Category Archives: Recreation

The Sweet Side of February

Beer, Food, Local Business, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , , ,

Promote Michigan - Wine and ChocolateBy: Dianna Higgs-Stampfler

While chocolate is obviously available year-round, there’s something sweeter about savoring it in February. Maybe it is because love is in the air—with Valentine’s Day and all. Or, maybe it has something to do with the way it warms us up during the cold winter season. No matter why you love chocolate, here are some events and shops you’ll want to check out this month (and beyond).

1. Big Screen Cuisine: Like Water for Chocolate – Grand Rapids: February 14. Join the Downtown Market and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts for a truly immersive food-movie experience. The evening (for those 21+) begins at the UICA for a special screening of the classic movie “Like Water for Chocolate”—a romantic movie about a young woman forbidden to marry her true love and instead she turns her passion toward cooking. Afterward, the movie is brought to life in the dining room of the market, where chefs will prepare a fabulous 6-course dinner made with dishes from the movie—complete with drink pairings. The cost is $75 per person.

2. MSU Museum Chocolate Party – East Lansing: February 28. Culinary competitors create their elaborate and edible masterpieces inspired this year by the movie Minions. In addition, the MSU Museum features exhibits showcasing a number of artifacts and specimens from the science and culture collections—a representing the wonders of the natural and cultural world. Proceeds from the annual Chocolate Party Benefit fund proper care of the Museum’s collections.

3. Chocolate Covered Boyne – Boyne City: February 12-13. This small Northern Michigan town, located along the shoreline of Lake Charlevoix, celebrates everything chocolate and winter over Valentine’s weekend. Events include s’mores and hot chocolate, a chocolate dessert contest featuring ultimate chocolate creations from area restaurants and a chili cook-off, as well as kids’ activities, horse-drawn wagon rides, snowshoeing and more.

4. Harvest Dinner Series: Root Vegetables & Chocolate – Suttons Bay: February 13. Experience the extraordinary Harvest Dinner Series at the Inn at Black Star Farms. The creative farmstead menu incorporates root vegetables and chocolate into each of the six courses, paired with Black Star Farms wines.

5. Love, Wine & Chocolate – Grand Rapids: February 13. Spend the Saturday of Valentine’s weekend at Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery where special tastings of wine and chocolate are offered, for $12 per couple.

6. Wine & Chocolate Weekend – Jackson: February 13-14. The wineries along the Pioneer Wine Trail invite you out to sample different chocolates at each of their tasting rooms during this self-guided weekend.

7. Beer Studies: Beer & Chocolate – Bay City: February 15. Lumber Barons Brewery invites you for pairings of beer and chocolate, with their friends from St. Laurent Brothers nuts and chocolates. The cost is $20 per person.

8. The Local Epicurean – Grand Rapids. Learn the secrets to making perfect chocolate truffles during classes offered Fridays and Saturdays at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. Classes are $59 per person and reservations are required.

9. The Love Spell Package – Grand Rapids: February 8-21. Treat your sweet to a day of indulgence at The Spa at the JW Marriott or the Spa & Salon at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. An array of rose petals awaits as you enjoy the Valentine’s Couple Massage ($243). Relax with a 50-minute couples massage, chocolate covered strawberries and a glass of champagne. The Love Spell Package ($159) allows you to choose three of the following 25-minute champagne and rose services: a body polish, massage, manicure or pedicure. Rose petals, champagne and chocolate covered strawberries can be added to this package as well, for an added cost. These packages are available February 8-21 and are based on availability. To schedule an appointment, call The Spa at the JW Marriott at (616) 242-1475 or the Spa & Salon at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel at (616) 776-6498.

Both Kilwin’s in Petoskey and Sander’s Fine Chocolates in Detroit offer tours of their factories, for a unique behind-the-scenes look into this mouth-watering industry.

Looking for a sweet-themed get-away? The Cocoa Cottage B&B built in 1912 in Whitehall is an Arts and Crafts Bungalow that offers a quiet escape with personal touches and chocolate indulgences. The rooms even have sweet sounding names like Godiva, Hershey, Cadbury and the popular Ghirardelli Suite.

And, finally, mark your calendar for the Traverse City Chocolate Festival, coming up April 17 at the City Opera House.

If you’re simply looking for a place to purchase sweet treats, check out these chocolate shops:

1. The Chocolate Garden in Coloma
2. Grocer’s Daughter in Empire

3. Patricia’s Chocolates in Grand Haven
4. Alpine Chocolat Haus in Gaylord
5. Just Good Chocolate in Lake Leelanau
6. Mary Ann’s Chocolates in Grand Rapids
7. Schakolad Chocolate Factory in Ann Arbor & Birmingham
8. Gayle’s Chocolates in Royal Oak
9. Chocolates by Grimaldi in Grand Haven
10. Detroit Chocolat in Detroit
11. Chocolate Exotica in Traverse City
12. Gilbert Chocolates in Jackson
13. Drost’s Chocolates in Indian River
14. 45th Parallel’s Candy World in Suttons Bay
15. Champagne Chocolates in Mount Clemens
16. Veni’s Sweet Shop in Niles.

What is YOUR favorite #PureMichigan chocolate shop? #MiChocolate

This article was republished with permission from Dianna at Promote Michigan. We do our best to help with the promotion of the great State of Michigan!

Secluded, Tent-only Campsites added to Wilderness State Park

Recreation, Travel, Upcoming Events, , , , , , , ,

By Victoria Mullen

Just think of it: Watching the sun set over Lake Michigan from a campsite, secluded from the madding crowd.

Just that one simple thought.

Idyllic.

The stunning beauty of Michigan continues to delight residents and visitors alike, and one of the most beautiful areas, Wilderness State Park is about to get even better. On June 23, a new campground opens there, offering both full hook-up camping and rustic, tent-only camping along with amazing views of Lake Michigan.

Campers spoke up and State officials listened. More than 30 percent of the park’s campers use tents and wanted more secluded sites, fewer amenities and to be away from the sounds of larger campgrounds, the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said. The design of the campground came from campers’ input both at the park and online. Most visitors will be able to see the sun set over the lake from their campsites. One of the sites is barrier-free.

The tent-only campground has 10 sites on the Lake Michigan shoreline, designed for campers to walk a short distance to sites. There is no electricity, modern restrooms or shower, but campers will have access to a common water source and vault toilet in a central location. The cost is $20 a night, with each campsite provided a designated parking spot.

Wilderness State Park is on Carp Lake at the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula. It has wilderness areas, 26 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, multiple campgrounds, six rustic cabins, three rustic bunkhouses and year-round recreation.

There’s a full hook-up campground as well, with 18 sites on wooded dunes on Lake Michigan’s Big Stone Bay. All campers must be self-contained because there are no restrooms or showers. All sites include water, sewer and electrical. Lakefront sites are $45 a night while others are $40.wilderness-state-park-a7c36d924f506ea1

The park starts taking reservations Thursday, Feb. 4.

To check camping availability and make a reservation, go here or call 1.800.44PARKS (800.447.2757).

Muskegon Luge Track: Designed by an Olympian… Open to Mere Mortals

Local Entertainment, Recreation, Sports, Weather, , , , , , ,

luge track and luger
By Victoria Mullen

 

Full disclosure: I did not come up with that cool title. You can thank the folks at Muskegon Winter Sports Complex & Luge for that wonderful burst of creativity.

 

If you’re like me, winter is not your favorite season. Believe it or not, though, there are millions of people out there who actually enjoy cold weather activities.

 

If you’re one of those people, you’re in luck: Muskegon Winter Sports Complex in Muskegon State Park offers skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing–and luge. If you’re not familiar with the sport, go here for an interesting read on its history.

 

One of only four luge tracks in the United States, the 850-foot Muskegon Luge Track is shorter in overall length than the Olympic tracks located in New York and Salt Lake City (3740+ feet) but provides an Olympic thrill with the safety of the participant in mind. (There is also a naturbahn style track in Marquette, Michigan, by the way.)

What To Expect & What is Provided

 

Whom do we have to thank for the availability of this activity right here in west Michigan–and in Muskegon, to boot? None other than three-time Olympian Frank Masley. 

LugeSlideKid1

 

The track consists of six curves and two starting areas. Public participants slide from the 3/4 mark at speeds up to 30 mph. The track is designed specifically for general public use and those who never have slid before.

 

Although Olympians do not generally train here, the sports complex serves as a public and youth development seeding program to the USA Luge program. Five-time Olympian and two-time Olympic medalist Mark Grimmette got his start here. While here sliding, participants may receive some instruction and tips from one of the youth program athletes, some of whom are team members on the USA National Teams.

 

The facility provides all the equipment needed, including the use of a finely tuned Austrian or Latvian luge sled. Participants are provided with sanitized helmets and forearm pads. Heads up: Participants are expected to carry their own sleds to the top, and those puppies weigh around 30-40 pounds each.

 

For the initiate, there are coaches on hand to teach steering and safety techniques. After that, participants are set free to slide as many times as they can during the session. Runs are timed at the end of the session and awards are given out at the podium to the top finishers.

 

Of course, what’s an activity opportunity without the fine print? Before you can participate in luge, you must show proof of health insurance.

Costanother pic of luge

$45.00 per person on Saturdays and Sundays
All Luge Tickets must be purchased in advance through an online reservation system. Due to limited space and increased demand, tickets cannot be reserved nor can tentative reservations be made. Group discounts are not available on Saturday or Sundays.

 

$40.00 per person for Friday Night Under The Lights
Special night rate for individuals and groups 6-8:30pm. Get your tickets here.

Pinery and Lamar Parks Get More Picnic Areas, Upgrades

Our Cities, Recreation, , , , , , , ,

By Victoria Mullen

 

Good picnic places are in high demand. Just ask anyone who’s tried to reserve a space at Pinery Park (2301 DeHoop Ave.) and Lamar Park (2561 Porter St.) only to be told that all spaces were booked. Over the past two years, reservations for weekend hours sold out for June, July and August, the prime months for birthday parties, company picnics, family reunions and special events. In fact, the parks are already taking reservations for this season, which runs May 1 through Sept. 30.lamar-park-and-splashpad-

 

Wyoming Community Services recognized the need for more space and has delivered. Pinery has received one new picnic area and Lamar has received two. The cost was less than $1,000.

 

At Pinery, park-goers will now find two areas that seat up to 50 people, one for up to 125 and one section for up to 150 people. There’s also a lodge that seats up to 100 people. At Lamar, there are now two sections that accommodate up to 50 people, two that seat 100 and one that seats 175, along with a shelter for up to 75 people.

 

Overall, Wyoming’s Park Services had an impressive 2015 with 11,077 hours reserved and reported reservations attendance of 170,671 people.

There’s even more in store for Pinery Park.

 

Fitness trail exercise equipment and new lighting for the lodge are coming to Pinery, too.

 

The Wyoming City CounflowersbyPinerysign2010_001cil recently approved the purchase and installation of exercise equipment from GameTime for $26,855.09. The funding will come from a Community Development Block Grant.

 

“This equipment provides a great opportunity for residents who are looking to improve their health and wellness,” said Rebecca L. Rynbrandt, director of community services. “And Pinery Park’s central location means good access for those who want to use the equipment for exercise.”

 

In addition to the exercise equipment at the park, new energy-efficient LED lights at the lodge will replace old fluorescent fixtures. The project, which includes removal of the old lights and installing the new ones, totals $4,215, said Jeffrey Anderson, parks and facilities supervisor. Funding for this work is also from a Community Development Block Grant.

 

The new lighting will save on energy and maintenance costs, Anderson said.

 

Both projects are expected to be completed May 31, 2016.

 

For more information, call the City of Wyoming at 530.7272 or visit the City website. Follow the City on Twitter @WyomingCityHall and on Facebook.

To A Girl, Her Daddy is Her First Love

Citizen Journalism, Non-Profits, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

Daddy Daughter Time 3kathy_grayHey Dads! If you want to see a great big smile on your little girl’s face, tell her you are taking her out for ice cream, or to the new Disney movie, or to a Whitecaps game, dressed as a fairy princess! These are just a few of the events enjoyed by the members of Daddy Daughter Time.

 

Todd Chance, creator of Daddy Daughter Time (DDT), has made it his mission to provide information, share tips, and plan events for fathers with daughters, this includes facilitating networking with others dads. Chance, the father of a 5-year-old daughter, states his basic goal to “get dads to spend more time with their daughters.”

 

The role of fathers in today’s society is changing. Although the media continues to perpetuate the image of dads as the lovable, bumbling parent, while mothers are shown as the glue that holds it all together, many dads are now practicing “intentional parenting,” trading hours at the office to purposefully spend time with their families. This is especially important in the area of raising daughters. Studies have proven that fathers are very influential in their daughter’s lives, especially true when it comes to self-esteem and decision-making. Meg Meeker, MD, who has specialized in pediatric and adolescent medicine, states, “To become a strong confident woman, a daughter needs her father’s attention, protection, courage, and wisdom.”

Daddy Daughter Time

 

In West Michigan, it is easy for moms to find resources and support systems. A simple Google search reveals groups such as MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), Moms In Touch, MOMS (Mothers of Many Seasons), MOT (Mothers of Twins), and even such events as a “Mom-to-Mom” sale.

 

For dads, such resources barely exist.

 

Chance, facing a divorce, found himself raising his young daughter as a single father. “I was required to prepare three meals a day, know the ins and out of toileting and personal hygiene for a female, and to fix her hair in the morning,” he laughed, shaking his head. Other dads have faced the same issues, being a single parent or not. For example, five years ago there were rarely changing stations in the men’s room. “Men many times get the short end of the stick when it comes to raising kids.”

 

Chance began a blog about Daddies and Daughters to give fathers a resource on raising young girls. Dads “know they play a role on how her life will turn out,” states Chance. He found hundreds of fathers on the path of intentional parenting, working to play a vital role in the lives of their daughters.

 

The first DDT event was a free ice cream social at Jersey Junction in 2013. The daddy/daughter date night was a success! Another signature event was The Big Braid in which dads learned the basics of hair-styling and the girls got a mini-makeover. Princess Night at Fifth Third Ballpark drew flocks of princesses, and their daddies, to cheer on the Whitecaps in lovely gowns and tiaras. The need for dads to come together to share information and encourage one another was growing.

Daddy Daughter time 2

 

DDT began scheduling regular free events, one each month, for the first year. Chance, who was working with vendors to facilitate discounts, was paying for the excess out of his own pocket. As the project grew the blog became a Facebook page, and then a well-designed website. This year DDT received a sponsorship from the Bissell Corporation, allowing them to continue to expand. “We wanted the events to continue to be free or low-cost so as not to stop anyone from coming,” states Chance, “However, we have found that the cost is not the issue for many, it is the convenience of having an event planned for them in advance—all they have to do is register if it is something they are interested in attending.”

 

For the first time, DDT has a membership program which allows dads to choose individual monthly events they would like to attend or purchase a yearly membership with full access to the website, all events, and a monthly newsletter. The DDT website offers invaluable information such as a breakdown on every Disney princess (a daddy need-to-know), a list of monthly events and activities in Grand Rapids, books and resources for Dads, and at-home activities to do with your daughter. DDT is not limited to single fathers. It is open to all fathers who seek to show their daughters how special they are while networking with other men about being the best role model for their daughters.

 

Chance ends each event with a mission assignment for both dads and daughters. For dads, it is to spread the word about Daddy Daughter Time. For daughters, it is to thank their daddy, give them a hug, and tell them you love them. The big smiles and genuine hugs make it all worthwhile.

 

“Little girls learn by watching the example of their fathers,” states Chance. As the concept of intentional parenting takes hold, fathers are no longer driven to work 50-60 hours a week in order to spend valuable time with their families. It is Chance’s passion that fathers seek to raise their daughters with purpose and love. With time and wisdom, Chance hopes he will see DDT branching out to cities across America.

Todd Chance DDT
Todd Chance – Founder of Daddy Daughter Time

 

Coming events with DDT include:
February 20, 2016 – Sky Zone and Sundaes!
March 5, 2016 – DDT Chocolate Factory!
April 9, 2016 – Spring Fling Daddy/Daughter Dance at Noto’s Old World Dining
May 21, 2016 – DDT Night at the Movies – “Zootopia”
June 19, 2016 – Big Braid 4
(Times, dates, and events are subject to change. Please check website)

 

Daddy Daughter Time is continuing to search for sponsors. If you are interested in sponsorship or would like to explore membership with DDT, please visit the website DaddyDaughterTime.com.

Alina Kiryayeva opens the Hempy Keyboard Series at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts

Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,
Courtesy of @AlinaPiano (Twitter)
Courtesy of @AlinaPiano (Twitter)

Praised for her powerful command of the piano, unique interpretations, and clarity of sound, international performance artist Alina Kiryayeva will open up the Hempy Keyboard Series this Sunday, January 24th, at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts.

 

Kiryayeva treats listeners to her “Moving Pictures” program based on the classical music found in famous cartoons including works by Chopin, Liszt, Rimsky-Korsakov, Beethoven and much more.

 

Kiryayeva, a native of Ukraine, performed her first solo recital at age 8 and her first solo debut with an orchestra at the age 11. She was the first prize winner of the Senigallia International Competition, Italy. Kiryayveva has also claimed prizes in several international piano competitions in the USA, including the Grace Welsh International Competition and the California Young Artist International Competition. She is one of the few classical pianists to complete both a Bachelors and a Master’s degree at The Julliard School of Music on full scholarship.

 

“Moving Pictures” has received rave reviews. According to The Imperial Valley Press (California), “Kiryayeva’s every phrase shone through with crystal clarity, the piano sang to the audience under her delicate touch.”

 

Kiryayeva has toured globally and brought her musical magic to Ukraine, Russia, Mexico, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Holland, and Japan. Recently she performed with the Kharkov State Philharmonic and State Opera Theatre Orchestras, The Imperial Valley Symphony orchestra and New York Symphonic Ensemble Orchestra.

 

The SCA’s Hempy Keyboard Series is sponsored by Rex Hempy, Alan McPhail, Friends of Amity Meadows, and the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs.

 

The show will start at 2:00 p.m. at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts (400 Culver Street). General admission is $10 for Adults; students 18 & younger are free.

Enjoying Adventures Inside the Snowglobe of West Michigan

Local Business, Recreation, Weather, , , , ,
There are only four public luge tracks in the country, one of them is right here in West Michigan!
There are only four public luge tracks in the country, one of them is right here in West Michigan!

Even though some of us may not be big fans of the cold weather, winter plays host to some of West Michigan’s most fun activities. Coats and boots may be necessary, so pack accordingly! Whether you enjoy speeding down the slopes or taking your time to enjoy the snow covered outdoors, West Michigan will keep you more than entertained during these winter months.

 

The Muskegon Winter Sports Complex

 

For some unique winter fun, check out the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex, located in Muskegon State Park. They have one of the only four publicly accessible luge tracks in the country! They also have snowboarding, skiing, and sledding on their five miles of groomed track. If you’re not interested in hitting the slopes, there is an ice rink and tracks for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Equipment is available for rent.

Rosa Parks Circle

 

JW Marriott

 

The JW Marriott is helping you embrace and enjoy winter with the JW on Ice package! This package includes passes for ice skating at nearby Rosa Parks Circle, a holiday gift welcome amenity, and a complimentary breakfast from their delicious farm-to-table restaurant, six.one.six, to help you warm up.

 

Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place

 

Van Andel Arena will be home to the WCHA Final Five hockey championship on March 18. The men’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) is college hockey’s most historic, tradition-rich and successful conference and their premier conference tournament is coming to Grand Rapids. This two day event pits some the best college hockey teams in the region against each other. Visit the website for more ticket and group sale information.WCHA final five

Crystal Mountain

 

January is National Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month and Crystal Mountain has you covered with their professional instructors and special lift tickets offer all of January. For January only, Crystal Mountain is bringing you an amazing deal with a ski and snowboard rental and 1-hour beginner group lesson for only $20. Advanced reservations requested.

 

Don’t need a lesson? Then bring a friend and enjoy the day with a two for one deal on lift tickets! Offer valid Mondays through Thursdays for the month of January. Whether you’re a newbie looking to learn how to shred the slopes or an experienced rider, Crystal Mountain is the place to be.

Courtesy of @ShantyCreekResorts
Courtesy of @ShantyCreekResorts (instagram)

 

Shanty Creek Resorts

 

Shanty Creek, rated the “Midwest’s Best Downhill Terrain” by OnTheSnow.com, transforms themselves every year into a winter wonderland. There is something for every skill level from beginners to veterans who are always looking for a challenge. If the skiing and snowboarding doesn’t interest you, check out their tubing park, snowshoe trails, and cross-country trails. If you are interested in some snowy fun, Shanty Creek’s winter wonderland is calling to you.

 

Here in West Michigan we are lucky enough to experience all four seasons. This winter, get out and about and soak up the winter in a new way. The cold and snow isn’t going anywhere, might as well enjoy it while it’s here!

Celebration + Founders Announce Newest Brewed for Film Series Lineup

Beer, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Recreation, , , , ,

brett_wiesenaurCelebration Cinemas and Founders Brewing Company are teaming up for yet another incarnation of their popular Brewed for Film series.

 

Starting February 10th, Founders Brewing will install itself inside 5 Celebration Cinemas across West Michigan and present a specifically chosen film to share on the big screen with thirsty film-goers, along with serving some fine beverages that match the tone of the shows.

 

Mixed among the films picked are a Scorsese gangster epic, a classic Indiana Jones adventure, 3 Coen Brothers comedy-dramas, including their award-winning FARGO and Oscar-nominated True Grit remake, a stop-motion animated Wes Anderson family flick, and some Monty Python shenanigans to wrap up this particular series.

FBccAs per usual during the series, entry is only $2 per person, 21 years of age and above. In addition, the series is selling a pass for entry to all films as well as a complimentary beer for each show for $25, while supplies last.

 

Having attended last years showing of The Shawshank Redemption with a friend, I can truly attest to the friendly atmosphere and unique experience offered at the events the two collaborators offer here. The value of entertainment for the price offered is exponentially more than a typical movie outing. Plus, who wouldn’t want the option of refreshing Founders classics at hand for viewing and consuming pleasure?

 

For all the information, including show dates and featured beer choices, please visit the Celebration information page.

What’s the Big Brew-ha-ha? Beer Week GR, Of Course!

Beer, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Local Food, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , , , , ,

beer week

By Victoria Mullen

 

Hmmm. Sense that? There’s something in the air.

 

No, not a smell, specifically. And it isn’t something you can readily see. It’s more like a growing vibe. Or anticipation. Or something.

 

Ah, yes. There is something brewing in Grand Rapids, and it’s the 4th Annual Beer Week GR, February 17-28. Founded in 2012, the event celebrates and promotes the craft beer culture in the greater Grand Rapids area through a series of unique beer events.

 

“Beer Week GR has grown into a 12-day event that is not only a celebration for beer lovers, but also the local economy,” said Doug Small, President and CEO of Experience Grand Rapids. “The Grand Rapids area beer scene continues to be recognized on a national level. Paired with our ever-popular Cool Brews. Hot Eats. collaboration with more than 50 local restaurants, as well as the popular Winter Beer Festival, Beer Week GR offers beer and culinary fans a unique experience during a period of the year not known to draw as many leisure visitors to the area.”

 

Ohhhh, yeah. You’ll need your strength–you know, something to soak up that delicious craft beer–and Cool Brews. Hot Eats. is just the ticket. Sort of like killing two birds with one stone (so to speak): Fill the belly and celebrate perfect pairings (food and beer, of course) as local chefs and brew masters offer beer-infused dishes and meals with complementary beer pairings. We’ve listed just a sampling of participating eateries at the end.

 

But that’s not all, folks.

 

Nope.

 

The 2016 Winter Beer Festival (the 11th annual) will feature more than 100 Michigan breweries and approximately 1,000 different craft beers. Guests will enjoy fine music from local bands and other fun entertainment, and a selection of tasty food will be available for purchase. Takes place at Fifth Third Ball Park, 4500 West River Dr. NE, Comstock Park, MI 49321. $45 in advance, $50 at the gate, (if still available—tickets sell out fast). ‘Enthusiast Members’ with a valid membership ID card are invited to enter an hour early (at 2 pm on Friday / noon on Saturday) to enjoy VIP entry prior to General Admission.

 

So, devoting 12 days to celebrating beer sounds logical, right? Well, we have inquiring minds over here. What’s the real reason behind this big brew-ha-ha? Why did it start in the first place? Instead of going straight to the sources and asking the founders and powers that be–because, let’s face it, that would be too damn easy–we thought it would be fun to hazard a guess or two.

 

Maybe we hit the nail on the head. Maybe not. But here’s what we came up with:

  1. “They” started this whole thing to prevent people from going off the deep end in mid-winter. Gets mighty gray around these parts.
  2. They wanted to carve out a niche for Grand Rapids because there will never be enough lists for us to conquer.
  3. They just wanted an excuse to drink beer.

 

The last, seemingly simplest reason makes the most sense, so we’re going with that, but hell, any way you look at it, it’s win-win-win for craft beer aficionados because the brews will be a-flowing February 17-28.

 

Yes, the last week of February definitely will be beer-centric and if you’re feeling left out, maybe it’s time to join in the fun. Sure, you could stay inside and cuddle up to a fire with a good book. But where’s the fun in that? No, the answer to braving the elements is beer. We wouldn’t expect anything less from the ‘Best Beer Town.’

 

For a schedule of all the special events surrounding Beer Week GR, go here.

 

Cool Brews. Hot Eats. participating eateries:
Aperitivo
Bagger Dave’s- Fulton
Black Heron Kitchen & Bar
Blue Water Grill
Bobarino’s at the B.O.B.
Bostwick Lake Innbeer week graphic
Brann’s – Leonard
Brewery Vivant
CitySen Lounge at CityFlats Hotel
Cork Wine & Grille
The Cottage Bar
Divani
Donkey Taqueria
El Barrio Mexican Grill
Elk Brewing
FireRock Grille
Flat River Grill
Founders Brewing Co.
Gilly’s at the B.O.B.
Grand Rapids Brewing Company
Gravity Taphouse Grille
Green Restaurant
The Green Well
Harmony Brewing Company
Harmony Hall
The Heritage Restaurant (at GRCC)
Horseshoe Smokehouse
Judson’s at the B.O.B.
Kitchen 67, A Michigan Bistro
Luna Grand Rapids
One Trick Pony
Osteria Rossa
Pearl Street Grill
Ramona’s Table
Reds on the River
Rockford Brewing Company
Rose’s on Reeds Lake
Rush Creek Bistro
six.one.six
Terra GR
Tom + Chee
The Winchester

Check back often, more locations are being added daily. Menus for participating locations will be announced on February 1, 2016.

Interested in participating? Contact Kate Herron – KHerron@ExperienceGR.com.

Area hotels are offering complementary shuttle service to and from the festival to get you there safely. More information here. It’s the responsible thing to do.

LaughFest Announces Additional Artists and Shows for 2016

Local Entertainment, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , , , ,

LAUGHFEST_final_2By: Tyler Lecceadone

 

Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s only community-wide festival of laughter, today announced the addition of Miranda Sings and other ticketed shows for the 2016 festival,which takes place March 10 to 20, 2016. Individual tickets for all events will be available for purchase on Friday, Jan. 15 at 10 a.m.

Laughfest - Miranda Sings
Miranda Sings

 

Most recognizable for her signature big red lips, international YouTube sensation, Miranda Sings first established herself on YouTube quickly generating over 60 million views all over the world. Her one-woman show is filled with comedy, hit songs, magic tricks and much more. Her performance will take place on March 19 at Fountain Street Church, and will be her second appearance at LaughFest after a sellout show in 2014.

Laughfest - Hasan Minhaj
Hasan Minhaj

 

Hasan Minhaj is best known as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and stars in his own one-man show off Broadway. Minhaj will perform on March 11 at 10:30 p.m., at Wealthy Theatre.

Laughfest - David Cross
David Cross

 

Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee, David Cross was named one of the Top 100 Stand-Up Comedians of All Time by Comedy Central. Perhaps best known for his role as Tobias on Arrested Development, Cross will launch his own nationwide tour this year and will premiere on IFC’s third season of Todd Margaret. You can see Cross perform at Fountain Street Church on March 18.

 

Michael Palascak is known for clean adult laughs and recently finished in the top 5 of last season’s Last Comic Standing on NBC. He has previously performed on a variety of late night television shows such as The Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central’s The Half Hour, The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Palascak’s performance will take place at Grand Volute in Lowell on March 18.

Laughfest - Michael Palascak
Michael Palascak

 

Other shows announced today include Failure:Lab – LaughFest Edition, an intimate event showcasing the untold failures behind success and exploring the space between people who fail and quit, and those who get back up again; the Rockin’ Homegrown Jam is returning for its fifth year as part of LaughFest, with an added twist – special musical guest The legal Immigrants join the comics on stage to perform songs between each comic’s set; and Hen Sapp and Friends Keeping it Clean, featuring edgy Christian comedian Hen Sapp performing for the sixth time at LaughFest along with special guests Crystal P. and Laughin Lenny.

 

LaughFest 2016 will include more than 200 free and ticketed shows featuring over 100 artists at more than 40 venues in Grand Rapids and Lowell during the 10 days of the festival. Artists already previously announced include headliners: Seth Meyers, performing during Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids Signature Event, Kathy Griffin, Ron Funches, Anjelah Johnson, Roy Wood Jr., Chris D’Elia, Bert Kreischer, and Heather McDonald.

 

Individual tickets are priced from $7 to $80, excluding the Signature Event. These will be available beginning Friday, Jan. 15, 2016 at the Van Andel Arena Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, LaughFest Central, when it opens in mid-February, through the closing day of LaughFest, and at ticketmaster.com.

 

Gilda’s LaughFest was created by a team at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids in 2011. Designed to celebrate laughter for the health of it, LaughFest features free and ticketed events including stand-up, improv, film, authors, community showcases and a variety of seriously funny stuff. Past LaughFest headliners have included George Lopez, Wanda Sykes, Billy Gardell, Jay Leno, Lily Tomlin, Mike Birbiglia, Margaret Cho, Betty White, Whoopi Goldberg, Rodney Carrington, Martin Short, Kevin Nealon, Wayne Brady, Joel McHale, Lewis Black and Brian Regan.

Meijer State Games of Michigan Award Winners Announced

Local Faces, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Recreation, Sports, , , , , ,

Meijer State Games of MichiganSince its inception in 2010, the Meijer State Games of Michigan has given athletes the opportunity to compete against each other in summer and winter games emulating the Olympics. Following the completion of the Summer Games, and after receiving nominations from coaches, parents, spectators, and peers, officials with the Meijer State games of Michigan choose participants from the games as Athlete of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.

 

Three athletes – youth, female, and male – are chosen every year and one volunteer is also awarded and recognized. The 2015 winners were recognized at the Grand Rapids Griffins game this past Saturday and are as follows:

 

•   Aubrey Cohoon (Youth – Figure Skating – Spring Lake, MI)
•    Maddy Frank (Female – Mountain Biking – Walker, MI)
•    Michael Edward Droste Jr. (Male – Tae Kwon Do – Saranac, MI)
•    Issac Washburn (Volunteer – Grand Rapids, MI)

Meijer State Games of MichiganAubrey Cohoon (Youth AOY), 11, competed in Figure Skating during the 2015 Meijer State Games of Michigan taking first place in the pre-preliminary freestyle program and fourth place in the preliminary compulsory moves event. Her first place standing at the State Games of Michigan qualified her for the 2017 State Games of America. In May 2015, she had the opportunity to skate at the Make-A-Wish Michigan Wish Ball alongside her idols, Charlie Wait and Meryl Davis. She has raised over $30,000 for Make-A-Wish Michigan and has been awarded the title of the Fox 17 Pay-It-Forward person of the Week and Month. Aubrey is currently a student at Spring Lake Intermediate School.

 

Maddy Frank (Female AOY), 15, competed in Mountain Biking during the 2015 Meijer State Games of Michigan, winning the Women’s A Division in the Short Track Event. Maddy competes in biking events year-round and recently took first in her age group in the Iceman Cometh Challenge in Traverse City, MI. She is also a track & field athlete at Grandville schools and enjoys volunteering for local running and biking race events including the East Grand Rapids Trailblazer Run, the Grand Rapids Triathlon, and the Skirts in the Dirt all-female bike race. In 2014, she was awarded the “Ryan Fisher be an Eleven Award.” She is a member of the Freewheeler Racing Team and is an ambassador for Lapierre bikes. Maddy is currently a student at Grandville High School.

 

Michael Edward Droste Jr. (Male AOY), 32, competed in Tae Kwon Do during the 2015 Mejier State Games of Michigan, winning the yellow belt division of the Tae Kwon Do forms division. Being born with cerebral palsy and ligament issues, he has overcome adversity as an athlete. Michael is a resident of Saranac, MI and enjoys participating in martial arts for the friendships he has made and the lessons of respect, self-control, and discipline he has learned. Michael is an inspiration to all athletes and is an outstanding example of overcoming adversity.

 

Isaac Washburn (VOY), 27, has been involved in the Meijer State Games of Michigan for five years. He is crucial to the organization and success of the high school hockey tournament. He takes pride in ensuring this event is well-run and properly executed, aiding in set-up, teardown, and problem resolution for all 18 hockey games during the tournament. Isaac is a 2012 graduate of the sports leadership and management division at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). He is currently the Video Coach for the Kalamazoo Wings, Head Coach for both the Division 1 and Division 3 Roller Hockey club teams at GVSU, and the Director of Team Development for the Midwest Collegiate Roller Hockey League.

 

Previous Athlete of the Year award winners include:

 

•    2014: Alex Garcia (Male – Wrestling), Cory Bush (Female – Speedskating), Jade Walleman (Youth – Track & Field)
•    2013: Joe Skrycki (Male – Track & Field), Joan Berman (Female – Track & Field), Liam Smith (Youth – Archery)
•    2012: Russell Williams (Male – Tae Kwon Do), Lauren Hooker (Female – Lacrosse), Derek Nicks (Youth – Wrestling)
•    2011: Bob Miller (Male – Swimming), Jessica LeMire (Female – Racquetball), Chandler Simmering (Youth – Judo)
•    2010: Jimmy O’Hearn (Male – Track & Field), Emily Wee (Female – Track & Field), William Vosejpka (Youth – Hockey)

Students Learn ‘Old-Fashioned Fun’ With Game Club

Education, Recreation, , ,
School counselor Christine Karas is teaching students many old favorite games in Game Club
School counselor Christine Karas is teaching students many old favorite games in Game Club

By: Erin Albanese – School News Network

Games were getting heated in the Wyoming Intermediate School classroom. Ace and king battles popped up in the card game, War; jacks were smacked silly in Slapjack and things got a little wild in Crazy Eights.

It was cards day in Game Club at the fifth- and sixth-grade school. Sixth-grader Eric Moras and fifth-grader Thomas Austin took turns laying down their cards, gasping at a war of aces. “I joined because I wanted to relax after the school day,” Thomas said.

Red Rover, Twister, birthday-game relays, Scrabble and Hungry, Hungry Hippos are just a few of the games a dozen students are playing. The weekly hour-long club was started by school counselor Christine Karas.

In the techie world of video games and social media, Karas wanted to introduce students to the beloved time-worn games generations before them enjoyed.

Fifth-grader Thomas Austin and sixth-grader Eric Moras play war
Fifth-grader Thomas Austin and sixth-grader Eric Moras play war

“Kids don’t interact with each other as much as they used to,” she said. “There’s a lot to be said for working together and having good, old-fashioned fun.”

After passing out a deck of cards for each student to bring home to play with their families, she explained her other motive in running the club. “Kids are having fun without realizing they are learning important skills because, with games, you are in a position that you have to use those skills.”

Karas was referring to the character-building skills she helps instill in students every day when they come to her office struggling with a range of personal issues. Games require students to take turns, learn to be good winners or losers, be patient, face frustration, problem-solve and take risks.

Sixth-grader Michael Lynch deals cards during Game Club
Sixth-grader Michael Lynch deals cards during Game Club

Plus it requires lots of face-to-face interaction for shy students who like to hide in the back of the classroom, she said.

Sixth-grader Illiana Valdez-Ortega, a fan of chess and checkers, said she enjoys Game Club. “I like a whole bunch of games. They are really fun and when you get bored you can always play them again and again.”

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

Local Soccer Star Lands a ‘Homegrown’ Dream Tryout

Local Faces, Recreation, Sports, , , , , , , ,

Life can have this fascinating way of coming full circle. A way of bringing us back to our roots on pathways that don’t become clear until a glance is taken in the rear-view mirror – which only happens once we’re at a place to truly call home. It is that sense of settlement that makes us feel secure enough to take a look back, and while the vision isn’t completely clear, it’s no longer a muddled mess; it’s an exciting and enthralling chance to see the events of the past lead to an optimistic future.

It’s a journey towards a new position in life to call home.

For Jesse Flores, 18, life is shaping a path to venture back to a home he’s never visited, it’s a dream scenario with love and passion at the core, and soccer as the catalyst.

Jesse Flores“I started playing soccer when I was 4, but I didn’t start to take it seriously until freshman year of high school,” describes Jesse with the tone and tenor of someone fondly remembering the moment they first fell in love.

For Jesse, soccer has always had that relationship. Sports are a bond that can bring generations, especially a father and son, together in ways that transcend the playing field.

“I remember growing up and watching Atlas games on TV with my dad. They’ve always been my favorite team.”

While Jesse is from Wyoming, MI, his parents Jose and Icela both hail from Guadalajara, Mexico, where Jose played soccer for the youth team Atlas Fútbol Club. That bond to Atlas, and Mexican soccer, was passed down to Jesse.

With a new focus on the game as a freshman at Wyoming High School, Jesse’s game started to flourish. As a three-year varsity goalie, Jesse became a leader on the team and utilized his 6’3″ frame and long wingspan to defend the cage. His size and leadership allowed Jesse to lead the state in saves his senior season and earned him post-season honors.

Even with all the success, it was hard to imagine playing soccer at the next level.

“I didn’t consider it a real possibility until my high school coach, Romer Carrasco, told me that he thought I could play at the next level. Once I realized an opportunity after high school was possible, more doors opened up.”

Jesse and high school coach Romer Carrasco
Jesse and high school coach Romer Carrasco

Jesse wound up earning a scholarship to play soccer at the University of Saint Francis in Indiana. While the team struggled this past season, Jesse played well and compiled a highlight film to send out to professional teams in Mexico.

A professional opportunity was still nothing more than a dream.

“I connected with an agent in California who works with young players. He gets your info and film in front of Mexican teams,” recounts Jesse as he racks his brain, still marveling at the details of his incredible journey and opportunities awaiting on the path before him. “I’ve always dreamed of playing professionally, but I didn’t know if I’d have a chance.”

Since that time, two teams have reached out to Jesse to schedule tryouts: Chiapas Fútbol Club and hometown favorite Atlas Fútbol Club of Guadalajara. The tryout with Chiapas is already in the books, and the Atlas tryout will happen this summer. Chiapas didn’t offer a contract, but Jesse took some positives from the experience to build on before the tryout with Atlas.

“I didn’t end up getting the contract with Chiapas, but I was able to get a feel for how a professional tryout works. I was nervous and didn’t play loose. That won’t happen next time.” The club also gave Jesse some feedback on his play. “They told me to work on my conditioning, but also that they saw my potential. That was great to hear because it gives me more confidence knowing that I have the tools and the skill. I can always work on my conditioning!”

In the meantime, before the tryout with Atlas, Jesse will continue his education and playing career at Davenport University after transferring from Saint Francis to be closer to home. The newfound possibilities of becoming a professional soccer player mean more to Jesse than just personal achievement; he sees it as an opportunity to inspire.

Jesse Flores“I want to inspire others as I go along. I was once that young kid who wanted to be professional, and now I have that opportunity. I want to do my best and achieve what I can so I can give back to the community of Wyoming and my high school. They’ve been so supportive of me up until this point. I want to give it back.”

This summer, Jesse will travel down to Guadalajara for an opportunity of a lifetime. Not only will he be trying out for his childhood team, but Jesse will visit his parents’ birthplace and meet family for the first time. He will see the city that his favorite soccer team calls home and immerse himself with the Club he hopes to call his own.

Jesse’s story is more than just an inspirational tale; it is a journey of family and sport coming full circle because of the bond created by a father, a son, their team, and a ball.

Pure Michigan Celebrates Snow Days this Winter

Area Education, Local Business, Recreation, Travel, , , ,

Pure Michigan Snow DayMild temperatures may have provided a slow start to winter, but snow will be here before we know it and Pure Michigan has winter recreation on the mind. According to Project: Time Off and the US Travel Association, 429 million days of annual leave go unused in the U.S. each year. This winter, Travel Michigan is encouraging people to put some of those unused vacation days to work, channeling their inner child and heading out to experience the thrill of a Pure Michigan Snow Day.

In addition to this year’s winter advertising campaign, which begins airing the first week of January, a Snow Day landing page has launched on Michigan.org to provide visitors to the most visited state tourism website in the country with the inspiration and information to plan the perfect winter getaway. A new video highlighting winter recreation offerings is also available on the new landing page and Pure Michigan’s YouTube page.

Pure Michigan“Michigan is a place where snow days come to life and there is no better way to enjoy the unique and beautiful winter travel experiences the season has to offer than to create your own Pure Michigan Snow Day,” said Dave Lorenz, Vice President of Travel Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “Whether you are an enthusiast looking for a new adventure or just looking to beat cabin fever, make the most of those unused annual leave days and revel in the excitement and delight that awaits when a fresh blanket of snow covers the ground and the day is wide open.”

Travelers and travel industry partners are being encouraged to use the hashtag #puremichigansnowday to highlight winter offerings and adventures across Michigan. Michigan is home to more than 6,500 miles of snowmobile trails, 3,000 miles of cross-country skiing trails and is second in the nation for ski areas boasting everything from family friendly bunny hills to the tallest vertical drop in the Midwest at Mt. Bohemia.

Last year, winter tourism generated $2.8 billion in traveler spending in Michigan.

Pure Michigan snowshoeingThe advertising campaign launching in January will target metro areas in Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota. The campaign features television spots Snow Day and Chance of Snow and radio ads such as Snow Day, Snow, Here’s to the Curious and Nicknames. Check them out yourself to see the way our great state is presented to the rest of the nation!

Make sure you get outside and enjoy everything Michigan has to offer! There’s a whole winter wonderland waiting to be explored.

10 Star Wars Technologies on the Brink of Becoming Reality

Movie Review, Recreation, Tech Trends, , , , , ,

Star WarsBy: Glenn McDonald – MacWorld

Set several years after events from George Lucas’ original trilogy, Star Wars: The Force Awakens promises to update us on the adventures of Han, Luke, and Leia, as well as introduce a new generation of heroes and villains.

Like Hollywood’s other, lesser sci-fi franchises—that’s a personal opinion—Star Wars deals with futuristic technologies that often have their origins, or even their rough equivalent, in real-world science. It’s a tradition as old as science fiction itself. The writers and designers who dream up sci-fi systems, weapons, and vehicles begin their notional noodling with the actual technologies they see around them.

Here we look at 10 Star Wars technologies and shift our gaze deeper toward the inspirations and real-world science behind them. Blasters. Droids. Hyperspace drives. It’s good to be talking about these topics again, isn’t it?

Star Wars - LightsabersLightsabers

An elegant weapon of a more civilized age, the lightsaber remains the greatest contribution from Star Wars to the sci-fi weaponry arsenal of fame. Mythology holds that each weapon is powered by a quasi-mystical kyber crystal, which resonates both with the Force and with its individual Jedi—or Sith. The blade is made from focused plasma energy, held within an invisible containment field.

Lucas conceived of the lightsaber as a sci-fi update to the standard sword wielded by heroes in fantasy stories and film serials. The original name for the weapon, “lazersword,” was thankfully revised as the original film script developed.

Could we actually make a real lightsaber? Maybe. Back in 2013, researchers at Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology managed to get photons to bond together like molecules, creating a state of matter that had previously been purely hypothetical. “It’s not an inapt analogy to compare this to lightsabers,” said Harvard’s lead researcher at the time, causing worldwide swooning among the faithful.

Star Wars Imperial WalkersImperial Walkers

Possibly the single coolest combat vehicle in the Star Wars universe, Imperial Walkers, or AT-ATs (All Terrain Armored Transport), are used by Imperial ground forces to crush enemy resistance and morale. At the infamous Battle of Hoth, AT-ATs proved to be the decisive weapon in breaking Rebel defenses, and gave the original trilogy one of its signature set pieces.

Legend holds that George Lucas’ inspiration for the Imperial Walker came from giant cargo lifters on the San Francisco Bay—although this origin story has apparently been refuted by the the man himself. In any case, subsequent details gradually emerged in the Star Wars canon: AT-ATs stood 22.5 meters high and were powered by massive hydraulic joints using compact fusion drive engines.

In the realm of contemporary robotics, Boston Dynamics’ BigDog robot (inset) is similar in style, if not scale, to those massive Imperial Walkers. About the size of a small mule, the BigDog uses a hydraulic actuation system to power four articulated legs designed to navigate rough terrains. BigDog can run, climb slopes and carry more than 300 pounds of cargo.

Star Wars Moisture VaporatorsMoisture Vaporators

Not all of the technologies in Star Wars are Hoth-shaking monstrosities. Some appear as quick throwaway lines or references, which nevertheless have held an enduring fascination for fans of a sufficient intensity. For instance, on Luke Skywalker’s arid home planet of Tatooine, farmers must deploy “moisture vaporators” to pull water out of thin air. C-3PO’s fluency with the binary language of these vaporators leads to his employment with the Skywalkers, and subsequent heroics.

Techniques and technologies for pulling moisture out of the air actually go back hundreds and maybe even thousands of years. It’s simply a matter of cooling water vapor into a denser liquid state—the Incas were quite good at it, for instance. In recent years, engineers have developed some interesting variations on the theme, like the bicycle-mounted moisture vaporator.

Star Wars LandspeedersLandspeeders

Luke Skywalker’s junky landspeeder—the X-34 model, technically—was the first of many levitating vehicles that would be introduced in the Star Wars universe. Whether small or large, like Jabba the Hutt’s pleasure skiff, the vehicles were powered by antigravity technology known as repulsorlift engines, according to Star Wars lore. Repulsorlifts, in turn, were imagined as manufactured “knots” of space-time that could be directed to push back against existing gravitational pull.

Antigravity is a time-honored science fiction trope, going all the way back to H.G. Wells and some of the earliest sci-fi stories. As for contemporary theories about antigravity, the science gets extremely complicated and much depends on how you define your terms. But we certainly have plenty of “levitating” vehicles to choose from, including hovercraft RVs and maglev trains. Volkswagen is one of several companies looking into the idea of electromagnetic hover cars.

Star Wars HyperdriveHyperdrive

Han Solo’s many daring escapes in the original Star Wars trilogy often involve the Millennium Falcon’s rickety hyperdrive engine. A classic FTL (faster than light) device, the hyperdrive concept allows Star Wars ships and characters to zip across the galaxy to different planets, which makes the storytelling a whole lot easier.

FTL travel has long been a useful conjecture in science-fiction stories for exactly that reason. References to hyperspace and other modes of interstellar travel date back to the golden age of science fiction in 1940s and 1950s, where George Lucas found inspiration for many of space opera ideas.

We’re nowhere close to hyperdrive technology, but if a growing collection of reports is to be believed, NASA is indeed investigating an “impossible” alternative spaceflight technology. The controversial electromagnetic propulsion drive, or EM Drive, purportedly converts energy directly into thrust and continues to be tested at NASA’s Eagleworks Laboratories.

Star Wars BlastersBlasters

“Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.” So says Han to Luke in the original Star Wars movie, advocating for sidearms over ‘sabers. Referred to as blasters throughout the film series, these ranged weapons follow very specific rules throughout the entire Star Wars multimedia empire.

For one thing, don’t call them laser guns. Blasters are more accurately termed particle beam weapons, in that they shoot bolts of energized particles rather than beams of focused light. In the various Star Wars videogames that have been developed over the years, blaster bolts are treated as ballistic projectiles within the physics of the game.

In terms of real-world tech, blasters would be considered a kind of directed-energy weapon that fires highly charged particles of negligible mass. Directed-energy weapons are already in use by the U.S. military, most notably the Navy’s antidrone Laser Weapon System (LaWS).

Star Wars Tractor BeamsTractor Beams

The tractor beam concept is by no means exclusive to the Star Wars franchise—Trekkers can tell you all about it, for instance. But Star Wars does make use of the idea throughout the series. A kind of projected force field, a tractor beam is used to guide incoming vessels into space stations or ports. They can also be deployed to forcibly capture misbehaving ships in the vicinity—as when Vader’s Imperial Star Destroyer captures Princess Leia’s ship.

Scientists have been researching different kinds of tractor beam concepts since at least the 1960s, usually involving the projection of electromagnetic energy as a way to attract or repulse objects at a distance. More recently, engineers in the United Kingdom created a type of sonic tractor beam that projects sound waves to grab and manipulate lightweight objects. The device manipulates an array of 64 miniature loudspeakers to create acoustic fields of force. Neat.

Star Wars Protocol DroidsProtocol Droids

As he reminds us throughout the Star Wars films, C-3PO is a protocol droid specializing in “human-cyborg relations” and programmed to translate between languages. He is, in fact, fluent in over 6 million forms of communication. He never shuts up about it, really. Threepio’s essential function is a plot device that’s been inserted into all manner of sci-fi and fantasy stories—the machine or artifact that translates language between characters or cultures.

In the field of modern computer science known as natural language processing, real-time language translation has been a kind of Holy Grail for the past several decades. We’re getting surprisingly close: Skype is currently preview-testing a new service that translates spoken language in near real-time between callers. Skype Translator is currently available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Mandarin.

Star Wars Limb ProstheticsLimb Prosthetics

Attentive viewers of the Star Wars saga will notice that a curious number of characters get their limbs hacked off. Luke, most famously, loses his hand to Vader’s lightsaber in The Empire Strikes Back. But Luke gets his revenge in Return of the Jedi, claiming a hand back from Vader via lightsaber. In the prequel trilogy, we learn that Anakin already lost that hand—plus both legs—when he became Darth in the first place. Other characters that lose limbs: C-3PO, Mace Windu, General Grievous, Count Dooku, the Wampa, and Darth Maul.

The actual science of limb prosthetics has made tremendous strides in recent years, thanks to improvements in robotics, material science, and neural interface technology. In September, medical researchers successfully attached a prosthetic hand to a spinal cord patient that relayed tactile sensations directly to the brain. Electrodes placed in the patient’s motor cortex also allowed the patient to move the prosthetic hand with his thoughts. According to the research team, it’s the first time both capabilities have been put into the same prosthetic device.

Star Wars The ForceThe Force

Speaking of mind powers, it’s been almost 40 years (!) now since Star Wars introduced our planet to the concept of the Force. As a storytelling notion, the Force is much more akin to the magic of high fantasy than the technological speculation of hard science fiction. But then that’s always been a hallmark of the series, which proceeds from swords-and-sorcery as much as sci-fi—not to mention Westerns and samurai movies.

Here’s the funny thing: Very recent advances in high technology have resulted in instances of what might be termed Force-like powers. Neuroprosthetics are arguably a kind of telekinesis—people are moving things in the physical world simply by thinking about them. And experiments in brain-to-brain interface (BBI) have successfully approximated telepathy, enabling people to read each other’s thoughts via brain monitoring and stimulation.

Science-fiction author Arthur C. Clarke once wrote that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Keep that in mind when you settle in for the next chapter in the Star Wars saga. May the Force be with you.

This article has been republished with permission from MacWorld.

Santa Sends His ‘Elves and More’ to Donate 1,800 New Bikes to Kids

Non-Profits, Our Cities, Recreation, , , , , ,

Elves and MoreOn Saturday, December 19, children near the Godfrey-Lee school district right here in Wyoming, MI received a surprise gift sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face. Thanks to the 11th annual Elves & More West Michigan project, 1,800 kids went home as brand-new bike owners.

Each year, organizers of Elves & More decide on an area of need in West Michigan, and bring Christmas joy to families by giving away bikes to kids age 3-16. The location is kept secret until the morning of the giveaway, and then the message is released in a hurry! Families in the Godfrey-Lee area were alerted by a last-minute text through the school district, and the Wyoming police and fire department rolled through neighborhoods announcing the giveaway from their loudspeakers.

Elves and MoreThis year, 300 volunteers unloaded a bevy of bikes from semi-trucks and set up at Lee Middle and High school off of Havana Avenue.

Elves & More is a non-profit organization devoted to bringing hope to children. They do this by raising funds to purchase, assemble and deliver high-quality bikes and treasure boxes to 1,000 children each holiday season.

In the past 11 years, Elves & More West Michigan has provided 11,800 new bikes and helmets to children in need around Grand Rapids.

Last year, 1,500 bikes were donated in Southeast Grand Rapids.

If you’re looking to get involved for next holiday season, visit Elves & More West Michigan! A donation of $65 buys one lucky child a bike and a helmet. This past year, 13 corporate donors helped provide the 1,800 bikes now tearing up the black top in Godfrey-Lee!

Santa Comes to You at the Drive-Thru

Holidays, Local Faces, Our Cities, Recreation, , , , , ,
Santa waiting to spread Christmas cheer to all the Children ready to hear!
Santa waiting to spread Christmas cheer to all the Children ready to hear!

Cars full of kids made their way to the Kentwood Activities Center this past Friday night. It was chilly, but the weather was clear of any wet particles falling from the sky, and everyone was bundled up as needed for a brand new event held by the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department. Instead of the children and their families hustling out of the vehicles and darting towards the activity center, they stayed in the car as the event was brought to them.

How often does Santa take the time to meet with you from the warmth of your own car on a cool December evening? Since we know all about his vehicle of choice (a sleigh) and the horse…er… deer power that pulls it from chimney to chimney, Santa decided to take an interest in the cars of the citizens of Kentwood. The big man greeted all those willing to see him with a HO HO HO!

However, Santa wasn’t the only one eager to meet new people, everyone’s favorite snowman Olaf was there as well. Yes, I would like to build a snowman!

In the end, over 100 kids experienced a new way to interact with Santa. It was one more time for the children to share their Christmas wishes with Santa and also make mention of their yearlong good behavior. No coal for anybody this Christmas![huge_it_slider id=”23″]

Call for Entries: 5th Annual Eclipse Awards For Regional Film, Video, and Television

Local Entertainment, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects, , , , , ,

2015 Eclipse AwardsCalling West Michigan’s best and brightest producers, directors, actors, writers, and film makers to submit their entries for the 2015 Eclipse Awards.

The Eclipse Awards honors content creators for Excellence in Craft in the disciplines of film, television, video, acting, sound, music and writing. Created by WKTV Community Television and Media as a means of empowering the West Michigan “voice” of content creators, the Eclipse Awards has become the big event for the creative community.

“There really are a large number of content creators here who are either fully established and enjoy the recognition, or who are just starting out and have that spark of genius with a great idea,” said Tom Norton, General Manager of WKTV.

Last year marked a new record with 70 entries for the 4th installment of the awards. This year, the event is expecting around 100 entries

Eclipse Awards 2016With the West Michigan Film & Video Alliance as the judging sponsor, judges from London, England, Toronto, Canada, New York City and Los Angeles will pour over this year’s entries and select nominees in each category.

“We’re tremendously pleased to be working with the WMFVA,” said Norton. “They really believe in the importance of West Michigan having regional awards recognition to help foster the creative spirit. The democratization of media over the last few decades has really given voice to a much wider array of creativity and WKTV wants to see it grow and expand.”

Entries are being accepted now through March 11, 2016. More information can be found on the website at www.theeclipseaward.com or by calling 616-269.5700. Entries are $35/Adults and $15/High school students.

The nominees will be announces on March 28, 2016. The awards show will be televised live at the City Flats Hotel Ballroom on Thursday, April 28.

Holiday Traditions and Treasures on Exhibit at Frederik Meijer Gardens

Local Entertainment, Recreation, , ,

If one gets the opportunity to visit Frederik Meijer Gardens between now and the arrival of the New Year, don’t squander this wonderful holiday gift! There are plentiful examples of holiday cheer and unique exhibitions that request viewing before some of them disappear forever! In addition to the enchanting Railway Garden, where model trains traverse a landscape filled with models of Grand Rapids landmarks as well as those of its sister cities, they are offering a chance to tour Holiday Traditions from around the world.

A tree representing Japanese cultural traditions.
A tree representing Japanese cultural traditions.

Talking to the volunteers manning the information desk yielded treasures of all sorts. Dave Pelak spoke enthusiastically of the holiday trees representing all different and diverse backgrounds in Meijer Gardens’ Holiday Exhibition. “You need to pay attention to the detail in all the ornaments and just the overall presentation on each of them.” He was particular about the German and Irish trees especially, saying that if it were up to him, “no one could leave until they find the pickle”, referring to the German tradition of hiding a pickle ornament in the trees of the Dutch.

Pelak went on to explain the great amount of care each and every piece in the exhibition is given, with ornaments and crafted decorations being transported in basically padded safes. The effort shows through as one walks through the beauteous showcase, as the meticulous setups and utterly charming atmosphere provided are near-guaranteed to lift up all Christmas and assorted holiday spirits.

To further drive home the magnetic power of the worldly pageant, the author encountered a delightfully curious happening. As I perused the various traditional settings, I heard multiple languages around and within the Holiday Showcase of trees. Not just the typical English and Spanish filled my ears, but also the words of Russian family and methinks a Korean one as well who passed through enjoying the  remarkable exhibition. These exhibits are truly examples that bring out the melting pot in our culture.

Traditional Irish Tree
Traditional Irish Tree

Also of note was the current exhibit within the Sculpture Gallery, just inside the entrance before one enters the Holiday Exhibition. Volunteer Cathy Ezinga told of how much of the current exhibition, rare and fragile Japanese art, is so delicate that once January 4th hits, the end of the exhibition, the pieces are being shipped off to Japan to be put in a sort of final resting place, out of public viewing, for the rest of time! That’s right, for just as the infomercials always claim, these pieces are only here for a very limited time and then they’re gone forever. Come to Frederik Meijer Gardens and behold the culture before it is too late.

The Finished Product: Movies and Shows Presented at Comic-Con Come to Life!

Citizen Journalism, Movie Review, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , , , , , ,
Star Wars: Episode VII
Star Wars: Episode VII is almost here! Some interesting fan theories are at the end – one including these two characters…

By: Katelyn Kohane

“Your mission should you choose to accept it…” is to continue reading to see what movies and television I have caught up on since San Diego Comic-Con.

After attending Comic-Con this past summer, I’ve found myself watching more movies and TV shows than normal.

Bill Murray in Rock the Kasbah at Comic-Con in Hall H.
Bill Murray in Rock the Kasbah at Comic-Con in Hall H.

I saw Rock the Kasbah with Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, and Kate Hudson. If you remember from a prior installment, I was in Hall H for that movie and was about 10 feet from Bill Murray! Rock the Kasbah is based on real events in Afghanistan. A music producer, played by Bill Murray, found a girl who had a beautiful voice and because of her culture could not share that gift. Bill Murray, her producer, was able to get her on Rising Star and she won. I loved the movie.

A few movies have broken records this year, with two of them being Furious 7 and Jurassic World. Also of particular notice is Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, which crashed the Internet in 88 seconds when their first trailer aired. The Force Awakens is also expected to break records at the Box Office, having already shattered pre-sale records.

A few other movies I saw this year were Pixels, Black Mass, Everest, and The Martian. I also saw Spectre. Daniel Craig is one of my favorite James Bond actors. I really enjoyed Skyfall, but I thought Spectre was even better.

Cast of Mockingjay Part 2
Cast of Mockingjay Part 2

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 is also out in theaters now. I am a big Hunger Games Fan and Finnick Odair is my favorite character. He is the victor from District 4 who wields the fishing spear as his weapon of choice, and in Catching Fire—the second film—he becomes allies with Katniss and Petta. Mockingjay Part 2 follows Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and her allies during the rebellion against President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and the Capitol. Katniss has some familiar allies like Haymitch, Finnick and Plutarch.

As we left Mockingjay Part 1, Peeta, Johanna, and Annie had been taken hostage by the Capitol. In Part 2, Gale, Boggs and a few others have rescued Petta, Johanna, and Annie. Finnick and Annie get married and Prim becomes a doctor. Katniss, Gale, Boggs, Finnick, and Petta storm the Capitol along with the help of the rebels and District 13. The final chapter in the saga makes some changes from the book, but I think they changed it for the better.

Supergirl coming in October
Supergirl is here!

I have also been watching some of the TV shows that I heard about from Comic-Con. I’ve been watching Blindspot, The Player, and Supergirl. Blindspot follows the FBI team Kurt Weller, Reade, Zapata, Patterson, and Mayfair as they figure out Jane Doe’s (Jamie Alexander) tattoos to figure out a corrupt world. Jane has also lost her memory, making the mystery that much harder to solve. They had a neat episode where one Jane’s tattoos was shaped like a Petoskey stone and led them to Michigan to catch the bad guy.

The Player is about a corrupt Las Vegas where the House has recruited Alex Kane (Phillip Winchester) to help solve cases in and around Las Vegas with Wesley Snipes and Chastity Wakefield. I loved the show. Unfortunately the network has canceled it mid-season. They should have given it more time!

Supergirl is going strong. The network has gone ahead and said to keep going with a full season. It’s been exciting so far. It is different from Smallville, another of my favorite TV shows which follows a young Clark Kent/Superman. Supergirl sort of continues from that since she and Clark Kent are cousins. In her show, Supergirl played by Melissa Benoist, has had to save her sister from a plane crash. We do see some familiar names such as James Olsen and Lucy Lane. James Olsen, who was one of Clark Kent’s good friends, also becomes good friends with Kara Danvers/Supergirl. So far in the show we have met Maxwell Lord and Red Tornado.

First two rows: Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill. Bottom left: Gal Gadot, bottom center: Jesse Eisenberg, and bottom right: Amy Adams.
First two rows: Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill. Bottom left: Gal Gadot, bottom center: Jesse Eisenberg, and bottom right: Amy Adams.

Coming soon to theaters are Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Deadpool, Captian America: Civil War, The Huntsman: Winter’s War, Point Break, and Suicide Squad.

Don’t forget next week, December 18th, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens comes to theaters. I already have my tickets. I have also read that fans are already lining up at the Chinese Theater in Los Angeles waiting for opening day.

Let’s have a little fun since Star Wars finally opens this next week. Let’s dive into some theories on the upcoming film. If you don’t want any theories… STOP READING NOW!

I have watched every trailer and every TV spot and read some of the different theories. One big theory is that Rey and Kylo Ren are the Solo twins. Another is that Luke has turned to the Dark Side. We know that Simon Pegg has a mysterious role, so be on the look out for that. Hopefully, no more Jar Jar Binks. And a possibility that a major character, possibly Chewbacca, might die. But I guess I’ll have to wait and see until next week.

I’ll see you at the movie, and signing off until next time, “May The Force Be With You.”

Katie works in the film industry as a camera operator and has worked on films like ‘All You Can Dream’, ‘Set Up’ and a TV show called ‘American Fallen Soldier.’ She loves helping WKTV with the Citizen Journalism team and working as a tech at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Katie loves working in the film industry and loves watching movies just as much!

Wyoming’s Great Candy Cane Hunt

Holidays, Local Faces, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , , , , ,

Candy Cane HuntThis Saturday, December 12, a multitude of children will find themselves waiting patiently at Pinery Park in hopes that Santa will arrive. However, instead of appearing on his sleigh pulled by reindeer, Santa will be coming in hot thanks to the Wyoming Fire Department!

After the spirited arrival, the real fun can begin with Santa leading the children on a Great Candy Cane Hunt throughout the park. Immediately following the hunt, the adventure continues as the group scampers across the street to the Wyoming Senior Center to play board games, color, eat lunch, and sit down with Santa to share their holiday wish list.

Candy CaneThis year, the Wyoming Senior Center will have some new “life-size” games for the everyone to enjoy. Enlarged Jenga pieces and giant Connect Four boards are sure to bring some extra magic to an event already beaming with it.

The Great Candy Cane Hunt is a timeless Wyoming tradition and a kick-off to the ensuing Christmas and Holiday seasons.

“I plan a lot of events, but this event is special,” exclaimed City of Wyoming Recreation Programmer Kenny Westrate. Westrate has planned the Great Candy Cane Hunt for the past eleven years. “You get to see the smiling faces of the kids during the hunt and when they see Santa. You get to see families playing board games and enjoying each other. You don’t always see that with other events, but it’s guaranteed every December.”

Come on out to Pinery Park this Saturday for a fun-filled day of laughs, smiles, family, and Santa!

Pre-registration is required. You can download a registration form here or you can register online.

Event details are below:

Date: Saturday, December 12
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Pinery Park for the hunt followed by lunch at the Wyoming Senior Center
Age: All ages
Cost: Ages 3-14 – $4 Resident, $6 Non-Resident (All others – $2)

Remember, the Great Candy Cane Hunt is outdoors, so dress accordingly!

Experiencing History in West Michigan

Area Education, Local Entertainment, Local History, Recreation, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
USSSilversides
USS Silversides

West Michigan is full of rich, vibrant history, and many opportunities to get out and experience it. Experiencing history, rather than simply reading it out of a textbook, provides a far richer understanding of the people, places, and experiences of the area. We’ve collected some of our favorite ways for you to experience the varied history of the region, from living history parks to visiting the seat of Michigan’s only monarchy to tasting ice cream from a 120 year old company.

USS Silversides Submarine Museum

Tour a restored WWII Submarine, a Prohibition-Era Coast Guard Cutter and the Naval Museum at the USS Silversides Submarine Museum in Muskegon. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience what it was really like to sail a sub trolling the waters of the South Pacific 60-plus years ago. Named for a small fish of the same name, the Silversides once slid beneath the surface of some of the most dangerous waters in the world.  You can walk the deck topside as well as the major internal compartments below deck.  Keep an eye on their calendar for special lectures, classes and performances, too!

LakeshoreMuseumCenterLakeshore Museum Center

The Lakeshore Museum Center is a fun and fascinating museum which preserves and interprets through exhibits, education, and programs the natural and cultural history of Muskegon County. Take a 400 million year journey that explores the prehistoric plants and animals of Michigan’s past, or get pulled into the Science Center where everyone can learn about simple science through hands-on activities. Some of their permanent exhibits include, “Coming to the Lakes” featuring a life-sized mastodon, fur trader’s cabin and tools used during the lumbering era! The “Habitats Gallery” tells of native plants and animals.

Coopersville Historical Society Museum

Coopersville Historical SocietyHighlights of the Coopersville Area Historical Society Museum include extensive railroad and interurban train displays, a sawmill exhibit circled by a model railroad running through logging territory, an early schoolroom, household furnishings and business displays, among which is an extensive recreation of an early local drugstore. Also featured is the Del Shannon monument and exhibit which commemorate the life and career of Coopersville’s native son who gained international fame in the 1960’s as a recording artist and songwriter. A Lincoln log activity area, along with other exhibits, is popular with younger visitors. The Museum’s collections are enhanced by the quaint and nostalgic atmosphere of its two buildings.

The main museum building is a Michigan Historic Site and on the National Register of Historic Places. The charming brick structure was once a depot and substation for the area’s electric powered interurban rail line, the Grand Rapids, Grand Haven & Muskegon Railway, which ran from 1902-28. A rare passenger car from the railway, Car #8 – Merlin, sits beside the building where it once made many daily stops. The car is undergoing stages of restoration. Adjoining the former depot is the rustically designed Sawmill & Early Settlers Building which houses exhibits reminiscent of early settlement days.

Grand Traverse Lighthouse

Grand Traverse LighthouseLocated at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula near the village of Northport, the Grand Traverse Lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses on the Great Lakes, and guided ships through the northern entrance to the Manitou Passage for 150 years. Today it is a museum surrounded by a picturesque state park where visitors can envision the once-isolated life of lighthouse keepers and their families, with extensive exhibits and period furnishings from the 1920s and 1930s. Its popular “volunteer lighthouse keeper” program provides an opportunity to live in the lighthouse, carrying on routine maintenance and answering the questions of its frequent visitors.

Castle Farms

Castle FarmsTreat your family to nearly 100 years of history at Castle Farms of Charlevoix. Inspired by French castles, Castle Farms was built in 1918 as a model farm. Closed in 1927, the beautiful stone buildings fell into disrepair. In later years, the Castle served as an artist’s mecca, and also rock n’roll central, with performances by 100 different rock groups. A restoration begun in 2001 completed the Castle’s transformation. Tours include viewing displays of antique toys, castles, royalty items, and WWI museum. Train buffs and kids of all ages will love the indoor train displays. Open year round, Castle Farms is a spectacular piece of Michigan history to explore.

Hudsonville Ice CreamHudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream

Started in 1895 as a farmers’ cooperative, the Holland-based Hudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream is the largest manufacturer of branded ice cream in Michigan. Nearly 90 years ago, in 1926, the company was located in Burnips—in north-central Allegan County. Four of the six original flavors remain in the company’s portfolio: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and butter pecan (orange pineapple and Tootie Fruitie since been discontinued).

Today, this Midwest company has been producing its creamy, delicious ice cream – using many of its original flavors, while at the same time creating refreshing new recipes inspired by the Great Lakes. A recent partnership with Travel Michigan and the Pure Michigan brand has resulted in a plethora of flavors that give a nod to the agricultural industry here in the Great Lakes State. Current Limited Edition Flavors include Pumpkin Pie, Pure Michigan Salted Caramel Apple and Pure Michigan Winter Campfire. Year-round offerings such as Sleeping Bear Dunes Bear Hug, Mackinac Island Fudge, Grand Traverse Bay Cherry Fudge and Michigan Deer Traxx, among others.

Others:

Get your history fix with a visit to the below locations to experience a step back in time.

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids
Gerber Guest House, Fremont
Harbor Springs Area Historical Society
Historic White Pine Village, Ludington
Historical Association of South Haven
Holland Museum, Holland
Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum, South Haven
Michigan Maritime Museum, South Haven
Michigan Flywheelers Museum, South Haven
Music House Museum, Acme
Point Betsie Lighthouse, Frankfort
Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, Ludington
Silver Beach Carousel, St. Joseph
USS LST 393, Muskegon

You Won’t Believe Your Eyes (or Ears): The Singing Christmas Tree is Back for its 31st Year

Holidays, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , ,

Singing-Christmas-Tree-4x5

By Victoria Mullen

Imagine, if you will, a singing Christmas tree. That’s right, a 67-foot-tall Christmas tree festooned with 240 young singers stacked from tip to toe. (The remaining 35 singers perform from under the tree.) It’s a strange sight and an unforgettable experience, so you won’t want to miss the Mona Shores Singing Christmas Tree at the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts, 425 W. Western Ave., #200, Muskegon, MI 49440, December 3-5.

I have questions, and maybe you do, too, such as: How do the singers stay in place? Do they get vertigo? What happens if one should faint? Are there singers in the back of the tree and, if so, do they mind that no one sees them? And how do the singers get up there anyway? These questions–and more–will not be answered here because Christmas is magic and so are this tree and this choir.

As a consolation prize, here are some quick, fun facts:

  • The person at the top of the Tree is known as “The Tree Angel” and is always a high school senior, selected by the director. This hard-working choir student exemplifies the spirit of the Mona Shores Choir.
  • Over 1,500 linear feet of electrical wiring runs throughout the tree to more than 25,000 colored lights, and
    over 5,000 linear feet of special greenery imported from Germany is “fluffed” and put on the tree prior to the
    decorations.
  • More than 200 volunteers started working on this year’s production in early October. Many worked around the clock from Sunday morning through Monday evening to prepare for technical rehearsals and get the tree presentable for its annual performance. Now that’s dedication!
  • The first Singing Christmas Tree ever created happened 50 years ago in Southern California. It was 16 feet
    high and held 25 singers. Many communities across the world have Singing Christmas Trees, but none are as
    tall as this one.

This is the thirty-first anniversary of the Mona Shores Singing Christmas Tree. There are only three days of performances, so get with the program quickly: Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7 pm; Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 pm; and Saturday, Dec. 5 at 3 pm & 7 pm.

Tickets are $15.00 and $10.00 on sale through Star Tickets and the Frauenthal Box Office.

get-tickets

 

A Christmas Story The Musical, Love and Laughter for the Holidays

Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Recreation, Reviews, Upcoming Events, , , ,

A Christmas Storysusanne_albaitisOur neighbors moved last summer. My children were very upset by the news, not because we were particularly close but because every December they put a leg lamp in their front window. The leg lamp, made famous in the iconic ‘80s movie A Christmas Story, symbolized victory for the little guy and also made us giggle every time we passed their house.

Civic theater has brought a spectacular rendition of A Christmas Story to its stage. From beginning to end, the audience was engaged, laughing and tapping their toes along to the music. The solos, ensembles and choreography blended well with the storyline.  Each character was well played and so enjoyable to watch.

A Christmas StoryRalphie (Alex Sullivan) gave such an impressive performance that although you know that he will eventually shoot his eye out, you still want him to get that Red Ryder Carbine-Action BB Gun. When he sings “Ralphie to the Rescue!” he imagines himself saving his teacher Miss Shields (Aimee Workman) from a villain, classmates from bank robbers, and his brother Randy (Ben Lowen) from a prisoner. His daydream is a compelling display of the many reasons he needs a Red Ryder BB Gun.

Once again David Duiven impresses on stage as the Old Man, Raphie’s father. His mutterings about the neighbor’s dogs and the famous tire changing scene brought big laughs from the audience. When the leg lamp arrives, the Old Man sings “A Major Award”, beaming with pride and finding the perfect front window display for his prize. The audience went wild when the Old Man and the cast broke into a leg lamp chorus line with the children holding little leg lamps.

A Christmas StoryAt school Ralphie perfects his Christmas list essay, hoping that if he impresses Miss Shields, she will convince his parents that he should have the Red Ryder BB Gun. His essay seemed to do quite the opposite. Miss Shields transforms from sweet teacher to Broadway starlet, singing “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out”. The audience was dazzled as her big voice delivered the crushing news. The tap dance ensemble added extra drama to this already jazzy number.

A Christmas Story, The Musical combines love and humor, reminding us all of the moments that make the holidays special. This hilarious rendition of a Christmas classic plays on Civic Theater’s stage November 20 – December 20, 2015. Make sure to check out GRCT.ORG for tickets and more details.

Be Thankful for Family, Food, and, of course, Shopping!

Editorial, Local Business, Recreation, Tech Trends, Upcoming Events, , , , , ,

Black FridayBy: Deidre Doezema-Burkholder

No sooner did the ghost and goblins of Halloween get back to their homes to feast on their newly acquired sugar collection that Sleigh Bells started ringing. That’s right, the big push of the last holidays are upon us, and wow has technology changed the ways we celebrate.

The holidays seem to require three important ingredients – Shopping, Food, and Family.

First, let me start off by saying that I have never, ever participated in the Black Friday Madness. I have witnessed it but I haven’t woken myself up at 3am to make it to a store that was opening at 5am so I could buy a $50 Blue-ray player for $15. I will admit to looking through the black Friday ads and even looking them up online ahead of schedule. In fact, there is a website you can visit that is fully dedicated to Black Friday Ads that not only posts the ads for Friday’s event, but also the toy books that retailers put out and other deal specific items. Extra Kohls cash anyone?

While a lot of people still trek out on that Friday, more people are opting out and staying in for Cyber Monday. The first Monday after Thanksgiving is now dedicated to an online shopping bonanza of epic proportions. Many of your favorite retail stores will put on extra sales on Monday as well, but the online retail giants make a serious play for your holiday cash.

With Amazon being one of the biggest names in online shopping, the company makes Cyber Monday a big, big, BIG event. Certain deals highlighted and change hour after hour. It’s enough to make even the most seasoned shopper spin around with glee.

Small Business SaturdaySmack in the middle of Black Friday and Cyber Monday is now known as Small Business Saturday. A day in the weekend where your local small business owners hope to attract and entice you. This can be done in a physical location as well as through a website. Just a quick search using the “shop local” option on Etsy.com allows you to see what some of your own neighbors have brilliantly made themselves.

When all your shopping is done, the focus goes back on the two most important parts of the holidays, food and family! It seems like a no-brainer that you’re going to need food. Food that you can make while you host the holiday at your home, or something a little easier to transport as you go through the woods to Grandmother’s house.

If you happened to miss my article on technology in the kitchen, you can find it here.

Then there’s family. It’s suppose to be the most important ingredient in the holiday recipe. While technology can help, it can also hinder. Sure, through the power of Skype or FaceTime you can video chat with your niece or nephew who is serving overseas. However, is will also keep your 14-year-old niece or daughter from looking up the entire time you’re at Aunt Kathy’s.

Screen Shot 2015-11-19 at 11.15.20 AMSo, a holiday challenge for you. Can you and yours set aside technology for the holiday gathering and have little to no smart phone or tablet use while you are surrounded with extended family? No Facebooking, no tweets to be sent, and no text to be read?

Some may find this hardly a challenge at all while others will struggle not to pick up their phone when there is lag in the conversation. Putting the technology aside might be tough at first, but the end result will be lifetime memories with family and friends!

Deidre owns and operates Organisum: Technology Services, a business serving the West MI area. In her free time she likes to hike & bike local trails with friends and family when she isn’t pinning, instagram’ing or Netflix’ing.

Four-Legged Friends will have Space to Roam and Play in Kentwood

Local Faces, Our Cities, Pets/Animals, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

dogparkThe City of Kentwood will officially have its first dog park this Saturday, November 21 after a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.

The park, located in Kelloggwoods Park at 275 Kellogg Woods Drive, was an idea brought by residents to the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department. Together, the community was able to identify a need for a dog park and Kentwood Parks and Rec put together a business plan back in March to make it happen.

The park cost $15,650 and was funded through the park millage. Featured at the park are off-leash areas for both big and small dogs, dog-waste bins, water spigots and benches.

Mayor Stephen Kepley will give a speech at the grand opening. The ceremony will start at 10 a.m.

Don’t forget to bring your pooches and puppies!

Make sure to stop by the site next week to check out footage from the event.

Sundance Favorite “Best of Enemies” next up in SCA’s Real to Reel Series

Local Entertainment, Non-Profits, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

R2R Best of EnemiesFeatured at the Sundance Film Festival and slated as a contender for the 2015 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Best of Enemies is up next in the Real to Reel series at Saugatuck Center for the Arts (400 Culver Street) Thursday, November 19, 7:00 p.m.

The New York Post calls the film, “wickedly entertaining,” and Rolling Stone says, “modern television starts here.”

In the summer of 1968, television news changed forever. Dead last in the ratings, ABC hired two towering public intellectuals to debate each other during the Democratic and Republican national conventions. William F. Buckley, Jr. was a leading light of the new conservative movement. A Democrat and cousin to Jackie Onassis, Gore Vidal was a leftist novelist and polemicist.

Armed with deep-seated distrust and enmity, Vidal and Buckley believed each others political ideologies were dangerous for America. Like rounds in a heavyweight battle, they pummeled out policy and personal insult – cementing their opposing political positions. Their explosive exchanges devolved into vitriolic name-calling. It was unlike anything TV had ever broadcast, and all the more shocking because it was live and unscripted. Viewers were riveted. ABC News’ ratings skyrocketed. And a new era in public discourse was born – a highbrow blood sport that marked the dawn of pundit television as we know it today.

SCA-Logo-newClick here to see the official trailer.

General admission is $5/Members; $7/Future Members.

The Saugatuck Center for the Arts, located at 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck, is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a more vibrant lakeshore community in West Michigan and beyond. For more information visit www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

The Buck Stops Here: Opening Day Just Around the Corner in Michigan

Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

With the time-honored tradition of opening day just around the corner, sportsmen and women are gearing up for the hunt across Michigan. More than 540,000 hunters are expected to participate in the upcoming firearms season beginning Sunday, November 15.

While the sport is steeped in tradition and aspirations, it is also a driver of Michigan’s economy. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates hunting in Michigan generates more than $2.3 billion in economic impact in the state, including expenses related to food and lodging and $1.3 billion spent on equipment.

“Hunting is one more way that Michigan’s rich natural resources are helping to drive the state’s economy and contributing to our overall quality of life,” said Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Steve Arwood. “With the opening of firearms season for deer we will see more than 20,000 licensed hunters from outside of the state come to Michigan and more than half a million residents traveling to get to deer camp or their perfect spot, providing a boost to local communities along the way.”

Whitetail DeerWhile the deer harvest was down in 2014 – following trends seen across the Midwest – the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expects 2015 to provide an increased success rate – especially in the Northern and Southern Lower Peninsula. To combat decreased deer herds across the Upper Peninsula, the result of several consecutive years of harsh winters, the DNR has brought together a U.P. Habitat Workgroup to develop detailed deer winter range habitat strategies including management plans for individual deer wintering complexes throughout the U.P.

The workgroup – comprised of natural resource professionals, private landowners and sportsmen’s groups – is led by Natural Resources Commission member J.R. Richardson of Ontonagon and Jim Hammill of Crystal Falls, a wildlife management consultant who is also a retired DNR biologist. With an estimated 80 percent of the winter deer habitat in the U.P. managed by entities other than the DNR, the U.P. Habitat Workgroup will work cooperatively with these other stakeholders to improve deer winter range strategies across all land ownerships in the region.

Helping to manage healthy herds and habitats to ensure a successful hunt has important implications for Michigan’s economy. In 2014, an estimated $85 million was spent specifically on leisure travel related to hunting activities in the state according to data from D.K, Shifflet. Hunting and fishing leisure travel spending combined for $342 million in Michigan last year.

“Deer hunting is an iconic and defining Michigan tradition,” said DNR Director Keith Creagh. “Whether harvesting a big buck in the woods or just spending time at camp, the deer season offers one more great way for people to experience Michigan’s world-class natural resources while connecting with family and friends. We hope hunters throughout the state have a safe and successful season.”

Currently, Michigan ranks No. 3 in the nation for the number of licensed hunters statewide and 650,000 hunters are expected to purchase a deer hunting license in 2015. The DNR estimates more than 90 percent of Michigan hunters will pursue deer this year, with hunters spending an average of 14 days afield during the season. In Michigan, 60 percent of hunters only hunt deer making the upcoming firearm season an especially important driver of the state’s hunting economy.

To promote the hunt in Michigan – both for deer and other species, including grouse – Pure Michigan and the DNR collaborated again this year on a targeted marketing campaign to reach hunters both in-state and in neighboring states, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

“This year we were especially interested in targeting active hunters and active anglers that have the potential to crossover and participate in both sports,” said Dave Lorenz, Vice President of Travel Michigan. “Ultimately this benefits the entire state by increasing hunting and fishing revenue – funding that goes back into efforts to create world-class recreational opportunities to be enjoyed by all residents and visitors.”

Model Railroads and the Track to Being a Child Once Again

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

Ken SkoppBy: Ken Skopp

I was 5 years old visiting my grandparents in Waterloo, Wisconsin, where a train track sat next to the farm. One day as I was playing near the track, a steam engine began moving freight cars back and forth. After some time had passed, the steam engine stopped. The engineer leaned out of the cab and asked me if I would like to take a ride in the engine.

“YES!” I screamed in the excitement that can only come from a youthful boy looking for an adventure. I was taken 5 miles down the track and back.

I didn’t realize it right then, but I was bitten by the “train bug” and there is no cure.

Now fast forward 60 years, my wife bought be an HO scale train set for Christmas made by the Bachmann Company. It came complete with a steam locomotive, three passenger cars, a small DC power pack, and a loop of track. I owned model train layouts before, but it had been 20 years and it wasn’t nearly as sophisticated as my new layout. My previous layouts mainly consisted of a track with some buildings and a sheet of plywood.

After being an “armchaTrain Setir railroader” thinking and dreaming about building a model railroad, I decided it was time to start working on a brand new layout! Purchases of Model Railroader magazines was only the first step in getting information on all that was currently available in the model railroad hobby. I wanted my track to be more than just a piece of plywood. It needed realistic track work and scenery.

One day, I visited Rider’s Hobby Shop and found a flyer listing a local train show. I started going to train shows to see what new products were available in locomotives and cars. I was amazed at how many shows there are here in Michigan, as well as in Indiana!

I spent a year visiting hobby shops and going to local train shows. Two years ago this past November, I attended a train show right here in Wyoming at the Home School Building hosted by the Grand River Valley Railroad Club (GRVRRC). The club had a test track at the show and invited me to visit their club! Once there, I realized just how real this hobby can be and decided to join the club.

Train SetOver the past three years, I’ve been working on a model railroad layout in a 9′ x 10′ room in our condo basement. Roger Fenske, former president of the GRVRRC, helped me build the bench work, lay the track, wire the layout, and create realistic scenery and backgrounds.

The GRVRRC has been an amazing resource for myself and other to share and exchange skills and information about our model railroad enthusiasm. From creative design to electrical engineering, there’s always something to learn and improve on.

The model train industry has come a long with the Digital Command Center (DCC) tracks. Up to the advent of DCC control, trains ran on electrical current from a DC transformer that powered the electrical motor in the locomotive. You could only run one locomotive at a time on your layout. If you wanted to run more than one locomotive, you had to divide the layout into isolated electrical blocks or segments. The wiring and controls for that kind of undertaking is complicated and not very flexible.

Train SetWith the advance in computerization and miniaturization provided by the DCC, each locomotive has a computer chip in it with an individual address. With a DCC control cab, you can send signals to each individual locomotive address. This allows you to control the direction of motion for that particular locomotive address, plus speed and sound functions.

Having the ability to run multiple locomotives around a track is really something, but the biggest advancement to the model trains are the sounds. You can hear the sound of your steam locomotive as it moves, ring its bell, and blow its whistle just like a real train.

I now have a Pere Marquette Railroad Steam locomotive chugging around my train layout. At the same time, I can have a diesel switcher locomotive switching cars in the train yard, both at the same time, and both with realistic sound effects.

My knowledge of model railroads grew when I visited the GRVRR Club’s train show here in Wyoming. This past August, I became the Club’s Train Show Coordinator! We have a show this Saturday, November 7th and invite everyone to come join! It’s a great way to learn about the hobby, meet new people, and bounce ideas off one another.

Train SetIt’s not just for adults either, there will be LEGO Train layout and LEGO play area for children!

When the train bug catches you, there’s no escaping it. We hope to see you there!

Grand River Valley Railroad Club Fall 2015 Train Show

When: November 7, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Home School Building, 5625 Burlingame Ave, Wyoming, MI

Cost: $5 (Kids under 12 are free)

Operating Layout: LEGO Layout, Thomas the Train layout, G scale, S scale, HO scale, N scale, Z scale

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State Games of America are Coming to Grand Rapids in 2017

Area Education, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, ,

Officials with the West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) held a campaign kickoff party to premiere the 2017 State Games of America promotional video, Bring Your Game. The video – produced by Antix Creative – release marks the start of a national marketing campaign for the 2017 State Games of America that will be held in Grand Rapids, Mich. August 3-6, 2017.

Grand Rapids was selected by the National Congress of State Games (NCSG) to host the 2017 State Games of America. The NCSG board heard presentations from four cities vying to host the pinnacle of more than 30 individual state game competitions. In addition to Grand Rapids, competing cities included San Diego; Lincoln, NE; and Hampton Roads, VA.

“It was a tough decision by our board, as all cities proved their ability to successfully host these games,” stated Dan Duffy, President of the National Congress of State Games. “Ultimately, the board felt that Grand Rapids offered the most compelling bid based on their successful Meijer State Games of Michigan, quality venues and the many community and local sport partnerships involved in the bid.”

West Michigan Sports CommissionThe WMSC, Experience Grand Rapids, and the Meijer State Games of Michigan partnered to bid on and host the State Games of America in 2017. The 2017 State Games of America is expected to bring $5.6 million in direct visitor spending to Grand Rapids.

“Our community continually supports public/private partnerships, which helped form the West Michigan Sports Commission and contributes to our success in promoting sports tourism,” stated Mike Guswiler, President of the WMSC. “This support is also reflected in the success of our Meijer State Games of Michigan. Due, in part, to the strength of the state-level event, the NCSG board trusted our ability to host a successful State Games of America in 2017.”

“I am very excited to begin planning for the 2017 State Games of America,” expressed Eric Engelbarts, Executive Director of the Meijer State Games of Michigan. “The growth and success of the Meijer State Games have prepared us to host these national games. I am thankful for the corporate and sport tournament committee support that have made our state games what they are. We will be ready to host the nation’s athletes in 2017.”

The State Games of America is an Olympic-style event featuring competition between State Games gold, silver and bronze medal winners from across the nation. Currently, 30 states conduct or organize statewide sports festivals known as State Games.

The national games are held biennially, with the 2017 games set for August 3-6. The 2015 State Games of America were held in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Gilda’s ‘LaughFest’ Preparing for 2016 Festival

Community Health, Local Entertainment, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

LAUGHFEST_final_2Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s first-ever community-wide festival of laughter, announced that they are now accepting sign ups for its Community Showcases, 5k FUNderwear Run, and LaughFest Friends memberships.

Individuals of all ages, and groups of all sizes, are encouraged to apply for the Community Showcases. During LaughFest 2015, officials hosted more than 100 community showcases and other free events at various locations in downtown Grand Rapids, Lowell, and Holland. The categories for these showcases included stand-up comedy, music, short-film, sketch/improv, dance, and kids’ jokes. Applicants chosen for the 2016 festival will be notified in January.

Runners, joggers and walkers interested in participating in the third annual 5k FUNderwear Run can sign up for the FUNderwear Run now! This walk/run will be held on Sunday, March 13 in downtown Grand Rapids and racers are encouraged to wear their finest (and funniest!) underwear over their running clothes to create a hilarious and one-of-a-kind moment in support of Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. Registration is $30 prior to February 19, and $35  until the run on March 13. Registered participants will receive an official race t-shirt and finisher medal.

LaughFest FUNderwear runIn addition to these events, LaughFest organizers also announced that LaughFest Friends memberships are now available. LaughFest Friends memberships give fans of LaughFest opportunities to connect with the festival year round, and are available for purchase online, at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids (1806 Bridge St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504) or at LaughFest Central when it opens mid-February.

There are three levels of memberships available, starting at $25. Level one includes an exclusive tee shirt designed by The Mitten State, High Five button and donation, exclusive content and experiences, and early access to Fast Passes for free events. Fast Passes guarantee holders a seat for free showings as long as they are seated 15 minutes prior to the event start time.

The second level costs $50 and includes everything in the $25 level, plus a Mitten State Smile Decal, a 20 percent discount for merchandise at LaughFest Central and online, and a $5 off coupon for LaughFest Central for anyone who signs up before Thanksgiving.

The third membership level is $100 and includes all the items at the $25 and $50 levels, plus pre-sale opportunities to purchase ticket packages in December 2015 and individual tickets in January 2016 before the general public, and two VIP passes to Headliner’s Club at the BOB during the festival.

Designed to celebrate laughter for the health of it, LaughFest features free and ticketed events including stand-up, improv, film, authors, community showcases and a variety of seriously funny stuff. Past LaughFest headliners include Jay Leno, Lily Tomlin, Chris Tucker, Bill Cosby, Mike Birbiglia, Margaret Cho, Betty White, Whoopi Goldberg, Mike Epps, Rodney Carrington, Martin Short, Kevin Nealon, Wayne Brady, Jim Breuer, Joel McHale, Lewis Black, Brian Regan and Anjelah Johnson. An announcement regarding the 2016 festival headliners is expected later this year.

The sixth year of the festival is scheduled for March 10 through March 20, 2016.

Trunk-or-Treat gets accessorized with the Fall Festival (Note: Location Change!)

Holidays, Local Faces, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

TrunkorTreat2Children in costumes, candy coming through their ears, and laughter and smiles that can be seen from space!

Trick-or-Treating is an annual tradition around the nation on Halloween, but the City of Kentwood adds a little twist, instead of going door-to-door, the children go trunk-to-trunk. Why trick-or-treat when you can just as easily trunk-or-treat?

Trunk-or-Treat has become a holiday staple for the Kentwood Parks and Rec Department. It gives children an opportunity to dress up in their favorite costumes and trick-or-treat in a safe environment. The event is also a chance for those children who don’t live in neighborhoods to have a neighborhood brought to them!

This year, with a whole new staff running the event, the Kentwood Parks and Rec Department decided to add a little more fun to Trunk-or-Treat. Don’t think of it as a face-lift or a makeover, it’s more along the lines of accessorizing.

“We are excited about the new addition of the Fall Festival in conjunction with the Trunk or Treat event!” explained Lorraine Beloncis of the Kentwood Parks and Rec Department, “We’ve added hayrides, games, a bouncy house, music, cider & donuts and face painting along with our sponsored trunks handing out candy.”

TrunkorTreatThe addition of the Fall Festival should only add more smiles to a fun-filled day that families and children of all ages can enjoy. On top of all the fun events previously mentioned, there will be pumpkin racing, Halloween Plinko, and pumpkin ring toss.

Oh! I almost failed to mention, the children aren’t the only ones who get to dress up and show off their creative side. It’s encouraged for all participants to decorate and vote on their trunks as well!

Don’t miss out on all the fun of the Fall Festival! This years event is Saturday, October 24 from 10am-noon. Because of the weather, Fall Festival has been moved from its original location at Veteran’s Park to the Garage at Kentwood’s Public Works Department. The address is 5068 Breton Road, between 44th and 52nd Street.

Halloween Fun in West Michigan: Northern Michigan

Local Business, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Travel, Upcoming Events, , , , , , ,

HalloweenThere is so much to do in West Michigan to kick off the Halloween fun! This three part series will dive into different Fall and Halloween activities all throughout the West side of this Marvelous State. Northern West Michigan finishes the series. If you missed part one or part two on Southern Michigan and Central Michigan, be sure not to let it Fall to the wayside!

As Halloween approaches, all the little ghouls and goblins have one thing on their minds: Trick-or-Treating! To keep the kids’ minds off candy just a bit longer, kick off your Halloween fun early in West Michigan! Whether it’s family fun at the corn maze, or Halloween-themed pub crawls for the grown up ghouls, there are plenty of Halloween activities for all ages around West Michigan to get you in a Halloween mood!

Northern Halloween Fun in West Michigan

Chateau Chantal’s Naughty Apple Hard Cider

Chateau ChantalFor those adults looking to pair their Halloween fun with a seasonal brew, you’ll want to check out Chateau Chantal’s Naughty Apple Hard Cider. Their brand new & wonderfully tantalizing Naughty Apple Hard Cider is fermented from a duo of Michigan Golden Delicious & Gala apples. Slightly sweet, serve chilled. Purchase in their tasting room or online at the Chateau Chantal web store.

While you’re visiting Chateau Chantal, enjoy a beautiful & elegant 7-course meal perfectly paired alongside a Chateau Chantal wine & created by the talented in-house chef. Learn from their knowledgeable staff about food & wine pairings while savoring exquisite creations & making new friends. Bring an eager palate, an inquisitive mind & an empty stomach! Your experience begins with an informative winery tour at 6pm with dinner seating in the winery’s beautiful dining room, with panoramic views of both bays, at 6:30pm. Seating is limited so book yours before it’s too late! Reservations & payment are required at least a day in advance. Reserve online here or call (231) 223-4110.

Short’s Brewing Company

Shorts Brewing CompanyShort’s Brewing Company in Bellaire is hosting a Halloween Party on October 31st. The Private Stache bottle release will start at 11:00 am with other events like the costume contest taking place in the evening. You’ll also get to enjoy Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers play live on the pub stage (beginning at 9:00 pm), spooky food specials, a costume contest, Halloween themed draft beer, and a Bourbon Evil Urges Private Stache bottle release.

St. Ignace

St. Ignace puts a unique spin on Halloween fun at the annual St. Ignace Trunk or Treat on October 24, 2015. Parents decorate their ghoulish vehicles and dispense candy to those in costume directly from the trunk of the car. It’s tailgating for Halloween! Afterward, ride the hay wagon to the Haunted Woods and take a tour if you’re brave enough, or simply enjoy games and music. It all starts at the lot behind the Quality Inn. Prizes awarded for best costume, scariest costume and most original costume. Everyone’s invited!

Crystal Mountain Spooktacular Saturdays

Crystal MountainTake in the autumn air during Spooktacular Saturdays on October 24th at Crystal Mountain. The whole family is sure to have a good time with activities for all ages to enjoy. Take advantage of specialty Fun Pass prices that provide a bundle of activities at a discounted rate. Participate in apple bobbing, wagon rides, face painting, and unlimited marshmallows at the campfire! Take in the leaves from the chairlift, or carve pumpkins to get into the Halloween mood. Bring your best costume for the Costume Parade at 5pm, with free entry and candy for all participants! If you’re feeling brave, head over to the Haunted Forest at the end of the night (recommended for ages nine and up).

Downtown Traverse City

October closes with a parade of little ghosts and goblins as Downtown Traverse City hosts costume clad children and their parents to trick or treat at participating stores throughout the Downtown area on Halloween. The event kicks off at 3:30 until 5 pm. For more information call (231) 922-2050 or visit www.downtowntc.com. While you’re there, watch out for running zombies, as the Zombie Run takes place that morning!

Mackinac Island

Haunts of Mackinac
Haunts of Mackinac

In the Celtic world, Samhain marks the end of summer and the beginning of the new year and a time to commemorate the souls of the blessed dead. With the rise of Christianity, it was changed to Halloween and remains a joyous time of family reunion.

On Mackinac Island, they celebrate both traditions with their Halloween Weekend October 23rd through 25th. Have fun with the kids Trick or Treating downtown, take the Haunts of Mackinac Tour and then gear up for some great grown up Halloween parties at the downtown pubs. This is also the time of year that the Island shops work hard to clear out their inventory with great discounts and sales. Be sure to browse on Main Street, Market Street and at the shops at Grand Hotel. This makes a perfect weekend to skip out on Black Friday and get a head start on holiday shopping.

For up to the day room availability, just call the Tourism Bureau 906.847.3783, and they hope to see you join in their tradition to pull out all the stops and celebrate the end of the Island’s main season.​

West Michigan’s Best Color Tours

Our Cities, Recreation, Travel, ,

Color ToursThe West Michigan Tourist Association compiled a list of the 26 best color tours in West Michigan. If you’re looking to get away and enjoy our beautiful State in its colorful state of mind, give these color tours your full attention!

Just how many ways are there to view this splendor of autumn’s pallet? West Michigan travelers have an abundance of ways to enjoy the show, either by car, train, boat, bicycle, hot air balloon rides, at festivals, hiking, on golf courses and luxury resorts, or historic highways. Many of these “old roads” cut through great forests of hardwoods and pines and make perfect color tours, and some are state-designated scenic routes. From 40 miles to 140 miles, there’s a day trip perfect for everyone. Read on to view a listing of 26 scenic driving routes and print detailed directions for each.

Color Tour New BuffaloColor Tour One: Directions Starting from New Buffalo

Red Arrow Hwy north to Bridgman. I-94 north to Benton Harbor, M-63 north to Coloma Rd, east to Watervliet. I-94 east to Paw Paw (Exit 60), M-40 south to M-216 east in Marcellus, US-131 south to Three Rivers. M-60 west to Cassopolis, M-62 north to Dowagiac. West on M-62, south on M-140 to Niles, M-60BR to US-12, west to New Buffalo.

Color Tour Two: Directions Starting from Centreville

Color Tour CentrevilleKlinger Lake Rd north (becomes Covered Bridge Rd) across Langley Covered Bridge. Covered Bridge Rd then becomes Silver St. North to M-60. East on M-60 through Mendon (becomes M-60/M-66) to Clarendon. South on 22 Mile Rd (becomes Clarendon Rd in Branch Co). Right on Jonesville Rd 1/2 mile, south on Quincy Ray Rd to California, then west on Southern Rd to Angola Rd. Turn left, then right to return to Southern. West through East Gilead to River Son Rd, right on Southern, right on Orland, then left to Southern. Left on Dutch School Rd, right at Round Lake Rd past Round Lake (becomes Fawn River Rd in St. Joseph Co). Left at second intersection to continue on Fawn River Rd. North on Klinger Lk Rd to return to Centreville.

Color Tour Three: Directions Starting from Jackson

Color Tour JacksonSouth on M-50, west on Meridian, south on Stonewall. South on Horton Rd, south on Jackson Rd to Liberty. West on Hanover Rd, north on Pulaski Rd to M-60 heading northeast. West on Michigan Ave, north on Parma, north on Country Farm Rd, north on Rogers Rd, east on Benn Rd. North on Stepladder Rd, north on Springport Rd through Minard Mill where it becomes Minard Rd. South on M-50, south on US-127, east on I-94. North on Route 106 to Munith. South on Coon Hill Rd, east on Waterloo Munith Rd through Waterloo Recreational Area in the State Park. South on Clear Lake Rd (turns into Francisco Rd south of I-94). West on Michigan Ave back to Jackson.

Color Tour LansingColor Tour Four: Directions Starting from Lansing

M-43 west through Grand Ledge, then south to M-89. East to Gull Lake Rd, north to C Ave. East to 40th St (becomes Kellogg Ave in Barry Co), north to Hickory Corners. East on CR-400 (Hickory Rd) to M-37, south to M-89 (W Michigan St), east to Raymond, north to Verona, east to McCallaster, north to ÒNÓ Dr to 16 Mile Rd (becomes 16-1/2 Mile Rd). South on Old US-27 to Marshall, east on Michigan Ave to Albion. North on M-99 through Springport (becomes M-50/M-99) to Lansing.

Color Tour Five: Directions Starting from South Haven

Color Tour South HavenPhoenix Rd (CR-388) east to 46th St. Turn south, then east to return to CR-388 in Bloomingdale. CR-655 south to CR-380 east, 38th St north, then CR-388 east through Kendall. North to 12th Ave (CR-388, becomes D Ave in Kalamazoo Co). D Ave east to US-131, south to M-43, west to South Haven.

Color Tour Six: Directions Starting from Allegan

Color Tour AlleganM-40/89 north to Monroe Rd (118th St), west to Allegan Dam Rd north (circles back east around Lake Allegan). Cross M-40/89 to head north on 36th St, east on Dumont Rd, then north on 122nd Ave. East on 127th Ave, east on 128th Ave through Hopkins to 12th St north. East across US-131 on 129th Ave (becomes CR-430 in Barry Co) around Gun Lake through Yankee Springs Recreation Area, then south on CR-611 to CR-428. West to CR-623, south to CR-426, west at Orangeville. South on Dennison Rd to 116th Ave (M-22), east across US-131 to Allegan.

Color Tour Seven: Directions Starting from Holland

Color Tour HollandBR-31 south to US-31. Take first exit (Saugatuck), then south on Blue Star Hwy (A-2) to 118th Ave. East to 62nd St, north to 122nd Ave. Wind east, then north to M-89 (124th Ave), east through Fennville to Old Allegan Rd north (parts are unpaved but maintained), east to 60th St north. East on 140th Ave, north on 66th St, west on Ottagan St to S Shore Dr, east to downtown Holland/US-31.

Color Tour Eight: Directions Starting from Grand Haven

Color Tour Grand HavenRobbins Rd east to Mercury Dr past Grand River bayous to Riverside Park (becomes Green St, then North Cedar Dr). South on 104th Ave, east on Osborn St (becomes Warner). South on 68th St, east on M-45. South onto 48th St, east on Fillmore (becomes Cottonwood Dr). In Jenison, left on Baldwin, left on Chicago Dr. In Grandville, left on Wilson to M-11/28th St, left onto M-11 northbound. Left on Fennesey St (becomes Luce St, then Linden Dr). Left on Leonard St through Spring Lake to Grand Haven.

Color Tour Grand RapidsColor Tour Nine: Directions Starting from Grand Rapids

North on East Beltline (M-44), turns into Northland Dr through Rockford to Cedar Springs. West on M-46, south on CR-B35 (Ravenna Rd) through Ravenna to Coopersville. Left on Randall Rd, right on 48th Ave. I-96 east back to Grand Rapids.

Color Tour Ten: Directions Starting from Ada

Color Tour AdaM-21 east, south on Ada Dr, east on Bronson to view Ada Covered Bridge. Left on Thornapple River Dr, right on Ada Dr to M-21 east. North on Hudson (becomes Lincoln Lake Ave). East on Fallasburg County Park Rd, follow signs to cross Fallasburg Covered Bridge. Right on McPherson (becomes Potters Rd), north on Whites Bridge Rd (becomes gravel) across Whites Covered Bridge. East on Belding Rd (also M-44), north on M-91, east on M-46. South on M-66 to Ionia, west on M-21 to Ada.

Color Tour Eleven: Directions Starting from Big Rapids

Color Tour Big RapidsNorthland Dr north through Paris to Reed City. East on M-10BR to M-10 east to Evart. South on Main (becomes 85th Ave then curves to become 80th Ave) to Hill Corner. East on 20 Mile Rd, south on M-66, east on Taft Rd (becomes Airline Rd in Isabella Co). South on Coldwater Rd, east on Weidman, south on old US-27 (Mission Rd) to Mt. Pleasant. West on M-20 (High St then Remus Rd). South on Winn Rd, west on Blanchard Rd (becomes Jackson Rd in Mecosta Co). North on M-66 to Remus, west on M-20 (9 Mile Rd), south on 90th Ave, west on Buchanan Rd through Canadian Lakes. South on 130th Ave, west on 5 Mile Rd (CR-548). North on Northland Drive through Stanwood and back to Big Rapids.

Color Tour Twelve: Directions Starting from Fremont

Color Tour FremontM-82 west to M-120 north through Hesperia, east on M-20 to Dickinson Ave. North to 11 Mile Rd, east to Woodland Park, north on Bingham Ave to Bitely. West on Cleveland (13 Mile Rd), north on Osborn Ave, east on Coolidge Dr, north on Star Lake Tower Rd, west on Star Lake Dr (becomes Evergreen) around Big Star Lake. East on Carrs Rd (56th St) to Baldwin. South on M-37 (Woodbridge Dr) to White Cloud. East on Base Line Rd, south on Elm Ave. East on 36th St past the Hardy Dam, west on Hardy Croton Dr (becomes Croton Dr) to Newaygo. Left on Mason Dr (M-37), east on M-82. South on Cypress Ave to Ensley Center. West on 120th St to Ashland Center. North on Wisner Ave, west on 112th St to Bridgeton (becomes Warner Ave, then M-82) to Fremont.

Color Tour Thirteen: Directions Starting from Muskegon

Color Tour MuskegonUS-31 north to westbound Whitehall-Colby St exit (US-31BR). Left on Mears, left on Main, right on Benston, right on Durham, right on Lakewood Rd. Left on Weber, right on Michillinda. Left on Nestrom, right on Duck Lake Rd, then left on Scenic Dr along Lake Michigan to Muskegon State Park. Left on Memorial Dr to Whitehall Rd/US-31BR (Seaway Dr). South to Laketon Ave (becomes Lakeshore Dr after curve) to Pere Marquette Park. Follow shoreline. Right on Beach St, left on Sherman Blvd, right on Lincoln, right on McCracken, left on Seminole. Right on Lake Harbor Rd (becomes Pontaluna Rd) to US-31 north to Muskegon.

Color Tour Fourteen: Directions Starting from Montague

Color Tour MontagueNorth on US-31BR, north on Whitehall Rd through Rothbury. East on Cleveland Rd, north on 90th Ave, west on Arthur Rd, north on Oceana Dr through New Era, Shelby and Hart. West on Monroe Rd (becomes US-31BR) to Long Bridge Rd along Pentwater Lake. South on Ridge Ave (becomes Hazel Rd, then Silver Lake Rd at Silver Lake). South on 18th Ave, west on Buchanan, south on 16th Ave (becomes Scenic Dr, then Webster Rd). South on 48th Ave (becomes Lehman Rd in Muskegon County), east on Meinert Park Rd, south on Chase Rd, west on Hancock Rd and south on Old Channel Trail. East on Prospect Rd and follow the shoreline back to Montague.

Color Tour Fifteen: Directions Starting from Ludington

Color Tour LudingtonUS-10 west, north on Lakeshore Drive to Hamlin Lake. East on Dewey Rd, north on Jebavy then right immediately on Angling Rd. East on Fountain Rd to Fountain. South on Reek Rd, east on Sugar Grove Rd, south on Benson Rd to Walhalla. East on M-10, then first right south onto Wallhalla Rd. West on Hawley Rd, south on Scottville Rd, west on Marrison Rd, south on Stiles to Bucks Corner. West on Washington Rd to West Oceana Dr, north on Lakeshore Dr past Bass Lake to Buttersville Park and Pere Marquette Memorial. Go back south on Lakeshore Dr, east on Iris Rd to US-31 north. Exit west on M-10 back to Ludington.

Color Tour ClareColor Tour Sixteen: Directions Starting from Clare

US-10BR northwest through Farwell. Northwest on M-115, east on M-61 to Harrison, south on Old US-27BR to Clare.

Color Tour Seventeen: Directions Starting from Cadillac

Color Tour CadillacM-55 east to M-66 north through Lake City. West on M-42 through Manton to US-131 south. West on Boon Rd to Harrietta, south on 11-1/4 Rd. West on M-55, south on 7-1/2 Rd (becomes 48th Rd). South on 11-1/4 Rd to State Rd into Lake Co. East on Five Mile Rd, north on Skookum, east to Eight Mile (becomes 20 Mile Rd in Osceola Co), east to US-131, north to Cadillac.

Color Tour Eighteen: Directions Starting from Manistee

Color Tour ManisteeUS-31 north to M-110 (Lakeshore Rd) to Portage Lake. East on Crescent Beach Rd, north on M-22 through Onekama. West on Potter Rd through Pierport, west on 13 Mile Rd to Lake Michigan. Backtrack 200 feet east. North on Lakeview Rd, east on Shaef Rd, north on M-22 through Arcadia. (Scenic Hwy), east on Grace Rd. South on M-31, south on M-115 past Thompsonville. South on Yates Rd, west on Nine Mile Rd, south on Highbridge Rd. West on M-55 (Caberfae Hwy), south on US-31 back to Manistee.

Color Tour FrankfortColor Tour Nineteen: Directions Starting from Frankfort

East on M-115 to Benzonia, northeast on US-31 through Interlochen. North on M-37/US-31 to Traverse City. To tour Old Mission Point, follow M-37 north. Backtrack to Traverse CIty via US-31 west. M-22 north through Suttons Bay to Northport. South on M-22 through Leland to Glen Arbor. South on M-109 through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. South on M-22 to Empire and back to Frankfort.

Color Tour GraylingColor Tour Twenty: Directions Starting from Grayling

I-75 north to M-93 (exit 259) north past Hartwick Pines State Park. East on CR-612 to Lovells, south on CR-F97, south on M-18 through Roscommon. West on M-55 to Houghton Lake. North on Old US-27 back to Grayling.

Color Tour Twenty-One: Directions Starting from Kalkaska

Color Tour KalkaskaNorth on US-131/M-66 to Mancelona. South on CR-571 (Tillie Rd in Antrim Co, Darragh Rd in Kalkaska Co) to Darragh. East on CR-612 (Manistee Lk Rd) around Manistee Lake to Frederick. South on Old US-27 to Grayling. West on M-72, north on US-131 back to Kalkaska.

Color Tour Twenty-Two: Directions Starting from Elk Rapids

Color Tour Elk RapidsNorth on US-31 to Eastport. East on M-88 toward Central Lake. North on CR-65, east on Mohrmann Bridge Rd, south on Rushton Rd (becomes Intermediate Lake Rd), south on Derenzy Rd to CR-620 through Bellaire. South on East Torch Lk Dr (CR-593) through Alden (becomes Crystal Beach Rd) and north to Kewadin (becomes Cherry Ave) then south again (becomes Cairn Hwy) back to Elk Rapids.

Color Tour GaylordColor Tour Twenty-Three: Directions Starting from Gaylord

West on M-32 to East Jordan. West on Ellsworth Rd (CR-626) to Ellsworth. West on Atwood Rd (CR-48) to Atwood. North on US-31 through Charlevoix, Bay Harbor & Petoskey on to Alanson. East on M-68 to Indian River. South on I-75 back to Gaylord.

Color Tour Twenty-Four: Directions Starting from Petoskey

Color Tour PetoskyUS-31 north to M-119, north through Harbor Springs to Cross Village. Left on Lake Shore Dr to Lakeview Rd (becomes Gill Rd at Sturgeon Bay). Left on Cecil Bay Rd, right on Wilderness Park Dr north to Mackinaw City. Pass under I-75 at the base of Mackinac Bridge. South on US-23 (Cheboygan Co. Scenic Route) through Cheboygan. South on M-27 through Indian River. East on M-68 to US-31 south to Petoskey.

Color Tour Twenty-Five: Directions Starting from Mackinac Island Ferry Docks

Color Tour Mackinac IslandLeft on Market St to Cadotte Ave, right to Huron Rd behind Ft. Mackinac to Arch Rock. Left on Rifle Range Rd, right on Sugar Loaf Rd, back to Rifle Range. Right to Garrison Rd past Skull Cave, left on Annex Rd to Cadotte, right to Market, left to docks.

Color Tour Twenty-Six: Directions Starting from Beaver Island Ferry Docks

Color Tour Beaver IslandStarting at the ferry dock in “downtown” St. James, turn right at the Ace Hardware. Turn left at the top of the hill onto The Kings Highway heading south out of “town”. Turn left on McCauley’s Road. Turn right on East Side Drive. At the south end of the island it becomes West Side. Don’t forget to stop and visit the Lighthouse just before Iron Ore Bay. Cross the 4-way intersection onto Paid Een Ogs Road. Turn left onto The Kings Hwy back to “town.”

Halloween Fun in West Michigan: Central Michigan

Local Business, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , , , , , , , ,

pumpkin kidThere is so much to do in West Michigan to kick off the Halloween fun! This three part series will dive into different Fall and Halloween activities all throughout the West side of this Marvelous State. Next up is Central West Michigan. If you missed part one on Southern Michigan, be sure not to let it Fall to the wayside!

As Halloween approaches, all the little ghouls and goblins have one thing on their minds: Trick-or-Treating! To keep the kids’ minds off candy just a bit longer, kick off your Halloween fun early in West Michigan! Whether it’s family fun at the corn maze, or Halloween-themed pub crawls for the grown up ghouls, there are plenty of Halloween activities for all ages around West Michigan to get you in a Halloween mood!

Central Halloween Fun in West Michigan

Opera Grand Rapids

Opera Grand RapidsOpera Grand Rapids is ramping up for its annual Night With The Opera fundraiser on October 30 surrounding the company’s season opening concert of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Requiem.” Opera Grand Rapids invites the public to participate in an evening of unique cuisine and libations, live performances, and plenty of ghosts and ghouls at this year’s Halloween-themed event. All proceeds from the event support Opera Grand Rapids’ mission year-round, to foster and fulfill demand for high quality, live opera in West Michigan.

In keeping with tradition, Night With the Opera will treat guests to a festive evening packed full of live performances, along with the opportunity to join other advocates in support of live opera in the community. More information can be found here.

Pentwater

Pentwater has a number of opportunities to get outside and enjoy the Halloween season! October 31st heralds Halloween on the Green & the Spooktacular Parade! From 1pm through 5pm, bring the kids out in costume for fun activities, trick or treating with downtown merchants, the parade, and more Halloween fun.

Grand Rapids Children’s Museum

Grand Rapids Childrens MuseumBring your little ghouls and goblins in for a night of Trick or Treat fun at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum! Visit on Thursday, October 29th, from 5:00-8:00pm to create Halloween art, decorate a treat bag, and trick or treat throughout the museum! Entry is just $1.75 per person, and don’t forget your costume!

LowellArts! King Gallery

On display in the LowellArts! King Gallery is an exhibition titled “Things That Go Bump in the Night.” The exhibit is a group show of dark and mysterious themed artwork that was submitted through an open call for artists. Artwork on display embraces the concept of darkness, mystery, and fear in a thoughtful way. The show was juried to ensure that artwork fit the theme, and is appropriate for all viewing audiences. The exhibit will be on display October 1st through 31st. The gallery is open Tues-Fri 10am-6pm and Sat 1-4pm.

Frederik Meijer Gardens

Frederik Meijer GardenFrederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is getting in the Halloween mood with “Hallowee-Ones”! Hallowee-Ones takes place on Friday, October 23, from 10 am through 12 pm. Dress your child in costume and enjoy this special event designed for the youngest visitors. Children are invited to join in a costume parade and listen to Halloween-themed stories. This event is included with admission to Meijer Gardens.

Chocolates by Grimaldi

Few things can compare to a crisp autumn apple grown in Michigan’s fertile glacial soil, but if you’re the kind of person that likes your Halloween apples dripping in an extra layer or two, of deliciousness, then Chocolates by Grimaldi has the treat for you.

Chocolates by GrimaldiFor a limited time the Grand Haven-based chocolate factory, is offering a special chocolate caramel apple. Their chocolatiers use complementary ingredients that allow the customer to experience layers of flavors. They start with crisp, hand-picked apples and drench them in their buttery, and creamy caramel. Next they coat them with their own delectable chocolate. Finally, the apples are dusted them with a layer of crunchy nuts or other toppings.

If you want one, you had better hurry, because the apples won’t last long. The limited edition apples will only be available through the fall at Chocolates by Grimaldi in Grand Haven or on their website.

Our Brewing Company

Our Brewing Company is hosting their annual Anniversary/Halloween Party on Friday, October 30, 2015. This will be their 3rd Anniversary party, as they opened November 1 of 2012. There will be live music, great beer, everyone dressed up in costumes, and great merchandise for sale, including their custom Anniversary shirts which will only be sold at this time! Party will start around 8:00 and go until Midnight.

John Ball Zoo

John Ball Zoo Goes BooVisit West Michigan’s favorite trick-or-treat spot at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, where you’ll find over 20 booths, over-the-top decorations, and costumed characters! Your visit will include games, prizes, magic, music, special animal activities, and so much more. Bring your bees, pirates, princesses, and bears to Zoo Goes Boo on October 23rd-25th!

Play Bytes by Playwrights

Play Bytes by Playwrights is a production and competition of a collection of eight 10-minute plays written by playwrights and performed by emerging and established actors at LowellArts! Either drama or comedy, all the plays fit the theme: Things That Go Bump in the Night. A panel of judges will select one of the competing playwrights to win a $500 cash prize. Audience members will be invited to vote for their favorite short play, and the playwright winner of the People’s Choice and Juried Cash Award will be announced at the final production.

The Dinner Theater productions are held at Larkin’s Other Place, 301 W. Main Street on Friday and Saturday evenings at 6:30pm–October 23, 24, 30 & 31 with a Sunday matinee at 1:30pm–October 25. Show only tickets are available–play begins at 7:30pm on Fri & Sat and 2:30pm on Sunday. Advanced tickets are required for Dinner Theater ($25), and show only tickets ($13) can be purchased in advance or at the door. For ticket information, call 897-8545. More info here.

Lowell

What could be more fun than Lowell in October! They have a host of activities for you and the family to enjoy. Put on your walking shoes and enjoy the autumn air while visiting all the events throughout Historic Lowell! Participate in or view the Harvest Hustle 5K Run/Walk or the Outdoor Chili Madness Chili Cook-off at Larkin’s Restaurant, plus join them at the fairgrounds for the Autumn Marketplace, which will feature Arts and Crafts, Farmers Market, Flea Market, Pet Expo, Scarecrow-Building hoedown and live entertainment!

Halloween On Ice

Halloween on IceNancy Kerrigan’s Halloween On Ice is coming to Van Andel Arena on Friday, October 30th at 7:00 PM. Get ready for a night of family fun with Halloween-themed figure skating performances by a star studded cast of Olympic, World, and US National medalists including Nancy Kerrigan, Kurt Browning, Johnny Weir and many more!

The line-up of skaters is subject to change. Tickets are on sale now at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, Ticketmaster ticket centers, Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Groups of 12 or more save by calling 616-742-6185, emailing GroupSales@smggr.com or online.

Blandford Nature Center

Celebrate Halloween and the great outdoors at the same time at Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids. Visit on October 29th at 6pm for the “Beasts of Blandford” program. As the sun sets and the night animals become active, come creep through the enchanted Blandford forest. Enjoy a Halloween treat and participate in a craft.

Make sure to check out part 3 on Friday for Halloween activities in Northern West Michigan!