Encore January 2026

Glow Hall is Shining

January 2026

2026 Events Not to Miss

An Artful January

Meet Luke Conklin

Southwest Michigan’s Magazine

The force behind Vitalizing the Vine

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ENCORE EDITOR'S NOTE

From the Editor January is the month we celebrate newness — new year and new opportunities to change,

grow and lose the 15 pounds we've resolved to lose for the past three years. And while new is nice and a few of our pieces this month focus on what's current, this issue has a couple of stories that celebrate things that aren't so fresh and new.

One of these is our cover story on Kalamazoo's Vine neighborhood and the work of its neighborhood association to make it a safer, more inclusive place for its residents is one of these stories. The Vine, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, has always had a distinct personality with its mix of artists, students and families. Robert M. Weir gives us a glimpse into how that neighborhood has evolved over the years and how it is changing for the future.

We also meet Luke Conklin, artistic director of Early Music Michigan. He is passionate about playing music written centuries ago with instruments from that era. Through his guidance, Early Music Michigan is bringing local audiences historical performances that both entertain and educate.

In a story that's more here and now, we learn about Glow Hall, a new performing venue on the north end of the Kalamazoo Mall that is providing a space for musicians "who are between a house show and a place like Bell’s or Shakespeare’s,” according to local musician Juan Gaviria. The venue has offered an eclectic schedule of shows and events since opening in July.

In our Five Faves feature, compliments of our friends at Discover Kalamazoo, we highlight a few local events not to miss in 2026.

Many of these events have become staples of every year's calendar, but this piece provides reasons to rediscover these happenings.

Of course, as in every issue, our First Things briefs and our Events of Note also let you know about all kinds of local events you might not want to miss. And it would be negligent to not start this new year with a thank-you to our loyal readers and advertisers.

Your support allows Encore to continue to be greater Kalamazoo's favorite magazine.

May 2026 be a wonderful year for us all!

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CONTRIBUTORS ENCORE

Glow Hall is Shining

2026 Events Not to Miss

An Artful January

January 2026

Meet Luke Conklin

Southwest Michigan’s Magazine

Jordan Bradley For this edition of Encore, Jordan spoke with Early Music Michigan’s artistic director, Luke Conklin, about the thought process behind performing historical pieces of music, his passion for woodwind instruments and Early Music Michigan’s upcoming workshop on Gregorian chant. “Luke is really passionate about historical music,” Jordan says, “and it was easy to get excited about this catalog of music listening to him talk about what he loves about it.” Jordan is an intern-turned-freelancecontributor at Encore. When not writing, she can be found taking walks with her dog or at a yoga studio.

The force behind Vitalizing the Vine

Publisher

encore publications, inc.

Editor

marie lee

Art Director alexis stubelt

Photographers

Katie Houston

brian k. powers

Contributing Writers

Katie wrote this issue's Enterprise feature about Glow Hall in downtown Kalamazoo. "This is a great arts town, whether you’re talking about theater, dance or music — and it’s wonderful to see an old venue being repurposed with care and intention as a performance venue and learning space.” Katie is a writer and communications consultant specializing in nonprofit marketing

malin anderson, jordan bradley, katie houston, marie lee, robert m. weir

Copy Editors

margaret deritter katie houston

Poetry Editor

margaret deritter

Advertising Sales janis clark kimberly juwong

Robert M. Weir

Distribution

Sometimes research takes a writer on a mini excursion. Such was the case for Robert and his article about the Vine neighborhood. After interviewing Steve Walsh, executive director of the Vine Neighborhood Association, and absorbing his passion for the place, Robert drove and walked around many of the streets in the Vine neighborhood.

He ate a bagel at Bagel Beanery, flipped through vinyl records at Satellite Records, and strolled through a few of the neighborhood's parks. Robert is a frequent contributor to Encore.

ron kilian robert zedeck

Office Coordinator kelly burcroff

Proofreader hope smith

Encore Magazine is published 12 times yearly. Copyright 2026, Encore Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial, circulation and advertising correspondence should be sent to:

www.encorekalamazoo.com 117 W. Cedar St. Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Telephone: (269) 383–4433 Email: Publisher@encorekalamazoo.com

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The staff at Encore welcomes written comments from readers, and articles and poems for submission with no obligation to print or return them. To learn more about us or to comment, visit encorekalamazoo.com. Encore subscription rates: one year $36, two years $70. Current single issue and newsstand $4, $10 by mail. Back issues $6, $12 by mail. Advertising rates on request. Closing date for space is 28 days prior to publication date. Final date for print–ready copy is 21 days prior to publication date.

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by those interviewed and published here do not reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Encore Magazine or the official policies, owners or employees of Encore Publications.

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CONTENTS

January 2026

FEATURE

Vitalizing the Vine 14

Inclusion, entrepreneurship at heart of the neighborhood's development strategy

DEPARTMENTS 3 From the Editor 4 Contributors 6 First Things

A round–up of happenings in SW Michigan 8 Five Faves

Local events not to miss in 2026

10 Enterprise

A Glowing Venture — New venue offers music, community and potential

30 Back Story

Meet Luke Conklin — Bringing historically informed music to Kalamazoo

T heArts

22 Music 22 Visual Arts 23 Theater

On the Cover: Steve Walsh, executive director of the Vine Neighborhood Association, outside a mural on the VNA's building in the neighborhood's Central Corners. Photo by Brian K. Powers

24 Events of Note 28 Poetry "When they decided to move the town of Kiruna"

by Malin Andersson

www.encorekalamazoo.com | 5

FIRST THINGS ENCORE

First Things Something Musical Red Sea Pedestrians, Corn Fed Girls to perform

The Kalamazoo-born bands The Red

Something Liquid

Events will celebrate craft drinks Fans of craft beverages and craft cocktails will have two opportunities this month to sip and savor.

The Kalamazoo Bourbon Fest, to be held Jan. 31 at the Delta Hotel & Conference Center, 2747 S. 11th St., will feature more than 100 rare and high-end whiskeys and bourbons, classic cocktails and local distilleries as well as food vendors and live music.

There will be two sessions of the festival: from 4–6:30 p.m. and 7–9:30 p.m. Tickets range from $20 for individual entry to $305 for a VIP table. To see what's included at various ticket prices or to purchase tickets, go to kalamazoobourbonfest.com.

Jan. 31 is also the kickoff of Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week, a weeklong series of events celebrating local craft beverage producers and fostering a greater awareness of the local craft beverage industry. Activities throughout the week include opportunities to meet brewers, distillers and winemakers, learn how they develop these products, and sample a few of them.

Craft Beverage Week runs through Feb. 7. For a full schedule of activities during the week, visit kalamazoocraftbeverageweek.com.

Sea Pedestrians and The Corn Fed Girls will join forces for a concert Jan. 17 at Bell's Eccentric Cafe.

The Red Sea Pedestrians, composed of six singer/songwriters and multiinstrumentalists, play a blend of rock, klezmer and American roots music. The Corn Fed Girls, popular at Michigan folk festivals, play original acoustic Americana music.

The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25.11 and available at bellsbeer.com or at the Bell's General Store.

Something Aquatic

Boat show to fill Expo Center All things lake life will be spotlighted at the Kalamazoo Boat

Show Jan. 9–11 at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center.

Pontoons, power boats and personal watercraft will be the stars of the show, but vendors of other products such as docks and boat lifts will also be on hand.

Show hours are 2–8 p.m. Jan. 9, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Jan. 10 and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Jan. 11. Admission is $10. For more information, visit kalamazooboatshow.com.

Something Creative

Drawing session to feature musicians, dancers The Stryker Theater at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum turns into a living sketchbook Jan. 16 during

"Illustrated Muse(ings)," a drawing session with live musicians and dancers.

Attendees can join artists from Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Center for New Media and from the museum at 1:30 p.m. to sketch the musicians and dancers or to just listen and watch as others create.

The event is free. For more information, visit kalamazoomuseum.org.

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ENCORE FIRST THINGS

Something Educational Gain new skills in the new year

The From birding to sublimation printing to making fire cider, opportunities abound this month to learn a new skill.

Grab your binoculars and learn all about birding at the Beginning Birding Walk offered by the Kalamazoo Audubon Society at 9 a.m.

Jan. 3 at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery, in Mattawan. The walk begins

at the hatchery's second parking lot, 34270 County Road 652. For more information, visit kalamazooaudubon.org.

You can get a jump on spring planting by learning how to start plants indoors using seeds from the Kalamazoo Public Library's Seed Library. Two sessions of Winter Sowing with the Seed Library will be held, one at 6 p.m. Jan. 12 at KPL's Eastwood Branch and the other at 6 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Central Library. Registration at kpl.gov is required.

If you have a favorite photo you want to preserve for display, you can sign up for a workshop titled Sublimate Photographic Prints, set for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Portage District Library. Participants will use a sublimation printer to transfer a photo onto an aluminum plate, via heat and pressure. Registration at portagelibrary.info is required, and a high-resolution digital photo will have to be submitted in advance.

The Richland Community Library is offering a four-part educational series dedicated to learning something new. The sessions, titled You’re Never Too Old, will be held at 11 a.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of January and February. The Jan. 8 session is called To Start a Side Hustle, and the Jan. 22 session is titled To Manage Your Stress. For more information, visit richlandlibrary.org.

Finally, a Fire Cider Class on Jan. 24 at the Kalamazoo Nature Center will teach you to brew this traditional herbal medicine made with apple cider vinegar. The class begins at 10 a.m. To register or for more information, visit naturecenter.org.

www.encorekalamazoo.com | 7

FIVE FAVES ENCORE

Five Faves

Local events not to miss in 2026

BY DISCOVER KALAMAZOO STAFF

There is never a dull moment in the greater Kalamazoo

area, with thousands of events planned each year, from festivals to sporting events to arts and cultural activities.

In fact, there isn't a month when there isn't something unique, fun or interesting happening here. And with all these events in our own backyard, we suggest making a New Year's resolution to partake in as many as possible this year. To give you a head start on choosing what to do and when, we've highlighted five 2026 events we find particularly exciting.

Gilmore International Piano Festival April 30–May 10 If any event has put Kalamazoo on the map, it is the Irving S. Gilmore International Piano Festival. It features the world's finest international classical and jazz pianists. It's been an every-other-year happening since its inception in 1989, but 2026 marks its first year as an annual festival. This year's lineup does not disappoint. With 75 events over 11 days in venues across Southwest Michigan, it will include world premieres of commissioned works, performances by Gilmore Artists Kirill Gerstein and Alexandre Kantorow and jazz artists Joshua Bell and Sullivan Fortner. Add in artists' collaborations, film screenings and theatre and it's a one-of-a-kind festival in a one-of-a-kind place.

For details on the 2026 festival, go to www.thegilmore.org/concertsevents/2026-festival.

Oberon Day March 23 When Larry Bell first brewed Solsun (the original name

of Oberon) in 1992, he didn't know he was creating what would become an annual harbinger of summer and a popular, must-attend Kalamazoo cultural event. Oberon, a citrusy, refreshing American wheat ale, is available for only six months of the year (except in Florida and Arizona, where Oberon lovers can get it all year). The first tapping of the newest batch of Oberon at Bell's Eccentric Cafe is a celebrated occasion — a party with local food, live music, and games as well as special Oberon variants, including Mango Habanero, Cherry and Citrus. You must be 21 or older to attend, and admission is free.

To get the details on this year's celebration, visit bellsbeer.com.

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JumpstART Weekend June 5–7 You know the summer season has officially started when this weekend rolls around. This jam-packed three-day celebration in downtown Kalamazoo marks the official start of summer events in the area and includes two art fairs, live outdoor concerts, a parade and the annual Kalamazoo Pride festival. Best yet, it all happens within a five-block radius from the Kalamazoo Mall. It begins on Friday, June 5, with the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Fair in Bronson Park and Art on the Mall on the Kalamazoo Mall. The next day offers a full slate of activities, with the second day of the art fairs as well as Kalamazoo's silliest parade, the DoDah Parade, which winds through downtown beginning at 11 a.m. Over at Arcadia Creek Festival Place, the two-day Pride festival also begins on June 6. The weekend wraps up on June 7 with the first performance of the Summertime Live outdoor concert series in Bronson Park.

You can get the schedules and other information for all these activities at discoverkalamazoo.com.

Kalamazoo Caribbean Festival June 26 & 27 Get ready to enjoy island vibes, bold beats and delicious eats at the Kalamazoo Caribbean Fest at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place. This annual festival celebrates the culture of the Caribbean, including its musical rhythms of reggae, Afrobeat, reggaetón, soca, calypso, and dancehall. It's an event sure to get you saying, "Yah, mon."

USTA Boys' 18 & 16 National Championships July 31–Aug. 9 The single most important event of the tennis season for nearly 500 outstanding junior players occurs in Kalamazoo each summer. Expect 10 days of intense and inspired tennis and the chance to glimpse a potential future Wimbledon champion or two. Not only do the winners in singles and doubles competitions get the cherished title of United States National Champion, but the 18's champions receive automatic bids into the main draw of the U.S. Open tennis tournament.

For the 2026 general tournament schedule or to buy tickets, visit ustaboys.com.

About the Author Through their work, the Discover Kalamazoo staff inspires visitors and residents to discover Kalamazoo. Discover Kalamazoo is the official destination marketing organization for Kalamazoo County, attracting meetings, events and conferences to the area to create positive economic impact throughout the community.

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ENTERPRISE ENCORE

A Glowing Venture

New venue offers music, community and potential

BY KATIE HOUSTON

There really is a glow to the place when you approach Glow Hall's

back door at dusk. The concert-goers' entrance to the venue welcomes visitors with muted lighting, well-loved furnishings and a comfortable, casual vibe.

All that is intentional, says founder Christopher Keener, who launched his venture in April 2025 and began hosting performances in July. The space, at the north end of the Kalamazoo Mall, has hosted

10 | ENCORE JANUARY 2026

a healthy schedule of concerts and events — nearly 30 live shows, an estimated 75 bands and 200+ musicians — during what Keener calls the venue’s “proof of concept” phase.

“We’ve spent this year trying out a lot of things I want to do to make it a community gathering place too,” says Keener, 43, a longtime musician, producer and educator who teaches music at Kazoo School, noting that he plans to create a School of Sound and Vision, a music

Courtesy

ENCORE ENTERPRISE

At left: Glow Hall founder Christopher Keener, far right, with Maya Lannen, center, and Juan Gaviria, who volunteer at the venue. Above: A panoramic view of the performance venue.

production school, photography darkroom and video and multimedia studio.

Glow Hall is located at 246 N. Burdick, former home to Whole Art Theatre and Final Gravity Brewing. The space's deep, 19th-century footprint features the original stamped tin ceiling and a stage backing onto the north end of the Kalamazoo Mall at Eleanor Street.

“Our basement is as big as the first floor and has possibilities for a photography or video studio, a film screening room, classrooms. I’d love to find folks who’d be interested in new ventures,” Keener says.

Beyond live music shows, Glow Hall has presented film screenings, dance and DJ nights, and music production workshops. Keener’s booking philosophy includes supporting local musicians by pairing them with nationally touring artists or spotlighting them on their own. Past local performers include Dead People Park, Celeste Allison, Shai Li, Hopie Jo, Prismer and Tambourina. He also rents the space for photo and video shoots, private film screenings and birthday/dance parties.

“We’ve hosted special outdoor events, including the Sundays in September outdoor sets, the North Mall Block Party, Artist Spotlight nights and several community gatherings,” he says, the latter including Sing, Sing and Gather evenings and Saturday morning family singalongs.

“We are trying to see what works and what doesn't and letting it become what it needs to be rather than forcing it to be something,” he says.

A little bit of kismet Keener notes that he has been buoyed by good luck in bringing his dream to fruition. “I wish there was a less cheesy word than kismet, but a lot of good things happened in a row to get us this far,” he says. Those good things, he says, include the support of friends and volunteers, including musician Juan Gaviria, who has been helping out since the beginning.

“Kalamazoo needs a venue like this for local musicians and touring bands who are between a house show and a place like Bell’s or Shakespeare’s,” says Gaviria, who will emcee new open-mic nights at Glow Hall during the Art Hops on Jan. 9 and Feb. 6.

Local writer Maya Lannen has also worked pro bono, doing marketing and event support for nearly every show.

“Kalamazoo has an amazing music scene,” says Lannen. “And we’re a great next step for local bands who usually play house shows and want to try out a bigger, more traditional space — and also an opportunity for local musicians to share bills with touring musicians.

“Everyone I talk to says they love the space. I think it's small enough that people feel at home, but also big enough that anyone can walk in and join our crowd. Lots of the musicians who've played here have become good friends, and we're always grateful to have them stop by to support other shows or come back to perform again.”

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away. “There was a guy here last night who lives in Saint Joseph, who has been a fan since the early days. He’s used to going to Grand Rapids or Lansing to see shows,” says Keener.

As he prepares for 2026 and seeks likeminded collaborators, Keener hopes for more good luck.

“I’ve been part of so many amazing ventures in my life, restaurants and venues, where it’s like lightning in a bottle when it all comes together. You can't recreate that, but they don't come out of nowhere.

There’s creative people who made these origin stories, and it's usually about just recognizing and being ready to catch that lightning.”

For an event calendar for Glow Hall, see @glow__hall on Instagram or email christopher@theglowhall.com.

Courtesy

Courtesy

The “always all ages” space offers concessions but no alcohol, with cover charges from pay-what-you-can up to $20.

But the venue needs to make some money to keep the doors open, admits Keener, who says he poured a modest inheritance into launching Glow Hall. As he books acts for 2026, he is taking a little time to pursue cash flow opportunities such as adding a food truck, finding funding partners and renting the space to others.

“We're doing a huge team’s worth of work with just us, and that’s not sustainable,” Keener says, but he adds that he "doesn’t want to compete with anyone.” Perhaps that's why a hashtag on Glow Hall’s Instagram page reads #badatcapitalism.

Keener says his first goals are to offer regular hours and to build his audience, which is beginning to come from farther

Clockwise from top left: Glow Hall has accommodations for live performances and is available for private rental; members of Albany, New York, band Bruiser & Bicycle play at Glow Hall in December; and the venue's stage.

OPENING FEBRUARY 7 AT THE KIA

VIRTUAL SNEAKERS TO CUTTING-EDGE KICKS KIARTS.ORG/FUTURENOW Hanan & Sons, Detail of celluloid heel embellished with rhinestones, American, 1920s. Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum, Image © 2023 Bata Shoe Museum. Photo: Kailee Mandel, Courtesy American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum. The exhibition is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum, and curated by Elizabeth Semmelhack, Director and Senior Curator of the Bata Shoe Museum.

The presentation at the KIA is made possible by:

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www.encorekalamazoo.com | 13

BY ROBERT M. WEIR

Steve Walsh’s first impression of the Vine neighborhood, in 1993,

was “cool place, a good vibe, and the people are wonderful.”

Today, as executive director of the Vine Neighborhood Association, he speaks with passion about this “great neighborhood” with its diverse population of families and retirees; students, entrepreneurs and professionals; musicians, artists, actors and writers.

The Vine neighborhood is one square mile, running from Oakland Drive on the west to Burdick Street on the east, from Crosstown Parkway and Howard Street on the south almost to West Lovell Street on the north. It has 977 housing units and a population of nearly 5,289 people, giving it one of the city's highest population densities, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Walsh first came to the Vine neighborhood while working as a staff member at Circle Pines, a retreat center near Delton for peace, social justice and environmental activists. He had gone there as a teen camper in the late 1980s and worked as a summer staffer from ages 21 to 30. At the end of each summer, the camp director took exiting staff members to Cosmo's Cucina, at the corner of Vine and Locust streets, for a goodbye dinner.

Enamored with this part of Kalamazoo, Walsh and his wife, Sarah Drumm, moved into a house on Locust Place in 2002. Their children, Luna and Tommy, now students at Michigan State University and Loy Norrix High School, respectively, were born in Kalamazoo.

“I’m a former Montessori teacher,” Walsh says. “Sarah had a teaching degree and a job at South Hill Academy in Battle Creek, so I became a stay-at-home dad. I pushed a stroller all over this neighborhood.”

'Break bread, mend fences'

In 2007, the Vine Neighborhood Association (VNA) board of directors, composed predominantly of property managers who owned rental property in the neighborhood, was looking for a new executive director. A friend suggested that Walsh apply.

“It was the easiest interview I ever had,” he says. “I just spoke from the heart. I said there are great people all over this neighborhood, but the media, campaigning politicians and people who live outside Vine are telling us to be leery of our neighbors. We’ve got to do things that bring people out, things that are free and that people are attracted to.

We’ve got to break bread and mend fences.”

This concept of bringing people together was planted into Walsh when he was growing up in Detroit, where he was born in 1971.

His father, a Vietnam veteran and psychiatric nurse, and his mother, a social worker, were a part of the white flight from the city to the suburbs. They moved from the east side of Detroit to adjacent Grosse Pointe while Walsh was still a boy. “I had a foot in each world, abundance and poverty,” Walsh says, “but I didn’t fit into either.”

Walsh later attended the University of North Dakota, Wayne State University and Michigan State University, where he met Sarah in 1995. He returned to UND to earn a bachelor’s degree in history in

Vine Neighborhood Association Executive Director Steve Walsh on Axtell Street with its backdrop of older homes with front porches that are typical of the neighborhood's residences.

14 | ENCORE JANUARY 2026

Vitalizing the Vine Inclusion, entrepreneurship at heart of neighborhood's development strategy

www.encorekalamazoo.com | 15

Vine Neighborhood by the Numbers Population: 5,289 Housing: • 977 units, 54.8% single family homes • 872 total households, 47.1 % of which are family households • 49.1% are owner occupied, 51% renter occupied • Median construction year is 1949, with 39.9% of homes built before the 1940s • Median Household income: $52,327 (2023) Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census Counts; U.S. Census Bureau: the 2019–2023 American Community Survey (ACS); Esri Business Analyst (2017 and 2022).

VNA Building Tenants: Nonprofit agencies: • The Arc Community Advocates • HOPE Through Navigation • Justice Against Bullying at School (JABS) • Michigan Autism Society • Teaching Assistant Union / Professional Instructors Organization Commercial enterprises: • Bagel Beanery • Chang & Deka Accounting Services • Print 2 Prosper • Read and Write Kalamazoo (RAWK) • Rob’s Barbershop • Satellite Records • SWAY Salon • The Central Corners • Bent9 • Bicentennial Bookstore • Puff N Stuff • South Westnedge Market • Ye Ole Central Laundry • Crow’s Nest / Fourth Coast • Martini’s

2000. Amid his collegiate career, he traveled to France and the British Isles, journeyed by train across Canada, and hitchhiked south along the West Coast into Mexico and Central America.

As he encountered people of various cultures and ethnicities, he recalled scenes of his upbringing: the “striking difference” between the prosperity on the Grosse Pointe side of the police-patrolled border streets and the boarded-up buildings on the Detroit side. He questioned what could have been done differently to fight racism and prevent white flight. "How could we have welcomed more people into the fold? How could we have bonded together?” he wondered.

As a leader in the Vine community, Walsh still asks those questions, but now he can apply answers. “The Vine neighborhood and eastside Detroit are similar in population density," he says. "The residents lean on each other for security and stability. They can walk their kids to school and walk to libraries and restaurants. We have folks who

This page, from top: An undated photo of The Vine neighborhood's Central Corners business corridor running south on Westnedge Avenue; the James Clapham House at 628 S. Rose St. is one of two octagon houses in the neighborhood. Opposite page: The Central Corners today houses a mix of retail, dining and nonprofit organizations.

are really struggling financially, and we have fashionistas who strut around like peacocks.”

An early suburb

Originally farmland, the Vine neighborhood was part of Kalamazoo’s initial expansion southward. The earliest houses were built in the 1840s, and the neighborhood boasts a wide range of architectural styles, including Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Craftsman and Mid-Century Modern. Among its key buildings are the State Theatre, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Chenery Auditorium (originally Kalamazoo Central High School), and two octagon houses: the Allen Potter Residence, at 925 S. Westnedge Ave., built in 1855, and the James Clapham House, at 628 S. Rose St., built in 1856.

With its proximity to Western Michigan University’s East Campus, the Vine's northwest quadrant is populated primarily by college students who live in rental housing.

This student population, Walsh says, gives that part of the neighborhood "a lot of energy, a lot of verve." The neighborhood's northeast quadrant is contiguous to Kalamazoo’s Central Business District and is popular with residents who want the convenience of being able to walk downtown.

Families of various ages live throughout the neighborhood, which is dotted by several parks, stores, restaurants and professional offices, many of which are in large, historic buildings that once were single-family homes.

The southwest corner of South Westnedge Avenue and Vine Street, traditionally known as The Central Corners, is home to the Vine Neighborhood Association's offices, which are located in a building that was previously the site of a pharmacy, a theatrical makeup store, and an office supply store. Today, in addition to housing the VNA offices, the building contains various public-service agencies and an eclectic assortment of entrepreneurial businesses.

The VNA hosts neighborhood Art Hops for amateur artists in its People’s Gallery, block parties with food trucks, Earth Day events that include outdoor cleanups, and a party with resident musicians in Westnedge Park.

Read and Write Kalamazoo (RAWK), one of the resident agencies in the VNA building, celebrates an annual summer event called Rawk the Block, and the VNA has held its annual meetings in Chenery Auditorium and O’Duffy’s Pub.

Developing partners

Neighborhood economic development is a key VNA function, says Walsh. “We’re here to cultivate and strengthen a sense of community and an improved quality of life for the residents of Vine.”

He says that this “deliberately ambiguous” mission statement “gives us a big platform to reach out and work with people in the community who are really fantastic partners.”

Walsh’s drive for inclusivity — and that of his only assistant, property manager Jenn Nap — are a major element of the Vine scene. A mural painted on an exterior brick wall of the VNA's building colorfully states, "Black Lives Matter." Inside, 94 life-size portraits painted

by local artist, writer and activist Maya James of people from around the country who have been killed by police officers are on display.

Posters in the front window remind visitors they are standing on Ojibwe, Odawa and Bedewadmi (Potawatomi) land. A sign inside the office welcomes all people, regardless of race, religion, country of origin, sexual orientation or gender.

This inclusivity is echoed in Walsh’s approach to economic development.

The public agencies housed in the VNA building serve youth, educators and people with medical or substance abuse issues.

The entrepreneurial businesses include a bagel shop, record store, barbershop, salon and silkscreen apparel shop. Nearby establishments include restaurants, a market, a laundromat and a yoga studio.

“If we see a business we think would be good for the neighborhood, I go and talk to the owner and see if they will move here,” Walsh says. One example is Satellite Records, which moved from West Main Street to the VNA building in 2014.

“Our neighborhood association wanted a record store, so I went out and met with

www.encorekalamazoo.com | 17

owner and founder John McIntyre, and now we’ve got one,” says Walsh.

Walsh calls the Central Corners a highly visible commercial corridor. “Thousands of people stop at the traffic light at Westnedge and Vine every day. Some of them might say, ‘Hey, there’s a record store; let’s pull over.’ Then they see there’s a bagel place, and they go there. Satellite Records gets walk-in business from people who go to Martini’s.

And Martini’s gets business from people who go to performances or graduations at Chenery.”

The VNA is one of only three neighborhood associations in Kalamazoo to own property that generates income, according to Walsh.

The others are the Northside Association for Community Development and the Eastside Neighborhood Association. But neither Walsh nor the VNA are in real estate to make a quick buck.

“My goal is all long-term. It’s all the long game,” Walsh says, explaining that is why rental space in the VNA building costs significantly less than that in other area business districts.

“We’re not hung up on the cost per square foot," he says. "We provide the environment and the atmosphere for the entrepreneur to be successful. Our goal is to always keep things local and promote what we have and

be in harmony with our neighbors' hopes and desires.”

Resident-driven change

But there was a time when the neighborhood wasn’t so hopeful or desirable.

The VNA was organized in 1982 by neighborhood residents concerned about how the neighborhood was changing.

“I’ve seen pictures of people marching in Westnedge Park with signs that read, ‘No More Crack Houses.’ There are more than 25 short dead-end roads, alleys and courtyards that provide a lot of hiding places for nefarious activities,” says Walsh.

Those early volunteers formed a Neighborhood Watch group, now called Community Care. Aided by police officers of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, the VNA in its first 20 years successfully reduced crime. “When Sarah and I moved in, people looked out for each other. It was — and still is — very much a front-porch community,” Walsh says.

“My attitude, as executive director, was to just blow the doors of our VNA office open so folks could come in and feel like they were being heard. If they said, ‘Hey, we really need this,’ then we went to bat for them.”

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conditioning installer, and Emily Greenman Wright, to provide support to homeowners in maintaining their homes, is an example of this support.

“They dovetailed their skill and passion and began to winterize people’s houses," Walsh says. "Residents’ heating bills went down, and their kids were in a safer environment.

We were their first fiduciary agent.”

Another example is the Davis Street Skate Park. When the Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation Department was going to revamp the park, the staff asked the VNA what neighborhood residents would want.

The VNA assembled a diverse array of skateboarders: young, old, male, female, Black, white. “For many of them, advocating their opinions was an opportunity to showcase a different side of themselves," Walsh says. "They made a really great skate park that people absolutely love. And the skaters police it themselves.”

Under Walsh’s tenure, the presence of public safety officers in the Vine neighborhood evolved to a symbiotic state with the VNA, primarily in regard to house parties in the student area. “Music and art Top: Residents' input resulted in the creation of the Davis Street Skate Park in the neighborhood. Bottom: The VNA hosts a number of events for residents such as this one titled "A Recipe for Abundance" that was held in September.

are a huge part of what we do here,” says Walsh. “But 20 years ago, there was no plan for house parties to be neighborhood events. They were just somebody’s party on any given night, with loud live music. People would pass a hat to pay the band.”

As the new VNA executive director in 2007, Walsh talked to party hosts. “I said to them, ‘What you’re doing is really cool. What if we did it in the Vine parking lot (immediately west of the VNA building)? More people could come. The musicians could play in a different environment.’ Once we started to have that conversation, things changed. We still have house shows, and, yeah, sometimes the music is loud, but then, usually by 10 o’clock, it’s over.

“The leaders of the house shows told us they wanted to police their own scene. I told them, ‘OK, but if it gets too hairy, come and talk to me and I’ll talk to Public Safety,'" Walsh recalls. “The other side of the coin is that I tell Public Safety, ‘If you have an issue with a house show, please come talk to me.

The host isn’t going to open the door when you guys show up.’

"And Public Safety does that. If they get a complaint, they call me, and I go and talk to the host. I say, ‘Hey, the neighbors are a little upset and I heard from Public Safety, so we’ve got to dial it down.’ I’ve never had

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anyone tell me to go kick rocks. They’ve mostly been polite and said, ‘Thank you.’”

Walsh takes issue with people who call the part of the neighborhood where house parties happen "a student ghetto." “For some who used to live here, that might be a term of endearment, but I believe it’s an incorrect term. There are people who’ve worked really hard to make this a nice neighborhood. When someone who lives in a different part of Kalamazoo or Portage or a nearby township refers to the Vine area as a ghetto, I say to them, ‘I presume you wouldn’t want me calling your neighborhood a ghetto.’”

When asked if the Vine neighborhood is or could be a model for other city neighborhoods, Walsh turns the question into an opportunity to compliment other neighborhood association directors who took him “under their wings.”

“All the other neighborhoods are great because of where they are. They all have something I wish I could move over here. If we were a model, it would be only because when I came on the scene, I did things that

20 | ENCORE JANUARY 2026

were different, but that was because the others had been up and running for years.”

Walsh says the VNA and the people who live in the Vine neighborhood aren’t doing anything so hyperlocal that it couldn’t be replicated and tweaked to accommodate other neighborhoods' residents.

Looking forward

Today, the neighborhood's biggest challenge is the declining availability of affordable housing, says Walsh. He and Sarah bought their house from a friend in 2002 for $60,000. Today, he says, houses that traditionally sold for $80,000 to $90,000 are selling for more than $100,000. According to Jaqua Realtors' Market Report, as of Nov. 30 the average sales price for a home in the Vine neighborhood was $130,745.

“The untethered hand of the free market isn’t going to be kind to Vine,” says Walsh.

“The cost has skyrocketed as property managers divest and sell to people who want to live in Vine and are willing to pay top dollar. This is pricing out our blue-collar backbone.”

Predicting the future is hard, especially in regard to what Walsh identifies as “a lot of anxiety and general uneasiness over systemic prejudices and governmental cutbacks for people-oriented social services.”

“What does discrimination mean in a neighborhood where residents fly Pride flags, that has openly transgender people, where people hang protest banners on their front porches?" he asks. "How do we make sure people in our neighborhood are feeling safe?

These are ongoing conversations here.”

Regardless of the influences within and from beyond the Vine neighborhood, Walsh is guided by his enthusiasm and his ingrained moral compass. “This job checks a lot of boxes for me," he says. "I love working with people who are passionate. I try to connect them to the resources they need. Then I just get the hell out of their way and give them an opportunity to shine. If what’s happening is cooking, we all benefit from it.”

This story is part of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative’s coverage of equitable community development. The SWMJC is a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism. To learn more, visit swmichjournalism.com.

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TheArts

• Ragtime • Sounds of the Middle East

WMU School of Music Concerts Throughout the month Various venues

Jan. 14 & Jan. 29 Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Ari Cohen Mann

The Western Michigan University School of Music begins a new semester with several performances. Unless otherwise noted, the performances will be in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

• Ari Cohen Mann, oboist, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14, $18, seniors $14, faculty/staff/students $6.

• Mass Horn Choir, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18, free.

• Concerto Competition Finals, 1 p.m. Jan. 25, free.

For more information, visit wmich.edu/music/events

Community Cabaret

Jan. 22 Kalamazoo Choral Arts Live musicians will accompany choir members to perform music in a range of genres from Motown to Mozart, rap to mariachi, and James Taylor to James Brown.

Show time is 7 p.m. at Bell’s Brewery, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave. Tickets are $10 and available online at kalamazoochoralarts.org or at the door.

The KSO's Artists in Residence, an 8-member subgroup of the larger symphony, will perform two shows this month.

The first, Ragtime, will celebrate the music of Scott Joplin at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe. Tickets are $30.

On Jan. 29, the group will join the Bayati Ensemble, a local quintet that plays Middle Eastern music to perform Sounds of the Middle East at 7 p.m. in Dalton Theatre in the Light Fine Arts Building at Kalamazoo College. Tickets are $5–$25.

To purchase tickets or for more information, visit kalamazoosymphony.com.

The Odyssey

Jan. 15 Relic Early Music Ensemble The chamber orchestra ensemble will take audiences on Odysseus’s dangerous trek through works by Handel, Monteverdi, Rameau and others.

The show will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Tickets are $25–$30 and free for students and children and can be purchased online at relicensemble.org/events.

New Exhibitions

Opening Jan. 20 Richmond Center for Visual Arts Two exhibitions of works by students of WMU's Frostic School of Art and one by printmaker Sarah Smelser will open this month and run until Feb. 14.

The Albertine Monroe-Brown Gallery will host two student exhibitions: Home, a multimedia exhibition featuring works by students from a variety of perspectives that explore the concept of "home," and the 1st Annual BFA Exhibition, highlighting works created by graduating seniors.

The Netzorg-Kerr Gallery will display Escape Artist, created by printmaker Sarah Smelser and inspired by the artist's physical and psychic journeys.

Gallery hours are noon–6 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday. For more information, visit wmich.edu/art.

22 | ENCORE JANUARY 2026

MUSIC

VISUAL ARTS Continuing Exhibitions Kalamazoo Institute of Arts: • Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper, through Jan. 11.

• Kirk Newman Art School Faculty Review, through Jan. 25.

• Taekyeom Lee: Designed, Printed & Fired, through March 8.

Kalamazoo Book Arts Center:

L ynn Sures: Glancing at the Unseen through Jan. 14.

THEATER Primary Trust

The Cherry Orchard

Jan. 22–Feb. 1 Farmers Alley Theatre

Jan. 16–25 Kalamazoo Civic Theatre In this modern-day translation of Anton Chekhov's play, a family must sell their beloved cherry orchard to pay their debts.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16, 17, 23 and 24, and 2 p.m. Jan. 18 and 25 in the Civic's Carver Studio, 419 S. Park St. Tickets are $17–$32 and available for purchase by calling 343-1313 or visiting kazoocivic.com.

The Coast Starlight Jan. 30–Feb. 15 WMU Theatre

Finding connection with one another is at the heart of this production to be staged in Western Michigan University's York Theatre. Fellow passengers on a long-distance train ride from Los Angeles to Seattle help a young man with a terrible secret in this play by Keith Bunin.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30–Feb. 1, Feb. 6–7 and 12–14 and 2 p.m. Feb. 8 and 15. Tickets are $7–$24 and available by calling 387-6222 or visiting wmich.edu/theatre.

Chicago actor DeVaughn Asante Loman has the lead role in this Pulitzer Prize-winning play about new beginnings. Loman will play Kenneth, a 38-year-old bookstore worker, who is faced with change when his employer closes the store.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22, 23, 29, and 30, and 2 p.m. Jan. 24, 25, 31 and Feb. 1. Tickets are $22–$52 and available for purchase online at farmersalleytheatre.com.

Eleanor of Aquitaine Jan. 10 All Ears Theatre

TheArts is published in partnership and funding provided by

Local playwright Michael Fountain's audio drama, Eleanor of Aquitaine: The Lioness in Spring, Summer and Fall about the medieval queen, will be performed at 6 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition, 315 W. Michigan Ave. The production is free. For more information, visit allearstheatre.org.

www.encorekalamazoo.com | 23

EVENTS ENCORE Orchestra, Chamber, Jazz, Vocal & More Ari Cohen Mann — Oboist: master class, 5 p.m. Jan. 14; recital, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14; Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/events.

PERFORMING ARTS THEATER Plays

The Cherry Orchard — A family must sell their estate to pay their debts, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16–25, Carver Studio, 419 S. Park St., 343-1313, kazoocivic.com.

Primary Trust — A 38-year-old adapts when his employer closes, Jan. 22–Feb. 1, Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley, 343-2727, farmersalleytheatre.com.

The Coast Starlight — Train passengers help a young man with a secret, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30–Feb. 14, York Theatre, WMU, 387–6222, wmich.edu/theatre.

Musicals

Chicago The Musical — Two murderesses compete for headlines, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20–21, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.

Expanding the Senses of Design: Using Tactility and 3D Printing — Presentation Ragtime — Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra by artist Taekyeom Lee, 6 p.m. Jan. 22; hybrid musicians perform the music of Scott Joplin, event, registration encouraged.

7 p.m. Jan. 14, Bell’s Eccentric Cafe, 382-2332, kalamazoosymphony.org.

Italian Studies — Potter Margaret Bohls Mass Horn Choir — 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18, Dalton discusses her work, 6 p.m. Jan. 29; hybrid Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/events. event, registration encouraged.

Community Cabaret — Kalamazoo Choral Arts performs selections from Motown to Mozart, 7 p.m. Jan. 22, Bell’s Brewery, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 382-2332, kalamazoochoralarts.org.

Crescendo Academy of Music Student Recital — 2 p.m. Jan. 24, First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan Ave., 345-6664, crescendoacademy.com.

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — Exhibition honoring his life & legacy, Jan. 5–30, Portage City Hall Atrium, 7900 S. Westnedge Ave., portagemi.gov/calendar.

Exhibitions

Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Concerts — May Erlewine, Jan. 8; The Red Sea Pedestrians w/The Corn Fed Girls, Jan. 17; Bad Bad Hats w/Smut, Jan. 24; Neighbor w/Act Casual, Jan. 29; Emo Night Live w/All American Throwbacks; Jan. 30, all shows at 8 p.m. 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 382-2332, bellsbeer.com.

Live Music at Zero – Live music, 6–9 p.m. Wednesdays & Fridays, Zero: NonAlcoholic Bar, 202 S. Kalamazoo Mall, welcometozero.com.

The Pensioners – Free concert, 2 p.m. Jan. 11, Parchment Community Library, 401 S. Riverview Drive, parchmentlibrary.org.

Revisiting Creedence — The music of Creedence Clearwater Revival, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.

24 | ENCORE JANUARY 2026

BFA Exhibition — Works by graduating seniors, Jan. 20–Feb. 14, Albertine MonroeBrown Gallery.

Sounds of the Middle East — The KSO & Bayati Ensemble perform, 7 p.m. Jan. 29, Dalton Theatre, Kalamazoo College, kalamazoosymphony.com.

Eleanor of Aquitaine: The Lioness in Spring, Summer and Fall — All-audio theater production, 6 p.m. Jan. 10, Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition, 315 W. Michigan, allearstheatre.org.

Bands & Solo Artists

Home — Frostic School of Art student exhibition, Jan. 20–Feb. 14, Albertine MonroeBrown Gallery.

Escape Artist — Works by printmaker Sarah Smelser, Jan. 20–Feb. 14, Netzorg-Kerr Gallery.

VISUAL ARTS

MUSIC

Richmond Center for Visual Arts Western Michigan University, 387-2436, wmich.edu/art

Concerto Competition Finals — 1 p.m. Jan. 25, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/ music/events.

Other

Blue Man Group — Performance artists, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28 & 29, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.

Book Discussion — Fredrik Backman’s My Friends, 2 p.m. Jan. 21, registration encouraged.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts 314 S. Park St., 349-7775, kiarts.org

Other Venues

Lynn Sures: Glancing at the Unseen — Mixed-media works, through Jan. 14, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Suite 103A, kalbookarts.org.

Washi Transformed: New Expressions LIBRARY & LITERARY EVENTS in Japanese Paper — Works by 9 Japanese Comstock Township Library 6130 King Highway, 345-0136, artists, through Jan. 11.

Kirk Newman Art School Faculty Review comstocklibrary.org — Showcasing 50 Southwest Michigan artists, through Jan. 25.

CTL Writers — Group writing discussion, 10 a.m. Jan. 9, 23 & 30.

Taekyeom Lee: Designed, Printed & Pride Book Club — Discuss All Out: The Fired — 3D printing with traditional ceramic No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens making, through March 8. throughout the Ages, 6 p.m. Jan. 14, hybrid event; registration required.

Events Art Bridges Access for All — Free admission on Thursdays, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Journaling Club — For adults & teens, 11 a.m.

Jan. 15; registration required.

Gallery Gathering — Works from Taekyeom Lee: Designed, Printed & Fired, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 8; registration encouraged.

Adulting 101: Job Hunting Basics — For young adults or those wanting a refresher, 6 p.m. Jan. 26; registration required.

ARTbreak — Exploring the KNAS Faculty Review, Jan. 14; Typography & the Art of Communication, Jan. 28; both sessions at noon; registration encouraged.

Library Shelfie Day — Celebration of books & libraries, Jan. 28.

Kalamazoo Public Library 553-7800, kpl.gov

Frosty Fun Family Night — Winter-themed activities & tour, 6 p.m. Jan. 15.

Critchlow Alligator Encounters — Animals from the Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary, Jan. 3; 10:30 a.m., Eastwood Branch, 1112 Gayle Ave.; 1–2 p.m., Oshtemo Branch, 7265 W. Main St.; registration required for Oshtemo.

ENCORE EVENTS KPL Tech Mondays — Help with computerrelated issues, 3–5:30 p.m. Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26, Alma Powell Branch, 308 W. North St.

Reading Race — Discuss Cebo Campbell's Sky Full of Elephants, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 13, Oshtemo Branch.

Parchment Community Library 401 S. Riverview Drive, 343-7747, parchmentlibrary.org

Kalamazoo Writers — Gathering for literary writers, 4 p.m. Jan. 6, Central Library.

Hygge Hangout — Activities to create coziness, contentment & well-being, 10 a.m.

Jan. 14, Central Library.

Great Michigan Read Launch Party – Curtis Chin’s Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, 4–6 p.m. Jan. 5.

Classics Revisited — Discuss Franz Kafka’s The Trial, 2:30 p.m. Jan. 15, Central Library.

Parchment Book Group – Discuss Janet Charles’ Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade, 6 p.m.

Jan. 12.

No Shelf Control: A Graphic Novel Book Club — Discuss Craig Thompson’s Blankets, 6 p.m. Jan. 6, Boardroom, Central Library.

Professional Head Shot Session — Participants receive an edited photo, 4–6 p.m.

Jan. 7, Central Library; registration required.

Building Character for Dungeons & Dragons — Learn to create characters, 6 p.m.

Jan. 21, Central Library.

Euchre, Anyone? — For all skill levels, 5 p.m.

Jan. 8, Eastwood Branch.

Senior Citizen Breakfast — Breakfast & conversation, 10:30–noon Jan. 23, Eastwood Branch.

Yoga with Joy — Stretches for all ages, mats provided, 11 a.m. Jan. 9 & 23, Northside Association for Community Development, 612 N. Park St. Breathwork with Apral — Deep breathing exercises, 10:30 a.m. Jan. 10, Eastwood Branch.

Friends of KPL's Bag of Books Sale – Fill a bag with used books, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Jan. 24, Central Library, kpl.gov/category/ friends-of-kpl.

Mystery Book Club — Discuss Jean-Luc Bannalec’s Death in Brittany, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 20.

Great Michigan Read Craft Night – Create art inspired by Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, 6–7:30 p.m. Jan. 26.

Board Game Blast — Play board games 10 a.m.–noon Jan. 30.

Yoga with Apral — 5:30 p.m. Jan. 26, Eastwood Branch.

Portage District Library 300 Library Lane, 329-4544, portagelibrary.info

International Coffee Tasting — Discussion & samples of coffee, 11 a.m. Jan. 10, Central Library; registration required.

Foster Care Q & A — Recruiting, training & supporting foster/adoptive families, 6 p.m.

Jan. 27, Oshtemo Branch.

The Pirate Cutlass — Historian discusses the use of the pirate cutlass, 6 p.m. Jan. 6; registration required.

Music & Memories — Music to engage older adults & those with memory loss, 11 a.m. Jan. 12, Oshtemo Branch.

Dungeons & Dragons Game Night — Beginner to experienced levels, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 29, Central Library; registration required.

Nutrition 101: Eating the Healthy Way — 4-week health series led by a dietitian, 1:30 p.m. Jan. 7; registration required.

Winter Sowing with the Seed Library — Starting plants inside, 6 p.m. Jan. 12, Eastwood Branch; 6 p.m. Jan. 28, Central Library; registration required.

Sound Immersion for Beginners — Learn to welcome rest, 10 a.m. Jan. 31, Oshtemo Branch; registration required.

International Mystery Book Discussion — Discuss Sujata Massey’s The Widows of Malabar Hill, 7 p.m. Jan. 8.

Get Ready for Tax Season — The documents & information to gather, Jan. 31; 10:30 a.m., Northside Association for Community Development, 612 N. Park St.; 1:30 p.m., Central Library.

Documentary and Donuts — Viewing of Subject, 10 a.m. Jan. 9.

Page Turners Book Club — Discuss Leif Enger’s I Cheerfully Refuse, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 12, Oshtemo Branch.

Sublimate Photographic Prints — Print on aluminum using a sublimation printer, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 14; registration required.

Join us for Creative Café, our weekly radio segment and podcast where local creators, performers and Arts Council members drop in to share the moments, muses, and ideas shaping their work. Plus we’ll spotlight upcoming events that are lighting up Southwest Michigan’s arts scene. Grab your favorite mug and settle in!

Where Art Speaks KalamazooArts.org www.encorekalamazoo.com | 25

EVENTS ENCORE Muffins & the Market — Recent stock market trends, 9 a.m. Jan. 15.

RCL Book Club — Discuss Kelly Mustian’s The River Knows Your Name, 6 p.m. Jan. 15.

& indoor activities, 5–9 p.m. on select dates, through Jan. 4.

Yoga with Apral — An hour of movement, 4 p.m. Jan. 15 & 29; registration required.

Romance Book Club — Discuss Kimberly Lemming’s I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com, 6–8 p.m. Jan. 28, Ned’s on Gull Lake, 15450 M-43, Hickory Corners; registration required.

Cars, Capes & Crowns — Character performances, dinner & meet-andgreet, 12:30–2 p.m. & 4:30–6 p.m. Jan. 4; tickets online.

Tai Chi & Meditation — The practice & benefits of, 4 p.m. Jan 16; registration required.

Kalamazoo Macintosh Users Group — Help with Mac computers, programs & accessories, 9 a.m. Jan. 17.

Kalamazoo Valley Genealogical Society — Monthly meeting, 7 p.m. Jan. 19.

Plots & Pages: A Local Writers Group — Discuss the craft of writing, 6–8 p.m. Jan. 20.

Light Lunch & Literature — Discuss Denis Johnson’s Train Dreams, noon Jan. 26; registration required.

Richland Community Library 8951 Park St., 629-9085, richlandlibrary.org Bridge Club — Noon Tuesdays.

Jackbox Game Night — Game using smart phones, for ages 16+, 6 p.m. Jan. 6 & 20.

Adult Dungeons & Dragons Bravo Team — New crusade each month, 5–8 p.m. Jan. 7 & 3–6 p.m. Jan. 14; registration required.

Van Buren District Library – Antwerp Sunshine Branch 24283 Front St., Mattawan, 668-2534, vbdl.org On a Lighter Note — Book club for adults, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 13.

Adult Book Club — 5:30 p.m. Jan. 21.

Read It & Reel — 5:45 p.m. Jan. 26.

Vicksburg District Library 215 S. Michigan Ave., 649-1648, vicksburglibrary.org Bridge Club — 9:30 a.m.–noon Tuesdays.

Book Club for Adults — Selection at circulation desk, 9:30 a.m. Jan. 8.

Writer’s Motivational Group — Set goals & report progress, 4 p.m. Jan. 8.

Kalamazoo Valley Museum 230 N. Rose St., 373-7990, kalamazoomuseum.org

Dancing with Life: Mexican Masks — Historic & contemporary masks, through Jan. 4.

Am I an American or Am I Not? — Exploring unfair treatment in the U.S., through Jan. 4.

Black Cowboys: An American Story — Traveling exhibition exploring the lives and work of the Black men, women and children who labored on ranches and in cattle drives, Jan. 24–July 26.

Shape Shifting: The Guitar as Modern Artifact — 40 instruments that embody the art of the guitar, Jan 24–April 26.

NATURE

Scrabble Club for Adults — All skill levels welcome, 1 p.m. Jan. 13.

Kalamazoo Nature Center 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., 381-1574, naturecenter.org

You’re Never Too Old — Educational series: To Start a Side Hustle, Jan. 8; To Manage Your Stress, Jan. 22, both sessions 11 a.m.

Cookie Swap — Pick 2 dozen cookies to take home, 6 p.m. Jan. 22.

Birds & Coffee — Guided walk, hot beverages & informational displays, 10 a.m. Jan. 3.

Art Journaling — Bring materials to create using prompts: New Year/Travel/Animals, Jan. 10; Things/Black & White/Favorite Quotes, Jan. 24; both sessions 11 a.m.

MUSEUMS Gilmore Car Museum 6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners, 671-5089, gilmorecarmuseum.org

Getting Glacial — Guided hike with discussion on how glacial forces shaped our area, 2 p.m. Jan. 3.

Cookbook Club: Soup’s On! — Soup & bread, bring a dish to participate, 6 p.m. Jan. 13.

Winter Wonderland — Outdoor driving experience with lights, music, decorations

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Silver Maples: Sea Michigan with Mike Ricco — Program for adults aged 50+, bring lunch to eat after the program, 11 a.m. Jan. 15; registration required.

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ENCORE EVENTS The Greens of Winter — Tour of mosses & lichens in the woods, 2 p.m. Jan. 17.

Creature Feature — Meet animals up close, 2 p.m. Jan. 17.

Yoga & Forest Bathing — Yoga followed by a meditative walk, 2 p.m. Jan. 18; registration required Fire Cider Class — Making fire cider, 10 a.m.

Jan. 24; registration required.

Discover KNC Guided Hike — On the Habitat Haven trail, 2 p.m. Jan. 24; registration required.

Behind the Scenes: Rabbits — A look at KNC’s animal care department, 12:30 p.m.

Jan. 31; registration required.

Public Raptor Training — Session on training birds, 2 p.m. Jan. 31.

Kellogg Bird Sanctuary 12685 East C Ave., Augusta, 671-2510, birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu Birds & Coffee Chat — Online discussion of backyard birds, 10 a.m. Jan. 14; registration required.

A Ducky Day — How ducks survive winter, 12–3 p.m. Jan. 31; registration required.

Other Venues

MISCELLANEOUS John Daley Memorial One One Run 2026 — A walk/run to raise money for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo, 1–3 p.m.

Jan. 1, Spring Valley Park, 2600 Mt. Olivet Road, runsignup.com/race/MI/Kalamazoo/ OneOneRun. Kalamazoo Winter Market — Produce & artisan wares, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturdays, through April 25, 507 Harrison St., pfcmarkets.com/allmarkets/winter-market.

Kalamazoo Boat Show — Marine displays & products, 2–8 p.m. Jan. 9, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Jan. 10 & 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Jan. 11, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St., kalamazooboatshow.com.

Themed Skate Nights —Glow Party, 7–9 p.m.

Jan. 9; Mascot Madness, 1–2 p.m. Jan. 17; Disco Fever, 7–9 p.m. Jan. 23; Millennium Park Ice Rink, 280 Romence Road, portagemi.gov.

Portage Home Show — Home improvement vendors, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Jan. 16 & 17; noon– 6 p.m. Jan. 18; Crossroads Mall, 6650 S. Westnedge Ave., michiganhomeshows.com/ portage.

Kalamazoo Outdoor Sports Expo — Fishing gear, paddle sports, RVs, ATVs & more, 2–7

p.m. Jan. 16, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Jan. 17, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Jan. 18, North, South & Main expo areas, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, kalamazoooutdoorexpo.com.

The Harlem Globetrotters — World-famous basketball team, 7 p.m. Jan. 23, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Drive, wingseventcenter. com/events Traditional & Classic Archery Tradeshow & Expo — Archery supplies & demonstrations, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Jan. 30, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Jan. 31, 9 a.m.–noon Feb. 1, North Expo Area, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, kzoobowworks.com.

Kalamazoo Chili Cookoff — Sample chili at downtown businesses, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Jan. 31, downtownkalamazoochilicookoff.com.

Kalamazoo Bourbon Fest — 100+ rare/highend whiskeys, bourbons & classic cocktails with live music & food, Jan. 31; Session 1, 4–6:30 p.m.; Session 2, 7–9:30 p.m.; Delta Hotel & Conference Center, 2747 S. 11th St., kalamazoobourbonfest.com.

Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week — Events featuring local brewers, distillers & winemakers, Jan. 31–Feb. 7, kalamazoocraftbeverageweek.com.

Shoe Year’s Hike — An out-and-back hike of 2 or 4 miles, 10:30 a.m. Jan. 1, Yankee Springs Recreation Area, 10370 Gun Lake Road, Middleville, northcountrytrail.org/events.

Beginning Birding Walk — 9 a.m. Jan. 3; meet at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery's second parking lot, 34270 County Road 652, Mattawan, kalamazooaudubon.org.

Kalamazoo Astronomical Society General Meeting & Speaker — Venus as a Potentially Habitable Planet, presentation by Sara Seager, 7 p.m. Jan. 9, Kalamazoo Math & Science Center, 600 W. Vine St., or online; kasonline.org.

Online Viewing Session — Utilizing a remote telescope, 9 p.m. Jan. 10 online (cloud date, Jan. 17); register at kasonline.org.

Hike with a Biologist — How animals & plants adapt to winter, 10 a.m. Jan. 17, Gourdneck State Game Area, parking off Angling Rd., portagemi.gov/calendar; registration required.

Introduction to Amateur Astronomy — Online lecture series: Part 1: Our Place Among the Infinities, Jan. 17; Part 2: Discovering the Night Sky, Jan. 31; all lectures 1–3 p.m.; register at kasonline.org.

www.encorekalamazoo.com | 27

POETRY ENCORE

When they decided to move the town of Kiruna O, Herregud, Great God of Ice and Snow, they’re actually going through with it.

They’ve got the church on machinery— ancient rock stallions— and they’re marching that fine steeple right down the street.

Make way for the mine, for the digging, and the scraping creatures who howl in minerals and fill the offering plate before it is passed.

How do you lift an entire town on your shoulders?

A town of giants, and the open pit of industry.

How do you heave it downstream?

And how dare you ask the ghosts to stay put?

To not leave with their leaving homes, and instead lay their heads in iron?

28 | ENCORE JANUARY 2026

Herregud, the cranes are circling now and snapping their metallic beaks in some tongue I cannot speak.

My home is on that truck— that fuming ox of tar and teeth —on its way to a land I cannot reach.

— Malin Andersson Andersson is a poet, editor, storyteller, grant writer and musician. Originally from the Detroit area, she graduated from the University of Michigan in 2022 with a B.A. in creative writing and literature. She now manages the Kalamazoo Children's Chorus. She also plays cello, piano, ukulele and mandolin and sings. The Swedish town she writes about in her poem is undergoing a massive 2-mile relocation because the ground beneath it has become unstable due to years of iron mining.

"And they happened to have found rare earth minerals under it too," says Andersson, who watched news on the town church's relocation in August. "They literally picked it up and moved it down the road on these giant trailers," she says.

ENCORE BACK STORY Luke Conklin (continued from page 30) Conklin's group is made up of musicians who perform early music in historically informed styles. His passion for music has been evident since he first picked up a saxophone in the fourth grade. Today, his main instrument of choice is the oboe, but he also plays modern and historical reproductions of the flute, clarinet and bassoon.

When someone asks him how many instruments he plays, Conklin says, “How many do you want me to play? I’ve never met a woodwind instrument that I didn’t like.”

How did you get where you are today?

I heard a small community group very much like Early Music Michigan at Groton High School in Groton, New York, playing on reproductions of historical instruments.

I just loved it. As an undergrad, I sought out opportunities to learn about historical performance — we didn't have it at Ithaca College — but I did every workshop I could find. I zoomed in on historical performance, in particular the Baroque oboe, but I was up for anything. I would play any historical instrument, any historical music. I took classes in history and art history because I was really interested in the periods as well.

Then I got a scholarship to get a master's degree in Gregorian chant in Ireland. When I came back, my intention was to continue with a master’s in Baroque oboe, but it didn't work out. Then the Juilliard School announced they were starting a historical performance program. My undergrad oboe teacher insisted that I apply. I got in and was in the first class of historical performance majors at Juilliard.

After Juilliard, I went to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland for a doctorate. They have an excellent department for studying historical performance and historical music. While there, I taught history of rock 'n' roll and history of the Broadway musical while studying Baroque oboe and medieval music. We ended up in Kalamazoo because my wife, Dr. Marjorie Harrington, became the program manager for the Department of Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University. When I got here, I got involved in Early Music Michigan. It has a fairly long history (beginning in 1996 as the

Chant as Early Music: A Workshop When: 3 p.m. Feb. 7 Where: First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo To register: Go to earlymusicmichigan.org/events.

Michigan Bach Collegium before changing its name in 2009), and it needed a director.

What is a historical performance?

Historical performance isn't just a repertoire; it's an attitude towards how you put together a performance. It involves gathering the materials, including instruments and music, and attempting to approach the music in the mindset that they might have had when it was composed. We're trying to inform our performances based on what the people who wrote the music wrote about it 200 to 300 years ago.

For example, when Bach wrote a lot of his most famous music in 1720, he thought about and heard music differently than we do today. Bach never knew a saxophone, an electric guitar or a modern piano; the instruments he had sounded different. People who only play modern instruments made in this or the last century are going to play a piece of his music differently than if we use the tools that Bach was familiar with.

The second level of it is that people wrote a lot then and now about music. We read whatever we can find about how people described music. There's a fine art to that thinking: When I read this book about music

from 300 years ago, are they describing what was done? Are they describing what they wanted to be done, so it's actually the opposite that was being done? Are they off the deep end, and the book that they're writing nobody else read and isn't representative of what was going on? Or is it very representative?

Tell me about Feb. 7 workshop, Chant as Early Music.

Last year we invited everyone to come for a Gregorian chant workshop. I did some lecturing on Gregorian chant, not just as liturgical music or as this thing from the church, but liturgical chant as early music.

If you go to Notre Dame (Cathedral in Paris) today, they still do Gregorian masses, but they don't sing them the way they were 1,200 years ago. The workshop was on what can we learn from a 1,200-year-old manuscript about how it might have been sung. People walked away being able to sing a couple of chants in this historically informed way.

In February, we're going to be doing Part Two of that workshop, diving into the same things with a little bit less lecturing and more singing. We'll broach the topic of the first experiments people did with polyphonic music, because chant is, by definition, where everybody sings the same note at the same time, so how can we have two voices singing two different things?

Most of our events are pay-what-you-will because we don't want anyone to miss out because they don't have the money.

— Interview by Jordan Bradley, edited for length and clarity

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BACK STORY ENCORE

Luke Conklin

Bringing historically informed music to Kalamazoo

L

uke Conklin, artistic director of Early Music Michigan, vividly recalls the first time he “just went off the deep end” for a piece of historical music. The piece was George Frideric Handel’s Concerti Grosso, whose style of music is commonly known as “water music,” or music for the royal fireworks.

“I literally danced around my dorm room to it,” says Conklin, now 40. “I was just so excited by it, by the sound I was hearing, by the energy and the rhythm, that I was just dancing around my room to it.

It just spoke to me.” (continued on page 29)

30 | ENCORE JANUARY 2026

SPONSORED CONTENT

A New Year’s Resolution to Lift Our Community — and Our Airport As the calendar turns to 2026, communities across Southwest Michigan are setting intentions for healthier habits, stronger relationships, and renewed pur-pose. This year, one resolution holds the potential to transform not only our daily lives but the economic vitality of our region: a united commitment — by residents and businesses alike — to support our local airport, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International (AZO).

For years, Southwest Michigan has faced a challenge familiar to many midsized regions. Even as our population grows and our business community expands, too many travelers drive to distant airports like Grand Rapids, Detroit, or Chicago in search of slightly lower fares or more flight options. It may seem harmless on an individual level, but collectively, it weakens the very asset that could offer us those conveniences right here at home.

Airlines pay close attention to where passengers originate their journeys.

When travelers consistently choose other airports, airlines interpret that trend as a lack of demand in our region. This affects current routes, limits future service, and perpetuates a cycle in which residents feel they must go elsewhere to fly. Breaking that cycle requires exactly what we are resolving to do: treat our airport like we treat our local businesses — and support it with intention.

Shopping local is a concept we understand well. We know that every dollar spent at a neigh-borhood business strengthens the local economy,

Connecting More Than Flights.

When a city has an airport, families can be together for the holidays.

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supports jobs, and keeps opportunities within reach. The same logic applies to air travel. Every ticket purchased out of AZO is an investment in our region.

It signals to airlines that Southwest Michigan is a market worth serving — one with engaged residents, active businesses, and travel demand that justifies more flights, more destinations, and increased competitiveness.

Local businesses have a particularly powerful role to play. Corporate travel patterns are among the strongest indicators airlines use when evaluating routes. When companies commit to flying out of AZO, they send a strong, unified message: our community values its airport and will support deeper investment. Business travel alone can be the difference between route expansion and route reduction.

But the real magic happens when businesses and residents make this

commitment together. A local airport is more than a convenience — it is an economic engine. It makes our region more attractive to employers, fuels tourism (it may surprise readers that 40% of the users of AZO are not from the Kalamazoo area), and strengthens the overall fabric of our economy.

When we resolve to support AZO, we are resolving to support ourselves.

This New Year let’s adopt a resolution that extends beyond personal goals and contributes to something greater.

Let’s choose local flights the same way we choose local shops, restaurants, and services. If we show airlines that Southwest Michigan stands behind its airport, they will take notice. And the benefits — more flights, more options, and a stronger community — will take off with us.

Le wi s R e e d & A llen P .C . a tt orn eys Front row, center: Richard D. Reed Middle Row (L-R): Michael A. Dombos, Stephen M. Denenfeld, Lana M. Escamilla, Jennifer Wu, Kimberly L. Swinehart, Adam D. Bancroft Back Row (L-R): Wesley J. Todd, Ronald W. Ryan, David A. Lewis, Christopher D. Morris, Michael A. Shields, Thomas C. Richardson

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phone: 269.388.7600 | fax: 269.349.3831 www.lewisreedallen.com