WHAT'S INSIDE
JOSH VEAL , Managing Editor | josh@serendipity-media.com
I’ve been with Best of the West since it began 9 years ago, and I’m still excited every time. The same seems to be true for our community, since our vote count continues to rise each year (except for the inevitable dip during the pandemic). Fact is, people love to come out in support of their favorite people, places and businesses, and that’s what Best of the West is all about.
Just go look at the social media comments of any establishment when they announce they’re closing doors, and you’ll see an outpouring of passionate responses from avid fans. It might be because that was a weekly watering hole, or because that place served their favorite dish, or maybe it was a convenient and delicious lunch spot nearby (RIP Uncle Cheetah’s Forest Hills location). Or maybe it was just the wonderful people working there!
Regardless, we tend to become genuinely attached to our favorite local spots, like a fan rooting for a sports team, and that’s what Best of the West is all about. Chances are, reading through the results in this issue, you’ll have some reactions along the lines of, “What the hell? How did [place you think is overrated] win, when everyone knows [place you visit every week] is the best.” My suggestion for handling those emotions is to turn it into support for the spots you love. Let them know, with your presence, words and dollars.
As always, this issue also goes beyond BOTW, chatting with bands, looking into comedy on the lakeshore, and exploring summer arts. Plus, writer Zachary Avery dedicated a good two weeks of training to see if he could beat One Stop Coney Shop’s Mario Kart 64 challenge. Find out how it went down, and then consider heading in to try it for yourself! Worst case scenario, you get some of the best food in Grand Rapids.
One more thing: We’d really love to know more about our readers so we can write the articles you need. Specifically, we’re curious about whether you’re a local looking for fresh ideas, or you’re an out-of-towner wanting to know about the iconic places to visit. If you can answer just 5 quick questions for us, you’ll be entered to win four Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park tickets! They can be used immediately, or hold onto them for next time you’re in town. We love any and all feedback.
'Til next time,
WHO'S WHO
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Managing Editor | Josh Veal, josh@serendipity-media.com
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ARTS & MUSIC | Spotlight: Tattoo & Piercing
A complete season preview of West Michigan's cultural arts events, as well as our annual roundup of the best local music, from the brand new to West Michigan mainstays.
Space Deadline: 8/15/2024
Contributing Writers | Allison Kay Bannister, John Kissane, Eric Mitts, Michaela Stock, Zachary Avery
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BIZ BEAT
A round-up of the biggest openings, closings and other changes for local businesses.
OPENED:
After two long years, The Sovengard has finally returned, opening their new doors at 1232 Bridge St., Grand Rapids. This beloved eatery launched with Scandinavian-inspired cuisine, and focuses on “hyper local, seasonal and responsibly sourced food and drink in a casual yet classy atmosphere.” The previous location down the road was known for its big beautiful biergarten, and they’ve made sure to include one here as well. Welcome back!
From the people behind Butcher’s Union, one of the most popular restaurants in West Michigan, comes a new concept: Gin Gin’s . Opening doors just around the corner at 345 Summer Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, this new spot offers a diverse menu of American classics, including premium steaks, fresh seafood and handmade pasta. For drinks, they’re focusing on handcrafted martinis and vintage cocktails. Dinner reservations are already booking up for days out at a time.
Lotus Brew Coffee/Dry Bar reopened doors after quickly outgrowing their former spot in Creston. Now located in East Hills at 211 Diamond Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, this queer café is more than just a café, having developed a tightknit community through various gatherings, nonalcoholic cocktails, and a library. Not to mention, of course, delicious coffee and espresso drinks.
Taquero Mucho opened in the Godwin Heights neighborhood of Wyoming at 3536 S. Division Ave., developing out of a food truck business. With a bright pink aesthetic that’s perfect for taking pictures of your food, your friends or just the space itself, it’s a feast for the eyes along with a menu of tacos, burritos, quesabirria, tamales and much more.
After a lengthy (well, maybe I’m just impatient) renovation, House Rules Board Game Lounge (404 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids) recently opened its brand-new kitchen. The menu features a number of burger, chicken or pork sliders, “nom noms” that include chicken tenders and mozz sticks, and a bunch of loaded fries, including pizza fries, nacho fries and BBQ pork fries. Of course, they also still have a slew of craft beer taps, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy while you game!
The owner of El Granjero opened a second restaurant at 1202 W. Fulton St., right by the John Ball Zoo: Mercadito Mexican Eats and Treats This new spot is serving up fun and creative eats inspired by Mexican street food, including savory ones like pambazo, flautas and elote, and sweet ones like mini pancakes, marquesitas, gansito preparado and more.
In the heart of downtown, across Monroe Avenue from The B.O.B., The Nightwatch Lounge joined the city’s drinking scene. This new cocktail lounge at 201 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids is hidden behind a non-descript door, an ode to the Prohibition days. It’s a highly curated space, intending to give a high-class experience, from the art on the walls to the lighting to the thoughtful cocktails, including multiple non-alcoholic options.
Allendale has a new coffee shop in the form of The Borough , which grew out of humble beginnings as a coffee cart serving out of a garage. The café at 10237 42nd Ave., Allendale serves up not just coffee concoctions, but American-style dishes including bagels, soup, salads and sandwiches, plus acai bowls, “all with a touch of innovation.”
Leaf Westside has returned with the same name but a new concept, still at 443 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids (the former Sovengard space). While not a massive shift—the brewery/eatery still has its fun arcade games and beautiful outdoor patio—the food menu has changed from the fusion concept before it to a blend of two offerings. First is Shake Party, which is offering up extreme milkshakes absolutely loaded with toppings, perfect for photos. Second is the switch to acting as an incubator kitchen, meaning different cooks will be in there depending on the day, serving up everything from tacos to dumplings to Vietnamese food. Check social media for the dining deets!
Muskegon Brewing Company is the first brewery to join the ranks in a while, and we’re delighted to have them. Tucked away on Muskegon Lake, which feeds into Lake Michigan, the new spot has a beautiful view of the water on its large secondfloor patio. Head in for a variety of classic craft beer styles, from IPAs to saisons to stouts, along with a tasty food menu of creative shareables, handhelds, burgers, seafood and more. ■
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Gin’s, Taquero Mucho. COURTESY PHOTOS
WHAT’S GOING ON, AUG '24
8/1
BOWLING FOR SOUP
The Intersection
133 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
Aug. 1, 6:30 p.m. sectionlive.com
Bowling for Soup are ready to celebrate three decades of being a band and 20 years of their hit album A Hangover You Don’t Deserve, which features big singles like “1985.” On this throwback tour full of nostalgia, Bowling For Soup will be playing the album in full, plus a host of other hits from their 30-year career.
RELAX AT ROSA
Rosa Parks Circle
135 Monroe Center St. NW, Grand Rapids Aug. 1-29, 12-1:30 p.m. downtowngr.org
Every Thursday, all summer, Relax at Rosa offers live music, food and fun. The free lunchtime entertainment series features an incredible lineup of local musical talent—such as Full Cord, Normal Mode and the fittingly-named August—a variety of food truck offerings and oversized outdoor games for all to enjoy. Relax at Rosa gives workers the opportunity to step away from their desks, get out of the office, and enjoy the benefits of working in a vibrant downtown.
DESMOND JONES
(PHISH AFTER PARTY)
The Pyramid Scheme 68 Commerce Ave. SW, Grand Rapids Aug. 7-8 pyramidschemebar.com
Desmond Jones: Think Zappa meets Weird Al in the middle of a type 2 jam and has a Ween baby. The award-winning five-piece rock group has done 850 shows in 10 years, making the band tighter
than ever, and with 4 studio albums and over 100 original songs under their belt, every set is a unique and fresh surprise for both longtime fans and new listeners—which is probably why they’ve been named Best Original Band in Best of the West multiple years. Come see them after Phish’s shows at Van Andel Arena to keep the party going.
8/9
CHEVELLE
GLC Live at 20 Monroe 11 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids Aug. 9, 6:30 p.m. livenation.com
Chevelle, the Chicago-based rock trio known for their intense energy and distinctive sound, blends powerful riffs with introspective lyrics to create a raw and emotive musical experience. With over two decades of pushing boundaries in the alternative metal scene, Chevelle continues to captivate audiences worldwide with their dynamic performances and critically acclaimed albums.
ANDREW BIRD + AMADOU & MARIAM
Frederik Meijer Gardens
1000 E. Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
Aug. 9, 6:30 p.m. meijergardens.org
Internationally acclaimed, Grammynominated multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, whistler, and songwriter Andrew Bird picked up his first violin at age 4 and spent his formative years soaking up classical repertoire completely by ear. Now, Bird is renowned for his virtuosity on the violin, his whistling skills, and his innovative use of looping pedals during live performances. He’s joined by Amadou & Mariam, two veterans of Mali’s music industry who’ve been performing together since the 1970s.
8/11
JUSTIN WILLMAN: ILLUSIONATI TOUR
DeVos Performance Hall
303 Monroe Ave., Grand Rapids Aug. 11, 7 p.m. devosperformancehall.com
Justin Willman wants to melt your brain while making you laugh. He’s best known as the star and creator of the hit Netflix series Magic For Humans and The Magic Prank Show with Justin Willman. But you may recognize him from one of his many television appearances, or maybe you know his work as a host (Baking Impossible; Cupcake Wars; Win, Lose or Draw...). Or maybe he’s the child magician you hired in suburban St. Louis in the ‘90s. If you don’t know Justin, he’s a magician and comedian who’s mastered the art of turning cynics into believers (or at least getting them to laugh).
See him onstage this month.
8/16
STEVE-O
Kalamazoo State Theatre
404 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo Aug. 16, 6 p.m. kazoostate.com
Steve-O is a renowned stunt performer,
actor, and television personality. He gained fame as a member of the cast of the hit MTV show “Jackass,” where he performed a variety of dangerous and outrageous stunts. Known for his fearlessness and wild sense of humor, Steve-O quickly became a fan favorite on the show. Despite his wild antics and largerthan-life persona, Steve-O has also been open about his struggles with addiction and has worked to overcome these challenges through sobriety and self-improvement. See him do his thing onstage at Kalamazoo State Theatre.
YASSOU! GREEK
CULTURAL FESTIVAL
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 330 Lakeside Dr. NE, Grand Rapids Aug. 16-17
grgreekfest.com
“Yassou” means welcome, and this fest welcomes you to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church for two days of wonderful Greek culture and traditions. Come experience everything from a great live band and dance demonstrations, to wine tastings and cooking classes— plus, of course, a wide assortment of authentic Greek cuisine like souvlaki, moussaka and gyros.
Justin Willman. COURTESY PHOTO
8/23
GUIDED BY VOICES
Bell’s Beer Garden
355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo Aug. 23, 8 p.m. bellsbeer.com
In 1994, 38-year-old school teacher Robert Pollard and his merry band recorded Bee Thousand in a Dayton, Ohio, basement on a 4-track cassette recorder. This improbable rock classic became an enormously influential album: Pitchfork and Spin and Amazon have called it one of the best records of the ’90s. A legendary live band with a rabid following, the Washington Post called GBV “the Grateful Dead equivalent for people who like Miller Lite instead of acid!” With 14 studio albums already under their belts in 6 years, the band’s present-day line-up is nothing less than a new Golden Age of GBV.
POLISH HERITAGE FESTIVAL
Calder Plaza
Aug. 23-25 polishheritagesociety.com
The annual Polish festival returns to Grand Rapids, this time at Calder Plaza, since Rosa Parks Circle is still under construction. Three days of vendors, food booths, live music, children’s activities, a beer tent and more! Na Zdrowie!
8/24
RETURN TO THE RIVER Downtown Grand Rapids Aug. 24-25 downtowngr.org
Return to the River is coming back for a third year! The free, all-ages festival features two days of live music, stunning live art and traveling installations, aerialists and circus performers, an artisan market, food
trucks, a host of free activities and more. This year, it’s being held at three locations: 555 Monroe, Sixth Street Park and Canal Park, all connected and within walking distance. Want to drink? Head to a local bar for grab-n-go bevvies!
8/26
BURNING FOOT BEER FESTIVAL
Pere Marquette Park, Muskegon Aug. 26 burningfoot.beer
Burning Foot Beer Festival is a celebration of beer, beach, art and music, and it’s back bigger than ever before this year with more space and more vendors! The festival is held in August along Lake Michigan’s beautiful lakeshore in Muskegon, offering the perfect way to end the summer. Beach camping and barefoot entry make it unique—the Brewers’ Ring makes it extraordinary.
8/30
GRANDCON GAMING CONVENTION
DeVos Place
303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids Aug. 30-Sept. 1 devosplace.org
GrandCon is Michigan’s premiere tabletop gaming show held late Summer every year. It’s a weekend community experience and a place where several aspects of the hobby gaming industry are represented under one roof. They celebrate board games, card games, miniature games, role-playing games, guests of the industry, and family. As an attendee, can enjoy: cosplay, charity events, paint and take (paint a miniature and take it home), learn to play games, panels, role playing games, live entertainment, tournaments, workshops, mingle, play games from a library spanning over 2,300 game titles, and more.
Return to the River. COURTESY PHOTO
POCKET WATCH: Their Time is
| by Eric Mitts
So often in music, like in life, timing is everything.
That’s definitely the case for rising Grand Rapids jazz fusion group Pocket Watch.
Coming together rather serendipitously, finding each other at the right place, and the right time, the six-piece has come into their own in not much time at all.
Formed two summers ago, when they all happened to meet at an open mic at Flanagan’s Irish Pub in downtown Grand Rapids, the group quickly clicked together, and started making music.
Now
Drummer Zach Dubay – who has also played with a number of other West Michigan bands including The Verve Pipe, Nathan Walton & the Remedy, Cosmic Knot, and many others – was part of the house band at Flanagan’s, alongside bassist Dale Bales II.
There they met fiddler Keala Venema, who also plays with GR world/folk music trio Whorled, guitarist Chris Murphy, as well as multi-instrumentalist Tommy Pancy (saxophone/flute/piano), who had recently moved to Grand Rapids from East Lansing after studying jazz at MSU.
Keyboardist Jarrett Holstag came along a little later, joining the band after meeting the other members at the Buses By the Beach Benefit that summer. They solidified around the weekly Sunday Jazz Jam at Turnstiles, hosted by Pancy, where they rehearsed regularly and started finding their sound.
“As soon as we started playing together, we just locked in,” Pancy said. “Everyone is really good at providing exactly what the music needs, whether it’s one of the songs that we wrote, or if we’re just jamming at an open mic, or in the basement. No one was ever trying to step on any toes. Everyone just kind of slotted in perfectly. So it really worked out really nicely.”
Pancy said he started out playing the family piano at six, and played saxophone all throughout middle and high school. And although he and Murphy both went to MSU, and Bales went to Berklee, he’s quick to point out that none of them actually graduated from any collegiate music programs.
“There’s like 10 or 12 years of academic music experience, but zero music degrees in the group,” he said.
The band members also share years of experience playing in other area bands, and cite fellow West Michigan band Earth Radio as a major influence.
Early on they took inspiration from jazz fusion legends Snarky Puppy, but over time have found their own approach, blending in more funk, and a jam band vibe to their sound.
“The way that we write the tunes is starting with a pretty spare skeleton, like, this is the melody, these are like the chords or the root notes behind everything,” Pancy said. “But once we get into the actual learning process, then everyone is able to add their flair to it, and write parts that are more in tune with their influences.”
Last summer Pocket Watch won the annual Walk The Beat competition in Grand Haven, taking home the grand prize, which included studio time at Grand Haven’s Third Coast Recording Co. There they recorded
their upcoming debut full-length album, Sounds Like Music, due out Aug. 3.
“That was what gave us the opportunity to be able to go in and record the album,” Pancy said about winning Walk The Beat. “We couldn’t have done it without that. So we’re very thankful for Dave Palmer of the Walk the Beat Foundation, and then obviously, Bill Chrysler at Third Coast for offering up that prize package. That was more than instrumental in putting this whole thing together.”
Pancy added the experience of working in the studio was eye opening for the band, as even though they all had previous experience recording in basement or other sessions, this was the first time they would spend all day, every day, all week, in the studio.
“We have a lot of stuff to get through, so we have to stay on track,” Pancy said. “You have to make sure that we’re wellpracticed, well-rehearsed, so we’re not wasting any time. And admittedly, the first couple of days, things started to fall behind and it was getting tense.”
The band is thankful for the help of Third Coast engineer Raziel Castaneda, who kept them on track, and helped them redo and punch up specific parts, capturing the live feel of the band, while expanding the scope with additional percussion, synths, keyboards, woodwinds, and cello.
“We knew it was a lofty task to try to record 10 songs in 40 hours, and we barely did it,” Pancy said. “So it came down to the wire.”
The album’s tongue-in-cheek title, Sounds Like Music, comes directly from the recording sessions with Castaneda as well.
“We thought about the title of the album for months leading up to it,” Pancy said. “We could never agree on one. And so I said, ‘let’s go in the studio, let’s record it, and maybe something will come up, or it won’t, and we’ll just keep fighting about it for the next three months afterwards.
“But once Raz came in and started getting the session really moving, that was kind of his catchphrase. Every time we’d do something, we’d be like, how did that
sound? And Raz would always say, ‘Yeah, sounds like music.’ And that phrase kept coming back through the whole session, and we were like, ‘Well, it seems very appropriate for how it all worked out.”
Pocket Watch will release Sounds Like Music with a special show at The Pyramid Scheme Aug. 3. The band will also perform as part of the Shagbark Music Festival Aug. 2-3. ■
POCKET WATCH
Sounds Like Music Album Release
Wsg. Sun.Dyle, Minor Element
The Pyramid Scheme, 68 Commerce Ave.
SW, Grand Rapids
Aug. 3, 7 p.m., $15
Musicbypocketwatch.com, Pyramidschemebar.com
LOUIS THE CHILD: Playground Dance Party
| by Eric Mitts
When Chicago EDM duo Louis The Child takes the stage at this year’s Breakaway Music Festival in Grand Rapids, expect the unexpected.
Breaking out their “Playground Set,” where DJs Robby Hauldren and Freddy Kennett play whatever they feel like in the moment, the spontaneous experience will focus more on fun than showcasing their own discography.
“It’s been a little while since we’ve done a Playground Set at a festival, so I have a lot of new music we’ve made, and music I’ve discovered recently that I’m excited to play,” Robby Hauldren said. “It’s also been a few years since we did Breakaway in Grand Rapids, so I’m excited to be back in the area.”
Louis The Child will join co-headliner Slander, and over 10 other acts on the first day of this year’s Breakaway Music Festival on Aug. 16 at Belknap Park. The festival will also feature Marshmello, Alison Wonderland and more on its second day, Aug. 17.
The duo first appeared at Breakaway back in 2019. They last performed a Playground set in West Michigan when they played at the Electric Forest Festival in 2022. Hauldren performed a surprise set at this year’s Electric Forest during the “6 in the Forest” celebration, for fans who have been to Electric Forest six years or more, which includes himself.
“Oh man, (I’ve had) so many good memories from Forest over the year,” Hauldren said.
Louis the Child. PHOTO BY JOEY VITALARI
“One of my favorites was in 2019. We went to the festival that year just as fans with our whole crew, and an artist had flight complications and couldn’t make their set, so they asked if we would fill in because we were already at the festival. It was at the Carousel Club stage, which we hadn’t played before – I actually hadn’t even been to that stage before. This was back when that stage was a big enclosed tent with palm trees in it. It was the last set of the whole weekend, and so spontaneous.
“The vibe was awesome. We had a bunch of people onstage, and brought up some friends to DJ with us too. I just remember it being such a party, and people to this day still bring up that set to me every time I’m at Forest.”
That joyous party vibe and truly childlike sense of wonder remains at the core of what Louis The Child sets out to do with their ever-exploratory music.
Hauldren and Kennett first met as teens, at a Madeon concert in 2013, bonding over their love of music. Their first-ever single, 2015’s “It’s Strange” featuring K. Flay, received the endorsement of none other than Taylor Swift, and has since gone gold.
Ahead of the release of their upcoming new album, The Sun Comes Up —their second full-length album following 2020’s Here For Now —Louis The Child just released their latest single, “Slow,” last month with Laszewo and Pluko.
“Pluko and I have been roommates for the past few years, so this one just happened on a random night when we were cooking up at the crib,” Hauldren said. “A big goal of mine going into the making of The Sun Comes Up was to make an electronic album. I feel like Here For Now leaned more indie, and there weren’t a ton of ‘drops’ on it, if you will. I feel like ‘Slow’ really hits the nail on the head of the type of songs that I was hoping to make for this album.”
Earlier this year Louis The Child reconnected with their youth, releasing the song “Believe It” with their hero turned friend and mentor Madeon.
“Madeon has always been someone we look up to, so to finally have a song with him feels amazing,” Kennett said. “I love the song, so that makes it feel like the perfect full circle moment. To me, at the moment, that song means that you should never lose a sense of childish wonder and curiosity and belief in yourself.”
Now producing and performing for just over a decade, Louis The Child has only continued to grow, and the duo feels like the future looks even brighter.
“I feel like the pandemic did a whole time warp on everyone because it doesn’t feel that long to me,” Hauldren said. “I’m always looking forward, or trying to be in the present, so I don’t think back too much on it, but when I do it’s always with a sense of gratitude. I feel so fortunate to have found Freddy, and our team, and to have been given the opportunities we’ve been given. It’s funny because the further you go the harder you have to continue to work. So while those years of hard work have gotten you to the place you are now, it’s also granted you the opportunity to do more work, and the challenge to push yourself even further.”
This story has been condensed for print. For the full exclusive interview with Revue, head to revuewm.com. ■
MIENTERTAINMENT GROUP PRESENTS:
Breakaway Music Festival w/ Louis The Child, Slander, Mashmello, Alison Wonderland, and more
Belknap Park, 30 Coldbrook St. NE, Grand Rapids
Aug. 16-17, 4-11 p.m., $50+
FINDING HIS VOICE: Young The Giant’s Sameer Gadhia
| by Michaela Stock
Sameer Gadhia of Young The Giant didn’t originally dream of being a lead singer.
“Initially, I’d wanted to go in as a guitarist, because I kind of detested lead singers,” Gadhia said of his audition to join the band in 2004.
Originally called The Jakes, Young The Giant formed while Gadhia was attending high school in Irving, California.
“I went in and they were like, ‘We already have two guitarists, and we’ve heard that you can sing. We’d like for you to try it.’ The second I stepped into that role, it was like a second skin for me. It just immediately felt natural.”
Twenty years later, Gadhia is now the lead singer of a multiplatinum selling band. Though most of Young The Giant’s founding members have moved on, Gadhia has maintained a sense of comfort with his team on both sides of the curtain.
“We have created a home for ourselves,” Gadhia said. “Obviously within the structure of the band, we are brothers, and the touring crew that we have around us, and our fans, and when we play these shows, I do feel like I belong, I feel like I’m at home.”
And perhaps that’s because music has always been home for Gadhia.
“My dad was really passionate about music, and he still does have this really huge appetite for music discovery. The evening was my dad putting on records, with a mixture of popular British and American music. Michael Jackson was huge in the house. Queen was really big. The Beatles. But then there was a lot of Bollywood film music, not so much Indian classical, but popular films that my parents were watching.”
Even with meaningful relationships and global fandom, Gadhia ebbs into periods of isolation as a first generation American.
“I still find myself kind of in-between, but home is what you make of it,” Gadhia said. “I feel like I’ve created that, to a certain degree, with my family and with this touring family as well… But at the same time, I just don’t fully fit into the normal mold of America, and even within the Indian American population.”
This loneliness has been probed further by the conditions of living on the road as an artist.
“There’s a misconception about touring on the road and emotional health,” Gadhia said. “I think, for our fans and for people, we’ve always been a beacon of positivity. But that also can take its toll for us as musicians. We’re still normal people, struggling and going through life, and figuring things out at the same time.”
Gadhia has had to learn how to take care of himself and his wellness while performing in front of thousands of people every night.
“For me, there were some years where I didn’t really love it. I didn’t really love the touring part. But it feels good to be back to a place of really enjoying what I do. Us, as a band right now, are in a very good emotional place.”
Artistically, Young The Giant have also reached a point where they can authentically articulate the music they want to make.
“That’s been a huge shift,” Gadhia. “We finally feel like the thing that we want ourselves to sound like in our head is what we have the tools and the ability to do, even just by ourselves. That’s been a big growth thing.”
Despite just now feeling like they’re reaching their musical potential, Young The Giant’s first hit, “Cough Syrup,” exploded when Gadhia was a freshman studying human biology at Stanford University
“As I got into school and was there my freshman, sophomore year, I’d fly back to LA every other weekend and play shows and get a manager. I left halfway through, so I don’t have my college degree… but human biology is a very interdisciplinary major. There’s psychology and sociology and linguistics, and those are the things that were exciting to me.”
Gadhia’s interest in science remains a part of his songwriting.
“I am just fascinated by physics. That
has found itself into some of our songs, and some of our themes, particularly Superposition, which is really a love song but under the veil of quantum physics.”
Gadhia’s education at Stanford also consisted of a creative writing minor, which he has threaded through his career beyond music. He’s currently working on a television show, as well as floating around ideas for a book.
But for now, Gadhia has his hands full with Young The Giant and his radio show Point of Origin, which helps expand the music industry into diverse faces. Having felt faceless in a historically whitewashed alternative music scene himself, Gadhia uses his radio show to promote artists of color in indie music.
While entertainment still has a long way to go to represent the faces behind those who make it, Gadhia believes that if artists keep writing what they know, the rest will follow.
“It has to start from a place of a desire and need to create. If you put intention into those things, the rest will fall into place,” Gadhia said. “You’ll build fans and you’ll build people who understand, and those are the people that you’ll start having a relationship with and writing for.” ■ YOUNG THE GIANT
130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids Aug. 16 vanandelarena.com
LAUGHTER ON THE LAKESHORE COMEDY FESTIVAL: Making Waves
| by Eric Mitts
Putting together Muskegon’s first-ever summer comedy festival has been a wild ride for comedian and organizer Ricarlo Williams-Winston.
The first of its kind, two-day standup comedy event will take place Aug. 16 and 17 at four locations all throughout Muskegon.
And although it is wide-reaching in its goals, the event has only been in the works since late February, when Williams-Winston returned home from attending the Traverse City Comedy Festival this past winter.
“I just started talking to a few people, and I really sat down and thought about it, and I was like, you know, I have enough venues that I currently do shows at that I could put something together,” Williams-Winston told REVUE. “And it just kind of grew from there.”
Looking to the Traverse City Comedy Festival and Motor City Comedy Festival as events he wanted to emulate, Williams-Winston examined Muskegon’s already packed summer festival calendar, and picked the only remaining open weekend, so as not to compete with the many other exciting events coming up in the area.
“I definitely want to showcase Muskegon as a whole because there is so much change going on right now in downtown Muskegon, and even in the Muskegon Heights
area,” Williams-Winston said. “So I definitely want to try to bring people in, and show them a different side of Muskegon. The perception is definitely changing out there, but there’s still a little negative connotation when it comes to Muskegon in this area. So I’m hoping that people can come in, laugh and enjoy the lakeshore, enjoy all the restaurants we have, and be like, ‘Man, this is actually a really nice place.’”
The festival will feature multiple free showcases each day, and end with a paid ticketed headlining event each night at Unruly Brewing Co., 360 W Western Ave., Muskegon. Detroit comedian Cam Rowe will headline Aug. 16, while longtime Grand Rapids comedian Adam Degi will close out the fest Aug. 17.
“Adam actually grew up in Whitehall, which is like ten minutes from Muskegon,” Williams-Winston said. “He’s one of the best in Michigan. So any chance you get to have him on a show, you definitely jump at it… Just his story, his battle with cancer and everything, and his comedy is so relatable, and just so funny.
“And then Cam is just hilarious,” he added. “He’s so memorable. Like if you see Cam, you definitely remember it. ‘There was a six foot 10 hilarious dude onstage.’ I’m going to remember that for a while. And with his dad playing for the Pistons, and him growing up over in Detroit and everything, it just made sense to have him on the show also.”
In all, the festival will feature 26 comedians over its two days. Aug. 16 will open at 2:30 p.m. with the LOL Showcase at Tiny Digs Lakeshore, 2033 Lakeshore Dr., followed by another LOL Showcase at The Valkyrie, 1900 Ruddiman Dr., at 4:30 p.m. There will be a Dab Bar PreParty at The Bowl at IndiGrow Weed Dispensary, 639 W. Clay Ave., at 6:30 p.m. to relax and unwind before Rowe’s headline show at Unruly starts at 8 p.m.
“All the comedians I have are from Michigan,” Williams-Winston said. “That’s one of the dope things, for this first year I’m doing all Michigan comedians. So I definitely want to showcase the talent that we have because there’s so much comedic talent here in Michigan and West Michigan.”
Aug. 17, the festival starts off early, with a Family Friendly showcase at Tiny Digs at 12 p.m. That’s followed by the 21 and older Canna-Comedy Bash at The Bowl at 2 p.m., with another LOL showcase at The Valkyrie at 4:30 p.m., and another Canna-Comedy Bash at 6 p.m. Degi will perform at Unruly at 8 p.m., with an official after party to follow.
“So the lineup that I put together, it was awesome because, honestly, there’s a little selfish part of it for me because I just want to hang out with my friends,” WilliamsWinston said. “So this is the way to get all my comedy friends together at a party. Putting the lineups together was great because I just sat there and I really dissected it, like, OK, so this person will pair well with this person, you know, to maximize the experience for everybody.”
All of the showcases are free, with tickets to Rowe’s show on Aug. 16 starting at $15, and Degi’s show on Aug. 17 at $20. Sponsors for the Laughter on the Lakeshore Comedy Festival include Back to Health Chiropractic and Terrace Cutz barber shops.
“I hope that it can grow next year into a three-day event, and we can get more of the city behind it,” WilliamsWinston said. “I’m meeting with city people just to have that real tie to the community. I just want people to come out to this, and be like, ‘hey, I want to try comedy.’ And then that starts a whole scene here in Muskegon. I think it’s such a great outlet, and people need that. People need different ways to get out what they’re going through. Comedy is a great way to do that, and you might impact somebody else, too.” ■
RJN COMEDY PRESENTS: LAUGHTER ON THE LAKESHORE COMEDY FESTIVAL
Aug. 16-17
Tiny Digs, The Bowl, The Valkyrie, Unruly Brewing Company, Muskegon Facebook.com/RJNcomedy
YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO WHAT’S GREAT IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS
REC YOURSELF
Can we talk about Grand Rapids Parks & Rec for a minute? I feel like what’s available to us is far more robust than other cities. They have tons of adult and youth classes, plus free yearround programs for the over-50 crowd and free summer outdoor fitness activities for everyone. They actually aren’t even fussy about who participates in those 50-plus offerings. Inclusivity and accessibility are way more important to them than checking your ID at the door.
I’ve taken Pilates and Mindful Musical Movement through Parks & Rec (LOVED!), and also learned how to paddleboard last summer at Richmond Pool. Line dancing, sunset yoga at Lookout Park, barre on the Blue Bridge, and African dance are just a few of the free summer classes they have, and it’s clear they’ve really made an effort to provide diverse and interesting forms of recreation. And, with the addition of GR Outside, they now have a phenomenal selection of outdoor gear to rent in any season.
If I seem like I’m gushing a bit, you’re not wrong. I am really enthusiastic about all of this, especially when it comes to the aforementioned GR Outside, who operate on the belief that “All Grand Rapids residents should have equitable access to outdoor equipment and spaces.” Right on. I’ve recently fallen in love with kayaking, but for a number of mostly logistical reasons, I haven’t invested in a craft for myself. Renting is easier for me, and I’m always looking around for new places to go. When GR Outside first started their Saturday rentals from Canal Park on the Grand River, I jumped at the opportunity. It’s hard to beat the $5 per person, per hour price, or the fact that you just show up and they lend you a life vest, all the equipment, and a hand getting in and out of the kayak.
This runs most Saturdays in summer, weather permitting. They might do a popup on a warm fall day as well. Preregistration online at linktr.ee/groutside is recommended, or you can take your chances with a walk-up.
Both times I’ve kayaked through GR Outside, I’ve gone with friends and we did a two-hour stretch. The Grand River is such a great waterway to paddle on, and the views in many spots are beautiful. Along the way, there’s also plenty of interesting graffiti, and you’re bound to encounter turtles and ducks hanging out on protruding logs. If you go for two hours, you can make it all the way to Riverside Park, where you’ll likely run into people fishing, shoreline fauna, and patches of waterlilies. Heading back, you’ll be rowing toward the panorama of the downtown skyline, which is pretty cool, too. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon!
When you’re done, just do a presto change-o out of your wet swimsuit (I dunno; I always get soaked) and head over to City Built for snacks and cold beverages. They’re located in the social district, so you can take your food and drinks across the street, where they have tables and chairs, and relax near the river. City Built placed
| by Allison Kay Bannister
in Revue’s BOTW “Appetizers” category, and it’s clear why: Bori Balls, Yuca Fries, Tostones… there’s a lot to love.
But, back to GR Outside, because the other thing you should know is that they host free Family Paddle Nights with no registration required. Paid programs that should be preregistered for include Guided Kayaking Adventures and Learn to Kayak lessons. They also work with schools, nonprofits, and other groups to offer kids free kayaking experiences on the Grand River. Throughout the year, they rent an array of equipment and attire, most of which is free of charge as part of their efforts to ensure equitable access for all. Gear Library Membership is required and is free to those who live in the Grand Rapids city limits. Non-residents pay a small annual fee.
If you haven’t been taking advantage of all they have to offer, you’re missing out. Go get it!
Check out facebook.com/GROutside for more info. ■
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CUTS, SKIPS & GLITCHES :
The Cost of a Free Lunch
| by Zachary Avery
Late in the night, after closing hours at a nearby bar, my friend Ian stepped through the red door with a double-wrapped plastic bag containing 20 game cartridges, two green controllers, and a precious toy from a bygone era: the Nintendo 64.
And there it was, the object that would be my obsession for the next two straight weeks, Mario Kart 64. How’s the condition, I asked. He explained some common fixes: dry Q-tip to clear out dust, alcohol to clean the computer chips.
“There’s also a tried and true method used by gamers everywhere,” he said. “If all else fails, you can still blow on it.”
POWER ON
A visit to One Stop Coney in Grand Rapids guarantees a whimsical peek into the life of any 90’s kid. All around you can find framed covers of Nickelodeon Magazine, boxes of Rugrats’ “Reptar cereal” sat atop mounted displays, and crystalline themed souvenir glasses from McDonald’s. It’s a comfortable setting, but certainly not a typical diner with flowers on the table and paper napkin dispensers. Large houseplants overhang the shop’s window display, casting in natural light and bringing a clean freshness to the space. Beyond its creative interior design and eclectic menu (popular items include their kimchi dog, spicy grilled cheese and Belgian fries), the primary draw for many has been the fairly recent addition of a Nintendo 64.
“Even when you’re waiting for your food, having something like the N64 helps make the atmosphere fun,” said Conor Malloy, co-owner with his wife, Olivia, and head chef. “Making fun food in a fun environment. Trying to bring a little something to your regular lunch.”
The shop’s challenge is simple: Place first in Mario Kart 64’s Special Cup at 150cc before your order is up, and it’s free (up to a $25 value). Conor hasn’t owned a home console in decades, so bringing some video games from his own childhood to One Stop Coney seemed an appropriate, personal way to elevate the customer experience while also introducing something memorable and nostalgic. What Conor couldn’t have known, however, was the base incredulity his little “challenge” inherently poses. To prove my point, I timed an order myself: one fried bologna sandwich.
Conor flips the thick-cut meat in the vat mid-fry, ensuring an even distribution of heat. Like anything on One Stop’s menu, the simple and fresh ingredients conceal a surprisingly considered and careful process behind the counter. Next, he adds chips as a cushion between the bologna and bread, which has been quietly toasting under some nearby “hats”
that condense the grill’s heat and melt two slices of cheese evenly onto the bun. Throw in some pickles and iceberg lettuce, and then execute a vertical cut, minimizing potato chip breakages and keeping clean-up easy.
“We want it to be a big sandwich, but there’s a line where it just starts to be intrusive,” Malloy said.
It takes Malloy 4 minutes and 18 seconds to do all of this. For the uninformed, a “cup” in Mario Kart is comprised of four tracks, each with three laps. Any given
track could take you somewhere between one and a half to two minutes to complete, and that’s assuming you play the game quite well. In Mario Kart 64’s Special Cup, which Conor has so conveniently chosen for One Stop Coney’s new challenge, the final track (called Rainbow Road) takes an approximate six minutes to complete, three laps and all. It is the single longest racetrack in Mario Kart history. So, how does one compete in a game that seemingly cannot be won?
One Stop Coney. PHOTO BY ZACHARY AVERY
CHEATER, CHEATER
“Speed Running” is the hobby of taking a particular video game, regardless of genre, and attempting to finish it as quickly as possible. This can be done in all manner of ways: with exploitative glitches, without glitches, with all “unlockables” achieved, with controller restrictions, with modified rules, with anything. It depends on the game, and, with Mario Kart 64, it usually comes down to one thing: shortcuts.
In 2013, Beck Abney owned an N64 and had the game, but wasn’t necessarily interested in speed running.
“I was looking up how to do the mini-turbos in the game, the little speed boosts, and just accidentally came across the time trial ranking website,” Abney said. “I decided to play all the tracks and send in a timesheet. That was over 10 years ago, and I just haven’t stopped playing.”
Since then, Abney has become the single best player in the world. His world record for completing the Special Cup alone is 5 minutes and 49 seconds, for the entire game an astounding 22 minutes and 58 seconds. On the live streaming platform Twitch, Abney regularly competes for new records with an audience of over 50,000 followers.
Miraculously, Abney has managed to turn his once offhand interest into a successful career online. Every day, more and more Mario Kart enthusiasts find his video tutorials on how to execute each track’s cuts, skips and glitches. When the difference between success and failure is only a few well-timed button inputs, why shouldn’t anyone become a pro at this? With nine days before race day, Abney became my consultant.
First, he informed me that, while Special Cup may be one of the harder cups in the video game, most of Mario Kart 64’s exploits don’t necessarily need to be “pixel perfect.”
“All of the shortcuts in this game are about tricking the finish line into deactivating,” Abney said.
In practice, this means somehow escaping the developer-
deigned barriers of a track and sending your racer hurtling into a liminal space. Then, once the game’s lost your location and attempts to bring you back, some careful positioning puts you in the perfect spot to skip a lap and majority of the course. On Special Cup, you can do this on all but one track: Banshee Boardwalk. You have to complete it as intended, no shortcuts at all. This would prove troublesome.
Practice began immediately. For two or more hours each morning and night, I accelerated my journey into Mario Kart 64 speed running. A couple days later, I could consistently phase through a cave tunnel wall. I was jumping over cliffs and knocking myself into mountains. I was sailing over empty regions in outer space, firing heatseeking “red shells” at myself and plummeting into endless voids beneath my competitors.
“Consistently” may be a bit of a misnomer here—I could execute any of the aforementioned shortcuts only about half of the time. It’s not that Abney wasn’t an effective teacher; quite the opposite. No, the issue was the game itself. Specifically, the triple-pronged monstrosity you hold in your hands while playing.
“It’s not really a great controller,” Abney said. “All of the parts wear down, plastic stuff on plastic stuff, and it shaves down. It’s a pain and definitely a problem for speed running.”
In my own experience, I simply could not get my character, a mushroom-capped man named Toad, to do what I’d like him to do. The night before race day, I hadn’t completed the cup in its entirety even once. Despite that, I anticipated walking into One Stop Coney the next morning being able to finish within 11 minutes (that’d be with all the shortcuts done properly, except for that difficult red shell strategy on Rainbow Road that I’ve only ever seen Abney attempt).
Accounting for One Stop’s usual lunchtime rush on the weekdays, plus a strategically complicated order on my part (fried bologna and a breakfast burger take up two whole stations, and they surely hand dip their corn dogs, right?), I felt hopeful for a close finish, if not outright success.
Boy, would I be disappointed.
START THE CLOCK
Conor Malloy assured me that Fridays at noon were their busiest time and weekday for business. Their diverse daily specials and friendly staff maintain a close, passionate customer base that continue to visit every week. My entire plan was oriented around that fact. So, let me tell you, reader, that when I entered One Stop Coney at 11:40 AM on Friday, July 12 and saw only TWO customers in line, I felt a wash of defeat enter my lungs and drown me in place. I misplaced the weekly rush, one employee consoled me. It was Thursday, after all.
With three cooks behind the counter and a fatalistically empty shop, my dreams for a free meal were dead on arrival. Six minutes and twenty-seven seconds. That’s all it took for my food to arrive.
That isn’t to say my practice didn’t pay off, however. With all things said and done, I finished Special Cup in just over 13 minutes. The shortcuts surely paid off, and my disastrous practice attempts at Banshee Boardwalk were nullified by a surprisingly decent run. In a way, I had done what I set out to do. Right?
Speed runners must compete only to win, otherwise their breaking of a game would be meaningless. Unless, Abney and others actually ENJOY playing Mario Kart this way?
My body and mind finally relaxed when Chance—a One Stop employee my partner had ceremonially presented a “Coney Crony” handmade charm bracelet to—delivered me my order on the second lap of Banshee Boardwalk. “Rough stuff, brother,” he said. “Pause it. Time for dinner.” I sat down with my pit crew, the three friends (including Ian) who agreed to meet me that morning and offer support. Despite everything (the stress of practice, the frustration, the sting of defeat), I was relieved to have it over with. I knew, regardless, a delicious meal was waiting for me at the finish line. ■
WELCOME BACK TO REVUE’S ANNUAL POLL
Now in its 9th year, this celebration of people, places and businesses across West Michigan is on the precipice of the double digits. What’s remarkable after all these years is that interest in Best of the West seemingly hasn’t waned at all. Instead, we get more participation every year!
That’s even as we’ve made changes to suit the times. For instance, who would have ever imagined when this began in 2016 that we’d someday drop the New Brewery category? But with seemingly no eligible competitors from the past year, we have apparently hit market saturation (although, Muskegon Brewing Company opened doors last month, and is well worth a trip).
Last year, we also did away with the rankings of 2nd and 3rd place, to just have a winner and two finalists (listed alphabetically). We hope this helps remove the minor stigma of a bronze medal—all the finalists you see listed here beat
out dozens of other nominees in each of their categories, so it doesn’t seem fair to mark any of them as “last place” out of the top three.
If you missed the voting, here’s how it worked: The first round was for open nominations, meaning anyone could write in absolutely whoever they wanted, as long as they were local and fit the category. Then, we tallied up all those nominations and came out with a top three for every category. In the second round, readers simply voted for their favorites out of those groups of three!
This year, we did remove a few categories, but also added multiple to help spread the love beyond Grand Rapids (where many, but certainly not all, of our readers live). We introduced the “Best Restaurant in…” and “Best Bar in…” categories for various cities around West Michigan, including Grand Haven, Holland, Kalamazoo/ Portage, Muskegon, and Saugatuck/Fennville.
9T H ANNUAL
Quite frankly, it’s something we should have done much sooner, but hopefully this helps shine a spotlight on favorites all around.
One important aspect that returned this year is the Golden Certificate, awarded to the nominee who garnered the most votes overall across all categories and both rounds. The first two years were won by Long Road Distillers, but in a narrow upset, this year’s winner of the Golden Certificate is City Built Brewing Co. Congratulations on all the support from our readers!
Whether you’re a winner, a finalist, a voter or a Staff Pick, Best of the West is for you. We do this to celebrate all the incredible people who make West Michigan special, and to help guide new readers to the most beloved establishments in town. Now, all that’s left to do is get out there and check them out. Cheers!
Every year, West Michigan’s food scene gets even more delicious, which is impressive, because it’s not easy to be in the restaurant industry right now.
Inflation spiked costs beyond belief, yet raising prices just to cover those costs means vocally upset customers, meanwhile employees themselves need more money than ever to live, not to mention the fact there was an exodus of talent in the restaurant world during the pandemic. And yet, whether it’s for the love of cooking, community or both, plenty of people in town are still making it happen—even if it requires some retooling, such as Grove, who regrouped and returned in 2022 with a slightly different approach. If Best of the West results are any indication, it’s certainly worked out for them!
There are also the people opening entirely new concepts, which we always love to see. This year in the
New Restaurant category, our winner is MIZIZI by Street Chef Shaw. What began with some free dishes served outside on a neighborhood corner turned into a much sought after food truck, finally resulting in a brick-andmortar eatery in the heart of Creston. Unsurprisingly, the community has fallen in love with the East African/ Latin American fusion food, from Birria Burritos to Kachumbari.
For the New Restaurant finalists, we have Myrth in Ada, which opened in summer of 2023, just too late make last year’s nominations. This pizza and pasta restaurant is run by James Beard Award-winning chef Paul Berglund, and has become known for high-quality, hand-made, crowd-pleasing dishes— served in a lively and comfortable space.
Then we have Scholar, the new restaurant downtown Grand Rapids that offers “early American Cuisine, timeless design, and warm hospitality.” Which is to say, it’s a snazzy yet cozy spot with a bookstore-esque feel that suits the name, serving up everything from high-end seafood to an elevated Salisbury Steak. As far as we know, you won’t find that anywhere else in town!
Finally, we have the new “Best Restaurant In…” categories that are meant to highlight the places that provide the best all-encompassing experience, from food to drinks to atmosphere to service to whatever intangibles make for a special meal. Congrats to everyone involved!
*Each category lists the winner with two finalists listed alphabetically below.
BEST RESTAURANT IN… GRAND HAVEN
The Unicorn Tavern theunicorntavern.com
Kirby House Snug Harbor
BEST RESTAURANT IN… GRAND RAPIDS
Butcher’s Union butchersuniongr.com
Grove
Littlebird
BEST RESTAURANT IN… HOLLAND
Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant boatwerksrestaurant.com
Hops At 84 East New Holland Brewing Co.
BEST RESTAURANT IN… KALAMAZOO/PORTAGE
Bell’s Eccentric Café bellsbeer.com
Latitude 42 Brewing Co. Principle
BEST RESTAURANT IN… MUSKEGON
The Deck thedeckmkg.com
Hearthstone Bistro The Station Grill
BEST RESTAURANT IN… SAUGATUCK/FENNVILLE
The Southerner thesouthernermi.com
Phil’s Bar and Grille
Wicks Park Bar & Grille
APPETIZERS
San Chez Bistro sanchezbistro.com
City Built Brewing Company SpeakEZ Lounge
BAKERY
Nantucket Baking Co. nantucketbaking.com
Field & Fire
Wealthy Street Bakery
BBQ
Two Scotts Barbecue twoscottsbbq.com
The Grilling Company
The Pit Stop
BREAKFAST
Wolfgang’s Restaurant mattwolfgang.com
Anna’s House Real Food Café
BRUNCH
Lucy’s lucysgr.com
Basalt SpeakEZ Lounge
BURGERS
Stella’s Lounge stellaslounge.com
Black Napkin One Stop Coney Shop
CHINESE
First Wok firstwokgr.com
GAY BAR
The Apartment Lounge apartmentloungegr.com
General Woodshop Rumors
HOT DOGS
Yesterdog yesterdoggrandrapids.com
Gaslight Kitchen Asian Cuisine Red Bowl
COFFEE
Madcap Coffee madcapcoffee.com
L antern Coffee Bar & Lounge
Sparrows Coffee
DESSERTS
Nantucket Baking Co. nantucketbaking.com
Chartreuse Sisters Mokaya
DINER
76th Street Diner 76truckstopdiner.com
Good Truckin’ Diner Grand Coney
DONUTS
Marge’s Donut Den margesdonutden.com
Sandy’s Donuts Sprinkles
FOOD TRUCK
Patty Matters pattymatters.com
PizzaMI Street Chef Shaw
FRIED CHICKEN
Cousins Tasty Chicken cousinstastychicken.com
Hancock The Southerner
FRIES
HopCat hopcat.com
Black Napkin
One Stop Coney Shop
Blue Dog Tavern One Stop Coney Shop
ICE CREAM/ FROZEN TREATS
Frosty Boy Grand Rapids frostyboygr.com
Furniture City Creamery Love’s Ice Cream
INDIAN
Palace of India palaceofindiarestaurant.com
Pal’s Indian Cuisine PIND Indian Cuisine
MEDITERRANEAN
The Pita House - Sami’s Gyro pitahousegr.com
Sheshco Mediterranean Grill Zivio
MEXICAN
Tacos El Cunado Bridge St. facebook.com/ Tacoselcunadobridgestreet/
Lindo Mexico Restaurante Mexicano Luna
MOST INNOVATIVE CUISINE
Littlebird thelittlebirdgr.com
Grove
MDRD
NEW RESTAURANT
MIZIZI by Street Chef Shaw streetchefshaw.online
Myrth
Scholar
PIZZA
The Mitten Brewing Co. mittenbrewing.com
PizzaMI
Quarantino’s
SANDWICH/DELI
Two Beards Deli twobeardsdeligr.com
Boardwalk Subs
Schnitz Deli
SEAFOOD
Leo’s leosrestaurant.com
Beacon Corner Bar
Fish Lads of Grand Rapids
SOUP
Uncle Cheetah’s Soup Shop unclecheetahs.com
Horrocks Market
The Unicorn Tavern
STEAK
Butcher’s Union butchersuniongr.com
Bowdie’s Chophouse
The Chop House
SUSHI
Maru marusushi.com
Ginza Sushi and Ramen Bar
Jaku Sushi & Grill
THAI
Bangkok Taste Cuisine grbangkoktastecuisine.com
Lai Thai Kitchen
Little Bangkok
VEGETARIAN/VEGAN
Gaia House Café gaiahousecafe.com
Basalt
Good Judy’s Market & Juice Bar
WINGS
Wing Doozy wingdoozy.com
Mike’s Wings
Two Scotts BBQ
STAFF PICKS
BEST RESTAURANT
IN...
GRAND RAPIDS: KCM
Bury my heart at KCM. The restaurant, located at 209 Diamond in Grand Rapids, offers Korean and Japanese comfort food. Most popular, and for good reason, is its katsu curry (chicken or pork, your choice). It’s absolutely delicious, and, considering one order comfortably feeds two, it’s one of the best values around. — John Kissane
DESSERTS: THE SALTED CUPCAKE
There is such a distinct difference between the packaged-by-the-dozen cupcakes you get at the supermarket and the inspired creations by The Salted Cupcake that it almost seems like they shouldn’t be allowed to be called the same thing. Tuesday through Sunday, this southeast GR shop serves up little bites of empyreal ecstasy. If you think I’m exaggerating, well, yes, I am. But they are seriously good. And seriously imaginative, like cupcakes with brownies or s’mores or lemon bars on top, plus they have theme weeks and holiday specials. Just go and see for yourself! — Allison Kay Bannister
MEDITERRANEAN: GITA PITA
If you’ve been searching for the perfect falafel, your journey will end at the corner of Jefferson and Fulton, where Gita Pita humbly resides. Best. In. Town. I promise. And I have lots of people to back me up on this! Other favorites are the Veggie Sampler (with falafel!) the Greek Fries, and the Fattoush Salad—which you should definitely ask to have topped with pickled red cabbage. The tabbouleh is mixed fresh, too, and pretty much everything is made to order before your eyes. They also have a selection of beer, wine, and other adult bevvies—bonus! — Allison Kay Bannister
BAKERY:
VILLAGE BAKER
On your way home from Grand Haven, where pretty much every Grand Rapidian ends up at some point in the summer, stop by Village Baker for some incredible baked goods. This is a place where it’s hard not to just order one of everything. At the very least, you’ll end up with one or two more treats than you went in for. The Germanstyle soft pretzels are worth the trip alone, but they also have a variety of breads, pastries, cookies, cakes, and bars. And, an in-house pizzeria! When fall rolls around, head there for their huge Oktoberfest celebration. — Allison Kay Bannister
When it comes to drinking in West Michigan, the tides have certainly changed over the years.
We launched Best of the West nine years ago, when the craft beer scene may have been at its peak. New breweries were opening constantly, to the point that we’d have real competition for even the top three spots. But over the past year, seemingly zero taprooms have opened doors (except for Muskegon Brewing Co., who just came on the scene weeks ago), so we couldn’t even hold the category.
On top of that, last year’s Best New Breweries have already seen a casualty and a half. A finalist, Brewery Nyx, very unexpectedly closed its doors and taps this year, which we view as a tragedy. This was one of the only breweries in the world creating an entirely gluten-free beer menu, and not only that, but it was all damn good. On Revue’s part, we personally hope to see a resurrection someday.
Meanwhile, last year’s first place new brewery, Broad Leaf Westside, closed in January, seemingly to be replaced by a new business. While we loved the unique fusion food, apparently something wasn’t working. Luckily, they’re back already! The new concept is focused on FUN, which we can get behind, with Shake Party offering “extreme” milkshakes that are visually stunning and gastronomically delightful. That’s being paired with an incubator kitchen featuring a regular rotation of local cooks, serving up everything from tacos to dumplings to Vietnamese.
We’ve seen a few other shifts this year as well, including City Built Brewing’s domination, taking home first place for IPA, Sour Beer and Stout. These categories were once ruled by larger breweries, but it seems as though more and more, people are growing to appreciate their local community
spot. It helps that City Built is led by the charismatic and friendly Edwin Collazo, who’s infused his Puerto Rican heritage into the experience.
Speaking of community spots, we’re excited to introduce the Best Bar In… categories this year, giving love to the watering holes all around West Michigan. These spots are beloved for a wide variety of reasons, from SpeakEZ Lounge’s reputation as a soccer bar to The Deck’s prime location right on Lake Michigan.
The last changing tide to mention is the growth of the sober scene, which has been supported by a rise in dry events and mocktail menus. Bars and breweries aren’t all about getting drunk, they’re about community. Check back in next year for more categories related to nonalcoholic drinking, and in the meantime, whatever you’re sipping: Cheers!
*Each category lists the winner with two finalists listed alphabetically below.
BEST BAR IN… GRAND HAVEN
Tip-a-Few Tavern tip-a-few.com
Odd Side Ales The Unicorn Tavern
BEST BAR IN… GRAND RAPIDS
SpeakEZ Lounge speakezlounge.com
Pursuit of Happiness The Meanwhile
BEST BAR IN… HOLLAND
New Holland Brewing Co. newhollandbrew.com
Hops at 84 East Itty Bitty Bar
BEST BAR IN… KALAMAZOO/PORTAGE
Bell’s Eccentric Café bellsbeer.com
One Well Brewing Stamped Robin
BEST BAR IN… MUSKEGON
The Deck thedeckmkg.com
Pigeon Hill Brewing Unruly Brewing
BEST BAR IN… SAUGATUCK/FENNVILLE
Wally’s Bar & Grill wallysbarandgrill.com
Sand Bar Saloon Wicks Park Bar & Grille
BARTENDER
Emily Keeler - Shots shotsstandale.com
Cassie Heuton - Pursuit of Happiness
Marcus Dungey - Divani
BEER BAR
Logan’s Alley logansalley.com
7 Monks Taproom
CBK at GLC
BEER/WINE/LIQUOR STORE
Martha’s Vineyard mvwines.com
Rishi’s International Beverage Smitty’s Specialty Beverage
BOURBON
Long Road Distillers - Straight Bourbon longroaddistillers.com
Eastern Kille Distillery - Straight Bourbon Mammoth Distilling - Woolly Bourbon
BREWERY
Brewery Vivant/Broad Leaf breweryvivant.com
City Built Brewing Co. Founders Brewing Co.
CIDERY
Farmhaus Cider Co. farmhauscider.com
Pux Cider
The Peoples Cider Co.
CRAFT COCKTAILS
Long Road Distillers longroaddistillers.com
Drip Drop Cocktail Room Eastern Kille Distillery
CRAFT LAGER
Founders Brewing Co. - Solid Gold foundersbrewing.com
Cedar Springs - Küsterer Märzen City Built Brewing - Alemania
DISTILLERY
Long Road Distillers longroaddistillers.com
Eastern Kille Distillery Wise Men Distillery
GERMAN BEER
Cedar Springs Brewing Co.Küsterer Original Weißbier csbrew.com
3 Gatos Brewery - Foldex
City Built Brewing Co. - Bock Knife
GIN
Long Road Distillers - MICHIGIN longroaddistillers.com
Eastern Kille Distillery - Barrel Finished Gin New Holland Brewing Co.Knickerbocker Gin
HAPPY HOUR
SpeakEZ Lounge speakezlounge.com
Birch Lodge Rockwell Republic
IPA
City Built Brewing Co. - Fifth Street Hooligans citybuiltbrewing.com
3 Gatos Brewery - Maine Coon Gravel Bottom Brewery - Dam Good IPA
SOUR BEER
City Built Brewing Co. - Prana citybuiltbrewing.com
Speciation - Genetic Drift Speciation - Incipient
SPORTS BAR
The Score Restaurant & Sports Bar thescoregr.com
Peppino’s Pizzeria Sports Grille SpeakEZ Lounge
STOUT
City Built Brewing Co. - 5 Hour Stout citybuiltbrewing.com
3 Gatos Brewery - Bengal Gravel Bottom - Kevin The Bold
VODKA
Long Road Distillers - Original Vodka longroaddistillers.com
Eastern Kille Distillery - Utility Vodka Wise Men Distillery - Vodka
WINE BAR
GR Noir grnoir.com
Chateau Grand Rapids House of Wine
WINERY
Hudsonville Winery hudsonvillewinery.com
Modales Wines
St. Julian Winery
BREWERY:
When you’re in Kalamazoo, One Well is the perfect one-stop food and beer stop for families, friends and everything inbetween, thanks to all the games and fun things to do within. Grab a board game off the wall and play together while enjoying dishes like Out of the Woods Pizza, with a mushroom pesto sauce and premium mushrooms on top. And while you’re at it, enjoy a beer like the Xalapa, a non-spicy jalapeno blonde. — Josh Veal
| by Eric Mitts
Looking over this year’s list of Best of the West Music finalists makes one thing perfectly clear: live music didn’t just survive the pandemic, it’s back and it’s thriving.
Even with inflation eating into everyone’s bottom line, fans have come out to shows in force, selling out concerts all throughout West Michigan, and showing their support for their favorites once again on our lists.
The toughest competition remains in the Best Music Venue category, which has had three different winners in the last three years, with each of this year’s three finalists having previously taken the top spot. This year GLC Live at 20 Monroe took the title for the first time since 2020, proving that despite the pending U.S. Justice Department lawsuit against Live NationTicketmaster, the venue’s dominance and popularity in our area hasn’t diminished among fans. Not far behind, locallyowned favorites The Intersection and The Pyramid Scheme had strong showings, with both venues breaking new artists, and attendance records.
Repeat Best Music Festival winner the Electric Forest Festival had a capacity crowd for yet another year in a row earlier this summer. It faces increasing competition from fellow EDM-centered festival Breakaway, and the hard rock behemoth Upheaval – both held at Belknap Park in Grand Rapids – so its dominant run as the can’t miss live music experience in West Michigan might not last forever.
Many other categories also saw repeat winners from last year. AB once again topped the Best DJ category, with two newcomers, DJ Code and DJ Tony
STAFF PICKS
Banks, joining our list for the first time.
Speaking of spinning records, Vertigo Music hasn’t lost in the category of Best Vinyl Record Store even once since the start of Best of the West. Fellow longtime favorite The Corner Record Shop joins it once again, along with the brand new store, Della Soul Records, which just opened last November, and has already become a cultural and community hub in southeast Grand Rapids.
Our best original music categories featured several newcomers as well.
First-time finalist Rhythm Therapy, a hard rock band from Holland, edged out two-time winners GR jam band Desmond Jones, and funk-fusion party band Simply In Time, for first place.
Similarly, first-time finalist Lauren Kelley – former vocalist for Grand Rapids cover band, and past Best of the West finalist, Funkle Jesse – took the top spot this year. She’s joined by last year’s winner, viral star Andrea Jenkins, and another new finalist, but longtime GR music icon, Christian hip-hop artist Steven Malcolm (who we first profiled in our annual Music Issue all the way back in 2019).
Speaking of coming back, multipleyear Best of the West champion Trixy Tang took the top spot in the Best Cover Band category after not reaching the Top Three last year, proving anything can happen. They’re joined by last year’s finalists Onager and Project 90, but reveal another absence from our list, multi-year, multi-category winner Brena. Will they make a comeback next year, or will your favorite finally find its spot on our lists? Make sure to vote next year and find out!
With their 2021 masterpiece, Access, going massively underappreciated during the pandemic, Grand Rapids indie rock trio Major Murphy deserve much more recognition than they’ve gotten locally. Their brand new album, Fallout , released just last month, should change that, with the group’s timeless blend of psychedelic vibes and alternative riffs, simultaneously echoing the past and the future. The shared harmonies between husband and wife songwriter/vocalist/ guitarist Jacob Bullard and bassist/vocalist Jacki Warren completely captivate the soul, so although they aren’t as active live as they once were, their music demands just as much attention as ever. — Eric Mitts
*Each category lists the winner with two finalists listed alphabetically below.
BEST COVER BAND
Trixy Tang (trixytang.com)
Onager
Project 90
BEST DJ
AB – Adrian Butler (everythingab.com)
DJ Code
DJ Tony Banks
BEST MUSIC FESTIVAL
Electric Forest (electricforestfestival.com)
Breakaway Upheaval
BEST MUSIC VENUE
GLC Live at 20 Monroe 11 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
The Intersection
The Pyramid Scheme
BEST ORIGINAL BAND
Rhythm Therapy
Desmond Jones Simply In Time
BEST SOLO MUSIC ARTIST
Lauren Kelley
Andrea Jenkins
Steven Malcolm
BEST VINYL RECORD STORE
Vertigo Music 129 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids
Corner Record Shop
Della Soul Records
BEST
MUSIC FESTIVAL: FAIR GROUND FESTIVAL
Now in its second year, the Fair Ground Festival in Hastings has become a beacon for what music festivals can be, for fans, for artists, and for the community. Centered on female artists and female fronted bands, the festival features unique voices in a unique space, creating a unique experience that extends beyond just another summer concert. Family friendly, yet fully engaging for frequent festival goers too, it stands as an inspiration for the next generation of artists, and re-envisions what an annual gathering in an unexpected location to celebrate live music can mean. Here’s hoping it continues to grow in years to come. — Eric Mitts
BEST ORIGINAL BAND : MAJOR MURPHY
Major Murphy. PHOTO BY BRETT CARLSON
Everybody shops, and here at Revue, we shop local. From clothes to gifts to books, antiques, flowers and more, West Michigan has it all, and voters have some recurring favorites. For instance, Lost & Found Treasures of Old and New remains the favorite for Antiques; Schuler continues to win the Bookstore category; and Rebel is still the Gift Shop of choice.
Of course, we saw changeups as well! Bill & Paul’s jumped into first place for both Athletic Goods; Kingma’s beat out
Bridge Street Market for Grocery Store this year; and Mitten Floral took home top Florist.
This year, we also introduced a new category, Best New Store/Business. First place is Black Dog Books & Records, specializing in used books and records but with a fascinating list of things they do and don’t buy, with an emphasis on radical, alternative and progressive media. Then we have finalist Della Soul Records, also selling vinyl alongside unique gifts, “bringing the community a place to celebrate
music, culture, Blackness, vinyl, light, love, and energy.” The other finalist being 2RST (pronounced tourist), a clothing shop “where life becomes an endless adventure.
It’s also exciting to have cannabis and CBD categories in Best of the West now, especially as the industry shifts and more fully local spots begin to open. Pharmhouse Wellness, owned and funded entirely by former caretaker Casey Kornoelje, continues to impress.
Some things change, and some things stay the same, but everybody shops!
*Each category lists the winner with two finalists listed alphabetically below.
ANTIQUE SHOP
Lost & Found Treasures of Old and New facebook.com/lostandfound treasuresofoldandnew/
Elevated Grand Rapids Warehouse One
ATHLETIC GOODS STORE
Bill and Paul’s billandpauls.com
Dunham’s Sports Gazelle Sports
BICYCLE SHOP
Grand Rapids Bicycle Co. grandrapidsbicycles.com
Freewheeler Bike Shop Switchback Gear Exchange
BOOK STORE
Schuler Books schulerbooks.com
Argos Book Shop Books & Mortar
BRIDAL BOUTIQUE
Magnolia Bridal (TIE) magnolia-bridal.com
Renee Austin Wedding (TIE) reneeaustinwedding.com
Bridal Elegance
BUTCHER
Sobie Meats sobiemeats.com
E.A. Brady’s Louise Earl Butcher
CANNABIS
Pharmhouse Wellness pharmhousewellness.com
Ascend NOXX
CBD RETAILER
House of Dank shophod.com
CBD Store of Michigan Pharmhouse Wellness
COMIC BOOK STORE
Vault of Midnight vaultofmidnight.com
Argos Book Shop
Tardy’s Collector’s Corner
Renee Austin Wedding, A.K. Rikk’s, Kingma’s Market, Magnolia Bridal. COURTESY PHOTOS
FLORIST
Mitten Floral mittenfloral.com
Hyssop Floral Stems Market
GIFT SHOP
Rebel rebelgr.com
Agate & Herb
Black Cat Bodega
GROCERY STORE
Kingma’s Market kingmasmarket.com
Bridge St. Market
Martha’s Vineyard
HEALTH FOOD STORE
Harvest Health harvesthealthfoods.com
Health Hutt
Sawall Health Foods
HIKING/OUTDOOR GEAR
Bill & Paul’s Sporthaus billandpauls.com
Earth’s Edge
Switchback Gear Exchange
MEN’S CLOTHING
Fitzgerald’s Mens Store fitzs.com
A.K. Rikk’s Everywear
NEW STORE/BUSINESS
Black Dog Books & Records blackdoggr.square.site
2RST Della Soul Records
PET STORE
Chow Hound chowhoundpetsupplies.com
Fido & Stitch Your Pets Naturally
SHOPPING DISTRICT/ DESTINATION
Eastown uptowngr.com
Downtown Rockford Wealthy Street
THRIFT/CONSIGNMENT SHOP
New 2 You new2youshop.org
Otono
Rock Paper Scissors
WOMEN’S CLOTHING
Lee & Birch leeandbirch.com
Basic Bee Boutique Covet Leisure
STAFF PICKS
BEER/WINE/LIQUOR STORE: MORE OR LESS
Drinking doesn’t always have to include alcohol, which is why I love More or Less, Grand Rapids’ only NA liquor store. This locally owned shop sells your favorite cocktail ingredients--as well as spirits, wine, beer, and ready-to-drink beverages-without the buzz. As the sober-curious lifestyle continues to trend, More or Less is here to restock all your bar cart needs--sans alcohol, of course. — Michaela Stock
THRIFT/CONSIGNMENT: DITTO UPSCALE RESALE
This shop in Holland is a treasure chest of furniture, clothing, and accessories. Shopping at Ditto isn’t your usual secondhand shopping experience; from well organized store displays to racks of gently used clothing, Ditto intersects thrift and consignment. They constantly refresh their items too, making it the perfect stop to add on your regular route of errands (you know, errands...getting coffee and going thrifting). — Michaela Stock
Unlimited walk-in open play or lane reservation for up to 10 people/2 hours.
/grandrapids
Mexican Cuisine
Tacos Tortas Quesadillas Burritos
Quesabirrias Tamales Tostadas
None of the other categories would exist if it weren’t for the people behind them.
The bartenders, barbers, chefs, tattoo artists, veterinarians—these are the people who don’t just provide a service, but we form a connection with them, whether it’s face to face or through their work. We grow to trust them, and that’s what these votes represent; who does West Michigan trust?
For one thing, West Michigan loves Chef Jenna Arcidiacano, not only thanks to her delicious cooking at Amore Trattoria, but the fact she continues to give back to the community in so many ways. But Oscar Moreno from MeXo has quickly become another familiar face on the scene, serving up innovative Mexican cuisine with pre-
Hispanic influence. Scotty Petersen of The Unicorn Tavern has made waves too, thanks to unique food and a big personality.
West Michigan also loves Henchmen House, winning barber shop once again this year (though Revue’s editor frequents a finalist, Foremost). Same goes for Lilith’s Liar, who once again took top spot for Salon.
Although, we’ve also seen some
changeups, such as Elise Coates snagging first place for Photographer, Modern Day Collective taking home the gold for Event Planners, and Sovereign Arms Tattoo Co. moving into the top spot for Tattoo Shop.
There could be 1,000 Services & People categories, and we still wouldn’t be able to reward everyone in West Michigan who makes our community special.
*Each category lists the winner with two finalists listed alphabetically below.
BARBER SHOP
Henchmen House Barbershop thehenchmenhouse.com
Foremost Barbershop
Locals Barbershop
BED & BREAKFAST
Peaches Bed & Breakfast peachesinn.com
The Leonard at Logan House The Parsonage Inn
CATERING
Two Scott’s BBQ twoscottsbbq.com
Kangaroo Kitchen & Catering
Martha’s Catering
CHEF
Amore Trattoria Italiana
- Jenna Arcidiacono amoretrattoriaitaliana.com
Oscar Moreno - MeXo
Scotty Petersen - The Unicorn Tavern
DOG GROOMER
Fido & Stitch fidoandstitch.com
North Bark Groomers
Whiskers Resort & Pet Spa
EVENT PLANNER
Modern Day Collective events.moderndaycollective.com
Luxe Events
Valley & Oak Events
FITNESS CLUB/GYM
MVP Sports Clubs mvpsportsclubs.com
Grand Rapids City Gym Lunar Cycle
INTERIOR DESIGNER
Delight in Designs delightindesigns.com
Jean Stoffer Design
- Jean Stoffer
Kathryn Chaplow Interior Design
- Kathryn Chaplow
LAW FIRM
Warner Norcross + Judd wnjy.com
Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Varnum LLP
PHOTOGRAPHER
Elise Coates elisemariejpg.com
Jake Orr
Phern Cain (The Wild Phern)
REALTOR
Kristin Carlson - Keller Williams behometeamgr.com
Garrett Senters - RE/MAX Lakeshore
Terry Coeling - Coldwell Banker
SALON
Lilith’s Lair lilithslairgr.com
Raven Mane Smash Salon
SPA
Woodhouse Day Spa woodhousespas.com
Ethos Day Spa
Salus Wellness Spa
Henchmen House Barbershop. COURTESY
TATTOO SHOP
Sovereign Arms Tattoo Co.
sovereignarmstattoogr.com
Balm Tattooing
Meeting House Tattoo
VET/ANIMAL CLINIC
Family Friends Veterinary Hospital familyfriendsvet.com
Eastown
YOGA
Funky Buddha Yoga Hothouse yogahothouse.com
AM Yoga Kula Yoga
*Locally Raised Beef and Pork Prime Cut Steaks - Fresh Chicken Homemade Kielbasa - Sausages Bacon - Jerky
*Party Trays Made-to-Order
Tim & Teresa Sobie 3450 Remembrance Rd
ARTS & ATTRACTIONS
Coming in at number one in the Art Museum/Gallery category this year is Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, which also placed as a finalist for large-scale attraction, and it’s easy to see why. From impressive art integrated thoughtfully into the natural environment (as well as a large modern gallery indoors) to the gorgeous, perfectly peaceful gardens, Meijer Gardens is a place to recharge and reflect.
Meanwhile, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre took first place for the Theatre/ Performing Arts category once again, which is no surprise. The talent on display—from set design to costuming to acting and more—is top-notch, and the season lineups always strike a great balance between well-loved and new
and exciting.
If the 1950s font used on its website weren’t hint enough, Clique Lanes is a delightfully retro place. It’s not that it’s stood still in the 65+ years since it’s opening; it’s invested in new technology, but it’s done so without sacrificing the nostalgic atmosphere.
If destroying dishes is wrong, we don’t want to be right. Indulge your darker impulses at Break Room Therapy, where
you can take out your stress on TVs, computer monitors, and more. Bad day at work? Smash a crowbar into a printer? Better here than in the office, right? Celebration Cinema – Grand Rapids North has all we ask of the movies: comfortable, adjustable chairs; delicious popcorn; big screens; great sound; and cold beer. Oh, and it also has the only IMAX in GR.
*Each category lists the winner with two finalists listed alphabetically below.
ART MUSEUM/GALLERY
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park meijergardens.org
Grand Rapids Art Museum Muskegon Museum of Art
BOWLING
Clique Lanes cliquelanes.com
Northfield Lanes Wengers Bowl
CASINO
Gun Lake Casino gunlakecasino.com
FireKeepers Casino Hotel Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort
EVENT/PARTY
Festival of the Arts festivalgr.org
Hipster Disco World of Winter
GROUP ACTIVITY
Break Room Therapy breakroomtherapy.com
Fowling Warehouse Woodrows DuckPin
LARGE SCALE ATTRACTION
John Ball Zoo jbzoo.org
Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
MOVIE THEATER
Celebration Cinema - Grand Rapids North celebrationcinema.com
Studio Park Wealthy Theatre
SMALL SCALE ATTRACTION
Happy Cat Café happycatgr.com
Break Room Therapy Second Chance Cats
THEATRE/ PERFORMANCE ARTS
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre grct.org
Broadway Grand Rapids Circle Theatre
Happy Cat Cafe, John Ball Zoo.
This August, Grand Rapids Ballet’s Summer Series sees the venerable organization—Michigan’s only professional classical ballet company— performing in Petoskey, at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts; outside Grand Rapids’ Peter Martin Wege Theater as part of the third annual Summer Dance Festival; and at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, in an effort to celebrate dance in an accessible, community-driven way.
“When we get opportunities to spread the love of dance, we take them,” said Meghan Dolata, Marketing Director of the ballet. By performing at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts, two benefits are secured: an expansion of the ballet’s network and an opportunity to perform for people who might never travel to the Grand Rapids area. The program will include Jump Cut, choreographed by Penny Saunders, and Le Grand Jazz!, choreographed by Darrell Grand-Moultrie.
By performing outdoors as part of the Summer Dance Festival, the ballet instantly removes, as if with a wave of a wand, barriers that might prevent people from seeing ballet: cost (the festival is free); formality (you don’t have to give two seconds’ consideration to what you’re wearing; it’s August, and hot);
EN POINTE EN PLEIN AIR:
GR Ballet’s Summer Series
time constraints (you can arrive partway through a performance without getting glared at); and more. Plus, there’ll be food, wine, and beer for sale.
“The summers in Michigan are so beautiful,” Dolata said. “Taking advantage of that allows us to cultivate more of a festival vibe.” And, as it’s a festival, other acts will be performing, too, showcasing the broad range of dance; as of this writing, 15 acts were lined up, and more additions were possible. “Dance is about much more than ballet,” she said. “There are all sorts of ways to move.”
The ballet’s had a longstanding partnership with Frederik Meijer Gardens. The August 27 performance will include Le Grand Jazz!, a high-energy, lively work set to classic and contemporary jazz, as well as additional pieces. “To have a performance there is always so special,” she said. “It’s a thrilling evening. We all look forward to it.”
Performing outdoors is not the same as performing indoors. An elaborate set that works well inside might not work at all outside; lighting elements, so effective indoors, might be lost in bright sunlight. The ballet carefully considers how best to take advantage of each venue’s opportunities in order to present work that’s beautiful, moving, and exciting.
“Our dancers work tirelessly day in and day out to put on the best performances possible,” Dolata said. “It’s important for us to showcase how versatile dance can be, and the summer series allows us to do that.” She’s proud to be in Grand Rapids: proud of what a great city it is, and how focused it is on the arts. She sees the ballet’s role within the city to spread joy; in particular, to spread it through dance and opportunity.
To those who’ve never seen a live performance, she encourages them to
| by John Kissane
give it a try. “There’s nothing quite like a live performance,” she said. “You get to see these dances in real time—you get to feel their passion, even their connection to each other.” Her voice grew warmer as she described how powerful and uplifting those moments are. “They’re dancing and moving and creating right there in front of you. It’s like a picture coming together.” ■
GRAND RAPIDS BALLET grballet.com
GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Aug. 17
SUMMER DANCE FESTIVAL, Aug. 23-24
FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS, Aug. 27
Grand Rapids
RISE AND SHINE: CreativeMornings GR
| by John Kissane
"Is carpet fun?"
The answer, Yang Kim said, is that it can be.
She was speaking at UICA, at an event hosted by CreativeMornings GR. Kim has worked at Herman Miller and Peopledesign, where she is creative director. Here, onstage, she was talking in an understated and practical way about the transformational power of creativity and about how to establish a flow.
Both visitors to Grand Rapids and its residents have encountered Peopledesign’s work: the company designed ArtPrize’s instantly recognizable logo, and, more recently, was responsible for Grand Rapids Public Library’s redesign. But the lessons she shared with her audience applied equally well to the smallest project as to the largest.
“Everything can be interesting,” she said. “You just have to make it interesting.”
“Make it interesting” would serve well as CreativeMornings’s slogan. The organization was founded in 2008 by Tina Roth-Eisenberg. A series of monthly lectures, it expanded in time from her adopted home of Brooklyn and into Paris, Berlin, Mexico City, Milan, and more; today, over 215 cities hold chapters, including Grand Rapids.
Each month, CreativeMornings GR hosts an event. Some might come for the free breakfast; others, for the lecture. Still others come to network. Derek Mohr, the chapter’s Community Outreach Coordinator, has seen the benefits of networking firsthand, as creative types find one another. In time, new acquaintances become trusted partners.
But the lectures are the primary draw. Given our routines, cities can seem to shrink—what once was enormous becomes reduced to our workplace, the grocery store, the gas station we most often frequent. One of the gifts CreativeMornings provides is the reminder that where we live has more to offer than we realize; that it’s peopled with individuals we haven’t met, who are doing things we hadn’t known. In fact, you may not be aware CreativeMornings has already hosted dozens of events over the years.
By the time this article sees publication, the GRAM will have hosted a lecture on the theme of trust. The lecturers: Leigh Ann Cobb and Hannah Yesmunt, of Andro. After 18 months of exploration, research, and prototyping, they’re launching their swimwear line.
A legion of people consulting crystal balls couldn’t have predicted it. Cobb, who studied drawing and printmaking at KCAD, works as a commercial photographer. Yesmunt studied French at GVSU and is a logistics specialist at Wolverine Worldwide. Neither of these backgrounds suggests a future in swimwear design. But they saw a need.
That need: comfort. “I grew up on a lake, and every swimsuit I’ve ever had has been flimsy, cheap, and uncomfortable,” Cobb said in an interview for KCAD’s website. She had a vision of something better–and that something had to reflect her queer identity.
It’s one thing to want a better bathing suit. It’s another thing entirely to create it, and not just create it, but to create a line of bathing suits, so that other people, badly served by the existing market, can feel comfortable themselves. To launch on such a project requires trust—in yourself, in your vision, and in your community. Allowing members of the community to learn how they cultivated that trust, and how they used it to drive meaningful change, is exactly the sort of thing CreativeMornings was founded for.
Anyone seeking to learn more about the chapter and its plans for August can do so via social media pages (in particular, those on Instagram and Facebook). There’s a whole lot of content, including previously recorded lectures. But Mohr is quick to point out the benefits of showing up.
“There’s nothing like being there with other people,” he said. Besides, there’s breakfast. Who doesn’t like breakfast? ■
CREATIVEMORNINGS GR creativemornings.com
CreativeMornings GR. PHOTOS BY LEIGH ANN COBB PHOTOGRAPHY
AUGUST ARTS Calendar
It’s 2024 and arts organizations in West Michigan are thriving, with incredible, jam-packed seasons of art, conversations, fun and community involvement. This month, you can visit the theaters for big Broadway shows and intimate plays, listen to symphonies play the classics and modern pieces, and head to local museums for a variety of stunning art. Check it out.
AVENUE FOR THE ARTS avenueforthearts.org
3RD THURSDAYS, Aug. 15
BARN THEATRE
13351 West M-96, Augusta barntheatreschool.org
BOEING BOEING, July 23-Aug. 4
OKLAHOMA!, Aug. 6-18
HEARTBREAK HOTEL, Aug. 20-Sept. 1
CIRCLE THEATRE
1703 Robinson Road SE, Grand Rapids circletheatre.org
MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT, July 11-27
DEOS CONTEMPORARY BALLET
deosballet.com
COLLIDE SERIES, Aug. 2-4
FACE OFF THEATRE
359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo faceofftheatre.com
BAMBILAND, Aug. 16-25
GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM
101 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids artmuseumgr.org
MARIO MOORE: REVOLUTIONARY TIMES, Through Aug. 18
THE OUTWIN: AMERICAN PORTRAITURE TODAY, Through Sept. 8
AMERICAN GLASS NOW, Through Sept. 8
JESS T. DUGAN: LOOK AT ME LIKE YOU LOVE ME, Through Oct.
GRAND RAPIDS BALLET
341 Ellsworth Ave. SW, Grand Rapids grballet.com
GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Aug. 17
SUMMER DANCE FESTIVAL, Aug. 23-24
FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS, Aug. 27
GRAND RAPIDS SYMPHONY
300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids grsymphony.org
BLACK VIOLIN AT FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS, Aug. 1
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERT SERIES AT SULLIVAN FIELD, Aug. 3
HOPE REPERTORY THEATRE
141 E. 12th St., Holland hope.edu
DETROIT ’67, Aug. 1-2
DRAGON PACK SNACK ATTACK, Through July 27
BIG FISH, Aug. 3
KALAMAZOO INSTITUTE OF ARTS
314 South Park St., Kalamazoo kiarts.org
CLEARLY INDIGENOUS: NATIVE VISIONS REIMAGINED IN GLASS, Through Aug. 25
2024 WEST MICHIGAN AREA SHOW, Through Aug. 18 THE ANNIVERSARY SHOW, Through Sept. 1
LOWELLARTS
223 W. Main St., Lowell lowellartsmi.org
GR FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS, REGIONAL EXHIBITION: AWARDS SHOW, July 6-Aug. 10
MASON STREET WAREHOUSE
400 Culver St., Saugatuck sc4a.org
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, Aug. 10
MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART
296 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon muskegonartmuseum.org
QUILTS: THE ARTISTRY OF HOME, Through Sept. 29
JOHN STEUART CURRY: WEATHERING THE STORM, Through Sept. 2
