, he remains humbly honest about what he longtime bassist Brett Nelson and drummer does for a living and his title as an innovator.

Scott Plouf in 2012.

“I think if we didn’t exist that the state of “I felt a little uninspired when we were in music would not be much different,” Martsch the studio,” Martsch said of a scrapped album said. “Whatever bands say we had an influhe had worked on with Nelson and Plouf. “I ence on them, I think those bands would liked the songs, but they were a little simple still exist and sound the same because we’re and I thought I would have some ideas in the just part of a continuum. Anybody who got studio to make them more interesting.” anything from us got it from Dinosaur Jr. and Hitting a block, Martsch hit the road, David Bowie and R.E.M. and the Butthole playing more shows in 2013 than Surfers. … That’s all we’ve ever ever before. The band returned done is regurgitated the things that Built To Spill with a reinvigorated sense of we love.” wsg Wooden Indian purpose.

Started in 1992 in Boise, Idaho, Burial Ground “We rehearsed a ton and Built To Spill was one of a handful Founders Brewing just recorded all our jams, and of bands that first helped break Co. Taproom, Grand ended up reworking the songs we indie-rock into the mainstream.

Rapids recorded in 2012, but then also Ironically, the band has been signed May 31, 8 p.m., $10, Ages 21+ came up with a few new songs to major label Warner Bros. Records foundersbrewing.com, from all our jamming,” said since 1995, but their cult-like suc(616) 776-1195 Martsch of Untethered Moon. cess — and constant creative control

| by Eric Mitts

With only 10 songs out of 16 making the cut, Martsch said he’s already excited to work on the next record. Except for the lyrics.

“I have a handful of songs that maybe tell a story or stick to a theme, but I’m not a writer,” Martsch said. He’s dealt with a lifelong struggle with lyricism, and he said the words end up sounding “surrealist or existentialist — or something.” But he aches through in the name of the band.

“I don’t write at all other than what I have to write for Built To Spill. My emails are short.

I just don’t have that in me.”

Besides his battle with words — and a false breakup rumor — Martsch said as long as things stay fresh, he plans to keep Built To Spill going well into the future.

“It seems a little silly to be 65-years-old, singing ‘In The Morning,’ (off 1994’s There’s Nothing Wrong With Love), but who knows?

“I’m definitely at the age where I start wondering how long I can keeping doing (this),” he said. “When I was 25, it probably seemed silly to be 45 and doing it. But I don’t know how to do anything else. This is the only thing I can do to earn this kind of living — and I am still enjoying it.” n

belg i u m by b ik ike The stories are true. Employee-owners at New Belgium get to celebrate their 5-year anniversary with a trip to old Belgium. We bike to breweries, drink delicious beer, and toast our company’s inspiration. It’s fabulous.

But don’t take our word for it. Go enter for your chance to

Win a Trip to Belgium at NewBelgium.com

COME ZAG WITH US. FIND FUN & FILMS @NEWBELGIUM #ZAGGING FAT T I R E A M B E R A L E I S B R E W E D B Y N E W B E L G I U M B R E W I N G F O RT C O L L I N S C O

15043 NBBTrip_MAG.indd 1

REVUEWM.COM | May 4/23/15 5:052015 PM |

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D O W N TO W N

G R A N D

D O W N TO W N

R A P I D S

H O L L A N D

Check out the new Spring menus at CitySēn Lounge and CityVū Bistro! Find us online at CityFlatsHotel.com

32 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

Special Feature

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est Michigan has plenty of delectable diners and markets to get faithfully attached to. But why not branch out and break the gastronomy monotony? Revue’s annual Food Issue makes being an adventurous foodie a cinch.

From a breakdown of the weirder local menu items (roasted bone marrow!), to that ethnic market or farmers market you’ve meant to stop into but just haven’t found the time — this issue serves as a friendly reminder to continue exploring tasty homegrown eats.

For those stuck in the rut of chain grocery stores and corporate restaurants: Save this issue for future reference. Next time you’re out on the town, pass up that not-so Awesome Blossom and try some stewed oxtail, or maybe roasted pig’s head. If that’s too dramatic of a jump off — we understand. Perhaps just start with our beginner’s guide to local sushi spots or peruse the list of yummy ice cream and gelato shops. Life is too short to be a stale eater.

Dig in and enjoy!

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

33

The Food Issue

lot of gelatin, oxtail typically is stewed or braised. Stewed oxtail is popular in West Indian cultures and Jamaican Dave’s in Grand Rapids serves it up alongside other delicious Caribbean fare.

Beef Cheeks Mia and Grace, 1133 3rd St., Muskegon This is strange food in a fine-dining setting, but the beef cheeks at Mia and Grace in Muskegon is a slightly atypical dish. The tender cut is served with orecchiette, red wine braise, mirepoix, fried Spanish chorizo, parsley and garlic toast. Yum.

Roasted Pig’s Head

Roasted Bone Marrow at Brewery Vivant

Photo: Paul Bomers

The Winchester, 648 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids If you’re hyped on the new season of Game of Thrones, get in character and snag some roasted pig’s head at The Winchester in Grand Rapids. I’ve heard it described as “the best pulled pork you’ll ever have.” Plus, there’s some pig brains in there somewhere.

Dim Sum Menu

Weird, Weird West Strange plates in our area

Wei Wei Palace, 4242 S. Division Ave. #2, Kentwood Wei Wei Palace prides itself on authentic Chinese seafood dishes and also serves Cantonese cuisine and dim sum. The dim sum menu has some pretty out-there options, including shark fin dumpling, steamed chicken feet, egg tart, beef tripe and baby curried squid.

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

Taqueria

By now you’ve heard of all the delicious, albeit common, things to eat around West Michigan.

But for the intrepid eaters out there, it’s time to get weird. Revue has compiled a list of the stranger bites around West Michigan.

By Nolan Krebs

34 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

Roasted Bone Marrow Brewery Vivant, 925 Cherry St. SE, Grand Rapids While you’re sipping on a delicious French or Belgian beer, take a stab at Brewery Vivant’s fennel-roasted bone marrow. Humans have been cracking open bones to get at the fatrich marrow for centuries, so it’s not exactly a fad, and word around town is these guys do it right.

Tripe Tacos Taqueria San Jose, 1338 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids The tacos at this South Division joint are to-die-for. They keep it simple, offering your choice of protein, onions and cilantro. But among the choices for aforementioned proteins are goat, tongue and tripe (i.e. stomach).

The goat is delicious, but the tongue and tripe call for a slightly elevated caliber of daring.

Rabbit and Rattlesnake Sausage Fandango Tapas Bistro, 247 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo Not entirely sure how these two meats ended up in the same casing, but Fandangos Tapas Bistro in Kalamazoo serves rabbit and rattlesnake sausage. The dish is sautéed with a sherry salsa espagnole.

Oxtail Jamaican Dave’s, 1059 Wealthy St. SE #7, Grand Rapids Oxtail might not be the choicest cut, but there’s no sense in letting good food go to waste. Because it’s bony and contains a

Supermercado Mexico, 1160 Chicago Dr. SW, Wyoming Taqueria in Wyoming has some interesting menu items to get you out of your chickenor-beef frame of mind. Among the options for tacos are: head meat, tongue, tripe, and chicarron or pork skin.

Fresh Oysters/Raw Bar Thirsty Perch Fish and Oyster House, 272 Broadway, South Haven Slurping down raw oysters isn’t that bizarre, but it can be a hard-to-find delicacy when you don’t live near a body of salt water. The Thirsty Perch Fish and Oyster House in South Haven has a whole bunch of weird shellfish including East and West coast oysters, clams, prawns and crab. n

West Michigan Farmers Market Guide

By Josh Spanninga

Fulton Street Farmers Market The Fulton Street Farmers Market originally opened in 1922, making it the oldest farmers market in Grand Rapids. And it’s still going strong.

Plus, on Sundays it hosts the open-air ARTisans market, allowing local artists to sell textiles, jewelry, sculptures and other such fare.

Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

May 2-October 1147 Fulton St. SE, Grand Rapids (616) 454-4418

Downtown Market Not only can you visit the Downtown Market’s outdoor farmers market — which features more than 50 vendors — you can also browse the goods at the indoor market, including tacos, crepes, ice cream and more.

Hours: Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

May 23-Sept. 19 435 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids (616) 805-5308

Grandville Farmers Market Come peruse various local vendors’ stands and visit the Grandville branch of the Kent District Library for one of its many special events that run during the farmers market hours.

Hours: Tuesdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

June 2-October 4055 Maple St., Grandville 616-531-3030

Holland Farmers Market The Holland Farmers Market offers so many services. It’s almost overwhelming (almost). We recommend checking out its website beforehand (hollandfarmersmarket.com), where you can search for what goods each vendor has to offer and research recipes from local restaurants.

Hours: Wednesday and Saturday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

May 13-Nov. 28 150 West 8th St., Holland (616) 355-1138

Hudsonville Farmers Market & Crafts Located in front of the Hudsonville Farmers Co-Op Elevator Co. store, the Hudsonville Farmers Market features the freshest fruits and vegetables in the area, as well as homemade crafts and flowers.

Hours: Wednesday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

June 3-Oct. 7 3302 Prospect St. Hudsonville 616-662-3411

Grand Haven & Spring Lake Farmers Market Located at the Chinook Pier in Grand Haven, this market is in the vicinity of plenty of stores, eateries, and even a mini-golf course. Most importantly, it’s on a pier, so you can stroll to the beach front to cool off after browsing the market.

Hours: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

June 3-Oct. 28; Open Saturdays only from May 9 to May 30

Where to shop for farm-fresh groceries

Chinook Pier, Grand Haven (616) 842-4910

Muskegon Farmers Market The Muskegon Farmers Market hosts a diverse group of vendors, from local crafters and soap-makers to pie makers and (of course) farmers. And children 5- to 12-years-old are able to join a special membership club called Power of Produce and learn about the benefits of healthy eating.

Hours: Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

June 6-Oct. 31 242 West Western Ave., Muskegon (231) 722-3251

Saugatuck Farmers Market Located in the parking lot of the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, the Saugatuck Farmers Market has all the standard local fruits, vegetables, baked goods and other goodies, with the added benefit of being hosted near an impressive art gallery.

Hours: Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

May-September 400 Culver St., Saugatuck (269) 857-2399

Hours: Thursdays 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

May 7-Oct. 8 5900 Byron Center Ave. SW, Wyoming (616) 252-6097

Downtown Market, Grand Rapids

GVSU Farmers Market While most college students are accustomed to subsisting on a steady diet of Ramen, frozen pizzas and beer, the GVSU Farmers Market offers a healthier alternative, as well as recipes, food demos and music.

Rockford Farmers Market The Rockford Farmers Market offers plenty of organic options, a dogfriendly atmosphere, and is located near the Rogue River and White Pine Trail.

Hours: Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

May 9-Oct. 31 7 South Monroe St. NE, Rockford (616) 866-2000

Ada Village Farmers Market Boasting a kid-friendly, dog-friendly, accessible environment, the Ada Village Farmers Market provides fresh produce, music and more.

Hours: Tuesday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

June 9-Oct. 7 7239 Thornapple River Dr. SE, Ada (616) 676-9191, ext. 45

Byron Farmers Market Located on the North Lawn and parking lot of Pathway Church, the Byron Farmers Market offers a big-time farmers market environment with small-town vibes.

Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

May 2-October 8350 Byron Center Ave. SW, Byron Center

Kalamazoo Farmers Market Operated by the Kalamazoo People’s Food Co-Op, the Kalamazoo Farmers Market supports the community and local businesses while offering tasty fresh produce to patrons. Its “Food Truck Alley” might also be worth perusing.

Hours: Saturday, May 2-Nov. 21, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

From June 2-Oct. 29, it’s also open on Tuesdays and Thursdays 1204 Bank St., Kalamazoo (269) 337-8899 n

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Metro Health Farmers Market In just 10 years, the Metro Health Farmers Market has grown from a handful of vendors catering to hospital employees to more than 60 vendors at its Metro Health Village location, as well as a satellite location on Aquinas College campus.

Hours: Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

June 3-Oct. 28 Parking Lot G, 1 Campus Dr., Allendale (616) 331-2215

35

The Food Issue

World Tour A Guide to West Michigan’s Ethnic Food Markets

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

by Dwayne Hoover

If you’re looking to prepare a worldly dish without the hassle of leaving West Michigan, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here’s a shortlist of places to score everything from authentic Mediterranean to some legit kielbasa sausage.

36 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

Mi Favorita

408 Columbia Ave, Holland (616) 355-1993 If your idea of having Mexican food at home involves a drive-thru window and a high school kid asking you, “Hot or mild sauce?” maybe you should stop in Holland for the real deal. Mi Favorita is a one-stop shop for all things delectable in Mexican cuisine – whether you’re grabbing something hot and ready off the take-out menu or rounding up ingredients to make the best tacos anybody has ever eaten right in your own kitchen.

Thinking of whipping up your own traditional Mexican soup? If menudo or pozole is in your near future, Mi Favorita’s may be the place to start. The market stocks of authentic Mexican grocery items as well as its fresh meat, poultry and vegetables, making it easy to round up all of the ingredients. While you’re there, snag some Mexican snacks and Mexican Coca-Cola.

You may want to give its homemade salsa and guacamole a try, too. Or maybe grab a warm cup of champurrado while you peruse the produce section in search of the perfect pico de gallo ingredients. And if you happen to visit

Mi Favorita on a day that they’ve made some of their wondrous tamales, don’t pass them up.

Mediterranean Island

Towne & Country Shopping Center, 4301 Kalamazoo Ave SE # 7, Grand Rapids (616) 281-8151 Mediterranean Island is truly an eccentric grocery store. It sports a wide variety of products from Turkish delight to toothpaste and hookahs.

It’s eclectic. That’s what sets this market apart.

It boasts a number of aisles stocked with not only Mediterranean grocery items, but with products from around the world. And aside from stocking imported items they also carry more traditional necessities like produce, fresh breads, bulk nuts and dairy products. This could serve as your primary grocery stop.

Just don’t leave Mediterranean Island without scoping out its deli. You’ll definitely want to give its hummus a try, or maybe one of its varieties of olives. Oh, and don’t forget about the kibbeh, samosas and the mujadara.

Then take your time wandering down the aisles to really take in all that is offered.

Honey with honeycomb? Check. More varieties of pastas and oils than you know what to do with? You bet. “What is this and what do I use it for?” Yep, there’s plenty of that, too.

Valy Vietnamese Oriental Food and Gifts

Pacific Rim Foods

147 3rd St, Muskegon (231) 722-7000

1926 Whites Rd, Kalamazoo (269) 382-0888

There’s a lot packed into a relatively small space at this quaint market in Muskegon.

But don’t let the “Vietnamese” in the name fool you. Its extensive offerings include products from Japan, China, Korea and the Philippines. There’s a plethora of sauces, snacks, packaged soups, canned and fresh vegetables and Asian drinks. The frozen section offers various meats, seafood, poultry and Asian ice cream. It stocks pre-made egg rolls or crab rangoons to take home, heat up and enjoy.

The owner, Nga Nguyen, will offer helpful hints, ingredient suggestions, as well as actual recipes if you’re new to the whole authentic Asian cooking thing. Want to know how to make a tasty miso sauce? Or maybe some spring rolls with seaweed that you won’t be embarrassed to serve to your friends? Just ask Nguyen and she’ll give you direction.

Let’s just get this right out in the open. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a market with a better selection of Asian foods and products than that offered by Pacific Rim Foods in Kalamazoo.

In fact, if you’re not a seasoned veteran of Asian cooking, it may be a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re trying to make sense of what the labels say.

The shelves and coolers are packed with thousands of items. There’s an obscene variety of instant noodles, rice, cooking oils and grass jelly. They also stock a selection of Asian beers and other adult beverages.

The best time to visit Pacific Rim Foods is right after it’s received its Friday afternoon shipments from Chicago. That’s when you’ll have the opportunity to pick up all manner of fresh, seasonal and ready-made foods. There’s a variety: live blue crab, chicken feet dim sum and fresh dragon fruit – to only name a few.

Regardless, Pacific Rim Foods is your go to for both your everyday and impossible to find Asian needs, whether it’s as simple as a bottle of soy sauce or you’re on the hunt for some tripe or pig ears.

World of Spices

5911 S Westnedge Ave, Portage (269) 381-2913

Lewandoski’s Market

1107 Walker Ave NW, Grand Rapids (616) 454-2281

Much like Tenacious D, sometimes all you can think about is kielbasa sausage. Fortunately, when this happens, we have Lewandoski’s Market in Grand Rapids to turn to satisfy our desire for mouth-watering meats.

Lewandoski’s know how important garlic is in the Polish sausage equation. This ensures a liberal amount of fresh garlic finds its way into the mix for a truly authentic flavor. Its kielbasa is some of the best you’ll ever have.

And while Lewandoski’s is certainly known for tits kielbasa, that’s not the only meaty goodness escaping from this friendly neighborhood market. You can get everything from thick cut steaks to spicy hot sticks. n

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Walking through the door of this small, almost easy-to-miss Indian market is like delivering a gift-wrapped hug to your nose. The olfactory wonderment you are greeted with brings happiness to your soul and saliva to your mouth.

World of Spices is the place to go stock up on the spices you need that would otherwise cost a fortune at large chain supermarkets. It’s also the place to go to procure specialty ingredients that may be difficult, if not impossible, to find elsewhere. Does the cashier at Walmart look at you like you just rode in on the bus from WTFville when you ask if they have any fenugreek? Then pay a visit to World of Spices.

It also carries a variety of Indian snacks, frozen food items, cookbooks and helpful advice to assist you in creating a culinary masterpiece. So whether you’re looking for naan bread, mango pickles, a mortar and pestle or a copy of The Curry Bible, you’ll almost certainly meet most of your Indian food needs here.

37

The Food Issue

Top Sushi Spots

by Josh Spanninga

To the uninitiated, raw fish, rice and seaweed may not seem like the most appetizing building blocks for dinner. But when placed in the hands of an accomplished sushi chef, something magical happens. The ingredients mix into an alchemic blend of gustatory bliss. While there’s certainly no shortage of quality sushi in West Michigan, the following restaurants are must-tries for newcomers and sushi snobs alike.

#3. Maru Sushi and Grill 927 Cherry St. SE, Grand Rapids (616) 458-1900 Located in the midst of a culinary hotbed on Cherry Street, Maru Sushi holds its own as one of the most innovative, trendy sushi joints in town. The décor is reminiscent of an ultra-hip big city sushi restaurant. The plates mirror modern abstract masterpieces, and Maru works with fresh, local and organic ingredients.

The menu boasts some of the most eccentric, but tasty, sushi options you’ll find in West Michigan, from the Papa Crema (featuring smoked salmon and sweet garlic potato salad) to the Sexy Bacon (sushi with hickory-smoked bacon). Of course, they also offer a few more conventional items for those who like to stick with the tried-and-true. In any case, every dish is served with a heavy emphasis on both display and taste, locking in Maru at our No. 3 spot on the list.

California rolls, our favorite item is the Playboy Roll with spicy tuna, cream cheese, asparagus and shrimp, all served atop a flaming platter. Or just close your eyes and mark off random items on the menu, because everything’s absolutely delectable. It’s easy to rack up a big bill with all of these options, but hey, you’re allowed to splurge every now and then in the name of good taste.

#1. Tokyo Grill 4478 Breton Rd. SE, Kentwood (616) 455-3433 From the outside, Tokyo Grill may look like standard strip-mall sushi fare, but if you judge it based on that, you’d be sorely mistaken.

Step inside and you’re transported to a relaxing environment with authentic Japanese décor, some of the most courteous wait staff you’ll ever encounter and, of course, plenty of outof-this-world sushi.

As for seating, patrons have a number of options: There are plenty of booths and tables, a stunning sushi bar where you can watch as the sushi chefs meticulously construct your meal, or the tatami room, a traditional Japanese styled dining room with recessed floors, low tables and no shoes allowed.

Once you’re seated, it’s time to get down to business. Tokyo Grill’s menu has all the standard a la carte sushi fare, and even includes beginners’ platters specifically designed to familiarize newcomers with various sushi flavors. For those more attuned to traditional

#2. Ju Sushi 1144 E. Paris Ave. SE, Ste. 9. Grand Rapids (616) 575-5858 Ju Sushi is one of those places that just makes you feel really frickin’ fancy. As soon as you walk in, you’re directed to the dining area, the sushi bar or the lounge. Once seated, you’re presented with drink and appetizer choices, which include an impressive array of cocktails, wines, imported beers and local microbrews, as well as dishes like the Spicy Crab Pizza (a must have).

Then it’s time for the main event: sushi.

Ju’s sushi menu resembles the most detailed, delicious Excel spreadsheet ever made. You order by taking a little golf pencil and marking off which items you want. While they feature plenty of tasty classics like the Philadelphia and

38 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

The Beach Party sushi roll at Maru. Photo: Katy Batdorff

Japanese sushi, they offer Chirashi (a bowl filled with rice, topped with an assortment of raw fish and vegetables), Heu Dup Bap (much like chirashi, but with a sesame or spicy sauce added) and Tekka Don (tuna over sushi rice).

Of course, they also have their own signature concoctions, like Joe’s Maki (deep fried crab, diced conch, asparagus, and more) and the Volcano Maki (a spicy tuna and scallions roll with spicy salmon and more scallions).

And at the end of dinner, you’re presented with a bill that defies logic (as in, this sushi is hella affordable). So not only does Tokyo Grill have delicious, fresh authentic Japanese dishes, courteous staff and beautiful décor, they also have the best value – and the number one spot on our list.

Honorable Mention: Sushi Yama 146 Monroe Center NW, Grand Rapids (616) 233-9881 Tucked away in a basement on the corner of Monroe Center and Pearl Street, it’s easy to miss Sushi Yama, but it would be a travesty to do so. The dining atmosphere is far more laid-back and smaller than any of the other selections on our list. If you’re in a jeans-and-Tshirt kind of mood, but still want quality sushi, this is the spot. Plus, literally every item on the menu is top-notch, and according to loyal patrons, the Mango Roll is a must-try. n

Roller Derby,

Continued from page 18

Derby is not to forget the empowerment in a league founded by women, but to celebrate and embrace its evolution, regardless of gender.

“We wanted to do this little makeover for our 10-year,” Lynch said. “Let’s make it more welcoming to both guys and girls and help people realize that it’s not just all women in this league. We have officials that are men. We have non-skating officials, volunteers and announcers that are men.”

Another common thread with roller derby teams: everyone is busy with dayto-day life.

“We get it. You’re a mom, you had a busy day, and you have a really stressful job,” said Rachel Crowther, blocker for the team. “It’s harder for a woman, when

Chef Zack Sklar of Social Kitchen & Bar

Social Kitchen & Bar arrives in GR Chef Zack Sklar chats about Downtown Market location

By Alexandra Kadlec The Grand Rapids foodie scene perked up with the announcement of the impending expansion of the Social Kitchen & Bar, a Birmingham, Mich. fixture. The new addition arrives at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, 435 Ionia Ave. SW, later this year — hopefully in September. The restaurant serves lunch, brunch and a dinner menu, along with gluten-sensitive options. Side perks: its selection of beer, wine and specialty cocktails. Social Kitchen & Bar Chef and Owner Zack Sklar, 29, chatted with Revue. Here’s what he had to say.

What made you decide to bring Social Kitchen & Bar to Grand Rapids?

I was approached by the Grand Rapids Downtown Market about the vacant space, and learned about all of the growth happening in this city. When I visited, I was blown away. I loved the space and also fell in love

with the selection of vendors, all of whom are passionate about their trade and have a deep sense of pride for Grand Rapids. I knew right away that I wanted to be part of it.

How far along is the construction process at the new location?

We are in the design stage, lots of drawings so far.

Will you be in Grand Rapids much after the grand opening?

With each open, I like to spend as much time as I can in the restaurant. I love the chance to talk to our new community, so I tend to be around a lot. And I don’t live far, which is perfect for coming into town as often as I can.

What do you recommend on the Social Kitchen & Bar menu?

One of my favorites is the Egg Sandwich. It’s legendary: Toasted whole-grain bread, an over-easy egg, a smear of guacamole, cheddar cheese, tomato and Sriracha. It’s simple and to-the-point, but unbelievably satisfying and balanced. It’s definitely one of our most popular dishes, and very easy to recreate at home.

What do you appreciate most in a dining experience?

Food is the most important thing, but right beside it is great service. It’s that connection with a guest, remembering them from the last time they were in, getting to know them, and wowing them every time they come in.

The way you accomplish these things is with sincere connection — the kind that grows out of passion for what you do. n

you get to a certain point in your life, and there are certain expectations for you to be a housewife or a mother. I think roller derby kind of breaks the mold and says, ‘I can have those things and I can have this, too – and be good at it.’”

Crowther is not only a mother but also the general manager for a Grand Rapids hotel and three other hotels in Michigan. Lynch is a business development manager, Bileth a customer service representative, trainer, and team leader and Zyck is a physical therapist and manager overseeing home health care.

So yeah, they get it. And though the league might not be open to male skaters quite yet, they still want to encourage more people — men and women — to get involved. The team is looking referees, volunteering at merchandise tables, coordinating events, helping with ticket sales or just bringing their families out to Rivertown Sports in Grandville to watch one of its home games. n

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

How did your interest in food begin?

Food has always been a passion of mine.

I loved cooking with my mom as a child.

I’ve wanted to be a chef for as long as I can remember. In fifth grade, I was given an assignment asking where I saw myself in 10 years and in 15 years. Even then, I said I was going to be a chef and restaurant owner. My family laughs about my high school English teacher chastising me for a low grade. I told her, “I don’t need good grammar! I’m going to be a chef.”

What are your hopes for this new location?

I want to bridge the gap between the farm-to-table experiences by creating an everyday spot, rather than a special occasion spot. People can come, have a great meal, and then walk around the market and enjoy some wine and cheese or check out the bakery. I’d love for people to start exploring how they can create one of our meals by purchasing ingredients from other vendors in the same place.

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The Food Issue

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A Guide to West Michigan’s Sweetest Hot Spots Compiled by kim kibby and rich tupica

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

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1436 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids

951 Cherry St. SE, Grand Rapids (New! Opening in early May) Pictured: Raspberry Macaron ($2)

615 Lyon St. NE, Grand Rapids Pictured: Cinnamon Roll ($1.50)

117 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids Pictured: Lemon Meringue Pie; Whiskey, Vanilla Bean w/ Bacon; Apricot Ginger; ($2.50 each)

48 E Lakewood Blvd., Holland

Cakabakery

40 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

Le Bon Macaron

Nantucket Baking Company

Propaganda Doughnuts

Second Floor Bakery

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Hodgepodge Bakehouse 3361 Mc Cracken St., Muskegon Pictured: Pina Colada, Frosted Cake Donut, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, (approx. $1.50 each)

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Culinary Institute of Michigan, 336 West Clay Ave., Muskegon

401 E Michigan Ave. #100, Kalamazoo Pictured: Cat’s Meow Chocolate Torte ($7), Key Lime Tart ($7)

350 E Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo Pictured: Chocolate Croissant ($2.20)

Sweet Spot

Food Dance

Sarkozy Bakery

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Sweetwater’s Donut Mill 3333 Stadium Dr. and 2138 Sprinkle Rd., Kalamazoo Pictured: Strawberry Cheesecake Donut ($.94)

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

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41

The Food Issue

The Top Ate

An Alternative Foodie Mix Since the beginning of recorded music, undercover foodies have been cutting records.

From the bizarre, somewhat frightening, rockabilly of Hasil Adkins to Debbie Harry’s “Eat to the Beat,” here’s a beginner’s guide to alternative chow-themed gems to crank while you’re in the kitchen – and a few lyrics for you to sample.

1. Beach Boys – “Vegetables”: Brian Wilson goes full-weird. An early version featured Paul McCartney chewing celery as a backbeat. This was in 1967, during Wilson’s obsession with fitness … despite being out of shape.

“I’m gonna be round my vegetables. I’m gonna chow down my vegetables. I love you most of all, my favorite vege-table.”

2. Tom Waits – “Eggs and Sausage”: From the acclaimed 1975 Nighthawks at the Diner LP, which features Waits sitting in a café on its cover. This tune takes you there. “Now the waitress said, ‘Eggs and sausage and a side of toast. Coffee and a roll. Hash browns over easy. Chili in a bowl with burgers and fries. What kind of pie?”

Cindy Schneider in the newly remodeled dining room at San Chez. Photo: Katy Batdorff

The Big Move San Chez shifts café across the hall

3. Hasil Adkins – “No More Hot Dogs”: This was recorded in the mid ‘60s by the king of psychobilly. Yes, it’s a foodie/decapitation ditty. “Just like I said, I’m gonna cut your head off, and you can eat no more hot dogs.”

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

4. Andre Williams – “Bacon Fat”: A 1956 Detroit R&B, proto-rap classic on Fortune Records. Williams also recorded the dinner-jam “Greasy Chicken.” His Motor City classic “Jail Bait” delves into another territory. “They said, ‘Hey, man! We’re glad to see you back. We got a new dance they call ‘Bacon Fat,’ it goes …”

5. The Kinks – “Maximum Consumption”: This calorie-counting ballad about eating to survive is on the 1972 Everybody’s in Show-Biz LP, the Kinks tenth album.

“I’ll have some clam chowder, followed by beef steak on rye. Pumpkin pie, whipped cream and coffee. I want a green salad on the side. Don’t forget the French fries.

Pizza pie, garlic and anchovy.”

6. Blondie – “Eat to the Beat”: Here’s the title track to the band’s 1979 LP. This was the band’s fourth album and it reached Platinum status. The tune is stocked with Harry’s nonsensical, tongue-in-cheek lyrics. “Oh, you got a sweet tooth and I remember. Standing on the corner with a piece of pizza – eat to the beat!”

7. The Cramps – “Chicken”: From 1986’s A Date with Elvis LP, the Cramps make boiled chicken sound tasty with its signature brand of demented, rockabilly-fueled garage punk. “Any kind of chicken, boiled, chicken fried, chicken pot, Picken Chicken.

My baby, my baby – she fixes greasy chicken for me” 8. Lou Reed – “Egg Cream”: Opening Reed’s 1996 Set the Twilight Reeling LP, this nostalgic tune recalls his childhood, long before his 1967 “Heroin” days with Andy Warhol. “When I was a young man, no bigger than this, a chocolate egg cream was not to be missed. Some U Bet’s Chocolate Syrup, seltzer water mixed with milk.

You stir it up into a heady fro, tasted just like silk.” —Rich Tupica

42 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

W

hen San Chez opened its doors 23 years ago the Heartside District was not exactly a thriving hub for grub.

“In 1992 the Heartside District was very rundown, there were empty buildings,” said San Chez owner Cindy Schneider. “There were not many people moving around downtown. It’s definitely much better now.”

While the neighborhood itself has transformed, San Chez, 38 Fulton St W, has also continued to evolve over the years, while serving up its signature tapas and cuisine.

“One thing is we always keep changing,” Schneider said. “We have allergy menus now, you can walk in and say, ‘I’m gluten free’ and we’ll hand you your own separate menu.”

The latest undertaking for San Chez happened last month when the dining areas were consolidated into the larger room – the café side will now be rented for special events. “We have brought all three meals into the Bistro to help us serve our guests better,” Schneider said. “The merge for us is just a little bit difficult because it feels like you’re working in a new restaurant but the atmosphere and culture of everything in that room is very electric, it’s very fun.”

Schneider said she’s aware of the café’s beloved vibe and the company invested in construction work to help preserve that atmo-

sphere in the larger room. “We didn’t want to lose the café culture,” she said. “So we brought the booths over and brightened the walls,” she said. “With that, we wanted to also create a better bar culture, so we designed a wall to divide the two spaces. There’s now a separate area for our takeout and coffee service, too.”

As for the menu, regulars need not worry.

The move across the hall won’t affect its popular menu items, like the Blue Cheese Fritters and Garlic Shrimp Tapas.

“There’s not much difference in the food, just some new additions,” Schneider said. “For instance, we brought back the Classic Cuban Panini sandwiches and we’ve added some new items in breakfast and lunch – but we’ve maintained all of our favorites, like the Cinnamon French Toast and the Traditional Breakfast.”

Aside from the big move across the hall, San Chez’s other focus has remained on being remarkably green. “We’re much more focused on locally grown, locally sourced,” Schneider said.

“We’re a farm to table, table to farm restaurant.

Not only do we use local farmers, but we turn around and compost. We are 97.4 percent green.

We have very little actual trash because we recycle and compost. It’s those types of things that got us where we are today.” —Rich Tupica

Cold As Ice

A Shortlist of Ice Cream and Gelato Shops / by Carly Plank Palazzolo’s Artisan Gelato and Sorbetto

413 Third Street, Fennville 1-800-4GELATO, 4gelato.com Found at a grocery store near you Don’t all of the tastiest recipes come from the old country? This company’s respect for the history of its craft has allowed the most traditional aspects of gelato, such as a relatively high melting point and low butterfat content, to continue in West Michigan. In the case of gelato, which is denser and richer tasting than ice cream, quality trumps quantity. Palazzolo’s is strictly a wholesale manufacturer, so don’t travel to Fenville looking to satisfy your sweet tooth. Instead, stop by the nearest frozen foods section at your local grocery store.

Love’s Ice Cream

435 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids (616) 965-1054, lovesicecream.com 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

What’s better than eating ice cream? Eating ice cream that improves your sense of self-worth.

Located inside the Downtown Market, Love’s proudly serves grass-fed dairy, lactose free, gluten free, and vegan varieties of ice cream and gelato to accommodate even the choosiest fanatics. Founder and owner Chris McKellar’s knack for churning out luscious flavors including white Russian ice cream and lavender blueberry gelato began after he realized the benefits of cooking from scratch and eating real, local food on a daily basis. Collaborations with TCHO chocolate and Mad Cap coffee bring extra flavor to the table, and seasonal variations in ingredients ensure new flavors and fresh, local sourcing year round.

Jersey Junction

652 Croswell Ave SE, Grand Rapids (616) 458-4107, jerseyjunction.com Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday noon-9 p.m. (open until 10 p.m. after Memorial Day) Walking into Jersey Junction feels like slipping on an old varsity jacket. The pervading aura of nostalgia is complemented by the aroma of homemade waffle cones. The shop was

opened in 1963 by Doris Van Allsburg, the mother of the well-known author of The Polar Express. Little has changed since then — the cozy porch and the railroad depot remain fully intact along with the old-school candy counter. Jersey Junction continues to serve as the perfect summer stop during a sunny afternoon near Reeds Lake.

Captain Sundae

365 Douglas Ave and 247 W 40th, Holland 537 W Main Ave, Zeeland (616) 396-5938, captainsundae.net 1 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

If anyone knows even a little bit about Captain Sundae, they know that it is famous for the Tommy Turtle, the signature sundae that was featured on the Today Show when the president paid a visit to the shop in 2004. It includes a thick layer of crunchy pecans, vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, hot fudge, whipped cream and a cherry. The full menu includes over forty sundae options as well as sorbets, slushes, and Hudsonville ice cream. n

Palazzolo’s Artisan Gelato and Sorbetto

Monday - Friday | 3PM - 6PM Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

branns.com REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

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by Allison Parker

opera

Other Performing Arts Events Rain: a Tribute to the Beatles

Broadway Grand Rapids May 13, 7:30 p.m. $27.50-57.50 broadwaygrandrapids.com, (616) 235-6285 Rediscover one of the greatest sensations in music history with this multimedia celebration of the world’s most legendary boy band. Now boasting even more Beatles hits than ever, this production of Rain showcases the most beloved tunes in the Beatles’ anthology. A nostalgic valentine to the ’60s music scene, the tribute features mop-top haircuts, vintage costumes and a good dose of old-school charm.

Beethoven

Grand Rapids Ballet May 8-10, 15-17; show times at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. $32-40 grballet.com, (616) 454-4771 In this exciting world premiere, ballet probes into the emotional depths of one of music’s most brilliant minds. Through the expressive power of the human body, choreographer Mario Radacovsky leads audiences on an exploration of Beethoven’s passionate soul and troubled spirit. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 provides a stirring musical context and dramatic backdrop for the dancers’ movements.

Kinky Boots

The high-stepping winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical, Kinky Boots testifies to the power of unlikely friendships. Inspired by true events, the story focuses on Charlie Price, the owner of a shoe factory on the brink of bankruptcy. Business seems like a bust until Charlie meets Lola, a drag queen who happens to know of a niche clientele in need of special footwear. As Charlie teams up with Lola to create fabulous gender-bender heels, he learns valuable lessons about love and acceptance.

S

trangers to opera might say it’s about singing, but anyone who has actually watched one will tell you it’s about so much more. The piercingly high notes and booming bass tones take audiences on a journey — both to a specific time and place and to the particular emotions of individuals.

In its production of Tosca, Opera Grand Rapids takes audiences into the characters’ private worlds, due in part to the work of nine senior fashion studies students from Kendall College of Art and Design.

Under the guidance of Opera Grand Rapids Costume Supervisor Patti Campbell, each student created a unique design rendering for each of Tosca’s six principal characters.

One student’s set of costumes will be worn onstage during the actual performance.

While some aspects of costuming were not completely foreign to the fashion students, the project did require some of the seniors to venture into unfamiliar territory. To create costumes that were not just beautiful but also accurate reflections of character personality and historical setting, students conducted extensive research.

“I asked (the students) to research, and every time I met with them and got another set of drawings, I said, ‘You need to dig deeper,’” said Campbell. “I said, ‘Research the economy, the politics and the fashion of the day, of course — where they were at in the history of fashion in Italy. And try to get inside the head of Tosca and Cavaradossi and Scarpia to understand what would they put on that morning.’”

An additional challenge the students faced was designing clothing that contributed to pre-existing storylines and characters. Rather than purely expressing their own ideas and artistic preferences, students had to focus on the themes and aesthetics of Tosca.

“With fashion, you’re creating the story, but with costumes, you’re telling the story through the costumes. … You’re not creating the story, you’re telling the story,” Campbell said.

Through accurate and expressive costuming, Tosca aims to unfold a story that is not only believable but also gripping.

Poster for Tosca at Opera Grand Rapids, illustrated by Edel Rodriquez “As an audience member, I think when that person looks at the costumes on stage, they’re going to hopefully be taken back in time to what people were wearing. That‘s the whole idea of the costume — the clout that the correct costumes will do. They will pull you in, and they will hold you there so that you’re there back in time again. And that’s really the goal,” Campbell said.

In addition to being an excellent challenge for Kendall’s fashion design seniors, the Tosca collaboration has been also valuable in continuing the Opera’s tradition of fostering community in Grand Rapids and exciting youth about opera.

“This is gonna be a great event for the community, to pull together Kendall into the opera,” Campbell said. “We’re lucky: It’s just a fantastic, great opportunity.” n

Tosca

Opera Grand Rapids DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids May 1-2, 7:30 p.m. $25-89, students: $5 operagr.org, (616) 451-2741

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights Diing | Schedule

Wharton Center, East Lansing May 26-31, showtimes at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. & 8 p.m. $34-74 whartoncenter.com, (517) 353-1982

Costume Storytelling at Opera Grand Rapids

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Style Notes

by Missy Black

IT GIRL

We’ve pulled together her kind of alluring items.

All eyes are on the It Girl. You want to own everything she’s wearing, want to know all the products she’s using and mimic her style right down to her signature scent and where she applies. Lana’s Boutique in Kalamazoo helps us find the quintessential It Girl dress from the brand Aratta. This lace halter maxi dress ($112) offers a silky, chiffon bottom in a stained-glass-window pattern. This artsy and colorful piece can be paired with “minimal jewelry, a flat shoe and hair up to balance out the boldness of the dress,” says Jessica Sisk at Lana’s.

This Sanctuary Pilot Bomber Jacket is subtle, sleek and can amp-up just a tank, T-shirt and jeans. Take it along on cool evenings for a layering piece. $149. Evereve in Grand Rapids.

Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene

The clutches/pouches from Tracey Tanner are overflowing with cool girl moxie. $89. Blacklamb in Grand Rapids.

46 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

Cimber Designs’ handcrafted bracelet featuring 14kt gold filled, sterling silver or precious metals and raw-cut semi-precious stones and agates.

Prices average $68. Available in necklace form, too. Lee and Birch in Grand Rapids and Grand Haven.

The Panna Slide by Jimmy Choo is a go-to summer favorite that’s effortless and elegant with a cork wedge heel, textured metallic patent uppers and a golden-tipped toe. No need to drive to Chicago or Detroit for this. $395. A.K. Rikk’s in Grand Rapids.

6740 CASCADE ROAD 6 1 6 . 9 4 2 . 9 8 8 6 www.cascade-optical.com

HyperOptik 1134 Wealthy Street 6 1 6 . 3 0 1 . 1 9 1 1 www.hyper-optik.com PHOTO: ROB CONENS FRAME: ANNE ET VALENTIN MODEL: KRISTI HENDERSON VILLAGE STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHER

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

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indie film

by Josh Spanninga

Beers, Bikes and Shorts The Kalamazoo Bicycle Film Festival Rolls In

Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene

E

ven the hopelessly lethargic are welcome to celebrate National Bike Month. It’s true: No strenuous riding is required to partake in the festivities. You can remain peacefully seated while sipping brews and watching bicycle-related short films. Nil calories will be burned.

The Kalamazoo Bicycle Film Festival and Bell’s Brewery teamed up to host the Bike Shorts program on Tuesday, May 12 at Bell’s Eccentric Café. It features short films that are “for, about and inspired by bicycles,” according to event organizer Brian Moon.

This year’s iteration of the Kalamazoo Bicycle Film Festival focuses exclusively on the Bike Shorts program, all following simple entry rules: Each original film must be 12 minutes or less and related to bicycles. Aside from that, pretty much anything goes.

Moon says he’s shown all kinds of films over the years: dramas, comedies, socially-conscious documentaries – even music videos and animated shorts. 2015’s

48 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

lineup includes selections from across the map, including Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Cuba. Moon admits that the curation process has been a bit surreal at times.

“On my lunch break at work, I’m emailing people from Spain and Hong Kong,” he said.

One of Moon’s personal favorites from this year’s lineup is a documentary about a family from Buffalo, N.Y. that travels yearround with their cargo bikes. “I think it’s a cool piece because I have a family and we go all over the place by bike, but I put it away if it’s below 40,” Moon said. “These people go year-round. I look at them and think, ‘Oh, I thought that I was badass, but they are badass!’”

The festival’s genesis was in 2010 when Moon, a local triathlete and self-described bike enthusiast, teamed up with a friend at Western Michigan University to bring their unique film program to WMU’s Little Theatre. “Logically, we were like, ‘Hey, let’s bring some bike films!’ And that’s kind of how it started,” Moon said.

While the original festival took place at the Little Theatre over the course of a few days featuring both lengthier films and shorts, Moon eventually decided to simplify the event. He shortened the festival to one day and emphasized the shorts.

“The thing that everyone showed up for, and the thing that everyone was talking about, was the Bike Shorts program,” Moon said. “So through the years, that’s what we’ve focused on and continued doing.”

Then in 2014 – while Moon was helping to organize the Bell’s to Bell’s bike ride – the brewery offered to house the event at its Eccentric Cafe during Kalamazoo Bike Week. Moon is pleased with the alteration.

“It just seemed a natural fit to move it to May and be a part of Kalamazoo Bike Week and coordinate with them. We share and organize a bigger event,” Moon said. n For more information visit: kalamazoobicyclefilmfestival.com.

Punk documentary Salad Days at UICA

P

unk’s not dead, after all. It’s time to dust off your Doc Martens and polish your studded jackets, punk fans. On Friday, May 8, the UICA will feature a one-night-only screening of the acclaimed punk film Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington, D.C. (1980-90). The gritty documentary focuses on the legendary D.C. punk and hardcore scene and explores how bands like Minor Threat, Bad Brains and Fugazi ushered in a new era of rebellious music driven by independent record labels and a DIY work ethic. Variety.com said the film “provides a solid, borderline exhaustive survey” of this pivotal point in music history and noted that it unfolds in “roughly chronological fashion by a large cast of talking heads.” Not surprisingly both Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi) and Henry Rollins are featured prominently. Check out the trailer at saladdaysdc.com.

FOR FOUNDERS FOR EXTENDED SEQUENCES OF HOPS, BOLD FLAVOR, AND INTENSE AROMA

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WED, MAY 13 at 7:30pm

AT DEVOS PERFORMANCE HALL

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

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visit

Grand Rapids engagement is welcomed by Dykema and Plante Moran.

FRIDAY 5-9PM

MAY 15, 2015 DOWNTOWN BATTLE CREEK

Join us for a lively self-guided art walk featuring 34 venues, chalk art and live music hosted by downtown businesses.

The event is free and open to the public.

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#BREWEDFOR REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights Diing | Schedule

ART WALK

a film series

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by Kyle Austin

LIT LIFE

Other Literary Events Reading the Great Lakes – The Virgin Suicides Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch May 7, 7 p.m.

(616) 988-5400, grpl.org

This month, the only book club focused exclusively on mystery, history, fiction and nonfiction set in the Great Lakes region takes on Jeffrey Eugenides’ tale of hormonal intrigue, suicide and young lust gone wrong in the tree-lined suburbs of Grosse Pointe, Mich. Join GRPL librarians in a spirited discussion of this contemporary classic. Copies are currently available on the library’s fourth floor.

Veronica Bosgraaf Pure Food Cookbook Event

Schuler Books & Music, Grand Rapids May 14, 7 p.m.

(616) 942-2561, schulerbooks.com

Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene

Ten years ago, Holland-native Veronica Bosgraaf created the Pure line of vegetarian snacks in her own kitchen. Now, the immensely popular brand has made Bosgraaf a leading voice in the conversation around eating healthier. If you’re looking to explore fun and easy ways to change your diet, come hear her talk about her mission and get a copy of her new cookbook, Pure Food.

A 1000-mile Great Lakes Island Adventure

Black River Books, South Haven May 23, 1 p.m.

(269) 637-7374, blackriverbooks.net Loreen Niewenhuis loves exploring the Great Lakes, but in her latest book, she takes a trek across one of our region’s lesser-known natural wonders: its islands. A 1,000 Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure chronicles the author’s recent wilderness exploits, from the rugged expanse of Isle Royale in Lake Superior to the metropolis on Montreal Island. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear her stories in person.

50 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

Darrin Doyle

Monica McFawn

Bad Characters Make Good Stories

M

onica McFawn is constantly on the

lookout for characters. In everything she reads, watches and hears, she’s searching for a thread, a situation, a quirk — anything that can give birth to her next protagonist. And when it comes to fictional people, she believes the badder they behave, the better.

Not every reader and critic is so quick to see it that way, though.

Of all the reviews of McFawn’s 2013 Flannery O’Connor Awardwinning debut short story collection, Bright Shards of Someplace Else, Publishers Weekly’s labeling of her characters as “unlikable” stuck out Monica McFawn and to her the most.

Darrin Doyle “I just thought that was a Bookbug, Kalamazoo May 14, TBD strange way to put it and I think (269) 385-2847 it’s worth trying to parse out bookbugkalamazoo.com what’s meant by that,” she said.

“Is an unlikable character one who behaves badly? Is it somebody whose behavior doesn’t make sense? Is it somebody that has super-dark impulses, like a sociopath?

I think the characters that are not behaving well are the ones that are most interesting to hear about.”

Bright Shards of Someplace Else is filled with misfits who consciously place themselves in troublesome situations. There’s the reckless babysitter who exploits a gifted child; the newly appointed supervisor who repeatedly fails to fire an incompetent employee; and the young boy who, after parlaying a cheaper phone bill for his nanny, convinces her he can solve her other problems as well. In another story, a biologist claims that our cells respond to abstraction in art and goes to great lengths to substantiate his bogus theory.

“I think people are most unlikable when they have a desire that’s being thwarted,” said McFawn. “That’s the whole idea of fiction — there’s an obstacle your character has to get around to get something they want, and the whole story is how they deal with that obstacle. When people have an obstacle in front of them, that’s when whatever character traits of theirs that might be difficult are going to come out.”

McFawn often goes to great lengths herself to bring characters to life. In developing the biologist turned art critic, she posed as the character and tried to convince a friend with a Ph.D. in chemistry that the scientist was a real person.

“I made this fake email account and did all this stuff to trick people with a fake persona,” she said. “People might think that’s strange, but I had a lot of fun getting into this character’s over-thetop personality. He’s so obsessed with this theory and acting like it had so much importance.”

That attention to detail enables McFawn to create scenarios for these characters that draw readers into their humanity, despite what they may think of their personalities. Instead of a traditional reading at Bookbug, McFawn will have a conversation with Darrin Doyle, whose short story collection, The Dark Will End the Dark, is filled with its own cast of unlikable characters. Together, they’ll defend the critical role such characters play in fiction by exploring the fascinating philosophical questions they help bring to the surface.

“The best thing an unlikable character can do is show you that you could be that way too if you were pushed to a certain point,” said McFawn. “When your readers are allowed to empathize with every step of that character’s journey except maybe the last one, that can be really interesting.” n

Movies Audiobooks TV shows Music Stream for free.

World-class performers bend and shape their bodies, projecting their silhouettes to create shadow art as the stunning backdrop to favorites such as Adiagio for Strings, An American in Paris, “Finale� from The Firebird, Bolero and more.

Tickets start at $18

Series Sponsor:

MySymphony360 $15 | Students $5 Media Partners:

GRSymphony.org

Hoopla is a streaming service that allows you to stream up to seven movies, TV show episodes, albums, and audiobooks a month. Featuring a wide variety of popular and niche titles, you will have instant access to items that are automatically returned when they are due. Use your Grand Rapids Public Library card to check out items for use on your computer or mobile device.

360 W Western Ave, 2nd Floor Muskegon, MI 49440 For tickets and program: westmichigansymphony.org facebook.com/AtTheBlock 231.726.3231

Visit grpl.org/download.

$25 Pianist Charlie Albright recently won the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant and received his Artist Diploma (A.D.) from the Juilliard School of Music. Charlie performs a solo concert with pieces by Beethoven, Strauss and Chopin, along with some improvisational stylings of his own.

616.988.5400 WWW.GRPL.ORG

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights Diing | Schedule

Charlie.

Piano.

Acclaimed.

Charlie Albright, piano Sat, May 16, 7:30 pm Doors and bar open at 6:30 pm

51

LIVE COV ER AGE

See the region’s most talented visual artists create work on-site, stroll through a selection of finished artwork, and bid on your favorite pieces in silent and live auctions. Enjoy live music, delicious food and drink, and stunning performances throughout the evening.

VISUAL ART

by Kerri VanderHoff

Tulips & Art at Holland Museum

M

May 16, 2015 7:00–11:00pm

Visit uica.org/live-coverage to reserve your tickets today.

Continuing Studies

TO CREATIVITY AND BEYOND

ay i n Hollan d, M ich. is Photography best known for the Tulip Time Festival. While the beautiful spectacle Inspiring Oz: Macatawa Park at the Turn of the of colors is a must-see, the Holland Century has been extended through Tulip Time.

Museum is also thriving.

One of the more famous summer residents The permanent galleries celebrate the of the Holland lakeshore was L. Frank Baum Dutch heritage that’s contributed to the com(1856–1919), author of “The Wonderful Wizard munity’s sense of identity. At the same time, of Oz.” Baum first visited in 1899 and later the museum continues to document and celpurchased land and built a cottage in the area, ebrate the city’s diverse growth over the years where he and his family summered until 1909.

— while keeping things fresh with temporary The exhibition features photographs of people exhibits that link to Holland through striking and places from that time, depicting swimming, photography. boating and picnicking, still endearing hallmarks In 2001, an anonymous gift of the 17thof a summer vacation more than 100 years later. century Dutch Portraits of Cornelis van Beresteyn and Jannetje Berckel by Michiel van Mierevelt was A Hundred Flowers: Phillip A. Harrington the catalyst for creating new gallery space to Photography from the People’s Republic of China, exhibit Dutch artwork. In 2003, Dr. Jan and 1956-1957 is on view through June 15. The Mary Ann Beekhuis expanded the collection photographer is the son of former Holland with the donation of more than two dozen mayor, Harry Harrington. The United States did 19th and 20th-century Dutch not recognize the new Chinese paintings. government founded in 1949 Additional heritage is Holland Museum and ordered that U.S. passports 31 West 10th St., Holland depicted through objects and were not valid for travel there.

(616) 796-3329 archival images on display.

However, the threat of fines, Special cultural attractions from imprisonment, or loss of other the “old country” include Dutch privileges did not stop U.S. jourpaintings and decorative arts and exhibits from nalists from entering through other countries. the Netherlands Pavilion of the 1939 New One of the first American journalists to York World’s Fair. Other permanent exhibits enter was Phillip Harrington (1920-2009). During explore aspects of local history including Lake his stay, Harrington photographed everyday life Michigan maritime, shipwrecks and resorts. in Beijing, Shanghai, and surrounding areas, Others delve into agriculture, manufacturing capturing a culture many in the Western world and the religious foundation of the “Holland did not normally get a chance to see. For his Kolonie.” There’s also an illustrated timeline coverage in China, Harrington received both of area history including its increasing ethnic the James Polk and the Overseas Press Club diversity.

Awards. n

Youth Summer Camps Run weekly from: Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene

June 15 - August 21

52 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

Adult & Professional: Session I: May 11 - June 28 Session II: July 6 - August 21 kcad.edu/continuing-studies Phone: 616.451.2787 ext. 3012

Photo from A Hundred Flowers: Phillip A. Harrington Photography from the People’s Republic of China, 1956-1957. Photo: Courtesy of the Holland Museum

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Volunteer Help an adult become a better reader

To register for a tutor orientation, call 616-459-5151 or visit www.literacycenterwm.org

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights Diing | Schedule

Learn more on May 4 or 13

53

Restaurant listings arranged by region

Grand Rapids 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.

Bar Divani 15 Ionia Ave. SW. 616-774-WINE. ECLECTIC. Bar Divani offers a sophisticated environment, with the chefs use local ingredients in their creations. Taste the homegrown flavor in the Prosciutto Flatbread, the Linguine Alfredo or the Plum Salmon. By pairing with Dancing Goats Creamery, Otto’s Chicken, S&S Lamb, Ingraberg Farms, Mrs. Dog’s and Madcap, Bar Divani serves extraordinary tastes. But, what would a night out be without a few drinks? The bar serves more than 300 types of liquor, 300 wines and 50 beers to compliment each handcrafted meal. » SERVING: Dinner after 4 p.m. OPEN ON: Everyday but Sunday. GO THERE FOR: Local Cuisine.

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. Casual attire. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch OPEN ON: Open 7 days, closes at 2 p.m.

GO THERE FOR: Lunch buffet.

The Bistro 11 Monroe Avenue NW (at Courtyard Marriott). 616-2426000 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.

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

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 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.

The B.O.B. 20 Monroe Ave. NW. (616) 356-2000 ECLECTIC. If you’re not sure what kind of dining you want, you can just head into The B.O.B., where you can choose from one of its several venues. Go into Gilly’s, where you can dine on seafood or B.O.B.’s Brewery, the restaurant’s in-house brewery. You can dress down for some pizza at Bobarino’s or dress it up for a steak at Judson’s Steakhouse. For after dinner, take in a show at Dr. Grins or enjoy live music at H.O.M.E. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Beer and numerous dining options.

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

Brewery Vivant 925 Cherry St. SE. 616-719-1604 BREWPUB. Housed in a former funeral chapel, Brewery Vivant crafts Belgian-style ales with a focus on barrel aging. The brewpub also brings Belgian tradition when it comes to food, featuring French and Belgian-style meals to pair perfectly with the beer. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The Burger Chapbook Café 2660 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids. 616-942-0595. CAFE. Take a break from browsing the shelves at Schuler Books with a homemade selection of soups, sandwiches and quiches. Soups are prepared in-house daily and served with fresh baked bread

to accompany a small-but-elegant sandwich menu. Try a quiche or traditional Italian Panini grilled on fresh ciabatta bread, or for a quick bite, grab a bagel or scone from the dessert case. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days GO THERE FOR: Homemade soups and sandwiches CitySen Lounge 83 Monroe Center St. NW. 616-608-1720 AMERICAN. CitySen Lounge, located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, is a bar with a big-city feel, offering exciting options for lunch, dinner and breakfast on the weekends.

The focus is on fresh ingredients and a full bar with local brews, wine and creative cocktails. » SERVING: Weekend Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Daily happy hour The Corner Bar 31 N. Main St., Rockford 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.

The Cottage Bar 18 Lagrave Ave. SE. 616-454-9088 AMERICAN. The Cottage Bar is the oldest operating restaurant and bar in downtown Grand Rapids. Come in for the Cottage Burger, smothered with green olives, bacon, lettuce, tomato, hickory mayonnaise and Swiss and American cheeses. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays GO THERE FOR: The Cottage Burger.

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.

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 FourDiamond restaurant. Casual attire; no jacket required.

Private dining also available. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Seasonal Sunday Brunch.

Erb Thai 950 Wealthy St. SE #1A. (616) 356-2573. Additional locations at 4160 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, Suite B, and 820 Michigan St. NE. 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: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Peanut Curry Noodles.

Founders Brewing Company 235 Grandville SW. 616-776-1195 BREWPUB. A beer-lover’s paradise with a national reputation for flavorful, award-winning 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.

Ganders 4747 28th St SE. 616-957-0100. AMERICAN. Ganders by Hilton Doubletree presents modern American menu options dedicated to locally grown ingredients representing the best farms, markets and food artisans of West Michigan. The restaurant also features a number of local craft beers on tap and by the bottle. The restaurant works directly with local breweries to create multi-course beer tasting menus featuring beer incorporated into every course. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 Days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh, locally grown ingredients and Michigan-made beer.

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.

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

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining Schedule

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

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.

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 an expanded list, be on the lookout for new and improved dining changes on our website, revuewm.com.

The listings are not intended to be reviews of West Michigan restaurants, although we will inject some opinions into the listings based on staff experiences and personal preferences. To submit or to correct information in a dining listing, e-mail editor@ revuewm.com.

55

Dining

GP Sports 187 Monroe Ave. NW 616-776-6495 SPORTS BAR. Catch the big game on one of 30 televisions, including a big screen for optimal game viewing. This colorful and casual restaurant not only caters to sports fans, but also features top-notch burgers, pizzas and specialty drinks. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Score Big Burgers.

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.

G.R.P.D. (Grand Rapids Pizza and Delivery) 340 State St. SE. 616-454-9204 ITALIAN. The current location opened in 2004 as the first established pizzeria in Heritage Hill 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.

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 brewery’s 120-year legacy. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Organic beer and locally sourced food.

Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene

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.

The Holiday Bar 801 5th St. NW. (616) 456-9058 AMERICAN. Tucked smack dab in the “Heart of the Westside, The Holiday Bar boasts a classic 40-foot Horseshoe bar, along with cheap eats and drinks, both served until 2 a.m., with specials happening daily. The Holiday Bar has a full menu that features pub fare like chicken strips, pierogis, battered homestyle mushrooms and more. It’s a great place to watch the game, listen to music or just hang out with friends. » SERVING Lunch Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Cheap eats and drinks.

Harmony Brewing Company 1551 Lake Dr. SE (616) 233-0063 BREWPUB. Harmony features 12 craft-brewed beers in addition to signature root beer for the kiddos. Named one of the top-five brewpub menus in West Michigan by yours truly, Harmony’s ultimate deal is a take-out combo that features one of its 10” gourmet wood-fired pizzas and a growler of beer for $20, as well as a $5 cheese and $6 pepperoni pizza deal every Tuesday. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza and brews.

56 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

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.

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.

Marie Catrib’s 1001 Lake Dr. 616-454-4020 ECLECTIC. The East Hills eatery makes everything 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.

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.

O’Toole’s 448 Bridge St. 616-742-6095 PUB. This West side pub offers 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.

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.

One Trick Pony 136 E. Fulton. 616-235-7669 AMERICAN. One Trick Pony unveiled a new menu in April with the tagline “Fresh, Local Fare with a Beat.” The restaurant is a part of FarmLink and supports local growers and remains focused on sustainability.

Connected to the Cottage Bar, the menu spans pizza, salads, homemade soups, smoked prime rib and more. Pair the food with live music, which OTP features weekly. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Eclectic pizzas.

Pearl Street Grill 310 Pearl St NW. 616-235-1342 AMERICAN. Dine in a relaxing environment where kids eat free and the chef uses local vendors and suppliers. Conveniently located in downtown Grand Rapids, Pearl Street Grill offers nightly happy hour specials that include signature cocktails and Michigan beer, as well as

a $10 burger and beer special, $5 pizzas and more. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Late night specials.

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.

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 (weekends) Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days; 11 a.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. weekends. GO THERE FOR: Crepes.

Reds on the River 8 E Bridge St #100, Rockford. 616-863-8181 AMERICAN. Relaxed ambiance, great food and a view of the river equate to an enjoyable time out. With quality food and fresh ingredients you’re sure to find a meal that tickles your fancy. Staff is trained to help you should you encounter unfamiliar territory. » SERVING: Lunch, Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days GO THERE FOR: Red’s Steak Burger Reserve Wine & Food 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: Lunch, Dinner OPEN ON: Closed on Sunday GO THERE FOR: Wine and food pairings, charcuterie, happy hour.

River City Saloon 1152 Leonard St. NW. 616-451-0044 AMERICAN. Combine your tastes of live music and filling food at River City Saloon.

The restaurant and bar has Mexican options, burgers, salads and more. On the weekends, indulge in any of these menu items or a couple drinks while listening to some local music by bands like Hey Marco, OTC, Litt Up, Drop 35 and more. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Wednesday olive burger special 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.

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 2% 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.

San Chez Bistro 38 West Fulton St. 616-774-8272 ECLECTIC. Using local products, San Chez is both a café and a Tapas Bistro, and is now both housed in the same room. This is a social setting where people can remember the one rule of kindergarten: sharing. Featuring small, delicious dishes, San Chez can satiate your desire for variety. It’s also a hidden secret for breakfast in downtown Grand Rapids, offering a great start to any day. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 Days. GO THERE FOR: Tapas, Breakfast, Sandwiches The Score 5301 Northland Dr. NE. 616-301-0600 SPORTS BAR. The perfect combination for beer and sports lovers. More than 70 TVs carry major sports packages and there are 128 beers on tap. During summer, enjoy live entertainment every day, outdoor dining (with real palm trees) and volleyball tournaments. The menu ranges from burgers to pizzas and wings tossed in one of The Score’s 16 sauces. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner .OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Lots of beer options.

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.

Speak EZ Lounge 600 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-458-3125 ECLECTIC. While this lounge may be modeled after the year 1933, its food is not.

There’s a variety of food for all to enjoy whether you’re omnivore, vegan or gluten free. Come in for a bite of Rustic Sage Risotto that goes perfectly with one of the lounges signature drinks. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: The diverse menu Stella’s Lounge 53 Commerce Ave. 616-356-2700 TAVERN. The Chicago-style 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 and other classic beers out of a mason jar? » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Vegetarian and vegan bar food.

Terra GR 1429 Lake Dr. 616-301-0998 AMERICAN. Terra boasts fresh, healthy ingredients in every dish. The restaurant doesn’t feature one menu, either. It offers a Saturday and Sunday brunch menu, as well as menus for lunch, dinner, dessert, beverages, wine, happy hour and kids. The food is inspired by the seasons and ingredients come straight from one of Michigan’s many farms. » SERVING: Brunch Lunch Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh foods with ingredients from regional growers.

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.

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.

Lakeshore

of pub classics and new, American beer-inspired dishes. Happy hour includes half-off appetizers and $1 off drafts. » SERVING: Lunch, Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: 28 taps of craft beer.

CityVu Bistro 61 E 7th Street, Holland. 616-796-2114 AMERICAN. A distinctive rooftop dining experience in downtown Holland with fresh gourmet flatbreads and an array of seasonal entrees are in. The contemporary-yet-casual atmosphere, full bar and unique menus make it the ideal spot for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: flatbreads

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

8th Street Grille 20 W. 8th St., Holland. 616-392-5888 AMERICAN. This eclectic grille offers a mix of draft and bottled craft beers and a variety

Everyday People Cafe 11 Center St., Douglas. 269-857-4240 AMERICAN. REVUE Publisher Brian Edwards calls Everyday People Café his favorite

SchulerBooks&Music 32 years as your local, independent bookstore!

May 2015 Events

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3pm 7, 14, 21, 28 10am 11 7pm 14 7pm

INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY: 2015 MICHIGAN NOTABLE AUTHOR PANEL

FEATURING AUTHORS: LISA LENZO, MONICA MCFAWN & LOLITA HERNANDEZ

OPEN PLAY SCRABBLE

HOSTED BY THE GRAND RAPIDS SCRABBLE CLUB IN THE COMMUNITY AREA. ALL AGES & ALL SKILL LEVELS WELCOME.

CLUB ITALIA

ITALIAN LANGUAGE & CULTURE GROUP MEETS IN THE STUDIO.

GET COOKING! WITH VERONICA BOSGRAAF!

JOIN VERONICA BOSGRAAF, CREATOR OF THE “PURE BAR” FOR A COOKING DEMO & TASTING FEATURING HEALTHY & DELICIOUS RECIPES FROM HER NEW COOKBOOK, PURE FOOD.

18 7pm

JAPANESE LANGUAGE & CULTURE GROUP

21 7pm

GRAND RAPIDS AMATEUR ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION

27 7pm

CRIBBAGE GAME NIGHT IN THE COMMUNITY AREA!

THIS MONTH’S TOPIC: “WHY IS THE NIGHT SKY DARK?” ALL AGES & ALL SKILL LEVELS WELCOME.

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28 7pm

HOSTED BY MAYUMI BALFOUR OF SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL.

Chapbook

LOCAL AUTHOR NIGHT!

ENJOY PRESENTATIONS AND BOOK SIGNINGS FROM FEATURED LOCAL AUTHORS: LEISA SWEJKOSKI, MICHAEL DEEB, BOB SIEGEL, FRAZIER DOUGLASS AND PETER WELMERINK.

Visit www.SchulerBooks.com for a complete list of events.

All events are subject to change.

Michigan Postcards

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2660 28th Street SE • (616) 942-2561 REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

57

/// Beer

by Joe Boomgaard, Revue Beer Czar

Panoramic view of the brewery’s interior shortly before the grand opening. PHOTO: Joe Boomgaard

Ne w b r e w e ry a l e r t :

Newaygo Brewing co.

Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene

G

ood b e e r com es to those who wait.

I had been standing waist-deep in the Muskegon River for hours on a rainy spring weekday more than a decade ago as I played hooky from classes at Aquinas College. The day started off slow without a bite as my watch hit noon, and it appeared my truancy would not be rewarded with any steelhead.

But then the stars had aligned and the fishing was simply on fire — or on fleek, in Millennial-speak. By the time my buddy and I called it quits in the afternoon, we had landed well over a dozen of the silvery trout. We were tired and hungry.

It would have been the perfect capstone to the evening to stop off at a local pub and relive the day’s piscatorial pursuits over a pint or two. But even then, as a broke college student, I was a craft beer snob — blame Bell’s Two Hearted for being my gateway beer of choice — and the options in Newaygo County were non-existent.

Thankfully, that situation is changing.

Enter: Newaygo Brewing Company.

The Looman family has been plotting for years to find a way to bring their homebrew concoctions to a wider audience, and they got serious in 2014. Nick and Krista Looman quit their jobs in the Grand Rapids area and moved up to Newaygo County to start a new microbrewery.

They say their choice of location was very intentional as they wanted to give people “a reason to stop in Newaygo.”

Located on M-37 in the middle of the city’s old downtown in a building built in 1899, Newaygo Brewing brews on a 5-barrel system and plans to offer 18 taps at a time, as well as a selection of cask ales. They plan to add a new firkin each week — and to source ingredients locally.

“Our goal is that within six months, we want to have our ingredients 80-percent Michigan-sourced,” Nick Looman told Revue in April during a sneak peek of the brewery and restaurant.

Since they hope to be a destination or a stop for people headed through Newaygo, the emphasis is on drinks in the 4 percent to 6 percent ABV range so that patrons will be able to try a couple of beers and still continue on with their travels, he said. But he doesn’t rule out special bigger beers, either.

58 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

The microbrewery also likes to blur the lines of traditional English and American styles. For an English-style ESB, for example, they’ll brew it with an American yeast, hence the name “Turncoat ESB.” The Loomans also brought on Dan Humphrey — the former owner of Michigan Beer Cellar in Sparta — to serve as brewmaster and help translate their homebrewing recipes to a larger scale.

While the signature cask ales were not yet ready for our tour, we did sample a wide variety of the taps, including: n The Maple Kristal Wheat, a beer whose appearance doesn’t fit its flavor. While light and coppery in color, the maple gives this beer a robust sweetness. All three of the Revue testers were surprised by this one as none of us are huge wheat beer fans. The flavors were well put together.

Newaygo Brewing Co.’s Scott Looman, Krista Looman, Eric Looman and Nick Looman during construction. PHOTO: MATT PRATT

Revue sampled three pizzas: the pulled pork and apple; chicken barbecue; and roasted vegetable hummus, topped with a cherry vinaigrette reduction. The food is masterfully crafted

by Scott Looman, Nick’s father, a former kitchen manager and teacher who retired to help start the brewery. n Espresso Stout, which features a great nose and flavor of Save room for one of Newaygo Brewing’s desserts, including dark roasted coffee. It pairs exceptionally well with chocoa family recipe carrot cake and a chocolate cake with lemon glaze late, but more on that later. that’s fittingly paired with a small pour of the Espresso Stout. n Ray Bentley Coconut Brown, an homage to the man who It’s so decadent and so damn tasty. built the building more than a century ago. The coconut The Loomans say they hope to cater to the many people made itself known without being too sweet and fit with the who come to Newaygo for the fine trout fishing and tubing roasty malts typical of brown ales. and other year-round recreation, as well as those who’ve hit the road from southern Michigan for points north but are thirsty for n Pinky & The Grain, a raspberry blonde. Here, the brewer hand-crafted beer and food. In part, they saw an opportunity to succeeded in creating a light and refreshing raspberry bridge the craft beer gap that spans the middle of the state from blonde beer that actually smells and tastes like raspberries.

Grand Rapids to Traverse City. n Penoyer Porter and the Jawbone Milk Stout While the owners had hoped to open the were both solid beers that stuck closely to brewery much sooner, they say the business detheir intended style. velopment process took longer — and cost more Newaygo — than anticipated. At one point, the company Brewing Co. n Dog Days IPA, Amarillo IPA and River launched a crowdfunding campaign but later 19 State Rd. Newaygo Country Pale Ale. cancelled it and brought on local investors to get (231) 452-6551, the beer flowing. newaygobrewing.com The pub offers a full menu featuring appetizers, But even in the long wait to open the doors, soups and six specialty pizzas, which can be made the Loomans were able to find a silver lining.

Hours with gluten-free crust or the ingredients can also “The delays were a blessing in disguise,” Mon.–Thu.: 11 a.m.–11 p.m. be placed on a massive russet potato.

Krista Looman said. “They really gave us time to Fri.–Sat.: 11 a.m.–12 a.m.

“We’d also like to be as much farm-to-table as improve the beer.” n Sun.: noon–10 p.m. possible,” Nick Looman said.

T

e of S u m t s a T me e r h

Keep Beer Curious.

16 oz Cans available now!

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Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining Schedule

NOW ON TAP!

59

Dining

West Michigan Beer and Beverage Briefs

B

ridgman-based Tapistry Brewing Co. has started canning two of its flagship beers for distribution around Michigan. The Southwest Michigan brewery packaged Mr. Orange — a Belgian witbier brewed with blood oranges, chamomile and rose hips, as well as Reactor, an American IPA brewed with centennial, cascade and chinook hops. Both are available in four-packs of 16 oz. cans.

Brewery Vivant plans a May 7 release of its Zaison, an imperial saison (9% ABV) brewed with orange peel and tellicherry peppercorns. Stop into the brewery for the launch and get 20 percent off the purchase of Zaison cans. The beer will be distributed starting in mid-May.

The brewers at New Holland Brewing have tinkered with the recipe for the company’s flagship Mad Hatter IPA. The reconfigured Mad Hatter Midwest IPA now features Michigan-grown cascade hops and citra hops, in addition to the previous Centennial hops, along with a new grain profile, the company said. The changes also include a boost to the alcohol content, which will be around 7% ABV when the beer hits shelves starting this month. Look for new packaging and new labels.

New and Coming Soon Here’s a rundown of the latest new brewery, cidery and distillery news scoured from the pages of local news reports and the Book of Face:

Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene

Opened: Macatawa Ale Co., 102 South River Ave., Holland Newaygo Brewing Co., 19 State Road, Newaygo Ridge Cider Co., 351 West 136th St., Grant Opened/opening soon: Brew Works of Fremont, 5909 S.Warner, Fremont Farmhaus Cider Co., 5025 Stanton St., Hudsonville Harmony Hall, 401 Stocking Ave. NW, Grand Rapids Long Road Distillery, 537 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids Planning stages: Brite Eyes Brewing, 1156 South Burdick St., Kalamazoo Cedar Springs Brewing, 95 North Main St., Cedar Springs

60 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

City Built Brewing, location to be announced, Grand Rapids Dutch Girl Brewing, 14964 Cleveland St., Suite B, Spring Lake Gray Skies Distilling, 700 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids Grey Line Brewing, 1727 Alpine Ave., Grand Rapids Haymarket Brewing Co., 9301 Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman Kalamazoo Distilling, 180 North Edwards St, Kalamazoo Kitzingen Brewery, 1760 44th St. SW, Suite 8, Wyoming New Holland Brewing Co., Bridge Street and Broadway Avenue, Grand Rapids Revival Distilling, location to be announced, Kalamazoo Steele Street Brewing, 300 South Steele St., Ionia Trail Point Brewing, 6035 Lake Michigan Dr., Allendale

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Piper Restaurant 2225 South Shore Drive, Holland. 616-335-5866 AMERICAN. Upscale-but-casual spot located on Lake Macatawa, offering great views from virtually every table. Menu includes tastefully prepared items like Almond Crusted Walleye and Grilled Pork Loin, as well as wood-fired pizzas.

Reservations are welcomed. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Almond Crusted Walleye.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bravo!

5402 Portage Rd., Kalamazoo 269-344-7700 ITALIAN. Muchlauded restaurant has earned its stripes over 23 years as one of the region’s best dining experiences, including a 3-star rating in the 2010 Forbes 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.

Central City Taphouse 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall. (269) 492-0100 TAPHOUSE. If Central City doesn’t have the kind of beer you want on tap, you’ll probably find it with the 75+ bottles. OH, you say you’re not a beer drinker? Well, Central City offers 20 wine ‘taps’ and a full bar. If you’re not the drinking type, that’s cool too. There are a number of food options to pick from, including a raw menu, a pizza menu and the all-day menu, which features burgers, soups and entrees. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Diverse beverage selection.

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.

Food Dance 401 E. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo. 269-382-1888 AMERICAN. Food Dance is committed to building a thriving and sustainable local food system, supporting artisans who practice craft food processes. It’s about the connection with people and places the food comes from. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, private dining space, catering and delivery, while an on-site market offers humanely raised meats, artisan cheeses, fresh bread and pastries. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh Local Foods.

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.

Old Dog Tavern 402 East Kalamazoo Avenue, Kalamazoo. 269-381-5677 AMERICAN. The food at Old Dog Tavern is just about as eclectic as the entertainment offered. The menu has so much on it that it might even bring some harmony between picky and adventurous eaters. » SERVING: Brunch Lunch Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The eclectic menu options.

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.

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 (Sundays-dinner only) GO THERE FOR: Quiet casual ambiance.

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

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

other's

DAY

FOR ALL MOTHER'S DINE-IN ONLY

COMPLIMENTARY DESSERT AND FLOWER

May 10, 2015 TIME: 12 to 9 PM 950 Wealthy ST SE Suite 1A Grand Rapids, MI 49506 616-356-2573

Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining Schedule REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

61

WE'RE BACK

OPENING DAY

MAY 2015 950 WEALT HY ST REE T SE SUI T E 1B GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49506

62 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

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

Friday

5.01

American Legion Flat River Post LowellArts presents The Tropical Pickle Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Dar Williams wsg. Thunderbolt & Lightfoot Billy’s Lounge Hank Mowery, Nick Moss & Sugar Ray Norcia Bobarino’s at the B.O.B. Dueling Pianos with Dennie Middleton and Friends Czar’s 505 Iffiicial Reggae Band DeltaPlex Arena & Conference Center T.I., MGK, Mila J, Snootie Wild DeVos Performance Hall Opera Grand Rapids presents ‘Tosca’ Dog Story Theater Stark Turn Players present Draw Me Out Dr. Grins Comedy Club Cy Amundson Flanagan’s Irish Pub Nate Holley Foundry Hall Tunebugs

Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts Muskegon Civic Theatre presents Peter Pan: The Musical Gallery Uptown First Friday Reception for ‘Uncommon Threads’ Grand Rapids Civic Theatre & School of Theatre Arts Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day, Freckle Face Strawberry Grand Woods Lounge Oregon Dreamchild H.O.M.E. at The B.O.B. The Factory Holland Civic Center LAUP Fiesta Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Crazy For You Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Second Sight/Insight II Kalamazoo State Theatre Ralphie May Lakeshore Middle School Central Park Players presents Midsummer Jersey Little River Casino Resort War Master Arts Theatre The Beverly Hillbillies

Parish Theatre A Piece Of My Heart River City Saloon Foolish Plezyer Seven Steps Up Alice Peacock Shakespeare’s Lower Level Drag Show St. Cecilia Music Center Eat.Drink.

BeMerry!

The Intersection I Prevail, Too Close To Touch, Northern The Melting Pot Ballads Blues and Broadway!

The Park Theatre Bradley Wisk The Pyramid Scheme Guilty Simpson, Desert Eez, March Forth The Roadhouse Bar and Grill Jard Knox & The Hager Bombs The Union Cabaret & Grille Los Bandits Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill 10 String Symphony Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Power Objects: The Future Has A Primitive Heart, The Salt of the Earth Wealthy Theatre The West MI Savoyards present Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Sorcerer

saturday

5.02

American Legion Flat River Post LowellArts presents The Tropical Pickle Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Mustard Plug wsg. The Mushmen, The Hexbombs and Dan Potthast Billy’s Lounge Battle of the Bands, The Soul Syndicate Binda Performing Arts Center Cereal City Concert Band Bobarino’s at the B.O.B. Dueling Pianos with Dennie Middleton and Friends Czar’s 505 Brian Randall Band DeVos Performance Hall Opera Grand Rapids presents ‘Tosca’ Dog Story Theater Stark Turn Players present Draw Me Out Downtown Holland Tulip Time Festival Dr. Grins Comedy Club Cy Amundson FireKeepers Casino Mayweather vs.

Pacquiao First Baptist Church All Ears Theatre presents Little Red Riding Hood Flanagan’s Irish Pub Jake Stevens Band Founders Brewery AB! wsg Rosewood, 2055, Dante Cope and The Extra Texture Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts Muskegon Civic Theatre presents Peter Pan: The Musical Grand Rapids Art Museum Gala Grand Rapids Civic Theatre & School of Theatre Arts Alexander

and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day H.O.M.E. at The B.O.B. Spazmatics Holland Civic Center LAUP Fiesta Howmet Playhouse 8th Annual White Lake Blues Fest John Ball Zoo Party for the Planet Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Crazy For You Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Second Sight/Insight II Ladies Literary Club River City Improv Lakeshore Middle School Central Park Players presents Midsummer Jersey Master Arts Theatre The Beverly Hillbillies One Trick Pony Organissimo Parish Theatre A Piece Of My Heart River City Saloon Foolish Plezyer Rivertown Sports Grand Raggidy Roller Derby Roadhouse Bar and Grill Jared Knox & The Hager Bombs Saugatuck Brewing Dale Wicks Saugatuck Center for the Arts Mark Cohn Schuler Books Independent Bookstore Day 2015: Author panel Shakespeare’s Lower Level Crazy ‘80’s Party Featuring Hairmania The Curragh Aidan O’Toole The Intersection Andrew Ripp, Spencer Vanderheide, Chelsea Grin, The Word Alive The Livery An Dro The Music Factory Flaw, Seasons After The Park Theatre Makers Market The Pyramid Scheme The Rockit King, Apostles, Creature and the Craft

Best Bet: Hip Hop “I’m a f****** paradox — no I’m not.”

sunday

5.03

Celebration Cinema North 17th Annual Jewish Film Festival of Grand Rapids Dog Story Theater Stark Turn Players present Draw Me Out Downtown Grand Rapids 38th Annual Access Hunger Walk Downtown Holland Tulip Time Festival Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts Muskegon Civic Theatre presents Peter Pan: The Musical Grand Rapids Art Museum Drop-in Family Sundays Grand Rapids Civic Theatre & School of Theatre Arts Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Crazy For You Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Second Sight/Insight II Salt of the Earth: Rustic American Eatery & Bakery Sparky & Rhonda Rucker Shakespeare’s Lower Level Blues Jam St. Cecilia Music Center Grand Band and Grand String Orchestra Spring Concert Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill Stay Jooky Sundays Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Power Objects: The Future Has A Primitive Heart, The Salt of the Earth Wealthy Theatre The West MI Savoyards present Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Sorcerer

monday

5.04

Celebration Cinema North 17th Annual Jewish Film Festival of Grand Rapids DeVos Performance Hall NEEDTOBREATHE, Ben Rector, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, Colony House Downtown Holland Tulip Time Festival Literacy Center of West MI Help and adult become a better reader

Tyler, the Creator REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining Schedule

And just like that, hip-hop artist Tyler, the Creator has laid out his mission, his M.O. and everything intriguing about him. The 24-year-old rapper/producer/ graphic designer rose to fame as the leader of the offbeat rap collective Odd Future, but since he went solo four years ago, Tyler has built a following on his own.

Tyler, the Creator He released his fifth album, Cherry Bomb, last month wsg Taco to critical acclaim. On May 10 he brings his razorMay 10, 7 p.m., $25 sharp lyrics, largely hookless beats, and his divisive The Intersection, Grand Rapids personality to the Intersection. He’ll be joined by his sectionlive.com, (616) 451label-mate, Taco (from Odd Future, not the ‘80s artist 8232 who sang “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”)

Tyler freely employs homophobic slurs throughout his works, yet was among the first to show public support for Frank Ocean when he came out of the closet. His fierce persona belies a rare intelligence and wit, if not his wicked sense of humor. This is, after all, the guy who directed a Mountain Dew commercial about a goat in a police lineup that was deemed “the most racist ad ever” by ABC News. Paradox? More like an enigmatic performance artist who knows how to seduce the public.

The Union Cabaret & Grille Crime Funk Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Power Objects: The Future Has A Primitive Heart, The Salt of the Earth Wealthy Theatre The West MI Savoyards present Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Sorcerer

63

Schedule O’Toole’s Open Mic Night

tuesday

5.05

Ambrosia Theater (BellyDance GR) Tuesday Night Conga Class Celebration Cinema North 17th Annual Jewish Film Festival of GR Downtown Holland Tulip Time Festival Elk Brewing Open Mic with Valentiger Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Second Sight/Insight II Old Dog Tavern Battle of the Bands The Intersection Metro Station, SAYWECANFLY, 7 Minutes In Heaven, The Devil Wears Prada, Sleepwave Secrets The Union Cabaret & Grille Nashon Holloway Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill Joe Buck Yourself, The Drunken Coddle Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Power Objects: The Future Has A Primitive Heart, The Salt of the Earth Wealthy Theatre Meanwhile Movie: Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me

wednesday

Schedule Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

5.06

Celebration Cinema North 17th Annual Jewish Film Festival of Grand Rapids, Brewed for Film: A Movie Series - BeerFest Downtown Holland Tulip Time Festival Founders Brewery Brew Dogs Viewing Party Foundry Hall Song Swap Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum Celebrity in Chief: A History of the Presidents and the Culture of Stardom Gipper’s Bar & Restaraunt Party Sing Along With Bimini Lite Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Second Sight/Insight II Red Rooster Tavern Oat Bran Boys River City Saloon OTC SpeakEZ Lounge Local Spins Live: The Accidentals Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Power Objects: The Future Has A Primitive Heart, The Salt of the Earth

thursday

5.07

Bell’s Eccentric Cafe J Fernandez wsg King Median

64 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

Celebration Cinema North 17th Annual Jewish Film Festival of Grand Rapids Circle Theatre Evita Czar’s 505 Czars’ Comedy Night Downtown Holland Tulip Time Festival Dr. Grin’s Joey Diaz Founders Brewery The Hooten Hallers Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Crazy For You Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Second Sight/Insight II One Trick Pony Drew Nelson and Mark Schrock Papa Pete’s Pizza Zeta June River City Saloon OTC Rockford Brewing Company Moxieville The Intersection 68, A Lot Like Birds, I The Mighty Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Power Objects: The Future Has A Primitive Heart, The Salt of the Earth Van Andel Arena Jason Aldean: Burn It Down Tour

Lakeshore Middle School Central Park Players presents Midsummer Jersey Mulligan’s Pub Astro Bats, expunk, Hag Storm River City Saloon Hazy Past Rockford Brewing Company Fauxgrass Shakespeare’s Lower Level Jake Simmons Album Release Show The Livery Rebecca Rego & The Trainmen The Melting Pot Ballads, Blues and Broadway!

The Music Factory Black Stone Cherry, Shaman’s Harvest The Pyramid Scheme Super Happy Funtime Burlesque

The Union Cabaret & Grille Crossroads Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Power Objects: The Future Has A Primitive Heart; Films: Salad Days, The Salt of the Earth, Welcome To Me Wealthy Theatre Pop Scholars: Improv Comedy

saturday

5.09

American Legion Flat River Post LowellArts presents The Tropical Pickle

Babe’s Lounge Jared Knox & The Hager Bombs Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Twin Peaks wsg White Reaper Bobarino’s at the B.O.B. Dueling Pianos with Dennie Middleton and Friends Circle Theatre Evita Czar’s 505 Rat Salad DeVos Performance Hall Grand Rapids Symphony presents David’s Grand Finale featuring Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 ‘Resurrection’ Downtown Holland Tulip Time Festival Dr. Grin’s Joey Diaz East Grand Rapids High School Performing Arts Center Grand

Best Bet: Rock

friday

5.08

American Legion Flat River Post LowellArts presents The Tropical Pickle Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers wsg Kim Vi & the Siblings, Less is More, Wayne Szalinski Billy’s Lounge Rochelle and The Spoilers Bobarino’s at the B.O.B. Dueling Pianos with Dennie Middleton and Friends Circle Theatre Evita Czar’s 505 Sucker Punch Dale A. Lyons Building Festival Grand Opening ‘Wine and Song’ DeVos Performance Hall Grand Rapids Symphony presents David’s Grand Finale featuring Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 ‘Resurrection’ Downtown Holland Tulip Time Festival Dr. Grin’s Joey Diaz Flanagan’s Irish Pub Travis Atkinson Foundry Hall Tunebugs Grand Rapids Ballet Company Beethoven Grand Woods Lounge Drop 35 H.O.M.E. at The B.O.B. Starfarm Howmet Playhouse In Our Backyard Series: Life to Lyrics Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Crazy For You Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Second Sight/Insight II

Marilyn Manson If your mom wouldn’t let you see Marilyn Manson in the mid-‘90s when he was riding high on a wave of psychosexual controversy, now’s your chance to really get a rise out of her. The polarizing performer at the head of the eponymous band ransacked pop Marilyn Manson culture with his searing music videos, a shocking look May 13, 7 p.m., $49.50/$55 that was equal parts Ziggy Stardust and Night of the The Orbit Room, Grand Rapids Living Dead, and a sex-soaked mythos that put him orbitroom.com, (616) 942-1328 at the center of parental action groups and rumors both benign and alarming. (No, he wasn’t Paul from The Wonder Years and no, he didn’t have any ribs removed so he could perform sex acts on himself, thank you very much.)

Manson’s music was as challenging as the artist himself. It bloomed from harsh industrial to glam rock to alt metal over the course of three concept albums —Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals, and Holy Wood — incorporating elements of punk and goth.

Marilyn Manson’s newest album, The Pale Emperor, dropped in January, and features electric blues and (gasp) dance rock. One thing you can say about him: He never stops surprising.

Rapids Women’s Chorus Spring Concert Founders Brewery Mustard Plug wsg Unlikely Alibi, I Believe in Julio Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts Rock ‘n’ Roll Ball, Sika School of Dance Performance Grand Rapids Ballet Company Beethoven H.O.M.E. at The B.O.B. Soulstice Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Crazy For You Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Second Sight/Insight II Lakeshore Middle School Central Park Players presents Midsummer Jersey Little River Casino Resort Jack Hanna’s Into The Wild Live One Trick Pony Lazy Blue Tunas River City Saloon Pop Cult Riverbend Bar & Grill Alden Nash Band Rockford Brewing Company Up The Chain, Dawn The Drapes Saugatuck Brewing Jack Leaver Seven Steps Up Mary Fahl (formerly of the October Project) Shakespeare’s Lower Level Drink Their Blood wsg. Cavalcade Soaring Eagle Tony, Toni, Tone The Curragh Jeff Ward The Intersection Kill Paris, Louis Futon, D-Wrek, Bimini Bros.

The Livery Sypian Family Band Park Theatre Fleetwood Mac Tribute The Pyramid Scheme Pianos Become The Teeth, Loma Prieta, Gates The Union Cabaret & Grille The Mainstays Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Power Objects: The Future Has A Primitive Heart; Films: The Salt of the Earth, Welcome To Me Van Andel Arena Daryl Hall & John Oates Whiskey River Saloon OTC Band

sunday

5.10

CityFlats Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet Erb Thai Complimentary dessert and flower Founders Brewery EMEFE Grand Rapids Art Museum Drop-in Family Sundays Grand Rapids Ballet Company Grand Rapids Ballet presents Beethoven Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Crazy For You Salt of the Earth: Rustic American Eatery & Bakery Nobody’s Darlin Terra GR Mother’s Day brunch The Intersection Tyler The Creator, Taco

Power Objects at UICA

The Pyramid Scheme Iron Chic Spraynard Bong Mountain Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Power Objects: The Future Has A Primitive Heart; Films: The Salt of the Earth, Welcome To Me

Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Power Objects: The Future Has A Primitive Heart; Films: The Salt of the Earth, Welcome To Me Wealthy Theatre World War II Red Carpet Event

monday

thursday

5.11

O’Toole’s Open Mic Night The Pyramid Scheme Metal Yoga Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill Suitcase Junket, Lou Shields, JOE

tuesday

5.12

Ambrosia Theater (BellyDance GR) Tuesday Night Conga Class Dogwood Festival HQ American Art at its Best Elk Brewing Open Mic with Valentiger Shakespeare’s Lower Level Country Line Dancing by Effortless Dance The Intersection Pigpen Theatre Co. Goodnight Texas The Union Cabaret & Grille Treading Bleu Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Power Objects: The Future Has A Primitive Heart; Films: The Salt of the Earth, Welcome To Me Wealthy Theatre Meanwhile Movie: Shaun of the Dead

wednesday

5.13

Actor’s Theatre Other Desert Cities Bell’s Brewery Rusty’s Big Ass Band wsg Fishlips Circle Theatre Evita Dr. Grin’s Pat Dixon Founders Brewery Empires wsg Hollywood Makeout, Drawing Monsters Grand Rapids Public Library Music in the Stacks: Saltbreaker Howmet Playhouse Cinderella Master Arts Theatre Things We Couldn’t Say One Trick Pony Third Time Lucky Rockford Brewing Company Bigfoot Buffalo Trio Shakespeare’s Lower Level Comedy Open Mic The Livery Pecha Kucha Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill Part Time Warriorz Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Power Objects: The Future Has A Primitive Heart; Films: The Salt of the Earth, Welcome To Me Wealthy Theatre An Intimate Interview with Ethan Nadelmann and Major Neill Franklin

friday

5.15

Actor’s Theatre Other Desert Cities American Legion Flat River Post LowellArts presents The Tropical Pickle Bell’s Eccentric Cafe The Corn Fed Girls wsg Moxieville Bobarino’s at the B.O.B. Dueling Pianos with Dennie Middleton and Friends Circle Theatre Evita DeVos Performance Hall Grand Rapids Symphony presents Symphonic Silhouettes with Le Ombre Downtown Battle Creek Spring Into The Arts Dr. Grin’s Pat Dixon Foundry Hall Tunebugs Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts Following the Nordic Sun

saturday

5.16

Actor’s Theatre Other Desert Cities American Legion Flat River Post LowellArts presents The Tropical Pickle Bell’s Eccentric Cafe The Lil’ Darlins Vaudeville Show Black River Tavern Jared Knox & The Hager Bombs Bobarino’s at the B.O.B. Dueling Pianos with Dennie Middleton and Friends Circle Theatre Evita DeltaPlex Arena & Conference Center Gluten Free Food Fair DeVos Performance Hall Grand Rapids Symphony presents Family Matinee: Symphonic Silhouettes Downtown Ada Arts in Ada Downtown Zeeland Spring Peddler’s Market Dr. Grin’s Pat Dixon Fenn Valley Girls Afternoon Out First Baptist Church All Ears Theatre presents The Importance of Being Earnest Flanagan’s The Cheap Dates Founders Brewery 8th Annual Bob Dylan Tribute wsg The Carboys, Nicholas James and the Bandwagon,

Art Exhibits And other ongoing events

Frederik Meijer Gardens

Holland Museum

Splendors of Shiga: Treasures from Japan Through August 16

A Hundred Flowers: Phillip A. Harrington, Photography from the People’s Republic of China, 1956-1957 Through June 15

Bernar Venet sculptures Through October 31

Grand Rapids Art Museum Michigan Artist Series: David Greenwood (sculptures) Through May 17 T.J. Wilcox: In the Air Opens May 18

Kalamazoo Institute of Art Second Sight/Insight II Through May 10

Muskegon Museum of Art Art of the Brick (large scale LEGO® sculptures by Nathan Sawaya) Through May 3

Grand Rapids Public Museum The Discovery of King Tut Opens May 16

Alex Bernstein: Mirroring Nature (cast glass sculptures) Through June 21

Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship Through July 5

UICA

GVSU Galleries Les Nabis: French Prophets of Modern Art (Eberhard Center West Gallery, Grand Rapids Campus) Through July 31

Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish, Bigfoot Buffalo and Great Notion Grand Haven Pier Great Lakes Kite Festival Grand Rapids Ballet Company Grand Rapids Ballet presents Beethoven Grand Rapids Public Museum The Discovery of King Tut H.O.M.E. at The B.O.B. Hairmania Heritage Hill Association 46th Annual Heritage Hill Weekend Tour of Homes

Power Objects: The Future Has a Primitive Heart Through May 15 Art of the Lived Experiment (part of DisArt Festival) Through July 31

Howmet Playhouse Cinderella Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Anne of Green Gables, Crazy For You Ladies Literary Club River City Improv Listiak Auditorium Kinobe Master Arts Theatre Things We Couldn’t Say Mulligan’s Pub expunk, The Brides, The Extra Texture, Lloyd Braun Band Invisible Mansion J&J Sessions One Trick Pony Mid Life Crisis River City Saloon Hey Marco Saugatuck Brewing Tony Bresnahan

Soaring Eagle Casino Loretta Lynn The Block Charlie Albright The Intersection Silverstein, Rarity, Anchors Calling The Livery Freekbass The Park Theatre Glow In The Park The Pyramid Scheme Classic Cuts The Riviera Theatre The Punknecks Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill Lazy Lester Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Live Coverage 2015; Films: The

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining Schedule

Celebration Cinema North Brewed for Film: A Movie Series - Shaun of the Dead Circle Theatre Evita DeVos Performance Hall Broadway Grand Rapids presents RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES Gipper’s Bar & Restaraunt Party Sing Along With Bimini Lite Grand Rapids Public Library Woulda Coulda Shoulda? It’s Time for Will Can Did Kalamazoo State Theatre Tedeschi Trucks Band Literacy Center of West MI Help an adult become a better reader Red Rooster Tavern Oat Bran Boys The Intersection The Freddy Jones Band Crow Moses The Orbit Room Marilyn Manson Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill Punknecks Barnyard Stompers Devil’s Cut

5.14

Grand Rapids Ballet Company Grand Rapids Ballet presents Beethoven Grand Woods Lounge Jake Stevens H.O.M.E. at The B.O.B. Sushi Roll Howmet Playhouse Cinderella Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Anne of Green Gables, Crazy For You Master Arts Theatre Things We Couldn’t Say River City Saloon Brena Rockford Brewing Company Billy Strings & Don Julin Seven Steps Up Kyle Cook (of Matchbox Twenty) Shakespeare’s Lower Level The Devil’s Cut The Melting Pot Ballads Blues and Broadway!

The Music Factory Nonpoint, Scare, Don’t Fear, Romantic Rebel The Orbit Room The Used, Chevelle The Pyramid Scheme Steve Moakler, Neal Carpenter, Michigander The Union Cabaret & Grille Jim Shaneberger Band Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill Dead Soldiers, Brother Adams Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Power Objects: The Future Has A Primitive Heart; Films: The Clouds of Sils Maria, The Salt of the Earth, Welcome To Me Whiskey River Saloon Stone Thrown

65

Schedule Clouds of Sils Maria, The Salt of the Earth, Welcome To Me Van Andel Arena Slipknot, Hatebreed Whirlpool Centennial Park 3rd Annual BBQ Blues and Bluegrass: A Taste of Michigan Festival Whiskey River Saloon Stone Thrown

sunday

5.17

Circle Theatre Evita Grand Haven Pier Great Lakes Kite Festival Grand Rapids Art Museum Drop-in Family Sundays Grand Rapids Ballet Company Grand Rapids Ballet presents Beethoven Heritage Hill Association 46th Annual Heritage Hill Weekend Tour of Homes Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Anne of Green Gables Seven Steps Up The Ballroom Thieves The Intersection Mushroomhead, Avatar The Livery Wild Adriatic

Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Films: The Clouds of Sils Maria, The Salt of the Earth, Welcome To Me Van Andel Arena Kevin Hart: What Now? Tour

monday

5.18

O’Toole’s Open Mic Night The Pyramid Scheme Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, Kent Country String Band Wealthy Theatre Meanwhile Movie: Office Space

tuesday

5.19

Ambrosia Theater (BellyDance GR) Tuesday Night Conga Class Elk Brewing Open Mic with Valentiger The Music Factory Upon A Burning Body, Butcher Babies The Orbit Room Breaking Benjamin The Score Tetrad Band

Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Films: The Clouds of Sils Maria, The Salt of the Earth, Welcome To Me Wealthy Theatre WYCE Live at Wealthy Theatre presents Ryley Walker

wednesday

5.20

Celebration Cinema North Brewed for Film: A Movie Series - The Graduate Circle Theatre Evita Gipper’s Bar & Restaraunt Party Sing Along With Bimini Lite Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Anne of Green Gables Miller Auditorium Willie Nelson Red Rooster Tavern Oat Bran Boys The Pyramid Scheme Holy Wave, Heaven’s Gateway Drugs, The Omecs The Score Trilogy Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Open Projector Night, Films: The Clouds of Sils Maria, The Salt of the Earth, Welcome To Me

thursday

5.21

Actor’s Theatre Other Desert Cities Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles Circle Theatre Evita Dr. Grin’s Steve Iott Founders Brewery Valentiger wsg Steve Leaf & The Ex Pats, Fiona Dickinson and Tom Hymn Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum What’s Missing in Presidential Politics Kzoo Civic Theatre Anne of Green Gables Kzoo State Theatre Gordon Lightfoot Master Arts Theatre Things We Couldn’t Say Mulligan’s Pub Raptor School Entransient One Trick Pony Steve Hilger Trio Rockford Brewing Company Room Full of Elephants The Score 3’s A Crowd Tip Top Deluxe The Moonrays

Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Films: The Clouds of Sils Maria, The Salt of the Earth, Welcome To Me

friday

5.22

Actor’s Theatre Other Desert Cities Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles; Kalamazoo Pride Presents the She Gees Bobarino’s at the B.O.B. Dueling Pianos w/Dennie Middleton and Friends Circle Theatre Evita Czar’s 505 BOBAFLEX Dr. Grin’s Steve Iott Foundry Hall Tunebugs Grand Woods Lounge DJ Matt B H.O.M.E. at The B.O.B. Hat Trick Helder Park Michigan Coastal Soccerfest Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Anne of Green Gables Master Arts Theatre Things We Couldn’t Say Mulligan’s Pub Dave Vacant & The Dead End Band, Hellcountry, The Straight Story

Rockford Brewing Company Local Spins 3rd Anniversary featuring The Honeytones, Devin and the Dead Frets Shakespeare’s Lower Level Zephaniah The Livery Tim Stop The Melting Pot Ballads Blues and Broadway!

The Pyramid Scheme Grand Rapids Soul Club ft. Vox Vidorra The Score Skankadank Tip Top Deluxe The Blue Dirt Band Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts The Clouds of Sils Maria Whiskey River Saloon Shotguns & Violins

saturday

5.23

Actor’s Theatre Other Desert Cities Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers Bobarino’s at the B.O.B. Dueling Pianos with Dennie Middleton and Friends Circle Theatre Evita Dog Story Theater Indoor/Outdoor

At lAdies literAry club

MAy 2 MAy 16

At Gezon AuditoriuM, cAlvin colleGe

June 20

Schedule Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

All shows 7:33 PM rivercityiMProv.coM

MAY 29 - JUNE 14 ADULT MUSICAL COMEDY

66 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

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A multi-Tony Award winning play!

Best Bet: Heavy Metal

Slipknot Sometime in the mid-‘00s, Slipknot stopped diving into the audience from high balconies and setting each other on fire live on stage. It was a “better move for the longevity of the band,” according to one member.

What remained: The matching jumpsuits, distinctive horror masks and growling vocals that give way to Slipknot May 16, 8 p.m., $30-$59 screaming jags over the thrashing guitar work. The Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids aggressive, visually striking nine-man outfit is probvanandelarena.com, ably the least Iowa-like band to ever emerge from Des (616) 742-6600 Moines, and this month they tear into Van Andel Arena. Heads will bang, vocal cords will be shred, and ears will ring — all in a day’s work for Slipknot.

The Grammy-winners for best metal performance in 2006 (Before I Forget) have been touring and performing for almost 20 years, albeit with a few hiatuses. They’ve been at work on their fifth studio album, .5: The Grey Album, for at least two years now, with tracks starting to gradually be released to the radio, including “The Devil in I.” This is the band’s Prepare for Hell tour in support of the album, which is expected to drop later this year.

Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts The Clouds of Sils Maria Whiskey River Saloon Shotguns & Violins

Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill Sideshow Spectacular!

Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts The Clouds of Sils Maria

sunday

monday

5.24

DeVos Performance Hall SMASH Productions Presents: A Night Of Neo Soul featuring Marsha Ambrosius, Raheem DeVaughn and Dwele Dog Story Theater Indoor/Outdoor Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts Lakeshore Comedy Jam Grand Rapids Art Museum Drop-in Family Saturdays Little River Casino Resort The Orchestra The Round Barn Spirits of Summer Celebration The Score Lazy Blue Tunas

5.25

O’Toole’s Open Mic Night The Score Great Scott

tuesday

5.26

Ambrosia Theater (BellyDance GR) Tuesday Night Conga Class Elk Brewing Open Mic with Valentiger The Intersection Falling In Reverse, Ghost Town

BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids 5995 DIVISION AVE S BMW ofof Grand Rapids BMWMotorcycles Motorcycles Grand Rapids GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49548-5730 5995 DIVISION AVE S 5995 DIVISION AVE S, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49548-5730 616-530-6900 GRAND RAPIDS,/ MI 49548-5730 616-530-6900 WWW.BMWMCGR.COM WWW.BMWMCGR.COM BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids 616-530-6900 5995 DIVISION AVE S WWW.BMWMCGR.COM

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REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining Schedule

Dr. Grin’s Steve Iott Founders Brewery Rubblebucket wsg Vacationer Foundry Hall Tom Rasely Grandville Auditorium Bodybuilding Championships H.O.M.E. at The B.O.B. The Electric Red Helder Park Michigan Coastal Soccerfest Howmet Playhouse Checkers Morton Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Anne of Green Gables Master Arts Theatre Things We Couldn’t Say Mulligan’s Pub The Howlers, Mavericks and Monarchs, Philter Saugatuck Brewing Brian Fedewa The Pyramid Scheme Other Lives, Riothorse, Royale The Round Barn Spirits of Summer Celebration The Score River City Stew The Union Cabaret & Grille Keith Hall’s Project X Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill Greg Nagy

67

Schedule The Pyramid Scheme Sepultura Destruction Arsis The Score Strumble Head Wealthy Theatre Meanwhile Movie: Wet Hot American Summer

wednesday

5.27

Celebration Cinema North Brewed for Film: A Movie Series - Wet Hot American Summer DeVos Performance Hall WGVU presents Wild Kratts LIVE! Gipper’s Bar & Restaraunt Party Sing Along With Bimini Lite Red Rooster Tavern Oat Bran Boys The Score Buddy Twist

thursday

5.28

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68 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

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Bell’s Brewery Kaitlin Rose album release wsg. Hired Hands Dr. Grin’s Dan Cummins Founders Brewery Dirty Bourbon River Show Kalamazoo State Theatre Rodney Carrington Master Arts Theatre Things We Couldn’t Say Mulligan’s Pub The Gasoline Gypsies One Trick Pony Fauxgrass Rockford Brewing Company Delilah Dewylde and the Lost Boys Schuler Books Local author night The Score Brena

friday

5.29

Bell’s Eccentric Cafe House of Boogie: Vinyl Soul/Funk Night Bobarino’s at the B.O.B. Dueling Pianos with Dennie Middleton and Friends Dr. Grin’s Dan Cummins FireKeepers Casino Hotel Ronnie Milsap Foundry Hall Tunebugs Four Winds Casino Smokey Robinson Grand Rapids Civic Theatre & School of Theatre Arts Avenue Q Grand Woods Lounge Avon Bomb H.O.M.E. at The B.O.B. Stereo Vegas Master Arts Theatre Things We Couldn’t Say Mulligan’s Pub Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish River City Saloon In The Red Rockford Brewing Company Brett Mitchell Band

Weird Al Soaring Eagle Casino, May 29 Soaring Eagle Casino Weird Al Yankovic The Intersection The Outer Vibe, Watching For Foxes, Desmond Jones The Melting Pot Ballads Blues and Broadway!

The Pyramid Scheme Kyle Kinane Nolan Graff The Score 13th Hour The Union Cabaret & Grille The Soul Experience Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill Low Cut Connie, Murder Party, The Timmys Wealthy Theatre Sacred Heart Academy presents Fiddler on the Roof Jr. Whiskey River Saloon Jared Knox & The Hager Bombs

saturday

5.30

Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Elephant Revival Bobarino’s at the B.O.B. Dueling Pianos with Dennie Middleton and Friends Dr. Grin’s Dan Cummins Fifth Third Ballpark WGVU Real Oldies Concert First Baptist Church All Ears Theatre presents The Bickersons Founders Brewery The Moxie Strings Foundry Hall Mark Dvorak Grand Rapids Civic Theatre & School of Theatre Arts Avenue Q H.O.M.E. at The B.O.B. Jedi Mind Trip

Howmet Playhouse Three Men and a Tenor Master Arts Theatre Things We Couldn’t Say River City Saloon In The Red The Curragh Reviving The Era The Intersection Wayland, Royal Bliss, Stone Thrown The Livery The Undertakers Blues Band The Pyramid Scheme Retro D’luxe The Score Oregon Dreamchild Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill Sarah Swanson Van Andel Arena New Kids On The Block Wealthy Theatre Sacred Heart Academy presents Fiddler on the Roof Jr. Whiskey River Saloon Classic Fix

sunday

5.31

Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Yoga In The Back Room!

Founders Brewery Built to Spill wsg Wooden Indian Burial Ground Grand Rapids Art Museum Drop-in Family Sundays Grand Rapids Civic Theatre & School of Theatre Arts Avenue Q The Intersection Ministry, Hemlock The Score Hazy Past Wealthy Theatre Sacred Heart Academy presents Fiddler on the Roof Jr. n

More online!

Get more details and search by city at revuewm.com/calendar.

REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

69

Last Call

The Ghost Puncher The Meanwhile Bar, East Hills

by Rei Robinson

Ho, dear reader! Huddle close to this page terminus while I sit at The Meanwhile Bar, suckling at a treat of my own concoction: The Ghost Puncher.

The origin of this drink drives from a reference of irreverence against the famous non-alcoholic infusion, The Arnold Palmer.

The tee-totalitarian Arnold Palmer (or “Half & Half”) is, of course, the famous iced tea and lemonade mixture made famous by golfer Arnold Palmer. It’s a refreshing gulp, perfect for a sunparching day on the greens. However, an age ago, I took offense at the bev’s lack of liquor. You shouldn’t have a drink named after you unless it has booze in it, unless you’re Shirley Temple.

A decade ago, a nice young lady told me about the Arnold Palmer and, upon realizing that her pause after the second ingredient was a period and not ellipsis, I took her by the hand and we rushed off to amend this oversight.

We hustled to the nearest coffeeshop and procured a bottle of lemonade and one of iced tea — they only had pomegranate.

This will be important in the future. A brisk dip into an adjacent liquor store found us vodka.

The result was like a miracle. I felt the duty to spread word of the thing. Alas, few booze-slingeries held on the shelf the proper includes for the Ghost Puncher.

It was ages before I could find a bar to bear my bev. But I kept at it, defying the face of replacement of raspberry for pomegranate.

My measures found fruit, though, so to speak. Once I posed the concoction to the barkeeps of The Meanwhile Bar, I was pleasantly surprised to find they had in stock sufficient supply of what it would comprise.

Thus was born the publicly available iteration of The Ghost Puncher — a bracing spray of pomegranate and spirit that smoothly possesses one’s palate. Be aware, though, it also poses a hell of a left hook.

I believe it was Charles Dickens who wrote, “An idea, like a ghost, must be spoken to a little before it will explain itself. If it’s had a few drinks, though, good damn luck getting it to shut up.”

And I think it was Indira Gandhi who wrote, “You cannot shake hands with a closed fist. I’d like some more of that punch, though.”

But then again, I have been drinking.

YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE GENESIS, NOW WITNESS THE GRAND FABRIC. 1. Choose your volume of drink and render half of such with a pomegranate vodka.

2. Elicit an equal amount of lemonade from its carry into your vessel of employ, allowing a small allot afore the rim.

3. Color the cocktail to your pleasure with a pomegranate liqueur, roaming it in languid, orbital fashions about the shallow yielding of the vessel’s brow.

4. Pour over ice. Don’t make any important plans for the rest of the night, dear reader.

70 | REVUEWM.COM | May 2015

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REVUEWM.COM | May 2015 |

71

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