Tag Archives: Grand Rapids Downtown Market

Some last minute ideas for Valentine’s Day

By the West Michigan Tourist Association

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Find gift ideas, special events, dinners, and get-aways to treat your Valentine to a uniquely West Michigan experience.

Gift Ideas & Valentine’s Day Events

Need help finding a card for your Valentine? Kalamazoo’s Bell’s Brewery has you covered! Choose from 23 Bell’s Brewery inspired Beerentine e-cards to send digitally to someone special.

 

Join swing dance instructor Becky Biesiada at SE4SONS Gastropub inside the Muskegon Country Club for a series of three dance classes in February. This is a fun opportunity to learn something new! Don’t forget to check out SE4SONS Gastropub after class for great Happy Hour Deals. Call 231-755-3737 for reservations. Classes will be held 6 – 7 p.m. on Feb. 13, and 20. Cost is $85 per couple, $60 for individuals.

Head to Guardian Brewing in Saugatuck on Feb. 13 for Guardian Beer School: Galentine’s Day Beer, Cheese, and Chocolate Pairing.

On Thursday, Feb. 13, from 6 — 8 p.m., celebrate your Valentine and friends with Date Night: Pizza & Puzzles at the Muskegon Museum of Art. Bring your sweetheart or a friend for a relaxed night of pizza and puzzles in the galleries. Tickets include a table for puzzle building with your partner, pizza, and one free drink ticket for the cash bar. Puzzles are provided. The cost is $20 per person.

For special gifts, visit downtown Marshall. You’ll find flowers, wine, specialty shops to write love letters or memory books, and treats for your four-legged Valentine. Strawberries dipped in chocolate are a romantic treat, but what about pickles and chocolate, or chocolate-covered cheesecake jalapeno poppers? These unique treats and more await you in Marshall.

Valentine’s Day Weekend Dinners & Events

Enjoy a special Valentine’s Day menu at The Grove Restaurant at Gordon Beach Inn in Union Pier. Dinner is $80 per couple and includes butternut squash soup, mixed green salad, surf & turf featuring lobster tail and filet, parmesean risotto croquettes, chocolate dipped strawberries, and split of proseco. Reservations are requested, call 269-934-9700 to reserve your table. 

Journeyman Distillery serves up an evening of cask-strength laughs on Valentine’s Day at Comedy on the Rocks, featuring award winning stand-up comedians and craft-cocktails with a view of their working stills at their Three Oaks distillery. Featuring Zako Ryan, headliner Amy Sumpter, and your host for the evening, Maxwell Tidey. Admission is $20 per person.

Cornwell’s Turkeyville will feature a Murder Mystery Dinner on Feb. 14 and 15. (Cornwall’s Turkeyville)

Cornwell’s Turkeyville in Marshall hosts a Murder Mystery Dinner: Get a Clue, Feb. 14 and 15, a fun and entertaining way to spend your Valentines’ weekend!

Spend Valentine’s Day at Vineyard 2121 in Benton Harbor with a candlelight dinner and wine pairing suggestions, live music, and dancing to your favorite romantic songs, Friday, February 14th, 6:00 pm-9:00 pm. Seating is limited and advanced tickets are suggested.

Airway Fun Center in Portage is hosting a Couples Cocktail Class inside their taproom February 14th at 6:00 pm. Guests will enjoy step by step instructions as they create three creative cocktails. Appetizers will be included in the cost of the class. Registration is $30 per person.

This Valentine’s Day, say “I love you” with a romantic dinner date at the historic W.K. Kellogg Manor House in Hickory Corners, overlooking beautiful Gull Lake. Enjoy a four-course dinner that will include grilled mojo sirloin steak or grilled salmon filet, both served with fresh pico de gallo, avocado, tortilla strips and Cotija cheese, coconut rice and fresh vegetables, and a dark chocolate ganache served with fresh fruit and whipped cream for dessert.

Crane’s Winery presents the 2020 Cider-Maker’s Dinner on Feb. 15, 6 – 9 p.m., at their restaurant in Fennville, showcasing West Michigan’s wonderful cider-making expertise with a six-course pairing dinner featuring dishes made from local ingredients in an “Upscale Cider Pub” theme. Courses include wild game and local cheese selections, creamy New England clam chowder, lemony kale caesar salad in a parmesan crisp bowl, spicy elk nachos, smoked chicken & waffles, and a specialty Crane’s dessert. Seating is very limited. Tickets are $65 per person (this includes tax and tip), available at eventbrite.com. Come show some love to the amazing food and drink West Michigan has to offer. Crane’s is a family owned, family run business that has been a treasured travel destination in West Michigan for decades. Nestled in the lush, rolling hills of the family’s fruit farms just minutes from Lake Michigan’s shore, at Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant & Winery you will take home with you an experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression. The Crane’s family of businesses can be found throughout the Lakeshore with locations in Fennville (farms, pie pantry and winery), Crane’s Wine and Cider in Saugatuck and Crane’s In The City in Holland. 

The Grand Rapids Downtown Market will be hosting an ice sculpturing event Feb. 14 – 16.


Join the Grand Rapids Downtown Market Feb. 14 — 16 and chill out with over ten ice sculptures under the Downtown Market Shed, part of the Grand Rapids World of Winter events. On Saturday, enjoy an outdoor bar while watching chainsaw masters perform ice sculpting demonstrations throughout the afternoon.

 

Michigan’s only professional ballet company, Grand Rapids Ballet, presents Eternal Desire, a “mixed-bill” program featuring five different stand-alone pieces, including three never-before-seen world premieres, Feb. 14 and 16 at the ballet’s Peter Martin Wege Theatre.

 

Enjoy live music, cookie classes, gourmet hand-dipped chocolates and treats, and a special Daddy-Daughter Dance when you visit the Holland Area for Valentine’s celebrations.

Beer lovers, head to Grand Haven’s sixth annual Craft Beer Crawl on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2 — 7 p.m. Enjoy craft beers from over a dozen Michigan Craft Breweries at participating venues on a casual Saturday afternoon in Downtown Grand Haven.

Join Lemon Creek Winery Grand Haven Tasting Room for Wine and Chocolate Pairings celebrating Love, Wine & Chocolate Month in February. Starting weekends in February, visit the Grand Haven Tasting Room Fridays through Sundays for these special pairings featuring chocolates and Lemon Creek Wines. This featured tasting will also be available on February 14th, so bring your special someone. Cost is $14 per person or two for $25. Ice wine tasting, chocolate dessert cups with your favorite wine, and specialty chocolates are also available. Groups of 10 or more should call ahead for reservations. Must be at least 21 years old for wine tastings. Hours are Fridays & Saturdays noon — 7 p.m. and Sundays noon — 5 p.m.

On Friday, Feb.14, from 5:30 –7:30 p.m., come to the Lakeshore Museum Center in Muskegon for a Valentine’s Day Friday Family Fun Night. Take the whole family on a date at the museum. Enjoy collecting Valentines from various museum creatures, create your own Valentine’s Day craft, and learn some love science. You’ll also get a Valentine’s Day treat to take home. The cost is $5. No RSVP is required.

 

Treat your sweetheart to performances around Muskegon over Valentine’s weekend, including live music from popular West Michigan bands or stand-up comedians. Find details to help plan your weekend at the Muskegon Community Calendar. 

Saturday, Feb. 15, the Muskegon Luge & Adventure Sports Park presents “Parkas & Plates.” This is a fun night for couples and friends who want to hit the lighted cross country ski or snowshoe trails, enjoy some amazing food and beverages, and kick back to live acoustic music. It’s the perfect Valentine’s date night or just a fun night out with friends. 

Whether you and your sweetheart are keen to cozy, romantic dinners by candlelight or something a bit more adventurous like skiing or sledding, the Mt. Pleasant area offers a variety of Valentine’s Day date spots. Plan your Valentine’s Day date with the Mt. Pleasant date guide. Looking for unique, one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day gifts for that special someone? Check out the Mt. Pleasant gift guide to find the perfect gift for your sweetheart.

Hotel Frankfort is hosting a Valentine’s Day Five Course Dinner at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14. Dinner is $50 per person and includes brie en croute, crab cakes, caprese salade, choice of filet minot or shrimp scampi, salted carmel apple crisp, and wine samples especially paired for each course. Reservations are required, call 231-352-8090.

 

A romantic Valentines Day wine paired dinner awaits you at the Inn at Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay. The Valentine’s-themed menu will be curated with courses to be shared making for a truly amorous, wine-paired culinary experience. Tables are limited, so purchase your tickets today.

 

Old Mission Peninsula Wineries in Traverse City present the Romancing the Riesling event Valentine’s Day weekend, Feb. 15 from 10 a,m, — 5 p.m.

Surprise your sweetheart with the gift of adventure in the most pristine, northernmost-tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, an area of rugged beauty, ancient Lake Superior shorelines, and breathtaking terrain with Keweenaw Adventure Company in Copper Harbor. Cozy up in the Adventure Chalet and get out to explore by mountain bike and sea kayak.

 

Treat Your Valentine to a Special Getaway

South Haven has a gift for you when you stay at one of the area’s participating lodging properties between February and April 2020, including Lake Bluff Inn & Suites, and Baymont Inn & Suites. Receive two bottles of wine, a red and a white, two wine glasses, and corkscrew in a very nice, four bottle, insulated bag. Plus, coupons for free wine and beer tastings are included compliments of local breweries and Cogdal Vineyards. Don’t miss out on this fantastic Gift Bag Promotion, click here for participating lodging properties. From November 1st to May 15th, stay in one of the participating lodging properties and receive a free $25 Dine on Us card, then relax at one of South Haven’s top-ranked, participating restaurants, such as Taste, and enjoy the local cuisine.

Make it a weekend getaway at Maplewood Hotel in Saugatuck! Stay Friday night and get half-off Saturday night stay through Feb. 18. Book directly by calling 1-800-650-9790.

Plan a romantic, winter weekend getaway and experience the true joy of winter in West Michigan. From snowshoeing to ice fishing to indoor hot tubs, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Get the most out of your weekend getaway this winter by staying at one of Ludington’s top hotels. Stay Saturday night at the standard non-discounted rate and get Sunday night free! The Comfort Inn Ludington is the perfect balance of relaxation and fun. Call (231) 845-7004 to book your weekend getaway

Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids is offering a Celebrate Romance package with overnight accommodations, complimentary bottle of sparkling wine or cider, and breakfast for two. Choose a romantic dinner for two at onsite restaurants, or a massage for two at  Amway Grand Plaza Spa & Salon, or treat your special someone to the gift of relaxation with a certificate to the spa.

Celebrate a night of romance with overnight accommodations at the JW Marriott Grand Rapids. Elevate your evening with a bottle of wine or chocolate covered strawberries. Enjoy a special menu at Margaux or a massage for two at The Spa at JW.

Is your Valentine a fishing enthusiast? Treat them to a getaway at the Pere Marquette River Lodge in Baldwin, an Orvis-endorsed fly fishing outfitter, February 21st-23rd for Steelhead School. The school teaches the basics of fly fishing for steelhead and includes two nights lodging, breakfasts, lunches, and a half day guide trip for $405/person (based on double occupancy). For more, call the fly shop at 231-745-3972 or book your stay online.

Take your Valentine to Treetops Resort in Gaylord for their Wilderness Sleigh Ride Dinner on Valentine’s weekend or on a Skiable Feast Adventure. Can’t make it Valentine’s Weekend? Dates for both are available throughout the season.

 

Treat your Valentine to a getaway at Terrace Inn in Petoskey with a two night stay in a cottage room on Valentines weekend (Feb. 14 and 15) for $279. This package includes dinner for two and a Champagne split and a fabulous breakfast is also included each morning. Guests who just want to visit for dinner can enjoy a three course meal for just $39.95 per person and Nathan Towne will be performing in the dining room. 

Indulge in sweeping views of Little Traverse Bay, a bottle of champagne, breakfast for two, and an evening in the hot tub or by the fireplace while being minutes away from Petoskey’s most romantic destinations. The Courtyard by Marriott Petoskey’s Romance Package is the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day in Northern Michigan. Book your Romance Package today.

Love is in the air at Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire. Surprise someone special with a weekend getaway and enjoy the outdoors. Create a custom package, including spa treatments, lift tickets, or cross-country trail passes, to get away to a Northern Michigan resort that spans 5,000 acres.

Whether you’re planning a surprise trip or celebrating an anniversary, Mackinac Island’s romantic charm can be felt around every corner. Give the gift of Mackinac this Valentine’s Day with Mission Point Resort’s Island Romance package; A picturesque getaway for two in a setting of historic churches, garden gazebos, refreshing lake breezes, and turquoise blue waters. This package features two night’s accommodations, a wine and cheese welcome amenity, half-day bike rentals to explore Mackinac Island, tickets aboard a Sip N’ Sail boat cruise, a romantic dinner for two in Chianti, and much more! Experience the magic of Mackinac with the one you love this summer.

Escape to the Keweenaw Area and find special Valentine’s Day experiences and packages, including luxury lodging with flower bouquets and in-room champagne or a spa experience designed to rejuvenate your body and mind with hot and cold-water exposure. Find more Keweenaw lodging options and specials by visiting the Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau

On Tap: Gravel Bottom moves in Ada; get smart on beer and beer cooking

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org 

 

Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery will open a new facility as part of the Ada Village redevelopment project on Friday, May 11.

 

“We’ve put a lot of time and effort into making this feel similar to what the other Gravel Bottom was: welcoming and comfortable,” Matt Michiels, Gravel Bottom owner, said in supplied material.

 

The new bar will offers 20 taps, which will allow Gravel Bottom to have more “experimental styles” in rotation.

 

“This was the opportunity to upgrade our equipment so we can brew more styles and be even more creative,” Michiels said. “And we’re able to brew bigger batches of some of those mainstays.”

 

And Gravel Bottom is certainly considered to be part of the Ada community.

 

“Gravel Bottom has become a well-known pillar of the Ada business community and we’re excited about their move,” George Haga, Ada Township supervisor, said in supplied material. “Their new home and highly-visible location on Ada Drive are another example of the transformation that is taking place in the Envision Ada project.”

 

“It’s very important for us to be a part of this community. This is where we started. And it’s exciting to have this chance for renewal,” Michiels said.

 

There will also be a new kitchen serving meals designed by Chef Eric Benedict. The menu will feature locally sourced, seasonally influenced dishes, including small plates designed to pair with Gravel Bottom beers.

 

The brewery is also acquiring a vintner’s license, meaning customers can look forward to wines, meads, and ciders both made by Gravel Bottom and others.

 

For more information visit gravelbottom.com .

 

Experience Beer continues free beer-education series at Harmony Hall

 

Harmony Brewing Company. (Supplied)

Experience Beer West Michigan has already launched its 8th annual free beer education classes but there are still four of the five sessions planned for Mondays from 7-9 p.m. at Harmony Hall in Grand Rapids. This series will be hosted by beer education specialist Ben Darcie.

 

The May 14 discussion will focus on sour maturation in sour beers from a representative of Speciation Ales. The May 21 discussion will feature a field trip to Gray Skies Distillery with representatives from Gray Skies, Long Road Distillers, Bier Distillery and Thornapple Brewing Company speaking about distilling.

 

The classes will wrap up on June 4 and will feature a brewer’s round table with 10 area brewers answering questions and dropping knowledge.

 

To learn more about Experience Beer WM, visit facebook.com/groups/ExperienceBeer .

Lindsay E. Papciak

 

Downtown Market offers cooking with beer class

 

The Grand Rapids Downtown Market will offer a class called “Cooking with Beer” on Tuesday, May 15 from 6-8 p.m.

 

The class, for ages 21 and older, will be allow for the making of a beer-inspired menu including a refreshing summer salad with beer vinaigrette, delicious beer-braised chicken, and chocolate stout cupcakes — yes, beer in dessert!

 

And you can complement your meal with your favorite brew, available for purchase from a curated list.

 

The cost is $95 per person. The market is located at 435 Ionia Ave. SW. For more information visit downtownmarketgr.com .

 

Downtown Market has classic comfort food classes to warm body and soul

Thanksgiving should be a time for fun family feasts, but even thinking about putting it all together can be enormously stressful.

Perhaps this is the first time you’re preparing the feast. Or maybe baking the perfect turkey has always eluded you. Whatever the stressor, Grand Rapids Downtown Market has cooking classes that will help you master the art of Thanksgiving meal making.

 

Here are just a few classes to help you out.

 

turkey-basicsTurkey Basics

Wednesday, November 2 from 6-8:30pm

 

In this class, you’ll learn some tricks to make the holiday a lot easier: how to properly brine, carve and roast a turkey; master gravy for those super creamy mashed potatoes; cook classic cranberry chutney; and prepare an easy stuffing that’s not soggy or boring.

 

Click here to learn more and to register.

 

autumn-nightsAutumn Nights East Coast vs. West Coast

Friday, November 4 from 6-8:30pm

 

There are not too many better rivalries than East Coast vs. West Coast. In this class, you’ll decide which coast you like the best by creating culinary classics that represent both sides. You’ll make classic chowders, roasted chicken with salsa verde or orange harvest topping, and see if Washington apple pie can win out over Boston cream pie.

 

Click here to learn more and to register.

 

beyond-the-pieThanksgiving Cocktails and Desserts: Beyond The Pie

Wednesday, November 16 from 6-8:30pm

 

Celebrate the indulgences of Thanksgiving with two favorite excesses: cocktails and desserts. In this class, you will make the best hot buttered rum batter this land has seen, shake an entire egg in a New York Flip cocktail (it tastes amazing), and learn how to make a cranberry walnut pear tart.

 

Click here to learn more and to register.

 

pie-crustPie Crust to be Thankful For

Monday, November 21 from 6-8:30pm

 

Learn how to master an easy-to-make pie crust! You’ll roll, mix and stretch for a beautiful custard pie, blue ribbon pecan pie and an award-winning apple pie. You will head home with three full pies to share with your loved ones.

 

Click here to learn more and to register.

 

 

Where’s the beef? At the Downtown Market’s newest addition

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Carvers: Grand Rapids’ Finest Meats, will officially open for business on Friday, Oct. 7, becoming the newest tenant inside the Grand Rapids Downtown Market Hall. Carvers is an all-new locally-owned butcher, and the latest venture of Fish Lads owner Jeff Butzow.

 

“Our mission with Carvers is to bring the same high-quality products to local tables that people have come to expect from Fish Lads,” said Butzow. “We’re working hard to source the very best products in a sustainable way, and at an approachable price point.”

 

carvers_caseCustomers will find cases fully stocked with a variety of high-end meats (beef, pork, poultry, lamb, etc.) at an approachable price. Beef options will include a full line of 100 percent grass-fed, hormone- and antibiotic-free beef as well as high-end Kobe options. Heritage Kurobota pork, pork belly, unique house-made sausages and organic, free-range chickens will also be available year-round.

 

“We want to be the experts that customers rely on to select the best cuts of meat for their needs,” said Butzow. “We are full-service butchers that source the best products, help select a cut, and provide tips on preparation and cooking.”

 

Carvers has a full-service kitchen with made-from-scratch items including a $5 burger feature, chicken wings and pastrami and corned-beef sandwiches. Carvers also features a full-service deli, where customers can customize their own grab-and-go sandwiches and salad bowls, made to order by deli specialists. A rotating daily feature menu will give guests a constantly revolving taste of innovative approaches to meat and side dishes in addition to some well-loved classic dishes like weekend steak and egg breakfasts. Carvers will also serve breakfast sandwiches for those looking to grab a bite on their way into the office.

 

“Jeff is bringing the same level of passion and expertise to Carvers that has led to his tremendous success with Fish Lads,” said Downtown Market President/CEO Mimi Fritz. “The addition of a full-service kitchen gives people a way to taste the products and adds a whole new variety of hearty menu options in the Market Hall.”

 

A fully stocked deli case features hand-sliced, all-natural, nitrate-free deli meats, available to take home or in a made-to-order deli sandwich on Field & Fire bread. Other deli case specialties include house-made salads, pâtés and terrines. Paying homage to Butzow’s northern Michigan roots, Carvers will feature a variety of house-made pickled foods, including pickled eggs, pickled bologna, and kimchi. Carvers also stocks a variety of pre-cooked and ready-to-cook options including ribs, meatballs, meatloaves, stuffed pork loins and gourmet burger patties, for those who want to enjoy Grand Rapids’ finest meats but don’t have time to cook.

GR Downtown Market up for Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence!

Downtown Market 3

The Biennial Accolade Honors Trans-formative Urban Development

janice_limbaugh

The folks at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market are celebrating this week after The Bruner Foundation named the site as one of five national finalists for the 2015 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence. Since 1987, the foundation has sponsored the award to identify trans-formative urban places across America and celebrate their impact on the economic, social, and physical fabric of our cities.

Downtown Market Grand Rapids
Downtown Market Grand Rapids

According to Erin Cataldo, the announcement came as welcomed news after long application process. “To be considered for the award we had to submit a pretty extensive application process that required the involvement of quite a few people. So yes, this is great news for all of us here!”

As a finalist, Cataldo says the Downtown Market will be visited by the judging committee from the Bruner Foundation in the next several weeks to determine where the project places. The finalists will receive cash awards to support their projects: one Gold Medal recipient wins $50,000 and four Silver Medal recipients receive $10,000 each.  The Gold Medal winner will be announced in June. Pike Place Market in Seattle was the first RBA winner, and 73 places in 25 states have been recognized with the award since.

Downtown Market 3Regardless of either amount won, the funds will be used to benefit the Downtown Market Education Foundation Cataldo explains. “The Foundation exists to support culinary and nutrition education; training in entrepreneurship, food production and gardening; obesity prevention and other wellness issues and concerns. In addition, the Foundation supports access to, and the promotion of, fresh healthy foods for all, including disadvantaged families and children.”

The 2015 RBA finalists are:

GR's Downtown Market is open all year.
GR’s Downtown Market is open all year.

Falls Park on the Reedy – Greenville, SC: The renaissance of a 26-acre river corridor running through the heart of Greenville, restoring public access to the falls and greenspace and catalyzing adjacent downtown development. (Submitted by the City of Greenville.)

Grand Rapids Downtown Market – Grand Rapids, MI: A new downtown public space promoting local food producers and community events, entrepreneurship, and education about nutrition and healthy lifestyles. (Submitted by Grand Rapids Downtown Market.)

Miller’s Court – Baltimore, MD: The redevelopment of a vacant manufacturing building into an affordable and supportive living and working environment for public school teachers and education-focused nonprofits. (Submitted by Enterprise Community Investment, Inc.)

Quixote Village – Olympia, WA: A two-acre community of 30 tiny houses and a common building that provides permanent, supportive housing for chronically homeless adults. (Submitted by Panza.

Uptown District – Cleveland, OH: The vibrant redevelopment of a corridor linking art, educational and health care institutions with surrounding neighborhoods, creating lively outdoor gathering spaces, retail shops and restaurants, student and market-rate housing, and public transit connections. (Submitted by Case Western Reserve University.)

“The Rudy Bruner Award offers the opportunity to showcase innovative placemaking responses to the needs of American cities and communities,” says Simeon Bruner, founder of the award. “We want to advance discourse about making cities better, and seek outstanding examples to share with those who care about improving our urban environments. There are a surprising number of inventive projects out there, if you just look for them.”

Entries comprised completed projects in the continental United States. The finalists and Gold and Silver Medalists are selected by a nationwide committee of urban experts. The 2015 selection committee includes:

Rebecca Flora – AICP, LEED ND-BD+C, Sustainable Communities Practice Leader, Ecology & Environment, Chestertown, MD
Larry Kearns – AIA, CSA, LEED AP, Principal, Wheeler Kearns Architects, Chicago, IL
India Pierce Lee – Program Director, Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland, OH
Mia Lehrer – FASLA, President, Mia Lehrer + Associates, Los Angeles, CA
James Stockard – Lecturer in Housing, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, MA
Mark Stodola – Mayor, Little Rock, AR

 

 

 

 

Case studies of all past RBA winners are available online. 2015 winner case studies will be posted in 2016.