Category Archives: Upcoming Events

Boom! It’s July 4th weekend! Bring on the fireworks!

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Gonzo's Top 5, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

How do we go from spring to summer so quickly?

It’s Fourth of July already!

I’ll be in the Traverse City area all weekend long for the National Cherry Festival, and I’m looking forward to meeting up with friends, checking out the local food scene and maybe hitting up a few breweries.

You can read my coverage if you go to my social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

What are you doing this weekend?

If you’re staying close to home, here is my Top 5 of things to do, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.

Here we go!

Gonzo’s Top 5

“Starry Night Over the Rhone” is just one of the many Van Gogh paintings featured. (Photo by Thomas Hegewald)

5. “Beyond Van Gogh,” Grand Rapids

This immersive experience by the artist Vincent Van Gogh has been getting a lot of media attention. Opening night was canceled because of some technology issues. And on Wednesday a person felt faint and grabbed onto a pipe and drape that caused some art to fall on patrons? It did not cause the exhibition to close. The exhibition features the artist’s work on a larger-than-life scale as visitors see at least 300 of Van Gogh’s famous artworks through projection technology. It continues through July 9 at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. Check ticket availability at vangoghexpo.com/grand-rapids/.

READ: What it is like experiencing the ‘Beyond Van Gogh’ exhibit

4. Ballpark Series: Red, White and Blues

Our friends at Fans of Valley Field bring back their popular Ballpark Series with a show Saturday (July 2) at Sullivan (formerly Valley) Field, a Michigan landmark with a history that dates back to 1937. It is located on the West Side of Grand Rapids. Tickets are $10 at the door or $5 in advance. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. The lineup:

•12:00-12:45pm – Teddy Brewer

•1:00-2:00pm – Larry Mack Band

•2:15-3:15pm – Rochelle and The Spoilers

•3:30-4:30pm – Hannah Rose Graves Band

•4:45-6:15pm – Asamu Johnson and The Associates of Blues

More details on the Facebook Event Page.

Sheryl Crow’s Meijer Gardens show is sold out but there are plenty of other Meijer concert options. (Supplied)

3. Sheryl Crow, Meijer Gardens

The “All I Wanna Do” singer – better known as Sheryl Crow – performs a sold out show Sunday (July 3) at Meijer Gardens. But you can still see Corinne Bailey Rae with Michigan act War & Treaty on July 6. Tickets information for all remaining concerts as well as availability can be found at meijergardens.org/calendar/summer-concerts-at-meijer-gardens. By the way, if you still want to see Sheryl Crow, you can join me on Saturday (July 2) when she performs at the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City. Ticket information at cherryfestival.org/.

Grand Rapids July 4th celebration will be July 2.

2. Grand Rapids Fireworks

Activities begin at 6 p.m. Saturday (July 2) with games, food, vendors and live entertainment, which will lead up to the fireworks at 10:30 p.m. at Ah-Nab-Awen Park in downtown Grand Rapids (next to the Ford Museum). The Stone Soul Rhythm Band performs at 8 p.m. More info at https://4thofjulygr.com.

Kentwood pulls out all the stops for its annual Fourth of July celebration set for July 4. (Supplied)

1.4th of July Celebration, Kentwood

Kentwood plans a full day of activities, including a pancake breakfast, 5K race, parade, carnival and fireworks show. The events will begin with a pancake breakfast at Kentwood Fire Station 1, 4775 Walma Ave SE. The $5-per-person breakfast will be served 7-9:30 a.m. and include pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee. It’s free for ages 5 and younger. The NN Mobile Solutions 5K Race & Fun Walk begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Kentwood City Hall parking lot, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. The parade is at 9:30 a.m. A carnival is planned from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. behind City Hall, which is also the site for the 4th of July celebration from 4-10 p.m. with community booths, a beer tent, food trucks and a fireworks show. More information about Independence Day activities in Kentwood can be found at kentwood.us/july4.

READ: Join Kentwood for its annual 4th of July celebration

Other area July 4th activities:

July 2

Gun Lake: Fireworks are scheduled for July 2 with a rain date of July 3. Fireworks began at dark.

July 2 and 3

LMCU Ballpark: The West Michigan Whitecaps will have fireworks for both games against the Fort Wayne Tin Caps. Game times are 6:35 p.m July 2 and 6 p.m. July 3. More details at  whitecapsbaseball.com.

July 3

Caledonia: The Caledonia Independence Day Celebration will include a parade at 11 a.m. Fireworks will be at dusk and can be seen from Duncan Lake Middle School, CalPlex, or Holy Family Catholic Church.

July 4

Grandville: The Grandville July 4 Celebration will include a pancake breakfast, parade with flyover, life music and fireworks at dusk.

Dorr: As usual, the Dorr July 4th Celebration will be the entire weekend, July 2-4 with the parade and fireworks on July 4.

For more area July 4th celebrations and activities, visit Experience GR’s website.

That’s it for now.

As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Have a great, safe weekend.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Up next for Kentwood summer concerts is Soul Syndicate

Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

The Soul Syndicate performs this Thursday at the Kentwood Summer Concert series. (Soul Syndicate)

Popular local band Soul Syndicate returns to the area this week as the group performs at the Kentwood Summer Concert series on Thursday.

The free Kentwood Summer Concerts are located on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE.

No stranger to the area, Soul Syndicate opened the Wyoming Concerts in the Park series earlier this month. Through the years, the group has performed with such artists as The Temptations, The Spinners, The Countours, Kansas, The Guess Who, The Beach Boys, Edgar Winter, Natalie Cole, Rosemarie Clooney, Elvis Presley Jr., and the U.S. Navy Commodores Band.

READ: The Soul Syndicate performs at Wyoming Concerts in the Park

“We love to see the energy from the crowd,” said drummer Tom Taylor in an earlier interview with WKTV. ”It is really about seeing the people and having fun.”

The group is not small, with up to a 11 musicians. Besides Taylor, there is Mike Coon on guitar, Matt Fouts on bass, and John Neil on keyboard. Male lead vocal is Collin Tobin, who has performed win several Grand Rapids Civic Theatre productions, and female lead vocal is Katie Sarb a. Rounding out the group is Nate Hansen on sax and Tim DeBesten on trumpet, and Jeff Carroll on trombone.

To learn more about Soul Syndicate and see a list of shows, visit www.thesoulsyndicte.com/shows. 

Also remember that the Kentwood Farmer’s Market takes place just before the concerts, from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

READ: Summer revs up with Kentwood concerts, farmers market combo

All concerts will be live streamed by WKTV Community Media. Watch the events live at: https://www.wktv.org/live25.html. If you miss a show you can watch it here at WKTV On Demand.

This year’s lineup includes

Join Kentwood for its annual 4th of July celebration

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Local Food, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The Fourth of July parade is set for 9:30 a.m. and will start at Crestwood Middle School. (Supplied)

The City of Kentwood has a day filled with activities for all ages planned on Monday, July 4 for its annual Fourth of July Celebration, including a pancake breakfast, 5K race, parade, carnival and fireworks show.

“Celebrating our nation’s independence by participating in Kentwood’s Fourth of July festivities has been a favorite family and community tradition for many decades. People of all ages enjoy these events, from pancakes and parades to 5Ks and fireworks,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said. “Come out and join us for a day filled with festivities when memories are made, and community is strengthened.”

The events will begin with a pancake breakfast at Kentwood Fire Station 1, 4775 Walma Ave SE. The $5-per-person breakfast will be served 7-9:30 a.m. and include pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee. It’s free for ages 5 and younger.

At 7:30 a.m., racers of all ages will gather next door at the Kentwood City Hall parking lot, 4900 Breton Ave. SE, for registration and packet pickup for the NN Mobile Solutions 5K Race & Fun Walk. The chip-timed race will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the start and finish in front of City Hall. Participants will loop through nearby neighborhoods before coming back on the paved East West Trail to finish. For the safety of all participants, roller skates, dogs and bicycles will not be allowed on the course. All participants will receive a finisher medal and shirt for this race. Shirts are only guaranteed for those who register before June 21.

Following the race will be a parade at 9:30 a.m. The parade route will start at Crestwood Middle School, 2674 44th St. SE, travel south on Walma Avenue SE to Breton Avenue SE, then turn west on 52nd Street SE and end at Challenger Elementary School, 2475 52nd St. SE. Organizations who would like to participate in the parade can visit kentwood.us/july4 and fill out the online form to register.

From 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., there will be a carnival behind city hall featuring rides and carnival games. (Supplied)

From 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., there will be a carnival behind City Hall featuring a variety of rides and carnival games for all ages. Individual tickets will cost $1 each. Wristbands will be available for $20. Tickets and wristbands will only be available at the event. The number of tickets required for each attraction will vary.

City Hall will also be the hub for the evening celebration 4-10 p.m., which will include community booths, a beer tent, food trucks and a fireworks show. A variety of bands, including Project 90, The Stone Soul Rhythym Band and Serita’s Black Rose, will take the stage to perform live music leading up to the fireworks show at dusk. The fireworks will be viewable from City Hall and surrounding areas.

A section of Walma Avenue near City Hall from Fire Station #1, 4775 Walma Ave. SE, to the roundabout will be closed all day to allow pedestrians to safely cross the street and take part in the activities. Guests who are parked at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch can take the roundabout out to Breton Avenue heading north or turn left out of the library’s parking lot onto Breton heading south.

A section of Breton Avenue in front of the library to the roundabout will be closed for the fireworks display. It will close 15 minutes before the show and reopen 30 minutes after the fireworks are done.

Fireworks will be at dusk. (Supplied)

The Kentwood Police Department and volunteers will be on-site to help direct traffic.

The City is seeking volunteers for its Fourth of July Celebration. Individuals who are interested are encouraged to sign up online or call 616-656-5270. More information about Independence Day activities in Kentwood can be found at kentwood.us/july4.

Other area July 4th activities:

July 2

Grand Rapids: Starting at 6 p.m., there will be family-fun activities, games, food, vendors, and live entertainment which will lead up to the firework show at 10:30 p.m.

Gun Lake: Fireworks are scheduled for July 2 with a rain date of July 3. Fireworks began at dark.

July 2 and 3

LMCU Ballpark: The West Michigan Whitecaps will have fireworks for both games against the Fort Wayne Tin Caps. Game times are 6:35 p.m July 2 and 6 p.m. July 3.

July 3

Caledonia: The Caledonia Independence Day Celebration will include a parade at 11 a.m. Fireworks will be at dusk and can be seen from Duncan Lake Middle School, CalPlex, or Holy Family Catholic Church.

July 4

Grandville: The Grandville July 4 Celebration will be include a pancake breakfast, parade with flyover, life music and fireworks at dusk.

Dorr: As usually, the Dorr July 4th Celebration will be the entire weekend, July 2-4 with the the parade and fireworks being on July 4.

For more area July 4th celebrations and activities, visit Experience GR’s website.

What it is like experiencing the ‘Beyond Van Gogh’ exhibit

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More than 300 works by Van Gogh are featured in the “Beyond Van Gogh” exhibit. (Photos by Thomas Hegewald)

By Thomas Hegewald
WKTV Contributing Writer

Vincent Van Gogh’s life story has been adapted to film in various iterations and there is widespread exposure to his masterpiece, “The Starry Night” and to his tragic life. A quick search yields that this Dutch, Post-Impressionist artist produced nearly 900 paintings within a ten year period. Yet, none of this prepares his admirers for an immersive experience of his life and artwork.

Through July 9, DeVos Place is currently hosting the immersive exhibit “Beyond Van Gogh,” featuring more than 300 of Van Gogh’s paintings. The exhibit is comprised of three rooms. In the first room, attendees weave through lit up panels with text – historical information on Van Gogh and quotes from his correspondence with his brother, Theo. Following this, attendees walk into the “Waterfall” room. Here, images and designs project onto the front-facing wall and then “pour” down onto and across the floor.

“Starry Night Over the Rhone” is just one of the many Van Gogh paintings featured. (Photo by Thomas Hegewald)

The third room contains the main gallery. Here, screens cover all four sides from floor to almost ceiling, with three additional, square columns in the center. While an instrumental soundtrack – of period or complementary pieces – plays, Van Gogh’s art flows across the screens. Digital animation and transitions enhance the illusion of the immersive quality by evoking a sense of being there as the brush strokes appear and the paintings fill and sometimes move across the screens. For one piece, a blank canvas is the initial image, then lines are drawn until a town square is fully rendered. Next, color flows into the piece filling in, between and around the lines until it is emblazoned with vibrant, complementary colors and brush strokes full of movement and vitality. 

A row of portraits transitions to landscapes then to flower bouquets and back to landscapes – showcasing Van Gogh’s style evolving and developing over time. Audience members stand, sit or walk around the space – looking in awe at the projected pieces. Are we viewing Van Gogh’s artwork with empathy, knowing his plight or are the pieces wrought with emotions to begin with? While “fear” doesn’t seem to be encased in any of the pieces, there is a sense of urgency, of something … emerging.

Several of Van Gogh’s self portraits are part of the exhibit as well. (Photo by Thomas Hegewald)

A detailed sketch of landscapes and farm fields fills the screens. Then an instrumental version of the Beatles, “Here Comes the Sun” plays through the speakers as color fills in – like pasture grasses and leaves on trees becoming lively shades of green. A sense of vitality sweeps through the room along with it. The screens darken for a transition. White dashes form swirls against a dark blue background – intensifying in quantity and motion as it evolves, fills in, and becomes … “The Starry Night.”

Numerous segments from paintings occupy the screens and floor – like different colored panels. Randomly, in each one, a signature appears, as though written as we watch, until all the panels bear the same, singular name, Vincent.

The “Beyond Van Gogh” exhibit is open 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday – Thursday and 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the DeVos Place, Exhibit Hall A, 303 Monroe Ave. SE. Some (single) tickets are still available. Individual tickets are $23.99 – $83.99 depending on the package selected. The exhibit runs through July 9.

With surprising energy, cellist brings a ‘vibe’ to Wyoming concert

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

It’s not blues or classic rock that will take center stage at Tuesday’s Concerts in the Park series in Wyoming.

It’s not a punk rock or country band, either.

It’s a cellist, and his name is Jordan Hamilton, where he will play “a mix of mastery and maverick musicality,” according to his bio.

Jordan Hamilton performs on cello at the next Wyoming Concerts in the Park set for Tuesday. (Supplied)

In an interview with WKTV Journal, Hamilton – who is extremely humble – explained his style is not something you see every day.

“I have a hard time speaking about myself,” said the Kalamazoo-based vocalist and instrumentalist. “I have been told it’s an experience.”

Local music journalist John Sinkevics of LocalSpins.com agrees.

“Plucking, sawing, pounding and caressing the cello to extract sometimes other-worldly sounds; melding live looping with classical music interludes, hip hop, and jazz,” he said of Hamilton’s performance.

A native of Maryland who was classically trained on Western European composers, Hamilton, 29, started playing cello when he was 8-years-old. He learned all of the classics, but he was also introduced to a wide range of music by his dad, who listened to Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly and the Family Stone and Bobby McFerrin.

As he got older he would sneak off to listen to Nas, Fabulous and Jay-Z.

Still, he stayed focused on the cello.

After graduating from the Conservatory of Music at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, he earned a Master’s degree in cello performance in 2018 at Western Michigan University. Hamilton remained in Kalamazoo mainly because of steady gigs, but was forced to stay longer during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Eventually he will leave Michigan for other opportunities “when the time is right,” he said. But for now, he loves playing his music and introducing audiences to the cello because “cello is at the center of everything” he does, he said.

“You don’t see a lot of cellos doing concerts that are not outside of the symphony….It’s definitely unique. It’s a niche.”

He will perform as a trio in Wyoming, bringing a keyboard player and drum programmer. He will play mainly original songs, as well as a few covers.

“You can expect a little bit of soul vibes, jazz vibes, beat music vibes, some very spacy vibes, and all over the place kind of vibes,” Hamilton said.

According to his bio, Hamilton’s music is  “emotional energy crafted from integrity, immaterial and immortal, experienced at the speed of sound, with a bit of bounce, groove by the ounce, and all the jump you’ll need to move.”

More directly, he said, just “come to the show, and you will leave with something more than you were expecting.”

And “be prepared to have open ears,” he added. “It’s going to be a wide range of music, but it’s all going to feel like it’s in place…If you like jazz piano, hip hop beats and cello, this is a show for you.”

Hamilton performs at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 28 at Lamar Park in Wyoming. Admission is free. More info: Wyoming Concerts in the Park Facebook page.

The Tuesday night series continues through Aug. 2. All shows will be recorded and aired on WKTV. More info below.

READ: Wyoming Concerts in the Park return this summer

Learn more about Hamilton at jordanhamiltonmusic.com.

Wyoming Concerts Lineup

June 28 – Jordan Hamilton – Cellist 

July 12 – Randy McAllister – Blues and Soul 

July 19 – Monty Pride – Folk 

July 26 – Bernadette Kathryn – Country 

August 2 – Grupo Latin – Latin Soul (13 piece band)

Can’t make it to the show? You can still enjoy the bands by watching WKTV-Channel 25 for the weekly airings at 5 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday.

More info at wktv.org/concerts.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

‘Downton Abbey’ costumes are a delight to see in person

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The formal dining attire in the “Dressing the Abbey” exhibit is complimented by pieces from the Muskegon Museum of Art. (Photo by Thomas Hegewald)

By Thomas Hegewald
WKTV Contributing Writer

I was a little late in becoming a fan of the television series Downton Abbey. It was in its second or third season before I started watching it (from the beginning).

A detail look at the bearded silk of a debutante’s gown. (Photo by Thomas Hegewald)

Initially, it was the title sequence that pulled me in by capturing in carefully composed and choreographed shots the details of life in that time period and setting. I instantly knew that this was a high quality television production where everything, down to minute detail, would be accurate.

Once I started watching, the characters and storylines continued to hold my attention. An integral part of bringing those varied characters to life was the period clothes they wore. During that time period (and setting) people (especially women) changed their attire multiple times during the day to dress appropriately for an event or activity they were participating in. In Downton Abbey, the costumes themselves then played a large role in establishing each character’s personality which in turn helped to engage viewers in watching the series. 

“Dressing the Abbey,” a new exhibit at Muskegon Museum of Art, features 35 costumes from the Downton Abbey™ television series, which ran for five seasons, premiering in 2010. The costumes range from high formal (and intricately beaded), casual tweeds for outdoor or hunting, to humble servants’ uniforms. Exhibits Development Group, based in Minnesota, provided the exhibit components – which included the costumes on mannequins with a few accessories like a bike, horse saddle and rack (also featured in the television series).

Muskegon Museum of Art Director of Marketing Kristina Broughton told me how the museum searched through its permanent collection for period pieces of art to compliment the exhibit. As backdrop to exhibit vignettes, there are oil paintings, prints, Tiffany glassware as well as actual furnishings from the Hackley and Hume homes – on loan from the Lakeshore Museum Center.

Butler and head housekeeper attire. (Photo by Thomas Hegewald)

Muskegon Museum of Art also went as far as to paint an accent wall violet to complement one of the Dowager Countesses’ violet themed costumes. The end result of such thought and execution is that the inclusion of period pieces enhances the sense of being there. Where mannequins stand in formal attire of a tux or beaded gown, behind them are portraits of aristocrats in oil and an ornately carved wood table and chairs – giving a sense of a formal dinner party. Complimenting a display of less formal dresses, though no less intricately designed, are a number of Tiffany lamps and glassware.

Broughton also pointed out that the costume designers always sought to use period pieces when creating the custom-made clothing – like period fabric. In one piece, it is noted that the jacket for a dress ensemble was actually made out of a period tablecloth.

Each exhibit grouping features printed information regarding the character/scene in which the costume was worn as well as additional historical information regarding a particular setting or activity. Period pieces from Muskegon Museum of Art’s collection or on loan are also identified for inquisitive visitors, like me.

As a draw for younger attendees of the exhibit, Muskegon Museum of Art created a space focused on children’s toys at the time as well as a touch and feel area. Visitors of any age can test their tactile skills by feeling the difference between types of fabrics hanging from a wall.

 

“The Dressing the Abbey” exhibit runs through Sept. 12 at the Muskegon Museum of Art, 296 W. Webster Ave, downtown Muskegon. Check muskegonartmuseum.org for information on gallery hours and entry fee.

Gonzo’s Top 5: Summer is supposed to be fun any day of the week

Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Entertainment, Gonzo's Top 5, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

I love being in downtown Grand Rapids on a Tuesday night when it feels like the weekend.

That’s what happened for the opening of Broadway GR’s “Mean Girls.” The city was buzzing with activity with people out and about for a variety of events, including a very funny show. More on that in a moment.

The truth is, as we get closer to the Fourth of July, summer is supposed to be fun, any day of the week.

If you’ve been reading my Top 5, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal, I often talk about events Friday, Saturday and Sunday. But throughout the summer I’ll add other weekday events, too.

Here we go!

Gonzo’s Top 5

Whorled (courtesy)

5. Deos Ballet, Wholred at The Stray Cafe

Check out this cool collaboration event at 7 p.m. Friday (June 24) when Deos Contemporary Ballet performs featuring live music from award-winning band Whorled! Deos works to uplift artists through a culture focused on diversity, wellness and empathy by partnering with community-based organizations. And Whorled! – a recent winner of a Battle of the Bands competition at The Stray – offers a unique World Fusion sound with a blend of Celtic, bluegrass, French Café and jazz influences. There is no cover charge, but donations will be accepted. More info on The Stray Facebook event page. The Stray is located at 4253 Division Ave S Suite A, Wyoming.

The Soul Syndicate performs at The Ballpark Series and then heads over to the Kentwood Summer Concert series on June 30. (Soul Syndicate)

4. Ballpark Series: The Soul Syndicate, Shimmie Pearl

You will love this old, historic ballpark that dates back to 1937, and located on the West Side of Grand Rapids. The Ballpark Series at Sullivan (formerly Valley) Field is one of many events spearheaded by a group called Fans of Valley Field. On Friday (June 24) you can check out two great acts, The Soul Syndicate and Shimmie Pearl. In fact, we interviewed “classic soul, R&B and funk” band The Soul Syndicate earlier this month about shows in Wyoming and Kentwood. Founder and guitarist Mike Coon said their music is meant to keep your toes tapping and the young at heart dancing. “It’s a party!,” said Coon, who leads the 10-piece band through a long list of songs everyone knows and loves. “It’s a fun band. You don’t sit in chairs and watch us.” The show begins at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $15. Learn more on the Fans of Valley Field Facebook page.

By the way, The Soul Syndicate also performs Thursday (June 30) as part of the Kentwood Summer Concert series.

READ: Summer revs up with Kentwood concerts, farmers market combo

READ: The Soul Syndicate performs at Wyoming Concerts in the Park

3. Last Sundays Outdoor Market, Grand Rapids

Doing something on Sundays makes the weekend last so much longer! That’s why I love the concept of “Last Sundays,” which is a monthly outdoor market at Bridge Street Market in Grand Rapids. It features a variety of local makers, vendors, farmers, food carts, samplings and more. It takes place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday (June 26) on the corner of Bridge Street and Seward Avenue. Other dates: July 31, Aug. 28 and Sept. 25. More info at https://www.bridgestreetmarket.com/blog/2021/6/3/last-sundays-outdoor-market.

2. Van Andel Arena

As I said earlier, the weekends are busy in downtown GR, especially when the Van Andel Arena is hosting big events.

  • On Saturday (June 25): It’s the Outlaw Music Festival with Willie Nelson and Family, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Jason Isbell, Charley Crockett, Brittney Spencer and more. Doors open at 3 p.m. Particle Kid kicks it off at 3:50 p.m., followed by Brittney Spencer at 4:30 p.m.
  • On Sunday (June 26): The first-year Cheer Live 2022 stops in for a truly, one-of-a-kind live show from Emmy Award-winning Netflix docuseries “Cheer.” The live performance features 14-time National Champion coach and best-selling author, Monica Aldama alongside cheer stars such as Gabi Butler and Morgan Simianer. The show brings together fan favorites from the two most successful rival cheer programs in the country, Navarro College and Trinity Valley Community College.

More info on both shows at vanandelarena.com.

Get into the spirit when “Mean Girls” comes to DeVos Performance Hall next week. (Supplied)

1.”Mean Girls,” DeVos Performance Hall

Yes, I lived under a rock in the early 2000s. How else do you explain the fact that I never saw the popular 2004 film “Mean Girls”? Well, now I know what I missed: A truly hilarious, comedic and sometimes too-close-to-reality depiction of life in high school. Now an award-winning Broadway musical, “Mean Girls” opened Tuesday at DeVos Performance Hall as part of a national tour with performances through Sunday (June 26). Get all the details at https://broadwaygrandrapids.com/mean-girls. Earlier this week, WKTV Journal published my interview with Ann Arbor native Nadina Hassan, who plays the Queen Bee of Mean, Regina George, in the musical.

READ: Wearing pink, ‘Mean Girls’ take charge of the DeVos stage

Check out the full interview in my podcast “Then By All Means, Lead the Way.”

Listen to “Nadina Hassan says ‘Mean Girls’ is ‘pure joy'” on Spreaker.

That’s it for now.

As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Have a great, safe weekend.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

KDL designs award to find local literacy champions

3-bottom, Books, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Upcoming Events, ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

KDL is looking for local champions in literacy for its KDL Literacy Champion award.

Jeopardy! champion James Holzhauer openly admits that it was the children’s nonfiction section of his library that helped him bring home big winnings and, as a thank you, he donated some of those winnings to local libraries in his area.

Country singer and musician Dolly Parton has always believed that not being able to read was what kept her own father from accomplishing his goals in life and for that reason she started Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in East Tennessee.

Former First Lady Barbara Bush’s work as an educator carried over into her public life as she became an advocate for literacy which lead to the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

Holzhauer, Parton, and Bush have been recognized as literacy champions, a person who has gone above and beyond to improve literacy within their own community.

The Kent District Library hopes to recognize and an individual and organization who have gone above and behind to improve literacy in the Kent County area through its newly created KDL Literacy Champion Award.

“Literacy is the foundation of all learning for our children and throughout life,” said KDL Executive Director Lance Werner. “There are many people and organizations who have exceptional passion for literacy, creating a profound impact on life in our community. The KDL Literacy Champion Award shines a light on and celebrates them.”

The award will be given to one individual and one organization who does or has done something exceptional to promote literacy. To find those individuals and groups, KDL has opened public nominations through July 31. Nominations may be submitted online at kdl.org/literacychampion.

Nominees should have demonstrated leadership and exceptional achievement in advancing reading. Individuals can be teachers, tutors, school librarians, authors, and others. Organizations can be schools, non-profit services, for-profit businesses, and government entities.

Nominations will be reviewed by a panel from KDL and its Board of Trustees. Winners will be publicly announced and celebrated on Sept. 15 at the eighth annual Literary Libations Gala. Each winner will receive $1,000 in cash, a crystal trophy and two tickets to the KDL’s Literary Librations Gala.

For complete details about the KDL Literacy Champion Award, visit kdl.org/literacychampion. 

Kalamazoo band next up on the Kentwood Summer Concert series

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Local Food, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

It sounds like a story from an old blues song.

A bunch of students from West Michigan University gather in the basement of a bar, cut their teeth with local players and touring musicians, stay friends, and keep playing nearly 20 years later.

Kalamazoo’s Out of Favor Boys take the state this Thursday for Kentwood Summer Concert series. (Supplied)

“We grew up, musically, hosting blues jams in Kalamazoo,” said Joel Krauss, one of the founding members of the Out of Favor Boys. “We’re rooted in that Chicago-style blues but we also have a lot of influences from rock, old soul and jam bands.”

Those roots of the Kalamazoo blues scene from the late 1990s and early 2000s have served them well. Today the lineup includes four of the original members, who moved to Kalamazoo from the east side of the state to go to school, but stayed here for jobs, their friendships and love of the blues.

The lineup includes: Krauss (vocals and guitars), Tony Sproul (saxophone, vocals), Tim Brouhard (bass), Tommy Ufkus (drums) and Dan Ouellette (guitar), who leads the band on calling out the songs each night.

The Out of Favor Boys perform Thursday (June 23) as part of the Kentwood Summer Music Series on the lawn behind City Hall. The concert is at 7 p.m. Admission is free. (See the lineup below.)

READ: Summer revs up with Kentwood concerts, farmers market combo

All concerts will be live streamed by WKTV Community Media. Watch the events live at: https://www.wktv.org/live25.html. If you miss a show you can watch it here at WKTV On Demand.

This year’s lineup includes

Playing in the basement of Mr. Wonderful’s back in the day (on the southside of Kalamazoo), the band had to rely on each other to learn their craft through “jam sessions,” said Tony Sproul.

“You had to be on your toes as much as possible,” he said, and that became almost “addictive.”

To this day, those jam sessions and knowing how to feed off each other on simple cues and gestures, has become an “accidental strong point” to the band’s longevity.

“For us…there is never a night that you’re bored or say, ‘Oh, I gotta play that song again?’ None of us ever have that moment. It stays fresh all the time.”

Today’s sound is a “mix of soul and funk and blues,” Sproul added.

“It’s danceable with a slight mix of funk and old soul, with a blues foundation that we have had over the years.”

The band has released four CDs of original music.

“I would say that (if you) look at them one at a time you’ll see quite a bit of growth between each of them. We started out really raw and live on our first CD,” Krauss said. 

The group has been together for almost 20 years, having released four CDs of original music. (Supplied)

“We actually recorded the whole thing in one night. And by the time you get to our last CD, which we released in 2017, you can see that we’ve become much more focused on writing solid songs. We’re starting to pull songs together for a new recording, which we’ll start working on later this year.”

Along with playing the clubs, the band has also played big festival stages.

“Community music events are sort of a nice middle ground for us – and we play a lot of these things across southern Michigan and into northern Indiana. People who come to these shows are there to hear music,” Krauss said.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to play our own songs to people who are there to listen. There can be some give and take between the band and the audience when everyone’s paying attention like that. Plus, they’re usually small enough that we have time to meet a lot of people between sets and after the show. We’ve made a lot of great connections and gotten a lot of great gigs from meeting people at shows like these.”

When they perform Thursday in Kentwood, fans can expect them to “play a mix of cover songs and original music.”

You’ll be sure to have a good time with familiar songs by some of their favorite blues artists such as Robert Cray, Tab Benoit, Larry McCray and Tommy Castro, Krauss said.

“We play some classic rock, some blues, some soul and give our crowds lots of opportunities to dance,” he added.

Learn more about the band https://outoffavorboys.com/.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Dégagé to focus lens on homelessness through film series

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Hard News, Health, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

 Dégagé Ministries is excited to host Unhoused, a film series on the causes, realities, and solutions to homelessness. The event series will include two films shown at Wealthy Theater on June 22 and July 20 from 6-9 p.m., followed by an outdoor community celebration at Dégagé Ministries, 144 Division Ave S, on Aug. 10 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

US AND THEM from Krista Loughton on Vimeo.



To register, attendees can visit https://www.classy.org/event/unhoused-a-film-series-on-the-causes-realities-and-solutions-to-homelessness/e406342, or contact Kacey Spencer at 616-454-1661 ex. 227, or kacey@degageministries.org with any questions.

Each film will be followed by a Q&A with representatives from various organizations, including Mel Trotter Ministries, Family Promise, and Network180. Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Kyd Kane will moderate all sessions.

The film series will culminate in an Outdoor Community Celebration on Aug. 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., outside Dégagé Ministries at the corner of Cherry and Sheldon Avenue. This celebration will feature local food trucks and a live poetry reading by Kane. Food and drink will be available for purchase at all three events, but are otherwise free for the public.

 

The first film featured, Us & Them, documents ten years in the lives of four individuals facing homelessness. Directed by Krista Loughton and Jennifer Abbott, the film explores the challenges of homelessness, and the powerful transformations created through human connection.

The second film, The Public, continues the theme by retelling a story of civil disobedience in Cincinnati, as people turned to a public library for shelter from the outdoor elements. Both films seek to explore and educate the general population about the complexities of homelessness in our community, and wider society.

“Homelessness is a multi-faceted issue with widespread effects in our city,” says Dégagé Ministries Executive Director Thelma Ensink. “Our goal is to bring the complexities of homelessness to light, and promote education and conversation in our community.” 

‘American Idol’ contestant headlines Wyoming’s next Concert in the Park

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

If you’re a fan of soul singers such as Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers and Al Green, you’re going to love Nathan Walton & The Remedy.

Nathan Walton looks for to an evening of soul music at Wyoming’s Lamar Park. (Supplied)

“We play a lot of soul music, and soul covers. We got a pretty good size band….we’re just out to put on a good show for the community,” Walton said in an interview with WKTV Journal.

Walton and his rock ‘n’ roll soul band The Remedy will perform those songs – and may other covers – as part of Wyoming’s weekly concert series at 7 p.m. June 21 at Lamar Park. Admission is free.

The Tuesday night series continues through Aug. 2. See the list of shows below. All will be recorded and aired on WKTV.

If Walton’s name sounds familiar, maybe it’s because he was featured on TV’s “American Idol.”

The singer appeared on Season 3 of the ABC show, where he received a Golden Ticket and competed in Hollywood with talented vocalists from all over the country. Judge Lionel Richie called his voice “a cannon.”

Walton said his experience on “American Idol” in 2020 was “life changing.”

“It was incredible…for sure,” said Walton, who graduated in 2011 from Byron Center High School.  “A friend of mine encouraged me to audition, and I’m glad I did. The next I knew I was in L.A. and hanging out with Lionel Richie. I became a Top 60 singer in America, which was pretty awesome.”

Since then Walton has gained a local following.

He was the “Staff Pick” for Best Solo Musician in Revue Magazine’s “2021 Best of the West” issue.

According to Revue contributing editor, Eric Mitts:

Nathan Walton will perform with his group The Remedy on Tuesday. (Supplied)

“Walton has shone bright. Sure, his powerful, soulful vocals draw most of the attention, but it’s his prolifically diverse songwriting and passion behind the scenes that make him an increasingly major part of the music scene, and an artist everyone should know.”

He’s also proud of his band The Remedy, which put out an album last spring. The seven-piece band also includes a jazz vocalist.

In addition, he is known for assembling a “supergroup” of well-known local multi-instrumentalists called King Possum. And he regularly lends his powerful voice to bands like Stone Soup and the Broken Teeth, and with special guests at his Greyline Brewing residency.

He also serves as music director for Elevator a GoGo, a West Michigan-based platform to discover music, the spoken word, and performance artists from America and around the world.

As for his upcoming gig, he’s just hoping for good weather. His band is ready to go!

“We’re just thankful we could be playing for the community,” he said, “that’s really what we’re happy about. We’ll get out to see some friends and hopefully put on a good show.”

Learn more about Nathan Walton on his website nathanwaltonlive.com/.

Listen to tracks of his latest album at nathanwalton.hearnow.com.

Wyoming Concerts in Park 2022 are all at 7 p.m. at Lamar Park. Admission is free. More info: Wyoming Concerts in the Park Facebook page.

Upcoming Concerts:

June 28 – Jordan Hamilton – Cellist 

July 12 – Randy McAllister – Blues and Soul 

July 19 – Monty Pride – Folk 

July 26 – Bernadette Kathryn – Country 

August 2 – Grupo Latin – Latin Soul (13 piece band)

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Wearing pink, ‘Mean Girls’ take charge of the DeVos stage

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

“Mean Girl” rules: Regina, played by Nadina Hassan (second from right) lays down the rules. (Supplied)

“Mean Girls” is such an iconic movie that just about everyone has seen it or has heard lines from the film without even knowing it.

That’s what makes it so much fun.

Everyone can relate.

Whether it’s flashbacks to high school days or even in your current work environment, “Mean Girls” draws you in.

“This show is so relatable because every single person can see themselves in this show,”  said Ann Arbor native Nadina Hassan, who plays Regina George in the Broadway touring musical that stops June 21-26 at DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids.

“You don’t even have to be a girl. …You find somebody that you relate to, that you may have been in high school or knew somebody in high school or even in your workplace now, you recognize these behaviors.

“Everyone leaves connecting with one or more of the characters.”

“Mean Girls” is a hilarious hit musical from an award- winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey – yes, that Tina Fey, from hit movies and the “30 Rock” TV show, as well as composer Jeff Richmond (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), lyricist Nell Benjamin (“Legally Blonde”) and director Casey Nicolaw (“The Book of Mormon”).

It tells the story of Cady Heron, who grew up on the African savanna, but now has to adjust with life in suburban Illinois. She falls prey to a “trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung,” according to the show notes.

The hardest part for Cady is that she “has to navigate all these clicks,” Hassan said.

And her character is at the center of the “mean.”

“Regina is head of the Plastics and they basically rule the school….They are untouchables,” Hassan said. She is the “meanest of the mean girls.”

Get into the spirit when “Mean Girls” comes to DeVos Performance Hall June 21-26. (Supplied)

If you loved the movie, which was released in 2004 and starred Lindsay Lohan as Cady and Rachel McAdams as Regina, then you’ll love the musical, Hassan said.

All the classic lines from the movie “we keep in the show,” she added. “And we’ve updated things to include social media, which is a big part of our lives these days.”

Growing up in Ann Arbor, Hassan fell in love with theater while acting in productions at the Pioneer Theatre Guild and attending Skyline High School. After graduation she picked up her studies in theater performance at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, near Cleveland. She graduated in 2020.

“I’m glad I went away to college,” she said. Baldwin Wallace “is a small liberal arts university where you have no choice but to stay super focused. I feel I left college ready to take on this kind of job.”

She did some Regional theater, performing in “Tick, Tick… BOOM!” (Susan), “West Side Story” (Maria) and “Be More Chill” (Brooke).

But “Mean Girls” is her first major Broadway tour. She actually auditioned during the pandemic from her bedroom while in Ann Arbor.

She calls landing the gig “a dream come true.”

“I’m so lucky, I never expected this. It happened so fast,” Hassan said.

Her advice to those who are on the same path?

Stepping out on the DeVos Performance Hall stage is “Mean Girls.” (Supplied)

“I know it sounds cheesy, but doing material that you genuinely like performing makes all the difference,” she said. “It opens up a lot of creative avenues for you.”

Right now she loves being in her home state of Michigan where “Mean Girls” wraps up on Sunday at the Fischer Theatre in Detroit before heading to Grand Rapids.

Along with having family and friends come to almost every show, she was able to visit on her day off some of her favorite foodie places like Café Zola, Blank Slate Creamery and Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor.

“I brought back sandwiches for the cast,” she said.

It’s a great cast, she added, and people will enjoy the show.

“I can guarantee you will laugh, you will cry, and you will be cheering,” Hassan said. “It is the most fun you’ll have at a theater performance. It’s 2 ½ hours of straight joy. You will leave much happier than when you arrived.”

Listen to “Nadina Hassan says ‘Mean Girls’ is ‘pure joy'” on Spreaker.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Gonzo’s Top 5: Garden tour, the LPGA, and Juneteenth

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Gonzo's Top 5, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Local Food, Recreation, Restaurants, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

Most schools are out for the summer, which means families are looking for things to do with the kids. Maybe even things to do with dad, since it’s also Father’s Day on Sunday.

Well, you’re in luck! I have a few ideas – some for kids, some for adults – in my Top 5, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.

5. Beer & Brat Street Festival, Sparta

If you’re up for a little road trip to Sparta, this first-year event looks like a lot of fun. Presented by the Sparta Chamber, the Beer and Brat Street Festival is a two-day street party with games, live music, shopping and – you guessed it, beer and brats! Hours are 4-11 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday. Learn more on the Sparta Chamber Facebook event page.

Heritage Hill Garden Tour will feature 10 private gardens and two organization gardens in this year’s event. (Supplied)

4. Heritage Hill Garden Tour, Grand Rapids

Take a pleasant walk along streets of Heritage Hill where 12 historic homes will open their gardens from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday (June 18).  “From showy displays in front gardens bursting with color to hidden gems waiting behind a home to warmly welcome guests, the possibilities of what a garden can be will inspire you,” according to press material.

On this self-guided tour, some of the gardens you will find include:

  1. President Gerald Ford’s boyhood back yard now filled with statuary and rare plantings.
  2. Wonderland over 40 years in the making that surrounds an enchanting home. 
  3. A serene and elegant backyard setting that includes a complete outdoor kitchen.
  4. A stately brick home perfectly surrounded by beautiful plantings.  
  5. A small but artfully designed garden that makes wise use of every space.
  6. A front yard garden that catches the eye of everyone who passes by.
  7. Free-flowing flower garden on Prospect Avenue that wears new colors for every season.
  8. Formal fountains galore surrounding a home on College Avenue.
  9. Peaceful natural water feature that accents a shade garden. 
  10. A sweet little garden on Paris Avenue.
  11.  Vibrant annuals and perennials at the Voigt House tended by volunteers.
  12.  Formal gardens at the Meyer May House that are reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architecture.

Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 on the day of the tour. Tickets are available for presale through midnight on June 17 at heritagehillweb.org.


More:Heritage Hill to host colorful garden tour this Saturday

Asian-Pacific Festival returns to downtown Grand Rapids this weekend. (Supplied)

3. Division Ave Arts & Culture Festival

Speaking of things to do with the family, this is perfect! According to WKTV contributing writer D.A. Reed, the Division Ave. Art & Culture Festival features “food and craft vendors, live music, Pacific Island dancers, interactive art, a colorful dragon parade, fun prize giveaways, and more.” She adds that several local Division Avenue businesses will be participating in the festival, including The Stray, Café Boba, Quest Fitness, and Natural Maya. A portion of 43rd Street will be closed down to accommodate the Festival. It is presented by the Division Avenue Business Association (DABA) and takes place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday (June 18). Learn more on the Facebook Event page. Or read her story.

READ: Division Avenue hosts first annual festival on June 18

2. Meijer LPGA Classic

The LPGA Tour is back in Belmont for the eighth playing of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. All seven previous winners are in the field at Blythefield Country Club, including defending champion Nelly Korda, two-time winner Brooke Henderson and former world No. 1 So Yeon Ryu. In addition, foodies will delight in the new premium hospitality experience offered by J Brewers, is named in honor of the financier who purchased the land where Blythefield now stands. Located on the fourth fairway , J. Brewers will feature more than a 20,000-square-foot pavilion with elevated food and beverage pairings curated and prepared by local and minority-owned restaurants. Daily tickets for access to the J Brewers pavilion cost $75, but gives you front-row views of the on-course action, television viewing areas, great seats and all-you-can-eat access to food and beverage items, featuring local vendors and premium cocktails. General admission tickets are $10 Thursday through Sunday. Kids, ages 17 and under, will receive free admission with a ticketed adult. General admission tickets include general grounds access to the tournament, public viewing area and various Grand Taste viewing and concessions areas located throughout the course. The Golf Channel will show play from 3-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday. All the details of the Meijer LPGA Classic at meijerlpgaclassic.com.

1.Juneteenth Celebration

On June 19 we celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States. But this weekend we celebrate and pay homage to African American freedom with celebrations throughout the area. Experience Grand Rapids has an extensive list, and our friends at WZZM also have a list that includes Muskegon Heights, Holland and virtual events.

A few of note locally:

John Ball Zoo is hosting Juneteenth Fest, which is a community BBQ with live music, food grilling, people dancing, kids playing, people shopping and hanging out. It takes place 2-7 p.m. Saturday (June 18). Admission is free.

Support local Black creatives and vendors at the Baxter Juneteenth Celebration  held June 18 in Joe Taylor Park . It’s all about family, food, fun, education, empowerment and entertainment.

The 2nd annual Justice 4 All Juneteenth Jam is Sunday at Rosa Parks Circle and includes live music, Black-owned food and business vendors, a graffiti art showcase and more. It is sponsored by the city and local African American apparel company Justice 4 All.

The 5th annual Grand Rapids Juneteenth Dundunba  at Dickinson Buffer Park begins with a parade and segues into an afternoon of live entertainment, raffle giveaways and more. June 19.

Enjoy food, fun and entertainment at two Juneteenth “pop-up” events: June 18 at Rosa Parks Circle and June 19  at Martin Luther King Park.

That’s it for now.

As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Have a great, safe weekend.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Fulton Street Market to host solstice event on Tuesday

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Food, Local Food, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The Fulton Street Farmers Market will host a Summer Solstice Celebration! on Tuesday. (Supplied)

The Fulton Street Farmers Market will be hosting its Summer Solstice Celebration! Tuesday, June 21, from 4-8 p.m.

We welcome everyone to come celebrate 100 years of food, farming, art, and community. This event is a non-market event, meaning there are no vendors besides concessions as this is a celebration we want our farmers, food producers, and artisans to attend and enjoy themselves while mingling with each other and the community.

This is a family-friendly event for all ages, featuring a kid’s craft activity hosted by The Monstorium, an artisan market vendor. There will be live music by four musicians throughout the evening who are regular performers at the Saturday markets. Fae Floral are making a flower archway for participants to pose for selfies and group shots to capture the fun of the evening.  There will be beer, seltzer, and cider available for purchase as well as the release of the market’s signature centennial beer the Solstice Sambucus created in collaboration with two market vendors and crafted by Speciation Artisan Ales. The Solstice Sambucus is an elderberry basil Saison.

 

The following concessions will be available during the event: Street Chef Shaw, Los Jalapenos, Agua Fresca, Momma D’s Kitchen, Around Baking Company, Ollie’s Donuts, Any Colour You Like Popsicles, and Tor’s Tonics.

There is no charge to attend the event, and everyone is welcome.  The market is located at 1145 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids. For more information check out the Fulton Street Farmers Market website at: www.fultonstreetmarket.org. 

The history of 28th Street celebrated in Wyoming book

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Local Business, Local History, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

From being a dirt road to being a major thoroughfare, 28th Street is a roadway of history in the Greater Grand Rapids, especially for the City of Wyoming.

So much so, that the Wyoming Historical Commission has spent the last year compiling a new book “From Beals Road to 28th Street, a History of The Miracle Mile.” The book is being released this Saturday with copies available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wyoming Historical Room, located inside the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW.

“We like to think of ‘The Miracle Mile’ as a scrapbook that not only outlines the commercial history from South Division Avenue to Byron Center Avenue but will likely jog many found memories for our readers,” said David Britten, who headed up the project. “It should be a valuable addition to anyone’s local history collection.”

The project is the result of conversations held during Metro Cruise last August as visitors stoped at the Historical Commission’s booth in the Rogers Plaza area, Britten said.

Studio 28 was the first megaplex and one of the largest movie theaters in the world. It was located along 28th Street.

The result is 122-page, 8-1/2by-11 inch book containing more than 200 photos and dozens of advertisements and articles from the earliest years.

In “The Miracle Mile” book, there are three sections detailing the growth of the commercial corridor from 1946 through 1973. A section titled “The Early Years” outlines the changes over time in the road, itself, the Rogers School, and the first few businesses in what was then a rural, farming section of Wyoming Township.

During that time period, 28th Street has been called many names, Beals Road, the Sunset Strip of Grand Rapids and of course, The Miracle Mile.

For around 90 years, 28th Street has served as the southern gateway helping residents and travelers move east and west, serving as the southern border of the Beltline, a bypass route around the city. At one time it was the second busiest highway in the State of Michigan and home to so many hamburger joints, it was said you could have a different one every day and not eat at the same place for three months.

In 1957, US-131 was completed with direct access on and off of 28th Street. It immediately caused change along the roadway. 

In the fifties, McDonald’s opened its first restaurant in the West Michigan area along the stretch of 28th Street in Wyoming. Rogers Plaza would open in 1961 followed by Southland (now 28th West Plaza). Rogers Plaza was the first major modern shopping center in Kent County and caused a tremendous change in metropolitan area shopping.

And just what Rogers Plaza did for shopping, Studio 28 did for movie attendance as Studio 28 was the first megaplex and one of the largest movie theaters in the world.

It was in the Rogers Plaza parking lot during the 2021 Metro Cruise that the idea for “The Miracle Mile” book came about. Rogers Plaza was the first shopping center in Kent County and it is located on 28th Street. (WKACC)

More stores sprouted up on 28th Street, which was widened to five lanes, and that was about the time the nickname “The Miracle Mile” was attached to the street. According to “A City of Wyoming – A History,” also produced by the Wyoming Historical Commission, Fred Eardley’s Trading Post at Burlingame Avenue anchored The Miracle Mile on the west, and Ben Duthler built a supermarket at Clyde Park at the east end anchor. Other new stores were Stone’s Shoes, Rogers Department Store (which would become the largest department store in the county), Feighner Drugs, TerMeer Hardware, Suburban 5 and 10 Store, Meijer, Eberhards food stores, Holiday Lanes, and several gasoline stations.

The book also includes a short biography of Abram J. Longstreet, a forgotten pioneer of Rogers Heights community. In fact, Fruit Basket/Flowerland is located on the original Longstreet farm and Clyde Park is actually named after the Clydesdales that were once located on the farm. The Wyoming High School football field is named after Longstreet.

Books are $20 and beside Saturday, will be available during Metro Cruise, Aug. 26 and 27, and during the History Room’s normal hours which are 9:30 a.m. – noon Tuesdays and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of the month. For more information, visit the Wyoming Michigan History Room’s Facebook page. 

First Wyoming Summer Market to open on Saturday

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Food, Kids Activities, Local Business, Local Faces, Local Food, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

The first of four Summer Markets will be taking place this Saturday at HŌM Flats at 28 West, 1401 Prairie Parkway SW. The event is from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

At last year’s event, a customer looks over a flower arrangement from Wyoming-based Periwinkle Flor Co. (WKTV)

“We are excited to bring this opportunity back to the city,” said Brianna Peña, communications specialist for the City of Wyoming.

Last year, HŌM Flats had approached the city about hosting a public market, which city officials were also considering. The two groups decided to partner hosting two fall events which met with success.

Building off of that, it was decided to host four markets, all through the same partnership of the City of Wyoming and HŌM Flats.

“It is in preparation for the community to host and establish a consistency for these local markets in Wyoming,” Peña said for the reason of expanding the number of markets to four this year.

One of the goals of city officials is to establish a public market within the city limits. Some discussion has centered on using the northern portion of the Site 36, which the city retained after the sale of the property to Franklin Partners.

At each the markets there will be food trucks and artisan vendors offering an array of items such as handmade clothing, jewelry, keychains, and art.

At this Saturday’s event, the food trucks are Curry in a Hurry, which will be offering food selections form India such as Butter Chicken and Traditional Curry with Rice, and Simply Sweet Confections, which will be featuring a selection of its popular macarons.

Also on Saturday, there will be free ice cream to the first 200 attendees and face painting.

The remaining Summer Markets are set for:

July 16, 10 a.m. – 2 p.,. Pinery Park, 2301 DeHoop Ave. SW

Aug 19, 3-7 p.m., 28 West Parking lot, 1345 28 West Place, (near the former Lindo restaurant)

Sept. 16, 3-7 p.m., Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW

Musician Max Lockwood excited about returning to Kentwood

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

Max Lockwood opens the Kentwood Summer Concert series on Thursday. (Photo by Pia Lu)

At an early age, singer/songwriter Max Lockwood knew the stage was his calling.

It came when he was on stage at his 8th grade talent show.

His band, The Wealthy Homeless, played an original song and Green Day cover.

“I was extremely excited for (the talent show), and I have been playing ever since as much as I can,” said the 32-year-old Lockwood.

He’s not joking.

At age 16 he was playing with the local band Sweet Japonic, and after two years of upright bass performance classes at DePaul University, the Wayland native took time off to tour with Michigan band the Ragbirds.

He eventually went back to school to get a creative writing/literature degree from the University of Michigan. His debut record, “Outrider,” served as his senior thesis at the University of Michigan for his degree in creative writing.

“I guess you could say that 50 percent of my lifetime has been playing professionally,” Lockwood told WKTV Journal. “…At this point I feel very comfortable and natural. I enjoy performing very much.”

Max Lockwood will be performing original music at Thursday’s concert. (Photo by Pia Lu)

Lockwood and his band will kick off the Kentwood Summer Music Series on Thursday (June 16) on the lawn behind City Hall. The concert is at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

READ: Summer revs up with Kentwood concerts, farmers market combo

All concerts will be live streamed by WKTV Community Media. Watch the events live at: https://www.wktv.org/live25.html. If you miss a show you can watch it here at WKTV On Demand.

Lockwood will perform his original music, which is “rooted in songcraft and heartfelt lyricism and bound with elements of rock and roll, folk and pop,” according to his website bio. 

His musicianship, songwriting and experience will shine through, whether playing original or cover songs.

Those originals explore the themes of “love, adversity and growth,” in a powerful voice, akin to the likes of Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen.

In fact, he’ll play a couple new songs that were just released, including “Nothing to Fight” and “Lonely Gods.”

Both were recorded in Grand Rapids and feature many local musicians, including members of his side project band, The Insiders, a Tom Petty tribute band that he fronts.

He’s excited to return to Kentwood where he has performed with another band he used to front, psychedelic folk-rock band Big Dudee Roo.

“It’s fun, out on the lawn,” he said of the outdoor series. “Hopefully the weather will be great.”

The Max Lockwood Band consists of Max on guitar and vocals, Justin Dore on guitar, Eric O’Daly on bass and Daine Hammerly on drums.

Learn more about Max Lockwood, including new releases and tour schedules at https://www.maxlockwoodmusic.com/.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Heritage Hill to host colorful garden tour this Saturday

3-bottom, architecture, Citizen Journalism, design, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Recreation, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Heritage Hill Garden Tour will feature 10 private gardens and two organization gardens in this year’s event. (Supplied)

Ten private gardens and two organizational gardens will be part of the 2022 Heritage Hill Garden Tour, which is set for Saturday, June 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

Each garden is a unique reflection of the creative, nature-loving gardeners who tend them. From showy displays in front gardens bursting with color to hidden gems waiting behind a home to warmly welcome guests, the possibilities of what a garden can be will inspire.

 

Some of the gardens included on this self-guided tour are:

  1. President Gerald Ford’s boyhood back yard now filled with statuary and rare plantings.
  2. Wonderland over 40 years in the making that surrounds an enchanting home. 
  3. A serene and elegant backyard setting that includes a complete outdoor kitchen.
  4. A stately brick home perfectly surrounded by beautiful plantings.  
  5. A small but artfully designed garden that makes wise use of every space.
  6. A front yard garden that catches the eye of everyone who passes by.
  7. Free-flowing flower garden on Prospect Ave. that wears new colors for every season.
  8. Formal fountains galore surrounding a home on College.
  9. Peaceful natural water feature that accents a shade garden. 
  10. A sweet little garden on Paris Ave.
  11.  Vibrant annuals and perennials at the Voigt House tended by volunteers.
  12.  Formal gardens at the Meyer May House that are reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architecture.

Individual tickets are $12 in advance, $15 on the day of the tour. Group tickets may be purchased in advance for $8 each for 20 or more tickets, $5 each for 50 or more tickets. Group pricing is not available on the day of the tour.

Tickets are available for pre-sale through midnight on June 17 via our website, www.heritagehillweb.org or contact the office during operating hours at 616-459-8950.

Tickets can be purchased at the ticket booth at the Child Discovery Center, 409 Lafayette Ave. SE. on the day of tour. Pre-sold tickets may be picked up at will call on the day of the tour.

The tour occurs rain or shine. Refunds are not available. Masks are welcomed for the safety of garden hosts and visitors.

Parking will be available at:

  • Child Discovery Center at 409 Lafayette Ave. SE
  • Elders Helpers at 500 Cherry St. S.E.
  • On-street parking is often available. Please adhere to posted parking restrictions.

Artwork celebrating Grand Haven Music Fountain to be unveiled

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Grand Haven Musical Fountain has daily shows at dusk throughout the summer.

On Thursday June 23, the Grand Haven Musical Fountain Committee with the Friends of the Musical Fountain, Inc. will host the unveiling of a commemorative work honoring the 60-year history of Musical Fountain operations

The work was created by Chris LaPorte, a Grand Rapids based artist and 2010 winner of ArtPrize. As part of the Musical Fountain’s 60th anniversary fundraising efforts, prints and posters in varying sizes and formats will be on sale after the unveiling event (www.ghfountain.org/art).

“The Grand Haven Musical Fountain has been a summer spectacle destination for generations now. So many people have shared their family memories of enjoying the nightly show since I began the drawing, LaPorte said. “The Fountain itself is awesome. And, what the Fountain does and continues to do for the community is also amazing. Capturing the mutual experience of the community over decades is part of what I’m trying to capture with this drawing.”

A copy of the original work along with other artifacts from the Musical Fountain’s 60-year history will be on display in the Tri-Cities Museum window at 200 Washington Ave. in Grand Haven through August.  Because of limited space, parties interested in attending the unveiling should contact the Musical Fountain Committee at info@ghfountain.org.

The Grand Haven Musical Fountain is beloved landmark of the City of Grand Haven that presents a creatively synchronized combination of lights and water with popular musical selections. Free nightly shows occur at dusk from Memorial Day to Labor Day with weekend shows in May and September (www.ghfountain.org/showtimes). Fountain operations and maintenance are a joint effort of the City of Grand Haven and an all-volunteer Musical Fountain Committee.

The Friends of the Musical Fountain, Inc. is a newly formed non-profit organization [501 (c)(3)] committed to creating sustainable funding for the maintenance and future enhancements to the Fountain (www.ghfountain.org/friends).

A free 60th Anniversary celebration is being held on Aug. 27 at the Lynne Sherwood Stadium and will include the debut of another water feature enhancement to the Fountain (www.ghfountain.org/60years)!

Serita’s Black Rose brings the funk, more to Tuesday’s concert

Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

It was a chance meeting at lunch spot in Eastown that brought Serita Crowley and John Hayes together.

Discovering they both had a passion for music and after playing a few sessions together, the two local musicians not only became a couple but formed one of the area’s popular groups, Serita’s Black Rose.

Serita’s Black Rose, featuring John Hayes and Serita Crowley, will perform this Tuesday in Wyoming and on July 4 in the City of Kentwood. (Supplied)

The duo with its bandmates, bassist Robert Pace and drummer Mark Weymouth, will continue the music — or rather the funk — this Tuesday as they take the stage at Lamar Park, the second concert in the Wyoming’s Concerts in the Park series.

The popular local band will perform at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

A self-professed “Funkateer,” Crowley brings a raucous mix of funk, rock, blues, neo-soul, and Americana to the stage, according to the Serita’s Black Rose website. In fact, her voice his probably recognizable to many as she has done voices overs along with performed in the musicals “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Hair.”

As a duo, Hayes and Crowley perform many of the timeless classics of the 1960s and 1970s, although in a recent February 2022 article from Local Spins, Crowley said the band’s focus has been on a specific style: the blues.

“Blues music is a genre that we can focus on. It’s an accessible market for us to do really well in. I mean, blues is at the root of everything,” she told Local Spins.

The pandemic offered the duo a chance to work on new song ideas with a new release expected sometime down the road. 

For now, Serita’s Black Rose has been busy performing. Last summer, the group opened for the classic rock band Kansas at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and its 80-plus gigs a year have the members traveling much of Michigan from Wyoming and Kentwood areas to Mackinaw Island.

Serita Crowley is know for her amazing vocal range. (Supplied)

No sweat if you miss Serita’s Black Rose’s performance on Tuesday. The group has a number of local performances scheduled including being part of the City of Kentwood’s Fourth of July celebration line-up. (That performance is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.)

For more about the group, visit www.seritasblackrose.com.

Wyoming Concerts in Park 2022 are all at 7 p.m. at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. More info: Wyoming Concerts in the Park Facebook page.

The rest of the Wyoming Concerts in the Park line up is:

June 21 – Nathan Walton Band – Soul, Rock 

June 28 – Jordan Hamilton – Cellist 

July 12 – Randy McAllister – Blues and Soul 

July 19 – Monty Pride – Folk 

July 26 – Bernadette Kathryn – Country 

Aug. 2 – Grupo Latin – Latin Soul (13 piece band)

LPGA chaplain set to visit Marge’s Donut Den Wednesday

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Recreation, Religion, Sports, Upcoming Events, , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Cris Stevens, the chaplain for the LPGA

As the Meijer ladies Charity Classic gets underway this week, the Mr. Sid’s Wednesday Afternoon Video Series will have LPGA Chaplain Cris Stevens as its guest this Wednesday.

Stevens has served as the chaplain for the Ladies Professional Golf Association since 1982 and will be sharing stories from her role in the LPGA and how she counsels, supports, and ministers to the world’s best professional golfers. She will present her program on Wednesday, June 15, at 2 p.m at Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW. 

Tom Sibley, one of the organizers of the Mr. Sid’s programs, noted this is the second time that Stevens has visited the group. Stevens stopped by last year just before the Meijer LPGA Classic.

The daughter of Sid Lenger (who the group is named after), Lavoone Ritzema, had met Stevens while she worked with the LPGA and invited her to speak. Stevens presentation was so popular that organizers decided to invite her back.

The program begins at 2 p.m. at Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW. There is a hymn sing at 1:45 p.m. The program is free.

Coming up for the Mr. Sid’s Wednesday Afternoon Video Series will be USS Silversides Museum Executive Director Peggy Maniates on July 20. and Grand Haven Musical Fountain Engineer and Board Member Terry Stevens on Aug. 17. 

‘Star Wars’ author, Grand Rapids native set to release memoir trilogy

Books, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By D.A. Reed
WKTV Contributing Writer

Having sold two million Star Wars books for kids (Darth Vader and Son and Jedi Academy) and considered a pioneer of 21st-century graphic memoir, award-winning author and Grand Rapids native Jeffrey Brown is inviting readers to explore the intimate and timeless tales that first launched his career.

Arthur Jeffery Brown (Supplied)

Loved And Lost: A Relationship Trilogy, produced by Top Shelf Productions, is set to debut Tuesday, June 14. These three honest and adult-oriented memoirs, written 20 years ago and now compiled into one work, capture timeless insights into love, intimacy, and vulnerability that make them authentic and relatable to readers.

“(I wanted) to make work that expressed whatI was feeling,” Jeffrey Brown told WKTV in a recent interview. Creating works that related to everyday life was important to Brown. “I thought to myself: The complete opposite of something super-conceptual would be to write something about real life and be as brutally honest as I could possibly write.”

While attending the School of the Art Institute, Brown began doodling comics in his sketchbooks about everyday awkward moments. “There was something about making those that felt very full-filling,” Brown said. The author went on to say that those comics, when he showed them to friends and family, were what seemed to connect with people.

Brown began recording his memories of a recent long-distant relationship in a sketchbook, revealing the emotional frailty of young lovers in writing and art. That first book, Clumsy, struck a chord with readers and prompted Brown to create his second and third graphic memoirs, titled Unlikely and Any Easy Intimacy.

The response to his work, Brown revealed, was unexpected. “These things I was writing about were more universal than I realized,” said Brown. “It’s comforting to know that other people can read something and tell you, ‘Oh yeah, I’ve been there,’ and appreciate that you’ve been there too. It’s a two-way street of connecting with readers.”

Putting himself in a vulnerable position by divulging aspects of his personal life didn’t come easily but was worth it to Brown. “As an artist, I’m trusting people with myself, with my stories,” Brown said. “By and large, that trust is rewarded. I find that when someone opens up and is vulnerable, people’s instinct…is to be empathetic and return that vulnerability with their own vulnerability.”

Collected into one volume for the first time, Love And Lost: A Relationship Trilogy reminds readers of real life joy, heartbreak, and humor that marks every life.

Brown revealed that he is curious to see what readers think of the memoirs 20 years after they were written. “It’s interesting to look back. Obviously,the world is very different,” Brown said, “but hopefully there’s still something in there for people to find value in.”

Over the last 20 years, the author and artist has released numerous titles and won several awards, including the Ignatz Awardin 2003 in the category of Outstanding Mini-Comic for I Am Going To Be Small, and back-to-back Eisner Awardsin the category of Best Humor Publication for Darth Vader And Son (2013) and Vader’s Little Princess (2014).

When asked what is next for the author, Brown said that he does have a few projects in the works, but that he has also begun an epic fantasy adventure book, something he has always wanted do. “I try not to overthink how I’m approaching things and just follow what I feel like I what I want to make next,” said Brown. 

To find out more about author and artist Jeffrey Brown, click here: Jeffrey Brown Comics. To order a copy of Loved And Lost: A Relationship Trilogy, click here: Top Shelf Productions.

Rare, unique automobiles on display Saturday at Downtown Market

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Local Food, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , ,

By WKTV Journal
joanne@wktv.org

Cars & Coffee Grand Rapids returns to the Grand Rapids Downtown Market for the seventh year, hosting the season’s first event on Saturday, June 11, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Cars and Coffee returns to the Grand Rapids Downtown Market on Saturday. (Supplied)

Show cars will be in the Downtown Market parking lot adjacent to Ionia Avenue, and under the covered Market Shed. Spectators can stroll through the impressive array of automobiles from around the region during the event.

Vehicles on display will include sports cars, exotics, tuners, muscle cars and classics.

The Downtown Market will be open from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Saturday for a variety of food and beverage options from Market Hall merchants. Parking is available on-site, and in the nearby McConnell Ave. lot during the event.

Blind Boys of Alabama opens Gardens concerts on Sunday

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

Eric “Ricky” McKinnie was only four years old when he met The Blind Boys of Alabama. His mother was in a gospel group, and he had a chance to meet the legendary Clarence Fountain and other original members on the road.

The Blind Boys of Alabama perform with Marc Cohn on Sunday, June 12. (Supplied)

“I never knew that one day I would be part of The Blind Boys,” said the soft spoken singer, who joined the group as a drummer and road manager 34 years ago.

Today his band backs up The Blind Boys of Alabama, a Grammy award-winning and pioneering gospel group that began in 1939 that is revered in the industry. Over the decades it has appeared on recordings with many artists, including Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Marc Cohn and others.

They help kick off another magical season of concerts on Sunday (June 12) at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The band opens for good friend Marc Cohn, who recorded an album with the Blind Boys in 2019.

McKinnie said they will play about a 75-minute of Gospel standards and some of their best-known songs, before giving way to Cohn. They might even join him on a song or two.

“We had the opportunity to meet Marc a few years ago; we got together, we did some recordings, we did some tours…it’s good to be back again,” said McKinnie in a phone call with WKTV Journal. “It’s just like family.”

The collaborative album with Cohn, titled “Work to Do,” features new and older material, including Cohn’s best known hit “Walking in Memphis,” as well the Blind Boys’ version of “Amazing Grace.”

McKinnie said it’s a special relationship with Cohn. They love him because he’s “an exceptional singer and keyboard player,” but more so because he’s a good person.

“He’s genuine,” McKinnie said. “What you see is what it is. He doesn’t change. We like his style. He’s just a good guy.”

Cohn said of the venerated gospel group:

“My collaboration with the Blind Boys of Alabama has been a thrilling chapter in my musical life,” he said in a release. “We’ve performed dozens of shows together and I was honored to co-write three songs for their previous album. Now, with the release of our new album, my early love and feeling for gospel music has come full circle. It was wonderful to both write new songs with their heavenly voices in mind, and to capture the joy that they bring to some of my older songs in a live setting.”

The Blind Boys have had a changing roster of musicians over its history, but got their name because a majority of the singers were vision impaired. McKinnie lost his eyesight to glaucoma in 1975.

Marc Cohn along with the Blind Boys of Alabama will kick off the Meijer Gardens concert series on Sunday. (Supplied)

The collaborations and accolades grew over the years and led to some prestigious awards, including five Grammy awards, induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) Lifetime Achievement Awards.

The group also was invited to the White House during the Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations.

McKinnie said “it’s always a privilege” to play for dignitaries and collaborate with other artists because “it’s good to know that someone likes your music and that someone cares.”

Performing songs “that reach the heart” has been a big part of their success, as well as their mission, he said.

“Throughout the years the Blind Boys have always tried to let people know that they are important,” he said.

“They show people that a disability doesn’t have to be a handicap because we learn that it’s not about what you can’t do that’s important, it’s about what you do. A handicap is a limitation, and we all have limitations.”

Most of all, the Atlanta native said, fans can expect to have a good time at Meijer Gardens when he takes the stage to perform with founding member Jimmy Carter, as well as Joey Williams, Ben Moore and Paul Beasley.

“We’re going to sing some songs that will make you feel good, if you feel bad, and we’re going to have you clap your hands and do a little dance. We’re going to have a great ol’ time when we get there,” McKinnie said.

Tickets are still available for the Marc Cohn + Blind Boys of Alabama, which are $52/public and $50 member. Many of the Meijer Garden shows are sold out. Shows with tickets available are:

June 24 – Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown featuring Tank and the Tan Bangas, Big Freedia, Cyril Nevil: The Uptown Ruler, George Porter Jr. and Dumpstaphunk (performing the music of The Meters and the The Soul Rebels, $93/member, $95/public

June 27 – Bluegrass Happening featuring Bela Fleck & My Bluegrass Heart, Sam Bush & The Jerry Douglas Band, $65/member, $67/public

July 6 – Corinne Bailey Rae with The War & Treaty, $53/member, $55/public

July 15 – Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, $68/member, $70/public

July 20 – Rick Springfield with the Grand Rapids Symphony, $75/member, $77/public

July 21 – Buddy Guy + John Hiatt, $80/member, $82/public

July 28 – Arturo Sandoval with the Grand Rapids Symphony, $53/member, $55/public

Aug. 4 – Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Nicole Atkins, $102/member, $104/public

Aug. 10 – The Dead South with Tejon Street Corner Thieves, $51/member, $53/public

Sept. 12 – Australian Pink Floyd, $61/member, $63/public

Sept. 16 – She & Him, $72/presale, $75/,member, $77/public

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Tickets still remain for 12 of this season’s 33 concerts, including opening night with Marc Cohn and The Blind Boys of Alabama.

Learn more at https://www.meijergardens.org/calendar/summer-concerts-at-meijer-gardens/

Gonzo’s Top 5: Asian-Pacific Festival, Frozen Jr., Bridge Blast, and so much more

Entertainment, Gonzo's Top 5, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, Restaurants, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

It’s another weekend, and another festival in downtown Grand Rapids.

Back is the Asian-Pacific Festival at Calder Plaza, which offers great food, entertainment and even educational workshops.

Obviously it will be in my Top 5, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.

What else makes my list? Read on.

Gonzo’s Top 5

“Frozen Jr.” will be at Byron Center’s Van Singel Fine Arts this weekend. (Supplied)

5. “Frozen Jr.,” Byron Center

Based on the 2018 Broadway musical, “Frozen Jr.” brings Elsa, Anna, and the magical land of Arendelle to life this weekend at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center in Byron Center. The show features all of the classic and memorable songs from the animated film, with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, plus five new songs written for the Broadway production. Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday (June 10-11), with a special 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. More information at www.vsfac.com.

Fulton Street Artisans Market returns on Sunday and runs through September.

4. Fulton Street Artisans Market

For nearly two decades, the Fulton Street Artisans Market has been a great place for Michigan makers and artists to sell their goods and share their passions with the local community. Not only do you get an opportunity to buy handmade goods and artwork, but you also get to interact and learn about the creative processes. It kicks off this weekend, and continues Sundays through September at the Fulton Street Market in Grand Rapids. Hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. More information on the Facebook Event page. 

Traditional Irish music at The Stray on Saturday. (Supplied)

3. Grand Rapids Irish Traditional Session at The Stray

One of our favorite local hangouts, The Stray, is having an Irish Traditional Session at 7 p.m. Saturday where you can enjoy a pint while listening to a collective of local musicians play traditional Irish folk music. All ages are welcomed. Admission is free. Tips are ALWAYS encouraged. More information is available at https://www.thestraycafe.com/ or on the Facebook Event page. Other acts this weekend: Chris Bursley, Jordan Hamilton and Normal Mode (7:30 p.m. Friday); and Big Band Nouveau (5 p.m. Sunday). The Stray is located at 4253 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids.

2. Bridge Blast 2022

If you’re headed downtown for this weekend’s Asian-Pacific Festival, you might want to stop by City Built Brewing Co. for an outdoor festival with live music, food and great beer. Bridge Blast celebrates the five-year anniversary of one of the best breweries in West Michigan. Along with several City Built beers, the festival features 12 Michigan breweries right on the Sixth Street Bridge. Admission is free to the general public. Bridge Blast is from 3-11 p.m. Saturday (June 11). Learn more on the Facebook Event page.

Asian-Pacific Festival returns to downtown Grand Rapids this weekend. (Supplied)


1. Grand Rapids Asian-Pacific Festival 2022

I remember the very first Asian-Pacfic Festival in Grand Rapids, and thought: “This is so needed in our West Michigan community.” Now, six years later, it’s even more important than ever that we support each other as we learn about ALL the cultures that make us a special place to live, work and play. This weekend you can experience 40-plus diverse food and merchandise vendors, as well as entertainment and workshops. All are dedicated to immersive experiences to learn about the Pacific Island, South Asian and Hmong communities. Organizers said: “Start the day with morning yoga. Then visit our massive selection of diverse cuisine that will delight foodies…plus festival-only craft beers and cocktails.” The two day festival is 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday (June 10-11) at Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids.  See you there! Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/grasianfoundation.

That’s it for now.

As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Have a great, safe weekend.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Division Avenue hosts first annual festival on June 18

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Kids Activities, Local Business, Local Faces, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , ,

By D.A. Reed
WKTV Contributing Writer

The Division Avenue Business Association (DABA), will be hosting the Division Ave. Art & Culture Festival on June 18, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Craft vendors will be part of the upcoming Division Ave. Arts & Culture Festival. (Courtesy The Stray)

This family-friendly event will be held in the neighborhood surrounding Division Avenue and 43rd Street, and will include food and craft vendors, live music, Pacific Island dancers, interactive art, a colorful dragon parade, fun prize giveaways, and more.

The Art & Culture Festival was brought into being after a study was done by Division United and in cooperation with The Rapid.

“They were looking at what this neighborhood would need to grow and better the people who live here and the people who work here,” Hunter VanKlompenberg, music and arts manager of The Stray, a coffee house participating in the Festival. “We thought it would be cool to have an annual summer festival that is for the local neighborhood and supported by local artists and gets the involvement of all the different businesses.”

Along with independent artists, musicians, and vendors from the greater Grand Rapids area, several local Division Avenue businesses will be participating in the Festival, including The Stray, Café Boba, Quest Fitness, and Natural Maya. A portion of 43rd Street will be closed down to accommodate the Festival.

Pacific Island dancers will be part of the entertainment at the Festival. (Courtesy The Stray)

“We are going to have artist tents outside,and space for live music,” VanKlompenberg said. “We have the support of Wyoming and Kentwood city governments, and they are putting in a temporary crosswalk so that it (the Festival) is easy for people to access.”

While it isn’t the most well-known area of Grand Rapids, the Wyoming and Kentwood areas are vastly multi-cultural with specialty shops, including the Kim Nhung Superstore, that are sought out by West Michigan community members.

“A lot of people will drive over an hour to come visit because there are ingredients you just can’t get anywhere else,” VanKlompenberg said of the Asian grocery store across the street from The Stray.

Owners of Café Boba, Yiuli and ted Bonarski are also excited to be part of the upcoming Festival.

Cafe Boba is known for its bubble tea and other delights. (Supplied)

“We’re so happy to be involved in planning and participating n this event,” the couple said in a recent interview. “It’s not widely known that South Division is a hotbed of hole-in-the-wall, diamond-in-the-rough small businesses, but it truly is the place in Grand Rapids for authentic food and art from a huge variety of cultures around the world. We’re thrilled to be helping to promote small, owen operated businesses; they are the lifeblood of a healthy community for people, by the people.”

Café Boba offers customers a wide selection of boba tea, smoothies, slashes, coffee drinks, and sweets treats — and will be offering a new summer menu.

Ray Shonk, owner of Quest Fitness on Division Street, will also be participating in the Art and Culture Festival and looks forward to the opportunity to meet more members of the community.

“Fitness isn’t meant to be for the super-wealthy,” Shonk said. “It should be for everyone.”

Ray Shonk, owner of Quest Fitness, said fitness should be for everyone. (Supplied)

Shonk has experience training many different levels of fitness enthusiasts, from those stepping into a gym fo rat first time, to professional athletes and Olympic competitors.

To help raise awareness and encourage fitness discussions, Shonk will be offering free fitness assessments throughout the entire Festival where community members can meet Quest Fitness trainers and discuss their goals. “Fitness is not one-size-fits-all. It has to be custom-fit to each person,” said Shonk.

Shonk is a firm believer in offering affordable fitness options for everyone while also providing unique experiences. “I am having to draw on 30-plus years of martial arts experience to put that together,” Shonk said with a laugh.

The Stray also hopes to bring the Wyoming an dKentwood area something unique and virtual to West Michigan.

A family-owned café, The Stray’s goal since conception has been to bring diversity and community to a place of comfort and creativity. They accomplish this by offering a relaxing venue for both coffee enthusiasts and artists of the surrounding area. The Stray’s own unique blend of creative talent and delicious coffee helps cultivate the welcoming atmosphere The Stray strives to bring to Grand Rapids.

The Stray is a family-owned business that opened last fall. (Supplied)

“There is a definite deficit of accessible venues for music and arts,” said VanKlompenberg of the Grand Rapids area. “Having an (accessible) place was definitely needed.”

Included in the live music line-up are American Folk band Wilderlove, and musician Kevin Murphy, and Jeff Troutman and the Parachute Adams Band.

Division Avenue store owners invite adults and children alike to explore the Division Ave. Art & Culture Festival on June 18 and experience all the community has to offer.

For full Art & Culture Festival event information and updates, visit the event’s Facebook page.

There is still availability for vendors who would like to get involved. Those who would like to participate can fill out the Involvement Interest Form or send an email to the team@thestraycafe.com.

Summer revs up with Kentwood concerts, farmers market combo

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Kids Activities, Local Food, Recreation, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects, , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

Cabildo performs July 21 at Kentwood Summer Concert Series.

The Kentwood Summer Concert Series is not your typical outdoor community event.

Yes, you get live music, of course, and food trucks are on hand to keep you fed.

But you can also bring your own “adult beverages.”

“That’s one of the things that makes Kentwood a little more unique,” said Laura Barbrick, marketing and events coordinator for the City of Kentwood Parks & Recreation department.

Through a special permit with the local police department, attendees can bring their own alcohol (beer and wine) in a designated area. “It just has to stay in the concert zone,” she added.

Fans of the popular concert series will get to bring those “adult beverages” to the show when the Max Lockwood Band kicks off the series at 7 p.m. June 16 on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall. Bring your own blankets and lawn chairs.

The weekly series continues on Thursday evenings through Aug. 11. See the schedule below. All will be recorded and aired on WKTV.

Another “unique” aspect of the Kentwood series is an opportunity to check out the local farmers market. About a decade ago the market used to be on Saturdays, but changed to Thursdays in this special partnership.

“We polled our residents and discovered there was a need for a weekday evening market,” Barbrick said.

The Kentwood Farmers Market will be from 4:30 – 7 p.m. Thursdays, right before the concert series. (Supplied)

In 2020 they had a few pop-up markets on Thursday nights, and they were very well attended, she said.

“To continue the momentum,” they decided to have the farmers market on the same day. “It’s a great way to cross-promote both events,” Barbrick added.

“People who attend the concert series might not have known about our Farmers Market before. But now our concertgoers love to shop the market and buy local products before grabbing a seat on the lawn for the show. It really has been a win-win and has helped grow both the market and our concert series.”

The Kentwood Farmers Market takes place next door from 4:30-7 p.m. in the parking lot behind City Hall.

Concerts take place from 7-8:30 p.m. on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. Admission is free. A variety of food trucks also will be on hand.

The lineup of bands includes a variety of styles and diversity, which was intentional, Barbrick said.

 

“Typically, in January, we put out a poll on social media asking the community who they want in our lineup,” she said. “We take the results from the poll and go through all the band applications to determine the lineup.

“Diversity is very important to our selection. We serve a very diverse community and want our music selection to represent our residents and culture.”

Crowds can range from 500-1,000 people, depending on the popularity of acts.

But everyone has a great time, she said.

“We’ve received a lot of positive feedback from residents over the years. We have some families that come to every single show,” Barbrick said.

“People love the opportunity to be outdoors and enjoy a free concert. We love it when the crowd is dancing and asking for an encore. It’s very rewarding to see the smiles and hear the applause after each show.”

Parking for shows will be limited at both City Hall and the Library, according to the city’s website. Additional parking is available at the Kentwood Justice Center (4740 Walma SE), Kentwood Public Works (5068 Breton SE), Kentwood Baptist Church (2875 52nd St), and there is street parking in nearby neighborhoods.

Get more information at kentwood.us.

This year’s lineup includes:

All concerts will be live streamed by WKTV Community Media.

Watch the events live at: https://www.wktv.org/live25.html

If you miss a show you can watch it here at WKTV On Demand.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Community members invited to shop local at the Kentwood Farmers Market

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Local Food, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The Kentwood Farmers Market will return for its eighth season June 16-Sept. 29 with more than 30 local vendors and a variety of special activities.

The market will take place 4:30-7:30 p.m. each Thursday except Sept. 8 behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. With a longer 15-week season and more vendors than ever before, the market will provide opportunities for community members to buy an array of local goods ranging from fresh produce, baked goods, syrup and cheese to fresh-cut flowers, coffee and handmade items all summer long.

In addition to exploring vendor items, there will be food trucks on-site each week offering a range of cuisines for purchase, along with themed nights featuring free activities for marketgoers.

Community members are also invited to attend Kentwood’s Summer Concert Series, which overlaps with the market’s Thursday evening schedule. Free to attend, each concert will take place 7-8:30 p.m. on the lawn behind City Hall.

Here’s the full lineup of the free activities, food trucks and concerts:

  • June 16: Opening day celebration featuring a food demonstration and food samples; El Jalapeño, Kona Ice of Lowell and Patty Matters food trucks;  The Max Lockwood Band concert at 7 p.m. 
  • June 23: Falafel Truck, Kool Breze and Sanse Filipino Cuisine food trucks; Out of Favor Boys concert at 7 p.m. 
  • June 30: Mapocho, Patty Matters and Taste of Toya’s World food trucks; The Soul Syndicate concert at 7 p.m.
  • July 7: Dog Days of Summer featuring dog vendors, pet portraits, a dog walk and dog adoptions; Taste of Toya’s World food truck
  • July 14: Falafel Truck, Kool Breze and Mapocho food trucks; Par-llo Connectionconcert at 7 p.m.
  • July 21: Dune Buggy, Kona Ice and Sanse Filipino Cuisine food trucks; Cabildoconcert at 7 p.m. 
  • July 28: El Jalapeño, Kool Breze and Mapocho; Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestraconcert at 7 p.m.
  • Aug. 4: El Jalapeño, Patty Matters and Taste of Toya’s World food trucks; The Moxie Strings concert at 7 p.m.
  • Aug. 11: National Farmers Market Week celebration featuring a food demonstration and food samples; Falafel Truck, Kona Ice, Sanse Filipino Cuisine and Taste of Toya’s World food trucks; Brena concert at 7 p.m.
  • Aug. 18: Back to School Night featuring a student showcase of local musicians; Patty Matters food truck.
  • Aug. 25: Charcuterie Challenge, a food assembly showdown using only farmers market ingredients; Sanse Filipino Cuisine food truck.
  • Sept. 1: Kid’s Day featuring a meet and greet with animals from the John Ball Zoo, crafts  and more; Kool Breze food truck.
  • Sept. 15: Bike Day featuring bike vendors and demonstrations; Falafel Truck.
  • Sept. 22: Fall Equinox Day Dune Buggy food truck.
  • Sept. 29: Harvest Day featuring pumpkin painting and food preserving demonstrations; El Jalapeño food truck; Just Jill music performance 4:30-5:30 p.m.

“We are looking forward to welcoming community members back to the Kentwood Farmers Market for another great season offering a robust lineup of vendors and special activities,” Market Manager Kristina Colby said. “All are invited to join us for fun outdoors connecting with and supporting our local farmers and vendors.”

The Kentwood Farmers Market accepts food assistance benefits, including SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks and Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH.

Community members can stay up to date on special market events and seasonal items by following the Kentwood Farmers Market on Facebook.

There are still a few spots available for vendors. Those who are interested can apply to be a vendor at KentwoodFarmersMarket.com. The cost is $10 per day or $75 for the full season.

In addition to visiting the market, individuals who want to support the market can become a Friend of the Kentwood Farmers Market sponsor or volunteer to assist with market setup, the information booth, special events and more.

Additional information about the Kentwood Farmers Market, including a vendor application, is available at KentwoodFarmersMarket.com.

Wyoming Concerts in the Park returns June 7

Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Entertainment, Gonzo's Top 5, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Recreation, Upcoming Events, ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

The Soul Syndicate kicks off the Wyoming Concert series on Tuesday, June 7. (Supplied)

The Wyoming Concerts in the Park kicks off with Soul Syndicate, which is one of the most recognizable bands in the area known for its horn section that cranks out classic soul, R&B and funk tunes meant to keep those toes tapping and the young at heart dancing.

“It’s a party!,” said founder and guitarist Mike Coon, who leads a 10-piece band through a long list of songs everyone knows and loves. “It’s a fun band. You don’t sit in chairs and watch us.”

Soul Syndicate opens the Wyoming weekly concert series at 7 p.m. June 7 at Lamar Park. Admission is free.

The Tuesday night series continues through Aug. 2. See the list of shows below. All will be recorded and aired on WKTV.

Coon said performing in front of fans at outdoor concerts like Wyoming, Meijer Gardens (June 28) and Kentwood (June 30) really brings out a wide range of ages. That’s the great thing about these classic songs by Aretha Franklin, Sam and Dave, KC and Sunshine Band and Chicago, he said, everyone knows them.

“These songs seem to transcend over a lot of ages, particularly in the outdoor shows like Kentwood and Wyoming where you got, literally, all ages,” Coon said.

Younger people know these songs from parents and grandparents or they’ve heard them in advertisements.

The Soul Syndicate performs at the Frederick Meijer Gardens June 28 followed by a summer performance at Kentwood on June 30. (Supplied)

“The younger people are like ‘Yeah, I know that song,” he said. “And the older people remember it when it was on the charts.”

“These songs just sort of resonate…. Nobody is hearing that old classic rock song that’s been in their head for 30 years. (Our show) is different. It’s refreshing.”

That was the goal when the band started in 2013. Even though the beginnings of the band had started, it was the urging of friend Juliet Dragos of WZZM-TV (Channel 13) who reached out to Coon, asking if he could put a group together for a Special Olympics event.

From there they started doing special events, corporate shows, outdoor festivals and casinos.

The premise has always been the same: To entertain crowds with music they know and love and keep them dancing and clapping along.

Their popularity took off because not a lot of bands had horn sections playing these classic songs, he said.

“I couldn’t think of anybody that really did that,” Coon said. “A lot of other bands had one Stevie Wonder song in their set. We had four of them. It set us apart, and the horns made it snap.”

The group consists of: Mike Coon, guitar; Tom Taylor, drums; Katie Sarb, vocals and backup; Matt Fouts, bass; John Neil, keyboards; Tim DenBesten, trumpet (horn leader); Nate Hansen, sax; Jeff Carroll, trombone; and Colin Tobin, lead vocalist.

They also have a couple other musicians who play sax and rotate through the band, Coon said.

They perform about 50 shows a year, which might not seem like a lot, but Coon emphasized that they’re not a “tavern band.”

“We’re all pros.” he said. “No matter the venue we’re given we seem to be able to adapt quickly and make it work.”

But it’s the horn section that really distinguishes the band from others.

“When they’re all in sync it adds that energy to the show, and the audience really responds to them,” Coon said.

“Everybody in the band is an accomplished soloist. Anybody, whether keyboards, bass, drums, anybody in the section can step up and rip your head off on a solo….When the horns  are on and in sync, it just blows your hair back. It’s cool.”

Learn more about Soul Syndicate and see a list of shows at https://www.thesoulsyndicate.com/shows.

Wyoming Concerts in Park 2022 are all at 7 p.m. at Lamar Park. Admission is free. More info: Wyoming Concerts in the Park Facebook page.

Concerts Lineup

June 7 – Soul Syndicate – Covers – Rock 

June 14 – Serita’s Black Rose – Funk, Rock, Blues 

June 21 – Nathan Walton Band – Soul, Rock 

June 28 – Jordan Hamilton – Cellist 

July 12 – Randy McAllister – Blues and Soul 

July 19 – Monty Pride – Folk 

July 26 – Bernadette Kathryn – Country 

August 2 – Grupo Latin – Latin Soul (13 piece band)

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Wyoming residents, it’s time to purge with city hosting annual community clean-up event

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Environment, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Spring cleaning is what many have been doing as the weather warms up to summer. Now the question is what to do with all that stuff?

The City of Wyoming will be hosting its annual Community Clean-Up event on June 4 at the Grand Rapids First parking lot.

Well the City of Wyoming will be helping out its residents once again with the return of its popular Community Clean-Up Day which is set for Saturday, June 4. The event will again take place in the parking lot of the Grand Rapids First, 2100 44th St. SW. It will open at 8 a.m. with participants encouraged to be in line by 1:30 p.m. to drop off items.

The traffic flow will have cars entering Grand Rapids First through the right lane of the eastbound 44th Street. Once in line, drivers should follow the directions to the northeast entrance off 44th Street.

An array of unwanted items will be accepted such as recyclables, scrap metals, and car batteries. Items NOT accepted are household hazardous waste; kitchen garbage; liquid latex paint; seal drums; liquid, biological, radioactive waste; propane tanks; refrigerants; and explosives.

Yard waste may be dropped off at the Yard Waste Drop-Off, which is located at 2600 Burlingame Ave. SW. The facility will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The facility is also open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. Yard waste should be sorted by leaves and grass and brush pile.

E. Martin Hennings (American, 1886–1956). Two Summer Riders, c. 1930s. Oil on Canvas, 30 ¼ x 30 ¼ inches. Bank of America Collection.

At the Community Clean-Up event, there will be a fee for some items. While tires are $10 each, mattress or box springs are $15 each, tube and televisions that are 27 inches or smaller are $20, and tube televisions 27 inches or larger are $40.

To participate in the Community Clean-Up event, and to use the Yard Waste Drop-Off, residents must provide proof of residency which can be a photo ID, utility or credit card statement or bank statement within the last 90 days, a mortage, lease, or rental agreement, insurance policy, an issued license, or a Michigan vehicle registration.

The city started its Community Clean-Up in 2016 and it quickly became popular with the event averaging at least 300 vehicles coming through and disposing of items. 

For more information about the Community Clean-Up Day, visit www.wyomingmi.gov/cleanup. For more tips on waste and recycling, visit Kent County’s ReimagineTrash.org. 

Best ‘dog-gone’ party in town: BISSELL Blocktail Party returns

3-bottom, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Pets/Animals, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

By Philip Janowski
WKTV Contributing Writer

BISSELL Pet Foundation founder Cathy Bissell (Supplied)

The BISSELL Blocktail Party, West Michigan’s premier animal welfare fundraiser, is returning Tuesday, June 7. The last event in 2019 resulted in more than 1,000 guests — both human and canine — coming together to support homeless pets. Pet lovers and their four-legged friends are invited to this party with a purpose.

This year the event, which is from 6-9 p.m. at the East Grand Rapids track, will include live grilling with Celebrity Chef Paul Wahlberg of Wahlbergers. There will be adoptable pets from local shelters, including Labradors, Doodles, assorted puppies, and more. The popular silent auction is also returning with unique art and pet-themed packages.

Other attractions include DJ AB providing music, ArtPrize winner Chris LaPorte creating caricatures of furry friends, and even a specially created Blocktail IPA (I Prefer Adoption) beer.

“This year’s BISSELL Blocktail Party is going to be bigger and better than ever,” said Cathy Bissell, founder of the BISSELL Pet Foundation. “[The] Blocktail is BISSELL Pet Foundation’s primary fundraising event, providing critical support to give homeless pets a second chance. It wouldn’t be possible without the generous individuals who attend and sponsor the event.”

All of the proceeds will go directly to save homeless pets through grants from BISSELL Pet Foundation.

Besides a chance for fundraising, there’s good reason for celebration. In May, the BISSELL Pet Foundation announced a record number of adoptions for its National “Empty the Shelters” campaign. From May 2 to 15, more than 13,500 shelter pets in 45 states—approximately 6,035 cats and 7,469 dogs—were adopted through the event.

“Empty the Shelters” was created in 2016, and was originally hosted in just a few Michigan shelters. Since then, this event has grown to be BISSELL Pet Foundation’s most prominent program and the country’s largest funded adoption event. To date, “Empty the Shelters” has found homes for 96,068 pets and provided more than $7.6 million in direct funding to shelter partners.

“Right now, shelters are so full, and pets are experiencing longer stays,” Bissell said. “This is an expensive program for our small foundation, but it is a proven success. And we can’t turn our backs when we know we can save thousands of lives in one event.”

Tickets to the BISSELL Blocktail Party are available online for $100 per person and $50 for students with a valid student ID. Sponsors at $1,500 and above will receive tickets to the separate BISSELL Sponsor Party on June 6, which will have the talents of Lou Gramm and Asia featuring John Payne. Visit www.bissellblocktailparty.com for more details and to purchase tickets or be a sponsor for the event.

Gonzo’s Top 5: Hot rods, African food, and the Sistine Chapel

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

It’s Memorial Day weekend!

That means it’s the unofficial start of summer. Who’s ready? I know I am.

Let’s take a look at some of things to do this weekend in my Top 5, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.

Oh, and don’t forget the Grand Rapids Memorial Day Parade is at 10 a.m. Monday. More info at uvckc.org. The Wyoming ceremony is at 7 p.m. Monday. More information on the Facebook Event page.

Gonzo’s Top 5

5. Spring Wildflower Walk at Blandford Nature Center

This is a great time to discover nature, and also learn more about our Michigan spring wildflowers, also known as spring ephemerals. This weekend you can check them out on a special wildflower walk from 1-2 p.m. Saturday (May 28) at Blandford Nature Center, 1715 Hillburn Ave NW. According to the event page: “These flowers take advantage of the sun-lit and moisture-rich woodlands to bloom quickly and to go seed in order to ensure their survival until next year. Join Julie Batty, our Land Stewardship Manager, and she leads a walk along the trails of Blandford to seek out some of these flowers before the forest shades over for the summer and they disappear again until next spring.” Cost is $7 for members and $10 for non members. This is an outdoor event. More information on the Blandford Nature Facebook event page.

4. African Market Michigan in Kentwood

Have you been looking for an opportunity to taste authentic African food? This weekend check out African Market Michigan, which will be serving African food and selling African clothing/jewelry all weekend. The pop-up restaurant will be open from noon-5 p.m. Saturday-Monday (May 28-30) at The Social Suite and Rental, 5528 Division Ave S, in Kentwood. Don’t wait too late in the day because they could sell out before 5 p.m. Learn more on the Taste of Africa Michigan Facebook page.

3. Memorial Day Celebration at Berlin Raceway

It’s always a fun time at the Berlin Raceway in Marne. The racing continues this weekend with some special events, and fireworks! On the schedule is the second and final Money in the Bank qualifier for the Budweiser Super Late Models, plus a 50 Lap feature for the Model Coverall Service, Inc. Limited Late Models. On the track they’ll also have the Coors Light Sportsman and the Good Humor Mini Wedges. As always, kids 15 and under are free. Also, military, veterans and seniors 65+ are admitted free. Racing starts at 6:30 p.m. Learn more at berlinraceway.com.

2. Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition

In case you have not heard, the Gerald R. Ford Museum has a special exhibition dedicated to artist Michelangelo, known for his famous fresco “the creation of man” and his work on the Sistine Chapel. With special expertise and care, the ceiling paintings from the Sistine Chapel have been reproduced with licensed high definition photos. They are on display now through Oct. 22. According to the Ford Museum website: “While visitors to the Vatican Museums in Rome can marvel at these frescoes only from afar, ‘Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition’ now offers the opportunity to observe these masterpieces close up, in the form of reproductions.” After centuries of use, the paintings in the Chapel had become covered in such a thick layer of dust and soot, according to press materials, “and as a result of this deterioration the brilliance of the original luminous colors had all but disappeared.” This exhibition brings an entirely new perspective to this work by Michelangelo and acts as a form of art in its own right. Learn more at https://chapelsistine.com/exhibits/grand-rapids/.

1.Fulton Street Farmers Market, Friday, Saturday | 8AM-2PM, 1145 Fulton St E Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids’ oldest Farmers Market, operating since 1922, is back for another summer season. The Fulton Street Farmers Market features 118 outdoor booths and additional space for indoor booths. The market hosts an assortment of fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, hand-crafted food items, and unique artisan products year-round. The summer season is underway now with expanded hours and days, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The Fulton Street Farmers Market is located at 1145 Fulton St. SE. Learn more at fultonstreetmarket.org. The Fulton Street Artisans Market opens June 12.

That’s it for now.

As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Have a great, safe weekend.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Wyoming, Kentwood prepare to honor fallen soldiers in Memorial Day events

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Holidays, Local History, Our Cities, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor

Memorial Day is a national holiday that honors fallen soldiers. (pxhere.com)

While for many it is the “official start of summer,” Memorial Day is designed to honor those who have fallen while serving during a war.

It originally was designated for those who had fallen during the Civil War and was observed only on May 30. However the custom grew and by the 19th Century, many communities across the country had Memorial Day celebrations. In 1971, the federal government declared “Memorial Day” a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday of the month of May. There was a splitting of ceremonies, with some municipalities choosing to celebrate on the last Monday of May while others deciding to keep with the traditional May 30 for Memorial Day activities.

Due to leap years and calendar configurations, every once in awhile, Memorial Day lands on May 30, which is what has happened for 2022. So there will be several Memorial Day events honoring fallen heroes throughout West Michigan.

Since it is a national holiday, government offices such as Kent County, the City of Kentwood, and the City of Wyoming, will be closed.

Kentwood Memorial Day Parade

Wreaths are laid during the Kentwood Memorial Day ceremony.

The D.W. Cassard Post, along with the Amvets Post, will host a parade in Kentwood at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 30. The parade kicks off from the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), near the corner of 48th Street and Eastern Avenue. From there, it will head west down 48th Street to Kentwood’s Veteran’s Memorial Park, located in front of the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE. At the park, there will be a ceremony including the laying of the five wreaths, one for each of the branches of military service: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

WKTV will be taping the Kentwood parade and service which is scheduled to air at 12:30 and 8 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25 and on wktv.org.

Wyoming Memorial Day Program

The City of Wyoming will be hosting its annual Memorial Day program Monday, May 30, from 7 – 8 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Garden, 2300 DeHoop Ave. SW. (This is located in front of the Wyoming Department of Public Safety building.)

The City of Wyoming will host its Memorial Day program at Veteran’s Memorial Garden. (Photo by Harriet Sturim)

Mayor Jack Poll will emcee and the Lee High School band is scheduled to perform. This year’s guest speaker will be Sean Moriarty. Moriarty is currently a student at Grand Valley State University pursing a degree in Applied Food and Nutrition from the College of Health Professions.

Moriarty enrolled at GVSU after serving eight years of active duty with the United States Coast Guard, where he was a medical corpsman. He sailed onboard the CGC Campbell in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, performing anti-terrorism duties with the Naval Support Activity in Manama, Bahrain, and providing clinical and emergency services at U.S. Coast Guard Base Boston in Massachusetts.

After coming to Michigan, Moriarty enlisted with the Air National Guard as a public affairs specialist where he currently serves in Battle Creek. He is accompanied by his wife, Justine, who is also currently enlisted with the U.S. Coast Guard in Grand Haven.

WKTV will be taping the Memorial Day program, which will air at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25 and on wktv.org.

Other Memorial Day programs

The United States Air Force Band from Washington, D.C. has produced two solemn videos to honor the nation’s fallen heroes this Memorial Day. The first video features the Ceremonial Brass, one of the Band’s six ensembles, performing “Goin’ Home,” with narration by General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Chief of Staff of the Air Force. WKTV will air the “Goin’ Home” video at several times on Memorial Day. Those times are 9:28 a.m., 10:30 a.m, 12:27 p.m., 3:57 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and 10:28 p.m.

The second video features stunning aerial visuals of the bugler, Technical Sgt. Jason Covey, as he solemnly performs “Taps” at Culpeper National Cemetery in Culpeper, Virginia. The unique perspective provided by the drone reveals the scope of sacrifice made by our military members over countless generations. The “Taps” video will air 9:55 a.m., 11:03 a.m., 1 p.m., 7:43 p.m., 9:11 p.m., and 12:08 a.m.

Both programs may be seen on the Comcast Channel 25 or on wktv.org.

Sunday Night Funnies Kingpin of Comedy competition returns

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Restaurants, Upcoming Events, ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Sunday Night Funnies popular Kingpin of Comedy competition starts back on Sunday, June 5. (SNF)

Starting Sunday, June 5, and running through Sunday, Oct. 9, the Sunday Night Funnies stand-up comedy show will hold its fourth annual standup comedy competition the Kingpin of Comedy at The Spectrum Entertainment Complex.

“This is a blatant rip-off of the Funniest Person in Grand Rapids contest that Dr. Grins use to run”, says Brian B. (Brian Borbot), creator & MC of the Sunday Night Funnies. Brian is referring to the successful annual event at Dr. Grins the former comedy club that was inside The B.O.B. downtown Grand Rapids.

“Seeing that Wyoming is the 14th largest city in Michigan I thought it deserved its own stand-up comedy competition with the overall winner getting a prize package worthy of the title the funniest person in Wyoming!” he said.

Besides the $500 cash there are also prizes from Wyoming businesses Spectrum Entertainment Complex (where the event is hosted) along with their next-door neighbor Craig’s Cruisers, live entertainment venue the Listening Room and Gilda’s Club’s LaughFest. The winner will also receive a Kingpin bowling pin trophy, a customized bowling shirt, and the opportunity to close at the Sunday Night Funnies LaughFest show in 2023. The total prize package is close to $1,000 in value! There will also a presentation from the Mayor of Wyoming declaring the winner the funniest person in town!

“Great idea, I’m on board with that,” said Spectrum Lanes Jr. Partner/Operations Mike Eaton.

Gonzo’s Top 5: Food trucks, carnival, barbecue and beer

Entertainment, Gonzo's Top 5, Local Entertainment, Local Food, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

Happy Food Truck weekend!

Two major events are planning for local foodies who love a good food truck.

Today begins Food Truck Friday at Riverside Park, and then Sunday is the first time Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids will host Roll’N Out Food Truck Festival.

Both of those events make it into my Top 5, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal. What else is going on this weekend? Read on!

Gonzo’s Top 5

5. LMCU Ballpark Carnival

Nothing says summer like a carnival. Our friends at Skerbeck Entertainment Group always do a great job. You’ll find one today through Sunday at LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park. More details by clicking here. By the way, don’t forget that the Whitecaps are in action, too. Play ball! More details at whitecapsbaseball.com.

Waffle Nachos! Get them this Friday at GR8 Food Truck Fridays and Roll’N Out Food Truck Festival at Calder Plaza.Taste Buds- Kitchen Connects, LLC (John D. Gonzalez)

4. Food Trucks

As I mentioned, it’s a busy weekend for food truck lovers as two major events take place.

Food Truck Fridays, 5-9 p.m. this summer beginning May 20 through Sept. 2 at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids features anywhere from 12-17 trucks each week. In its 6th season on the north side of Grand Rapids you can expect some of the area’s best-loved food trucks, as well as new ones, too. New this year is a Frequent Fridays Card that will offer you the chance to win prizes based on how many FTF you frequent. More details at https://www.facebook.com/GR8FoodTruckFridays/.

Roll’N Out Food Truck Festival, 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Sunday (May 22) at Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids, will feature up to 38 food trucks and trailers, making the event one of Grand Rapids’ largest food truck rallys. Music, entertainment, giveaways and a picnic area (bring your blankets) will make this event a lot of fun. More details at https://www.facebook.com/events/1124456104989269.

3. Van Andel Arena

Two events are planned. More info on both shows at www.vanandelarena.com.

WWE Smackdown is at 7:45 p.m. Friday (May 20). Raw Tag Team Champions RK Bro take on Smackdown Tag Team Champions The Usos, in a Tag Team Title Unification Match. Of course, that’s just the highlight. It’s always a full card of entertainment.

All Star Legends of Hip Hop, with Juvenile, Scarface, Trina, MJG, Eightball, Trick Daddy, and DJ Quik, perform at 8 p.m. Saturday (May 21). It’s time to go Old School!

2. ALEgan Beer BBQ and Blues Fest

Looking for a beer and blues festival this weekend? The ALEgan Beer and Blues Fest features five BBQ vendors and live blues music from 2-7 p.m. Saturday (May 21) at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. Tickets are $45, which gives you 15 tickets for 4 oz. beer samples and five tickets for food samples. All festival attendees must be 21 or older to enter. More info at https://aleganbeerbbqandbluesfest.rsvpify.com/.

The breweries:

  • Tantrick Brewing Co. (Allegan, MI)
  • Schaendorf Brewing Co (featured in a Collaboration Brew with Tantrick Brewing Co.)
  • Waypost (Fennville)
  • OpenRoad Brewery (Wayland)
  • Rusty Rocket (Pullman)
  • Paw Paw Brewing Co. (Paw Paw)
  • Burzurk Brewing Company (Grand Haven)
  • Murray St. Brewing (Mattawan)
  • Presidential Brewing (Portage)
  • One Well Brewery (Kalamazoo)
  • Bier Distillery (Comstock Park)
  • Distant Whistle (Vicksburg)
  • Handmap Brewing (Battle Creek)
  • Three Blondes (South Haven)
  • Final Gravity (Decatur)
  • Harbor Light (South Haven)

Amy Sherman, John Sinkevics, and John Gonzalez. (John Gonzalez)

1.Local Spins Fest

Have you had a chance to attend one of the shows this week to celebrate the 10th anniversary of LocalSpins.com? We did a story on founder John Sinkevics earlier this week on WKTV Journal with a list of his shows and a special Local Spinsation Ale at Rockford Brewing Company.

READ: A leap of faith started music source Local Spins, which marks its 10th anniversary

Show on tap this weekend: 

  • FRIDAY, MAY 20 (Early Show) – Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill: Blues Night with Jake Kershaw and Hank Mowery & The Hawktones, 7 p.m., $10, tickets available online here.
  •  FRIDAY, MAY 20 (Late Show) – The Intersection: Desmond Jones and The Legal Immigrants at Elevation, 9 p.m., $10, tickets on sale now at sectionlive.com.
  • SATURDAY, MAY 21 – LOCAL SPINS FEST AT STUDIO PARK (Downtown Grand Rapids)

2 p.m. – Doors open

3 p.m. – DJ SuperDre

4 p.m. – Cabildo

5 p.m. – Hannah Rose Graves

6 p.m. – Full Cord

7 p.m. – Public Access (wsg Emilee Petersmark of The Crane Wives)

8:30 p.m. – The Accidentals

Refreshments, merchandise and sponsor booths will be part of the event. General admission tickets are$20 and on sale now at listeningroomgr.com.

That’s it for now.

As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Have a great, safe weekend.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.