Category Archives: Entertainment

Expansive, impressive Ai Weiwei exhibit opens at Meijer Gardens

January 25, 2017Entertainment, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, PoliticsAi Weiwei, David S. Hooker, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Lesson Gallery, Meijer GardensJoanne

Ai Weiwei’s long-anticipated show at Meijer Gardens will open to the public on Jan. 27. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Two years after giving the West Michigan arts community a beautifully patinaed example of the power of renowned Chinese artist and social activist Ai Weiwei, in the form of the stunning “Iron Tree”, the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park will open to the public its long-anticipated exhibition Ai Weiwei at Meijer Gardens: Natural State on Friday, Jan. 27.

Ai Weiwei’s “Iron Tree” has been on display for two years but now an extensive exhibition of the artist’s works will be on view. (Supplied)

In total, more than 30 works — including iconic works from the artist’s repertoire and work specific to Meijer Gardens — will be sited in galleries, conservatories, public spaces and the auditorium.

“I am looking forward to the exhibition at Meijer Gardens and to share my work and ideas in this unique place,” Ai Weiwei said in supplied material. “I appreciate that they are so committed to my work; they even acquired Iron Tree in 2015. This opportunity to bring an exhibition to Michigan is something I greatly anticipate.”

The public should also “greatly anticipate” the show as well, according to David S. Hooker, President and CEO of Meijer Gardens — for purely artistic enjoyment as well as intersecting with the artist’s unique political and social esthetic.

“Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is pleased beyond words to host this major exhibition, Ai Weiwei’s first ever in a botanical garden or sculpture park,” Hooker said in supplied material. “It will be an opportunity for hundreds of thousands of people to enjoy his vision and boundless creativity … (and his) compelling life story that is told through his art.”

The title of the exhibition — “Natural State” — underscores the relationship between the artist and the venue, according to supplied material, combining the artist’s use of the natural materials in his works, set in the often natural settings of Meijer Gardens, but pushing those natural materials into unique states of being: personal, historical, social, political. Materials such as ceramics, silk, bamboo and wood become symbols of Ai Weiwei’s views on humankind in his native China and around the world.

Ai Weiwei’s “Taifeng” will be part of a series of natural material sculptures on display. (Supplied)

The exhibition will use four gallery spaces, four indoor conservatories, the auditorium and numerous public areas at Meijer Gardens. And many of the works will be placed not only in the artist’s unique vision but in context to their surroundings, including having five monumental sculptural bodies derived from ancient Chinese mythological text — “Taifeng”, “Dijiang”, “Shuyu”, “Mingshe” and “Shusi” — shown in a “scenic corridor” outside the normal gallery spaces.

“Having worked with Ai Weiwei for many years and in venues across the world, it has been a pleasure to see him focused on the very distinguished and unique circumstances of Meijer Gardens,” Greg Hilty, curatorial director of Lisson Gallery, said in supplied material. “The work carefully selected by the artist and thoughtfully installed at this venue offers a truly memorable experience.”

Lisson Gallery, out of New York City, collaborated with Meijer Gardens on the Ai Weiwei exhibition, as it did with a previous show of the works of Anish Kapoor.

A full list of exhibition activities can be found at www.meijergardens.org/aww

For videos associated with the show, visit Meijer Gardens on YouTube.

Grand Valley Writers Series to feature two from GVSU

January 25, 2017EntertainmentAmorak Huey, Caitlin Horrocks, Creative Writing Fellowship, Grand Valley State University, Grand Valley Writers SeriesJoanne

The Grand Valley Writers Series, which brings award-winning authors from around the world to campus each year, continues for the winter season with a two-for-one showcase of works by two Grand Valley faculty members: Amorak Huey and Caitlin Horrocks.

Grand Valley Writers Series presents Amorak Huey and Caitlin Horrocks Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 6 – 8 p.m., Cook-DeWitt Center located on the Grand Valley State University’s Allendale campus.

Huey, assistant professor of writing at Grand Valley, is the author of the poetry collection Ha Ha Thump (2015) and the chapbook The Insomniac Circus (2014). His poetry and essays have appeared in The Best American Poetry 2012, The Southern Review, Brevity, Poet Lore, The Collagist, The Cincinnati Review, and many other print and digital journals. The written works of Huey recently received prestigious validation when he was one of 37 authors out of a pool of 1,800 to be awarded a Creative Writing Fellowship in poetry from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA). Huey said the $25,000 fellowship grant will provide him with the time and space needed to create, revise, conduct research and connect with his readers. Before coming to Grand Valley, Huey worked for more than a decade as an editor and reporter for newspapers in Florida, Kentucky and Michigan, including serving as assistant sports editor for Grand Rapids Press.

Horrocks, associate professor of writing, is a writer of fiction and creative nonfiction. Her debut story collection, This Is Not Your City, was named a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice, a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, and one of the best books of the year by the San Francisco Chronicle. Her stories and essays have appeared in anthologies, such as The Best American Short Stories, The PEN/O, Henry Prize Stories, and True Stories, among others. Horrocks’ works have also appeared in journals, such as The New Yorker, The Paris Review, The Atlantic, and One Story. She also currently serves as the fiction editor of The Kenyon Review while crafting a novel and a second story collection.

On the shelf: ‘Okay for Now’ by Gary Schmidt

January 24, 2017Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentBook review, Gary Schmidt, Grand Rapids Public Library, Jeanne Clemo, Okay for Now, on the shelfJoanne

A good, hearty stew prepared with the right combination of vegetables, spices and meat can combine into a gourmet winter delight, tasty from the first bite to the last. Gary Schmidt’s youth book Okay for Now is like wonderful winter comfort food. The ingredients of this story combine to produce a most hearty read, from the first page to the last.

Fourteen-year-old Doug Swieteck has no choice when his family relocates to a small town in upstate New York. His troubles stay with him, like a bad aftertaste. His emotionally abusive father, his delinquent brother, and a reality he soon loves to hate. The people who surround him are so often completely caught up in their own pain that they are unable to reach out to him. Doug meets townspeople who take a special interest in him, and in turn, he begins to take an interest in others. He stumbles into the local library where expensive Audubon art prints and drawing lessons are savory tidbits that begin to transform his life, forever.

The author artfully stirs together an emotional but satisfying mix of humor, pain, redemption and hope into a memorable story. This combination of humor and pain create that same scrumptious blend of a sweet and salty dish.

Okay for Now is one of those books that cross generational lines. After you devour this novel, please recommend it to a teen you know, perhaps a grandchild or a friend — you will be full and completely satisfied!

On the shelf: ‘At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream’, by Wade Rouse

January 23, 2017EntertainmentAt Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream, Book review, Grand Rapids Public Library, Marie Mulder, on the shelf, Wade RouseJoanne

By Marie Mulder, GRPL-Main

After chronicling his escape from rural life growing up gay in the Ozarks with his memoir, America’s Boy, Wade Rouse finds himself on three acres in the middle of the woods just outside of Saugatuck, Michigan. While vacationing in Michigan, Wade and his partner, Gary, decide on the spot to leave their hectic urban life in St. Louis, build a home and create Dz Wade’s Walden.

Dz Wade faces raccoons (literally head-on), wild turkeys (which he comes to adore), his addiction to tanning, cable and lip gloss and his real relationship with Gary. In the end, he finds himself disgusted with the tourists who act . . . exactly like he did when he first arrived in the country. Reading and re-reading Thoreau, Wade sets out to learn 10 life lessons along the same path as Walden.

At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream is a funny, heartfelt, sincere memoir that will appeal to anyone, gay or straight, who finds themselves outside of their comfort zone.

GVSU presents Guest Artist Recital: Yoo Jin Noh, piano on Jan. 31

January 22, 2017Entertainment, Upcoming EventsGVSU, Matthew Makowski, Piano, Yoo Jin NohJoanne

By Matthew Makowski, Grand Valley State University

Yoo Jin Noh made her debut with the Cape Ann Symphony Orchestra as a soloist in 2017. She also performed at the United Nation Headquarters in New York City for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2015. Her recent performances include appearances with the Quincy Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Halfner Symphony and a solo recital at Azusa Pacific University.

Noh, who was born blind, pursued her interest in music in early childhood and began her piano study at age 14. Despite her late start, she has received many awards from local competitions. In 2005, she received a grand prize at the U.S. String and Piano Concours of Hymn and played at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall in New York City. In 2008, she received the VSA Young Soloist Award and was invited to play at the National Federation of the Blind Convention.

What: Yoo Jin Noh, piano
When: Jan. 31, at 7:30 pm
Where: Sherman Van Solkema Hall (room 1325), Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts, Allendale Campus

‘Fashion and Tea’ vintage fashion returns to Grand Rapids Public Museum

January 20, 2017Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentFashion and Tea, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Kate MooreJoanne

By Kate Moore

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) kicks off its 2017 Fashion and Tea programming on Saturday, Feb. 11. Learn about fashion, customs and culture from the Civil War Era into the 20th Century and explore the Museum’s Education Collection of vintage clothing, down to the tiniest detail.

The programs will begin in the Streets of Old Grand Rapids exhibition which transports guests back in time to the Victorian era. The program will continue in a classroom at the Museum where guests can indulge in sweet treats and tea, while enjoying a visual feast.

Fashion and Tea programs will be held from 2-4 pm. Additional Fashion and Tea program dates are March 4, April 22 and May 13. Tickets are $15 for non-members and $13 for members. Tickets are limited, purchase early online at www.grpm.org, by phone at 616.456.3977 or at the Museum’s front desk.

On the shelf: ‘American Salvage’ by Bonnie Jo Campbell

January 20, 2017Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentAmerican Salvage, Bonnie Jo Campbell, Book review, Grand Rapids Public Library, on the shelfJoanne

By Tim Gleisner, GRPL Main

Imagine a world of broken down cars, underemployed people, dreams deferred, and you will get an idea of the National Book Award finalist American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell — a collection of short stories of various characters and settings strewn across Southwestern Michigan. Within these stories and characters are the forgotten people, the people consumed with just getting by, with finding enough work to put food on the table, finding enough love to get through another day.

American Salvage shares its title with one of these stories. Within this story one is taken to a junkyard on the outskirts of Kalamazoo. Here the reader is introduced to the Junkman King and his nephew Johnny. They take in only American cars to be scrapped and sell the pieces off for a profit.

Each car is broken down. Little love or attention has been given to these machines in a long time. Yet, within each vehicle are parts that are still like new, that still have value in the eyes of the Junkman and his nephew. Much like the cars, the people throughout this book are flawed, beaten down, and beat up by the many valleys of life. And, much like the vehicles they strip each person still has a redeeming part of them that is virtually left untouched by the struggles of life. It is these parts that the author, Bonnie Jo Campbell, skillfully unveils and reveals to the attentive reader.

Registration for Science Night at Grand Rapids Public Museum now open

January 19, 2017Area Education, Education, Entertainment, Kids Activities, Local History, Tech Trends, Upcoming EventsGrand Rapids Public MuseumJoanne

The Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Supplied)

WKTV Staff

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM), recently announced that registration is open to host a science booth at this year’s Science Night at the Museum, taking place on Tuesday, April 18.

GRPM is inviting local and regional researchers, students and faculty to host a hands-on table display related to their research or field of study, according to supplied material the event will be from 5 to 8 p.m. The vision is to have lab groups or individuals putting together innovative ways to engage the public and communicate their research to the community.

A cash award will be given for the most innovative and hands-on interpretation of their research. One winner will be chosen by public vote and a second chosen by the Museum’s education staff.

Applications are open through Feb. 10 and can be found at grpm.org/ScienceNight

Work of Herman Miller designer featured in exhibit at Saugatuck Center for the Arts

January 19, 2017EntertainmentAlexander Girard, Herman Miller, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, Textile PlayJoanne

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By Angela Peavey

Saugatuck Center for the Arts

The Saugatuck Center for the Arts opens its 15th anniversary season with an exhibition featuring works by designer Alexander Girard. “TEXTILE PLAY: The Magnificent Eye of Alexander Girard” opens Jan.27 and runs through Mar. 24.

The opening reception for the show is Friday, Jan. 27 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. and is free to the public. The exhibition is open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and during evening events.

“We’re thrilled to bring this visually stunning exhibition to the West Michigan community,” said SCA Executive Director Kristin Armstrong. “It shares wonderful stories about Girard’s fascination with color and pattern – stories that fit squarely into our current conversations about the intersection of math, design thinking, and art.”

Armstrong noted that the SCA worked with both the Herman Miller archives as well as private collectors to gather works for the exhibition.

Girard was one of the most meaningful textile designers and interior architects of the Twentieth Century. He had a gifted eye for both the extraordinary and the little details of the world.

As the manager of the Material and Textile Department at Herman Miller, the American-Italian designer created more than 300 different graphic designs in 20 years. Every one of his designs expresses Girard’s affection for strong colors and abstract forms. His textile designs range from brightly colored, floral elements to monochromatic patterns – always including a playful element. Seemingly simple stripes, circles, and triangles became wonderful patterns – and their influence is still felt today.

“Textile Play” features Girard fabrics, screen prints, furniture, and books from Herman Miller’s archives and local collectors. The pieces, along with stories about Girard’s design process, celebrate his vision for using “everyday” shapes and objects, strong colors, and elements from pop art and folk art to create a rich, playful world that continues to be his lasting legacy.

A series of interdisciplinary educational opportunities related to the exhibition are available for children and adults throughout the run of the show. For more about those events or the show, visit www.sc4a.org. The Saugatuck Center for the Arts is located at 400 Culver St., Saugatuck.

St. Cecilia’s next chamber music concert features works by Brahms, Fauré

January 19, 2017Entertainment, Local EntertainmentAlessio Bax, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, St. Cecilia Music CenterJoanne

Pianist Alessio Bax. (Supplied/Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

WKTV Staff

It will be an evening of chamber music master musicians playing chamber music master composers Jan. 26 as St. Cecilia Music Center’s 2016-17 Chamber Music Series continues with four of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s brightest stars playing works by Brahms, Fauré.

The artists scheduled to perform are pianist Alessio Bax, violinists Ani Kavafian and Yura Lee and cellist Paul Watkins, each of whom are among the most respected — and most exuberant — chamber musicians in the world, in the opinion of St. Cecilia executive director Cathy Holbrook.

“The many artists from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center are some of the most fun and outgoing people I’ve met,” Holbrook said in supplied material. “And this exuberance shines through during their exquisite performances. I’m very excited to have these four artists here and to introduce them, up close and personal in the intimate Royce Auditorium.”

The audience will be able to hear and see their skill and exuberance when the four takes the stage Thursday, Jan 26, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available.

The program includes Brahms’ “Scherzo, WoO 2, from ‘F-A-E’ Sonata for Violin and Piano”; Fauré’s “Quartet No. 2 in G minor for Piano, Violin, Viola and Cello”; and Brahms’ “Quartet No. 2 in A Major for Piano, Violin, Viola and Cello”.

See Alessio Bax perform the original piano solo version of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmxezP1xzNk

This season’s St. Cecilia Chamber Music Series will conclude March 16, with a program titled “French Virtuosity” and featuring Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center co-artistic director and pianist Wu Han performing with colleagues Kristin Lee, Yura Lee and Arnaud Sussman on violins, Richard O’Neill on viola and Nicholas Canellakis on cello.

On Jan 26, there will be a pre-concert wine and hors d’oeurves reception from 6-7 p.m. (for a $15 fee), a pre-concert artist talk with the musicians performing that evening moderated by Grand Rapids Symphony President Peter Kjome from 7-7:30 p.m., and a complimentary post-concert wine, coffee and dessert reception for the audience to meet the artists and obtain signed CDs.

For more information and tickets, call 616-459-2224 or visit scmc-onlilne.org.

‘An Unquiet Mind’ by Kay Redfield Jamison

January 18, 2017Books, EntertainmentAn Unquiet Mind, Bipolar, Book review, Grand Rapids Public Library, Lisa Boss, Manic depressive, on the shelfJoanne

By Lisa Boss, GR Main Library

A beautiful, compelling memoir about an exceptional life and a relentless disease, Jamison’s fast-paced story of her struggle and triumph over manic depression opens a window onto a mysterious and ever increasing diagnosis. If you have ever wondered why someone with a serious mental disorder won’t take their medication, Jamison hits this issue full-on, as she weighs the euphoric seductions of the hypomanias against the sometimes punitive and toxic effects of the drugs.

Her memoir is especially fascinating because she has a dual perspective; having studied and become an academic expert in Bipolar Illness and Mood Disorder, while experiencing the devastating effects of it in her own life. Oliver Sacks says about An Unquiet Mind, that “It stands alone in the literature of manic-depression for its bravery, brilliance and beauty.”

Grand Rapids Pops performs ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ in concert Jan. 27-28

January 17, 2017Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentGrand Rapids Pops, Grand Rapids Symphony, Harry Potter, jeffrey kaczmarczykJoanne

By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk

The Grand Rapids Pops will perform Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert with three performances Jan. 27-28 in DeVos Performance Hall as part of the Harry Potter Film Concert Series. The concert will feature the Grand Rapids Symphony performing, to picture, every note from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Audiences will be able to relive the magic of the film in high-definition on a 40-foot screen while hearing the orchestra perform John Williams’s unforgettable score.

CineConcerts and Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced the Harry Potter Film Concert Series, a new global concert tour celebrating the Harry Potter films, in April 2016. The Harry Potter Film Concert that kicked off in June 2016 is another magical experience from J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World.

Justin Freer, President of CineConcerts and Producer/Conductor of the Harry Potter Film Concert Series explains, “The Harry Potter film series is one of those once-in-a-lifetime cultural phenomena that continues to delight millions of fans around the world,” It is with great pleasure that we introduce for the first time ever an opportunity to experience the award-winning music scores played live by a symphony orchestra, all while the beloved film is simultaneously projected onto the big screen. It will be an unforgettable event.”

Freer has quickly become one of the most sought-after conductors of film music with a long list of full symphonic live to projection projects. He has appeared with some of the world’s leading orchestras including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony and Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

For more information on the Harry Potter Film Concert Series, please go here.

Tickets

Tickets for Harry Potter in Concert start at $18 and are available at the GRS ticket office, weekdays 9 am-5 pm at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across from the Calder Plaza), or by calling 616.454.9451 x 4. (Phone orders will be charged a $2 per ticket service fee, with a $12 maximum.)

Tickets are available at the DeVos Place box office, weekdays 10 am-6 pm or on the day of the concert beginning two hours prior to the performance. Tickets also may be purchased online at GRSymphony.org.

Grand Ole Opry meets American Bandstand in national tour of ‘Pump Boys and Dinettes’

January 17, 2017Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentKathy Richards, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Van Singel Fine Arts Center, vsfacJoanne

Have some pie with that music in “Pump Boys and the Dinettes”

By Kathy Richards

Van Singel Fine Arts Center

Set in a gas station and diner, the “Double Cupp Diner,” on Highway 57 somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna, NC, “Pump Boys and Dinettes” stars four gas station attendants (L.M., Jackson, Jim, and Eddie) and two waitresses (Prudie and Rhetta Cupp) who perform onstage with guitars, a piano, bass and, yes, even kitchen utensils. The music is a quirky, highly imaginative blend of country, rock-a-billy, swing, rock and roll, and jazz. Best of all, this terrifically fun national tour is set to make a pit stop at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center Jan. 26.

On February 4, 1982, “Pump Boys and Dinettes,” boasted as the “friendliest, happiest show in town,” opened on Broadway at the Princess Theatre. There had been nothing like it before and audiences and critics fell in love with its downhome, earthy celebration of friendship and the simple things in life. With songs that celebrated the gifts of friendship, vacations, hard work, fishing, and color TV, “Pump Boys and Dinettes” garnered three Tony Award nominations and two Drama Desk Award nominations. One of the songs from the show, “The Night Dolly Parton Was Almost Mine,” reached number 67 on the Hot Country Songs charts.

“Pump Boys and Dinettes” was created by two friends, Jim Wann and Mark Hardwick, who experimented with the concept while playing five nights a week at a New York steakhouse. The idea took off from there and with the help of contributors and fellow performers; John Foley, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, and John Schimmel, they made their way from Off-Broadway to the bright lights of Broadway and on to London’s West End. Subsequent productions have been seen across the country including long runs in Chicago and Minneapolis, and an award-winning run at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Pumping out the tunes in “Pump Boys and the Dinettes.”

“Pump Boys and Dinettes” will be at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Reserved seats are $42.50 for adults and $22.50 for students (high school and younger). Reserve tickets in person at the Van Singel box office or by calling 616-878-6800, Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. or by visiting www.vsfac.com.

The Van Singel Fine Arts Center sits at the east end of the Byron Center High School complex, located at 8500 Burlingame SW, at the corner of 84th Street and Burlingame Avenue, in Byron Center, just 1.5 miles west of US-131. The Van Singel features free, easy parking and curbside handicap parking is available.

Film on government and the media kicks off SCA’s Real to Reel Film Series

January 16, 2017Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentAll Governments Lie, I.F. Stone, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, sc4aJoanne

WASHINGTON – JANUARY 16: US President Barack Obama (L) former President Bill Clinton (C) and former President George W. Bush (R) walk to the Rose Garden to speak about relief for Haiti on Jan. 16, 2010 in Washington DC. President Obama spoke about how the American people can help in the recovery and rebuilding effort going forward in Haiti. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images. Photo supplied by Saugatuck Center for the Arts)

By Angela Peavey

Saugatuck Center for the Arts

The Saugatuck Center for the Arts’ Real to Reel Film Series kicks off this winter with a screening of “All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception, and the Spirit of I.F. Stone” by Jeremy Scahill, Glenn Greenwald, and Michael Moore. The screening is Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are general admission: $5 for members and $7 for future-members. Additional information is at sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

The “LA Times” said “All Governments Lie is,” “a damning indictment of mainstream media. Featuring footage from the last six decades, “All Governments Lie” is a timely, convincing documentary that will cause audiences to question what they see and read. It’s remarkably nonpartisan, revealing that the title does indeed refer to every government and politician, even those that we admire and align our ideals with.”

Vancouver-based filmmaker and TV news veteran Fred Peabody explores the life and legacy of the maverick American journalist I.F. Stone, whose long one-man crusade against government deception lives on in the work of such contemporary filmmakers and journalists as Laura Poitras, Glenn Greenwald, David Corn, and Matt Taibbi.

For decades, Stone took on the powers that be — from Red-baiting fearmonger Joe McCarthy to Lyndon Johnson to Ronald Reagan — in the pages of the tiny publication “I.F. Stone’s Weekly” (and later in the “New York Review of Books” and “The Nation”), most of it typed, two-finger style, by Stone himself. Working without the “access” to those in power so prized by establishment journalists, Stone took on the system regardless of personal risk. In “All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception, and the Spirit of I.F. Stone,” Peabody pays tribute to Stone’s work and looks at those who carry on his legacy today.

Not surprisingly, those contemporary journalists most influenced by Stone have had to work outside the mainstream. Peabody introduces us to men and women who are keeping Stone’s legacy alive by relentlessly speaking truth to power, despite the obstacles placed in their way: Jeremy Scahill, Glenn Greenwald, and Laura Poitras (who together founded “The Intercept” as a platform for the Snowden NSA leaks), Amy Goodman, David Corn, and Rolling Stone’s Matt Taibbi.

Don’t miss the film “Variety” calls an, “urgent and fascinating documentary.”

The Saugatuck Center for the Arts, located at 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. For more information about the SCA and upcoming events, visit www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Grand Rapids Pops offers a ‘Night of Spectacular Streisand’ with Ann Hampton Callaway

January 13, 2017EntertainmentAnn Hampton Callaway, Grand Rapids Pops, Grand Rapids Symphony, Hits of Barbra Streisand, jeffrey kaczmarczykJoanne

By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk

Great entertainers dedicate their life to perfecting a craft, but few succeed as spectacularly as Barbra Streisand.

Star of such films as The Way We Were, Funny Girl, and Hello Dolly, the voice of such iconic songs as People, You Don’t Bring Me Flowers, and Woman in Love, and producer, director, writer and star of the 1983 film Yentl, Streisand is one of a handful of entertainers ever to win, not only Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards, she’s the only entertainer also to win such awards as the Golden Globe, Peabody Award, Director Guild of America, National Medal of Arts, Kennedy Center Honor and Presidential Medal of Freedom along with the “grand slam” of American show business awards.

It takes a very special entertainer to fill Streisand’s shoes. One of the few who can is Ann Hampton Callaway.

The singer, songwriter, actress and TV host joins the Grand Rapids Pops for Hits of Barbra Streisand on Friday and Saturday Jan. 20-21 at 8 p.m. and on Sunday, Jan. 22, at 3 p.m. at DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW.

Associate Conductor John Varineau leads the Fox Motor Pops show with such Streisand hits as The Way We Were, Don’t Rain on my Parade, and many more.

Callaway most often is recognized as the songwriter and singer of The Nanny Named Fran, the theme song of the TV sitcom The Nanny starring Fran Drescher. But that just scratches the surface of a career that includes a 2000 Tony nomination for her performance in the hit Broadway musical, Swing!

Anne Hampton Calloway, courtesy her website

Callaway’s tribute show, Ann Hampton Callaway Sings the Streisand Songbook, earned her a MAC Award for Show of the Year as well as two Broadwayworld.com awards in 2014, one of which was Performer of the Year.

More importantly, Callaway is a longtime songwriter and collaborator with Barbra Streisand, who first reached out to her after hearing Callaway’s song, At the Same Time. With a few changes in lyrics, Streisand recorded it for her album, Higher Ground, and the song debuted nationally at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

That was the start of a beautiful friendship and musical collaboration. The Platinum Award-winning songwriter has since written several songs Streisand has performed and recorded including A Christmas Lullaby on Streisand’s holiday CDs, Barbra Streisand: The Classic Christmas Album and Christmas Memories.

Years later, Streisand asked Callaway to write lyrics to a melody by Rolf Lovland. The song became I’ve Dreamed of You, which Streisand sang to actor James Brolin at their wedding.

Callaway, who grew up listening to Streisand’s music, and who counts Streisand’s recording of People as one of her favorites, has collaborated with more than 30 of the world’s top orchestras and big bands. She has performed for President Bill Clinton in Washington D.C. and at President Gorbachev’s Youth Peace Summit in Moscow.

Callaway and her sister, Liz Callaway, a Tony nominee for her performances in Baby and Miss Saigon, have starred on Broadway in their two-woman show, Sibling Revelry featuring duets Streisand has sung with singers including Judy Garland and Donna Summer.

Callaway, a native of Chicago, made her Grand Rapids Symphony debut in January 2010 in a Pops Series show of songs from the Great American Songbook.

Tickets

Tickets start at $18 and are available at the GRS ticket office, weekdays 9 am-5 pm at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across from the Calder Plaza), or by calling 616.454.9451 x 4. (Phone orders will be charged a $2 per ticket service fee, with a $12 maximum.)

Tickets are available at the DeVos Place box office, weekdays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. or on the day of the concert beginning two hours prior to the performance. Tickets also may be purchased online at GRSymphony.org.

Full-time students of any age are able to purchase tickets for only $5 on the night of the concert by enrolling in the GRS Student Passport program. This is a MySymphony360 eligible concert.

On the shelf: ‘Reaching For A New Potential: A Life Guide for Adults with ADD From a Fellow Traveler’ by Oren Mason M.D.

January 10, 2017Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentBook review, Grand Rapids Public Library, Karen Thoms, M.D., on the shelf, Oren Mason, Reaching for a New PotentialJoanne

By Karen Thoms, Main Library

I was gently spouting off my views about kids with ADD to a patron. It turns out that she was a teacher with an opposing view. She gently challenged me to read Oren Mason’s book Reaching for a New Potential.

Immediately I put the book on hold at the library, and to say my views have completely changed after reading it would be an understatement. Mason is no ordinary medical doctor. He suffered with ADD for years and made a surprising discovery while reseaching ways to help his two sons. Not only did his sons have ADD but he had the very symptoms he was reading about. He started medication and all areas of his life began to improve. He began treating more ADD patients as his passion for the condition and its treatment developed. Within three years he switched his practice over to exclusively treating ADD patients in Grand Rapids, Mich.

It is against this personal and professional back drop that Mason wrote Reaching for a New

Potential. The book is divided into three parts. The first third deals with medications. After years of homeschooling in the 1980s and 1990s and reading about the surge in children being diagnosed with ADD and put on medication, I was certain that doctors were too quick to label kids as having ADD. This was the opinion I was sharing with the library patron a couple of months ago.

Mason refutes that opinion right out of the gate. He states that not only is ADD not over-diagnosed, he believes it is under-diagnosed! And not only that, he believes that medication should be the first line of treatment once a person has been properly diagnosed, not the last resort.

I am not one to quickly change my opinions but Mason’s easy-to-understand arguments made complete sense. Mason unequivocally recommends that medications are the most important step to normalize the life of a person with ADD. He spends two chapters talking about the kinds of medications used in the treatment of ADD, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. After a lengthy explanation, he had me convinced that generic drugs are usually not the way to go when treating ADD.

The middle of the book covers the care team a person with ADD needs to assemble to live the best life possible. He assumes that the patient is now on medication and asking what more they can do to help their brain function optimally. Many who are opposed to treating ADD with drugs start here.

Mason believes all these pieces — diet, exercise, sleep, no smoking and definitely no drinking the first two years of ADD treatment are extremely important. But the main reason that he doesn’t believe in starting here in the treatment of ADD is because he feels an unmedicated person with ADD is going to have a hard time addressing these pieces because most of them require planning — something in a short supply with ADD patients.

His other supports for the ADD patients toolbox are: good physicians, support groups, therapists, coaches, professional organizers and financial planners. The chapters in this middle third of the book will give the patient hope for change. The last chapter in this section, ‘Learning How to Treat Others’, will jumpstart the patient’s social skills, a skill the

loved ones of ADD sufferers will welcome.

The last third of the book delves into how the patient can fit in with other people in their lives especially at home and work. One whole chapter is devoted to the kinds of jobs that a person with ADD may be best suited for. The last two chapters of the book cover topics near and dear to the author’s heart: faith and healing.

At the end of the book Mason cautions against impatience with the healing process timeline. Getting the medicines tweaked correctly, gathering a support team and implementing the many suggestions for living in a world as a person with ADD will take years.

But he says, “The first milestone in the healing of ADD is the appearance of hope… Your hope is the reason I sat down to write this book. Far more important though, I suspect it’s the reason you finished it.”

GVSU presents Guest Artist Recital: Mika Sasaki, piano on Jan. 19

January 9, 2017Entertainment, Upcoming EventsConcert, GVSU, Matthew Makowski, Mika Sasaki, Piano, RecitalJoanne

By Matthew Makowski, Grand Valley State University

Pianist Mika Sasaki has established herself as a sought-after soloist, chamber musician and emerging educator. Since her concerto debut with the Sinfonia of Cambridge in the United Kingdom at the age of 7, she has appeared twice with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and more recently with the 92Y Orchestra in New York City. She has performed at venues including the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Peter J. Sharp Theater, Palazzo Chigi Saracini (Italy), Minato Mirai Hall (Japan) and Tokyo Bunka Kaikan (Japan). Her solo debut album “Obsidian: Mika Sasaki plays Clara Schumann” was released on Yarlung Records in 2016.

What: Guest Artist Recital: Mika Sasaki, piano
When: Jan. 19, at 7:30 pm
Where: Sherman Van Solkema Hall (room 1325), Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts, Allendale Campus

On the shelf: ‘No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels’, by Jay Dobyns

January 6, 2017Books, Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentBook review, Grand Rapids Public Library, Hell's Angels, Jay Dobyns, Lisa Boss, No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels, on the shelfJoanne

On the Shelf Book Review

By Lisa Boss, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main

When the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms decided to infiltrate the Arizona Hells Angels and clean house they knew it wouldn’t be an easy job. Lengthy, complicated and expensive (think tax dollars), this sting holds one’s attention, as we wait to see what will ultimately be revealed when the nets are pulled up.

The most interesting part for me was the state of mind of the author/agent, as he descends into a violent, criminal culture that he finds increasingly attractive. We follow the transformation of Jay Dobyns, ATF undercover agent, into Bird, aspiring Hells Angel, over a 2-year period.

It raises the questions that police, military and even psychologists face, when they are trying to infiltrate or befriend “the enemy”. How much of our personality and our values are reflections of the culture we are in, rather than uniquely “us”? Where do the criminals stop and we begin… Dobyns invokes the lure of the free, macho brotherhood at first, but as time passes he shows us that it doesn’t really age so well.

Some of it was unintentionally funny. Who knew that there is a very strict, fussy code to get into the Hells Angels, and that their charters are filled with rules and “do’s and don’ts”. One crazy scene involves an impromptu opportunity for ATF, when the Hells Angels stay at a swanky Vegas hotel, supposedly arranged by Bird’s mysterious boss. ATF then needs an out-of-town police operative to play this “Mr Big”, and at the last minute they have to get a substitute, with surprising results.

Things are not as they would seem on the surface, but then, they never are.

On the shelf: Warm Winter Reading

January 3, 2017Books, EntertainmentJoanne

By Laura Nawrot

Grand Rapids Main Library

There’s nothing like a cup of tea and a good book to warm the winter chill away.

An epic novel like “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell fits the bill for that. I don’t know many people who haven’t read this true classic of American literature, but for those who haven’t, now may be the time to pick it up. Images of the Old South during the Civil War come to life in the pages and voices of the unforgettable characters of Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler. Honestly, who has not associated the famous line, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn,” with the vision of Rhett fixing his hat to his head and crossing the threshold into the mist?Which brings up another bonus to reading this novel; a quality movie version to watch upon completion of the book! Ah, Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable…

If the 1,000+ pages of Mitchell’s classic is just too intimidating, (reading this book would probably get you through to spring), there’s always the shorter choice of light romantic fiction. Some “fluffy” authors that come to mind are Danielle Steel and Jude Deveraux.

“Someone to Love” by Jude Deveraux is something I read recently and her writing style and story line immediately brought Danielle Steel to mind. While reading books by these ladies definitely does not require the same amount of time as reading “Gone with the Wind,” they could bring just as much satisfaction if all you’re looking for is an afternoon or two of simple diversion from the snow.

On the shelf: ‘Life’, by Keith Richards

December 30, 2016Books, Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentBook review, Grand Rapids Public Library, Keith Richards, life, on the shelfJoanne

On the Shelf Book Review

By Lisa Boss, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main

The dark, working man’s engine of the Rolling Stones comes across as a modern Odysseus, relating his memoirs. Looking back at 66, he doesn’t pull many punches. All the Stones gossip is here, and the great musical history, but there’s also a wealth of unexpected human experience that adds up to a compelling memoir.

Born in 1943 near London, Keith grew up a mum’s boy, an only child with a pet mouse for company, who sang soprano, and was a devoted boy scout. Surrounded by a bevy of women — mum, aunts, and girl cousins — he “learned about women” early on, much to his later advantage. His grandfather, Gus, a former band leader, used to take him on outings to escape all those females, and sparked his passion for music. Richards combines a unique voice with the storyteller’s art. His ghost, James Fox, did an excellent job of organizing the material, so the result flows like a personal conversation.

The way-of-the-rock-star is known for egregious excess of course, and there were a lot of casualties along the way. Maybe he came out alive, but the betrayal of the 60’s creed of the “free” life, including his struggle with heroin, and the death of friends, relationships, and even his infant son, could hardly leave Richards unscathed. Why he should be left standing is a mystery. He has his theories, but Richards lets his life speak for itself.

Grand Rapids Pops ‘Video Games Live!’ set for Jan. 7

December 29, 2016EntertainmentFinal Fantasy, Grand Rapids Symphony, Halo, Mario, Video Games Live, ZeldaJoanne

By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk

Grand Rapids Symphony

Playing video games offers some of the most intensively, immersive experiences you can have. But unless you’re playing with a friend, it’s an experience you often have on your own.

Join the Grand Rapids Pops for Video Games Live! Jan. 7 at DeVos Performance Hall and enjoy the fun that comes with seeing some of the most successful video games of all time on the big screen, hearing the original music played live by the Grand Rapids Symphony, and sharing the experience with several hundred fellow gamers.

Experience the magic of with the Grand Rapids Symphony in Video Games Live! a must-see for gaming aficionados and music lovers alike.

Guest conductor Emmanuel Fratianni guides the Grand Rapids Pops, plus soloists and electronic percussionists, through the well-known soundtracks of your favorite games, accompanied by images and video from the games.

The show combines the power and emotion of a symphony orchestra plus the energy and excitement of a rock concert on top of the technology and interactivity of a video game.

The show was co-created and produced by Tommy Tallarico, one of the most successful video game composers of all time.

“Music is there to drive the action,” said Tallarico’s partner, co-founder Jack Wall about music’s role in the gaming world, “There are engaging melodies that have a lot of power to them.”

When Video Games Live! held its first show in 2005 in Los Angeles, California, a record number of 11,000 people were in the audience, making it the biggest video game concert in the world. Since then, the concert experience has become known worldwide across Europe, Asia, and South America.

The concert not only immerses the audience in electrifying musical compositions, but draws them in with stunning visuals from some of the most beloved games, such as Mario™, Zelda™, Halo®, Final Fantasy®, synced up to lighting effects and live action and unique interactive segments that combine into one captivating entertainment experience.

Tickets for Video Games Live start at $18 and are available at the GRS ticket office, weekdays 9 a.m. -5 p.m. at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across from the Calder Plaza), or by calling 616-454-9451 x 4. (Phone orders will be charged a $2 per ticket service fee, with a $12 maximum.)

On the shelf: ‘The Horse Boy: A Father’s Quest to Heal His Son’, by Rupert Isaacson

December 27, 2016Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentJoanne

On the Shelf Book Review

The cover of the book caught my eye at first. The horse, with its eyes closed, letting out some sort of loud neigh up to the sky — the little boy with his arm reaching up so high, and the man with his head back, mirroring the horse, looking at the boy — What on earth was this all about? At the end of the book I recalled Hamlet speaking to his friend: “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 5

The rates of autism are skyrocketing, while it remains a puzzling conundrum for doctors, parents and society. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, which is part of our government’s National Institute of Health, lists many Autism Spectrum Disorder associations. There are lots of ideas as to the why, what and how of dealing with autism, and the protocols can be quite different. In the meantime, parents struggle to provide the best life for their child.

It’s inspiring (that’s too weak — amazing is more like it) to read a story like this one, where the parents have literally gone to the ends of the earth for answers. Most parents of an autistic child will not be able to pack up and travel through Outer Mongolia, on a quest to find the Reindeer People, whose Shaman was reputed to be an exceptional healer.

But many of the experiences, and discoveries that the Isaacsons made might be applicable closer to home. Along with the fascinating trip through Mongolia on horseback, the author shares parts of what is “known” or being postulated about autism, and this new science is worked into the story. A certain experience creates a type of brain stimulation, that can help injured areas, and one would not need to go to Mongolia to recreate this.

This book has great writing, science, travel and humor; and since autism can be so challenging (often heartbreaking), the beauty, humor and spirituality contained herein is wonderful. “Code Brown!!”

I took the audio version on an 8-hour trip and found that I never got tired of wondering what would happen next, and I am a person who can only take about 10 minutes of poor writing or dullness. Life is too short to waste on mediocre books!

So you won’t have to worry about the “will it be interesting enough for a whole book?” factor. As soon as I finished I hoped there would be a sequel someday; a follow-up on what is happening with Rowan and his family, and Betsy.

On the shelf: ‘Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close’, by Jonathan Safran Foer

December 23, 2016Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentBook review, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Grand Rapids Public Library, Jonathan Safran Foer, on the shelf, Rosie RinconesJoanne

On the Shelf Book Review

By Rosie Rincones, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main

There are novels that can be opened up to any part of the story and once you get a few pages in you may be able to put together pieces of the plot and, in general, know what’s going on.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close does not allow you this privilege. Each chapter can differ from the one before in mood, narrator, and time period. A harmonious mixture of words and images, this book carries you swiftly through the ups, downs, in’s, and out’s of young Oskar Schell’s life — told by himself.

Two years after his father is killed in the World Trade Center attacks, Oskar finds a key that had once belonged to his father and embarks on a relentless journey to find the lock it will open.

Reminiscent of Holden Caulfield and Harriet the Spy, Foer has created a character that breathes life into a tragic situation. Alongside Oskar’s tale of adventure and discoveries, we learn of the somber and complex past of his grandfather who survived the World War II bombing of Dresden. All at once warming and breaking your heart, the stories come together in a sobering sort of way to level the ground between the humor and tragedy in the characters’ lives.

Enthralling and moving, Foer has written a story to linger in the minds and hearts of all who choose to read it.

Dawdling around Dingle

December 22, 20163-bottom, Beer, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, TravelDingle, Ireland, Lynn Strough, Travelynn TalesJoanne

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

By Lynn Strough

Travelynn Tales

This time I got lucky on a farm (at least in terms of accommodations). I was a little leery after my other nightmare stay on a dairy farm, but Murphy’s Farmhouse, my B&B for the night near Castlemaine, was delightful. It’s a lovely place, perfectly situated at the start of the ring around Dingle, and they had a single room available which is something you find quite often in Europe that I rarely find in the US. As a solo traveler, single rooms are much appreciated.

It was a day of beauty overload. From the start — after a very tasty scrambled egg and salmon breakfast — my day was filled with stunning scenery for nine hours.

First stop out on the Dingle Peninsula was at Inch Beach, which should be more aptly named Mile Beach. The sand is so hard-packed you can drive on it, although I walked across a wet shimmering sea bed so smooth it reflected the clouds and sky and you couldn’t tell whether you were standing on earth or in the air.

An old woman walked her little dog and a surfer carrying his board made a dark silhouette against the sea.

Surfing schools operated out of a couple of trailers and although a very small part of me thought how cool it would be to try surfing in Ireland, the bigger part of me said OMG that must be friggin’ cold! I didn’t want to leave but there was a whole big peninsula to explore.

The road was lined with huge banks of bright-orange flowers as well as many scenic viewpoints, so going was slow for a shutterbug like me. The winding pavement periodically narrowed down to one lane with cliffs of rock on one side and low stone walls barely providing protection from sheer drop-offs on the other, some of it pretty hair-raising.

I followed a series of even smaller roads to a “castle” but it turned out to be more ruin than fortress. Patchwork quilts of green fields stitched the landscape together, and then the town of Dingle appeared, all rainbow-colored shops of Celtic souvenirs, jewelry, sweaters, t-shirts and lots of pubs and restaurants.

It’s a great town to wander and I stumbled on a little artisan cheese shop that had a sign saying they make sandwiches, so I decided to purchase a picnic lunch. I ordered an Irish Brie, tomato, olive tapenade and artichoke heart sandwich, and added a piece of artisan chocolate with a creamy toffee center for dessert.

But then on my way to the car, I got sucked into the Murphy’s all-natural ice cream shop and ate a sea salt dark chocolate and honeycomb caramel cone BEFORE my lunch, as an appetizer.

As I drove off along the winding coast, sun and gray skies took turns following me until I came to a fantastic lookout across from the Beehive Huts (some ancient stone houses). A large seagull sat on a fence post right in front of my car hoping, I’m sure, for a handout. So I had the birds and the bees, and a deep blue sea view while I ate my very tasty picnic.

Then I hiked up to the Beehive Huts to check them out and to use the most scenic outhouse on my trip, which also had an interesting sign.

The sun shone brightly here, the sky cerulean blue, but by the time I got to the next scenic turnout, it was gray skies and moody waters, with people swimming and body surfing the rough waves.

And, of course, by the next scenic turnout, the sun was shining again and it was one of the most beautiful vistas I’ve seen in Ireland, all craggy shores with a foaming inlet, waves crashing against rocks, and green grassy slopes sliding down to the cliffs.

The road heads around the loop at the end of Dingle, then I crept up over the Conner pass, where luckily for me it wasn’t raining. Others told me when they’d crossed it was so misty and gray you couldn’t see a thing but when I reached the top, I could see out to the coast as well as a beautiful waterfall in full force.

Heading back, I ran into a sheep jam — a farmer had blocked the road with a truck full of sheep that were running out of the back end. He apologized, but I just grinned — it was fun to watch, especially when the last one wouldn’t come out and they banged on the truck; it was like trying to shake loose the last jelly bean in a jar.

Later that night after hours of driving around the whole peninsula, I stopped in a pub to hear a little music, where a gifted young Irish girl sang and played the flute, accompanied by an equally talented young guy on guitar.

Dingle is definitely a good place to dawdle for fine views, great food and musical entertainment, another worthwhile stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way.

About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50+ free spirit whose incarnations in this life have included graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, public speaker, teacher, fine art painter, wine educator in the Napa Valley, and world traveler. Through current circumstances, she has found herself single, without a job or a home, and poised for a great adventure.

“You could consider me homeless and unemployed, but I prefer nomad and self-employed, as I pack up my skills and head off with my small backpack and even smaller savings to circumnavigate the globe (or at least go until the money runs out). Get ready to tag along for the ride…starting now!”

All images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

Party hearty New Year’s Eve at ‘The Ballroom Bashes in Downtown GR’

December 22, 2016Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Holidays, Local Business, Upcoming EventsAmway Grand Plaza, Ballroom Bashes, Downtown Courtyard, JW Marriott, New Year's Eve, PartyJoanne

Celebrate the past and look to the future!

Be a part of the most epic New Year’s Eve experience the area offers at The Ballroom Bashes in Downtown Grand Rapids! Spanning from the Amway Grand Plaza to the JW Marriott Grand Rapids to the Downtown Courtyard by Marriott (all connected via skywalk) you can party in four glamorous hotel ballrooms, each with a distinct theme and energy, along with a dozen restaurants and bars. Find the bash that suits you best and party all night long — or hop from one to the next to keep your night moving.

The purchase of one ticket includes entrance to the following Ballroom Bashes:

GLOW Party
Ambassador Ballroom at the Amway Grand Plaza
Glow sticks and cups pop in this black-lit environment where a band and DJ take turns playing pop hits

Bourbon and Bubbles
Pantlind Ballroom at the Amway Grand Plaza
Bourbon and champagne bars, dueling pianos and a lounge singer for a classic glamour vibe beneath the gold leaf ceiling

Caribbean Jam
Imperial Ballroom at the Amway Grand Plaza
Pina Coladas, a steel drum band and décor to transport you to the islands

Throwback Bash
International Ballroom at the JW Marriott Grand Rapids
Music and dancing from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s played by both a band and DJ with sections decorated to celebrate each decade gone by

NYE at The Bistro
The Bistro at the Courtyard by Marriott
Sample small plates, crafted cocktails and more in the intimate Bistro setting with a DJ! Complimentary tapas offered with the purchase of a drink.

Sat., Dec. 31, 2016, 8 pm-Sun., Jan 1, 2017, 1:30 am EST

Downtown Grand Rapids Hotels

187 Monroe Ave NW

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

To purchase tickets, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-ballroom-bashes-tickets-29285262007?aff=es2

Redeem your ticket for a wristband at the Amway Grand Plaza Center Concourse on Dec. 31. Must have photo ID showing you are at least 21 years of age.

Wyoming set to have a brew, or two, with TwoGuys Brewery

December 21, 20163-bottom, Beer, City of Wyoming, Entertainment, Food, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Local FoodBeer City Passport, Beer City USA, City of Wyoming, Grand Rapids Beer, Tom Payne, TwoGuys Brewery, Wyoming ParkJoanne

Owner and brewmaster Tom Payne is in the process of renovating two buildings in the Wyoming Park area for TwoGuys Brewing (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

After nearly 10 years of working a small business plan, and recent action by the City of Wyoming, TwoGuys Brewing has taken over an old firehouse and a rundown one-time 7-Eleven convenience store in the Wyoming Park neighborhood and — with any luck to match hard work — should be serving up craft beer for guys and gals who like microbrews in 2017.

“Now its about six months of demolition and renovation, were we turn this ugly old 7-Eleven into a beautiful tap room,” Tom Payne, managing partner and brewmaster of TwoGuys Brewing, said Nov. 10 at a friends-and-neighbors open house at what will be the new brewpub. “We are hopeful for September 1” to open.

“This business came about about 10 years ago,” he said. “I realized I was not just another home brewer, at least I did not think so. I had entered beer in outside competition, outside of just (treating) my normal friends, and it was taken very well. I said ‘You know what? I think we’ve got something here.’ And then my wife and I, after hours and hours of talking, we said ‘This is something we are going to do.’ At that time we put together a 10-year plan, and we are at the end of that 10 years. It is time for TwoGuys Brewing to open.”

An old 7-Eleven story will become TwoGuys Brewery’s taproom. (WKTV)

Opening the brewery and brewpub involved the leasing of two buildings located across from each other on Porter Street SW, the old 7-Eleven at 2356 Porter Street SW and an unused fire station at 2385.

An old city fire station will become TwoGuys Brewery’s brew house. (WKTV)

The leasing of the fire station to Tamaz LLC (an LLC doing business as TwoGuys Brewery) by the city was part of three actions taken by the Wyoming City Council in late November. The actions included granting the business a liquor license, a waiver of city zoning code to allow for the sale of alcohol within a certain distance from a church or residential area, and the lease of the old fire station, which had been used by the city for a meter shop and a temporary laboratory but was currently vacant.

City support of business

“The City of Wyoming has been absolutely instrumental in this,” Payne said. “We approached the city three or four months ago, we completely laid out our business plan and what we wanted to bring to Wyoming Park. They put together a timeline … a ‘we need you to do this and we need you to do this’, and we have done everything the city has asked for. … They have been fantastic.”

Wyoming City Manager Curtis Holt made clear the reason for the city’s actions:

“Our region is increasingly embracing craft beer,” Holt said. “You can look around our community and see the many brewpubs that have sprung up over the last five years. We are pleased that TwoGuys Brewing has identified Wyoming as its location and feel that it will be a welcomed by the neighbors — and by Wyoming residents in general.”

Several of those neighbors visited the open house on Dec. 10 as well, and Payne said he expects to be an attribute to the neighborhood.

“The biggest reason (for placing their business in Wyoming) is that this is where we live, my wife and I,” he said. “I grew up in Wyoming Park. I graduated from Wyoming Park. I have lived, aside from my time in the Marine Corps, in this area and it has always been my home. When we decided to open up our brewery, it was going to be where we live and provide our neighbors with something they could certainly be proud of.”

About that name …

And the name of of TwoGuys? Where did it come from?

“10 years ago, there was me and one of my best friends, Charlie, I had gotten him started brewing,” he said. “So, long story (made short), we entered another competition and took best of show on an IPA (India Pale Ale), which at the time had no name. We brewed this beer at Founders. We brewed 10 barrels having won the best of show. … About half an hour before tapping, Founders said ‘You guys need to name this thing something.’ I told them ‘Its just the two of us, we are just two guys, so how about TwoGuys IPA?’”

Now, though, the name takes on another context, Payne said.

“Our TwoGuys, today, is, well … everybody’s two guys. You’re the other guy. My grandson is the other guy. Everybody is the other guy. I am just one guy. It is all about community, which is what brought us to Wyoming Park. … I will consider every guest that comes into these doors, starting next year, as the family, as the other guy.”

Plans at this point the business will focus on an array of craft-brewed beers — maybe wines, meads and sodas — as well as what the business calls a “pub-centric” menu of food. Payne’s brewer pedigree includes his having been involved with Osgood Brewing in Grandville as well as head brewer at 57 Brewpub and Bistro in Greenville.

“We are going to focus on traditional styles, beers that you don’t necessarily find everywhere else,” he said. “A lot of English style ales that no one brews around here … I am not knocking any other brewery in town, there are some fantastic ones, but it is going to be all about the other guy, what they like.”

Tentatively, seating at the brewpub will be for about 80 with a possible outdoor patio planned. The property has about 18 parking spaces in front, with about 50 possible behind the building and another 25 or so across the street at the old firehouse.

Enjoy a Snowflake Break at the Grand Rapids Public Museum

December 20, 20163-bottom, EntertainmentJoanne

By Christie Bender

Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is once again hosting family-friendly fun over this year’s holiday break. From Dec. 22 through Jan. 3, the GRPM will celebrate Snowflake Break with additional hands on activities, all included with admission.

Offerings will include a variety of family friendly programs and activities themed around history, science and culture – and the exhibits “Whales: Giants of the Deep” and “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown.” Visitors can make their own take home crafts including: unique paper snowflakes, punched tin crafts and whale ornaments. Visitors can also enjoy hands on KEVA plank activities. KEVA planks are building blocks that challenge all ages in designing sculptures, and the activities will be winter themed especially for Snowflake Break. Snowflake Break crafts will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Cleopatra and crew make their way through the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

On Thursday, Dec. 29, visitors can take part in special holiday caroling accompanied by the Museum’s Mighty Wurlitzer Organ in the Meijer Theater from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., free with general admission.

In addition to the free with admission activities, the GRPM will also host a holiday-themed planetarium show “Let it Snow,” and performances of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” in partnership with StageGR. Visitors will also enjoy the Museum’s two special exhibits “Merry Christmas,” “Charlie Brown! and Whales: Giants of the Deep.”

“As families begin to plan their holiday break activities, we invite them to take advantage of this special experience the GRPM has to offer,” said Kate Moore, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for the GRPM. “We offer hours of endless fun that is hands-on for all age groups!”

Join the Museum for late nights to see “Whales: Giants of the Deep” and “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown” until 8 p.m. on Dec. 22, 23, 26, 27, 29 and Jan. 3. The GRPM will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

ADDITIONAL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

Let it Snow Planetarium Show – Now through Jan. 8

“Let it Snow” features a new variety of festive classics from Frank Sinatra and Chuck Berry to Burl Ives and Brenda Lee, and includes a stunning multi-media finale by the Trans Siberian Orchestra. The soundtrack is visually enhanced with thematic animation, laser imagery and special effects. Now playing at the Chaffee Planetarium at the GRPM through Jan. 3, and tickets are $4 each with general admission to the Museum, free to Museum members and $5 each for planetarium only tickets. For more information and show times, visit grpm.org/planetarium.

StageGR “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” – Now through Dec. 31

The Museum in partnership with StageGR is presenting Clark Gesner’s classic musical, “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.” Visitors will enjoy six of their favorite Peanuts characters; piano prodigy Schroeder, Bossy Lucy, Sally the perfectionist, Blanket toting Linus, beloved Snoopy and of course the old “blockhead,” Charlie Brown. Brief vignettes through the show span the months from Valentine’s Day to Beethoven Day, from wild optimism to utter despair.

The show will run on various dates and times now through December 31. All shows take place in the Meijer Theater at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Show-only tickets are $10 for non-members, and $5 for Museum members. Show tickets with general admission to the GRPM included are $18 for adults and $13 for children. Tickets may be purchased at grpm.org, by calling 616-929-1700 or at the Museum’s front desk.

Stage GR exists to grow lives on stage through the valuable musical theater experience for all students. Within one year StageGR has cast 150 plus performers from 40 different schools throughout the Southwest Michigan area. “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” will be Stage GR’s seventh production. Find Stage GR online at https://www.stagegr.org/.

“Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown” exhibit

Visitors can also plan to see the special holiday exhibit “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown” now open at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Admission to the exhibit is included with general admission to the Museum.

“Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown” is made up of high-quality digital reproductions of Charles M. Schulz’s original Peanuts strips with thematic graphics and features 3D Peanuts novelties. Kids can write to Santa at the interactive letter writing station, and the whole family can take a photo with the iconic Snoopy’s doghouse outside the exhibit! Visitors see a behind the scenes look at the making of the animated classic, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Whales: Giants of the Deep

“Whales: Giants of the Deep” features the latest in international cetacean research, bringing adults and children eye to eye with some of the world’s most elusive creatures.

Featuring two fully-articulated sperm whale skeletons, including an impressive 58-foot male, “Whales: Giants of the Deep” showcases amazing and rare specimens from New Zealand’s Te Papa’s whale collection, one of the largest in the world. The Whale Lab portion of the exhibition is full of interactive science. Children can crawl through a life-size replica of the largest living creature’s heart – the blue whale. The extraordinary evolutionary journey of whales from land to the sea is shown by casts of fossil whale ancestors. Visitors can tune in to a range of whale sounds and discover how scientists and amateur trackers identify individual whales on their migration through the Pacific Ocean.

On the Shelf Book Review: ‘The Dollmaker’, by Harriette Arnow

December 20, 2016Books, Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentBook review, Grand Rapids Public Library, Karolee Gillman, on the shelf, The DollmakerJoanne

On the Shelf Book Review

By Karolee Gillman, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main

Originally published in 1954, The Dollmaker begins with a very emotional scene of an Appalachian mother desperately trying to save her youngest son’s life, and the roller coaster of emotion doesn’t stop.

This book is very descriptive and worded so beautifully, you can see the story come to life. The book is very long and when the characters speak, they do so in the Appalachian dialect. I had to often read the conversations out loud to comprehend what was being said.

Gertie Nevels is a strong, compassionate woman, with a passion for whittling. Her one dream is to buy her own farm in the backwoods of Kentucky and live there with her husband and children. But World War II intervenes, and as a good wife she must take her children and follow her husband to Detroit, where he has been put to work in a war factory. In the city, Gertie fights desperately to keep her family together, maintain their rural values while they stuck in a Cracker-Jack-box housing development in a world far away from Appalachia.

Read The Dollmaker to see how Gertie handles tragedy and betrayal and makes the ultimate sacrifice to save her family. You will smile and cry right along with her.

Meijer Gardens gains gift of sculptor Pepper’s artistic archive

December 20, 20163-bottom, EntertainmentBeverly Pepper, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Galileo's WedgeJoanne

Untitled; Studies for Stainless Steel Sculptures by Beverly Pepper. (Supplied)

WKTV staff

Iconic American sculptor Beverly Pepper — whose monumental sculpture “Galileo’s Wedge” dominates one area of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park — is giving the Grand Rapids area a present on her 94th birthday.

“Galileo’s Wedge” (2009) by Beverly Pepper, measuring roughly 35 feet in height. (Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park/William J. Hebert)

Meijer Gardens today announced the gift to its permanent collection of Pepper’s expansive print and drawing archives. The collection includes works spanning seven decades of of her artistic life including hundreds of drawings, prints, works on paper and notebooks – many containing sketches of her major sculptural endeavors.

Also Tuesday, Meijer Gardens announced it will host a retrospective exhibition of work drawn from the archives in early 2018.

“The enormity of Beverly Pepper’s gift cannot be understated,” Joseph Becherer, chief curator and vice president of Meijer Gardens, said in supplied material. “Drawing has been an integral part of her artistic practice, but like her printmaking, is little known even to scholars.”

Beverly Pepper at her studio. (Supplied/George Tatge)

Pepper is renowned for her monumental works which often incorporate industrial metals such as iron, bronze and stainless steel, as well as stone. Meijer Gardens engagement with the artist began with 2009 commission of the “Galileo’s Wedge.”

Explaining the reason for her gift was made clear in a supplied statement by Pepper: “To have in one location a space to study, compare and sequence my drawings and prints is an exceptional opportunity; I am most grateful to leave this record and have the curatorial team there looking after my work.”

Pepper works are part of the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., Les Jardins du Palais Royal in Paris, France and The Museum of Modern Art in Sapporo, Japan.

Sports Schedule: Dec. 19-26

December 19, 2016Entertainment, SportsKentwood high school sports, Wyoming high school sportsJoanne

Monday December 19, 2016

Girls Basketball

Hudsonville Hornets @ West Michigan Aviation

Boys/Girls Bowling

Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian

Kelloggsville @ Hudsonville

FH Eastern @ Wyoming

NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee

Grand Rapids Christian @ South Christian

Girls Cheer

East Kentwood @ Grandville – Holiday Invite

Tuesday December 20, 2016

Girls Basketball

Tri-Unity Christian @ Manistee Catholic Central

Grand River Prep @ Algoma Christian

Wyoming @ Lowell

Hackett Catholic Prep @ Potter’s House

Unity Christian @ South Christian

Boys Basketball

Wellspring Prep @ West Michigan Aviation

Grand River Prep @ Algoma Christian

Kelloggsville @ Cedar Springs

Lowell @ Wyoming

Hackett Catholic Prep @ Potter’s House

Fruitport Calvary Christian @ Zion Christian

Unity Christian @ South Christian

Boys/Girls Bowling

Allendale @ Wyoming

Wednesday December 21, 2016

Girls Cheer

Godwin Heights @ Muskegon Mona Shores

Wyoming @ Muskegon Mona Shores

Boys Wrestling

Godwin Heights @ Hopkins

Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee

Wyoming @ Wayland

West Ottawa @ East Kentwood

Boys/Girls Bowling

Wyoming @ Grand Rapids Christian

Thursday December 22, 2016

Boys Basketball

CTA @ West Michigan Aviation

Girls Basketball

CTA @ West Michigan Aviation

Friday December 23, 2016

Boys/Girls Bowling

Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee

Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee

Boys Wrestling

Kelloggsville @ Martin

Boys Hockey

East Kentwood @ Grandville

On the Shelf Book Review: ‘Cleopatra: A Life’, by Stacy Schiff

December 16, 2016Books, Citizen Journalism, Education, EntertainmentAmanda Bridle, Book review, Cleopatra: A Life, Grand Rapids Public Library, on the shelf, Stacy SchiffJoanne

On the Shelf Book Review

By Amanda Bridle, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main

Fact is better than fiction.

Fictional portrayals of Cleopatra write her off as a mere seductress, not worth much more than her looks. In truth, Cleopatra wasn’t all that good-looking (we can tell from the portraits on coins she herself approved and from the snide comments made by her published detractors) but instead attracted the men in her life, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, with her brains. Author Stacy Schiff, reveals a portrait of a daring, complex and politically savvy woman in her new biography Cleopatra: A Life.

The well-researched book plunges us into another time and place with lush descriptions of lavish royal events and in-depth discussion of the culture and politics that shaped Cleopatra’s life. To understand her is to understand the how her Greek family came to power in Egypt and how they fought, intermarried and murdered amongst themselves.

To know her is to know the status of women in Alexandria and how shockingly different that was from Rome. To appreciate her life and her choices is to understand the power struggles and politics of Roman leaders as they attempted to gain control of more and more of the world and function, or dysfunction, as a democracy.

Painstakingly researched and beautifully written, readers will enjoy a book that is equal parts history, politics, romance, and tragedy.

Local sports schedule: Dec. 14-19

December 14, 2016Entertainment, SportsKentwood high school sports, Wyoming high school sportsJoanne

Wednesday December 14, 2016

Boys/Girls Bowling

Godwin Heights @ Rockford

Wyoming @ Wayland

Girls Cheer

Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee

Boys Wrestling

Catholic Central @ Godwin Heights

Kelloggsville @ Middleville T-K

Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids

Wyoming Lee @ Comstock Park

Grandville @ East Kentwood

Boys Hockey

East Kentwood @ Muskegon Reeths Puffer

Thursday December 15, 2016

Girls Basketball

WMAES @ West Michigan Aviation

NorthPointe Christian @ Grand River Prep

Boys Basketball

Zion Christian @ Kelloggsville

Boys/Girls Bowling

Hudsonville @ Wyoming

South Christian @ East Grand Rapids

Friday December 16, 2016

Boys Basketball

Tri-Unity Christian @ NorthPointe Christian

Godwin Heights @ Lowell

East Kentwood @ Wyoming

Wyoming Lee @ Algoma Christian

South Christian @ Caledonia

Girls Basketball

West Michigan Aviation @ Grand River Prep

Union @ Godwin Heights

Zion Christian @ Kelloggsville

East Kentwood @ Wyoming

South Christian @ Caledonia

Boys Swimming

East Kentwood @ Hudsonville – West Michigan Relays

Boys Hockey

East Kentwood @ Alpena

Northview @ South Christian

Saturday December 17, 2016

Boys/Girls Bowling

Godwin Heights @ Cedar Springs

Kelloggsville @ Cedar Springs

Boys Wrestling

Godwin Heights @ South Haven

Kelloggsville @ FH Central

Wyoming @ FH Central

Wyoming Lee @ Heritage

East Kentwood @ FH Central

Boys Hockey

East Kentwood @ Alpena

South Christian @ Kalamazoo Central

Boys Swimming

East Kentwood @ Hudsonville – West Michigan Relays

Monday December 19, 2016

Girls Basketball

Hudsonville Hornets @ West Michigan Aviation

Boys/Girls Bowling

Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian

Kelloggsville @ Hudsonville

FH Eastern @ Wyoming

NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee

Grand Rapids Christian @ South Christian

Girls Cheer

East Kentwood @ Grandville – Holiday Invite

On the Shelf Book Review: ‘When You Are Engulfed in Flames’, by David Sedaris

December 13, 2016Books, Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentBook review, David Sedaris, Grand Rapids Public Library, Humor, Lisa Boss, When You Are Engulfed in FlamesJoanne

On the Shelf Book Review

By Lisa Boss, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main

When David Sedaris, the famous humorist, was in Grand Rapids last spring, the Grand Rapids Press reviewer summed up his type of comedy as “NPR funny”— an excellent term, which perfectly describes an addictive style that touches on the poignant absurdity of life.

Along the lines of Woody Allen and James Thurber, with a bit of Jack Benny and Phillip Roth thrown in, Sedaris takes the melancholy and self-absorbed male to new heights. He’s honed an intense, but not mean-spirited voice over the years, and it is quite unique.

With a self-depreciating eye, he looks over topics like his childhood, family life, a checkered career path, being obsessive, being gay, travel, and his long-term relationship with his partner, Hugh, among others. If the topics seem a little mundane, it’s really about what he does with them.

If you haven’t discovered Sedaris yet, try a couple of his more recent works. One of my favorites is Dress Your Family in Denim and Corduroy, which has the small chapter, The End of the Affair, where David and Hugh take in a movie. It becomes clear to Sedaris that watching romantic movies is just plain dangerous, for reasons that may not have ever occurred to you. These four pages alone are worth the price of the book, and of course his works are available in print or audio at the library for free.

‘Tis the season to hit the slopes!

December 12, 2016Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Recreation, WeatherBoyne Mountain, Cannonsburg Ski Area, Crystal Mountain, Ski, Snowboard, Winter FunJoanne

All that white stuff out there? Great news for skiers and snowmobilers. And, for the first time in seven years, Cannonsburg Ski Area near Rockford, Mich. will open before Christmas — opening day is Dec. 17. (Last year, skiers missed out because of the warm, dry December weather.)

Other ski resorts are benefitting from the wintry weather as well. Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, Mich. celebrated its 60th opening day on Dec. 10 and, for the second straight year, Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls, Mich. has earned the distinction as No. 1 Terrain Park in the Midwest by TransWorld Snowboarding’s 2017 Park Poll. The magazine ranks the best terrain parks across North America and prints the annual list in its Nov. issue.

And then there’s Bittersweet Ski Area in Otsego, which opened Saturday, Dec. 10. (Last year, they were only open two days during December.)

You’ll find all the info you need on the ski resorts’ websites at the links above.

Review: Cécile McLorin Salvant brings big jazz voice to St. Cecilia

December 9, 20163-bottom, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, ReviewsCécile McLorin Salvant, jazz, St. Cecilia Music CenterJoanne

Cécile McLorin Salvant. (Supplied/Mark Fitton)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

60-second Review

Cécile McLorin Salvant, Dec. 8, at St. Cecilia Music Center, Grand Rapids, Mi.

Cécile McLorin Salvant, the season opening performer for the St. Cecilia Music Center’s 2016-17 Jazz Series, brought a spectacular voice and mesmerizing presence to the stage Thursday for a 90-minute set.

Accompanied by the very tight Aaron Diehl Trio — with Diehl on piano, Paul Sikivie on bass and Lawrence Leathers on drums — McLorin Salvant opened her set with just Diehl’s piano and singing “Lucky to be Me.” From that moment on, you were lucky to be in the audience.

The singer showed her versatility — heartbreaking to humorous; booming to a whisper — throughout the night, with her set including a trio of Cole Porter songs, both well-known and little-known, and a hauntingly theatric song from the 1946 jazz-opera “Street Scene”, with lyrics by Langston Hughes.

My favorite song of the night was a stark, stripped-down version of the classic folk song “John Henry”, with special note given to Sikivie’s unique work on the base. My only disappointment was that all the songs were in English, which the native French speaker sings perfectly — S’il vous plaît, Cécile, un peu de Français.

McLorin Salvant ended the night as mesmerizingly as she started it, with “Tell Me What They are Saying Can’t be True.” It left you wanting more.

May I have more, please?

Having never heard McLorin Salvant before, I suspected a little hyperbole when some reviewers compared her to Ella Fitzgerald. But, listing to a local public radio jazz program before the concert, my wife, TJ — who knows her jazz — remarked “I wonder who that is? She sounds like Ella.” Sure enough, the DJ confirmed the song was by the songstress we would see shortly.

Good enough recommendation for me.

It may still be a little early to compare the 27-year-old to Ella, but she does have an impressive resume: youngest winner the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 2010, her debut recording, “WomanChild”, nominated for a Grammy in 2014, and her follow-up recording, “For One to Love”, winning the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album this year.

And did I mention that she has a set of pipes? (Her singing voice is astounding.)