Revue Magazine, July 2017

West Michigan’s Entertainment Guide for 29 Years

» July 2017

Free! / Music / Arts / Dining / Beer

Revue’s Guide To

Pets Also inside Deavondre Jones One Bourbon Happy Cat Café Michigan Fruit Beers

WHERE SUMMER SOUNDS LIKE FUN!

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM, CHRISTINE MCVIE with THE WALLFLOWERS

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WEEZER with COLD WAR KIDS JULY 15 | Tickets start at $20

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KEITH URBAN with FRANKIE BALLARD

JULY 20 | Tickets start at $25

SHOW

I LOVE THE 90’S THE PARTY CONTINUES TOUR

AUGUST 2 | Tickets start at $16

SHOW

R. KELLY with ASHANTI & JUNE’S DIARY

AUGUST 4 | Tickets start at $20

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MATCHBOX TWENTY & COUNTING CROWS

SEPTEMBER 14 | Tickets start at $26

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SANTANA with ANN WILSON OF HEART

AUGUST 8 | Tickets start at $20

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REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

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6 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

Join us every Thursday in the Perrin Pub for a small, one-barrel batch release of a new sour each week!

(In pub only)

Perrin Brewing Company

616.551.1957 | PERRINBREWING.COM REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

7

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8 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

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What’s Inside

July 2017 | Volume 29, Issue 7

SCENE: 12 14

What’s Going on this Month Biz Beat

SPECIAL SECTION: Revue’s Guide to Pets

17 4A

17 18 20 21 22 24 26 28

Introduction Styling and Grooming Your Pets Happy Cat Café Carol’s Ferals Tropical Pets Dog Parks Ethical Adoption Party with Your Pet: Events

Revue Arts

Guide to Pets

1A

Deavondre Jones

An exploration of West Michigan’s cultural arts scene and the people who drive it.

(See the center of this issue)

SoundS: 35 Kalamazoo Blues Festival 36 Local Music: The Zannies 38 Muskegon Festivals 40 WYCE’s Songs We Like 42 On Tour: Mitski

SightS: 45 46 48

Style Notes Vintage Clothing Comedy: #IMOMSOHARD

DINING & DRINKING:

One Bourbon

54

53 Restaurant Guide 54 Table Talk: One Bourbon 58 Beer Taste-off: Michigan Fruit Beers 60 Tea Shops 66 Last Call: Bier Distillery

_ _ ___ Letter from the Editor

I

’m paws-itively excited that Revue has an entire section in this issue about fur-peoples like me. They’ve covered trees to sniff, stuff to roll in, and territory that needs marking, as well as featured all the hottest trends in cookies and bones. (Pro tip: It’s time for the real farm-to-bowl cooking, none of this bagged stuff.)

There are also tips on places to shop for the latest in haute couture, like some stylish leashand-collar combos.

At least that’s what they tell me is in the issue: I never learned how to read, let alone earned any dogtorate degrees. I really have it ruff.

While I have you on point, please allow me to discuss a most important personal topic. You see, my people sometimes take me to my Grand-paw-rents and then leave me there for a few days. It makes me very pupset to know that they’re out having fun without me, but what’s worse is their stories about how other areas treat fur-peoples like me.

Even a cat could tell you that Michigan’s got it all backwards with its rules and regulations. In cool cities like Asheville and Denver, many restaurants and breweries welcome my friends onto their patios and even pour them a drink. It’s water, but hey, I’d take it.

dog

Some Portland restaurants, I’m told, will let my friends inside. One place called Tin Shed even ser ves special dishes like Ham-Barker Helper, Paw Lickin’ Good and Kibblesn-Bits, each made with pork, chicken or beef along with a choice of rice or sweet potato.

It sounds so good, I just want to roll over.

However, it seems my begging could finally be paying off. In May, the Michigan Senate passed a bill by a 32-6 margin that would create a framework for restaurants and bars to invite me on their patios. But I’ll be doggone if the state House has yet to give the legislation a hearing. If we keep pup the fight, maybe those lawmakers will finally hear us speak. (Let’s hope we don’t have to bribe them with peanut butter just to earn their votes.)

In any event, this has been almost as much fun as doin’ a zoom. If we’ve not sniffed butts before — and even if we have — please stop by Revue as I’d love to introduce myself. My muzzle may be graying, but I always like making new friends. It’s a wag!

Sincerely yours, Levon-dog

Best of the West Winners Issue

Results from our second annual reader poll to crown the best of West Michigan — music venues, restaurants, bars, shops, and more.

September:

REVUE’s Annual West Michigan Arts Guide A complete season preview of West Michigan’s cultural arts events, artist profiles, and ArtPrize coverage.

Design Creative Director Kim Kibby / kim@revuewm.com Contributing Writers Missy Black Eric Mitts Kelly Brown Samara Napolitan Dana Casadei Jane Simons Nick Macksood Elma Talundzic Marla R. Miller Kayla Tucker

Contributing Photographers Katy Batdorff, Kerry Kibby, Seth Thompson, Grumpy Pups Pet Photography Advertising / 616.608.6170 / sales@revuewm.com Kelli Belanger / kelli@revuewm.com Joe Langlois / joelanglois@revuewm.com MinionS Emily Claus, Kara Toay Digital EditorS Kim Kibby, Josh Veal

Website: revuewm.com Twitter: twitter.com/revuewm Facebook: facebook.com/revuewm Instagram: instagram.com/revuewm

October:

The Beer Issue: Revue’s Guide to Local Craft Beer

A thorough guide to the local craft beer scene, with an extensive brewery guide, beer face-offs, trends, and more.

To AdvertisE: Call (616) 608-6170 or email sales@revuewm.com.

Space reservation is the 15th of the month before publication.

10 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

Editorial Publisher Brian Edwards Associate Publisher Rich Tupica / rich@revueholding.com Editor Joe Boomgaard / joe@revuewm.com Managing Editor Josh Veal / josh@revuewm.com Copy Editor Claire Boomgaard

Find us online!

Upcoming issues August:

W est M ichigan ’ s E ntertainment G uide

Revue is published monthly by Revue Holding Company.

65 Monroe Center, Ste. 5, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Office: 616.608.6170 / Fax: 616.608.6182 ©2017, Revue Holding Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part granted only by written permission of the publisher in accordance with our legal statement, fools.

On the cover: Valentino the Great Dane at Calder Plaza. Photo

by Grumpy Pups Pet Photography.

Revue’s Guide to Pets: See page 17.

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

11

/// best bets

what’s Going on this month | Compiled by Revue Minions

7/6 Free World Dance The Blue Bridge, Grand Rapids July 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m, free

If you love fitness and have always wanted to learn how to dance Bollywood, here’s your chance. Free outdoor fitness classes are back at the Blue Bridge in Grand Rapids.

This time, you can work out with Laura Armenta of Armentality Movements Art Center and experience the festive, vibrant, upbeat movement of the dance that has become popular in dance clubs and fitness classes.

7/7 Creativity Uncorked: Machines that Draw

Grand Rapids Art Museum 101 Monroe Center St. NW, Grand Rapids July 7, 6:45-9 p.m, $40 artmuseumgr.org

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

Grab a glass of wine and get in touch with your artistic side for an unforgettable night at the museum. Doors open at 6:15, so arrive early and enjoy some music, mingling and drinks at the cash bar. Get some inspiration from Rube Goldberg, then get inventing your own machine that scribbles, scrawls and sketches. Don’t be scared: no experience is necessary.

12 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

7/7-7/8 Michigan Authors at the Lakeshore

Frauenthal Center 425 W. Western Ave., Muskegon July 7-8, free michiganauthors.com While the Muskegon Lakeshore Art Festival is certainly a worthwhile event in and of itself, Argon Press is bringing nearly 50 authors from the Lower Peninsula to the Frauenthal Center for two days of meeting, greeting and book signing. From nonfiction to children’s books, fantasy and romance, the books will span the gamut. On top of that, door prizes will be awarded periodically throughout the two days.

7/12 Eric Gales Blues Concert

The Deltaplex Arena and Conference Center 2500 Turner Ave. NW, Grand Rapids July 12, 6 p.m, free deltaplex.com As a part of the 97LAV Summertime Blues Concert Series, the famous American blues musician Eric Gales is making a stop at the Deltaplex Arena. Come swing, sway and dance to some of his classic songs like Going Back to Memphis, the Psychedelic

New Belgium presents Tour de Fat, July 29 Underground, Layin’ Down the Blues and Steep Climb.

7/15 Grand Rapids on Tap Calder Plaza 300 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids July 15, 3-7 p.m, $35 americaontap.com

Creativity Uncorked at the GRAM

Live music, beer and food — what could be better? Enjoy more than 100 different

craft beer styles from more than 50 different breweries. Tickets include 15 sample tickets and a souvenir cup. And when you need a break from drinking, check out the local vendor booths and delicious food, along with live entertainment.

Adventure Hunt Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids July 15, 9 a.m, $39-89 adventurehunt.co

Ready for an epic day of adventure? Join a modern day treasure hunt all around Grand Rapids. Complete challenges and earn clues that will lead you and your teammate to a treasure. This hunt will lead you to the chance to get a villa in Panama.

The best part is, you’ll get an adventure hunt daypack, a water bottle, shades and 15-percent-off coupons for Adventure Hunt sponsors (Goscope, Mission Belt Co. and more) when registering.

Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend and the rest of the band and enjoy songs like Baba O’Riley, Pinball Wizard, Behind Blue Eyes, My Generation, Won’t Get Fooled Again, Eminence Front, Substitute, I Can’t Explain, Magic Bus and The Seeker that have kept The Who on the favorite bands list since the mid-1960s.

7/27 Dancing With the Stars Live! - Hot Summer Nights

Comedian Brad Williams at Dr. Grins July 22, $5, facebook.com/cosmicknot

7/20-7/21 The Piano Cottage Rocks 2017

Peter Wege Auditorium 1130 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids July 20-21, 7:30-9 p.m, $15 thepianocottagegr.com If you’re looking for a family friendly place to beat the heat and rock out this summer, The Piano Cottage is the place to go. With more than 450 students from all over the country and Broadway, the Piano Cottage Rocks! show is an unforgettable and fun concert for all families looking to experience great times together while listening to some old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll.

7/21-7/23 Great Lakes Cup

Drone Racing Championship and Expo

Van Andel Arena 130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids July 21-23, 8 a.m-9 p.m greatlakescup.com

Watch the new high-speed competitive sport of drone racing at one of the top 10 races in the U.S. Pilots will fly drones through the point of view of the drone at this first-ever Van Andel championship.

The drones, built for speed, agility and performance, will be flown through 3-D courses at speeds up to 80 mph.

7/22 Cosmic Knot

Founders Brewing Co. 235 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

Cosmic Knot is brimming with feel-good, healing energy, with members from all over West Michigan. The band’s fusionfunk vibes have played big stages like Ann Arbor’s Hash Bash, with a crowd of more than 7,000 people, and now the band is recording its first studio album at Third Coast Recording Co. See what the record has in store and pick one up at this album release party at Founders Brewing, with Mondo Mammoth and Truth In Fiction opening.

7/23 Prince Royce

DeVos Performance Hall 303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids July 27, 7:30 p.m, $49.50-$79.50 devosperformancehall.com Always wanted to see ballroom dancing live? Now’s your chance! This performance showcases every type of ballroom and modern dance seen on Dancing With The Stars. The show will feature pro dancers Lindsay Arnold, Sharna Burgess, Artem Chigvintsev, Sasha Farber, Keo Motsepe, Gleb Savchenko and Emma Slater in group numbers, duets and original pieces.

Season 24 mirror ball winner and NFL running back Rashad Jennings will also join the cast.

7/27-7/29 Brad Williams Comedy Show

20 Monroe Live 11 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids July 23, 8-11 p.m, $45+ 20monroelive.com

Dr. Grins Comedy Club 20 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids July 27-29, $10-20 thebob.com/drgrinscomedy

Prince Royce announced his tour dates in February just three days after he dropped his fifth album, appropriately titled Five, and he has won numerous awards in the last five years. His new album includes collaborations with Shakira, Farruko, Chris Brown and Zendaya. Now he is coming to Grand Rapids for his Five World Tour, along with Luis Coronel. Enjoy a night full of music with some food and drink.

Featured on The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Live at Gotham and many others, Brad Williams is a notorious comedic genius who is making a pitstop at Dr. Grins Comedy Club at the B.O.B. for three days only. Catch a hilarious show filled with jokes about all aspects of life and society, with nothing held back. Shows are 18-and-up.

7/25 The Who

Van Andel Arena 130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids July 25, 7:30 p.m, $39.50-$139.50 vanandelarena.com

Find more events in the Revue Arts section and at revuewm.com!

That’s right, fans, they’re back. After its The Who Hits 50! Tour, the band will be coming to Van Andel once again. Join

7/29 The Color Run 2017

Calder Plaza 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids July 29, 9 a.m, $35-$40 thecolorrun.com

The dream race is on. Grab some friends and get in on some fun surrounded by clouds of color. Party at the start line before the race with music, dancing, warmup stretching and giveaways. Enjoy the classic color zones and new poppable-foam zone and even get a photo op with a unicorn.

Eric Gayles at the DeltaPlex

Paint your dreams on the new dream wall and get in on the action of the finish festival. Proceeds will benefit West Michigan Sports Commission and Van Andel Institute.

Tour de Fat Grand Rapids

Millennium Park 1415 Maynard Ave. SW, Walker July 29, 4-9 p.m, $25 newbelgium.com

Enjoy musicians, circus per former s, vaudeville ac ts, magicians, comedians, provocateurs and beer with friends. Musicians include Nick Waterhouse, Stef Chura and KOLARS. A Battle of the Bands will be hosted beforehand to give local bands a chance to represent their hometown scene. Costumes are encouraged but a mindset to party is mandatory.

Proceeds benefit Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition and The Spoke Folks. n

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

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/// news

west Michigan

summer

music SERIES

biz beat

A Roundup of Openings, Closings and other Local Business News

OPENING:

GROWTH:

Thornapple Brewing (6262 28th St., Cascade) opened last month with a lineup of classic beer styles like Treyway, a Belgian Trippel, and Brown Eyed Girl, an English Brown. But the seven-barrel brewery also offers cider, wine and mead, along with a kitchen serving up pizza made on spent-grain crust; hummus and veggie plates; and other bar fare.

Both Harmony Brewing Co. (1540 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids) and Railtown Brewing Co. (3555 68th St. SE, Caledonia) have announced significant expansions. Harmony plans to take over the adjacent Subway property allowing for additional on-site parking, a second kitchen and more seating, all of which are much-welcomed. Railtown is planning to move to a new site entirely, having outgrown its space in the strip mall. The brewery will be tearing down the nearby car wash and building a 3,750-square-foot restaurant and taproom, with a connected 2,500-square-foot production facility. Whoa!

Holland gained another brewery with Brewery 4 Two 4 (321 Douglas Ave.), named after the last three digits of the building’s zip code (49424). Check out the Crazy Putin, a Russian Imperial Stout, or any one of the multiple IPAs and pale ales. The taproom is BYOF (bring your own food), with darts, foosball and multiple TVs for sports viewing.

This being West Michigan, you may not be too surprised to hear that three breweries opened this month. Big Boiler Brewing (318 E. Main St.) rounds out the trio, bringing malt, hops and yeast to Lowell. The brewery’s food menu is ambitious, featuring six (very affordable) burgers, six entrees and seven sandwiches, along with all kinds of apps, soups and salads.

CLOSED: Apparently, to cosmically balance the opening of three new breweries, three restaurants and a brewery had to close too. We’re losing Lazy Susan (411 Wilson Ave., Grand Rapids), the unique Standale restaurant known for its rotating regional menu, comforting atmosphere, and just overall delicious food. LINC UP Soul Food Cafe (1167 Madison Ave. SE, Grand Rapids) closed its doors after four years of love to and from the com-

Brewery 4 Two 4: Opening June 30 in Holland Photo: Steph Harding

munity. However, manager Lewis Williams eventually will be opening another restaurant named Forty Acres Soul Kitchen. Millgrove Brewing Co. (633 114th Ave., Allegan) sadly was forced to close after three years of business, due to cash flow problems and an issue with renewing the liquor license. And finally, Black Heron Kitchen & Bar (428 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids) closed very unexpectedly and without much fanfare following an equally unexpected car crash through the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows. n —Compiled by Josh Veal

If you have any closings, openings or other business news for REVUE, e-mail josh@revuewm.com.

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

While not a brewery, Sprinkle Road Tap House (5003 Park Circle Dr., Kalamazoo) has no shortage of beer, with 30 brews on tap, along with wine and a curated whiskey list. While a menu wasn’t available at time of reporting, the other Tap House locations offer comforting, unique food like lamb burgers, pork waffles and wood-fired pizzas.

14 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

Noco Provisions (4609 Cascade Road, Grand Rapids) opens this month, describing itself as offering “laidback, regional comfort-inspired cuisine.” Check out the menu when the restaurant opens, along with the cocktail list and newly built patio.

From the ashes (not literally) of Tre Cugini, Mazzo Cucina D’Italia (122 Monroe Center St. NW, Grand Rapids) rises like a phoenix. The Italian restaurant has a much more modern feel than its predecessor, even if the cuisine shares a common ancestor. Arrive at lunch for affordable sandwiches or make an evening of it with gourmet meat entrees. Either way, unique pizzas and pasta are available all day, along with honestly the best brussels sprouts I’ve ever had.

Mazzo Cucina D’Italia: Now open in the former location of Tre Cugini Photo: Bryan Esler

YOUR ENTERTAINMENT ESCAPE

I LOVE THE JU LY 15

90’s

HER HAPPY TOGET AUGUST 11

GEORGE LO

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JU LY 22

DONALD GEN & THE NIGHFA TFLYERS AUGUST 26

SAR A EVAN JU LY 29

KENNY LOG

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THERESA C

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PLEASE VISIT TICKETMASTER.COM OR CALL 800-745-3000 FOR TICKET INFORMATION.

11111 WILSON ROAD • NEW BUFFALO, MI 49117 1-866-4WINDS1 • fourwindscasino.com Must be 21 years of age or older. The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians invites you to play responsibly. If you think you have a gambling problem, call 1-800-522-4700. ©2017 Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. 3850-15.07.17

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

15

~ Special Feature ~

Allie the Boxer running on the Blue Bridge Photo: Grumpy Pups Pet Photography

Revue’s Guide To

Pets

I

f you don’t love pets, you’re broken inside.

Whether it be the loyal adoration of dogs, the goofy ego of cats, the elegant beauty of fish or even the delightful stupidity of hedgehogs, there’s something (if not lots of things!) to love in every animal. As such, these friends of ours deserve the best.

You should really be treating your pet to the latest pet fashion, the finest grooming

and styling, the best dog parks, and the most fun pet-centric events, all of which you’ll find in the pages ahead. Also peep the story behind the new Happy Cat Cafe, a guide to ethical adoption, and a look at two of West Michigan’s favorite tropical pet stores.

Finally, in conclusion: Woof, woof! Grrrrrr, bark! Woof.

17

/// Pets

Left: Fido & Stitch; Right: Just Dogs

Beauty and the Beast

Where to find your pet’s next ensemble

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

by Missy Black

This one’s for the pets: When you’re out

COLLAR CHAMELEON

for walkies, you obviously want to make

Just Dogs (125 Mason St.) in Saugatuck believes that dressing your dog up means putting them on display as a friendly pet. “They get so much attention when you dress them,” said co-owner Jill Bunday. “It makes people come pet them and swoon over them, and it makes for a friendlier dog.” The store carries plenty of canine accessories, including the Doggie Design line of harnesses with ruffles.

Here you can purchase dresses, T-shirts, coats and sweaters, along with rhinestone collars handmade by an artist. There’s even a seamstress who makes bowties and bows that come in sets with collars or attach separately with velcro. “It’s great to look nice on a walk, but you can take it off when you get home,” Bunday said. Grooming is available and each pampered dog goes home with a bandana and a toy or treat. Stop in for Frozen Yoghund

sure you get noticed and approached.

Wearing the latest styles or a snazzy collar means hellos, head scratches and belly rubs, so it’s important to keep upto-date on your wardrobe. We’ve found some local shops that cater to your canine (and feline) closet. Woof!

18 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

— frozen dog yogurt — and enjoy it in the store’s outside seating.

DOGGY & ME TEES Here’s a theory on styling your pet: “It’s fulfilling for pet owners to spoil their dog and I know a lot has to do with adoption — to be able to give to a dog that didn‘t have a good life and to be able to spoil them with a sweater for the winter — I think they feel they are giving back,” said owner Alli McDonough of Fido & Stitch (820 Monroe Ave.) in Grand Rapids.

Styling your pet is easy in the summer with tees and tanks, along with a new baseball line and practical gear such as life jackets, cooling collars and bandanas you soak in water. Check out the Michigan T-shirts (with a pawprint over Grand Rapids), which also come in human sizes so you can match your best friend. When it comes

to grooming, you can expect fancy breed cuts, cologne or perfume and complimentary bows and bandanas. With the tagline Pamper, Spoil, Repeat, this store has food, accessories and even Halloween outfits for your pet.

GROWLING GRANOLAS The pet specialty store Bark’s 5th Avenue (3015 Oakland Dr.) in Kalamazoo offers grooming, dog training, pet photography and quality accessories. The usual dresses, T-shirts and team jerseys are available, along with fashion for humans, but the shop’s real emphasis is on outdoor life.

Outfit your dog with rugged, practical gear such as life jackets, dog boots (both hiking and winter), functional raincoats with liners and backpacks — your pup can carry a portable water dish and a few toys, and get some exercise hauling it all.

There’s a whole wall of collars and harnesses, from sporty outdoor styles to fancy fabric options. As for groom-

Bark’s 5th Avenue ing, you can go in for a spritz of cologne on the dogs, a Mohawk haircut or some color chalking, which a washout, non-permanent hair coloring option. Another draw: “We offer photography events in late summer and early fall,” said owner Deb Watson. You can pick from different backgrounds and private sessions, and bring in your own special outfits.

HELLO THERE, SAILOR Decadent Dogs (206 S. River Ave.) in Holland and South Haven carries everything for your canine kids and the humans who love them.

Furry and Fabulous

“We go for apparel with a purpose,” said owner Roxanne Leder. One of the shop’s favorite companies, Dogo, features a vest harness with blue-and-yellow striped polo shirts and pink-and-white outfits with a bit of eyelet lace.

“Because we are right on the shore of Lake Michigan, the nautical look is very big here,” Leder said. So expect some sailor attire, rain ponchos and the usual fancy collars with crystal bones that catch the sun. “I really like the dog to feel comfortable in what they’re wearing — something with a good fit that doesn’t inhibit the dog from being a dog.”

While the store doesn’t offer grooming, it does offer some hygiene products, such as the Cain & Able line of shampoos and conditioners in lavender and eucalyptus scents. You’ll also want to bring your four-legged friend into the store for the weekly Books and Barks storytime.

Children and dogs hang out together on the floor, listening to stories about dogs. Canines practicing for their therapy dog certificates are encouraged to attend. n

All animals need to feel extra special now and then. Pamper your pet with a bath, haircut, facial and much more at any one of the many spas and salons around West Michigan.

Here’s just a few spots we recommend: Fido & Stitch

820 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids fidoandstitch.com You may know Fido & Stitch for its pet apparel, luxury bedding, toys, running leashes and specialty food/ water bowls, but the boutique also has a salon, staffed by two animal-loving groomers with years of experience. Get a body contour, a haircut, heavy neatening, whatever you want. Or just pay a small fee to use the store’s facilities and wash your dog yourself!

Canine & Feline Design Inc.

Whether it’s a Pug, a Doberman or anything inbetween, this West Side pet spa and boutique will treat your dog (or cat) right. The shop uses all-natural ingredients made specifically for your furry friends. One grooming session includes nail trimming, ear cleaning, skin conditioning, therapeutic massaging, a haircut and even an anal gland check (fun!) — so basically, the works. And don’t even get us started on the spa treatments, which include a blueberry facial, dematting and much more.

Fido & Stitch

2424 Eastern Ave. SE, Grand Rapids poshpetsalon-gr.com

If you want a gentle, calming environment, The Posh Pet is the place to be. Bring your scaredy cat, your anxious canine, or even your brave pup to this Alger Heights salon. The staff loves animals with a passion and will be happy to meet your beloved pet and give it a nice “pawdicure.”

VIP Grooming Salon

3338 Eastern Ave. SE, Grand Rapids vipgroomgr.com Do you have a Very Important Pet? Treat them to the finest skin regime, with VIP Grooming’s special products imported from Italy’s Iv San Bernard. The company has done extensive research into which products work best for specific breeds, skin types and coats. The Kentwood salon itself goes above and beyond, offering pet-safe nail polish, pet hair dye, feather extensions and designer cologne. Ooh la la!

Sitting Pretty Pet Spa

1107 Washington Ave., Grand Haven; 1891 Lakeshore Dr., Muskegon sittingprettypetspa.com If you’ve just spent a day on the beach and realize your pooch needs a mud bath, aromatherapy or some exfoliation, head to Sitting Pretty. On top of all the usual grooming options — haircuts, baths, nail trimming, etc.

— this spa/salon/daycare/boutique offers massages and paw repair using a natural blend of oils, beeswax and other soothing ingredients. n

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

2059 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, Grand Rapids canineandfelinedesign.com

The Posh Pet Dog and Cat Salon

19

/// Pets

Happy Cat Café:

The Purrfect Addition to West Michigan

by Kelly Brown

What started in Asia in the mid-90s has Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

now made its way to West Michigan: cat cafés.

You’ve probably heard of this concept from a well-traveled friend — maybe they’ve visited the first American location (Cat Town) in Oakland, Calif., or they’ve explored one of the many cafés across Asia. The idea is simple: a traditional café that is also home to cats.

20 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

Happy Cat Café, owned by Kati Palmurkar, is an innovative new space located on South Division in Grand Rapids.

The idea to open a cat café stemmed from a broken leg.

Seriously.

“I had just taken an entrepreneurship class at GVSU, and it just clicked that this was the business for me. I’ve worked in the service industry for 10-plus years and have a biology degree,” Palmurkar said. “After breaking my leg playing hockey in early 2015, I was really bored sitting around the house. One night I was just playing around and I made a crude logo, website and Facebook page for ‘Happy Cat Company & Café.’ I invited my friends and wanted to gauge what kind of response I would get.

“It was insane, we had 2,500 likes in three days.”

So in August 2015, Palmurkar launched a Kickstarter to turn that Facebook dream into a reality. Backed by 549 people, Happy Cat Café found a home in February 2016.

And a full year later, she finally got the permits to begin construction, with the cat room being finished in March.

Palmurkar said the goal of the cat room is to create a feline paradise with “stimulating activities for the cats and comfortable areas for people to interact with them.”

The first purpose behind the cat café is simple: “To give people that live in apartments in densely populated areas a place where they could spend time with cats,” Palmurkar said.

But as the idea spread throughout the United States, more and more cafés began pushing a deeper mission.

“The cafés started teaming up with local shelters to help get the cats adopted as well,” she said. “The guests can socialize with others and cats in a relaxing atmosphere while the cats get to really show their true self by not being in cages. This increases their likelihood of being adopted. I think a cat café will work in any community,

Wild at Heart: All About Carol’s Ferals

F Bow down to the cats with cat yoga at Happy Cat Café. Photos: Lemon Moon Photography

They’ve had hard lives, and I really want to give them a second chance.”

In April, Happy Cat Café launched Cat Yoga to help support the financial burden of opening. The event was incredibly successful with more than 500 people interested on Facebook. “Cat yoga is definitely here to stay,” Palmurkar said. “The cats love it! They get sick of just seeing me every day, so they are excited to cuddle with anyone new that comes in.”

Future events may include cat movie night, painting with cats, cat wine social, speed dating with cats and much more. And as for the cafe itself, that depends on a variety of factors, of course. But Palmurkar says the end is in sight.

“We just got approved for a home equity loan to finish the kitchen, so there is a light at the end of tunnel,” she said. “We hope to open fully in July.” n

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

but specifically in Grand Rapids because the city really cares for animals and likes to support small businesses.”

Carol’s Ferals, a local TNR (trap, neuter, return) shelter in West Michigan provides the cats to the café. “(We) originally reached out to Happy Cat Café to let them know how much we’d like to have our cats at their establishment,” said Carol Manos, owner of Carol’s Ferals. “I’m so happy we did. We were chosen. There are many good cat rescues in West Michigan and to be picked is really an honor and a wonderful opportunity to get cats out in the public eye in a completely different way.”

Palmurkar, who originally planned on partnering with the Humane Society (which is also a great organization), said she loves the TNR mission at Carol’s Ferals.

“I just have a special place in my heart for street cats,” Palmurkar said. “Carol’s Ferals doesn’t take any owner (surrendered cats) at the moment. These cats are scrappy.

ounded in 2006 by Carol Manos, Carol’s Ferals originally opened when Manos started trapping feral cats outside of the Burger King in Cutlerville. From there, she went on to do other small trapping missions of her own until she exceeded the ability to do it alone. In 2007, she began teaching people how to do the trapping themselves.

This process, called TNR or trap, neuter, return, is the only effective and humane method in controlling community cats, i.e. the cats that live under your porch and have a litter of kittens every spring. Some of these cats are wild (feral) while others are friendly strays.

“Cats are brought to Carol’s Ferals during weekly TNR intake hours and handled by trained staff,” Manos said. “The next morning, the cat wakes and is spayed or neutered and observed by the veterinarian staff to ensure they are waking with no complication. They are picked up by caregivers the following evening and returned that same night.”

This program has helped immensely with the cat population in West Michigan. In 2016, 984 cats were fixed, 158 were adopted to forever homes and 28 relocated to safe barn homes. With the partnership with Happy Cat Café, the goal is to have even more adoptions this year.

“Our adoption team together with our health director choose cats to go to the café based on personality,” Manos said. “We want to put funloving, highly people-loving cats in the café. We are starting with six at a time, but when the café opens, we will probably bump that up to eight.”

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Earth, Wind & Water

Reptiles, birds and fish from around the world

by Elma Talundzic

It doesn’t take fur to make a loyal companion. Grand Rapids offers all kinds of feathered and scaly pets who would love to join your family, or at least swim happily around in your aquarium.

Casa La Parrot

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

124 28th St., Grand Rapids casalaparrot.biz, (616) 247-3663 If you’re looking for a feathered friend with a lot of personality, Casa La Parrot is the place to be.

Roy VanderEnde opened up t he shop more than 25 years ago. At age 10, VanderEnde was instructed in the craft of caring and proper grooming of birds by his mother. After being discharged from the U.S. Marines in 1968, he decided to go into the care and handling of tropical birds.

Over the years, Casa La Parrot has become specialized in raising African Greys, Macaws, Cockatoos, Conures, Cockatiels and a variety of small birds. The store has successfully bred, hand-fed and raised all of these types of exotic birds.

In May of 2012, VanderEnde decided it was time to retire and spend time with his family. Doreen Plotkowski, a longtime friend and customer, purchased Casa La Parrot and currently is working on expanding the services and products the store provides.

“Casa La Parrot is the perfect place to come and explore wonderful companion parrots,” Plotkowski said. “Let us introduce you to their brilliant colors, undeniable personalities and awe-inspiring intelligence.”

22 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

Baby Bearded Dragons at Blue Fish Aquarium and a baby Rose Breasted Cockatoo at Casa La Parrot Plotkowski gets the majority of her birds from two breeders who live in Michigan. She also works with one breeder in Florida.

“I am very picky about my babies, and I know these breeders are the best at what they do,” Plotkowski said. “This is proven by the many happy parronts (yes, parronts) who have received birds from us.”

Blue Fish Aquarium

2939 Wilson Ave. SW, Grand Rapids bluefishaquarium.com, (616) 667-2583 Blue Fish Aquarium, founded in Jenison in 2001, was intended to be a gallery to show new aquarium maintenance clients what highly decorated aquariums could look like with the proper care. Now, after

a few moves, Blue Fish Aquarium settled into its current location in 2011. The nearly 7,500-square-foot space is one of the largest aquatic stores in Michigan.

“Blue Fish Aquarium is a spectacle for any of our visitors. It’s a relaxed, friendly, customer service-driven atmosphere, with a public-meets-home aquarium kind of vibe,” said owner Jeff Vander Berg. ”There are numerous fish and reptile species to encounter, and several display aquariums and terrariums to enjoy.”

The experienced staff, many keeping fish for 25-45 years, can help you with any of your aquatic needs and questions.

“We try to really push science, and more importantly biology, ecology and conservation at Blue Fish Aquarium,” Vander Berg said. “We try to employ people with like minds from local high schools or

biology students from Grand Valley State University and Michigan State University.”

Many of the former employees have gone on to work at large-scale public aquariums.

“We breed many of our own reptiles in two specific breeding rooms that cater to the climates of these animals,” Vander Berg said. “Additionally, we breed a good number of our own freshwater fish and propagate live plants and saltwater corals as well.”

Vander Berg believes there are a number of reasons to consider a reptile or an aquarium as a pet.

“Unlike our furry friends that can cause allergies to flare, there are relatively few people who have allergy issues with aquariums or reptiles,” he said. n

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REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

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/// Pets

Bark Park

Where to Let Your Dog Run in West Michigan

by Kelly Brown

With winter finally off the brain, there is no better time to grab your best fur friend and head to one of the many local dog parks in West Michigan. With an assortment to choose from, dog owners can pick the park that fits Fido’s needs, whether that’s a large open meadow, shady woods, swimming ponds or exercise equipment. Just remember to keep your pooch hydrated and always read the posted rules to understand what areas are on- and off-leash.

Here’s just a sampling of the many paw-filled parks around town.

Ozzy the golden retriever running at a dog park. Photo: Kerry Kibby

Kruse Park (3205 W. Sherman Blvd., Muskegon)

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

Shaggy Pines (3895 Cherry Ln Ave., Ada) Shaggy Pines is one of, if not THE, best dog park in West Michigan. The unique, 20-acre private park is surrounded by large pine trees, hills and wide-open green spaces. It’s your dog’s own “heaven on earth.” The large park features both human and pooch amenities, including a 15-acre fenced-in area, swimming ponds, a doggy mountain, dry dog areas (for when you don’t want to deal with muddy paws) and even a coffee bar.

Grand Ravines Dog Park (3991 Fillmore St., Jenison) Tucked behind Grand Valley in Jenison, Grand Ravines Dog Park is a hidden gem. With more than 20 acres of walking trails, both you and your dog can rack up some decent exercise. Grand Ravines features two fenced-in, off-leash areas for large and small dogs. And best of all: It’s free.

Recent updates include public restrooms (dogs allowed!), a washing station and vending machines. Check out the park’s Facebook page for frequent doggie meetup events.

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The perfect park for dogs who love water. Located along the West Michigan shoreline, Kruse Park is a beach just for pups. Keep ’em on the leash in the sand, then take them to the water where they’re free to paddle around and cool off in Lake Michigan. The dog beach, which boasts 3,000 feet of shoreline, is clearly marked and easy to find.

Hillcrest Dog Park (1309 Lyon St. NE, Grand Rapids) If you’d rather stay in the city, Hillcrest Dog Park is your best bet. Likely within walking (or biking) distance from your Grand Rapids home, Hillcrest features ample parking and two fenced-in areas for large and small dogs. With tons of trees offering ample shade, it’s a great option for a hot day.

Kirk Park Dog Beach (9791 N. Lakeshore Dr., West Olive) Another killer choice for beach-loving dogs. Located a quarter mile walk from the parking lot, Kirk Park includes 600 feet of off-leash play area for you and your pooch to run and swim together.

Prairie View County Park (899 E. U Ave., Vicksburg) Honestly, whether you have a pup or not, the 210-acre Prairie View makes for a great summer trip: a beach, picnic set-ups, hiking, volleyball, playgrounds and more! But don’t discount the seven-acre fenced dog park as well, with both shady grass and gorgeous wooded areas, along with a special spot for the little guys — dogs under 25 pounds.

Meadow Run Dog Park (900 S. 8th, Oshtemo) Meadow Run isn’t just a dog park, it’s an exercise facility. Whether your dogs are all about those gold medals or just like to run around with their owner (that means you), this park has dozens of acres of open land, agility equipment, tennis balls and frisbees, a 12,000-square-foot swimming area, a dock for competitive jump training, and much more. n

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

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Family of Fur Where to adopt your own tail-wagging friend

by Elma Talundzic A pet is more than just an animal — it’s family. If you’ve been thinking about becoming a pet parent for the first time or bringing in yet another furry companion, here are a few local places to check out in addition to county animal shelters.

Kalamazoo Animal Rescue 2938 Business One Dr., Kalamazoo kalamazooanimalrescue.org, (269) 226-8570

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

Founded in 1991, Kalamazoo Animal Rescue is a nonprofit fostering organization.

They are dedicated to providing refuge to homeless cats and dogs in the Kalamazoo County area and finding these animals their permanent homes.

KAR is a no-kill rescue organization.

Animals remain in foster care from the time they are brought in until it’s time to be adopted. The majority of Kalamazoo Animal

Rescue pets are placed with foster families.

These families have generously volunteered to open up their homes to in-need animals.

During their time in foster care, KAR is able to get a better understanding of the animal’s personality and needs.

All of the animals at KAR are given complete veterinary care. They are checked for internal parasites, fleas and ear mites, and then are given treatments and immunizations if required.

If you’re interested in adopting, hop on the KAR website and check out the incredibly cute dogs, cats, kittens and special-needs pets, all ready to find their new homes.

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26 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

August 1!

Gracelyn at Humane Society of West Michigan Photo: Elizabeth Dupree

Vicky’s Pet Connection 7205 Thornapple River Dr. SE, Ada vickyspetconnection.com, (616) 682-4855 Established in 1998, Vicky’s Pet Connection is a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing homeless and abandoned cats and dogs within the community.

Run entirely by volunteers, the organization takes in animals directly from overcrowded animal shelters. Vicky’s Pet Connection tries to take in animals that may have barriers to being adopted directly from a shelter. These “at-risk” cats and dogs often have health issues or injuries, or they’re too young/old to be adopted directly from a shelter.

Since the beginning of the organization, nearly 14,000 animals have been saved through the volunteer-run rescue and adoption programs.

The Critter Cottage, run by volunteers and open to the public, is the adoption and outreach facility for Vicky’s Pet Connection. It carries a selection of gifts for your new fur baby and provides a welcoming place for pet adoptions. All purchases made here help support the mission of Vicky’s Pet Connection.

Humane Society of West Michigan 3077 Wilson Dr. NW, Grand Rapids hswestmi.org, (616) 453-8900 The Humane Society of West Michigan carries adoptable cats, dogs and small critters. The nonprofit organization helps more than 8,000 animals annually. The mission is simple: rescue hurt, abused and abandoned animals and get them into their new forever homes.

For more t ha n 130 yea r s, t he Humane Society of West Michigan has had the goal to promote the humane treatment of animals in West Michigan through education, example, placement and protection.

The nonprofit also assists in reducing pet overpopulation, giving assistance to low-income pet owners, behaviorally assessing animals and reconnecting lost pets with their owners.

Check out what animals are up for adoption by visiting the organization’s website or stopping in. n

BECAUSE HE’S CHASING MORE THAN HIS OWN TAIL.

(269) 345-1181 kazoohumane.org

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Call to schedule a spay or neuter $40 CATS | $80 DOGS

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Party with Your Pets

by Emily Jean Claus

Here in West Michigan, we love our pets. We buy them all the toys we can, feed them their favorite treats (sometimes when we shouldn’t), and try to take them wherever we go, whether it be for a nice walk or a car ride. And since most offices don’t allow pets (ours excluded), we sometimes need more to do with our four-legged friends. It’s nice to have cool places to meet people who love their pets just as much as we do.

Luckily, West Michigan has plenty to offer in that department. Check out this list of fun-filled events to attend with your pets this year.

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

 Bissell Empty the Shelters Various Locations April 2018, all day, free bissellpetfoundation.org In April, the Bissell Pet Foundation hosts its annual Empty the Shelters event. During this incredible event, all pet adoption fees are covered by Bissell, making it free for potential adopters to take home a pet at 69 different shelters. Last year, more than 5,000 lives were saved, and this year the Foundation strives to make an even larger impact.  Bissell Blocktail 2018 Mangiamo!

1033 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids June, 6-9 p.m, $100+ bissellpetfoundation.org The Bissell Blocktail party happens each year around June (we just missed this year’s), hoping to raise significant funds to donate to West Michigan’s animal welfare

28 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

organizations. The event offers numerous activities, including a silent auction, a photobooth and even pet caricatures by local artists. Bring your pet and have a blast, all for a good cause! Over the years, the party has raised more than $2 million for animal welfare organizations.  Paws, Claws & Corks DeVos Performance Hall 303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids March 12, 2018, 6-11 p.m, $100+ hswestmi.org Hosted by the Humane Society of West Michigan, Paws, Claws & Corks brings together delicious foods, some of the best

Bissell Blocktail Party. Photo: Dan Terpstra beer and wine in town, a chance to bid on amazing prizes and experiences, and the opportunity to support a great organization that strives for the better treatment of animals. The event typically takes place at the DeVos Performance Hall in March and tickets are usually around $100 per person.  Happy Cat Café Yoga Happy Cat Café 447 S Division Ave., Grand Rapids Every few weeks, 11 a.m.-1 p.m, $20 happycatgr.com

Love yoga and cats? You’re in luck — Happy Cat Café often hosts an hour-long yoga session in its cat room with a chance for refreshments and cat play after. The event takes place every few weeks, and people of all levels are welcome to attend, no experience necessary. Participants must bring their own yoga mats.  Ales for Tails Yacht Basin Marina 1866 Ottawa Beach Rd., Holland July 21, 6-10:30 p.m, $10 harborhumane.org

Hosted by the Harbor Humane Society, the third annual Ales for Tails is an event no pet lover can miss! Offering a wide variety of things to do — food trucks, craft beer, a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle and amazing local bands — Ales for Tails hopes to create a wonderful event for people to have a fantastic time and support a worthy cause.  4th Annual Wag n Walk Jaycee Dog Park 200 Monroe St., Allegan Aug. 12, 9 a.m.-12 p.m, $25 wishbonepetrescue.org The Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance is hosting its fourth annual dog walk and pet expo, Wag n Walk, to raise funds for the Allegan County Animal Shelter. Participants will receive free T-shirts, goody bags and giveaways, along with entry to the pet expo, which will feature a number of tents with food (for both humans and pets alike), crafts and prizes. The walk itself goes from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., while the expo is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by to have a great day for both you and your furry loved one!

This October, the Humane Society of West Michigan is hosting its fourth annual Bark in the Dark 5k fun run! This glow in the dark event allows participants to raise money for a great cause while having fun and getting in some exercise with their pets. After the run, there will be a celebration featuring fantastic food and a beer tent where each participant will receive a free drink. Register online to begin raising funds and winning prizes before the event even begins!

 Fido & Stitch Block Paw-ty Fido & Stitch 820 Monroe Ave. NW #140, Grand Rapids Aug. 26, 12-3 p.m, free fidoandstitch.com Help support the Kent County Animal Shelter by attending the fun-filled Fido & Stitch Block Paw-ty hosted by Fido & Stitch pet store and Green Dog Photography. The paw-ty will have loads to do, including a photo contest, raffle, delicious food and product samples (including ice cream) for your pets! Stop by for a great time and to support a worthy cause with tons of local businesses, including City Built Brewing Co., Furniture City Creamery, GR Dog Adventures and many more.  Baby Ready Pets?

West Michigan Humane Society 3077 Wilson Dr. NW, Grand Rapids Sept. 9, 12-2 p.m, $10 suggested donation hswestmi.org The Humane Society of West Michigan is offering a behavior class for pets in families who are soon expecting a baby. Help your

Paws, Claws and Corks at Humane Society of West Michigan pet become accustomed to having a baby in the house by taking them to this beneficial training session. The class is free, but there is a suggested $10 donation to the Humane Society.  Bark in the Dark Riverside Park 2001 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids Oct. 7, 5-9 p.m., free hswestmi.org

 Reverse Raffle Fetzer Center 2350 Business Ct., Kalamazoo October 21, 5 p.m, $100+ kazoohumane.org Feeling lucky? Take your chances and try out the Reverse Raffle, a thrilling game of chance created not only for the entertainment of participants (one of whom will win a whopping $3,500), but to help Kalamazoo Humane Society combat pet overpopulation.

Attendees will be treated to dinner, drinks, live music and the opportunity to mingle with other pet lovers. n

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FIFTH THIRD BANK SUMMER CONCERTS AT MEIJER GARDENS Join us for two-plus hours of stories, love duets and poetic outbursts. Garrison will be joined by Fred Newman, Richard Dworsky and the exemplary Road Hounds!

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TEGAN AND SARA 32 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

July 2017

Movement with a Message With DanceSpire, Deavondre Jones offers hope while cutting a rug. SEE PAGE 4A. Story by Kayla Tucker.

Photo by Seth Thompson.

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PicnicPops.org

[BEST BETS] Lakeshore Art Festival Fun for the whole family, Lakeshore Art Festival takes over Hackley Park and fills several city blocks downtown with fine art and craft exhibitors, live and interactive arts, street performers, musicians, magicians and more.

This outdoor street fair also features music, artisan food and festivities, including a Children’s Lane, student art and a Chalk the Walk event 6-8 p.m. on July 7.

Here, community members can decorate nearly 300 chalk patches along Western Avenue, plus a craft beer and wine garden in Hackley Park. Shop the new pop-up shops along Western Avenue and visit the farmers market and nearby museums and breweries during the event, recognized by Sunshine Artist Magazine as one of the top 100 art festivals in the country. —by Marla Miller

1

Lakeshore Art Festival Downtown Muskegon July 7, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., July 8, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. lakeshoreartfestival.org

A Chorus Line Circle Theatre is bringing together two Grand Rapids directors, Fred Sebulske and William Schutte, to direct A Chorus Line this month. The musical is focused on professional Broadway hopefuls all vying for parts of a Broadway musical. The show became a sensation instantly, as it tells the classic story of inspiring ambition.

“Not only is it a wonderful, classic musical that takes the audience behind the scenes of the audition process, it also is being co-directed by Fred Sebulske and William Schutte, who have a very long history with Grand Rapids theater,” said Matthew Gray, marketing and outreach specialist at Circle Theatre. “It is definitely one to see.”

The PG-13 musical drama is filled with singing and dancing.

—by Kayla Tucker

Women Rock Women rock, it’s true. Despite this fact, it is sadly rare to hear an orchestra perform the works of female composers. The Grand Rapids Pops orchestra throws a wrench in the usual male-dominated programming for its third concert of the 2017 D&W Fresh Market Picnic Pops. Women Rock celebrates the legendary female composers and songwriters who forever transformed the genre. Pack a bottle of wine and charcuterie and head to Cannonsburg for this performance featuring the music of powerful and iconic women, including Carole King, Holly Knight, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Pat Benatar, Minnie Riperton, Heart and Carly Simon. —by Samara Napolitan

2

Women Rock Cannonsburg Ski Area 6800 Cannonsburg Rd. NE, Belmont July 27 & 28, 7:30 p.m. $19 adults, $16 students & seniors grsymphony.org, (616) 454-9451

3

A Chorus Line Circle Theatre 1703 Robinson Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 July 13-29, $27 circletheatre.org, (616) 456-6656

[Performing ARTS]

Movement with a Message DanceSpire offers hope while cutting a rug

by Kayla Tucker

D

eavondre Jones just wants to do two things: Dance and inspire others. With DanceSpire, the 23-yearold is doing just that, combining motivational speaking and dance routines to reach high-school and college students around the state.

When it comes to inspiring others, Jones has no shortage of life experience to pull from. He grew up in Benton Harbor and, due to his pride in the lakeside city, opted to stay behind when his mom moved to Grand Rapids. He wanted to be “the guy who would make it out and do something extraordinary for the community,� but that initially proved to be more difficult than he thought.

Jones moved a total of eight times in two years, making for a turbulent highschool journey.

Now, after attending Grand Rapids Community College and Columbia College in Chicago, Jones is on a path to make his younger self proud with DanceSpire. We talked with Jones about where it all started and how he got to where he is today.

4A | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

and I was a part of Black Student Union. I performed a lot, joining any talent show I could — GR’s Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance — in those two years.

How did DanceSpire get started?

I knew I wanted to go to Chicago soon. I’m a marketing guy, so I was like, ‘I need to be able go to Chicago with a new bang.’ Like a new, shiny toy, something that’s awesome.

I pick up this book called Where Will You Be 5 Years From Today? (by Dan Zadra) and it challenges you on what you think your limitations are in life and where do you want to be in the future. And I wasn’t an avid reader at all, but I read that, and it got my mind going about some of the stuff I actually want to be in life and become, and one of those ideas was starting a business.

Deavondre Jones of DanceSpire. photo: Seth Thompson

When did you start dancing?

My first memory of dance was being at my auntie’s wedding and the music came on and I remember just kind of dancing around, and the next thing I knew I had this whole circle around me and they’re cheering me on. So I’m dancing, and then I stop, and she makes all the groomsmen give me money, and I was like, ‘I can totally do this.’

What is the mission of DanceSpire?

We mix performance art and public speaking to deliver inspirational messages. That’s what we do. … When I was younger, I met people that would come to speak to us (in school), but there was such a huge difference in where they were and where I was that they didn’t keep me engaged. They weren’t entertaining, and they may have been inspiring but they definitely weren’t relatable. I decided that I was going to be that guy who would use all the struggles and the testimonies I have and use that as a way to speak to students.

You had some rough years in highschool. When you graduated, what was the next step?

I was still 17 at the time. When (me and my friends) first moved here (for GRCC), we were living at York Creek Apartments, and it was just all new to us. I became super involved; a brand ambassador, I would do visits around the school. I sat on the student conduct hearing committee at GRCC

10 BOOKS & 28 EVENTS JULY EVENT HIGHLIGHTS GIN TASTING AND TOUR AT LONG ROAD DISTILLERS Monday, July 10, 2017, 6:00 pm Long Road Distillers – 537 Leonard NW

DOORS AND GATEWAYS OF GRAND RAPIDS PHOTO WALK Tuesday, July 11, 2017, 6:30 pm Main Library – 111 Library St NE (Meet on the front steps)

THE SCIENCE OF DARK MATTER

So you just decided to do it?

It was kind of one of those things where you jump off the cliff. I decided was going to do that. I was going to mix two skills I had, which were speaking and dancing.

For the next two years, I did everything via DanceSpire with no computer. Michigan State was my first client, University of Michigan was my second, and GRCC started to work with me. All of these different events, I was doing no car, no computer, no smartphone.

Monday, July 17, 2017, 7:00 pm Main Library – 111 Library St NE

How is DanceSpire doing now?

I have really high expectations and goals for DanceSpire. Last year we pulled a certain number, this year we’ve already doubled that in five months. … It’s gaining a lot of traction.

BEAUTIFULLY WRAPPED: THE GLOBAL ART OF HEADWRAPPING

Who inspires you as an artist?

As an artist, I’m not the flashiest guy in the room. I’m not the best dancer in the room — that’s never going to be my goal in life, to be the best dancer. You’re going to see me around other guys and they’re going to be killing it, but when I step on stage it’s about a message. And so anybody else, artists who contribute messages to the world and who have their own unique story, I really resonate with. So Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Macklemore, Chance the Rapper, these are artists that I frequently go to when it comes to a DanceSpire performance.

Thursday, July 27, 2017, 8:00 pm Grand Rapids Brewing Company – 1 Ionia Ave SW

Goals for the future?

The future of DanceSpire is expanding on the business model of speaking and performing. The goal is: How do I create a new artistic generation who are holding themselves responsible for the messages that they send to people when they’re on stage? ■

BANGARANG CIRCUS Tuesday, July 18, 2017, 7:00 pm Main Library – 111 Library St NE

SCANDINAVIAN COOKING WITH THE GINGER CHEF Monday, July 24, 2017, 7:00 pm Wednesday, July 26, 2017, 7:00 pm Central Reformed Church – 10 College Ave NE

Thursday, July 27, 2017, 6:30 pm LINC Gallery – 341 Hall St SE

EXPLORING MICHIGAN’S URBAN LEGENDS

To see all ten book selections, more events, and details, visit www.grpl.org/GRReads.

WWW.GRPL.ORG/GRREADS 616.988.5400 SPONSOR:

MEDIA SPONSORS:

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

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[VISUAL ARTS]

Community Through Culture The Black Arts Festival shares the African American experience with all

courtesy photos

by Jane Simons

A July celebration of African American art and culture in Kalamazoo's LaCrone Park is part of an ongoing mission to expose West Michigan residents to a culture rich in diversity.

The 31st annual Kalamazoo Black Arts Festival kicks off on July 13 and continues through July 16 at LaCrone Park in the city’s Northside neighborhood. Yolonda Lavender, executive director of the Black Arts & Cultural Center, said the festival is the only one of its kind in West Michigan.

“There’s no other Kalamazoo festival that reflects black arts and culture and the African American experience,” Lavender said. “We have a responsibility to make sure that the citizens of Kalamazoo have this exposure.”

The festival’s opening day, Youth Day, will take place at Bible Baptist Church and feature food and activities from other cultures. Lavender said members of a youth committee each year decide on a theme and develop ways to highlight that theme.

This year it’s “Unity Through Culture,” with

6A | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

events focusing on the African American and Hispanic communities.

“Different cultures will be represented at different stations with activities like coloring or arts and crafts,” Lavender said.

“This theme was intentionally chosen because of where we are as a nation. There’s so much division, especially in terms of race relations.

“Sometimes people think that only black people are allowed to come and experience the festival. We want to expose

Black Arts Festival Kalamazoo July 13-16, free blackartskalamazoo.org, (269) 349-1035

this to diverse groups in the community.

We want people to realize that no matter who they are, they can benefit from all cultures.”

Opening day will be capped with a performance of the play In the Blood, featuring members of the BACC’s Face Off Theatre Company. The play, a 2000 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, tells the story of Hester La Negrita — she has five children, each from different and notably absent fathers. The family of six live in destitute poverty beneath a bridge, where Hester tries to learn how to read and goes hungry so that her children can eat.

Hester seizes the opportunity to receive help from her children’s fathers, with hopes that one may help them. The play moves to other characters’ stories, such as a doctor and her friend, who is involved with Hester’s predicament.

Lavender said In the Blood will be staged at the Epic Theatre in downtown Kalamazoo and will have a second performance on July 14. Face Off formed as a vehicle for showcasing black actors and issues of importance to the African American community. Without it, Lavender said people would not have opportunities to be exposed to different types of theater.

“Our theater company pushes the envelope with the productions they choose,” she said. “Every production is followed by a ‘talk back.’”

However, these talk backs were going on well before the Face Off launch. In 1973, the BACC began theater showings

designed to get the conversation started about issues of race and equality. One of the earliest showings dealt with the Watts riots.

“We are intentional about the film viewing we choose and the opportunities to talk about it after,” Lavender said. “There aren’t too many other spaces where you can come and talk about stuff that’s hard to talk about. At the BACC you’re in a safe place no matter color you are or how you identify.

“It’s therapeutic for everybody. There’s no progress or upward movement if we don’t talk.”

The selection of LaCrone as the backdrop for the bulk of the festival was an intentional move on the part of festival organizers to bring the event geographically closer to the people served by the BACC. Up until 2014, the event had been held in Bronson Park, and Lavender said during the early 1990s it was the largest African American festival outside of Chicago.

“We’re right in a neighborhood where people can be on their lawns, walk or ride their bike. We can engage directly with the community,” Lavender said.

More than 1,500 people are expected to attend the festival, which will feature dance and music performances, childrens’ activities, African American clothing and artwork for sale, and barbecue and soul food.

“The goal for the BACC is to showcase black arts and culture, and the festival is the primary way for us to do that,” Lavender said. “If we were not to exist, there would be a tremendous void.” ■

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

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[VISUAL ARTS]

PREVIEW There’s a little something for everyone this month, including more flower shows, photography exhibits, and a whole show focused on bees. You should buzz (sorry) your way over to one of these shows before they disappear. by Dana Casadei

days will include honey tastings, a honey inspired cooking demonstration, beeswax candle making, an exploration of a beekeeper’s equipment, and plenty of bees to observe.

Bzzzzzz.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park 1000 E. Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids meijergardens.org, (888) 957-1580

Ai Weiwei at Meijer Gardens

Standard Flower Show

Through Aug. 20

July 15-16 Feeling in a rut about your current flower arrangements? Be inspired at this year’s Standard Flower Show, which will feature creative floral designs and the best blooms and foliage from members’ gardens. There also will be floral design demonstrations, a treasure hunt for kids to participate in, and guests will be able to vote on their favorite exhibit.

Daylily Show July 8

Amazing Honey Bees July 8-9 If you love bees, you should bee going to the Meijer Gardens this weekend in July. The two

Grand Rapids Art Museum 101 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids artmuseumgr.org, (616) 831-1000

Black Waves: The Tattoo Art of Leo Zulueta Through Aug. 27 Through Aug. 27

Off-Shore and On the Beach July 7-Aug. 27 Organized by the Detroit Institute of Arts, Off-Shore and On the Beach takes two 19th century seaside scenes — one by Èdouard Manet, the other by William Adolphe Bouguereau — and allows guests to compare the two. Both pieces are from the DIA’s collection and are vastly different, even though they stay in the same theme. Paintings and works on paper from the GRAM’s collection featuring the shore-side will also be on display.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts 314 S. Park St., Kalamazoo kiarts.org, (269) 349-7775

Pressed for Time: History of Printmaking Through July 2

Impressions: Printmaking in Japan Kay WalkingStick: An American Artist Through Sept. 10

Our People, Our Land, Our Images

DOWNTOWN

Local for over 117 years, We offer a wide variety of Art Supplies, Framing and Matting, along with Gifts and Souvenirs all at competitive prices.

July 15-Oct. 22 The KIA is bringing 51 works by 26 indigenous photographers from all over the world to its galleries. The exhibit offers a first-person photographic account of indigenous people through the photos. Photographers range from newly discovered 19th-century trailblazers to well-established contemporary photographers and the emerging next generation.

LaFontsee Galleries 833 Lake Drive SE, Grand Rapids lafontsee.us, (616) 451-9820

30 West 8th Street Holland, MI 49423

616.396.6518 - www.frisdowntown.com 8A | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

Through Aug. 12

Muskegon Museum of Art 296 W. Webster. Ave., Muskegon muskegonartmuseum.org, (231) 720-2570

Edward S. Curtis: The North American Indian Through Sept. 10

Pictures of the Best Kind Through Oct. 8

Saugatuck Center for the Arts 400 Culver St., Saugatuck sc4a.org, (269) 857-2399

Artist in Residence: Rubén Aguirre Through Sept. 3

Stories of Us: Transforming Communities Through Art Through Sept. 3 Artists Rubén Aguirre, Andy Bellomo, Miguel Del Real and Sam Kirk — who all grew up in Chicago — will have individual works shown, as well as a 3-D collaborative piece. This is the first time the four artists have done a show together. Each artist uses their art as a means of creating community, and believes art is a transformative tool. All four artists have roots in “street art,” i.e. graffiti and comics, and have transitioned to doing commercial work as well, which has been displayed worldwide.

Corridor Series: Rebel Nell, Clarity After Clouds Through Sept. 3

Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts 2 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids uica.org, (616) 454-7000

MEGA 2017 Through July 31

Everyone in the Pool

We carry Montana Gold Spray Paint

FLIGHT: An Exhibition of Art of Things that Fly, Float or Soar

The Art of Rube Goldberg

Through July 23

Find us!

LowellArts 223 W. Main St., Lowell lowellartsmi.org, (616) 897-8545

Through July 16

Slightly Obsessive July 22-Aug. 20 Taking place at the Douglas location, Slightly Obsessive will showcase a variety of works, including sculptures, paintings, etchings and drawings. Each piece displays the artist’s meticulous level of detail to their creation, which can sometimes become slightly obsessive.

Dress is casual and all are welcome.

Fresh Pick: Eana Agopian Through Aug. 6

The Jump Off Through Aug. 26

Flex Gallery: A Public Art Project by Zachary Johnson Through Aug. 4

Relax at Rosa MAY 4 - SEPTEMBER 14

Free Lunchtime Entertainment Every Thursday | All Summer | 12:00 PM-1:30 PM | Rosa Parks Circle

Avalon Cutts-Jones May 4

Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish May 11

The Moxie Strings May 18

Kathy Lamar May 25

The Crane Wives June 1

Chris DuPont Trio June 8

Phillip-Michael Scales June 15

Black Bear Combo June 22

Cousin Avery June 29

Karisa Wilson July 6

Conrad Shock + The Noise July 13

All American Funk Parade July 20

Melophobix July 27

Watching for Foxes August 3

Blue Soul Express August 10

May Erlewine August 17

Big Dudee Roo August 24

Juan Daniel Castro Quintet August 31

Ttypes September 7

Cabildo September 14

More info at DOWNTOWNGR.ORG

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

9A

A M E R I C A’ S B I G G E S T T R AV E L I N G

TO U R D E FAT G R A ND RAPIDS BENEFITS: G R E AT E R G R A N D RAPIDS BICYCLE COALITION & TH E S P O K E FO L KS

M U S I C A N D C R A F T B E E R F E S T I VA L

JULY 29TH • MILLENNIUM PARK • 4PM • TICKETS $25 P U R C H A S E T I C K E T S AT N E W B E L G I U M . C O M / E V E N T S / T O U R - D E - FAT Fat Tire®, Tour de Fat®, New Belgium® and the bicycle logo are trademarks of New Belgium Brewing Co.

©2017 New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO & Asheville, NC

ENJOY NEW BELGIUM RESPONSIBLY

[CLASSICAL MUSIC]

Photo: Andrew Le

A Musical Summer Respite

The Saugatuck Chamber Music Festival brings camaraderie to the charming waterfront town

by Samara Napolitan

There are no program notes for Saugatuck Chamber Music Festival performances. Instead, musicians tell the stories behind the compositions directly to the audience before playing the piece.

This is one small component within a larger intention to create human connection through a form of classical music that can seem aloof and intimidating to the uninitiated, according to Andrew Le, coartistic director of the festival.

The festival celebrates 30 years of chamber music performances this season alongside a veteran group of local musicians, as well as high-caliber guest artists from outside the region. Every Thursday and Friday from July 6 to August 11, the festival offers intimate, laid-back performances at the Saugatuck Woman’s Club.

“We treat and view our performances as not only a time for the audience to enjoy music, but also a space for our core

12A | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

family of musicians to come together for the summer,” Le said. “It’s more like a casual get-together for the community than a production.”

Le and his wife Jennifer Walvoord are in their ninth year as co-artistic directors at the festival. Both Le and Walvoord are immersed in the classical music community during the main season.

Walvoord is concertmaster with the West Michigan Symphony, director of marketing and assistant principal violin with the Holland Symphony Orchestra, and an active chamber musician and teacher. Le is the Associate Professor of Piano at Hope College, founder of Holland’s Brown Bag Concert Series, a violinist with the Holland Symphony Orchestra, and runs his own photography business. The festival

Saugatuck Chamber Music Festival

Saugatuck Woman’s Club 303 Butler St., Saugatuck July 6-Aug. 11 (Thursday and Friday evenings), 7:30 p.m. $20, saugatuckmusic.org, (269) 857-1424

weeks provide them a chance to rejuvenate and reflect on their work during the summer months.

“It’s like a mini-sabbatical,” Le said. “It allows me to slow down, think about what’s important and how I can be a better performer and teacher.”

Many of the festival performers are musicians in the Grand Rapids Symphony.

Chamber music provides a middle ground for musicians who may get lost in the sea of talent onstage, or for musicians like Le who often practice or perform alone due to the nature of their instrument. The festival setting satiates artistically and personally as musicians return to their roots and reaffirm why they entered the profession.

Alicia Eppinga, principal cello with the Grand Rapids Symphony, is a regular with the festival and particularly enjoys its focus on community.

“I love playing with the friends I’ve known for a long time, with the new musicians that come each year, and for the wonderful audience that is so engaged and friendly,” she said.

For the festival’s 30th year, Le and Walvoord expanded programming to include more guest artists. Among those performing this year is the Claremont Trio on July 6 and 7, lauded by Strad Magazine as “one of America’s finest young chamber groups.”

The Chicago-based Kontras Quartet

performs the July 27 and 28 program as well as a free concert for young listeners the morning of July 27. In the nurturing spirit of the festival, the Claremont Trio and Kontras Quartet are presenting master classes to train tomorrow’s musicians while they visit Saugatuck with West Michigan University Professor of Bassoon Wendy Rose.

The compositions featured on the festival programs offer an eclectic balance between traditional and new. At a time when a conversation is stirring within the classical sector about the lack of gender diversity on programs, the festival features several brilliant female composers, including Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel and contemporary composers Gabriela Lena Frank and Libby Larsen.

Ultimately, Le and Walvoord hope the music heard by festival guests is relevant to their daily lives and inspires future generations to pursue the art form in any way that suits them. “(Chamber music) was pop music back in the day, and it takes creativity, vision and courage to present it in a different way,” Le said. “So much energy and hard work went into creating this music, and it would be a shame to let it be forgotten. (These composers) were visionaries, and we have to be visionaries too.” ■

[classical MUSIC]

PREVIEW

Grand Rapids has loads of tribute bands coming in, including one singing the hits of ABBA, another rocking out to music from amazing women singers/songwriters, and a group of Canadians performing works by Chicago. There are also a few benefits to help

tar, Minnie Riperton, Heart and more. Featured soloists include 2017 Grammy Award Nominee singer/songwriter Cassidy; star of A Night with Janis Joplin Katrina Rose Dideriksen; and Broadway, TV and jazz star Shayna Steele. The Grand Rapids band Overnight Hero will perform prior to the show. Girl power all the way.

Holland Symphony Orchestra 96 W. 15th St., Suite 201, Holland hollandsymphony.org, (616) 796-6780

the arts. by Dana Casadei Grand Rapids Symphony 300 Ottawa Ave. NW Ste. 100, Grand Rapids grsymphony.org, (616) 454-9451

A Benefit for Blue Lake Public Radio July 15, 8 p.m., $30+ The Grand Rapids Symphony will perform for the 12th annual benefit this month at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. The evening’s show — titled Classical Delights — will include pieces

by Mozart, Rossini and Dvořák, and take place in the 300-seat Edith Blodgett Recital Hall. A dessert reception will follow. All proceeds from the event will benefit programming on Blue Lake Public Radio, so, not to turn into a PBS special, but go support this.

Brass Transit: The Music of Chicago July 20-21, 7:30 p.m., $19+ Hey look, another tribute band for a group that was big in the ’70s! Formed in 2008, the eightmember band plays the music of Chicago, and apparently really embodies the iconic music group. Best of luck staying in your seat while the band plays hits like Saturday In The Park, If You Leave Me Now, 25 or 6 To 4 and You’re The Inspiration.

Women Rock July 27-28, 7:30 p.m., $19+ This evening will have covers of legendary women singers and songwriters like Carole King (a personal favorite), Holly Knight, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Pat Bena-

July 13, 4 p.m., $75 The Holland Symphony League since 2004 has been supporting the symphony through educational, promotional and fundraising activities. That will continue this month when the League celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Blue Ridge Landscaping. The evening will include special tours of four properties not open to the public, ending at the former Denison/ McClendon home located in the Singapore Dunes on the shores of Lake Michigan. There will be light snacks along the way and don’t forget to wear your walking shoes!

SchulerBooks&Music 34 years as your local, independent bookstore!

JULY 2017

Arrival from Sweden: The Music of Abba July 13-14, 7:30 p.m., $19+ The Swedish tribute band has been bringing Dancing Queen and Gimmie! Gimmie! Gimmie! back to people’s earbuds since 1995, performing in more than 50 countries and selling out all over the U.S. This month, the group will be bringing guests back to the ’70s and ’80s — in full replicas of ABBA’s famous stage clothes — while playing the Swedish pop group’s hits with the Grand Rapids Symphony. Prior to the concert, Kathy LaMar and Bob VanStee will perform.

Hidden Garden Tour

MONDAYS & SATURDAYS 11AM THURSDAYS 10AM

34

Pre-school Story Time

A member of the Schuler Books Children’s bookselling staff will read a variety of new, favorite and best picture books.

Open Play Scrabble Scrabble club meets in the community area at the rear of the store. All ages and all skill levels welcome.

Readers Theatre presents The Night of the Hunter TUESDAY 07/11 7PM

TUESDAY 07/18 7PM

THURS 07/27 7PM

SATURDAY 07/29 11AM

Join the Actors del Arte Ensemble of West Michigan for a live presentation of The Night Of The Hunter by Davis Grubb! The Night of the Hunter is a tale of the good and evil in men and the triumph of love. Compelling, frightening, and beautiful, it is a poetic Shakespearean look at the Old South during the Great Depression. (Intended for mature audiences.)

Michigan native Erin McCahan presents young adult novel The Lake Effect Join us for a talk and signing with Grand Haven native Erin McCahan, as she presents her critically acclaimed young adult novel The Lake Effect, A funny, bracing, poignant YA romance and coming-of-age for fans of Huntley Fitzpatrick, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, and The Beginning of Everything.

Talk & Signing with NYT Bestselling Young Adult Author Susan Dennard Join us for an author presentation and signing with Grand Rapids author Susan Dennard – author of the popular Something Strange and Deadly series -- as she presents Windwitch, the follow up to the New York Times bestselling novel Truthwitch.

Special Story Time with Tyler Benson Meet author Tyler Benson! Tyler has been a member of the United States Coast Guard for 16 years, stationed for many years in St. Ignace, Michigan where Onyx, a black lab, is the station’s official morale dog. The Adventures of Onyx picture books were inspired by journals Tyler wrote to better illustrate for his family what his job was like.

Visit www.SchulerBooks.com for a complete list of events.

All events are subject to change.

2660 28th Street SE 616.942.2561

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

13A

[THEATer] Sherlock Holmes: A final adventure, 2016.

Courtesy photo

Summer on the Stage Escape to Whitehall for a slower pace and live theater

by Marla R. Miller

Entertaining tourists and locals for a century, the historic Howmet Playhouse in Whitehall lights up with live theater every Thursday, Friday and Saturday for eight weeks during the summer.

Whether you’re looking for an evening of escape or thought-provoking theater, there’s something for all tastes — drama, comedy, history and a Michigan premiere.

The Summer Theatre Festival season runs July 6-Aug. 19 and offers a new production each weekend. Most of the shows are for mature audiences.

The season kicks off with The Seam-

14A | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

stress, July 6-8, set in 1916 — the year the playhouse opened — and enters the life of a wealthy couple. The husband has political ambitions and wants the requisite wife, yet she longs to free herself from an abusive and oppressive relationship. When she hires a seamstress to outfit her for the upcoming social season, it triggers a series of events that unravel the secrets of everyone in the McFarland mansion.

Back by popular demand, Central Michigan University’s Summer Theatre touring company returns to the playhouse July 1315 for a triple show weekend: For the Love of Juliet, a romantic comedy in which the leading lady chooses an imaginary man over a real one; Twain by the Tale, a two-act revue of Mark Twain stories, sketches and monologues; and Love/Sick, a pragmatic comedy exploring the pain and joy of being in love.

The Birds, July 20-22, also takes a darker tone and explores human relationships

in the face of societal collapse. Based on Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film and adapted by Irish playwright Conor McPherson, strangers struggle to survive in an isolated house and escape the onslaught of predatory birds.

“It’s a new play that has never been done in Michigan,” said Beth Beaman, managing director. “It’s pretty cool that we’re doing it right here in the playhouse.”

Appropriate for ages 7 and up, White Lake Youth Theatre’s production of The Rememberer on July 27-29 recounts the true story of Joyce Cheeka, a young Squaxin Indian girl who is forcibly placed in a government-run school in 1911 and stripped of her culture. As the chosen “rememberer” for her tribe, Cheeka honors the stories, traditions and wisdom of her elders.

Ken Ludwig’s Fox on the Fairway, Aug. 3-5, brings some laughter back to the stage and takes audiences on a hilarious

adventure filled with mistaken identities, romantic antics and mischief that sends the uptight members of a private country club into an uproar.

The Seafarer on Aug. 10-12 is another play by McPherson, a mysterious tale set in Ireland, mixing family and old friends with poker, a stranger from the past and the power of myth. Closing out the season, Exit Laughing brings three card-playing friends and southern ladies together for one last card game and wild night out on the town with the ashes of their departed friend.

“Obviously, I’m fond of all of these shows,” Beaman said. “A lot of our shows are really for adults or older teenagers.”

All the summer theater staff is paid, and actors come from areas including Ludington, Grand Rapids, Muskegon and throughout southwest Michigan. It’s an ambitious schedule, with actors expected to know their lines by the time they arrive for rehearsals.

This summer marks the 10th anniversary since the City of Whitehall took over the playhouse, producing professional summer theater and hosting concerts, movies and special events during the off-season.

Beaman is the only full-time employee and manages the facility.

“We have 5,000 patrons a year,” she said. “We have summer residents, tourists, locals and people coming into the marinas.” ■

2017 Summer Theatre Festival Howmet Playhouse 304 S. Mears Ave., Whitehall July 6-Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m., $21 adults, $17 students howmetplayhouse.org, (231) 894-2540, (231) 894-4048

2017-2018 SEASON AND AND

Nov. 17–Dec. 3, 2017

Jan. 19–27, 2018

PR October 14, 2017 7:30pm October 15, 2017 3pm Frauenthal Center

“The Evolving Place and Respect for Indigenous Art in Museums Today”

Feb. 16–March 3, 2018

425 W. Western Avenue Suite 401 • Muskegon

An exhibition of photographs by artists from North America, Peru, Iraq, and New Zealand

Thursday, July 20, 6:30 pm, $5 Opening Reception & Curator’s Talk

ION NTAT ESE

presents

July 15 - October 22

Our People, Our Land, Our Images

AND

Sept. 15–30, 2017 SPE CIA L

Pena Bonita (Apache/Seminole, b.1948), Skywalker, 2006, color print, 20x16 inches, courtesy of the artist. ©Pena Bonita

Celebrate our summer of indigenous art with David W. Penney, Associate Director of Museum Scholarship at the National Museum of the American Indian. A scholar, curator, and museum administrator, he is co-curator of Kay WalkingStick: An American Artist (through September 10) He joined the museum in 2011 after a 31-year career at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

May 3–6, 2018

231.722.3852

muskegoncivictheatre.org

The exhibition in Kalamazoo is made possible by

KALAMAZOO INSTITUTE OF ARTS

435 W. South St. 269/349-7775 kiarts.org Open Tuesday-Sunday $5 / $2 Students / Free through age 12 Free parking lots and entrances on South and Lovell streets

SUMMER ART CAMPS FOR AGES 4-17 CONTINUE THROUGH AUGUST 4 REGISTER FOR FALL CLASSES STARTING JULY 31

Find more upcoming cu ltural arts events and read re views at revuewm.com!

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

15A

[theater]

preview

July has loads of new shows. There’s multiple jukebox musicals, a whole lot of Tony Award-winning musicals, and a few plays thrown in for good measure. It’s super hot outside, so cool off at one of these theaters — you won’t regret it. by Dana Casadei

The Barn Theatre 13351 M-96, Augusta barntheatreschool.org, (269) 731-4121

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story Through July 9, times vary, $37 Before The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger became the musical legends they are considered today, each was influenced by this guy named Buddy Holly. Considered one of the first jukebox musicals (meaning a musical that features previously released popular songs in its musical score), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story tells the story of — well, you can

guess who — through his rising rock ‘n’ roll career to his sudden death in 1959.

Queen’s We Will Rock You July 11-23, times vary, $37 This musical was made for those who worship Queen and no one else. Featuring 24 Queen songs, the jukebox musical follows a group of Bohemians on iPlanet, where being an individual is discouraged and rock music is banned. The Bohemians are determined to find a hero to save them though, and a dude named Galileo might be the savior they’re looking for.

The Lion in Winter July 25-Aug. 6, times vary, $37

Circle Theatre 1703 Robinson Road SE, Grand Rapids circletheatre.org, (616) 456-6656

The Last of the Dragons Through July 1, times vary, $12

A Chorus Line July 13-29, $27 Thing Pulitzer Prize-winning, Tony Awardwinning, just plain amazing musical follows Broadway gypsies as they faceoff to get a spot in the chorus of an unnamed Broadway musical. Providing a glimpse into the events that shaped those auditioning and their choreographer, the 1975 Broadway classic features hits like I Hope I Get It, What I Did For Love and Sing! And yes, two of those songs were sung on Glee, but this is where they originated.

Face Off Theatre Company 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo faceofftheatre.weebly.com, (269) 359-0908

In the Blood July 13-14, 7:30 p.m.

The company’s third season will kick off this month. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, In the Blood tells the story of Hester and her five fatherless children. In hopes of making her children’s lives better than her own — the family lives in poverty and she’s known as being promiscuous — she pounces on an opportunity to get help from their fathers, hoping one will be able to better their lives.

Farmers Alley Theatre 221 Farmers Alley, Kalamazoo farmersalleytheatre.com, (269) 343-2727

Peter and the Starcatcher July 21-Aug. 6, times vary, $30+ So how did Peter Pan become Peter Pan? Peter and the Starcatcher has the answers.

Closing out the theater’s ninth season is the wildly theatrical adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s best-selling novels.

Considered a prequel to Peter Pan, the Tony Award-winning play features a dozen actors playing more than 100 parts. A quick change for you! And you! And you!

The Neverending Story July 28-Aug. 6, times vary, $10+ Adapted from the 1979 novel and 1984 film, the play focuses on Bastian Balthazar Bux, who doesn’t have the best life. No offense, but what did his parents expect with a bullymagnet name like that? Anyway, Bastian discovers a book, The Neverending Story, and is soon transported to Fantastica, a magical land he must now help save.

Summer show Hope altogether?

This isRepertory the family-friendly Theatre musical’s West Michigan regional premiere.

141 E. 12th St., Holland hope.edu, (616) 395-7600

Working July 6-Aug. 11; times vary, $35+

School House Rock Live!

July 1-Aug. 10, $15+

Driving Miss Daisy July 1-31, times vary, $26+

A View From The Bridge July 21-Aug. 10, 7:30 p.m.

Eddie Carbone, a Brooklyn laborer, comes to life in this Arthur Miller play. Everything in Eddie’s life is pretty cut-and-dry until he agrees to harbor his immigrant cousins, Marco and Rodolfo. Fun fact: The noted American playwright Miller is a University of Michigan alumni.

Annie July 7-Aug. 12, times vary

Curious George: The Golden Meatball July 14-Aug. 11, times vary

New Vic Theatre 134 E. Vine St., Kalamazoo thenewvictheatre.org, (269) 381-3328

All in the Timing Through July 22, 8 p.m., $25

Saugatuck Center For the Arts 400 Culver St., Saugatuck sc4a.org, (269) 857-2399

Memphis the Musical Through July 9, times vary, $38+

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre 30 N. Division Ave., Grand Rapids grct.org, (616) 222-6650

Hairspray Jr. July 28-Aug. 6, times vary, $10+

16A | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

Fully Committed July 21-Aug. 6, $38+ Meet Sam! Sam isn’t having the best day — he works the red-hot reservation line at one of New York’s trendiest restaurants and people are being particularly needy. The one-man play shows just how far people will go to get a prime reservation and the right table.

MASON STREET WAREHOUSE AT THE SAUGATUCK CENTER FOR THE ARTS

SHOWING

JUNE 23 – JULY 9

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LOCATED WITHIN THE SAUGATUCK CENTER FOR THE ARTS 400 CULVER STREET SAUGATUCK, MI 49453

Revue’s Reviews Revue Arts has kicked off its review program of classical and jazz music, theater and dance performances all over West Michigan. All reviews are posted online at revuewm.com by the next day. Here are some snippets of what we’ve seen so far: “Cho’s combination of sensitivity and bravura is evocative of his predecessors and great Chopin interpreters, such as Artur Rubinstein and Vladamir Horowitz. Perhaps there is room for a tad more abandon in Cho’s playing, but Sunday’s concert indicated that the young pianist is on his way to earning a place among the greats.” —Samara Napolitan on Seong-Jin Cho at the Gilmore Keyboard Festival “The emotional fireworks and thought-provoking themes of To Kill a Mockingbird can tempt some directors to go to ill-advised ex-

tremes, but thankfully Espeland and his team opt for subtlety and tastefulness instead of Great American Novel razzle-dazzle.”

—James Sanford on To Kill a Mockingbird at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre “Although the space was small and noise in the audience could easily be heard, the performers were engaging enough to hold everyone’s attention. The crowded apartment felt more like a big family gathering than a formal play.” —Kayla Tucker on The Vagina Monologues at the Fuse Box

Read them all at revuewm.com!

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

17A

Q&A:

Subpoenas By Day, Soprano By Night A conversation with moonlighting diva Madelaine Lane

by Josh Veal Madelaine Lane spends her days in an office tower overlooking Calder Plaza, defending people for Warner, Norcross & Judd.

But when the evening arrives, Lane leaves to pursue her true passion: Opera.

Despite growing up in the theater, Lane truly began her musical journey at The College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, where she had her first exposure to the enchanting arias of opera. In her senior year, she was forced to make the difficult decision between going to law school and pursuing a vocal performance degree. She chose the former.

But fast forward 13 years or so and the Grand Rapids native is now being invited to perform at Carnegie Hall for a New York Lyric Opera Theatre gala, singing Sull’aria from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, and she’s performed solo around Europe, including at the Sankt Goar International Music Festival in Germany. In between these international adventures, she performs with Opera Grand Rapids and the West Michigan Opera Project (among others).

We talked with Lane about how she got here, why she loves opera, and what the future holds.

How did you ultimately end up coming back to music?

I didn’t sing again until maybe 2012. I randomly called up Nick Palmer, who was then the music director at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew. I asked if they were looking for cantors and he said, ‘Sure.’ (Then) I met Diane Penning-Koperski, who is a local singer here in town. I asked if she teaches voice lessons and she said, ‘Yeah, that’s my job.’ Then she sent me to her teacher, Nicholas Loren, who has a huge studio out in Holland. He’s a former international opera singer who retired to the West Michigan area and I see him maybe three times a week. I’ve been with him now for four years.

That moment when you had your first exposure to opera, what did that feel like?

18A | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

Madelaine Lane I always tell people that I’m never as happy when I’m singing. It was true then and it’s true today. I always, no matter what is happening, can go into the voice studio and sing and all of my troubles melt away. … It’s just what brings me joy, and I had never really experienced that before college. It was falling into, ‘Oh my god, this is what I love.’ It was a sort of epiphany, that way.

Can you explain why you fell in love with opera in particular?

I’ve always been interested in live the-

Courtesy photos

ater, even growing up doing shows at Civic Theatre and Circle Theatre, so I love that aspect of it. And you’re almost always singing in a foreign language. I absolutely love the challenge — that’s probably the lawyer geek in me — of not only having to master the acting part in a costume and the notes, but also doing it in a foreign language. So you’d have to master the intricacies of Italian or German. When I’m not listening to voice lessons or reading books, I’m usually on Duolingo. It’s always challenging me to learn something new, and I just find that really invigorating.

“Being able to wake up everyday and know that I get to sing today and to learn and grow as a performer, that’s the best news for me.”

What performances stand out to you?

I sang Mimi in La boheme with the Kent Philharmonic Orchestra last May at St. Cecilia. Puccini is one of my favorite composers. Being able to sing that with an orchestra, it was just a really special moment for me, my first very big role like that in a full opera setting. That really stands, along with Carnegie and getting to fly over to Germany to sing for Jennifer Larmore.

Do you have any specific dreams or goals in mind for the future?

One of my favorite composers is (Giuseppe) Verdi. I would absolutely love to do some early operas like Attila, and in 2019 I’m singing Cio-Cio-san in Madame

Butterfly with West Michigan Opera Project, a local company started by a friend of mine named Sarah Faasse. She created this company for local singers and they put on at least one opera and a couple of concerts a year and perform it throughout West Michigan, and it’s totally free, so people who want to be exposed to opera for the first time can come.

Why are you looking forward to this role?

I can remember the first time I walked into my teacher Nicholas’ studio, I asked him, ‘Do you think I could sing Madame Butterfly?’ And he said, very sweetly, ‘Well... we’ll see.’ So then, to years later walk into his studio and say I got hired to sing CioCio-san and see the huge smile on his face was affirming of the work we’ve done together over the last four years.

What do you love about performing?

It’s being able to share that experience with others, whether they’re in the audience, other singers, the guy who’s doing the lights — it’s having that shared artistic and human experience with people. The more I can do that, whether it’s a full-time career or something I do after 5 p.m., that to me is fulfilling the dream. Being able to wake up everyday and know that I get to sing today and to learn and grow as a performer, that’s the best news for me. ■

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

19A

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34 FK-29118_July_RevueMag_9.25x10.indd | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

1

6/15/17 10:20 AM

/// Festivals

Ghost Town Blues Band at last year’s festival

Blues on the Move

How the Kalamazoo Blues Fest is adapting to the times Kalamazoo Blues Festival

Wings Event Center 3600 Vanrick Dr., Kalamazoo July 14-16, $15-$57 kalamazoobluesfestival.com

Lineup: July 14 Women in Blues w/Big Trouble Band Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hell Raisers Dana Fuchs Band Joe Louis Walker Supersonic Blues Machine wsg.

Robben Ford

July 16 Out of Favor Boys Kevin Nichols & Blue Tuesday Toronzo Cannon Alexis P Suter Band Bobby Rush

T

his year, the K alama zoo Blu es Fest is r elocating to Wings Event Center, a move that will double the number of musical acts and keep the festival in the black.

However, festival organizers are bracing for some pushback following the decision to move an outdoor festival indoors after 24 years.

Since its inception, the festival has been held at the Arcadia Creek Festival site in the city’s downtown.

“The climate around the festival site has changed, as well as the requirements to have the festival there,” said Dennis Massingill, festival coordinator and president of the Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association. “We had priced our festival based on walk-in traffic, but there is so much going on in downtown Kalamazoo and we’re not getting that traffic.

“If we had heavy sponsorship like some festivals, it probably wouldn’t make a difference.”

The Blues Fest costs about $100,000 annually to put on. Decreasing attendance and a decline in the popularity of blues music with younger audiences was casting doubt on the future of the festival, which is the largest of its kind in the Midwest outside of Chicago.

“We needed a deep-pocketed sponsor or partner and Wings Event Center offered to partner with us,” Massingill said. “They’re determined to make that a year-round venue and they made us an offer we couldn’t refuse. They are vested in trying to save Blues Festival for Kalamazoo.”

In his role as Wings general manager, Underwood is focused on increasing the number of entertainment and dry-land sporting events at the venue and keeping the dark days to a minimum.

“The Blues Fest is one of those events we thought would f it,” he said. “Anytime you have change, you’re going to have some people wondering.”

Massingill said he hopes people will realize the many advantages to having an indoor festival. Weather and sound won’t be issues, and people will be able to roam around the arena floor while listening to the musicians and also will be able to bring in their own chairs. There will also be free parking and easier access to food and restroom facilities.

Although the festival won’t have any outdoor performances, Underwood said a beer garden will be set up outside, as well as activities like a giant chessboard, Jenga and cornhole games.

Tickets prices for the Blues Fest have been doubled to match the number of musical acts and bring it more in line with what other major festivals charged. A one-day ticket costs between $17 and $32 depending on the day, and a weekend pass is $57.

Massingill said this is a bargain for the nationally known acts that will be performing. He doesn’t think area residents recognize the size and scope of the festival, which enjoyed steady growth early on for a number of reasons.

“There was an interesting alignment of the stars and the geography of Kalamazoo being halfway between Chicago and Detroit, and we had Mr. Wonderful’s (an old blues hotspot), which started bringing in national acts and exposing locals to the blues,” Massingill said.

“We had an unusual number of blues bands play the local circuit here. This was a hotbed of blues music and compared to many places, it still is.

The agents we book through, they know that.”

There’s no denying that the popularity of the blues has been declining as the number of Baby Boomers dwindles and younger generations aren’t exposed to it.

“DJs today are playing blues-based music but that’s not what they’re calling it. We have generations out there who know the music, but don’t know that it’s blues,” Massingill said. “We have no shortage of young blues artists. We need them to bring their crowd.”

Underwood and Massingill said they are hoping for an attendance of at least 5,000 people over the course of the three-day event.

“Right now, it’s an economic game. So many festivals have gone under,” Massingill said. “In order for this festival to survive, we needed a partner. We are depending on people just to give it a chance.” n

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

July 15 Hunt N Gator Crossroads Resurrection Martila Sanders & Gee-Q The Ries Brothers Shawn Holt & the Teardrops Carolyn Wonderland Sugaray Rayford Band The Fabulous Thunderbirds with Kim Wilson

| by Jane Simons

The Fabulous Thunderbirds headline Saturday night

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AN

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BQ

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/// Local Music

RESENT DL P S

• • BEER • BIKES

B

AUGUST 12 NOON - 8:00 PM The Meadows at Millennium Park FREE unexpected fun Human + Furry Kids Welcome

Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish Cønrad Shøck + The Nøise Brother Adams

Garden Party

The Zannies step out of the dive bars and into the sun | by Eric Mitts

Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

Featuring local beer, cider + wine

Rib Cook-off Food Truck Rally

SuperPartyWonderRide through the park Image courtesy of @beerbelliedtravelers

36 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

W

hen the members of Gr a n d R a pi ds’ T h e Zannies found out they would get to play as part of this summer’s Tuesday Evening Music Club at Frederik Meijer Gardens, the show came as a complete surprise.

“We’re more used to playing venues like Mulligan’s,” vocalist/bassist Ben Steer said, of course referring to the legendary Eastown pub known for its hard-hitting drinks and even harder-hitting music.

Still relatively new on the Grand Rapids music scene, The Zannies feel right at home playing in dirty bars. The band turned in one of its most memorable performances for the one of the last-known shows at the infamous underground house venue The Free Clinic in Kalamazoo, and don’t mind playing until last call — even on a weeknight.

So when the members had a chance encounter with Meijer Gardens’ Ted Bufkin after a show at Rockford Brewing this past March, they were completely blown away to be offered the opportunity to play on one of the largest outdoor stages in our area.

In addition to playing as part of Meijer Gardens’ season-long showcase of local music, The Zannies also plan to release its new album, Espejos Mexicanos, that same night. The name translates to “Mexican Mirrors,” and it’s a clear reflection of the band’s expansive new sound.

“Our last record was more balls-to-thewall rock ‘n’ roll, and this record is much more eclectic,” rhythm guitarist Peter Slack said. “We’ve got 12-bar blues, some Spanish vibes, and we’ve also got psychedelic rock infused into it.”

Described by beloved Cowpie Music Festival founder “Farmer” John Crissman as sounding like Primus mixed with Frank Zappa, The Zannies take influence from artists as diverse as Arctic Monkeys, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ween, Rise Against and Incubus.

All four members are graduates of Forest Hills Northern High School, but The Zannies didn’t start until after Steer graduated in 2013. With a basement-recorded solo album in hand, he met Slack and lead guitarist Eric Satterlee at a graduation party, where they invited him to play bass during one of their jam sessions.

“It allowed me to study a lot harder, focus on learning a new instrument, and

figure out who my inspirations were and what kind of techniques I wanted to explore,” Steer said.

Prior to The Zannies, Steer had studied classical guitar since the age of 12. He took to bass quickly, picking up on the slap and funk techniques of venerable bassists like Victor Wooten and Les Claypool while adding his own signature touch.

“I usually do a lot more weird stuff on the bass when I’m playing live,” Steer said.

“A couple people have told me that I remind them of Les Claypool just because of my stage presence, because I have this weird energy and I think I give people funny looks when we’re playing.”

Getting ready for the album’s release and the show at Meijer Gardens, the band isn’t afraid of its sarcastic lyrics or genrebending antics getting lost on the slightly older, less rowdy Tuesday Evening Music Club crowd.

“Our music does appeal to an older generation because we sound so much like a throwback style band,” Steer said. “The new album has all these tracks that are like dancey, which is good for playing outdoors.

And we’re going to push really hard to bring all of our younger friends too, so I think it’s just going to be a sweet party and a great way for us to get out this new material.” n

The Zannies Espejos Mexicanos Album Release Frederik Meijer Gardens 1000 East Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids July 11, 7 p.m., $12 meijergardens.org, (616) 957-1580

18+

JulY 7 VIOLENT FEMMES

JulY 21 ZOSO –

The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Tribute

JulY 14 STEEL PANTHER

JulY 23 PRINCE ROYCE

JulY 15 FALLING IN REVERSE

JulY 29 2CELLOS

w/ Luis Coronel

JulY 17 LAMB OF GOD w/ Behemoth

JulY 18 EXTREME MIDGET WRESTLING

August 2 ANDREW MCMAHON

August 5 TESLA

w/ Arizona, The Greeting Committee

July 19 HELLYEAH w/ Avatar, Kyng

w/ Voices of Extreme, Red Reign

AUGUST 6 FASTBALL

SEPTEMBER 10 QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE

SepTEMBER 15 APOCALYPTICA -

18+

AUGUST 11 RUMOURS

Fleetwood Mac Tribute

SepTEMBER 26 GARY CLARK JR

August 15 DIE ANTWOORD

SEPTEMBER 27 TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB w/ Circa Waves

AUGUST 18 TED NUGENT

September 8 BUDDY GUY

OCTOBER 1 MODEST MOUSE

OCTOBER 3 GOJIRA

w/ Royal Blood

OCTOBER 7 PIXIES

Plays "Metallica By Four Cellos" Tour

w/ Mitski

OCTOBER 8 HANSON

NOVEMBER 11 NEEDTOBREATHE

NOVEMBER 18 DESCENDENTS

13+

OCTOBER 11 MASTODON w/ Eagles of Death Metal, Russian Circles

OCTOBER 22 DEMETRI MARTIN

OCTOBER 29 BEN FOLDS

NOVEMBER 1 COLIN HAY

11 OTTAWA AVE NW • DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS • 20MONROELIVE.COM

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

37

/// Festivals

| by Marla R. Miller

F

Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

or 19 years, West Michigan residents gathered for an 11-day party to celebrate the best of summer on the shores of Muskegon Lake.

The festival, known as Muskegon Summer Celebration, brought nationally touring, big-name acts to scenic Heritage Landing, along with thousands of people who patronized downtown businesses after the concerts and other festivities.

Since the 2011 demise of Summer Celebration due to financial losses, several local business owners and entrepreneurs have stepped up to organize more unique, boutique-type festivals and fill the economic void.

It’s not just about pumping money into the local economy, but creating a positive and memorable experience that will make visitors want to return.

“We want people to plan their Four th of Julys in Muskegon,” said Brandon Baskin, founder of RockStock. “We want people to plan their Labor Days in Muskegon and to go home and say ‘Hey, that was awesome.’”

Muskegon RockStock Heritage Landing July 3-4, $5, muskegonrockstock.com This year marks the 10th anniversary of this family-friendly rock showcase, started

by Baskin as a way to highlight local and regional bands. It was originally a one-day event in Hackley Park, but moved to Heritage Landing over the Fourth of July holiday after Summer Celebration folded.

38 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

Burning Foot Beer Festival

Making Muskegon Memorable Specialty festivals appear on the lakeshore, casting a wider net and bringing new tourists to town RockStock, held July 3-4, draws crowds of 10,000-plus and continues to grow. This is the fourth consecutive year at the waterfront venue and a large KidStock area is new this year.

The festival features a variety of rock acts, headlined by Crazy Babies Ozzy Rebourne and Echoes of Pink Floyd, with a laser light show, fireworks, raffles and more.

Baskin said the festival was always meant to be affordable for families, so admission and T-shirts remain $5. With the help of sponsors, Baskin’s company also puts on

the Fourth of July fireworks display over Muskegon Lake.

He’d like to see RockStock join the conversation and reputation of Unity Festival and Michigan Irish Music Festival, but at a sustainable pace.

Rebel Road and Bike Time Downtown Muskegon July 12-16, rebelroad.org

Drawing motorcycle enthusiasts from throughout the Midwest and beyond, Rebel Road features beer tents and live music, food and merchandise vendors, camping, and contests, along with bike, car and stunt shows, all over four days in downtown Muskegon.

Summer Celebration and professional hockey were two reasons Muskegon native Ron Madison decided 11 years ago to buy Racquets Downtown Grill. With the loss of both, coupled with new breweries and restaurants, Madison knew he had to do something

when Muskegon Bike Time announced it was leaving downtown in 2015.

“In my mind, if we lost one more event, it could have been crippling for downtown,” he said. “No matter what the draw is, foot traffic is the key to our future.”

So Madison reached out to other business owners and the Child Abuse Council of Muskegon County to organize Rebel Road on the same weekend, this year on July 12-16, closing off several blocks of Western Avenue for motorcycle parking and other events.

“It’s the atmosphere that has been a big part of the success of the event,” he said.

“Downtown Muskegon has always been a great place to host an event or a big party, and the out-of-towners in particular enjoy the opportunity to come in and take the town over.”

Bike Time decided to return to the Harley Davidson dealership this year, but Rebel Road already has taken off as its own event, adding a Wednesday kids’ night featuring Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish.

Female rocker Jasmine Cain headlines Friday and Jared Blake on Saturday.

Besides exposing new people to the region, the festival pumps millions into the local economy, and every downtown event adds value.

“They’re all helpful and even if they’re not measurable in terms of dollars and

cents, they create a positive atmosphere and energy,” he said. “When people are trying to think about what it is they want to do with their time, they remember the last positive experience they had in your community.”

Shoreline Jazz Festival Heritage Landing Aug. 24-27, $35 per day, shorelinejazzfestival.com

Burning Foot Beer Festival Pere Marquette Beach Aug. 26, $50-$60, burning foot.beer

Gerald Albright at Shoreline Jazz Festival

Michigan’s only beer festival on the beach, the Aug. 26 Burning Foot Beer Festival is

Muskegon RockStock: (bottom) AC/DC tribute band Let There Be Rock.

another event garnering national attention.

Held in a circle on Pere Marquette Beach, Burning Foot highlights the best of summer and craft beer from 65 breweries, plus live music, food, camping and more.

This year’s band lineup includes Melophobix, SouthPaw, Tropidelic, Badfish (a Sublime tribute band), and headliner Less Than Jake.

Organized by the Lakeshore Brewers Guild, based in Muskegon, the festival is focused on promoting the craft beer scene in areas that border Lake Michigan.

The guild considered downtown, but wanted to showcase Muskegon’s beaches and the state’s unique lakeshore lifestyle.

Organizers bring in bands who fit the beach environment, custom-inspired local art and a culinary team to create quality, beachy eats.

“It’s a beer festival at heart, but it’s a lifestyle event to go along with it,” said Allen Serio, chairman of Burning Foot Beer Festival.

The event is organized so people can set up their tent in the sand Saturday morning, go check out downtown or the beach and then enjoy the festival, capped off by a sunset and beach bonfire. For those who don’t camp, shuttles and a trolley are available as well.

Serio is another Muskegon native who helped start Taste of Muskegon and then Burning Foot three years ago. While tickets are capped at 4,500 to keep the growth manageable, he expects it to sell out and said 60 percent of sales are outside of Muskegon County. Last year, attendees came from 23 states.

“You really get to take in the beauty of Pere Marquette beach and being in Muskegon,” he said. “We set up in a big circle, and as the sun sets, you can see the pier. It’s a really cool environment and lets you experience that beach lifestyle mentality for a day.” n

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Helping to put Muskegon on the map among jazz lovers, Alexander Zonjic’s Shoreline Jazz Festival celebrates culture, diversity and great jazz.

Now in its fourth year, the festival at Heritage Landing includes well-known per for mers like Boney Ja mes, Peabo Bryson, Gerald Albright, Steve Cole, Joey Sommerville, Organissimo, Yancyy and more.

Zonjic serves as artistic director of similar festivals throughout Michigan, Ohio and Canada and said it takes three to five years for an event to become sustainable. Thanks to great local sponsors, the Muskegon festival continues to bring in big acts, grow in popularity and add more off-site events to create a true festival environment.

Local residents benef it, but it’s also a boost for the region, including area restaurants and hotels, as most attendees travel from cities as far away as Cleveland, India napolis, Chicago, Toronto a nd Milwaukee.

“We’re on track to create a world-class jazz festival on the lake in Muskegon,” he said. “When you talk to someone in Chicago and they say, ‘Isn’t that where that great jazz festival is?’ That is when you know you’ve created something cool.”

39

/// playlist

Songs We Like

by Shane German, WYCE Music Operations Assistant

Hot town, summer in the city. Is the back of your neck dirty and gritty?

You can definitely cool off with a roster of top flight talent making its way to West Michigan in July.

Saddle Creek’s Big Thief (7/1) brings its indie rock sensibilities and mythological beauty to Bell’s. By way of Memphis and dripping in the legendary Stax Records sound, Booker T Jones (7/7) needs no introduction. Let me go on. You can sing Blister in the Sun at the top of your lungs with Violent Femmes (7/7).

Many of us still remember the band’s impact on our 1980s college radio alternative lives.

great food Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

live music

&

NOT YOUR AVERAGE BAR FOOD.

Sunday Brunch 11am-4pm

HOURS:

LOCALLY SOURCED INGREDIENTS

T U E - W E D 1 1 AM - 1 0 PM T H U R - F R I 1 1 AM - 1 1 PM S A T 5 PM- 1 1 PM & S U N 1 1 AM- 4 PM

Ray Wylie Hubbard (7/7) has been playing a string of sold-out shows across the country and his set at Tip Top Deluxe is no exception. You’ll probably have to catch him at Blissfest (7/7 and 7/8) along with Michael Franti, Los Lobos and Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Boys.

july shows 7/6 No Music - Closed for the holiday week 7/13 Abigail Stauffer 7/20 Tom DeVries 7/27 Genna & Jesse

136 East Fulton, Grand rapids | 616.235.7669 | onetrick.BIZ

40 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

Mike Dillon (7/8) and his vibes are coming to Founders. With not-so-subtle flavors of punk rock, funk, ska and hip-hop grooves, this will go down smooth with a nice cold one. Aaaah!

Andrew Bird

The Dustbowl Revival (7/11) delivers prewar blues and roots music with a Venice Beach vibe. Speaking of the blues, Eric Gales (7/12) plays Blues on the Mall for a free show. Sheryl Crow returned to her roots with her new album, Be Myself, and she’ll return to Frederik Meijer Gardens with opener Aaron Lee Tasjan (7/12).

Junior Brown (7/15) has been slinging his “guit-steel” double neck guitar for more than 30 years and we are all the better for it. Diana Krall performed in June at Meijer Gardens, but her husband Declan MacManus (Elvis Costello) gets his turn on July 17.

Nite Jewel (7/20) is sure to set the dance f loor on fire with her electronic-infused chillwave bliss, followed a few days later by the psychedelic sounds of Foxygen (7/23).

Well played, Pyramid Scheme. Well played.

We’ve seen Andrew Bird and Esperanza Spalding (7/24) come to town before, but never have the two shared the same bill.

Philadelphia’s Low Cut Connie (7/27) has a reputation of delivering a live show that will melt your face. Closing out the month are the shiny pop hooks of The Shins and Tennis (7/27) and Michigan based NOMO (7/29), who are sure to bring their Afro-beat, jazz and funk A-game as always. n Check out an exclusive playlist of songs from these artists, put together by WYCE, at revuewm.com!

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

41

/// On tour

| by Eric Mitts

Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

N

ot long af ter announcing she’d return to Grand Rapids for a headlining show at The Pyramid Scheme, critically acclaimed New York singer-songwriter Mitski took to social media to confess her love for our fair city, and divulged a secret, dream desire to maybe someday move here.

“I think it was honestly that every time I’ve gone, the weather’s been perfect, which isn’t a reason to move somewhere, but it’s certainly made me daydream,” Mitski told Revue.

“It also just seemed like people my age, and other touring people I know who lived there, were able to have nice homes for themselves in convenient neighborhoods without breaking the bank, which I, as someone who’s based out of (New York City), was very envious of.”

Born Mitski Miyawaki in Japan, Mitski has long grappled with the elusiveness of belonging. Growing up, her family moved from Japan to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malaysia, China and Turkey, before settling in New York City. Those experiences affect her music to this day, with her latest album, last year’s widely praised Puberty 2, touching on the tension and the inescapable isolation of teenage identity lingering into adulthood.

Heralded by Pitchfork, Puberty 2 crossed over, with the LP landing on several year-end Best Albums lists, including mainstream publications like Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly. The album follows three other records, two of which she recorded and self-released as part of her junior- and senior-year projects while studying composition at the State University of New York at Purchase (SUNY).

“I’ve been writing songs for my whole adult life now, so I’m sure it’s helped me make sense of things in my life, but I will never really know how my life and sense of self would have differed if I didn’t write songs,” Mitski said of the deeply personal and hyper-aware nature of her music. “All of my music is autobiographical, but that doesn’t mean the narratives of my songs are exact facts as they

42 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

Mitski

Photo: Ebru Yildiz

Words from a Shooting Star

Mitski shares her love of Grand Rapids, Pixies and bold songwriting happened in my personal life. I make music in order to express real emotions that I’ve felt in my life, and sometimes those emotions are better encapsulated in a story that didn’t happen to me. I don’t think that makes them any less real.

“The songs and words are vehicles for the emotion, so if the emotion is delivered properly, then the facts of my life don’t matter.”

Now 26 and touring the world over, Mitski is frequently described by critics as a “fierce” new voice in America’s musical soundscape for her fearless musical dynamics. But it’s a term she doesn’t feel accurately describes her.

“I think perhaps that word comes up because I put my whole self into my work and my performances, and treat them like it’s a matter of life and death,” Mitski said. “I’m not making music to be popular and for people to find me hot, or to get drunk and party, or even to have fun. When people tell me to ‘have fun’ at my shows, I know they mean well, but it irks

me so much, because it’s not about whether I have fun.

“I’m making music because I want to create something meaningful and real, and to give my own life meaning. The stakes are really high for me, so I think that registers with the audience, and sometimes I know it’s a turnoff for some people, because often people just want to go to shows to have fun and hang out with their friends. Which is totally fine!

But I don’t really provide that.”

Instead, Mitski wants her live shows to be singular events that lodge in her fans’ brains — tiny capsules of time that cannot be replicated.

“I need each show to mean something, especially because I think a lot of people who come to my shows are like me, in that they don’t usually like to go to shows, or would rather stay home and not face the crowds,” she said. “I often find going to shows to be really stressful, and sometimes quite lonely experiences. So I need the show to be worth leaving bed for.”

Although she doesn’t have plans to move to Grand Rapids any time soon, Mitski will return in the fall when she performs as the opening act for the Pixies’ tour stop at 20 Monroe Live on Oct. 7.

“I think I will be at the side of the stage every single night watching their set,” she said. “They have influenced me so much, and they’re one of my favorite bands ever. I’m so excited, just as a pure fan, to get a glimpse of how their shows come about and what their tours are like. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to talk to them or interact with them in person, and I don’t expect that to happen because I want to respect their space. But I’m just so excited.” n

Mitski wsg. Half Waif

The Pyramid Scheme 68 Commerce Ave. SW, Grand Rapids July 12, 8 p.m., $16-18, all ages pyramidschemebar.com, (616) 272-3758

F I F T E E N T H

A N N I V E R S A R Y

HOXEYVILLE A U G U S T 1 8 - 2 0, 2 0 1 7 • W E L L S T O N , M I

GREENSKY BLUEGRASS ( 2 NIGHTS)

CHARLES BRADLEY & HIS EXTRAORDINAIRES

SAM BUSH

H XEYVILLE BAND

FRUITION • JOSHUA DAVIS • LARRY KEEL EXPERIENCE

RAYLAND BAXTER • BILLY STRINGS • SHOOK TWINS H XEYVILLE LUKE WINSLOW KING • THE ACCIDENTALS • THE CRANE WIVES

AIRBORNE OR AQUATIC • JON STICKLEY TRIO • THE WHISTLE STOP REVUE MAY ERLEWINE AND THE MOTIVATIONS • THE GO ROUNDS • SETH BERNARD

BIG DUDEE ROO • THE APPLESEED COLLECTIVE • THE CHANGE • PUBLIC ACCESS BIOMASSIVE • STEPLADDERS • DARCY WILKIN • FRANK YOUNGMAN ALLSTARS ERIC ENGEBLADE TRIO • LAKE EFFECT • DEEP FRIED PICKLE PROJECT

hoxeyville.com

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

43

6740 CASCADE ROAD 6 1 6 . 9 4 2 . 9 8 8 6 www.cascade-optical.com PHOTO: ROB CONENS FRAME: ANNE ET VALENTIN MODEL: JEAN VANCOEVERING

Style Notes

by Missy Black

All the Little Things

W

e’re here to show you how to accessorize with intention. Get ready to lead the charge with statement pieces that’ll have

everyone asking where you shop.

Cathy Starnes is the new girl on Cherry Street in Grand Rapids and she’ll have no problem making friends. Her accessories hot spot Iris Boutique has everything you

need to spruce up your LBD or plain, white tee. The bulk of what she carries is jewelry, along with shoes, handbags, scarves, hats, hair accessories and a few gift items.

Starnes has worked the accessories angle via her wardrobe consulting, personal styling and personal shopper experience.

“People are so interested in accessories. It’s the biggest mystery to them but also makes the biggest impact,” Starnes said. The right shoe, scarf or earrings can elevate an outfit or take it down a notch, and they transcend work or weekend.

One of the more fascinating pieces at the shop is a bracelet that was hand-beaded in meditation by an Australian artist. From serenity to calm or joy, each bracelet’s tiny, colorful beads represent a feeling. There’s handbag should be your biggest splurge item — you wear it every day,” Starnes said

BUT THERE’S MORE…

Tiny details or big impression?

You decide.

Madonna enamel pin from the Desperately Seeking Susan era from Arthur’s Plaid Pants at arthursplaidpants.com, $10.

Round shades from Ray-Ban add some oomph to the summer from

jb and me in Holland and Grand Rapids, front pair, $165; back pair, $175.

Bun pins give braids, buns and ponies a little sparkle from Bombshell Blow Dry Bar in Holland, $18.

of the quality leather handbags. Gaze at her selection of shoes and heed her style tip: Versatility in shoes is important because they are a “necessity — you have to wear shoes.” Anything in taupe, tan, nude or in the metallic family will take you far.

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining | Schedule

also the Gigi New York handbag line. “Your

45

by Kelly Brown

Fashion

Love Charles Vintage

Good Soul Vintage

Fashion Flashback: Vintage Clothing in West Michigan

Vintage clothing isn’t just for the budget-minded shopper anymore (or for Brooklyn hipsters). Take a walk through East Grand Rapids and you’re sure to spot countless men and women of all ages sporting at least one article of clothing that pre-dates their birth. Heck, you’ll probably see a baby wearing a pair of secondhand ’90s Doc Martens. Whether you’re shopping online or digging through racks in store, West Michigan is booming with opportunity to score something new for your wardrobe.

Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene

I.C. Hair and Vintage (337 Diamond Ave. SE, Grand Rapids) Located at the corner of Diamond and Virginia, I.C. Hair and Vintage offers men’s and women’s clothing from the 1950s to mid-90s. While the racks are stocked with plenty of clothing options, including daytime, formal wear, suits and more, the best finds at I.C. are in the jewelry cases up front. From vintage coach bags to turquoise jewelry, this shop (and hair salon) is the best location for accessories to complete your vintage look.

Small Earth Vintage (445 Century Ave. SW, Grand Rapids) In a cute corner on the first floor of Lost & Found Treasures is a small booth stocked with clothing from the 1940s to mid-80s. The shop, run by Andy of Small Earth Vintage

46 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

(and his partner Karen on Etsy), features one of the best “in-store” selections in West Michigan. “We’ve been at Lost & Found for five years now, and we love the way the space is set up — and that people can shop for mid-century furniture or home decor and clothing all at once,” Andy said. “(People) value the high quality and classic style of vintage fashion. They want to show their individual and unique style, which you cannot do with mass-produced clothing.”

Bonus: Receive 10 percent off your purchase if you post a photo to Instagram while shopping and tag @smallearthgr!

Good Soul Vintage (etsy.com/shop/goodsoulvintage) If you prefer to shop online, look no further than Good Soul Vintage, owned by Grand Rapids local Chelsea

Photo: Amanda Westra

Andrews. “I opened the shop in 2013. Over the last few years, I have sold only vintage clothing,” Andrews said.

Good Soul is a lady’s go-to shop for everything from classic tees to eveningwear. “Grand Rapids is a laid-back town with a laid-back fashion scene. Those eras (’60s and ’70s) tend to be easier to incorporate into everyday looks.” Look for Good Soul Vintage at the Downtown Market during the pop-up Vintage Markets throughout the summer.

Love Charles Vintage (etsy.com/people/lovecharles) Another excellent option for shopping online is Love Charles Vintage, owned by Lily Greig and open since 2009. Her goal with Love Charles Vintage is to offer a variety of clothes from the ’50s through the ’80s that are timeless and easy to incorporate into a modern wardrobe.

“In over 10 years, vintage clothing has become harder to find,” Greig said. “I think people are incorporating it into their wardrobe on a wider scale these days.” Follow Love Charles Vintage on Instagram to stay up to date with Greig’s latest finds.

Vintage Street Market – Downtown Market (435 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids) If you’re looking for the best of the best and willing to barter for a good deal, the Vintage Street Market at the Downtown Market is a gold mine for clothing treasures.

Only open during the summer months, the market features an assortment of vintage clothing dealers selling every article of clothing you could think of — even vintage Lederhosen! n

Michigan Wine Country

L EEL A N AU & O L D M I S S I O N W I N ER I E S L EEL A N AU & O L D M I S S I O N W I N ER I E S L EEL A N AU & O L D M I S S I O N W I N ER I E S

L EEL A N AU & O L D M I S S I O N W I N ER I E S

Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining | Schedule

Experience Northern Experience Northern Experience Northern Michigan Wine Country Michigan Wine Country Experience Northern Michigan Wine Country

 LEEL ANAU PENINSUL A   LEEL ANAU PENINSUL A  LEEL PENINSUL A 10844 E.ANAU Revold Rd, Suttons Bay  LEEL PENINSUL A 10844 E. Revold Rd, Suttons Bay 10844 E.ANAU Revold Rd, Suttons Bay Winery, tasting room, luxury Inn, 10844 E.tasting Revold Rd, Suttons Bay Winery, room, luxury farm-to-table café, patios, hikingInn, trails. Inn, Winery, tasting room, luxury Winery, tasting room, luxury Inn, farm-to-table café, patios, hiking farm-to-table café, patios,trails. hiking trails. farm-to-table café, patios, hiking trails.  OLD MISSION PENINSUL A   OLD MISSION PENINSUL A 360 McKinley Rd. East, Traverse City McKinley OLD MISSION PENINSUL A  OLD MISSION PENINSUL A  360 Rd. East, Traverse City Minutes from downtown Traverse City, 360 McKinley Rd.orchards East, City Minutes fromhills, downtown Traverse City, among rolling & vineyards.

360 McKinley Rd.Traverse East, Traverse City Minutes fromhills, downtown Traverse City, among rolling orchards & vineyards.

Minutes from downtown Traverse City, BlackStarFarms.com among rolling hills, orchards & vineyards. amongBlackStarFarms.com rolling hills, orchards & vineyards.

BlackStarFarms.com

BlackStarFarms.com

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

47

by Eric Mitts

Comedy At The B.O.B. Grand Rapids, MI 616.356.2000 thebob.com

Hardcore Motherhood

#IMOMSOHARD stars Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley score laughs with honesty

PAUL eST2R9IC-JKuLlyAN1D Jun

MIKE LEBO July VITZ 6-8

STEWART HUFF

Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene

July 13-15

AL JACKSON July 20-22

S BRAD Wy I2L7L-I2A9M Jul

48 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

I

f there’s one thing that’s true for moms, it’s that they could all use a good night out.

T ha n k f u l ly, comed ia ns /v i ra l video sensations Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley — of the top-trending Web series #IMOMSOHARD — are here to help.

Currently on a nationwide tour (coming to DeVos Performance Hall on July 9), Hensley and Smedley are enduring what many moms do during the summer months — they’re taking their families on an extended vacation. They just also happen to be throwing the best possible party for their network of fans and moms along the way.

With more than one million Facebook fans and millions of views on their comically confessional videos online, the duo has hit on an honest need for laughter in motherhood that has gone overlooked during the age of helicopter parenting and child-rearing blogs.

And in just over a year’s time, the duo’s frequently wine-enabled straight talk has cut through it all, from bedtimes to Pinterest, picky eaters to Spanx.

“The most wonderful part of this has been the live tour because it puts faces to these likes and shares and comments,” Hensley said. “The moms are out. Women are out. Some dudes come out. And we just celebrate being together. Jen and I often say it’s really not about us. It’s really about getting to spend time together with your bestie, your group of girls or people you haven’t seen in forever. Maybe you dress up, maybe you don’t, but you’re out for one night and just laugh and have a good time, and it’s really special.”

That special connection surfaced early online, with fans quickly sharing their own stories and struggles in reaction to the duo’s hilarious honest videos, and soon a supportive community of moms emerged around the hashtag.

“There is a lot of this stuff that women talk about with their best friend, but not publicly, so we’re just bringing those best friend conversations public,” Smedley said of the start of #IMOMSOHARD.

#IMOMSOHARD: Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley “I think the idea is that you can have a conversation about a heavy topic and sort of lighten it,” Hensley added. “We just didn’t want to get too heavy, and we didn’t want to give advice, because we’re the last people who should give advice.”

Both originally from Nebraska, Hensley and Smedley attended the University of Nebraska, where they shared a lot of the same friends, but never crossed paths until years later, when they had each ventured out to Los Angeles to pursue their dreams in comedy.

Both studied at Second City but still never met, until Hensley caught Smedley doing a small comedy show at an obscure theater where they shared their first laughs over a cooler of beer.

“We very quickly became best friends, and then we met our husbands, and had kids, so the rest was just a boulder rolling downhill,” Hensley said.

Taking a pause from comedy to start their families, they soon felt antsy to get creative again and decided to turn the camera on themselves for what was supposed to be an honest look at the challenges of being a mom.

“In our first episode, we tried to be really perky and really happy, and we wanted to show moms that there’s a happy side, but that’s not how we felt,” Hensley said. “I had

cystic acne on my cheek and Jen had been up for like three days straight with her baby, and we started and we had a really fancy introduction planned, and then Jen forgot her daughter’s name. And I think that was the universe saying, ‘OK ladies, here’s the path.’”

That path has since taken them to almost overnight online success, and they’re currently working to expand the world of #IMOMSOHARD and create a charity or other program to give back to all the moms who have given them so much. “ We ’r e ( a l s o ) h o p i n g t o b r i n g #IMOMSOHARD into sitcom form on TV, like an extended version, where everybody gets to meet our husbands, or maybe better looking versions of our husbands,” Smedley said. “Sort of blown-up stories, longer versions of what we’re telling in the Web series.

But we’ll always do the Web series, because you get to interact with the moms and there’s nothing like that.” n

#IMOMSOHARD Mom’s Night Out: Summer Break Tour

DeVos Performance Hall 303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids July 9, 7:30 p.m. $38.50-$48.25 devosperformancehall.com, (616) 742-6500

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

49

Lit Life

by Josh Veal

The Need to Read GR Reads satisfies your textual desires

Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene

I

t’s common knowledge that reading makes you smarter, wiser, sexier, more mysterious and arguably stronger (those hardcovers are heavy).

Why, you’re reading right now! Just take a look around and see how impressed everyone is. Feel the intrigue, the desire, the respect emanating from their fixed gaze — that’s why Grand Rapids Public Library started GR Reads, its adult summer reading program.

Okay, we might be tak ing some creative liberties here. GRPL’s Kristen Krueger-Corrado told Revue the program was conceived as being one book for the city to read together, but it quickly became apparent that one book was not enough.

So now it’s 10 books, which is probably just the right amount.

These 10 books are chosen by a committee of librarians, who take into account quality, timeliness, relevance to the community, variety and perhaps most importantly, the ability to program events around the selection.

“Sometimes we’ll program around theme, and sometimes we just look at what’s going to make an impact on our readers and on our patrons,” Krueger-Corrado said. “For example, we picked 1984, which is extremely timely for what’s going on in our political climate.”

GR Reads is stacked with events — 28 to be precise — of all kinds, all around the city, all tied to the 10 books.

One of the selections, Provenance by Laney Salisbury and Aly Sujo, tells the true story of perhaps the largest art forgery con of all time. So GRPL is partnering with San Chez Bistro to host Painting and Pinot: Forge a Fake — the event’s name pretty much speaks for itself.

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch follows a college physics professor as he’s pulled through a gateway into another life.

As such, GRPL is hosting a walk around Grand Rapids with photographer Dianne Carroll Burdick, who will teach you how to shoot historic doors and gateways in interesting ways.

A week later, Paulette Epstein, planetarium manager and staff astronomer at the Michigan Science Center, will give a presentation on the science of dark matter and why it (pun definitely intended) matters.

50 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

“We want to bring the library out into the community, so the majority of our programs take place outside of the library,” Krueger-Corrado said. “Really, what we’re trying to do is engage people with reading in the library and maybe in a nontraditional way.”

The program has grown over time, with an event last year filling SpeakEZ Lounge to fire code capacity and leading to a long line out the door. This year, Krueger-Corrado is most excited about Fright Night at Stonesthrow in August, a screening of Night of the Living Dead in the titular furniture store’s showroom after dark. Movie snacks and beverages will be provided, all for free.

The spooky, after-hours event is inspired by Grady Hendrix’s Horrorstör, Krueger-Corrado’s favorite book on this year’s list. Combining humor and horror, this novel tells the story of a Scandinavian furniture store clearly meant to represent IKEA, where employees find broken and vandalized products every morning. Five of the employees f inally decide to stay overnight to catch the perp, but of course nothing goes as expected. The whole book is laid out like a retail catalog, complete with furniture illustrations and descriptions throughout.

GRPL orders these books in massive quantities, so you should have no fear of showing up to your local branch and being turned away. They come in physical form, e-books, audiobooks — whatever you need. You can even start your own book club, checking out multiple copies at a time.

While some of the books/events are silly and some are serious, the real goal of GR Reads is to bring people together.

“We want to develop the idea that there’s a sense of community around these books, so you’ll see people attend multiple programs over the summer and you really get to know other people,” KruegerCorrado said. “So it’s not only sitting at home reading a book, but it’s starting a dialogue about what’s going on in these books and what you’re experiencing in these programs.” n

July GR Reads Events Gin Tasting and Tour (1984) Long Road Distillers, July 10 Doors and Gateways of GR Photo Walk (Dark Matter) GRPL Main, July 11 Threats Facing the Lake Michigan Shoreline (Sudden Sea) GRPL Main, July 13 The Science of Dark Matter (Dark Matter) GRPL Main, July 17 Bangarang Circus (The Tumbling Turner Sisters) GRPL Main, July 18 Scandinavian Cooking with the Ginger Chef (Horrorstör) Central Reformed Church, July 24 & 26 Beautifully Wrapped: the Global Art of Headwrapping (You Can’t Touch My Hair) LINC Gallery, July 27 Exploring Michigan’s Urban Legends (The Red Market) Grand Rapids Brewing Company, July 27 The Right to Fight and Serve (The Harlem Hellfighters) GRPL Main, July 31 For a complete list of books and August’s events, visit grpl.org/grreads.

Signature ”Gandered” Tots

A new restaurant for Southeast Grand Rapids.

At Ganders, we’re passionate about Michigan.

616-957-1111

MICHIGAN GROWN MICHIGAN MADE MICHIGAN BREWED

28th Street SE at Patterson Ave. doubletreegrandrapids.com/ganders

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

A Family Tradition Since 1916

A Family Tradition Since 1916 6054 124th Avenue • Fennville, MI 49408 • 269.561.2297

EVENTS

6054 124th Avenue • Fennville, MI 49408 • 269.561.2297

Live Music Every Saturday, 1-4pm

July 8th Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cider Family recipe Michigan fruit pies and desserts • Homemade sandwiches, salads and soups • Fresh pressed cider from Crane’s apples • Fresh fruit in season • Local preserves, honey, mapleRelease syrup and more!

• Artisan, small batch hard cider and wine Party, 12-6pm Farm-fresh Food • Amazing Drinks • Unique Surroundings

Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining | Schedule

• Tasting bar with samples, bottles and growlers to take home with you!

www.cranespiepantry.com August 5th

Evening Concert with Olivia Millerschin, 5-8pm

August 26th Crane's CiderFest, 12-6pm Farm-fresh Food • Amazing Drinks • Unique Surroundings

mily recipe Michigan fruit pies and desserts • Homemade sandwiches, salads and soups • Fresh pressed cider from and Desserts - Unique Surroundings pples • Fresh fruit inFarm-fresh season • Local Meals preserves, honey, maple syrup and more!

• Artisan, small batch hard cider and wine • Tasting bar withAmazing samples, bottles to take home with you!

Wine and andgrowlers Hard Cider

www.cranespiepantry.com REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

51

PaciямБc Rim Curry

950 Wealthy ST SE Suite 1A Grand Rapids, MI 49506 616-356-2573

ErbThaiGR

52 | REVUEWM.COM | July 2017

4 1 6 0 L a k e M ic h ig a n D R N W S u it e B G r a n d R a p i d s, M I 4 9 5 3 4 616-724-4102

8 2 0 M ic h ig a n S T N E G r a n d R a p id s , M I 4 9 5 0 3 616-454-0444

LIMITED MENU OFFERS

NOT AVAILABLE

ErbThaiGR

Erbthaigr.com

Restaurant listings arranged by region

Grand Rapids Angel’s Thai Café 136 Monroe Center NW. 616-454-9801 THAI. This downtown restaurant makes your order fresh, fast, and hot. You can order your entree with your choice of meat and spice level, or create your own. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Thai Steak and Yum Talay.

Anna’s House Multiple locations BREAKFAST/LUNCH. Anna’s House recently went through a dramatic makeover, going from an already-beloved breakfast hot spot and neighborhood staple to an ever-growing concept with five locations across West Michigan. Why all the success? The menu is unique, but accessible. The interior design is refreshing, but not overbearing.

And the service is great. » SERVING: Breakfast, Lunch OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Inventive breakfast specials.

Bistro Bella Vita 44 Grandville Ave. SW. 616-222-4600 ITALIAN. One of Grand Rapids’ best dining experiences, featuring Mediterranean-inspired country cuisine, a swanky yet comfortable downtown atmopshere and personable service.

BBV’s culinary team creates authentic, housemade recipes made with locally grown produce, fresh seafood and rotisserie roasted meats. Specialty gluten-free menu, and can prepare custom dishes for lactose intolerant, vegetarian, and vegan diets. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days.

GO THERE FOR: Mediterranean Country Cuisine and Martinis.

Butcher’s Union 438 Bridge St. NW 616-551-1323 AMERICAN. Butcher’s has its fortes — meat and whiskey — but it’s not exactly niche. Expertly-crafted cocktails (made with every kind of spirit) are here at a refreshingly affordable price, along with a high-end food menu for carnivores and vegheads alike. The

Brewery Vivant 925 Cherry St. SE. 616-719-1604 FRENCH/BELGIAN. Housed in a refurbished funeral chapel, this brewery won Best Ambiance in Revue’s Best of the West with its stained glass windows and European beer hall setup. Along with farmhouse style beers, the LEED-certified BV is known for its French-Belgian cuisine, from duck nachos to roasted bone marrow. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The Burger (2nd place Best of the West).

Chapbook Café 2660 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids. 616-942-0595. CAFE. Take a break from browsing the shelves at Schuler Books with a homemade selection of soups, sandwiches and quiches. Soups are prepared in-house daily and served with fresh baked bread to accompany a small-but-elegant sandwich menu. Try a quiche or traditional Italian Panini grilled on fresh ciabatta bread, or for a quick bite, grab a bagel or scone from the dessert case. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days GO THERE FOR: Homemade soups and sandwiches CitySen Lounge 83 Monroe Center St. NW. 616-608-1720 AMERICAN. CitySen Lounge, located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, is a bar with a big-city feel, offering exciting options for lunch, dinner and breakfast on the weekends. The focus is on fresh ingredients and a full bar with local brews, wine and creative cocktails. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner (Breakfast on weekends). OPEN: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Daily happy hour The Corner Bar 31 N. Main St., Rockford 616-866-9866 AMERICAN. The downtown Rockford tavern serves a solid menu of burgers, burritos, salads and sandwiches, but it is best known for hot dogs — serving almost 1,000 per day. Its hot-dog-eating challenge has been conquered by more than a few, but it raises the question: Why would you want to consume Corner Bar dogs in a hurry rather than savor each bite? » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Hot dogs.

The Cottage Bar 18 Lagrave Ave. SE. 616-454-9088 AMERICAN. The Cottage Bar is the oldest operating restaurant and bar in downtown Grand Rapids. Come in for the Cottage Burger,

smothered with green olives, bacon, lettuce, tomato, hickory mayonnaise and Swiss and American cheeses. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays GO THERE FOR: The Cottage Burger.

Erb Thai 950 Wealthy St. SE #1A. (616) 356-2573. Additional locations at 4160 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, Suite B, and 820 Michigan St. NE. THAI. Food rooted in traditional Thai cuisine, but also made to accommodate health conscious and special diets. Not too strong, not too weak, like harmony and melody. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days.

GO THERE FOR: Peanut Curry Noodles.

Founders Brewing Company 235 Grandville SW. 616-776-1195 BREWPUB. A beerlover’s paradise with a national reputation for flavorful, award-winning beers. Likewise, the brewpub’s menu consists mainly of flavorful handcrafted deli sandwiches that can stand up and complement the beers (or vice versa). » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Award-winning beer, handcrafted sandwiches.

sharing, plus salads, sandwiches, and entrées. Lots of domestics and microbrews, plus an array of martinis including the “Woodstini,” a tasty mix of Stoli Orange Vodka, mandarin oranges and raspberries. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Cocktails.

Harmony Brewing Company 1551 Lake Dr. SE (616) 233-0063 BREWPUB. Harmony features 12 craft-brewed beers in addition to signature root beer for the kiddos. Named one of the top-five brewpub menus in West Michigan by yours truly, Harmony offers 10” rustic wood-fired pizzas and great soups and sandwiches.

Check out their new location, Harmony Hall, at 401 Stocking Ave. NW. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days.

GO THERE FOR: Pizza and brews.

Lindo Mexico Restaurante Mexicano 1742 28th St. SW. 616-261-2280 MEXICAN. One of the lessdiscussed Mexican eateries is also one of the most popular, especially on the weekends. The atmosphere? Very communal, occasionally with excellent live music. The food? Full of flavor on the cheap. The service? Always friendly, always helpful. » SERVING: Lunch, Dinner OPEN: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Unique margaritas made fresh.

Graydon’s Crossing 1223 Plainfield NE. 616-726-8260 TAVERN. An authentic take on the English Pub, with a huge selection of beers on tap and a menu that includes classic English dishes like Fish & Chips, Shepherd’s Pie and Irish Stew, as well as Indian specialties like Tandoori Chicken and Tikka Masala. A great casual atmosphere for drinking and dining. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Beer and authentic pub food.

Marie Catrib’s 1001 Lake Dr. 616-454-4020 ECLECTIC. The East Hills eatery makes everything from scratch with local ingredients, and there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Get there early for lunch, as there is almost always a wait. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days.

GO THERE FOR: Salads, soups and sandwiches.

G.R.P.D. (Grand Rapids Pizza and Delivery) 340 State St. SE. 616-454-9204 ITALIAN. The current location opened in 2004 as the first established pizzeria in Heritage Hill A common meeting spot for local folks, business professionals and college students, a place where one could gather for a quick meal or a reflective lunch. It offers both hand-tossed pizza and Chicago-style stuffed pizza, as well as pasta, sandwiches, salads, and wings. Online ordering, too. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza.

One Trick Pony 136 E. Fulton. 616-235-7669 AMERICAN. One Trick Pony unveiled a new menu last April with the tagline “Fresh, Local Fare with a Beat.” The restaurant is a part of FarmLink and supports local growers and remains focused on sustainability. Connected to the Cottage Bar, the menu spans pizza, salads, homemade soups, smoked prime rib and more.

Pair the food with live music, which OTP features weekly. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Eclectic pizzas.

Grand Woods Lounge 77 Grandville Ave. SW. 616-451-4300 AMERICAN. The restaurant’s interior exudes a warm, casual ambiance reminiscent of the great eateries of the Pacific Northwest; the outdoor porch features two outdoor bars and a fireplace. Menu stocked with affordable appetizers great for

The Pita House 1450 Wealthy SE, 3730 28th Street, 4533 Ivanrest SW (Grandville). 616-454-1171 MEDITERRANEAN. Gyros so big you can club someone with them, the smoothest hummus in town and other Mediterranean fare, including kibbe, kafta and falafel. Additional locations on 28th Street and

REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining Schedule

The B.O.B. 20 Monroe Ave. NW. (616) 356-2000 ECLECTIC. If you’re not sure what kind of dining you want, you can just head into The B.O.B., where you can choose from one of its several venues.

Go into Gilly’s, where you can dine on seafood or B.O.B.’s Brewery, the restaurant’s in-house brewery. You can dress down for some pizza at Bobarino’s or dress it up for a steak at Judson’s Steakhouse. For after dinner, take in a show at Dr. Grins or enjoy live music at H.O.M.E. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Beer and numerous dining options.

historic building sets the mood, giving off an “old fancy-bar in London” vibe. » SERVING: Lunch, Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days.

GO THERE FOR: Meat, whiskey, cocktails.

REVUE’s dining listings are compiled by staff and minions. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of restaurants in the region. For an expanded list, be on the lookout for new and improved dining changes on our website, revuewm.com.

The listings are not intended to be reviews of West Michigan restaurants, although we will inject some opinions into the listings based on staff experiences and personal preferences. To submit or to correct information in a dining listing, e-mail editor@ revuewm.com.

53

Table Talk

by Nick Macksood

Meagan Freriks, One Bourbon

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Mad Men has been off the air for two years now — it’s high time us millennials admit that Don Draper taught us how to drink whiskey. The education shouldn’t stop there, and fortunately for our tastes, Bridge Street is at it again with another establishment dedicated to upping our collective spirits knowledge. This month, Revue sat down with Meagan Freriks of One Bourbon to talk whiskey, fried chicken and daily homemade pie that would make Dale Cooper blush.

How did you end up on Bridge Street?

We loved the sense of community here. We want it to be a friendly restaurant. I’m out on the f loor here every night talking to customers. George is the one in the back of house running the kitchen. We want to be the neighborhood pub where you sit down and we’ll know your name. I mean, as corny as it sounds, we want the Cheers feel.

And you get that feeling on the West Side. We’re not going for the 2 a.m. bar crowd — we’re too old for that — so we wanted One Bourbon to be a place where you can sit down with a nice cocktail and be able to have good conversation with your friends, along with some great American comfort food.

Yeah, the menu has that middle-South kind of comfort vibe to it.

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My husband and I love to go out and try new restaurants — there’s one opening all the time now. But what I grew tired of was having a great dinner at these places, but getting a little, teeny, tiny portion of this and that and leaving the restaurant hungry and stopping at McDonald’s on the way home.

See, you’re laughing because it’s a thing!

It is. Some restaurateurs forget there are 14 of those tiny plates at most upscale restaurants — nobody’s leaving on an empty stomach.

Yeah, sometimes you just try a little too hard, right? Like, there’s nothing wrong with a burger. It’s good! And there’s no reason to put kale on every blessed thing. So here, we want to move back to classic dishes, good sizes, reasonable prices.

It may not be super creative, but it’s gonna taste really good. We’ve got a great

burger, mac and cheese. Even the fries are excellent — and poutine! I mean, smothered fries. It just doesn’t get any better than that sometimes. But our big seller so far is our fried chicken — we’ve gotten a lot of compliments on that. Super crunchy coating, and the chicken stays nice and juicy on the inside.

You’ve got an impressive amount of spirits here, too.

Yes, everybody’s always asking about the name One Bourbon. Why the bourbon?

And... it’s because I hate beer. All right? I’ll say it. I wish I liked it! And my partners love beer, but I was always the sober one eating soggy tacos at the end of the night — that’s no fun! So I wanted a spirit-forward bar, where you can have a great cocktail or try a glass of a really nice whiskey before you drop a bunch of money on a bottle at the store.

Anything you’ve got that’s a little different here?

Well, the state of Michigan controls what alcohol comes in and stays out, so you’ve got to figure out what’s available to you, first of all. And when you’re talking specialty bottles, it’s mostly a matter of what’s allocated to your different liquor reps, so on that end, it’s all about making connections.

Week to week, we have no idea what might surprise us.

With time, the area has developed a pretty sound beer palate, but maybe not with spirits. Do you offer flights or classes?

Yes, we’ll be starting them ( June 12). And what we’re planning on doing is from start to finish, so to speak. It’ll start with a shine, like that Buffalo Trace White Dog Rye Mash on the shelf, there.

Then, it’ll go to a bourbon like Michter’s American, which is a four-year age. Then, we might move to an Eagle Rare 10-year. So all in all, it’s a brief introduction to the stages of a whiskey: Here’s what it starts out as, here’s a taste of a standard four-year, and see what happens to the flavors when you age a bottle beyond that, 10 years, 12 years.

And again, we love that people are asking about tasting notes, flights and classes, but if you want a Jack and Coke, enjoy your Jack and Coke, or your gin, rum, tequila, whatever. Or your beer! Do you.

Last words?

Well, I think we’re one of the only places around town that offers homemade pie for dessert every day. That’s all of our desserts: just two or three different kinds of pie. So save room. n

Dining

Kalamazoo SE. Sandwiches are made to order with fresh vegetables and ingredients. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh pita wraps.

Reserve Wine & Food 201 Monroe Ave. NW (616) 855-9463 ECLECTIC. With 102 wines available by the glass and more than 300 by the bottle, paired with an ever-changing food menu influenced

by West Michigan grown foods, Reserve promises diners a unique experience. Cocktails and craft beers add depth to the primarily wine-centered menu. » SERVING: Lunch, Dinner OPEN ON: Closed on Sunday GO THERE FOR: Wine and food pairings, charcuterie, happy hour.

Rockwell-Republic 45 S. Division Ave. 616-551-3563 ECLECTIC. Menu offerings range from sushi to burgers and everything in between. The craft cocktail menu runs the gamut from classics like the Manhattan to more modern concoctions and the beer and wine menus are nicely curated. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Specialty cocktails, broad menu, lively atmosphere.

The Sovengard 443 Bridge St. NW 616-214-7207 NEW NORDIC. There’s really nothing like The Sovengard. The menu changes with the seasons, but the quality doesn’t. Expect innovative, beautiful dishes in the Scandinavian tradition. It’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for. The West Side restaurant also boasts an excellent taplist, perfect for sipping in the biergarten. »

SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Something special.

Stella’s Lounge 53 Commerce Ave. 616-356-2700 TAVERN. The Chicagostyle whiskey bar has more than 200 varieties of distilled spirits, old-school video games, and a menu filled with vegetarian and vegan bar food — and stuffed burgers.

Did we mention you can sip cans of PBR and other classic beers out of a mason jar? » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Whiskey, vegetarian and vegan bar food.

Wolfgang’s Restaurant 1530 Wealthy St. SE. 616-454-5776 BREAKFAST. The bustling Eastown breakfast spot is home to some of the heartiest breakfast dishes and funniest menu descriptions.

Courteous staff never fails to offer a cup of coffee to go after we’ve finished breakfast. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Breakfast all day.

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Arcadia Brewing Co. 103 Michigan Ave., Battle Creek. 269-963-9520 BREWPUB. You’ll find some of the usual suspects on the Battle Creek brewpub’s menu, including wood-fired pizzas

and some of the best barbecue in the region. But you’ll also find some delightful surprises — Osso Bucco in a brewpub?! — on the menu, courtesy of award-winning Chef Sean Kelly. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Handcrafted ales and barbecue.

Central City Taphouse 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall. (269) 492-0100 TAPHOUSE. If Central City doesn’t have the kind of beer you want on tap, you’ll probably find it with the 75+ bottles. OH, you say you’re not a beer drinker? Well, Central City offers 20 wine ‘taps’ and a full bar. If you’re not the drinking type, that’s cool too. There are a number of food options to pick from, including a raw menu, a pizza menu and the all-day menu, which features burgers, soups and entrees. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Diverse beverage selection.

Fieldstone Grille 3970 W. Centre St., Portage. 269-321-8480 AMERICAN. Lodge-retreat atmosphere overlooking the Moors Golf Club natural wetlands. The “field-to-plate” menu features burgers, pizzas, steaks and some eclectic items like quail. Try the FSG chips, a combination of potato, beet and sweet potato chips. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Blue Burger, Almond Crusted Walleye, FSG Chips.

Food Dance 401 E. Michigan Ave. 269-382-1888 AMERICAN. Food Dance is committed to building a thriving and sustainable

local food system, supporting artisans who practice craft food processes. It’s about the connection with people and places the food comes from. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, private dining space, catering and delivery, while an on-site market offers humanely raised meats, artisan cheeses, fresh bread and pastries. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh Local Foods.

Old Dog Tavern 402 East Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo. 269-381-5677 AMERICAN. The food at Old Dog Tavern is just about as eclectic as the entertainment offered. The menu has so much on it that it might even bring some harmony between picky and adventurous eaters. » SERVING: Brunch Lunch Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The eclectic menu options.

Olde Peninsula 200 E. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo 269-343-2739 BREWPUB. Downtown brewpub serves up the expected (e.g., steaks, ribs), the authentic (e.g., London Broil) and some pleasant surprises (e.g., extensive vegetarian offerings, Italian food). Offers a range of beers brewed on the premises and served on tap, plus a full bar. Check out the seasonal porters on tap right now, including the Vanilla Porter (5.5% ABV) and Stout Chocula (5.25% ABV). » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Beer-B-Que Ribs, London Broil.

Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining Schedule REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

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Dining

Union Cabaret & Grille 125 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo. 269-384-6756 AMERICAN. A partnership with WMU, Union features eclectic food and cocktails, plus live jazz music performed by WMU faculty and students. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sunday. GO THERE FOR: Portabella Fries, Bloody Maries with infused vodkas.

Lakeshore

Everyday People Cafe 11 Center St., Douglas. 269-857-4240 AMERICAN. REVUE Publisher Brian Edwards calls Everyday People Café his favorite restaurant along the lakeshore. The atmosphere is casual and upbeat, the staff knows its stuff about wine and food, and the seasonal menu is filled with meticulously prepared, eclectic comfort food like Butternut Squash Risotto, Braised Lamb Shank and Ahi Tuna. A great wine list and tremendous desserts. » SERVING: Brunch (Weekends) Lunch Dinner OPEN: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Gorgonzola Pork Chop, Greek Salad with Grandma Gigi’s Dressing (Edwards).

8th Street Grille 20 W. 8th St., Holland. 616-392-5888 AMERICAN. This eclectic grille offers a mix of draft and bottled craft beers and a variety of pub classics and new, American beerinspired dishes. Happy hour includes half-off appetizers and $1 off drafts. » SERVING: Lunch, Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: 28 taps of craft beer.

Fricano’s Pizza Tavern 1400 Fulton Ave., Grand Haven. 616-842-8640 ITALIAN. Claims to be the first pizzeria in Michigan, but customers care less about its longevity than the amazingly crispy thin crust and simple ingredients atop its much-lauded pies. Four other locations around West MI, including Comstock Park, Muskegon, Holland and Kalamazoo. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza.

CityVu Bistro 61 E 7th Street, Holland. 616-796-2114 AMERICAN. A distinctive rooftop dining experience in downtown Holland with fresh gourmet flatbreads and an array of seasonal entrees. The contemporary-yet-casual atmosphere, full bar and unique menus make it the ideal spot for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Flatbreads.

Hops at 84 East 84 East 8th St., Holland. 616-396-8484 TAVERN. A beautiful taproom sporting reclaimed wood and copper. With 60 beer taps, two English beer machines, eight wine taps and an extensive spirits menu, Hops has a special beverage for everyone. The menu includes brick-oven pizza, burgers and sandwiches, chicken wings and a rotating special of

the day. There are also gluten-free options, including their famous pizza. Several large-screen TVs adorn the restaurant if you’re in the mood to watch the big game. » SERVING: Lunch, Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Craft beer and brick-oven pizza.

Kirby House 2 Washington, Grand Haven. 616-846-3299 AMERICAN. Formerly a historic hotel, The Kirby House retains its oldworld charm while providing all the pleasantries of new world fare, with a diverse but primarily American-influenced menu. Check out the new island bar with 5 HDTVs and walk to Lake Michigan right after. The Kirby House also hosts The Grill Room and a pizzeria (complete with pool tables) called K2. The lower level has also been renovated to include a wine cellar and a premier nightclub, Dark. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Nightlife.

New Holland Brewing Company 66 E. 8th St., Holland. 616-355-6422 BREWPUB. One of West MI’s premier microbreweries serves up better than average pub grub, including savory sandwiches chock full of Michigan ingredients, plus a seasonal entree menu. Also try their artisan spirits. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Mad Hatter IPA, Dragon’s Milk.

Phil’s Bar & Grille 215 Butler St., Saugatuck. 269-857-1555 AMERICAN. This cozy (some would say “small”) bar and grille in downtown

Saugatuck is one of those unassuming spots you might easily overlook, though locals in Saugatuck will tell you about their love affair with Phil’s. Eclectic menu is all over the place, but in a good way, and the staff is super-friendly. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Portabella Mushroom Fries.

Salt of the Earth 114 East Main St., Fennville. 269-561-7258 AMERICAN. Salt of the Earth is a farm-to-table-inspired restaurant, bar, and bakery located in the heart of SW Michigan farm country in Fennville. Focuses on fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients whenever possible. Also serves up live music on weekends. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: House made rustic cuisine.

Saugatuck Brewing Company 2948 Blue Star Highway. 269-857-7222 BREWPUB. Enjoy a traditional Irish-style pub that features quality beer, wine, food and service. Try one of 12 unique brews that are served in the pub and bottled and distributed throughout the Midwest. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days.

GO THERE FOR: Beer in a family friendly pub environment.

To submit or to correct information, e-mail editor@revuewm.com.

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57

by Joe Boomgaard, Revue Beer Czar

Beer

Fruit Loops Revue tasting panel weighs in on Michigan-made fruit beers

I

f you want to drink something fruity and alcoholic, we suggest wine, cider or even mead. However, if you’re dead-set against those other ferments and need a fruity Michigan beer, Revue’s got you covered — sort of.

Fruit beers are not our first — or even fifth — style choice, but they are a thing and many people, especially hop-haters, seem to enjoy them.

On the other hand, we like our beer to taste like, well, beer. (The exception to that general rule of thumb: sour beers. Try the pomegranate Incipient Golden Sour from Speciation Artisan Ales in Comstock Park — you’ll thank us later.)

In any event, it turns out that brewing with fruit is nothing new. A look back into the history of brewing shows that many of the earliest beers used whatever local ingredients were available at the time, including fruits, herbs and spices.

“The list of additives in medieval beer corresponded roughly to what you’d find in a local market,” author Jeff Alworth wrote in 2015’s The Beer Bible.

He described the recent return to fruited beers as a form of “place-based brewing,” a movement inspired in many ways by the local food trend. In other words, brewers can use fruit to show off a seasonal flavor, which might explain why so many West Michigan brewers use fruits like cherries, raspberries and blueberries that are common in the region.

One caveat: Brewers can also use fruit or other flavorings to cover flaws or off-flavors in a beer. It happens, so just be aware and ask a lot of questions if you have any suspicions.

Revue gathered a baker’s dozen of fruit beers made by Michigan breweries and put them before our tasting panel. Here are our recommendations.

Short’s Brewing, Exeter

Rubaeus

surprised us because it managed to avoid being a sugar-bomb.

Pours a signature deep ruby red. Raspberry dominates the nose, as well as the taste in this beer. If you like raspberries, this is the beer for you. Some tasters — who admittedly do not like sweet beers — said it bordered on being too sweet for them, but wasn’t offensive. (Pro tip: Try it on nitro.)

ALSO TASTED

Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids 5.7% ABV

RECOMMENDED Pooltime Ale

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Bell’s Brewery Inc., Comstock 5.2% ABV

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Pours a hazy yellow, with yeasty and wheaty aromas.

Flavor is reminiscent of a Belgian golden ale with a hint of cherry, which comes through more on the finish.

Cherry IPA

Perrin Brewing Co., Comstock Park 5.3% ABV Pours a sparkling and clear amber, a bit like rosé.

Cherry and overripe fruit aromas, but nothing too sweet or tart. It seems like it’s an IPA in name only, called such to move beer off the shelf. Regardless, it’s a well-balanced beer and downright refreshing.

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Strawberry Short’s Cake Short’s Brewing Co., Bellaire 4.3% ABV

Perrin Brewing, Cherry IPA

Looks a bit like a rosé, and has an effervescent, ripe fruit aroma. A slight berry tartness to the flavor up front tapers off to light biscuity notes. This is a light beer — don’t expect a ton of body — but it really

Mi-Berry Vice Arcadia Ales, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Lost Dune New Holland Brewing Co., Holland Tropical Saison Brewery Vivant, Grand Rapids Grapefruit IPA Perrin Brewing Co., Comstock Park Mother Schmucker Grand Armory Brewing Co., Grand Haven Mandarina IPA Saugatuck Brewing Co. Exeter Short’s Brewing Co., Bellaire Raspberry Ale Dark Horse Brewing Co., Marshall Cranium Crush Petoskey Brewing Co., Petoskey n

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REVUEWM.COM | July 2017 |

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Brewery Shoppe

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59

by Elma Talundzic

tea

It’s no secret that coffee tends to hog the caffeinated spotlight from time to time. But we’re here for you, tea lovers. We’d like to widen that spotlight and shift our attention over to a hot (or iced) cup of tea.

Here’s a small guide to just a few local specialty tea shops to help you get started on your next leafy quest.

English Cottage Tea

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855 Arlington St. NE, Grand Rapids englishcottagetea.com, (616) 970-3852 Don’t just have a cup of tea — make it a party and invite your friends, because tea is better shared. Cynthia Wedge, owner of English Cottage Tea, can help host your next tea-filled get together.

“I took a course in starting a tea business and became a certified Tea Specialist,” Wedge said. “I wanted to sell quality looseleaf tea free from harmful chemicals; share the health benefits of drinking tea; and provide a place of respite for people to come for afternoon tea.”

At the moment, the cottage offers more than 35 varieties of teas to choose from, including white, green, oolong, black and herbal tisanes. All of the teas are either certified USDA Organic or imported from Germany, guaranteeing you’ll only be enjoying the purest tea available.

“Since I discovered there was no place in Southwestern Michigan to go for an afternoon tea party, we looked into the possibility of offering tea parties by appointment,” Wedge said.

Once the tea has been picked out, the party can begin. The parlor is available for tea tasting parties by reservation.

“Tea parties consist of scones, small tea sandwiches, sweets and bottomless cups of tea,” Wedge said. “They are served on tiered trays, fine china and silver. They are a time of relaxation and conversation with friends and family.”

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Kava Kasa

Your Cup of Tea Imperial Tea Garden

imperialteagarden.com, (616) 826-9591 Imperial Tea Garden caters to the true tea connoisseur. The Grand Rapids-based online retailer has been serious about its cup of tea since beginning 13 years ago.

“Imperial Tea Garden was formed purely from my personal love of tea,“ said owner Roman Bohatch. “I have always preferred tea instead of coffee and really like discovering single-estate teas from around the world as opposed to blends.”

The store currently offers 80 different varieties of tea from China, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Africa. The wide selection includes green, black, white, oolong and herbal teas personally selected by Imperial Tea Garden.

“We try to keep something for everyone and in all price ranges, including some rarer high-end white teas,” Bohatch said. “We also have custom blends like our trademarked Sleep Tight Herbal Tea, which is a mint-based caffeine-free herbal tea with soothing herbs such as chamomile, valerian root, lemongrass and others that promote sound sleep.”

Although the business is online only, you won’t have to wait long for your tea to arrive (within three business days).

“Our customers know they are getting a great product at a very competitive price,” said Bohatch. “The vision is to open a tea and scone retail outlet, as the transformation of our city has made it one of the best places to live.”

Global Infusion

143 Diamond Ave. SE, Grand Rapids globalinfusion.net, (616) 776-9720 Since opening in 2004, Global Infusion has become known for its commitment to ethical business and Fair Trade products.

The shop houses an eclectic collection of fair-trade handcrafted gifts, decor, coffee, chocolate and bulk loose-leaf teas.

Global Infusion’s immense tea wall will place a tea lover in paradise. With more than 100 different organically grown and fairtrade teas to choose from, there’s sure to be a cup of tea for everyone.

The shop encourages the purchase of loose-leaf teas, with the belief it creates the best tasting and freshest tea you will ever sip out of your cup. Pre-packaged teas make it difficult to measure up to the high-quality tea leaves you get from loose-leaf products.

And since loose-leaf tea can be re-steeped

multiple times, a cozy cup of tea can be enjoyed more than once with the same leaves.

Kava Kasa

962 Cherry St. SE, Grand Rapids kavakasagr.com, (616) 649-0177 Discover “the root of happiness” at Kava Kasa. The shop serves up quite the unique beverage and is the only kava bar here in West Michigan.

As you sip from your “shell,” the wave of serenity and calm is almost instant. Kava is a root that comes from the South Pacific and is known for its health benefits: reduced stress, nervous system support, anxiety relief, mental focus and muscle recovery.

The drink is consumed cold and in the form of kava milk, a mixture of water and dried, ground kava root. Not only is kava healthy, it’s a safe alternative to alcohol and can give the drinker some of the same relaxing and sedative effects. Kava Kasa uses only the highest quality Kava from the island of Vanuatu.

If you’re looking for an experience (and maybe some peace of mind) grab a cup of earthy kava and enjoy the true island experience. n

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Last Call

by Nick Macksood / photo by Katy Batdorff

Absinthe

Bier Distillery, Comstock Park Barnaby Conrad III notes in his book Absinthe: History in a Bottle that in 1907, the French National League Against Alcoholism gathered 400,000 signatures on a petition declaring absinthe “makes a ferocious beast of man, a martyr of woman, and a degenerate of the infant, it disorganizes and ruins the family and menaces the future of the country.”

Now, if you haven’t renewed your subscription to Absinthe Quarterly since 2007, you might be surprised to learn that “The Green Fairy” has been legalized in the United States for almost 10 years. Better yet, Joel Bierling of Bier Distillery in Comstock Park has been slinging the stuff since last August, only the second distillery in Michigan to offer the liqueur.

Absinthe’s notorious reputation as a hallucinogen mostly comes from the compound thujone, found in wormwood, an essential ingredient to absinthe. It doesn’t take much thujone in the human body to cause delirium or worse, but Bierling assured us that the majority of the compound is burned off in the distillation process; in fact, you’d suffer fatal alcohol poisoning long before any serious amount of thujone could affect you.

And with that PSA out of the way, Bierling’s absinthe verte: easily the most simple of drinks we’ve featured in the last few months, but possibly the most visually interesting.

A great absinthe fountain arrives at your table, with ice and water dumped into the top. The absinthe itself, pooled at the bottom of a glass (a Pontarlier, for the curious), then collects a few ounces of cool water — a drop at a time — filtered through a sugar cube atop an absinthe spoon, where the drink transforms from its clear emerald color to a pale, opalescent chartreuse. The anise and fennel makes the experience taste like black licorice, for you Dutch folk out there.

Ingredients: 3/4 oz. Henry’s Absent Absinthe Verte 3 1/2 oz. cold water 1 sugar cube At Bier Distillery, the “experience” requires an absinthe fountain — which you can view in action online at revuewm.com before heading to the distillery. At home, however, Joel Bierling admits that an analog experience can be had with a simple syrup of your choice and cold water. Just pour absinthe into a glass, then add cold water, your sugar solution and stir. But we recommend the full monty at Bier Distillery. ➤ See how it’s made: Check out revuewm.com for

an exclusive video tutorial.

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