The Black Keys have confirmed their extensive, thirty-one-date arena tour of North America — and the “Let’s Rock” Tour will hit Grand Rapids at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, at 7pm. Special guests Modest Mouse will provide support on all dates, and Jessy Wilson will also open the Grand Rapids show.
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, March 22 at 10am. Tickets will be available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place® box offices and online at Ticketmaster.com. A purchase limit of eight (8) tickets will apply to every order.
Citi is the official presale credit card of The Black Keys — “Let’s Rock” Tour. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Tuesday, March 19 at 11am local time until Thursday, March 21 at 10pm local time through Citi’s Private Pass program. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com/.
Fans on Van Andel Arena’s email list will also have access to a presale beginning Thursday, March 21. To gain access, sign up to the arena’s email list here by Wednesday, March 20 at 3pm local time.
Formed in Akron, Ohio in 2001, The Black Keys have released eight studio albums: their debut The Big Come Up (2002), followed by Thickfreakness (2003) and Rubber Factory (2004), along with their releases on Nonesuch Records, Magic Potion (2006), Attack & Release (2008), Brothers (2010), El Camino (2011), and, most recently, Turn Blue (2014). The band has won six Grammy Awards and headlined festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Governors Ball.
March is Women’s History Month, and St. Cecilia Music Center is, itself, a huge part of the history of women in Grand Rapids.
Dating from 1883 when several musically talented women, led by Ella Matthews Peirce, formed a society to “promote the study and appreciation of music in all its branches, and to encourage the development of music in the community”, St. Cecilia has been offering music education and performance.
When asked, current St. Cecilia executive director Cathy Holbrook will gladly talk in great depth about the history of the society, or the beautiful building it built and which continues to host world-class concerts as well as community and youth musicians.
But when Holbrook is asked about the Center’s biggest March event, the first annual Helen DeVos Legacy Award dinner on March 23, she has a little extra spark in her words.
St. Cecilia Music Center executive director Cathy Holbrook. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“At this inaugural event we will honor the late Helen DeVos for all of her efforts promoting the cultural life in Grand Rapids — really, helping to create the cultural life in Grand Rapids,” Holbrook said to WKTV. “In subsequent years we’ll choose a different woman in West Michigan who has had positive impact on the arts … to get the Helen DeVos Legacy Award.”
Tickets are still available for the Helen DeVos Legacy Award dinner.
Holbrook stressed that this award is not only to honor Helen DeVos this year, but for many years to come — to help, in St. Cecilia’s way, to remember her caring and giving ways.
“The DeVos family has been very supportive of St. Cecilia, but really supportive of the cultural life of Grand Rapids,” she said. “It is funny, because Mr. DeVos made it very clear that (supporting cultural life) was really Helen’s bailiwick. So it is really so important for us to honor her, and everything she did. …
“But we knew that it would be important to her and the family that we were honoring other people as well. … She would not have wanted it to be about her, but about other people.”
Initially, though, it is more than fitting that St. Cecilia’s new award will first honor the late Helen DeVos, who was a lifelong benefactor and supporter of many arts organizations in the community, including St. Cecilia.
After all, St. Cecilia’s stated mission is “to promote the study, appreciation and performance of music in order to enrich the lives of West Michigan residents.”
It could be argued that it was a mission of Helen DeVos to “enrich the lives of West Michigan residents” as well.
“Eating good food is, too me, one of life's favorite joys, and I will never punish myself for it.”
― Miriam Shor
A scene from a previous Taste of Kentwood. (WKTV)
Taste of Kentwood this week
The community is invited to explore a smorgasbord of local cuisine during the 18th annual Taste of Kentwood event on Thursday, March 14. Held at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, a variety of local restaurants will offer food and desserts during two sessions: one from 4:30 to 6 p.m., and another from 6:30 to 8 p.m. For the complete story, visit here.
Kent County Land for planned Sustainable Business Park, aerial shot that includes the property adjacent to the landfill, with the landfill in the background. (Supplied/Kent County)
Plans developing on business park
The Kent County Department of Public Works (DPW) and The Right Place, Inc. have announced a multi-year strategic partnership for the planning and development of the Kent County Sustainable Business Park. In October 2018, the Kent County Board of Public Works (BPW) approved the Sustainable Business Park Master Plan for 250 acres adjacent to the South Kent Landfill in Byron Center. For the complete story, visit here.
Dr. John Mulder. (Supplied)
Local doctor earns national honor
Holland Home recently announce that John Mulder, MD, has been recognized by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) with the 2019 Project on Death In America (PDIA) Palliative Medicine Community Leadership Award. Dr. Mulder is Medical Director of the Trillium Institute, an affiliate of Holland Home. For the complete story, visit here.
Fun fact:
0.0173 percent
Today only 0.0173% of Americans live to 100. The population of the United States in 2010 Census was approximately 309 million. (Source)
Pianist Wu Han, violinists Arnaud Sussman and Alexander Sitkovetsky, and cellist Nicholas Canellakis. (Supplied/St. Cecilia)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center returns to St. Cecilia Music Center on Thursday, March 14, in a program entitled “Russian Mastery” and featuring works by Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Arensky. The Chamber Music Society artists who will perform include co-artistic director and pianist Wu Han, violinists Arnaud Sussman and Alexander Sitkovetsky, and cellist Nicholas Canellakis.
“Every concert at SCMC performed by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center is amazing to watch with artistry that is always flawless,” SCMC executive director Cathy Holbrook said in supplied material. “We are so lucky to have these brilliant musicians take the stage in Royce Auditorium. … We are also very excited to have Wu Han … back to provide background on some of the wonderful music they will be performing.”
According to supplied material, “Russia’s vastly expressive music over time has told the story of its country and people, painting a picture through music of its turbulent historical landscape. Specifically, the Prokofiev Two Violin Sonata, written in 1932, stands apart as an audaciously creative work from the period between World War I and World War II, while the remaining works will be glorious musical outpourings of the age of the Tsars and the Russian Empire.”
The selections to be performed include: Trio élégiaque in G minor for Piano, Violin, and Cello — Sergei Rachmaninov, composer; Souvenir d’un lieu cherfor Violin and Piano, Op. 42 — Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, composer; Sonata in C major for Two Violins, Op. 56 — Sergei Prokofiev, composer; Romance and Oriental Dance for Cello and Piano — Sergei Rachmaninov, composer; and Trio No. 1 in D minor for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Op. 32 — Anton Arensky, composer.
The final CMS of Lincoln Center concert for this season will take place April 25, titled From Mendelssohn” will feature works by Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms and Tchaikovsky.
Tickets for the March 14 and April 25 concerts are $45 and $40 and can be purchased by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224 or visiting the box office at 24 Ransom Ave. NE. Tickets can also be purchased online at scmc-online.org.
A post-concert “Meet-the-artist” party, with complimentary wine will be offered to all ticket-holders giving the audience the opportunity to meet the artists and to obtain signed CDs of their releases.
Yup, it’s time to change your clocks this weekend.
Spring is right around the corner. Really, it is, and the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department points to its Spring Activities Calendar as proof. Check out all the fun things you can do here.
The best things in life are free
The Grand Rapids Public Museum offers free admission March 10.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum offers fun, hands-on learning opportunities for all ages through a variety of core and traveling exhibits. Visitor favorites include the Streets of Old Grand Rapids, an immersive exhibit that transports visitors back to 19th century of downtown Grand Rapids, and West Michigan Habitats, that showcases the vast wildlife found in West Michigan. More info here.
Live and let live
That’s it, in a nutshell.
Domestic violence abuse attorney Kinza Khan
A presentation on Monday, March 11 at Grand Valley State University will explore the importance of encouraging young people to grow in their interfaith understanding in order to become positive religious leaders of the 21st century. Kinza Khan, a domestic violence attorney, will be the featured speaker during the 2019 Rabbi Phillip Sigal Memorial Lecture. More info here.
Fun fact:
85%
The percentage reduction in the number of children named ‘Katrina’ after Hurricane Katrina.
“My theory on housework is, if the item doesn't multiply, smell, catch fire or block the refrigerator door, let it be.”
― Erma Bombeck
Michael Jr. (Supplied)
Clean and funny, comedy
Grand Rapids very own comedian Michael, Jr. will be coming home to perform on March 3 at Grand Rapids First Church for his “In the Moment Tour.” His comedy is fresh, funny and has no foul language. For the complete story, visit here.
Wyoming High School will host a District final game Friday. (Supplied)
High school teams in big games
Wyoming, South Christian and Tri-unity Christian high schools will each host boys basketball state playoff District championship games on Friday, March 1 — with each host team playing for a title. WKTV’s featured high school sports coverage team will be at South Christian on Friday, but you can catch any of the games live. For the complete story, visit here.
One local resident enjoys his food at a pst year’s Taste of Kentwood event.
And, oh the Taste of Kentwood
The 18th annual Taste of Kentwood event is coming on Thursday, March 14, coming to the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, with two sessions: one from 4:30 to 6 p.m., and another from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The event will also include live music from Just Cuz, an acoustic duo that performs an eclectic mix of cover tunes from a variety of genres. For the complete story, visit here
Fun fact:
Five tastes, maybe
Five basic tastes are recognized today: salty, sweet, bitter, sour, and umami. (Umami is a category of taste in food corresponding to the flavor of glutamates, especially monosodium glutamate.) (Source)
Did you know as recently as 2014, only about 20% of leads or co-leads in major movie entertainment were female?
There are 2.13 male directors for every 1 female. This is hugely problematic for our girls, as the stories they are seeing aren’t theirs. The narratives they are hearing aren’t theirs. We do a huge disservice to our girls by filling the airwaves with depictions that are not only absent of the female voice, but sometimes (and even more detrimentally) misrepresenting the female voice.
That’s where LUNAFEST comes in — this traveling film festival was started in 2000 by the makers of LUNA bars to help elevate women’s voices and our stories.
Join us in celebrating women behind the camera at LUNAFEST 2019. This traveling short film festival by, for, and about women is brought to you by LUNA to benefit Muskegon Girls on the Run on March 7th, and Kent County Girls on the Run on March 14th.
We’ll be holding a screening at 5:30pm on Thursday evening, March 7th, at The Block, 360 W. Western Ave, Muskegon, MI. On Thursday, March 14th at 5pm, we’re holding a screening at Wealthy Theater, 1130 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI. Join us for food and drinks, friends and fun!
Earlybird tickets are only $18, and include heavy appetizers! Go here to purchase tickets. Contact Elizabeth.mcewen@girlsontherun.org for more information. Download a pdf of the film lineup here.
LUNAFEST was the first all-women travelling film festival to hit the screens and amplify the voices of strong women everywhere. The first event was small, but hopeful, screening in California. Today, there are screenings in more than 175 cities across the nation where the work of talented women filmmakers are showcased.
The Benny Green Trio, with singer Veronica Swift, will be at St. Cecilia Music Center. (Supplied)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The St. Cecilia Music Center will feature the Benny Green Trio with “rising star” jazz singer Veronica Swift on March 7 as the final Jazz Series concert of the center’s 135th Anniversary season.
Benny Green, a veteran of the jazz world combines a mastery of keyboard technique with decades of playing with the most celebrated artists of the last half century including Betty Carter, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Ray Brown, Diana Krall and Christian McBride. Swift is being recognized as one of the top new young jazz singers on the scene.
Veronica Swift, singing with the Benny Green Trio, will be at St. Cecilia Music Center. (Supplied)
The 24-year-old Swift will be releasing her next album on Mac Avenue Records in early 2019, which will feature the great pianist Benny Green and his trio as well the Emmet Cohen Trio.
“It will be exciting to see Veronica Swift in this point in her career performing from the new album with esteemed Jazz pianist Benny Green and his trio,” Cathy Holbrook, St. Cecilia executive director, said in supplied material. “Those who love great jazz will be blown away by this concert. It’s really a double bill because either of these artists would be big enough to feature in their own concert, so it’s a two-for-one night!”
Green began classical piano studies at the age of seven, according to supplied material. Influenced by his father, a tenor saxophonist, his attention soon turned to Jazz: “I began trying to improvise on the piano, imitating the records I’d been hearing from my father’s collection, which included a lot of Monk and Bird … it was a gradual process of teaching myself.”
Swift grew up on tour with her parents, renowned jazz pianist Hod O’Brien and celebrated jazz singer and educator/author Stephanie Nakasian, according to supplied material. It was with them where she first appeared at The Jazz Standard, and Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. She recorded two CDs as a child – one at age 9 with Richie Cole and her father’s rhythm section and her mother, and one at age 13 with saxophonist Harry Allen. Her 2015 Album “Lonely Woman” features some of the hottest young jazz players on the scene including Emmet Cohen, Benny Bennack III, Daryl Johns (with whom she shared a Grammy Choir/Band experience), Matt Wigler, and Scott Lowrie. In addition to performing the Great American Songbook and Bebop and vocalese classics, she is also a passionate devotee of 1920s and ’30s music and has sung with Vince Giordano, Terry Waldo, and Drew Nugent.
Concert tickets for Veronica Swift with the Benny Green Trio are $40 and $45 and can be purchased by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224 or visiting the box office at 24 Ransom Ave. NE. Tickets can also be purchased online at scmc-online.org.
A pre-concert reception for $15 at 6:30 pm, with wine and hors d’oeuvres, is available by reservation in advance. A post-concert party with dessert, coffee and wine is open to all ticket-holders to meet the artists, obtain autographs and CD purchases.
U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer at a Republic of Korea airbase in 2016. The U.S. long-range bomber is one of the major deterrents to North Korean military actions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Steffen)
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
So far this year the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan’s 2019 Great Decisions global discussion series has informed the public on the “State of the State Department”, dangers to democracy around the world, and America’s immigration policies — or lack there of.
The next discussion, Feb. 25 and 26, will be “A New Nuclear Arms Race?”, with Kelsey Davenport, of the Arms Control Association, discussing Russia, North Korea, Iran and “What’s our nuclear future?”
For the past 50 years, the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) has played a critical role in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and reducing nuclear arsenals, according to the Arms Control Association website. Yet prospects for additional progress on U.S.-Russian arms control remain bleak as President Donald Trump’s administration has split from key allies over the nuclear deal with Iran, and the denuclearization of North Korea remains uncertain, according to supplied information on the lecture.
Davenport is the Director for Nonproliferation Policy at the Arms Control Association, where she provides research and analysis on the nuclear and missile programs in Iran, North Korea, India, and Pakistan and on nuclear security issues, accord to the ACA website. Her areas of expertise include nuclear nonproliferation, nuclear and missile programs in Iran and North Korea, and nuclear security. Kelsey also reports on developments in these areas for Arms Control Today and is the author of the P5+1 and Iran Nuclear Deal Alerts.
Davenport’s discussion fits in with the overall goal of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan.
“To change the world — or to even begin to understand global issues — one first must know about the world, and that’s what we attempt to do with Great Decisions,” Michael Van Denend, executive director of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, previously said to WKTV.
The annual series, which bring leaders in international theory and action to Grand Rapids for lectures, will offer two options to attend: Mondays, 6-7:15 p.m., at Aquinas College Performing Arts Center; and Tuesdays, noon-1 p.m. at the Recital Hall in the Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin College.
There is a $10 general-public admission fee per discussion, with no reservations needed and free parking.
The series will continue through March 25-26.
The Great Decisions format features a world-class expert leading each conversation, followed by an extensive question-answer session.
The reminder of the 2019 series will feature:
Mar. 4 and 5: “China-U.S. Trade War”, with Amy Celico, Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG), discussing “How will we handle the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st century?”
Mar. 11 and 12: “Life After the Arab Uprisings and the Islamic State”, a ground-level report from a brave Lebanese journalist, Rania Abouzeid, author of “No Turning Back: Life, Loss, and Hope in Wartime Syria”, a New York Times 2018 Notable Book.
Mar. 18 and 19: “Global Cyber Threats” with FBI Special Agent Peter Jolliffe discussing “Cyber risks are on the rise — can we thwart them?”
And finally, on Mar. 25 and 26: “Mexico and the U.S.: The Economic Ties that Bind”, Carlos Capistran, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, New York City, discussing “What must we do to make certain both countries thrive?”
The Aquinas College Performing Arts Center is located at 1703 Robinson Road S.E., Grand Rapids. The Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin College is located at 1795 Knollcrest Cir SE, Grand Rapids.
The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan is located at 1700 Fulton Street E., Grand Rapids, For more information on sessions, dates and times, as well as detailed information on speakers, visit worldmichigan.org .
The War and Treaty, featuring Michael and Tanya Trotter, will be at the St. Cecilia Acoustic Café Folk Series Feb. 24. (Supplied/The Artists)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
St. Cecilia Music Center’s Acoustic Café Folk Series started off the month of February with a sell-out return of Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn on Feb. 9, and things will end strong on the folk front with the duo of Michael and Tanya Trotter (aka The War and Treaty) as well as Milk Carton Kids coming to town.
The War and Treaty will hit the intimate 630-seat Royce Auditorium stage for an unusual Sunday concert on Feb. 24, and Milk Carton Kids — Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale, this time with a full band backing — for a more usual Thursday night show at St. Cecilia on Feb. 28.
Tickets remain available for both shows.
The War and Treaty “are quickly rising on the National scene … (their) upbeat emotional sound, with soul and folk roots, is sure to ignite a bright fire within our audience’s hearts,” Cathy Holbrook, St. Cecilia executive director, said in supplied material.
“We are (also) so happy to bring The Milk Carton Kids with their band to St. Cecilia Music Center this month to perform from their newest album,” Holbrook said. “It will be a great experience for all to see and hear as these two talented performers and their full band perform together.”
The War and Treaty
The War and Treaty may be familiar to some in the Grand Rapids area as they opened for Bob Seger’s Van Andel Arena concert in November 2018.
According to supplied information, they draw inspiration from different artists and genres including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash and Nina Simone — ya, that Johnny Cash and that Nina Simone.
And their music has been described as a blend of roots, folk, gospel, and soul, “reaching back through their deep-rooted history to conjure up the strength of their ancestors.”
The buzz here is all good.
The Milk Carton Kids
The Milk Carton Kids, you may remember as I do, had a brief appearance on the concert film “Another Day, Another Time: Celebrating the Music of Inside Llewyn Davis”, which was led by producer T-Bone Burnett. And their latest release — All the Things That I Did and All the Things That I Didn’t Do, which came out in June of last year — was produced by Joe Henry. Both producers are great, and the music they produce is usually also great.
“The Kids”, an American indie folk duo consisting of Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale, will be at St. Cecilia Feb. 28. (Supplied/The Artists)
“The Kids” music, which for lack of a better tune is often called American indie folk, has earned the usually solo-duo of Ryan and Pattengale a Grammy nomination in 2015 for Best American Roots Performance, another for Best Folk Album of the year in 2013, and they were the Americana Music Association’s Best Duo/Group of the year in 2014.
The Kids have proven in-demand collaborators, including musical partnerships with Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Dar Williams, and Chris Hillman, as well as teaming with T-Bone Burnett for “Another Day, Another Time: Celebrating the Music of Inside Llewyn Davis” — the concert documentary derived from the Coen Brothers film “Insider Llewyn Davis”. (A great movie with great early 1960s music, BTW.)
Two concerts in April will finish up the 2018-19 Acoustic Café Folk Series, both returning favorites: Asleep at the Wheel will return to SCMC on April 11, and Guitarist Leo Kottke will return to SCMC on April 18.
Tickets for The War and Treaty are $30 and $35; tickets for The Milk Carton Kids are $40 and $45. All tickets can be purchased by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224 or visiting the box office at 24 Ransom Ave. NE. Tickets can also be purchased online at scmc-online.org.
As part of the February WKTV Journal Newscast, we previewed the 18th annual Taste of Kentwood event on Thursday, March 14, coming to the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, with two sessions: one from 4:30 to 6 p.m., and another from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The event will also include live music from Just Cuz, an acoustic duo that performs an eclectic mix of cover tunes from a variety of genres.
Participating restaurants include: Boardwalk Subs, City Barbeque, PJ’s Pizza, Coffee & Ice Cream, Underground Cookie Club, The Candied Yam, Daddy Pete’s BBQ, Loco Taco Taqueria, Desi Spice, Peppino’s South Kentwood, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Thai Express, Jet’s Pizza, YoChef’s Catering Company and Le Kebob.
The event is open to everyone in the community. Tickets cost $6 and can be purchased online in advance, $8 on the day of event. Kids 5 and younger are free.
The Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition, with some 7,000 tropical butterflies dancing around the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory, will begin March 1. (Supplied/Meijer Gardens)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
We know all about Punxsutawney Phil and that shadow thing on Groundhog Day earlier this month — and yes, the ranchers of that rodent do predict an early spring this year.
But in Western Michigan there are two more reliable bits of evidence of spring coming, and summer not far behind: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park announcing the dates of its annual Butterflies Are Blooming exhibit and their annual mouth-watering taste of the summer concert series.
Meijer Gardens announced recently that Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition, with some 7,000 or so tropical butterflies dancing around the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory, will begin March 1 and run through late April. Also last week the Gardens teased us with the announcement of three of its 2019 Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens.
The Decemberists at Meijer Gardens in 2018. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
With Fifth Third Bank renewing its title sponsorship of the concert series this season, and the expansion of the outdoor amphitheater and its facilities expected to be complete, the 2019 season of alternative, indie, blues and rock music will include Nahko And Medicine For The People on June 6, Rodrigo y Gabriela on June 9, and The Gipsy Kings on July 21. The complete lineup will be announced in mid-April.
But first there will be all those butterflies.
The 2019 “exhibition explores light and shadow and how these elements influence both the activity of the butterflies and the natural environment in which they flourish,” Steve LaWarre, Director of Horticulture, said in supplied material. “This annual exhibition provides a wonderful opportunity for our guests to experience the diverse beauty of these creatures up close and in person.”
By the way, the best time to get up-close and personal with the butterflies are late in the afternoon or when the gardens and the exhibition are open in the early evening, every Tuesday. We are told that visitors will also find a new and redesigned Observation Station, with its chrysalide and cocoon emergence area.
Butterflies will be flying around Meijer Gardens’ tropical conservatory starting March 1. (Supplied)
Approximately 60 colorful species of butterflies and moths journey from butterfly-rich regions of Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Philippines and Kenya to fly freely in the five-story tall, 15,000 square-foot conservatory— oh, ya, and at 85 degrees and 70 percent humidity, the environment not only mimics the tropical regions that the butterflies call home but just feels like spring, if not summer, in the air.
Even before the real butterflies arrive, the fun will begin with “Who Am I?” (A Butterfly Ballet) on Saturday, Feb. 23, and Sunday, Feb. 24, choreographed by Attila Mosolygo, performed by members of the Grand Rapids Ballet Junior Company, and narrated by Errol Shewman.
For a complete list of events associated with the Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition, visit meijergardens.org . (And volunteers are “Wanted. Needed. Appreciated.” Various jobs and shifts mid-February through mid-May. Contact Amber Oudsema at aoudsema@meijergardens.org or 616-974-5221.)
Oh, can’t you just hear the music now? (Supplied/Meijer Gardens)
Can’t you just hear the music now?
What will be new and what will be the same at 2019 Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens concert series? The title will be the same, the concerts will be familiarly diverse, and the construction is expected to be done.
Meijer Gardens is “enormously grateful for (the Fifth Third Bank’s) support as it allows us to present a diverse group of truly world class artists,” David Hooker, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s President and CEO, said in supplied material.
The Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater has undergone significant expansion and improvement over the past two seasons, all, according to supplied material, while maintaining the intimacy of the venue. Last season saw the completion of renovated seating terraces for sponsor seating, added new support areas for visiting artists, backstage and loading dock improvements, and increased-in-size general seating area.
This season, a new concessions building has been added to allow for quicker food and beverage service and increased capacity, as well as convenient new restrooms for guests waiting in line to enter the venue. An expanded plaza area within the gates will help shorten lines and wait times as well. Also, they say, an improved point-of-sale system with quick chip technology will speed up purchases at the new concessions building.
What hasn’t changed is the 1,900 general admission tickets available for each concert of the 2019 season. As far as the first three announced concerts — Nahko And Medicine For The People, Rodrigo y Gabriela and The Gipsy Kings, you can follow the links or just wait for the complete lineup in April.
Nahko and Medicine for the People. (Supplied by the artist)
The most interesting of three, on first glance, would be Nahko. Describing his latest release, “My Name is Bear”, he says on his website: “So many dear people helped me write and live these stories. The two summers I spent in Alaska, half the winter in Louisiana and the other half holed up in my van in Portland, and then the first year in Hawaii were transformational.” Sounds like someone to check out to me.
Members of Meijer Gardens a members-only presale, April 27 through May 10. (To become a member or renew a membership before April 27, visit MeijerGardens.org/Membership.) General public tickets go on sale May 11.
From a previous year, the Taste of Kentwood brings out the community and families for fun and food. (WKTV)
By City of Kentwood
The community is invited to explore a smorgasbord of local cuisine during the 18th annual Taste of Kentwood event on Thursday, March 14.
Held at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, a variety of local restaurants will offer food and desserts during two sessions: one from 4:30 to 6 p.m., and another from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The event will also include live music from Just Cuz, an acoustic duo that performs an eclectic mix of cover tunes from a variety of genres.
“Taste of Kentwood is a great opportunity to experience the diversity of Kentwood while supporting local businesses,” said Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley. “Everyone is welcome to come connect with neighbors, enjoy live music, and discover what deliciousness awaits around the corner.”
Participating restaurants include: Boardwalk Subs, City Barbeque, PJ’s Pizza, Coffee & Ice Cream, Underground Cookie Club, The Candied Yam, Daddy Pete’s BBQ, Loco Taco Taqueria, Desi Spice, Peppino’s South Kentwood, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Thai Express, Jet’s Pizza, YoChef’s Catering Company and Le Kebob.
The event is open to everyone in the community. Tickets cost $6 and can be purchased online in advance, $8 on the day of event. Kids 5 and younger are free.
Pianist Xavier Davis will be the featured artist during a concert Sunday, Feb. 10. (Supplied/MSU/Christine Southworth)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
Continuing its fifth season of jazz in the historic — and visually and acoustically great — sanctuary at Grand Rapids’ Fountain Street Church, series host and curator Robin Connell will give up her usual seat at the piano as the Jazz in the Sanctuary returns this weekend.
Pianist Xavier Davis will be the featured artist during a concert Sunday, Feb. 10, at 3 p.m., at the church, 24 Fountain St. NE. Tickets are $15 general admission and $5 for students with ID, on-line or at the door.
People who have never heard a concert at Fountain Street before are in for a treat; people who have already know and probably already have their tickets as well.
Davis, born in Grand Rapids and an alumni of the Jazz in the Sanctuary series, is the son of local music educators Duane and Kay Davis. According to supplied information, Xavier was brought into the spotlight by legendary vocalist Betty Carter, who invited him to New York after witnessing his performance at the 1994 International Association of Jazz Educators convention.
“Today, he is one of the most accomplished working jazz pianists in the world,” Connell said in supplied information.
Xavier was a member of the teaching staff of the Juilliard School of Music for six years and now serves Michigan State University as Associate Professor of Jazz Piano. He has performed with dozens of world-famous artists like the legendary Freddie Hubbard, Tom Harrell, Christian McBride, Regina Carter, Stefon Harris, Abbey Lincoln, Wynton Marsalis, Don Byron, Nat Adderley, Nicholas Payton, Jon Faddis, Jimmy Greene, Steve Turre, Al Foster, and Jeremy Pelt. His piano playing has been featured on more than 50 albums.
In 2005, Xavier became the first person to receive the prestigious New Works Grant twice from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation under the auspices of Chamber Music America. For more information visit his website.
Connell, no stranger to the local and regional jazz scene, received West Michigan Jazz Society’s 2017 “Musician of the Year” award for her widespread collaboration with area jazz artists and her work on this series. In 2016, she won the ArtPrize Public Choice Award for her original composition “Prisms”.
An advocate for jazz education, she co-directs the Youth Jazz Combo at St. Cecilia Music Center, teaches every June at Aquinas College Jazz Camp, and formerly served as summer jazz faculty at Interlochen Center for the Arts for 20 years. For more information visit her website.
For more information on the concert and the Jazz in the Sanctuary series visit fountainstreet.org/jazz .
Nigel Tau, right, working with Grand Rapids Ballet dancers on his new work, part of MOVEMEDIA: Handmade. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
James Sofranko, the artistic director of the Grand Rapids Ballet and a growing talent as a choreographer himself, is clearly an advocate of new contemporary dance by new artistic voices.
So it is only natural that, as an advocate for the team of dancers at the ballet, he would seek to include their voices in the upcoming MOVEMEDIA: Handmade program set to have its run Friday to Sunday, Feb. 8-10 at the Peter Martin Wege Theatre.
The headliner of the program is likely to be a powerful, searing work of “Testimony”, a work by the ballet’s continuing choreographer-in-residence, Penny Saunders, inspired by the U.S. Senate hearings for now-Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh and his accuser Christine Blasey Ford. Although another new work by the Joffrey Ballet’s Nicolas Blanc — whom Sofranko worked with at the San Francisco Ballet — will undoubtedly be equally unique and impressive.
But the five other works on the program will be original choreographic efforts by members of the dance company, including Nigel Tau, who apprenticed with the Grand Rapids Ballet in 2015 before joining the company in 2016.
(WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“I think it is wonderful to give an opportunity to the dancers … you do not necessarily have a lot of opportunities given to you,” Sofranko said to WKTV. “This is a program that is about creating new works … you are experimenting and this is a program where it is meant to be an exploration.”
Tau, according to his supplied biography, began dancing at age 10 with The Academy of Dance in his home town of Savannah, Georgia. In 2013, he became a trainee with Next Generation Ballet, and performed in the school’s own productions as well as with Opera Tampa and the Florida Orchestra. He went on to train with BalletMet on a full scholarship, where he performed and rehearsed alongside the company.
Tau’s work, titled “Errant Thoughts”, will not only be the dancer’s first dance creation but will continue his artistic journey — the journey of all artists, really — where excitement and frustration often exist side-by-side.
(WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“This piece is about two different things,” Tau said to WKTV. “It is the story of someone who has had a passion project, or a work they have really be invested in … that feeling of inspiration and excitement … (but also) that continuing cycle of excitement and frustration — is it good enough?”
Bottomline: Handmade is usually pretty good, and Tau’s work, as with the others on the program, are handmade.
MOVEMEDIA: Handmade will be on stage Friday, Feb. 8, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 10, at 2 p.m.
For tickets visit GRballet.com or call 616-454-4771 x10. The Peter Martin Wege Theatre is located at 341 Elllsworth Avenue SW, Grand Rapids.
They say that folk music is at it best where its played by family about real people. If that is true — and the musical proof of such things is in the listening — than Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn’s late-2018 recording of two songs for a video by renowned dance company Pilobolus may well be the art of folk music at its perfection.
The musical evidence will likely be heard Saturday, Feb. 9, as the husband and wife duo, both accomplished and innovative banjo artists, return to St. Cecilia Music Center’s Royce Auditorium for an Acoustic Café Folk Series concert.
Tickets are still available.
Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn. (Supplied/Courtesy of the Artists)
In fall 2017, Fleck and Washburn released their second full-length studio album together, “Echo In The Valley”, an 11-track LP includes the two banjo players playing folk and bluegrass music. In October of last year, the duo released a new single that married two songs from that album, which also is the soundtrack for the Pilobolus music video.
The new single and video pairs “Come All You Coal Miners” — written by Sarah Ogan Gunning, an Appalachian ballad singer, activist and wife of a coal miner — with Fleck and Washburn’s own “Take Me to Harlan.”
Fleck and Washburn, who have been called “the king and queen of the banjo”, return to St. Cecilia after a sold-out concert midwinter in 2018.
“Béla and Abigail are two of the most delightful and gracious musicians we’ve hosted in concert,” Cathy Holbrook, executive director of St. Cecilia, said in supplied material. “Their warmth and love of music reflects in their amazing show.”
Fleck is a 15-time Grammy Award winner who has taken the instrument across multiple genres, and, according to supplied material, Washburn is a singer-songwriter and clawhammer banjo player who re-radicalized it by combining it with Far East culture and sounds. “Echo in the Valley” is the follow up to Fleck and Washburn’s self-titled debut that earned the 2016 Grammy for Best Folk Album.
“The mission of ‘Echo in the Valley’ was to take our double banjo combination of three finger and clawhammer styles to the next level and find things to do together that we had not done before,” Fleck said in supplied material. “We’re expressing different emotions through past techniques and going to deeper places.”
Acoustic Café Folk Series remaining concerts
The Acoustic Café Series, in partnership with the syndicated radio show of the same name, features five remaining folk concerts this season. Following Fleck and Washburn are: The War and Treaty, on Sunday, on Feb. 24; The Milk Carton Kids, on Thursday, Feb. 28; Asleep at the Wheel, on Thursday, April 11; and guitar master Leo Kottke on Thursday, April 18.
Tickets for Fleck and Washburn
Fleck and Washburn concert tickets are $45 and $50 and can be purchased by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224 or visiting the box office at 24 Ransom Ave. NE. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.scmc-online.org. A post-concert party with complimentary wine and scmc-online.org beer bar is offered to all ticket-holders. All ticket prices include service fees and no additional fees are charged.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
Mike Moll, WKTV Volunteer Sports Director sports@wktv.org
WKTV Featured Game high school sport coverage this week will include two girls/boys basketball doubleheaders, with Potter’s House visiting Tri-unity Christian Tuesday, and Wyoming high hosting Middleville Thornapple-Kellogg on Friday.
Show the local schools your support by going in person, but then watch WKTV for the events that are showcased each week. Check out the broadcast schedule at wktvjournal.org for replay dates and times.
The final featured coverage on the current tentative January featured game schedule is Thursday, Jan. 31, with boys swimming/diving, as Rockford visits East Kentwood.
In addition our featured games — where our sports crew and remote coverage truck will be on hand — we also have a weekly list of all local sporting contests for local fans to get out and enjoy in person.
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, Jan. 21 Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian South Christian @ Christian Kelloggsville @ Wellsprings Prep Wyoming @ FH Eastern Grandville @ East Kentwood Girls Gymnastics Potter’s House @ Rockford
Tuesday, Jan. 22 Girls Basketball Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights Wayland @ South Christian Calvin Christian @ Kelloggsville Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids Potter’s House @ Tri-unity Christian – WKTV Featured Event Grandville @ East Kentwood Fruitport Calvary @ West Michigan Aviation Zion Christian @ Algoma Christian Boys Swimming South Christian @ East Kentwood Boys Basketball South Christian @ Wayland Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian East Grand Rapids @ Wyoming Wyoming Lee @ Belding Potter’s House @ Tri-unity Christian – WKTV Featured Event East Kentwood @ Grandville Fruitport Calvary @ West Michigan Aviation Flat River @ West Michigan Lutheran Zion Christian @ Ravenna Boys/Girls Bowling Northpointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee Tri-unity Christian @ Wyoming Lee NorthPointe Christian @ Potter’s House
Wednesday, Jan. 23 Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Hopkins East Grand Rapids @ South Christian Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee Christian @ Wyoming East Kentwood @ Rockford Boys Wrestling Godwin Heights @ Belding Kelloggsville @ Belding Wyoming @ FH Eastern Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian Cedar Springs @ East Kentwood Girls Cheer Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee Wyoming @ Byron Center Girls Gymnastics FH Central vs Potter’s House @ Kenowa Hills
Thursday, Jan. 24 Boys Swimming South Christian @ Middleville T-K East Kentwood @ Grand Haven Boys/Girls Bowling East Kentwood @ Wyoming Lee Potter’s House @ Tri-unity Christian Girls Basketball Potter’s House @ Howardsville Christian Boys Basketball Potter’s House @ Howardsville Christian
Friday, Jan. 25 Boys Basketball Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian FH Eastern @ South Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Kelloggsville Middleville T-K @ Wyoming – WKTV Featured Event East Kentwood @ Grand Haven Barry County Christian @ Zion Christian Girls Basketball Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian FH Eastern @ South Christian Middleville T-K @ Wyoming – WKTV Featured Event East Kentwood @ Grand Haven Potter’s House @ Kalamazoo Hackett West Michigan Lutheran @ Zion Christian Girls Cheer Wyoming Lee @ Hamilton Boys Hockey Kenowa Hills @ East Kentwood
Saturday, Jan. 26 Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Rockford South Christian @ Rockford Wyoming @ Rockford Boys Wrestling Godwin Heights @ Northview Kelloggsville @ Northview Wyoming @ Montague Wyoming Lee @ Reed City East Kentwood @ Lakewood Girls Cheer Kelloggsville @ Caledonia Wyoming @ Caledonia East Kentwood @ Caledonia Boys/Girls Dance Wyoming @ Jenison Boys Hockey East Kentwood @ Byron Center Girls Gymnastics Potter’s House @ Kenowa Hills
Monday, Jan. 28 Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Potter’s House South Christian @ Byron Center Calvin Christian @ Kelloggsville Wyoming @ Middleville T-K Wyoming Lee @ Belding East Kentwood @ Hudsonville Girls Gymnastics Rockford vs Potter’s House @ Kenowa Hills Girls Basketball Holland Calvary @ Grand River Prep
Tuesday, Jan. 29 Girls Basketball Muskegon Heights @ Godwin Heights South Christian @ Hudsonville Tri-Unity Christian @ Wellsprings Prep FH Central @ East Kentwood Potter’s House @ Grand River Prep West Michigan Aviation @ Holland Black River West Michigan Lutheran @ WMAES Zion Christian @ Ravenna Boys Basketball Calvin Christian @ South Christian FH Central @ Wyoming NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee Tri-Unity Christian @ Wellsprings Prep Potter’s House @ Grand River Prep West Michigan Aviation @ Holland Black River West Michigan Lutheran @ WMAES Muskegon Catholic Central
Wednesday, Jan. 30 Boys/Girls Bowling Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights Wyoming @ South Christian Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian Grand Haven @ East Kentwood Boys Wrestling Hopkins @ Godwin Heights Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian Grandville @ East Kentwood Girls Cheer Godwin Heights @ Hopkins Kelloggsville @ Hopkins Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins Wyoming @ FH Eastern Girls Gymnastics Potter’s House @ Rockford
Thursday, Jan. 31 Boys Swimming South Christian @ West Catholic Rockford @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Event
“A little girl giggles when she is denied an ice-cream by her mother. She knows daddy will get her some later.”
― Unknown
From a previous year City of Kentwood Daddy-Daughter Dance, fun is had by all and memories made. (WKTV)
Dads and daughters dance coming to Kentwood
Fathers can dance the night away with their daughters at the City of Kentwood’s annual Daddy-Daughter Dance, which is set for Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Kent District Library — Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch. With an “Under the Sea” theme, this year’s event will run from 6 to 8 p.m. The evening will include dinner, dessert, crafts, a photo area with props and, of course, dancing. For the complete story, visit here.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Supplied)
Local history exhibit at GRPM extended
The Grand Rapids Public Museum exhibition, “Ralph W. Hauenstein: A Life of Leadership” is being extended. Visitors can now experience the life and legacy of Ralph W. Hauenstein through April 14. Hauenstein was a leader in the West Michigan community, remembered for his role as a journalist, his military and intelligence service, his dedication to the Catholic faith, his entrepreneurship, and his philanthropy in Grand Rapids. For the complete story, visit here.
Joey DeFrancesco having fun in concert. (JoeyDefracesco.com)
Jazz organ on display at St. Cecilia
“Hammond hero” Joey DeFrancesco and his serious jazz playing will be on full display when St. Cecilia Music Center bring multi-talented, multi-Grammy nominated jazz man and his quartet “The People” to Grand Rapids on Thursday, Feb. 7. Tickets are still available. For the complete story, visit here.
Fun fact:
Organ keyboards are called manuals
Most Hammond organs have two 61-note (five-octave) keyboards called manuals. As with pipe organ keyboards, the two manuals are arrayed on two levels close to each other. (Source)
The Little Food Pantry is located in the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE.
By City of Kentwood
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the City of Kentwood will hold a food drive to stock its Little Free Pantry on Jan. 21. The City will collect canned goods and other non-perishable items on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at three locations:
Family Fare, 6127 Kalamazoo Ave. SE – 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Celebration Cinema, 1506 Eastport Dr. SE – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department, 355 48th St. SE – 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The City is also seeking community partners willing to place a Kentwood Little Free Pantry collection bin for canned goods and other non-perishable items at their organization or business.
“Kentwood is a compassionate community which supports practical acts of generosity by encouraging neighbors to help neighbors especially in times of need,” said Mayor Stephen Kepley. “Since 2017, Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry has assisted countless families to such an extent that the shelves become empty on a weekly basis.”
“To ensure those who need help can find it year-round, please lend a hand by donating to the pantry and consider becoming a year-round partner. Added partners will provide a more sustainable food source for our community.”
Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry initiative began as an MLK Day community service project in 2017 to fill an immediate and local need throughout the year.
Located in the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, the premise of the Kentwood Little Free Pantry is similar to that of the Little Free Library movement: Take an item (or items) when needed and leave an item when you can. No applications necessary. No questions are asked.
Those interested in accepting a collection bin are encouraged to contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 616.656.5270 or eRecreation@kentwood.us.
More information about Kentwood Little Free Pantry, including a list of suggested donations, is available online at kentwood.us/littlefreepantry .
A Border Patrol agent drives past new vehicle barriers near Deming, N.M., built by U.S. Army soldiers. (U.S. Army historical photo)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
After President Donald Trump gives his State of the Union speech on Jan. 29, the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan’s 2019 Great Decisions global discussion series will debut with a discussion on the “State of the State Department” on Feb. 4-5.
Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, president of American Foreign Service Association (Supplied/World Affairs Council)
With Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, president of American Foreign Service Association, will be talking about the “State of the State Department” on both days, and will pose and then discuss the question: “Is the State Department currently equipped to do its diplomatic work?”
“Our organization’s perspective on this series is that to change the world — or to even begin to understand global issues — one first must know about the world, and that’s what we attempt to do with Great Decisions,” Michael Van Denend, executive director of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, said to WKTV.
The eight topics covered by the series were specifically chosen by the Foreign Policy Association in New York as the global issues every American community should know more about and currently be discussing. The World Affairs Council has been sponsoring the series since the mid-1950s.
“We’re particularly pleased with the expertise and diversity of the speakers coming to West Michigan this year,” Van Denend said. “There are two ambassadors, a cyber security FBI agent, two journalists reporting on Eastern Europe and Syria, and one of the country’s foremost China experts. Attending these presentations will open up many corners of the world for participants.”
The annual series, which bring leaders in international theory and action to Grand Rapids for lectures, will offer two options to attend: Mondays, 6-7:15 p.m., at Aquinas College Performing Arts Center; and Tuesdays, noon-1 p.m. at the Recital Hall in the Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin College.
There is a $10 general-public admission fee per discussion, with no reservations needed and free parking.
The series will continue through March 25-26.
The Great Decisions format features a world-class expert leading each conversation, followed by an extensive question-answer session.
The reminder of the 201 series will feature:
Feb. 11 and 12: “Democracy on the Run: Dispatches from Eastern Europe”, a behind-the-scenes-look at rising anti-democratic efforts abroad, lead by Carol Schaeffer, a freelance journalist.
Feb. 18 and 19: “Immigration Policy beyond the Border”, a talk “shedding light on a complicated and contentious issue with thoughtful dialogue,” according to supplied material, with Ambassador Jim Nealon, former U.S. Ambassador to Honduras.
Feb. 25 and 26: “A New Nuclear Arms Race?”, with Kelsey Davenport, of the Arms Control Association, discussing “Russia. North Korea. Iran. What’s our nuclear future?”
Mar. 4 and 5: “China-U.S. Trade War”, with Amy Celico, Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG), discussing “How will we handle the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st century?”
Mar. 11 and 12: “Life After the Arab Uprisings and the Islamic State”, a ground-level report from a brave Lebanese journalist, Rania Abouzeid, author of “No Turning Back: Life, Loss, and Hope in Wartime Syria”, a New York Times 2018 Notable Book.
Mar. 18 and 19: “Global Cyber Threats” with FBI Special Agent Peter Jolliffe discussing “Cyber risks are on the rise — can we thwart them?”
And finally, on Mar. 25 and 26: “Mexico and the U.S.: The Economic Ties that Bind”, Carlos Capistran, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, New York City, discussing “What must we do to make certain both countries thrive?”
The Aquinas College Performing Arts Center is located at 1703 Robinson Road S.E., Grand Rapids. The Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin College is located at 1795 Knollcrest Cir SE, Grand Rapids.
The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan is located at 1700 Fulton Street E., Grand Rapids, For more information on sessions, dates and times, as well as detailed information on speakers, visit worldmichigan.org .
Joey DeFrancesco having fun in concert. (JoeyDefracesco.com)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
In publicity material for Van Morrison’s 2018 all-jazzed up release “You’re Driving Me Crazy” his partner in musical crime is listed at “Hammond hero” Joey DeFrancesco. Maybe the nickname is a little bit of Morrison’s infamous Irish humor and maybe it is simply stating the obvious.
Either way, DeFrancesco and his Hammond heroics will be on full display when St. Cecilia Music Center bring multi-talented, multi-Grammy nominated jazz man and his quartet “The People” to Grand Rapids on Thursday, Feb. 7.
Tickets are still available.
DeFrancesco is a four-time Grammy Award nominee, with more than 30 recordings as a leader under his belt. He has received countless jazz awards including being inducted into the inaugural Hammond B3 Organ Hall of Fame in 2014, as well as being named the top organ player in the Critics Polls in DownBeat Magazine 11 times over the past 15 years and the Readers Polls every year since 2005.
That certainly qualifies as being a “Hammond hero.”
Accompanying DeFrancesco at St. Cecilia will be his group — known as “The People”, and including drummer Michael Ode, guitarist Dan Wilson and saxophonist Troy Roberts. And Joey may well also break out his trumpet and singing voice during the show.
“Joey DeFrancesco and “The People” … is bound to have guests swinging in their seats,” Cathy Holbrook, SCMC executive director, said in supplied material. “Their amazing jazz, blues, soul sound will really speak to the hearts of true jazz lovers and it’s something different then we have featured in the past with Joey on the Hammond B3 Organ.”
DeFrancesco’s latest Grammy nomination was with “The People”, in 2017 for “Project Freedom”, an album that features DeFrancesco on the Hammond B-3 organ, along with contributions on keyboards, trumpet and as a vocalist. “Project Freedom” includes originals by DeFrancesco and covers of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” and John Lennon’s “Imagine”.
DeFrancesco is no stranger to a little genre bouncing, and in 2018 he teamed up with Van Morrison on Morrison’s hard-driving soul-jazz sounding 2018 album titled “You’re Driving Me Crazy”. The album included Morrison, JDeFrancesco, Wilson, Roberts and Ode.
Joey DeFrancesco, in brief
Joey DeFrancesco (Jay Gilbert)
DeFrancesco was raised in Philadelphia where his musical roots in jazz, blues and other musical art forms were born, according to his website bio. The son of “Papa” John DeFrancesco, an organist himself, the younger DeFrancesco remembers playing as early as four-years-old. Soon after, his father began bringing him to gigs in Philadelphia, sitting in with legendary players like Hank Mobley and Philly Joe Jones.
Some argue that DeFrancesco’s emergence in the 1980s marked the onset of a musical renaissance as organ jazz had all but gone out of vogue from the mid-’70s to the mid-’80s “until DeFrancesco reignited the flame with his vintage Hammond organ and Leslie speaker cabinet.”
DeFrancesco has recorded and toured with his own groups as well as musical whose who names such as Ray Charles, Diana Krall, Nancy Wilson, George Benson, James Moody, John Scofield, Bobby Hutcherson, Jimmy Cobb, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell and David Sanborn.
He currently also hosts a weekly program on SiriusXM Radio’s Real Jazz channel, fittingly called “Organized.”
Tickets for Joey DeFrancesco and “The People” are $35 and $40 and can be purchased by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224 or visiting the box office at 24 Ransom Ave. NE. Tickets can also be purchased online at scmc-online.org .
A pre-concert reception for $15 begins at 6:30 pm, including wine and hors d’oeuvres, is available by reservation in advance by calling the center. A post-concert party with dessert, coffee and wine is open to all ticket-holders to meet the artists, obtain autographs and CD purchases.
The final St. Cecilia Jazz Series Concert will be on March 7 and will feature rising jazz star singer Veronica Swift and the Benny Green Trio.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
Mike Moll, WKTV Volunteer Sports Director sports@wktv.org
WKTV Featured Game high school sport coverage this week will include two girls basketball games, a solo game from Wyoming High Tuesday, and part of a boys-girls basketball doubleheader Friday from Godwin Heights.
The Jan. 15 game will feature Grand Rapids Christian at Wyoming. The Jan. 18 game will featured NorthPointe Christian at Godwin Heights.
Show the local schools your support by going in person, but then watch WKTV for the events that are showcased each week. Check out the broadcast schedule at wktvjournal.org for replay dates and times.
The rest of the current tentative January featured game schedule is:
Tuesday, Jan. 22 — Boys/Girls basketball: Potter’s House at Tri-Unity Christian Friday, Jan. 25 — Boys/Girls basketball: Middleville T-K at Wyoming Thursday, Jan. 31 — Boys swimming/diving: Rockford at East Kentwood
In addition our featured games — where our sports crew and remote coverage truck will be on hand — we also have a weekly list of all local sporting contests for local fans to get out and enjoy in person.
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/ .
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, Jan. 14 Boys/Girls Bowling South Christian @ Wayland Kelloggsville @ Belding Wyoming @ Byron Center Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee East Kentwood @ Grand Haven Girls Gymnastics Potter’s House @ Lowell
Tuesday, Jan. 15 Boys Basketball Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee Hopkins @ Kelloggsville Wyoming @ Christian Wellsprings Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian Hudsonville @ East Kentwood Holland Calvary @ Potter’s House Wellsprings Prep @ West Michigan Aviation Creative Tech @ West Michigan Lutheran Muskegon Catholic Central @ Grand River Prep Girls Basketball Kelloggsville @ Hopkins Christian @ Wyoming – WKTV Featured Event Fruitport Calvary @ Tri-Unity Christian East Kentwood @ Hudsonville Holland Calvary @ Potter’s House Wellsprings Prep @ West Michigan Aviation Creative Tech @ West Michigan Lutheran Holland Black River @ Grand River Prep Boys/Girls Bowling Wyoming @ Unity Christian Calvin Christian @ Potter’s House
Wednesday, Jan. 16 Boys/Girls Bowling Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights Middleville T-K @ South Christian Kelloggsville @ Hopkins Wayland @ Wyoming Caledonia @ East Kentwood Boys Wrestling Godwin Heights @ Hopkins Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins Allendale @ Kelloggsville Christian @ Wyoming Caledonia @ East Kentwood Girls Cheer Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian Wyoming @ Zeeland East East Kentwood @ West Ottawa
Thursday, Jan. 17 Boys Swimming South Christian @ Muskegon Mona Shores East Kentwood@ Grandville Boys/Girls Bowling Potter’s House @ Hopkins
Friday, Jan. 18 Boys/Girls Bowling Ottawa Hills @ Godwin Heights Girls Cheer Godwin Heights @ West Catholic Boys Basketball NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights – WKTV Featured Event South Christian @ Middleville T-K Kelloggsville @ Belding Wyoming @ Benton Harbor Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee Tri-Unity Christian @ Zion Christian Rockford @ East Kentwood Holland Black River @ Potter’s House West Michigan Lutheran @ Libertas Christian Girls Basketball NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights – WKTV Featured Event South Christian @ Middleville T-K Kelloggsville @ Belding Benton Harbor @ Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian @ Zion Christian Rockford @ East Kentwood Holland Black River @ Potter’s House West Michigan Lutheran @ Libertas Christian Boys Wrestling Wyoming Lee @ Pinconning Boys Hockey East Grand Rapids @ East Kentwood
Saturday, Jan. 19 Boys Wrestling Godwin Heights @ Hopkins Kelloggsville @ Christian Wyoming @ Jenison East Kentwood @ Holt Boys Basketball Catholic Central @ South Christian Girls Cheer Kelloggsville @ Muskegon Reeths-Puffer East Kentwood @ Rochester Girls Dance East Kentwood @ Wayland Boys Hockey FH Central @ East Kentwood
Monday, Jan. 21 Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian South Christian @ Christian Kelloggsville @ Wellsprings Prep Wyoming @ FH Eastern Grandville @ East Kentwood Girls Gymnastics Potter’s House @ Rockford
From a previous year, the City of Kentwood Daddy-Daughter Dance includes fun had by all and memories made. (WKTV)
City of Kentwood
Fathers can dance the night away with their daughters at the City of Kentwood’s annual Daddy-Daughter Dance, which is set for Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Kent District Library — Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch.
With an “Under the Sea” theme, this year’s event will run from 6 to 8 p.m. The evening will include dinner, dessert, crafts, a photo area with props and, of course, dancing.
“We love offering this dance for Kentwood dads and daughters to have a special night out together,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director. “Our Daddy-Daughter Dance sets the stage for a fun evening, making memories that will last a lifetime.”
Tickets cost $20 per pair, $5 per extra person. Pre-registration is required. Those interested in purchasing tickets can go online at kentwood.us/daddydaughter or call 616-656-5270.
The LowellArts Players Youth Theater presents Henry and Ramona, a full-length comedy by Cynthia McGean based on the books by Beverly Cleary. Performances are Jan. 17th at 7pm, Jan. 18th at 7pm, and Jan. 19th at 2pm & 7pm at Lowell Performing Arts Center/Lowell High School, 11700 Vergennes, Lowell, MI 49331. The production includes 19 youth, teen, and adult actors ages 8 and up from Lowell and surrounding communities. Directed by Teresa Goldner.
Synopsis: Newbery Award-winning author Beverly Cleary’s irrepressible hero saves the day in this adaptation of one of the best-loved children’s book series of all time. Ten-year-old Henry wants to do something important; he wants to deliver newspapers, just like that showoff Scooter McCarthy and the other boys. But first Henry has to prove to his parents he can handle the responsibility. That won’t be easy with Ramona Quimby around! Then when the boys form a clubhouse excluding girls, Henry’s friendship with Beezus is tested and the girls wreak their hilarious revenge. All of Henry’s most memorable adventures are here including riding to the dump in a bathtub and getting his first bike. Along the way, with the “help” of Ramona, he learns some valuable lessons about friendship and maturity. ‘Henry and Ramona’ captures the everyday trials and triumphs of being a kid.
Fred and Lena Meijer, in Meijer Gardens gallery. Undated. (Supplied/Meijer Gardens)
By Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Timed to commemorate the centenary of Fred Meijer’s birth and to celebrate his role as one of America’s foremost patrons of the arts, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is honored to announce A National Treasure: Fred Meijer, His Collection and Legacy.
Opening on Feb. 1, 2019, this exclusive exhibition is a celebration of Meijer’s desire to build a world-class sculpture collection. This exhibition will run through Aug. 25, 2019 and will display eleven different “chapters”, each based around original works of art from Meijer Gardens’ permanent collection as well as exclusive loans from sculptors and galleries that Meijer knew and admired.
In addition, the exhibition will debut a series of important recent acquisitions to Meijer Gardens’ permanent collection, including works by El Anatsui, George Segal and George Minne.
A National Treasure: Fred Meijer, His Collection and Legacy examines Meijer’s passion for sculpture, his growth as a collector and his profound commitment to engage diverse audiences through his collection. Each facet of Meijer’s collection is explored in this exhibition, including early ideas for a sculpture park and ways that the collection would be integrated across the gardens and grounds of what would become Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The exhibition follows Meijer’s journey as a collector and patron of the arts, with rare insight into the creation of one of the world’s greatest collections of Modern and Contemporary sculpture.
“One of the many things that I admired about Fred Meijer was that he was a lifelong learner and enjoyed finding out about new sculptors and their work with each acquisition,” said Laurene Grunwald, Director of Sculpture, Exhibitions and Installations at Meijer Gardens. “He never sought to collect for himself, but to enrich the lives of others.”
Fred Meijer’s history
Frederik G.H. Meijer was born in Greenville, Mich., in 1919, to Dutch immigrants Hendrik and Gezina Meijer. Together with an older sister, Johanna, the Meijers formed an industrious working-class family and embraced life in the rural Midwest. The Meijer parents maintained a life-long connection to their European roots and instilled the importance of education, culture and the arts in their children.
“The eye needs something, too” was a favorite phrase Gezina Meijer often shared as a reminder that, whenever possible, a truly full life extended beyond physical needs to embrace beauty, as well as intellectual and cultural pursuits.
In 1934, in the depths of the Great Depression, 14-year-old Fred Meijer worked with his father to found and operate the first Meijer grocery in Greenville. This store became the cornerstone of the chain of supercenters, Meijer Inc., which flourishes with 242 stores today.
In 1946, Fred Meijer married Lena Meijer (born 1919) who became his beloved wife of 65 years. As their success in business burgeoned, so did their commitment to community through philanthropy in education, health care, the natural environment and the arts—an extraordinary tradition embraced by their sons and families today.
The opening of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in 1995 brought together Lena’s love of plants and flowers with Fred’s passion for sculpture and quickly became a cherished focal point of their interest and support.
Fred and Lena in Milan, Italy studio of Arnaldo Pomodoro. Undated. (Supplied/Meijer Gardens)
Although never formally trained in the visual arts or art history, Fred Meijer was deeply interested in cultural endeavors and history, and had a long interest in sculpture. In particular, he was initially attracted to historical and figurative statuary in bronze. He began collecting in the mid-1980s according to his own interests, but his views broadened in the following years.
In August of 1999, he declared his dream to “build a world-class sculpture collection” at Meijer Gardens — opening a door for collecting beyond his initial personal aesthetic with the betterment and enjoyment of the public in mind.
Today, the collection is hailed as among the finest in the world. This exhibition celebrates Fred Meijer’s centenary and traces the development of the man and his collection of sculpture and his emergence as one of the nation’s foremost patrons of the visual arts.
Exhibit events scheduled
Associated with the exhibit there will be a series of free-with-admission programs:
Gardens of Art Around the World Sunday, March 17, 2 p.m. Presented by Suzanne Eberle, Professor of Art History, Kendall College of Art & DesignDrawing inspiration from gardens and sculpture collections around the globe, Fred Meijer sought to create a unique museum environment that was second-to-none right in Grand Rapids. Join Dr. Sue Eberle as she highlights the sculpture gardens that inspired Meijer as well as some of the outstanding outdoor collections to add to your travel bucket list.
Great American Collectors Sunday, April 14, 2 p.m. Presented by Dr. Craig Hanson, Associate Professor, Calvin CollegeFred Meijer, as an art collector, is among a small group of philanthropists who believed that art should be shared widely with the public. He saw his collection as a tool to enrich lives through the power of art. Join Dr. Craig Hanson as he discusses the role of collectors in the United States and the legacy of art patronage.
The Art of Fine Art Collecting Sunday, May 5, 2 p.m. Presented by Linda and Scott Lafontsee, Owners of Lafontsee GalleryYou don’t have to have the resources of Meijer Gardens to build your own fine art collection. Join the owners and artists behind Lafontsee Galleries to learn easy ways to live with original artwork that inspires you every day. Linda and Scott Lafontsee have represented local artists for over 30 years in Grand Rapids.
Charcoal Drawing with Anna Greidanus Friday, June 14, 3-5 p.m. Presented by Anna Greidanus, Professor of Art, Calvin CollegeHead outdoors with artist Anna Greidanus and learn the relaxing and inspiring practice of charcoal drawing. A gestural, loose and rapid approach is both less intimidating to first time artists and an effective form of observation. Class size is limited to 15 guests. Please register online at MeijerGardens.org/calendar
Summer Sculpture Walks Sculpture Park Niches, The Gallery – Tuesday, July 30, 6 p.m. Sculpture Park Niches, The Groves – Sunday, August 11, 11:30 a.m. Get off the beaten path and explore lesser known areas of the Sculpture Park. See fantastic examples of Modern and Contemporary sculpture instrumental to Fred Meijer’s collection style and legacy. Meet outside of the Indoor Sculpture Galleries and be prepared to walk and stand for at least 90 minutes, rain or shine.
Exhibition programs are drop-in and registration is not required.
A National Treasure: Fred Meijer, His Collection and Legacy is made possible by: The Meijer Foundation, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation, Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, and The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Meijer Gardens today
Today Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park had 723,000 visitors in 2017 and was recently listed in the top 30 most visited museums in the United States by The Art Newspaper, the leading publication in global art news. The 158-acre main campus features Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory; one of the largest interactive children’s gardens in the country; arid and Victorian gardens with bronze sculptures by Degas and Rodin; a carnivorous plant house; outdoor gardens; and a 1900-seat outdoor amphitheater, featuring an eclectic mix of world-renowned musicians every summer.
The internationally acclaimed Sculpture Park features a permanent collection including works by Oldenburg, Moore, Hepworth, Serra, Bourgeois, Ai Weiwei and Plensa, among others. Indoor galleries host changing sculpture exhibitions with exhibitions by Ai Weiwei, Picasso, Degas, di Suvero, Borofsky, Calder and Dine.
In June 2015, the eight–acre Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park opened. Created by renowned designer Hoichi Kurisu, the garden features sculpture by Anish Kapoor, Jenny Holzer and Guiseppe Penone, among others.
It’s always warm and smells like good beer in Rockford Brewing’s main-floor bar — music is upstairs this weekend. (Supplied/Rockford Brewing Company)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
Rockford Brewing Company will be hosting a weekend-long party starting today to celebrate its 6th year of business. While there will be special food menu items, beer releases and live music both days, the moment you tip an imperial oatmeal stout while listening to Delilah DeWylde may well be the moment to have a spot at the bar.
On Friday, Dec. 21, through closing at midnight, patrons can bring in a stein and fill it with 32 ounces of select beer for $5, enjoy a Bavarian-themed menu, and also have a chance to win gift cards and mug club memberships throughout the day, that according to supplied material. Country/pop artist Kari Lynch will be performing at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 22, will be a holiday extravaganza with holiday-themed trivia (teams of four) starting at 4 p.m., with mug club memberships for the winning team, an ugly sweater party, a “Charles Dickens Christmas” inspired menu, and a holiday set from local rockabilly band Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys at 8:30 p.m. (Looking for a last minute gift and an excuse to go out and have a beer? All merch will be 50 percent off.)
Oh, and the beer? Rockford Brewing Company will be releasing two new beers: the aforementioned imperial oatmeal coffee stout and an amber ale.
“We’ve had an exciting six years in the Rockford community and now we want to throw a party for all of those who supported us,“ Seth Rivard, co-owner of Rockford Brewing Company, said in supplied material. “We not only want to celebrate our business but the customers and staff who have helped us get to where we are today.”
The Rockford Brewing Company is located in downtown Rockford at 12 E Bridge St. NE. For more information visit rockfordbrewing.com .
News for Brewsaders (hint Kitzingten is all in)
There are 43 local breweries in the new Brewsader Passport – including Brewsader newcomer and Wyoming’s own Kitzingen Brewery, as well as other newcomers Castle Brewing Co., Depot No. 36 Brewery, East West Brewing and HopCat Knapp’s Corner.
In case your not in the know, you just need to collect stamps or check-ins from eight breweries to get a free Brewsader t-shirt; but the shirt is secondary to the honor of having a passport bursting at the seams. You can get an app, of course, but that digital stamp doesn’t have beer stains as a bonus.
With or without the passport, go to Kitzingen for the seasonal German Hefeweizen or any of another dozen or so other German styles. And if you want to sound smart, bring up in conversation that Count Dracula is likely buried in a Kitzingen (Germany) cemetery.
For more information on Kitzingen Brewery, located at 1760 44th St. SW, Wyoming, visit kitzingen-brewery.com . For more information on the Brewsader Passport, visit here .
(L to R) Assa Sylla, Lindsay Karamoh, Karidja Touré and Mariétou Touré in Céline Sciamma’s GIRLHOOD
By Kerri VanderHoff
The Chiaroscuro International Film Series’s 13th season will feature five celebrated films from around the world. The theme for this year’s award-winning roster of films is ‘Fate’. Using a variety of narrative, cinematic and thematic devices, each film explores the idea of fate — destiny, chance, luck, karma, providence, serendipity… what’s the idea of fate?
The programs begin at 2pm on scheduled Sundays, January through March, and include the feature presentation, a panel discussion, and a reception with refreshments. All programs are free and open to the public.
The 2019 films and their screening dates include:
Jan. 13 — Phoenix (Petzold, 2014) Germany. After undergoing reconstructive surgery, a concentration camp survivor tries to find out if her husband betrayed her to the Nazis.
Jan. 27 — Girlhood (Sciamma, 2014) France. Marieme joins an all-girl gang in the projects of Paris and is slowly turned out of her shell by her three sassy neighbors. As she falls further under their bravado and volatile energy, she begins making brave and foolish choices.
Feb. 10 — The Cakemaker (Raul Graizer, 2017) Israel. A German pastry chef travels to Jerusalem in search of the wife and son of his dead lover.
Feb. 24 — The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki (Kuosmanen, 2016) Finland. As fiercely talented as he is modest, Finnish boxer Olli Maki is swept into national stardom as he trains for a once-in-a-lifetime fight against the World Featherweight Champion. There’s only one problem: he’s just fallen in love.
March 10 — Jauja (Alonso, 2014) Argentina. A Danish settler journeys into the South American desert in a desperate search for his daughter, a solitary quest that takes him to a place beyond time, where the past vanishes and the future has no meaning.
The Chiaroscuro film selection committee considers various criteria during the nominating process of the international films including variety in country of origin, length, critical acclaim, availability, and status as a West Michigan premiere viewing.
The panel discussion is organized with consideration of each film selected. Two experts are invited to sit on the panel; one is knowledgeable in film studies and the other deeply connected to the culture represented in the film. Feedback and questions from audience members are greatly encouraged.
From ‘The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki’ (Kuosmanen, 2016)
The reception that follows the film viewing and panel discussion completes the afternoon immersion in world culture by offering complimentary food and drink and a comfortable space to gather outside the theater. This allows participants a space to mingle with others and build upon the ideas presented earlier in the program, encouraging further dialogue and cultural exchange in a friendly, casual setting.
Everyone is welcome to enjoy Sunday afternoons of film, food, and cultural exchange. The series offers an engaging way to experience the world without leaving town. All films are shown in the state-of-the-art theater at the UICA in downtown Grand Rapids (2 West Fulton). Parking garage is available, entrance is off Commerce Street. Follow us on Facebook and check the website often for update announcements on panelists and other information.
Step right up ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, to a world of gears and canvas, pulleys and sawdust when Cirque Mechanics presents 42FT – A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels on Friday, Feb. 1, at 8pm at The Mendel Center as part of the Discovery Series on the Mainstage.
At the center of every circus rests a 42-foot ring full of thrills, laughs, and excitement. 42FT – A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels is the latest invention from the creative minds of Cirque Mechanics. The company dares us to leap into the circus ring and experience the timelessness of this evolving art form. The show’s unique mechanical interpretation of the traditional, and its story full of the lore of the historic one-ring circus create a welcoming place, like a big top, the audience can be amazed. The action in 42FT is full of theatricality and a modern sensibility, showcasing a galloping mechanical metal horse and a rotating tent frame for strongmen, acrobats, and aerialists.
Cirque Mechanics was founded in 2004 by Boston native and German Wheel artist, Chris Lashua, after the success of his collaborative project with the Circus Center of San Francisco, Birdhouse Factory. Cirque Mechanics quickly established itself as a premiere American circus, with its unique approach to performance, inspiring storytelling and innovative mechanical staging. Spectacle Magazine hailed it as “the greatest contribution to the American circus since Cirque du Soleil.”
Cirque Mechanics, although inspired by modern circus, finds its roots in the mechanical and its heart in the stories of American ingenuity. The shows, rooted in realism, display a raw quality rarely found in modern circus, making their message timeless and relevant. The stories are wrapped in circus acrobatics, mechanical wonders, and a bit of clowning around. The troupe has created four extraordinary productions; Birdhouse Factory, Boomtown, Pedal Punk, and new for the 2018-2019 season 42FT- A Menagerie of Mechanics Marvels.
Tickets for 42FT – A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels are on sale now starting at $26. They are available online here and through The Mendel Center Box Office at (269) 927-8700, option 1, weekdays from 10am to 6pm. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more, seniors, students and children, active military members, and veterans. For information about group rates, pre-show party options, and other special arrangements, contact the Box Office.
This performance is made possible in part by the Gast Young People’s Performance Endowment and is sponsored by Chemical Bank and Kruggel Lawton CPA. This presentation is supported by the Arts Midwest Touring Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the Crane Group.
About The Mendel Center Mainstage
The Mendel Center raised the curtain on its first Mainstage season performance in the fall of 1992. Since that time, it has presented Mainstage season performances to more than half a million attendees. This is in addition to the scores of performing arts, national and international speakers, ceremonies, and community events hosted by other groups and organizations on the Mainstage. The 1,559-seat Mendel Center Mainstage Theatre offers state-of-the-art acoustics and comfortable seating in elegant surroundings. Amenities include free parking, handicap accessibility, and an array of services including catering and bar service for private pre- and post-show events, child booster seats, assistive listening devices, non-spill cups for beverages inside the theatre, and premium seats in the Stage Side section.
About the Discovery Series
Now in its sixth season, The Mendel Center’s Discovery Series provides family-friendly performing arts events for audiences of all ages. The series delivers enriching experiences that introduce young people and their families to the excitement of professionally produced touring productions. The goal of the series is to inspire creativity, spark imagination, educate through the arts, and to create opportunities to build cherished memories while having a lot of fun.
The Mendel Center is 30 minutes from Niles and 40 minutes from the Kalamazoo and South Bend areas. It is located on the Lake Michigan College campus at 2755 E. Napier Avenue, Benton Harbor, Michigan, one mile east of I-94 (Exit 30) and one mile west of the US 31 Bypass (exit 24). Its GPS mapping address is 1100 Yore Avenue, Benton Harbor, MI.
“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”
― Dr. Seuss
A celebration of holiday times past
Blandford Nature Center welcomes West Michigan families to join us at our Annual Pioneer Holiday Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 8th, 2018, from 12-4pm located at 1715 Hillburn Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. The program is the perfect way to kick off the Grand Rapids holiday season with festive favorites and holiday traditions for guests of all ages to enjoy. Go here for more info.
Gentlefolk, mark your calendars!
Calvin College’s 2019 January Series lineup features numerous noteworthy people, including Mary Robinson, president of Ireland from 1990-1997; Nicholas Kristof, a columnist for the New York Times and winner of two Pulitzer Prizes; and Rachael Denhollander, an advocate and educator who became known internationally as the first woman to file a police report and speak publicly against Larry Nassar. Go here for the details.
Give a kid a (temporary) home
The goal of the Host Home Program is to connect young people with caring adult volunteers who are able to provide them with safe, temporary housing while they have time to repair relationships or make decisions about other housing options with the support of Arbor Circle staff. This community- and volunteer-based approach is available to young adults, ages 18-20, who are seeking to increase stability in their housing. Go here for more info.
Fun fact:
If you kept yelling for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days, you would produce enough sound energy to heat up a cup of tea.
The lights are up on houses all over the place, and this week the city’s of Wyoming and Kentwood officially begin sharing their Holiday spirits. (publicdomainpictures.net)
Most people think Black Friday after Thanksgiving is the official start of the Christmas Holiday season in Wyoming and Kentwood. We beg to differ. The season starts, this, the first full week of December with activities Thursday to Saturday, Dec. 6-8. And we have all you need to know.
Oh, and by the way, WKTV will be at each event. Stop by and say “Hello”.
Thursday: Wyoming Gives Back
Mayor Jack Poll near the truck during a previous Wyoming Gives Back event.
The 8th annual Wyoming Gives Back is set for Thursday, Dec. 6, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Rogers Plaza Mall. Residents are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the event and every person who does, will receive raffle tickets for prizes provided by local businesses. There will be holiday cookies, music and the biggest gift-giver, Santa, is planning to attend. For more information click here.
Friday: Kentwood tree lighting
Kentwood city officials accompanied by carolers previously conduct the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. (WKTV)
The City of Kentwood invites the community to begin the holidays with its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Light Parade, slated for Friday, Dec. 7. Centered around the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, the free event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. The evening will be filled with festive activities, including a parade, live holiday music and carriage rides, as well as caroling and a tree lighting ceremony. Hot chocolate and cookies will be offered, and Santa, of course, will be there to take pictures with families. For more information click here.
Saturday: Chamber Santa Parade
Area high school bands performing at a previous year’s Santa Parade. (WKTV)
Santa is coming to town. How do we know? Because the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, along with the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, is hosting the 12th annual Santa Parade Saturday, Dec. 8, along Division Avenue. The parade, which starts at 10 a.m. and lasts about 45 minutes, will feature more than 50 participants including five school bands. Participants will travel down South Division from 33rd Street to Murray Avenue. For more information click here.
Blandford Nature Center welcomes West Michigan families to join us at our Annual Pioneer Holiday Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 8th, 2018, from 12-4pm located at 1715 Hillburn Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. The program is the perfect way to kick off the Grand Rapids holiday season with festive favorites and holiday traditions for guests of all ages to enjoy.
“Winter is a beautiful season! This event allows families to get out in nature and experience the beauty of Blandford while also learning about history and engaging in Pioneer traditions. We will also offer traditional holiday concessions available such as coffee, hot cocoa, and roasted marshmallows free of charge”, says Amber Kilpatrick, Community Programs Manager.
Several activities will be available to visitors such as cookie decorating, creating ornaments, candle dipping, making stick gnomes, cookie making, marshmallow roasting, snow snake games outdoors and more. Visitors are also encouraged to tour the historical buildings on site and explore life as an early pioneer in the one-room schoolhouse, log cabin and blacksmith shop.
Guests can also visit the wildlife ambassadors inside the Wildlife Education Center and farm animals over at the Blandford Farm (3143 Milo St NW). As usual, the trails will be open for exploration plus information will be available on how Blandford gift memberships make a great holiday gift.
The event is open to the public with admission fees of $5 for members and $8 for non-members. Children 2 years and younger will be admitted for free. For registration and more event details, go here.
Kent County will be holding three community forums to allow residents an opportunity to participate in the development of its strategic plan. The county is currently developing a strategic plan that will guide its leadership through the next five years, better reflecting the changing demographics, economics, and needs of the County.
Wyman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller. (WKTV)
“Community engagement is absolutely integral to the success of Kent County,” said Wayman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller. “It is important for us to hear the thoughts and ideas from our communities as we renew our strategic plan and effectively plan for the future.”
The meetings will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. as follows:
Thursday, December 6, at the Kent County Health Department (700 Fuller Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503)
Tuesday, December 11, at the Rockford Freshman Center (4500 Kroes St. NE, Rockford, MI 49341)
Thursday, December 13, at the East Kentwood Freshman Campus (6170 Valley Lane Dr., SE, Kentwood, MI 49508)
All three meetings will cover the same information. Due to space constraints, each event is limited to the first 100 individuals and pre-registration is required.
To register for one of the forums, residents should click on this link. If an individual would like to register by phone, please call Diane Kelly at (517) 484-4954.
“Solutions and ideas do not just come from government – they come from our residents who live, work, and play in Kent County,” said Britt. “These forums are another way we can hear directly from the public by allowing residents to provide open and honest feedback on the in our strategic plan, which in turn, will goals and action items that should be included improve our great County.”
The Robin Connell Trio will be playing trio jazz at Grand Rapid’s One Trick Pony Thursday, Dec. 6, from 8-11 p.m., with Kentwood bassist Charles Johnson sitting in.
Connell will be on keyboard and vocals, with Ian LeVine on drums.
There is no cover. One Trick Pony is located at 136 E. Fulton. For more information on music at One Trick Pony visit one-track.biz . For more information on gigs with Robin Connell visit robinconnell.com . For more jazz in West Michigan, visit wmichjazz.org .
Courtesy W.K. Kellogg Conference Center and Manor House
By Sarah Carroll, W.K. Kellogg Biological Station
Have a holly jolly holiday season when you visit the W.K. Kellogg Manor House this year for a marvelous meal or a traditional high tea. The holidays are a special time at the Manor House, visible in our lavish decorations and decadent culinary spreads.
Holiday meals at the Manor House are a special tradition, sure to bring cheer to you and your friends and family of all ages.
Each high tea at the Manor House has a different theme and menu, featuring a light meal and a historic tour of the Manor House. All teas will be held from 3–5pm unless otherwise noted.
Pricing information and registration for each event are available online. All events will be held in the W.K. Kellogg Manor House, located at 3700 E. Gull Lake Dr., in Hickory Corners. Reservations are required. To learn more, visit conference.kbs.msu.edu, call 269-671-2400 or email conference@kbs.msu.edu.
Many of our holiday events have already sold out, please register today to secure your reservation.
The W.K. Kellogg Manor House is part of the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station. As MSU’s largest off-campus educational complex, we’ve put our land-grant values into practice for nearly a hundred years as we’ve delivered groundbreaking scientific research and education, community engagement, and historic preservation. As we look forward, our students, staff, and faculty are working to understand and solve real-world environmental problems for a better tomorrow.
KBS is more than any individual lab or location. There’s a story behind all that you see; look closer and you’ll find more amazing discoveries than ever before. To learn more about KBS, visit us online at kbs.msu.edu.
To say Chicago-based Ryley Walker is a busy man these days would be a grand understatement. Just check his passport and his album/EP catalogue and music downloads.
After gigs in Europe on Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 — in the Brighton UK, Paris and Amsterdam, respectively — Walker will likely catch a red-eye and get over a bout of jet lag before he takes the stage at Calvin College on Wednesday, Dec. 5.
And that is just his live music schedule. He has also been busy in the studio.
Ryley Walker. (Supplied photo by Evan Jenkins)
So far this year the 29-year-old singer-songwriter and guitarist from Rockford, Ill., has released Deafman Glance, an eclectic mix of originals, as well as the just-out The Lillywhite Sessions, a track-by-track cover of Dave Matthews’ infamously abandoned 2001 art-rock masterpiece of the same name.
So, the audience at Calvin’s Recital Hall should be prepared for a wild ride with Mr. Walker. And cheap tickets — $10 general admission — are still available.
Deafman Glance is Walker’s fifth album release since 2014, not to mention three EP releases between 2011-13, including The Evidence of Things Unseen, originally only available on cassette. (Ya, he’s worked his way up.) His 2015 album release, Primrose Green, gained a ton of buzz and included several notable Chicago jazz and experimental musicians doing their instrumental things.
While Walker is probably proud of Deafman Glance, he quickly moved on to the next thing on his non-stop musical ride.
“It’s a good record. But I can’t really listen to it anymore. It kind of broke my brain,” Walker said in supplied material. “I was under a lot of stress because I was trying to make an anti-folk record and I was having trouble doing it. I wanted to make something deep-fried and more me-sounding. I didn’t want to be jammy acoustic guy anymore. I just wanted to make something weird and far-out that came from the heart finally.”
An initial listen of Deafman left me with the feel that I was on a long road-trip with the musician, with the smooth, confident alt-pop songwriting flowing forth often in almost stream of consciousness, accompanied by long long instrumental/synth experimentations. My favorite cuts were “Opposite Middle”, “Spoil With the Rest” and, for an unknown reason, the hypnotic instrumental “Rocks on Rainbow”. But there are several soft, almost spacey ballads.
From Deafman, Walker turned to The Lillywhite Sessions, and a sometimes complete reinterpretation of Matthews songs, which Walker describes as “a record where (Matthews) and his band indulged a new adult pathos and a budding musical wanderlust … (with Walker’s covers being) one adolescent fan’s fulfillment of that possibility, a partial musical map of the places that this trio’s early interest in Matthews has since taken them.”
An initial listen to Lillywhite found interpretations filled with both smooth and jagged synth riffs, sparse almost jazzy horn riffs, and often haunting alt-pop sounds. Having little experience with Matthews’ originals, I found “Big Red Fish” to be my favorite, while “Grace is Gone” was the one original remembered, but I was still drawn to Walker’s clear, clean version.
The period of the making of Deafman and Lillywhite was, not so incidentally, actually filled with the “a new adult pathos” of Walker’s own.
Ryley Walker. (Supplied photo by Evan Jenkins)
“I quit drugs and booze recently,” he says. “I got sick of being a party animal — I don’t want to be 19-gin-and-tonics-Ryley any more. My brain is working a little better now, but man I was just going at it pretty wildly, and then trying to make a record (Deafman Glance) while I was drinking, it was kind of like torture.
“The songs (on Deafman) don’t really deal with any political or personal or social issues at all. Mostly it just comes from being bummed out. And there’s not a lot of musical influences on the record. I wasn’t even listening to music when I made it. … Maybe I’d say it’s a record for coming up or coming down. It’s not an album for the middle of the day. It’s for the beginning or end of it.”
Can’t think of a better way to end a work day than catching Walker at Calvin.
The concert will be somewhere in Calvin’s Covenant Fine Arts Center, 1795 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids. For tickets and information, visit calvin.edu/calendar/event . For more on Ryley Walker visit ryleywalker.com.
