April 2014, Revue Magazine

West Michigan’s Entertainment Guide for 25 years

» April 2014

Music / Art / Culture / Dining / Free!

The

Vice Issue

Unveiling West Michigan’s Naughty Side

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What’s Inside

April 2014 | Volume 26, Issue 4

SCENE: 10 Eclectic 12 All Ages

SPECIAL SECTION: 15 The Vice Issue 16 Gluttony 18 Q&A with Cliff Frantz 19 Buffets 20 Drinking and Smoking 23 Producer Joe Collects Vices 24 Vanity

SOUNDS:

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31 Local Music: Wayland 32 On Tour: Jucifer 34 On Tour: The Head and the Heart

The Vice Issue

51 Fries

SIGHTS:

37 Visual Art: Art.Downtown and The Next Show 38 Theatre: The Wizard of Oz 39 Comedy: Joey CoCo Diaz 40 Lit Life: Book Bash 42 Style Notes

DINING & DRINKING: 45 46 48 51 62

37

Art. Downtown.

Restaurant Listings Gluten Free Girl Beer: Walldorff Brewpub Taste This: Fries Drinking: Last Call

SCHEDULE:

55 Daily Event Listings and Best Bets

Letter from the Editor

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W est M i ch i gan ’ s E nterta i nment G u i de

’d be a liar if I didn’t say I had a little too much fun with the Vice Issue. I’m pretty sure I can speak for the rest of the REVUE staff when I say we had a blast with this one.

But that’s the thing about vices. They may not be good for you, but damn, they are fun.

I already knew that what I do for a living falls outside the norm. It became ever more clear, however, when I was working on our Vice Issue. During March, I spent a decent chunk of work hours calling up strip clubs, medical marijuana dispensaries and browsing Netflix for research. (It was for research, I SWEAR!) Basically, this issue made NSFW sites SFW, all in the name of journalism.

Another thing I like about this issue is we cover a broad spectrum of vices, not just boobs, booze and bongs. We also look at how addictive video games and binge-watching TV can be, and we also feature local distilleries, smoking rooms, casinos and more. For a notoriously

Editorial Publisher Brian Edwards / brian@revuewm.com Managing Editor Lindsay Patton-Carson / lindsay@revuewm.com Design Creative Director Kim Kibby / kim@revuewm.com Design Kim Kibby, Kristi Kortman, Kellie Zaplitny Contributing Writers Kyle Austin Alexandra Kadlec Kelli Belanger Audria Larsen Missy Black Nick Manes Elijah Brumback Allison Parker Ben Darcie Carly Plank Joe Gasmann Emma Kat Richardson Robby Hartley Josh Spanninga Dwayne Hoover Kerri VanderHoff

Contributing Photographers Erica Horoky

conservative area, we sure know how to indulge. Way to go, West Michigan.

Listings schedule@revuewm.com

So, embrace your vices a little bit (responsibly, of course) and rock on.

Revue Minions Kyle Hauch, Erica Horoky, Andrea Kooiker, Sean Murphy, Colleen Schonfield Sales / 616.608.6170 Kelli Belanger / kbelanger@revuewm.com Molly Rizor / molly@revuewm.com Digital Editor Jayson Bussa / jayson@revuewm.com Find us online!

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

Lindsay Patton-Carson, Managing Editor / lindsay@revuewm.com

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

Advertising index Arcadia Ales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Barfly Ventures . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Bell’s Brewery . . . . . . . . . . 2, 35 Billy’s Lounge. . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Brewery Vivant. . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Broadway Grand Rapids. . . . . . 6 Buttermilk Jamboree. . . . . . . 50 Calvin College SAO . . . . . . . . 25 Cascade Optical . . . . . . . . . . 13 CVLT PIZZA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 DeltaPlex. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Downtown Market . . . . . . . . . 47

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Dr. Grins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Erb Thai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Firekeeper’s Casino. . . . . . . . . . 9 Founders Brewing Co.. . . . . . 11 Fusion Shows. . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 The Gilmore Collection. . . . . . 36 GR Public Library. . . . . . . . . . 25 GR Public Museum . . . . . . . . . . 4 Grand Woods Lounge. . . . . . . 63 Gravel Bottom Brewery . . . . . 49 Green Restaurant . . . . . . . . . 44 Growco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Harbor Restaurants. . . . . . . . 52 The Intersection. . . . . . . 23, 30 Keil Lasik Vision Center. . . . . 52 The Local Epicurean . . . . . . . 22 Millennium Restaurant . . . . . 44 Muskegon Museum of Art . . . 43 Opera Grand Rapids. . . . . . . 43 Orbit Room. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Palazzolo’s Gelato . . . . . . . . . 19 Pyramid Scheme. . . . . . . . . . . . 5 River City Improv. . . . . . . . . . 43 Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. . . . 53

Saugatuck Brewing Co . . . . . 49 Saugatuck Center for the Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Schmohz Brewery. . . . . . . . . . 50 Schuler Books. . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Seven Steps Up. . . . . . . . . . . 35 Sight Optical Boutique . . . . . 43 Soaring Eagle Casino . . . . . . . . 3 Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill . . . 34 Vertigo Music. . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 West Michigan Symphony. . . 61 West Side Beer / Budweiser. . 64

©2014, 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: The

Vice Issue

Unveiling West Michigan’s Naughty Side

The Vice Issue: All of your guilty pleasures begin on page 15.

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/// Eclectic

April Eclectic Events April perhaps makes fools out of Michiganders desperate for spring.

But, regardless of the weather conditions, this month has a plethora of fun diversions to fill your black hole of longing. By Audria Larsen

Pilobolus Wharton Center, April 8

Photo: Grant Halverson

Grand Valley State University, Allendale April 3-5, show times at 2 and 7:30 p.m. $6-$10, gvsu.edu/theatre, (616) 331-2300

are engaging [and] you can’t stop looking at them.” Their work has been seen on television commercials and music videos, as well as on shows like Oprah, the Academy Awards and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” The worldly group has graced stages in more than 64 countries and continues to innovate and recreate what dance and movement mean.

The thespians over at Grand Valley State University are getting freaky in six new plays combining love and the otherworldly. The tales, penned by North American authors, take place against the backdrop of cemeteries and zombies, the Garden of Eden and within the realms of magic, fortune tellers and New Age-y folk. Described as an evening of love from a smart point of view, the plays just may stoke your springtime fever.

Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids Through Aug. 31 $3-$8, grmuseum.org, (616) 929-1700

Sex and the Supernatural

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

Pilobolus

Wharton Center, East Lansing April 8, 7:30 p.m. $25-$42, whartoncenter.com, (517) 353-1982

Dream It ,Build It, at Grand Rapids Public Museum Through August 31

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The renowned movement, dance and multimedia group Pilobolus returns to the Wharton Center this month. “It’s one of our most popular dance shows,” said Bob Hoffman, pubic relations manager.

Founded in 1971 at Dartmouth College, the group has grown to become an international, award winning sensation. According to its website, Pilobolus is named “after a barnyard fungus that propels its spores with extraordinary speed, accuracy and strength.” Much like the earthy spores, the group comprised of innovators and dancer-athletes comes together to create striking, organic visual forms. “They’re a modern dance company,” Hoffman said. “[The performances are] expressive, magical and use shape-shifting shadows — things that really fools your mind. You think, ‘Oh my gosh, how do you create that with your body?’ They are really avant garde and very cool. They

Dream it, Build it

LEGO bricks have been a childhood staple for decades. But, you can’t keep them out of the hands of crafty and patient adults who once upon a time cut their teeth on the tiny choking hazards that bear so much possibility. Now through August, Grand Rapids Public Museum features Dream it, Build it, an exhibition that is at once a marvel of construction and a hands-on opportunity. In a nod to architectural wonders of our modern world and a wink at what’s possible regardless of the makeup of your building blocks, the showcase is comprised of 13 recreations of famed structures around the world, assembled

by Certified LEGO professional Adam Tucker. Gaze at LEGO versions of the Empire State Building, the Jin Mao Tower, the Gateway Arch and even Burj Dubai, which is currently the tallest building in the world. In addition to the exotic buildings on display, the Grand Rapids Public Museum itself is recreated in LEGO form. When you have had your dose of inspiration, you can head over to the hands-on station and make your own LEGO masterpieces, like a to-scale model of the Grand Rapids Fish Ladder. n

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/// All Ages

The Green Scene Top picks this month include two Earth Day events, an evening egg hunt and a funny first grader. If you’re into making this world a better place, the Kalamazoo Nature Center has loads in this direction. Just want to gather eggs? An egg hunt under the lights switches things up a bit. If your final choice is the first grader, there are no worries — she’s a firecracker. By Missy Black

17th Annual Egg Hunt on the River Walk

Mayor’s Riverfront Park, 251 Mills St., Kalamazoo April 19, 6 p.m. Free! kalamazoocity.org/special-events, (269) 337-8191

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

Switch things up a bit and try this evening egg hunt under the lights for a little excitement. Area youth and their families are invited to come and participate in this community event offering various activities including face painting, a jellybean guess jar, arts and crafts and ultimately, the egg hunt at Mayor’s Riverfront Park. This Kalamazoo tradition features age-appropriate egg hunts and even more low-cost activities planned so kids stay busy. Ding! Ding!

Ding! There will be candy and prizes for everyone who participates but make sure to BYOB: bring your own baskets. “It’s like Thanksgiving dinner,” said

Egg Hunt at Mayor’s Riverfront Park, April 19

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Recreation Manager Denise Siegel. “You take hours and hours to prepare and in minutes, it’s over. It’s a fun, great way to welcome spring.” The Easter Bunny is also on hand (as he should be) for photo opportunities and memories.

Junie B. Jones: Jingle Bells & Batman Smells

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, 30 N. Division Ave. April 18–27, show times at 2 and 7:30 p.m. $10–$16 / grct.org, (616) 222-6650 A super funny first grader is coming to the Grand R apids Civic Theatre. Junie B. Jones is having a tough Christmas when she draws a name for Secret Santa and it ends up being her enemy. Ugh! This laugh-out-loud production is based on the popular chapter book series by Barbara Park and is adapted by Allison Gregory. “She’s a regular kid with regular problems,” says Penelope Notter, associate director and education director. “It doesn’t matter which Junie B. Jones book you choose. When I was reading them, the book and script are hilarious, even for grown-ups.” While Junie brightens your spirits, there are other great characters that come to life including classmates. “I couldn’t imagine how the author knew to get inside kids’ heads and know what they’d say.” If you’ve read the book or saw the movie, it’s time to get in front of the laughter live.

Earth Day Celebration at Kalamazoo Nature Center, April 26

Book and Media Swap

Grand Rapids Public Library, West Leonard and Yankee Clipper Branches Apr. 21–26, Mon. & Tue., noon–8 p.m.; Wed. & Thu. & Sat., 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Free! grpl.org, (616) 988-5416 Free, free, free! And with Mother Nature in mind, the Grand Rapids Public Library hosts two locations where you can stop by and swap your old books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs and video games. Part of the library’s Earth Week programming, visitors bring what they don’t want or need and take something new-to-them to keep. “That’s what libraries are all about — borrow and return. Libraries are inherent about sharing — a green institution,” says Kristen Krueger-Corrado, communications manager. Now families can go through their collections at home and pass those pleasures on and pick up some new favorites all in the spirit of trading, swapping and not buying new, which can be so harmful on our planet. “We’re building on that for kids to understand how a library works.” Kermit might have been wrong — it’s actually pretty easy to be green.

Earth Day Celebration

Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo April 26, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Free! naturecenter.org, (269) 381-1574 When the Kalamazoo Nature Center says they are putting on an Earth Day Celebration, they aren’t messing around. With a list that won’t stop, parents and children can praise Mother Earth in a variety of ways including visiting community information tables, dabbling in some Earth Day crafts, playing inside the new nature’s playground (where you can climb on rocks and go through tunnels) and naturalist-led hikes. Enjoy creature feature exhibits, a parent/child yoga session (how cool), a story corner session and live animal program. “We like to say every day is Earth Day at the Nature Center. Kids love any time they can be around a live animal and love being outside,” said Lisa Panich, director of communications. Also offered is an Earth Day 5k at 10 a.m. featuring beautiful trails. The 1k Kids’ Raccoon Run at 9 a.m. for ages 8 and under is a stroller-friendly run/walk perfect for little ones. Oh, and runs aside, all activities are free! n

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/// Feature

Vice The

Issue

Oh, West Michigan. You’re so conservative and proper.

Except the times when you’re not, which are becoming more and more frequent. West Michigan cities like Holland and Grand Haven may seem conservative on the outside, but they’ve got their vices. In May 2013, Pornhub took data from a Gallup poll on most religious cities and found out which places visited their site the most. Out of a list of 12, Holland and Grand Haven took the No. 8 spot with 9.2 Pornhub views per capita.

“This type of entertainment has been around for centuries,” said Michele Blair, manager of Lady Godiva’s Showgirls, Studs and Erica’s Erotic Accessories. “There is a need and a call for it.”

Now that these places have been outed, we’re hoping they might start to let their freak flags fly. We can only hope.

“It’s got a little ways to go, but it’s still better than it’s been in the past,” Blair said of West Michigan.

She added that when it comes to indulging in your strip club vice, Lady Godiva’s and Studs — both in Grand Rapids — are a little more conservative-friendly than others, and those with reservations should give the nightclubs a try.

“I think [more conservative people] would approve,” Blair said of Lady Godiva’s. “Our girls are in bikinis. This would more suit them.”

While Grand Haven and Holland sit and watch porn, Grand Rapids boasts its Beer City USA title with great pride.

Even our mayor gets in on the action. Instead of keeping his

imbibing private, Mayor George Heartwell is frequently seen with a beer in hand, making for great photo ops. When it comes to alcohol, Holland has also lightened up on this vice in a big way. In 2008, voters overturned a ban on Sunday beer and wine sales. New Holland Brewing Company was instrumental in getting the law overturned by campaigning and educating people about the ban, which prevented customers from enjoying their brews on Sundays.

“Our company campaign now is stop and taste. Enjoy the moment and what you have in front of you,” said New Holland Brewing’s distiller, Brad Kamphuid, on indulging in certain vices such as alcohol and food.

And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Decriminalize GR, which went into effect on May 1, 2013. The law states that those caught smoking marijuana or those with less than two and a half ounces would get a ticketed citation instead of criminally charged. Could our next step be following Washington and Colorado’s footsteps and legalizing marijuana? It certainly wouldn’t hurt our economy. Colorado made $2 million in marijuana taxes in January alone and The Huffington Post is projecting Washington to bring in an estimated $190 million through marijuana sales over the next four years.

But no matter how hard we try to hide and bury our vices, they will always work their way to the surface some way or another. Go ahead and indulge, West Michigan.

By Revue Staff and Minions

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Gluttony

Decadent, Dangerous Desserts When it comes to dessert vices, we all have our unique preferences: peanut butter-topped, sweet and salty, cold and creamy, baked into a pie or cake… You get the picture. It’s hard to choose just one indulgent treat with broad appeal.

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

By Alexandra Kadlec and Lindsay Patton-Carson

Bakeries

Ice Cream and Gelato

Sweetie-licious Bakery Café, impossible to miss in the Grand Rapids Downtown Market (you’ll be greeted by its pink-adorned station as soon as you walk through the front doors), is a good bet when you’re on the hunt for a sweet fix. Here you’ll find award-winning crumbtopped fruit pies, colossal cookies made for sharing, glazed muffins, and more. The Peanut Butter Brownie has creamy peanut butter sweetness sandwiched between dense, chocolatey chip laden brownies, then topped with chocolate icing and M&Ms. Rich, but not so rich that you can’t finish it. Drizzled in chocolate and sprinkled with almond slices, the Almond Macaron is a chewy delight sure to end any meal on a high note. And last but not least, the Molasses Cookie, better than the traditional bite you expect over the holidays: generous with its molasses flavoring, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, sprinkled with sugar on top. Seen on The Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars,” Cakabakery (1436 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids) brings its baked creations to the Eastown neighborhood. The bakery uses local ingredients and offers vegan and gluten free goodies for all types of diets and lifestyles.

You can stop in for a sweet treat or get your goodies custom made. Desserts range from cupcakes and cakes to cookies, caramel corn, cake pops and cheesecakes.

Gelato, a European-style ice cream with very little air whipped into it, is known for using lower butterfat cream than your typical ice cream. But that doesn’t mean gelato is any less decadent. Palazzolo’s Artisan Gelato and Sorbetto (413 Third St., Fennville) makes gelato masterpieces so rich, two scoops are more than enough. The gelato, sorbetto and frozen yogurt lists go on and on from standard chocolate and vanilla to specialty flavors such as Bananas Foster, Coconut Roasted Almond Fudge, Peanut Butter Banana, Mexican Chocolate Chipotle, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Raspberry Marshmallow Swirl, Dutch Fudge Cookie and more. Captain Sundae (with three locations in Holland and Zeeland) offers a lunch and dinner menu, but who cares about that when there’s the Tommy Turtle. This sundae comes with soft-serve vanilla ice cream, caramel, hot fudge, buttered pecans, whipped cream and a cherry.

Doughnuts Doughnuts are a versatile dessert: savor them as an after-meal snack or use them as an excuse to indulge for breakfast. Grand Rapids saw the recent opening of Propaganda Doughnuts (117 Division S.), a bakery that uses local and seasonal ingredients. Propaganda’s creative concoctions are constantly in rotation and have included a toasted marshmallow doughnut, gluten-free options, ‘The Ultimatum’ (which includes dark chocolate ganache and potato chips — a seemingly strange combo, but absolutely delicious) and more creative creations. In Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, load up on Sweetwater’s doughnuts, a family owned joint where the goal is to serve big, gooey, indulgent masterpieces: the more toppings, fillings and frosting, the better. Go for the big-as-your-head cinnamon roll, the Reeses doughnut (chocolate cake with peanut butter creme and chocolate), the Mounds doughnut (chocolate cake topped with vanilla creme, coconut and chocolate drizzle) and even more.

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Come for Dinner, Stay for Dessert When it comes to dessert fans, dinner is a roadblock to the actual destination. The Chop House takes that seriously and goes a step further by offering La Dolce Vida (190 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids), a dessert and cigar lounge. Gourmet desserts are prepared by the establishment’s pastry chef, which can be paired with dessert wines and liquors. Rustica (236 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo) offers a solid menu full of pastas and entrees, but that doesn’t mean the eatery skimps on desserts. Rustica’s menu includes dessert staples like bread pudding and tiramisu, as well as creative items like blood orange cake and callebaut chocolate brownie. Harmony Brewing Company (1551 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids) may be known for pizza and beer, but don’t overlook what the brewery offers for a sweet treat. The brewery’s Salted Caramel Pretzel is a relatively newer item on the menu. A locally made soft pretzel is heated up in Harmony’s wood-fired oven and drizzled with house-made caramel. n

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Eat to Win

f you only commit one of the seven cardinal vices, at least treat yourself. Gluttony is the most forgiving sin, right? If your vice comes in the form of thousands and thousands of calories (and we mean thousands of them), there are plenty of opportunities in West Michigan to loosen your belt a little. Oh, who are we kidding? You’re gonna need a new belt.

5/3 Ballpark is home to the biggest and baddest eating competition in West Michigan. One so big that it even caught the attention of Adam Richman, host of “Man V. Food.” If you can finish the Fifth Third Burger, which weighs in at five pounds and has nearly 5,000 calories, bythe end of the game, you’ll walk out (barely) with a “Call 911” T-shirt and your name in the hall of fame. Just make sure you grab a seat close to the exit or bathroom.

In the vein of combining competitive sports and competitive eating, try the Hat Trick competition at the next Grand Rapids Griffins game (not available on Friday home games). If you can eat three jumbo hot dogs in 20 minutes you’ll get a free T-shirt, but no guarantees you’ll get your dignity.

Rockford is home to The Corner Bar, the oldest surviving brick building in Rockford. The Hot Dog Hall of Fame dates back to 1968, and has challenged more than 5,000 brave souls to finish as many chili dogs as they can in the allotted four hours. Think you can beat Tim Janus? He ate 43 ½ dogs and holds the title as the Reigning Professional Champion.

If pizza’s more your thing, head over to Wolfie’s Pizza and Subs in Muskegon for the Junkyard Challenge. You’re given 30 minutes to wolf down a five-pound pizza by yourself, no substitutions. You’ll get a T-shirt, your picture on the wall of fame, and a coupon for 20 percent off.

For those with more refined taste, The Crazy Carnivore Challenge at the Crazy Horse Steakhouse and Saloon in Holland offers a birthday cake-sized 3 lb. prime rib, mashed potatoes, bread, and corn chowder. Eat it all in less than 30 minutes and the dinner will be on the house, you’ll get a “meat head” T-shirt, and your picture on the wall of fame. 65 men have tried (come on, ladies!) and less than half have succeeded. —Erica Horoky

The Fifth Third Burger

A Guide to Hangover Breakfast

T

his very informative and fact-based guide is for all you dweebs who weren’t smart enough to smash a Menna’s Dub before going out to butt-chug beers all night like all the realest bros.

To remedy the sorry state you’re in, let’s consult an age-old remedy — a healthy serving of grease and (more) booze.

Slide your delirium tremens-laden carcass into a seat at Stella’s Lounge (53 Commerce Ave SW, Grand Rapids). Choose either the Whiskey & Eggs, a dish full of the essentials plus a shot of Jameson, or the Tequila Sunrise Eggs, which features chorizo, black beans and avocado with a shot of tequila. Both are $9 and additional $2 for the alcohol.

Did your hung over stupor keep you from getting to breakfast on time?

Crow’s Nest (816 S Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo) offers breakfast all day, not judging the fact that you stayed in bed until 3 p.m.

Now, let’s be honest. You’re hung over because you thought you’d be smart and save a few Bitcoins by get-

ting blotto on the cheap stuff. Joke’s on you, thrifty. You can still act like $Dick Dollars$ and meet your needs at O’Tooles Public House (448 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids).

On Sundays most burgers are $4.75 and the $3 make-your-own Bloody Mary Bar counts as vegetables.

If some hair-of-the-dog isn’t the reason you’ve left the dark crypt you call a bedroom, it’s probably because something deep-fried is calling. Assuming that’s the case, look no further than Grand Coney (809 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids). Pretty much everything is submerged in oil, slathered with gravy and less than $10. Try the Hangover Skillet.

You’re welcome. —Elijah Brumback

Puking Etiquette from Your Friendly Neighborhood Bartender

By Nick Manes

A

s a bartender it’s obviously pretty difficult to make any money if you’re surrounded by sober people. We understand, and it really is our job to make sure that people get responsibly “turnt up,” as the kids say.

But there is a line in the sand that you, the bar patron, should not cross. That line: getting sloppy, throw-up drunk. And we understand that is going to happen occasionally. But there are some fairly simple rules to follow should you get to the point of blowing chunks.

For starters — and I know this is difficult depending on how many Washington Apples and/or G&Ts you’ve thrown back — please, please, PLEASE, get the vomit in the damn toilet. Because you know what? Someone has to clean that up. And cleaning up undigested salad (yes, I have done that) is just gross.

Again, I recognize that depending on levels of intoxication, getting it all in the toilet can be a tricky endeavor. In that case, the floor is the second best receptacle, as it is an easy cleanup. Just never puke in the sink or urinal.

Upon completing your ralphing, you will most likely be approached by the bar’s staff.

They will inform you that you have had too much to drink and it’s time to exit the bar (probably right after you drink some muchneeded water). There are a couple of very simple rules here.

1. Don’t lie. Bar staff knows who puked.

2. Don’t tell us you need to finish your drink because that is not going to happen.

3. Just leave when we ask you to.

Remember, bar staff are the sober ones.

Nick Manes is a writer and bartender who is honestly more grossed out by making Bloody Marys than cleaning up vomit.

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Gluttony

Vice Guy

Questions for Cliff Frantz, co-founder and managing editor of Recoil

I

’m just going to get straight to the point. You’ve had to switch up your vices over the past two years due to addiction.

Since I had to quit drinking and doing drugs, I’ve found that my more healthy vices have gotten worse. Kind of like how a person’s senses are heightened if one is taken away from them.

You had a pretty big scare when you were doing drugs and alcohol.

On Feb. 19, 2012 I had bulges of pain in my side and I had to be rushed to the hospital. The doctors told me if I had waited another four hours, I might have died. My liver and kidneys were shutting down and I was put in the intensive care unit for 15 days.

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

Did you get sober immediately after?

I was sober for about two months after and then one day I passed a liquor store and bought a bottle of vodka, then I started drinking a pint a day until June 8, 2012. Then I started feeling the pain again in my pancreas and it was so bad I thought, ‘There’s gotta be a better way to die than this.’ I needed a way to manage my biggest vice of all or else I was gonna die. It’s not like I wanted to quit. ... It’s the most fun you can have. But that’s what makes me so crazy. I’ve never been this crazy.

“My mom made me try spinach dip at a party when I was 12.

I threw up all over the buffet table.

I learned a valuable lesson that day: never try new things.”

What’s life been like since getting rid of those vices?

So Mountain Dew is the new replacement.

I’ve loved Mountain Dew my whole life. I don’t think I’ve ever tried to give it up. I can’t say never, but I don’t know what I’d use to replace it. There needs to be an invention that’s better than sex, drugs, alcohol or Mountain Dew. But I have a food phobia that won’t let me try new things.

What’s this food phobia?

All of my vices have gotten so much more important since I’ve gone off drugs and alcohol. I lean so much more on my vices now.

My mom made me try spinach dip at a party when I was 12. It looked like it had been eaten and thrown up and she forced me to try it. So I did, and I threw up all over the buffet table.

I learned a valuable lesson that day: never try new things.

What are your new vices?

What does your diet consist of?

Mountain Dew, vanity, Facebook. You can put your entire day in one paragraph on Facebook.

And it can make your life look pretty good and exciting.

Pizza, hamburgers, Hot Pockets, beef stew... I prefer anything that’s frozen at least once.

I’ve seen you drink Mountain Dew. It’s intense.

I have to count how many I drink or else I would drink eight a day. I try to keep it down to three a day.

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How did you handle the recent Hot Pocket recall?

Not well. I emailed co-workers to save the Hot Pocket I had in the work freezer. n Interview conducted, edited and condensed by Lindsay Patton-Carson. Photo: Joe Boomgaard

West Michigan’s Best Buffets:

Four Places to Get Your Gorge On Buffets are a tricky thing. It’s almost impossible not to feel stuffed (and, OK, guilty) afterward. But not all buffets are the same. At these four places, you can eat well and avoid feeling like you’ve overdone it on too many dishes you weren’t craving in the first place.

Go ahead, enjoy that second round. These buffets are definitely worth the splurge. / By Alexandra Kadlec 1. Bombay Indian Cuisine (1420 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids) Considering its very reasonable price of $10, Bombay’s lunch buffet could very well become your go-to weekday haunt. A variety of meat and vegetarian dishes, naan and warm rice pudding await your selection. This buffet is also a great way to sample Indian cuisine (if it hasn’t crossed your radar yet). Find out what you love and come back for dinner.

2. Alpen Rose Restaurant (4 E 8th St., Holland) Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Walk into Alpen Rose Restaurant on a Sunday morning, and you know you’ve hit the foodie jackpot.

The Sunday Brunch, $15 per person and available from 10 a.m.–2 p.m., offers way more than your typical late-morning offerings. Featuring eight entrees, fruit and vegetable dishes, soups, gourmet desserts and more, this is a classy affair that’s all about presentation.

3. Hibachi Sushi Buffet (4405 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo) Sushi is one of those foods you can pop into your mouth one after the other and never feel sickly full. If this is the way you want things to go down, then perfect — Hibachi Sushi Buffet has got you covered. With a large selection of rolls and Chinese and Korean dishes offered, you can really eat your heart out.

4. Six One Six (JW Marriott Grand Rapids, 235 Louis Campau NW, Grand Rapids) Make a weekend date at the JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids. Breakfast fare is served a la carte, but at $19, the breakfast buffet will really give you bang for your buck. Some of the tasty selections include house-made parfait, smoked salmon, specially ordered omelets, and buttermilk waffles with Michigan maple syrup.

REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

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Drinking & Smoking Booze

The Most Dangerous Beer*

Savor the Flavors of West Michigan’s Distilleries

By Sean Murphy With the advent of more complex beers, we enter an age of more alcoholic beers. Beers so strong that you’ll be just as likely to wake up cradling your twin mug beer-chugging hat that you thought would be great to drink from as you would the body pillow that’s normally there. These beers weren’t made to destroy you, but have too many and they will.

Devil Dancer

Founders Brewing Co., ABV: 12%

Founders drops the mic with Devil Dancer. Available in June, the brew brings the fires of hell directly into your mouth with 10 dry-hopped varieties and enough malted complexity to make your socks shrivel and cry. This beer contains more IBUs (international bittering unit) than the national debt contains dollars, and every single drop will annihilate your will to walk home in a straight line.

Shipwreck Porter Arcadia Ales, ABV: 12%

Aged at a constant temperature in abandoned mines in Michigan, Shipwreck Porter is brimming with enough rich cocoa-coffee-hoppy goodness to make you beg for mercy before the mighty beer gods.

Double Crooked Tree IPA Dark Horse Brewing Co., ABV: 12%

Dark Horse Brewing recently ran a limited run of its Double Crooked Tree IPA. Why is it double crooked? Because it contains double the ingredients of the regular Crooked, only with the same amount of water. Dark Horse even recommends keeping it in a deep, dark place for a year to allow the caramel and malt flavors to come forward to fill out it’s already insanely full flavor. *We should probably add something about drinking responsibly. Here it is.

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When it comes to drinking, there’s the blackout variety, and then there’s the simple pleasure of sipping whiskey out of a rocks glass. These distilleries know that certain liquors should be savored, thereby producing them appropriately. / By Kyle Hauch and Colleen Schonfield Artesian Distillers

Grand Traverse Distillery

955 Ken O Sha Industrial Park Dr., Grand Rapids artesiandistillers.com, (616) 252-1700

781 Industrial Cir #5, Traverse City grandtraversedistillery.com, (231) 947-8635

This distillery manufactures vodka, rum, gin, bourbon and a large variety of specialty drinks in more than 6,000 square feet.

Its private label division can also help you create your own unique brand, including custom bottles and labels.

Black Star Farms

Grand Traverse Distillery is Michigan’s largest micro-distillery. The northern gem has won numerous awards, including gold at the 2007 Beverage Tasting Institute, gold at the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the International Review of Spirits Reward for True North Vodka.

Journeyman Distillery

10844 East Revold Rd., Suttons Bay blackstarfarms.com, (231) 944-1270 Black Star Farms features two wineries, a tasting room, a distillery, an inn and an equestrian facility. The distillery creates fruit-based brandies made from locally grown cherries, apricot, pears, plums, raspberries and grapes. Black Star also makes a barrel-aged apple brandy that is aged three to five years.

109 Generation Dr., Three Oaks journeymandistillery.com, (269) 820-2050 Journeyman Distillery is an organic spirits distillery located inside the EK Warren Historic Featherbone Factory. Walk through the historic building and watch the distillation process happen firsthand. The Journeyman specializes in whiskey, but also offers vodka, gin and rum.

New Holland Brewing Company

Cellar Brewing Company

66 E 8th St, Holland newhollandbrew.com, (616) 355-6422

500 East Division St., Sparta cellarbrewingco.com, (616) 883-0777

New Holland Brewing Company uses a Prohibitionera still that helps pump extra flavor into the barrel or bottle until it reaches your glass. The result is a variety of unique whiskeys, rums and gins.

A microbrewery, winery and distillery rolled into one, Cellar has 16 taps and a full bar that features spirits that are processed within their on-site distillery.

Round Barn Distillery

Coppercraft Distillery

10983 Hills Rd., Baroda roundbarnwinery.com, (269) 326-7059

184 120th Ave., Holland coppercraftdistillery.com

Creating private-label rum and vodka since 2012, Coppercraft uses locally grown ingredients in its distilling process.

New Holland Brewers’ Whiskey

Round Barn features a distillery, winery and brewery. Sample the DiVine Bourbon, Rum and Vodka collection or one of their many sweet fruit brandies made without artificial flavoring or chemicals. n

Howard Johnson Gets Smoke Friendly

T

he Howard Johnson on 28th Street off of US 131 might not be the most glamorous place to spend the night, but at least it has smoking rooms. In September of last year, it was announced that the hotel planned to renovate 70 of its 155 rooms to accommodate tobacco and medical marijuana smokers. The hotel is able to skirt Michigan’s 2010 smoke ban with outdoor balconies and

patios, as the smoking ban does not apply to outdoor areas. Owner Bob Sullivan told various media outlets that the decision to convert these rooms to include smoking areas was a response to the ban. The balconies and patios make smoking more convenient, as patrons only have to step a few feet outside their room instead of making a trip outside the hotel altogether. —Lindsay Patton-Carson

Spend Less, Drink More!

By Erica Horoky

Y

our vice comes in the form of drinking to excess until your friends have to begrudgingly carry you home and tuck you into bed. Hey, we’re not here to judge — we’ll leave that to your pals.

You’re also cheap. You probably call it “frugal” or “thrifty” or “in control.”

Whatever. If only all of the drinks you guzzled down were cheaper, right? We’re here to help by rounding up drinks you can get at West Michigan bars for less than $2.

If you’re in Grand Rapids, hanging around Wealthy Street will probably be the best for your wallet. Billy’s Lounge (1437 Wealthy St.) has happy hour from 3 p.m. to midnight on Mondays, and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. You’ll be able to snag some domestic bottles for $1.50, $1 Stroh’s bottles and $1 High Life bottles. Mulligans Pub (1518 Wealthy St.) has happy hour from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. You’ll get $1.50

well drinks and $1.50 domestic beers. Check out The Meanwhile (1005 Wealthy St.), where happy hour is everyday until 8 p.m. The cheapest deal is $.75 Black Label cans on Tuesdays.

Outside of Wealthy Street, check out Flanagan’s Irish Pub (139 Pearl St., Grand Rapids). Drink $2 domestic drafts on Monday, $2 calls on Tuesday, $2 calls and domestic drafts on Wednesday, $2 well and domestic drinks on Thursday, and $2 domestic drafts on Friday. Monarch’s Club (646 Stocking Ave NW, Grand Rapids) has happy hour 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday with $1.50 retro beers.

If you’ve had your fair share of sloshy nights in Beer City and you’re looking for a change of scenery (until you forget where you are anyway), take a trip to Kalamazoo.

Wayside West (3406 Stadium Dr., Kalamazoo) has a great happy hour special on Wednesdays, with pints of craft beer for $2.50 and $1.50 well drinks.

Wild Bull (139 S. Edwards, Kalamazoo) has One Dollar Fridays, perfect for your thrifty self. $1 wells from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., $2 wells and drafts from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. and $3 wells and drafts from 11 p.m. to close. n

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card

I

medical examination to determine that yes, you have what you already knew you have. They then fill out the physician certification form stating they did all of the things they needed to do to show you are debilitated. Once this is done, you may then fill out the application, including the physician certification form, a copy of your photo ID proving your residence, and an application fee of $100.

If you don’t receive a denial letter within 20 business days, then you’re pretty much in the clear. After that, it just takes a grand total of 60 business days to receive your shiny new medical marijuana card.

There’s a plethora of medical facilities located all around Michigan, and also on the interwebs. Michigan.budtrader.com is a fantastic resource for not only where to, but where not to go on your search. It’s basically a Craigslist of cannabis. There is also a fantastic listing of local dispensaries at findthebest. com under the category of Michigan Marijuana Dispensaries. Searching for them is a breeze, and they’re all dedicated to getting you the medical help you need. Just go to their main website and search “medical marijuana dispensaries.” From there you will find the one closest to you, because driving is way too much work. —Sean Murphy

REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

n 2012, Michigan joined a growing number of states that allow marijuana to be used for medical purposes. Not just for any cramp or cold, however. There’s a pretty succinct list of conditions that are allowed to be treated by the green herb. Many people wonder how they can get a medical marijuana card. We’re here to give you the rundown, so you don’t get rundown instead.

The first thing anyone needs in order to be covered is a condition. All those covered are listed at the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs website.

There’s also a petition program to get another condition covered if it’s not already. You simply fill out the petition form with your condition, why it’s not included among the ones already covered, and why it should be covered, including medical tests and reports from reputable medical journals or labs. The time for a petition to be approved or denied is about 180 days.

You need to visit your physician, even if you already know you have one of the conditions. The physician will do a thorough

21

Smoking Smoke If Ya Got ‘Em:

Smoking Rooms and Lounges

By Erica Horoky and Lindsay Patton-Carson

Blazing Hookah Lounge

2728 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo Hours: 1 p.m.–2 a.m. Mon.–Wed., 1 p.m.–4 a.m. Wed.–Fri., 3 p.m.–4 a.m. Sat., 3 p.m.–12 a.m. Sun., kalamazoohookahlounge.com, (269) 381-6046 More than 30 flavors of hookah, plus food, coffee, smoothies and an open mic for poetry readings.

Buffalo Tobacco Traders

950–952 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids Hours: 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Mon.–Sat. buffalotobaccotraders.com, (616) 464-5874 A variety of premium and super premium tobacco products, as well as a new cigar lounge.

Eastown Hookah Lounge

1522 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids Hours: 5 p.m.–2 a.m. Mon.–Tues., 3 p.m.–2 a.m. Wed.–Thurs., 3 p.m.–4 a.m. Fri., 5 p.m.–4 a.m. Sat., 5 p.m.–midnight Sun., (616) 456-6664 A variety of hookah flavors to enjoy in the lounge area. Eastown Hookah also hosts DJs and occasional open mics for poetry.

GRAND RAPIDS’ ONLY

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

CHOCOLATE LOUNGE Sample our hand-made Chocolate Truffles and full chocolate menu while sipping on your favorite organic espresso drink or organic tea.

All this great chocolate wrapped in a beautiful new lounge with leather chairs and palm trees for a morning or afternoon of chocolate.

Chocolate Lounge Inside!

111 S. Division Ave, Grand Rapids (616) 206-5175 thelocalepicurean.com

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George’s Smoke Shop

Red Arrow Cigar Lounge

Tobacco, pipes, and boxes, plus an indoor smoking lounge with a TV and WiFi.

Pick up your choice of cigar and enjoy it in a smoking lounge. Red Arrow offers mild to full-bodied cigars, as well as accessories and various tobacco blends.

31 W. 8th St., Holland Hours: Mon.–Wed. 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Thurs.– Fri. 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., (616) 394-4829

Grand River Cigar

131 S Division Ave., Grand Rapids Hours: Noon–10 p.m. Mon.–Fri., noon–8 p.m. Sat. grandrivercigar.com, (616) 451-6800 More than 150 varieties of cigars that you can enjoy in the classically designed lounge, perfect for a game of cards or a date night.

Indian River Tobacco Traders

608 28th St. SW, Grand Rapids 8235 Mason Dr., Newaygo Hours: 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Mon.–Sat. indianrivertobacco.com, (616) 249-3999 Smoking accessories, tobacco, tubes, and beer and wine kits.

6980 Stadium Dr., Kalamazoo Hours: 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m. Tues.–Sat., redarrowcigars.com, (269) 544-1220

Sahara Hookah Lounge

235 W. Fulton, Grand Rapids Hours: 5 p.m.–2 a.m. Mon.-Tues., 3 p.m.–4 a.m. Wed.–Fri., 5 p.m.–4 a.m. Sat., 5 p.m.– midnight Sun. (616) 242-4400 A large modern lounge and a variety of hookah flavors.

Tuttle’s

3835 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids Hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Tues. & Thurs.– Fri., 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Wed., 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sat. tuttlescigars.com, (616) 942-6990 Tuttle’s offers cigars and pipe tobacco in addition to an open club-style cigar lounge. n

All the Vices Producer Joe Can Fit into One Day

By Joe Gasmann

I

t’s pretty exciting to wake up on a day when your assignment is to amass as many vices in the day as possible. I mean, it’s not often that one gets to ask their friends and strangers if they know where to score various illicit drugs and dirty love with a legitimate excuse. The only rule I’ve given myself is that pot must come from a drug dealer and not a dispensary.

8:41 a.m. I contemplate chronically masturbating my way to vice No. 1, but my wife is still sleeping next to me and that would be rude.

I opt instead for coffee on the couch, but we have none. Zero and two.

9:26 a.m. I just got back from the gas station around the corner with a large coffee. I don’t smoke, dip or huff gasoline, but I damn well could have, so I count them. I’m at four.

10:14 a.m. I’m stalking Facebook for friends

I believe will be able to help. I can find Molly from the person I know went to City Lights, pot from almost all of my friends, while cop pals point me to the hooker and meth parts of town. I send a few messages and open up Backpage as a second, yet equally lazy, means of debauchery; the most recent post is from Julie. The ad says Julie is 32 and offers “Intelligence, good conversation and great company.”

10:50 a.m. At this point, not much is going on. Since I know I’ll eat myself to a bigger cup size at some point today, we’ll say I’m at five.

2:20 p.m. OK, big time breakthroughs hap-

pening here! I was totally right about City Lights friend. He/she can get me Molly by the end of the day and, as an added bonus,

3:06 p.m. A lot has happened in a short

amount of time. I found weed from a friend, who can also get me Amber Ice. He tells me to hold on while he then talks to his buddy.

After a moment he informs me that he also has access to “DMT, shrooms, pretty much any prescription drug” (sic). While this magic is being worked, I am told by another friend that he could definitely get me anabolic steroids. I wasn’t even looking for ‘roids, but that makes 15 and I’ll take it.

4:40 p.m. My cop friend has checked in

and given me a couple of spots to check for meth and heroin. Because I have a rule about never going to Wyoming, I pass in favor of other methods.

I use Google Street View until I find a gas station in Allegan that looks like it could be used as a backdrop for “True Detective” and dial them up. I cut to the chase and ask the clerk if he knows where drugs could be obtained. Apparently, this isn’t a first as I’m told that I was “stereotyping” and not to call again. I would expect no less from a filthy Allegan meth addict.

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

1:40 p.m. I just got back from the gym.

Some people could consider working out a vice, but I can’t because I don’t try, and I’m fat. Momentum has stalled and morale is low.

With my pothead and virgin days far in the rear-view, I forgot how much waiting for drugs and sexually progressive women sucked. I’ve also noticed that some of the messages I sent out have read with no reply.

can get blow, too. I give myself two for that.

Because I assume I can easily find a recipe online for crack, I take another. Eight pretty strong points now.

My father-in-law and wife are painting the bedroom. I would help, but clearly I’m working. I just found a Craigslist casual encounter who “seeks c**k.” This is promising, as I have one of those. There’s no number and she wants a picture. I message her with a picture of my friend, Jeff.

Good news: I called Julie again and she picked up! Though she prefers a more mature man, she will meet me at my house for a $200 donation. Bad news: When I ask how much sex I get for donating, Julie feels this is a waste of her time and hangs up.

I consider that a win nonetheless. 9 vice points!

5:13 p.m. Though waiting for drugs is as

painfully boring as it was back in high school, patience paid off. All in all, I racked up 15.

While I feel like my work should be paid off by the night of insane partying I now know is a mere phone call or message away, I settle instead for blackout amounts of my lifelong friend, beer. n

REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

23

Vanity

Get Pampered, You’re Worth It

By Kyle Hauch

SHOES TO FEED YOUR FETISH

By Missy Black

Let’s face it, most of us just can’t help but indulge in our spoiled side. Why not spend all day at a spa or cook your skin for a few hours to get the perfect tan, because you deserve it.

The people over at Ambrosia Therapeutic Massage (1820 S Westnedge Ave #2, Kalamazoo) are hitting you with an indulgence double whammy with their Hugged By Chocolate body treatment.

The treatment starts off with a dry scrub and moves on to a chocolate body wrap. Your skin is then covered with chocolate body butter and ends with a 30 or 60 minute massage. It’ll be like you fell asleep in a chocolate wonderland. Singles for 90 minutes: $130 or two hours: $160.

Couples for 90 minutes: $260 or two hours: $320.

South Beach Sun Tanning (5150 Northland Dr Suite J, Grand

Rapids) offers a monster of a deal to fulfill all of your tanning needs.

Get two weeks of tanning free when you buy one month unlimited. Or you can do the Tanning Cocktail deal for $30, which gets you a session in their level-6 bed followed by a sunless spray tan. You can also get 75 minutes free with your purchase of 100 minutes.

Oasis Hot Tub Gardens in Comstock Park and Kalamazoo offers

the Family Vacation deal where the first three kids, 16 and under, are free when accompanied by two paid adults. But we say ditch the kids because this is about you. Take that special someone and do what makes you feel good. Because what happens in the hot tub gardens stays in the hot tub gardens. Prices range for two people from $25 for an hour to $50 for two hours. Nights and weekends vary.

Beer lovers can also get the best of the spa world at the JW Marriott Spa in Grand Rapids. The Brew and Renew package offers a special

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

beer foot bath, hot towel application and a foot massage, all while enjoying a beer. 50 minutes for $89.80 minutes for $169.

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WEATHER WORKHORSE The British line Joules has your wellies fix in florals, polka dots, stripes and bows. Starting at $64, these staples are uber-feminine and have that prep-school-charm feel to them. “They’re justifiable—especially in our weather,” said Jenny Van Veen, owner at Frances Jaye (50 E 8th St., Holland). “They are a classic you’ll have for years and are comfortable and unique enough.” Colorful striped linings make this rain boot a slick reminder that it’s what’s on the inside that counts.

Fetish Rating: Sweating in Socks.

COUTURE ALLURE Jenni Steele, owner of For the Love of Shoes (119 Butler St., Saugatuck) thinks shoe freaks will love the Donald J. Pliner brand. “It’s more high end, beautiful quality, that have a sexy look to them. People always gravitate toward them.” Major shoe territory is covered here as comfort shoes for nurses and teachers co-exist with Spanish Pikolinos shoes that are more rugged along with the Sacha London brand—a great woman’s work shoe that’s comfortable yet pretty. Men’s shoes are available as well as a Harley Davidson line for women.

The store carries accessories such as intimate apparel and active wear, and when you add shoes to that, you’ve got the owner’s three favorite fetishes covered.

Fetish Rating: Toe Curling.

FOR THE FELLAS The Wolverine 1,000 Mile Boot line has a strong following. “Many men admire it,” said Brianna Tomlinson, acting manager at the Wolverine Company Store in the MoDiv shop (40 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids).

She specifically points to the 744 style that’s classic, timeless and versatile with a “very polished look to it.”

This style has been made for 100 years, so it’s a refined silhouette that passes the test of time. The deep, chestnut brown leather is great paired with dark-washed denim, distressed jeans, or could compliment the right suit. Psst!—it’s limited edition, which makes shoe connoisseurs shiver with pleasure.

Fetish rating: Ecstasy in Unraveled Laces.

APR

12

THE NATIONAL

with My Brightest Diamond | Van Noord Arena | 8pm | $40 (Reserved Seating)

APR

14

JULIANNA BARWICK with Vasillus | Ladies Literary Club | 8pm | $15

APR

22

S. CAREY

with White Hinterland | Ladies Literary Club | 8pm | $10

MAY

7

MILK CARTON KIDS with John Smith | Ladies Literary Club | 8pm | $15

9

LILY AND MADELEINE with Shannon Hayden | Ladies Literary Club | 8pm | $10

Changing the conversation about popular culture.

www.calvin.edu/sao

616.526.6282 REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

MAY

25

Miscellaneous Obsessions

Sloth

A New Way to Binge

Yeah, I Luv Dem Strippers When it comes to vices, strips clubs might top the list with their dark atmosphere and what-happens-here-stays-here mantra. Here are places in West Michigan where you can indulge your vice.

Angels 3215 King Hwy., Kalamazoo, angelskzoo.com, (269) 344-2162

Odyssey Entertainment 700 E. Broadway Ave., Muskegon odyssey-entertainment.com, (231) 733-1580

Come for the dancers, stay for the beer. Angels recently remodeled its VIP area and offers a full bar, with Michigan brews on tap.

West Michigan’s only fully nude strip club. It also offers an adult theatre, adult superstore, amateur night every Saturday at 2 a.m., plus a full menu.

Dejavu Showgirls/Little Darlings 1336 Ravine Rd., Kzoo Township, dejavu.com

Parkway Tropics 814 Lake Michigan Dr., Grand Rapids parkwaytropics.info, (616) 454-3026

Although in November it was announced that Michigan bars can allow alcohol and fully nude dancers, this bi-level club is still booze-free. To get in on some alcohol action, there is a separate club, Little Darlings, across the lounge from Dejavu.

Sensations 3525 E Mall Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, (616) 940-0100

Heart Beats Exotic Nightclub 182 Avenue A, Battle Creek Featured entertainers every month, in addition to amateur nights every Wednesday, VIP rooms and bottle service.

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

We polled our staff and came up with our favorite shows to binge watch: “Breaking Bad” “Orange is the New Black” “House of Cards” “Game of Thrones” “Lilyhammer” “Check It Out! with Steve Brule” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” “Dexter” “Idiot Abroad” “Arrested Development” “New Girl” Illustration: Walter White, by Kim Kibby

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See your favorite band at The Orbit Room, then head next door for some late-night entertainment at Sensations.

Stars Sports Bar and Adult Entertainment 501 W Broadway Ave., Muskegon, (231) 733-9256

Hots Gentlemen’s Club 948 N Raymond Rd., Battle Creek hotsgentlemensclub.com, (269) 962-8677

Thanks to Netflix, watching television shows has been taken to vice-worthy levels in the past few years and the term ‘binge watching’ is now used in our collective vocabulary. Binging on TV shows was made easier in the early aughts with the advent of DVD box sets. Then Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go and Amazon Prime came along and changed the way we watch forever. People devote weekends to watching entire seasons of “Breaking Bad,” “House of Cards,” “Doctor Who” and more. Entire TV seasons and series can be streamed online, back to back, making social life a thing of the past.

On April 12, Parkway celebrates its 59th birthday with giveaways and specials from noon to 2 a.m.

On Wednesdays, the club hosts amateur night.

Hots offers specials every day including amateur night and $3 bottles, country night, $2 Tuesday ($2 cover, wells and drafts), shot specials and more.

Lady Godiva’s 234 Market, Grand Rapids (616) 458-0234 When it comes to vices, Lady Godiva’s offers the four Bs: Booze, boobs, breakfast and buffet. The club’s breakfast buffet is free with cover and starts at 2 a.m. and runs until 4 a.m.

A sports bar atmosphere plus adult entertainment to give you a different kind of club.

Studs 234 Market Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, (616) 466-6386 We’re all about equality. Studs (located in the same building as Lady Godiva’s) offers male exotic dancers and according to Owner Mark London, is West Michigan’s first nightclub designed solely for women. —Lindsay Patton-Carson

Life is hard, play video games

A

ll across the country, millions of people are addicted, but this kind of addiction doesn’t come as a pill or a powder. It comes in the form of a controller in your hand and a huge flat screen TV in your face. I’m talking video games, those interactive pieces of entertainment that have been a haven for social outcasts, nerds, geeks and 12 year olds to all meet and insult each other online.

Thanks to the rise of high-speed Internet, video games have reached a point where they are so immersive, competitive and social that they start to become more exciting than real life itself. This is where the addiction sets in. Games

like “Call of Duty” and “Halo” have shattered sales records because people get sucked into their competitive multiplayer format. Hence the all-too-accurate stereotype we have all come to associate with gamers: the guy living in his mom’s basement, with Mountain Dew cans scattered across the floor, his fingers covered in Cool Ranch Doritos and no light, other than the glow of his TV. Being a gamer is not a cheap vice either, with most new release games costing at least $60. Not to mention spending at least $400 or $500 on the new consoles and buying a nice HD TV to play them on.

If you ever do come out of your hole, wipe off the Dorito dust and check out GrandLAN (56 Division Ave., Grand Rapids), which offers a hangout for you and your gaming buds. —Kyle Hauch

Vinyl is My Vice, and I’m OK With That

By Josh Spanninga

I

still remember when I bought my first vinyl. I was at a show at the old Strutt in Kalamazoo (RIP), and the album came with a free CD, so I figured what the hell? Little did I know that dropping the needle onto the record’s grooves would prove to be my first step on the road to becoming obsessed with vinyl.

Sure, I realize streaming from Spotify may be the easy route, but purchasing vinyl has far more benefits.

Count Your Vices at the Casino

By Andrea Kooiker and Colleen Schonfield

Casinos are a get-’em-all-in-one destination for vices. You can gamble (obviously), drink, shop, gorge on buffets, get busy in your hotel room and some even allow you to smoke inside.

FireKeepers Casino Hotel 11177 East Michigan Ave., Battle Creek firekeeperscasino.com, (877) 352-8777 FireKeepers caters to both the young and the young-at-heart. There are eight restaurants and bars, including the 24-hour Mijem Buffet (which literally means Food Buffet). Save some winnings for the two gift shops, where you can purchase authentic Native American merchandise and other trinkets.

Total vices: 6 (eating, smoking, gambling, shopping, drinking, sex)

If you like your food fast and fattening, Four Winds’ Timbers Fast Food and Deli serves jumbo hot dogs, burgers, pizza, chicken wings and beer-battered onion rings. Its gambling floor offers nine table games and 560 slot machines.

Total vices:: 6 (eating, drinking, smoking, gambling, shopping, sex) Gun Lake Casino 1123 129th Ave., Wayland gunlakecasino.com, (269) 792-7777

Total vices: 5 (smoking, drinking, eating, gambling, shopping) Little River Casino 2700 Orchard Hwy, Manistee lrcr.com, (231) 723-1535 Indulge in breakfast, brunch or dinner at the Willows Buffet or head over to Heron at the River for some specialty cocktails and martinis. Stressed over your luck with the slots and tables? Relax with a massage at the spa, head to the hotel’s pool, sauna or whirlpool, or play some golf at the local golf course.

Total vices: 6 (eating, drinking, smoking, pampering, gambling, sex) Soaring Eagle Casino Resort 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd., Mount Pleasant soaringeaglecasino.com, (888) 732-4537 Indulge in all your vices at Soaring Eagle, where you can get busy in the hotel room, on the casino floor or at The Waterlilly Lounge. Plus, gorge at the Aurora Buffet (or the nine other restaurants offered), get pampered at Long Journey Spa or head to Cyber Quest, the all-ages arcade.

Total vices: 7 (drinking, eating, pampering, gambling, drinking, smoking, sex, gaming)

Second, there’s a hell of a lot of variety when it comes to vinyl. My own personal collection is filled with different types of clear, colored and 180 gram vinyl, 12” records that play at 45 rpm, split 7” records and other goodies. My girlfriend even enlisted contacts from Detroit to help her procure a rare, $60 imported limited edition colored LP from a semi-obscure Japanese stoner noise-rock band for my anniversary present (it was at this moment I knew it was true love).

Better yet for rarity geeks like myself, is the wide variety of items being produced exclusively for this year’s Record Store Day (April 19). Artists from across genres band together to release special items specifically for the event, and this year has some enticing specials, from Pissed Jeans’ limited edition live album to David Bowie’s 7-inch picture disc.

Lastly, vinyl just sounds so much better. The crisp, crackling sound that sparks as the needle drops is one of the most comforting noises I’ve ever heard, and the audio embedded in the grooves of the record has more character than any digital file.

Of course, sound quality may be the least of my concerns when I’ve spent every last dime in my name on procuring the latest, rarest 7-inch. But we all have our vices, and if my biggest vice is enjoying music, then I think I’m doing pretty well.

WINNER

Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort

REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Four Winds Casino 68600 Red Arrow Highway, Hartford 11111 Wilson Rd., New Buffalo 58700 M-51 S., Dowagiac fourwindscasino.com, (866) 494-6371

Gun Lake boasts two 24-hour bakeries on the weekends along with a Cold Stone Creamery. Take your winnings from the casino’s video poker, 1,500 slot machines and 28 table games to Appliques, where you can blow it on commemorative souvenirs. But if you lost more than you won, drink it off at Stage 131.

First, there are the dollar bins at your local record store and various yard sales.

You have to wade through loads of Kenny G and John Tesh before you get to anything good, but once you do find something you like, it basically feels like you’ve just found pirate booty buried underneath a leprechaun’s pot of gold at the end of a double rainbow. It also you opens you up to diversifying your musical inclinations. I mean, you’d never actually buy that James Bond soundtrack normally, but come on, it’s just one dollar.

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/// LOCAL MUSIC

Hard Work Paying Off for West Michigan Rockers Wayland | By Jayson Bussa

I

n a day and age where musicians can bui ld an audi e nce via YouTub e or by pimping their tunes via the numerous social media channels, West Michigan’s own rock band Wayland chose to go full-on analog with its efforts.

This means relentless touring, playing an occasional show for just 50 bucks and a pizza, and begging program managers at radio stations throughout the nation to give their stuff a spin. And, it’s paying off.

While there is nothing normal about being on the road constantly since January 2012, popping back home for a few days every now and then, Wayland guitarist Phill Vilenski really didn’t think much of it.

“People act like it’s something that is so amazing and they can’t believe how many shows we’ve played or how many songs we’ve written,” Vilenski said. “What else are we going to do? This is the career we’ve always wanted. An opportunity started to open up to go national with radio and we’re kicking that door open.

“We’re not going to sit around and wait for Capitol Records to call and say, ‘Hey, you guys are going on tour.’”

It’s probably safe to say that the Wayland boys won’t be lining up to audition for “The Voice” or “X Factor” to compete for their shot at instant fame. Immediate success through

a little bit of time here and there in the studio, but they simply minimal work is not how Vilenski’s parents did it, nor is it can’t afford to sit in one place for too long. the way that most people in their gritty, rural hometown of While Wayland builds an audiWayland roll. ence around the country, its fan base “We named ourselves after my Wayland wsg Devin and remains loyal here on the home front. hometown; we wanted to show the the Dead Frets, Uncommon This makes the group’s visit to Grand world what West Michigan is all about,” Road, The After Effect, Rapids on April 5 all the more special.

Vilenski said. “My parents owned a busiJim Shaneberger Wayland will hit the stage at The ness and they worked seven days a week.

The Intersection, Grand Rapids Intersection for their signature rowdy The other guys in the band, their parents April 5, 6:30 p.m. show, which will also serve as live DVD are the same way. We’re not going to be a $10 in advance, $15 day of show filming. band that tours when we have to. This is sectionlive.com; (616) 451-8232 “The Intersection shows are becomour one and only chance, so we’re going ing so much fun and very exciting,” to take it.”

Vilenski said. “We just thought, ‘Why don’t we bring some The ruthless touring schedule has held Wayland back cameras in and let’s just tape one?’ It will be awesome to from releasing any new recorded material since its EP, which document one of these shows.” n dropped two years ago. Vilenski admitted the band will spend

MUSIC NEWS plenty of exciting things on the horizon. Three Cents Short will be one of a handful of West Michigan bands to appear at this year’s BledFest in Howell. The band will also be playing at Mulligan’s in Grand Rapids on April 25 with The Penske File, out of Canada.

Kalamazoo’s I’m William Cutting and Martyr For Madison of Grand Rapids will be in action at The Pyramid Scheme on April 1 to help celebrate a brand new album from post-hardcore royalty. Michigan-based group Chiodos will be dropping its new album, Devil. With its line-up almost back to original form, complete with Craig Owens as front man, this will be the group’s first release since 2010.

REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Grand Rapids-based post punk-ish band La Dispute, now of national fame, recently fed its fan base’s appetite for new material with its latest album, Rooms of the House. For a band that was known for constantly releasing new EPs that featured their more off-the-cuff work, this is La Dispute’s most recent release after Wildlife came out in 2011.

Last month, Grand Rapids-based pop punk mainstays Three Cents Short welcomed new drummer Matthew Gluggins to the mix. Alive and kicking for just less than six years, the band has

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/// on tour

Jucifer: The World’s Loudest Nomads

| by Josh Spanninga

T

Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

he husband-and-wife duo known as “There are times we’re booked into an inappropriate Jucifer lives and breathes music. If anyone needs venue, one with noise ordinances and angry neighbors, proof of this notion they need only to look at the and shows get shut down,” Valentine said. “Fortunately, band’s tour schedule, which has been nonstop our reputation usually precedes us, so we don’t end up since they took on a nomadic lifestyle in 2001. Since in that situation very often.” then, they have made quite literally Those audacious enough to brave made their tour RV their permanent the sonic assault of one of Jucifer’s live Jucifer wsg Ozenza and residence with no regrets. shows are often greeted with a diverse Night Hawk “We wanted to be playing music mix of sounds, from doom and sludge The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids all the time, to be totally focused metal to dark, pop-influenced folk.

April 9, 8 p.m., 18+ on it and away from the sort of The duo attributes this diversity to its $8 advanced, $10 at door easy temptation of doing the same own eclectic musical tastes. pyramidschemebar.com, (616) old daily routine, letting the years “Our taste is constant. It’s a force 272-3758 slide by until one day waking up to that feels like gravity,” Valentine said. realize everything we dreamed about “We just know what suits us and suits never got done and we had gotten too old to begin,” each story that we tell when we make an album.”

Guitarist Gazelle Amber Valentine said. “We saw that Even crazier than their ever-evolving, multi-faceted by shackling our whole lives to our band, we would music catalog is their ability to create a broad array of have to do it justice.” sounds with only two people. But don’t get stuck on It’s worked out well for them, too. They’ve the fact that they’re a duo — they prefer audiences just released numerous EPs and albums to much critical focus on the music. acclaim, and successfully toured dozens of countries, “The dumbest thing ever, besides being always comearning fans with improvised jams between songs and pared to bands with girls in them, was being compared notoriously loud live shows. And when I say loud, I to any and every ‘two piece’ despite having nothing else mean amps-literally-stacked-to-the-ceiling, blow-your- in common,” Valentine said. “We always thought of eardrums loud. ourselves just as a band. Not anything more or less.” n

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/// ON TOUR

Open Hours

MON-SAT 3PM-2AM SUN 12PM-2AM KITCHEN 5:30PM-11PM

The Head and the Heart Navigates Its Rapid Success

Happy Hour

MON-FRI 3-7PM $2 Domestics, $2 Wells $3 Calls, $1.50 Retros

| By Dwayne Hoover

760 BUTTERWORTH SW GRAND RAPIDS, MI 616.272.3910

LIVE MUSIC

Sunday Funday!

APRIL 3: Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys, FREE

3 Bands, $3 COVER $3 Bloody Marys $2 Breakfast 3PM bands begin

APRIL 5: Greg Nagy, $5

APRIL 6: Lectralux, Warsaw Flats & Shorthair Domestics

APRIL 4: The Di Maggio Connection wsg Jane Rose & the Deadend Boys, $10

APRIL 6: Mini-Milk (a benefit for Buttermilk Jamboree), $10 APRIL 8: Amy Lavere wsg Hannah Rose Graves, $7

APRIL 20: Dispondant Lamb, Skinjacket & Blood Eagle

APRIL 10: Mutts & Tex Railers Doomtown

APRIL 27: The Star Darts, Coldville & Head

APRIL 11: The Todd Wolfe Band, $10 APRIL 12: Junior Valentine, Jason Wheeler & Brandon Grinwis, $5

OPEN VINYL PARTY

Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

MONDAYS, NO COVER, 8PM

COMEDY NIGHT 2ND AND 4TH TUESDAY, NO COVER, 8:30

APRIL 13: The Green Room Rockers w/ Jesse Wagner (of the Aggrolites) + Ausslander, Sailor Kicks & Sol, $10 APRIL 17: The Moonrays, FREE APRIL 18: Matt Woods & Jeff Shepherd & the Jailhouse Poets, $7 APRIL 24: Josh Rose & Joe Cartoon, $5

OPEN MIC NIGHT

APRIL 25: Rosie Flores wsg Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys, $15

WITH SAM KENNY WEDNESDAY, NO COVER 9PM

APRIL 26: The Lustre Kings wsg The Rhythm Aces, $10

34 | REVUEWM.COM | April 2014

J

ust to li ste n to th e m, lives on the road, this harsh reality became the yo u wo u l d n ’ t k n ow inspiration for their next album.

Seattle’s folk-rock sex“Falling out of touch with family memtet The Head and the Heart have only bers and all of those things are very similar been around since 2009. The music feels to what happens to musicians when they more experienced and sophisticated, with finally get to that place and are out tourmelodies that sound like they were constructed ing and traveling all the time,” Russell said. by people who have been creating together for “It’s what you’re shooting for, but sometimes much longer. Add an eclectic assortment of you’re like, ‘I just want a mundane day. Get instruments and some impresup, make coffee, get in my sive vocal harmonies, and it’s car and drive to work.’ It The Head and the Heart no wonder why people have lingers in your consciouswsg Basia Bulat taken notice. ness all the time, and when Calvin College, Grand Rapids The success of the you’re writing songs it just April 3, 8 p.m. band’s self-titled debut alkind of comes out.” $30 bum catapulted its members The result was the calvin.edu/sao, (616) 526-6282 into what they had been band’s second record, Let’s working toward: the role of Be Still, which debuted at successful musicians. But even as they were No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and has the achieving what they had sought after, they band on a pretty consistent touring schedwere also becoming very aware of how deeply ule in support. And not only are the band that very success was affecting their lives. members pleased with the recent success in “Inevitably there’s going to be that sort the business, they’re excited about the music of voice of everything changing, you know?” they’re creating. said Jonathan Russell, vocalist and guitarist.

“You feel [our chemistry], and it’s not “It’s just growing pains, essentially. If we were contrived,” Russell said. “We try to make fresh out of college and had landed our real things as little as work as we can. If you’re jobs in Chicago, we’d experience that same having to work that hard at something right sort of thing.” out of the gate, it might not be the right fit for But those growing pains were very real, where you’re at.” n and as the band’s members began living their

Photo: Curtis Wave Millard

KEN YATES & BRIAN DUNNE

SEABIRD

APRIL 6 TICKETS $18

TEDDY GEIGER

APRIL 10 TICKETS $25

ERICK BAKER

SEABIRD

APRIL 12 TICKETS $22

ALICE PEACOCK

HOWIE DAY

APRIL 16 TICKETS $40

SALLY BARRIS

APRIL 18 TICKETS $20

ALICE PEACOCK

TEDDY GEIGER

APRIL 25 TICKETS $30

HANNAH THOMAS

APRIL 26 TICKETS $18

NEIL JACOBS

MAY 3 TICKETS $18

SALLY BARRIS

PAT MCGEE

MAY 8 TICKETS $30

WILD PONIES

MAY 16 TICKETS $22

SEVEN STEPS UP LIVE MUSIC & EVENT VENUE: 116 S JACKSON ST. SPRING LAKE, MI 49456 PINDROPCONCERTS.COM (231) 557-7687

& REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

WILD PONIES

ALL SEATS RESERVED. NO ADDITIONAL TICKET FEES. BAR AVAILABLE. MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED. UNDER 17 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY PARENT.

35

36 | REVUEWM.COM | April 2014

VISUAL ART

by Kerri VanderHoff

Feel the Vibe:

The Artist Studio as Gathering Space

O

ne of the ways to “We have an exciting group of new really get to know a city’s venues and artists participating this year,” vibe is to find the arts dissaid Event Coordinator Liz Hertl, nottrict and spend a little time ing a couple of examples such as viewing hanging out. university art students’ work at the DeVos Art tells stories of time Skywalk and Cathedral Square, and the and place, even while being timeless Grand Rapids Ballet Company performand universal. Artists reveal truths about ing on an unconventional stage at the humankind within the context of their Harris Building. cultural and historical setting.

After a Friday evening wearing comWhile the Grand Rapids arts district fortable shoes and hopping from place to may not yet evoke the legendary vibe of place, you just might be in the mood for SoHo or the Left Bank, it is a growing a more stationary, low-key and intimate presence that contributes to the vitality experience the following day. and depth of the city’s narrative. This narrative grows richer As the Grand Rapids art district grows, so too does the as the stories are exchanged with the broader community, collaborative efforts among artist-entrepreneurs to create and a way to encourage this exchange is to open the doors a year-round opportunity for the public to visit working to the studios and invite the public in to the conversation. studios. Converted warehouses and factories offer the Two different and interesting events this chance to visit multiple artists in one large month offer just such an invitation. location. One such place is Gallerie Art Art.Downtown.

The fifth annual Art.Downtown. event Haus on Oakland off Market Avenue.

Downtown Grand Rapids on Friday, April 11 features several hundred “There’s strength in numbers when we April 11, 6 -11 p.m. Free! artists showing in galleries, businesses and combine forces,” said Co-Founder Mark avenueforthearts.com, studio spaces. More than 400 artists in 40 Bird. “And there’s a unique connection for (616) 454-0928 venues are found along the route, all within people when they look at art where it is made walking distance of the downtown core. A as opposed to alone on a gallery wall.”

The Next Show free trolley is available as well, with friendly On Saturday, April 12 the Gallerie Art Gallerie Art Haus, Grand volunteer guides handing out maps and Haus presents “The Next Show,” the second Rapids providing information along the way. in its bi-monthly exhibition series located in April 12, 6-10 p.m. Free!

The event, which includes large art the common space of the building complex. galleriearthaus.com, institutions, smaller artist loft studios along The casual open house atmosphere includes (616) 638-6885 Division Avenue and everything in between, works of art for sale by resident artists and brings a hustle and bustle to the area with invited guests, a variety of performance art, visitors from near and far exploring the many opportunities and this month’s musical guest is DJ Shamar Alef Bento connect with artists. The event grows every year, adding Yasara’El. For a list of participating artists visit the Gallerie new energy and new surprises to discover.

Art Haus web page. n

Two upcoming opportunities to hang out in artists’ studios are the fifth annual Art.Downtown. and “The Next Show” at Gallerie Art Haus.

Hastings Downtown Sculpture Exhibit

Downtown Hastings Through April 30, 2014 downtownhastings.com, (269) 945-2468 The fourth annual exhibit features 21 unique sculptures placed at locations of close proximity for walking throughout downtown Hastings.

An advisory committee of local residents,

artists, art enthusiasts and art instructors selected seven of the sculptures, procured

by Midwest Sculpture Initiative (MSI). Four of the sculptures are from local artists and there are 14 sculptures that have been purchased and gifted back to the City for permanent display. A brochure with a map is available inside City Hall on East State Street.

Impressions of South Haven

South Haven Center for the Arts April 25-June 1, 2014 southhavenarts.org, (269) 637-1041

ABOVE: A painting by Mark Bird, one of the participating artists in “The Next Show” at Gallerie Art Haus.

The theme for the Members’ Show 2014 is “Impressions of South Haven,” with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. on April 25. The exhibition features art in a variety of mediums selected from among the works submitted by SHCA members.

Buster Keaton’s Bluffton: A Graphic Novel by Matt Phelan

Muskegon Museum of Art Through May 25, 2014 muskegonartmuseum.org, (231) 720-2570

Step back into local history and the heyday of vaudeville and Buster Keaton with an exhibition of original illustrations from the novel Bluffton, My Summers with Buster Keaton

by Pennsylvania-based artist and Newbery Medal winner Matt Phelan. Bluffton tells the story of Henry, a young boy who befriends the most famous resident of Muskegon’s Bluffton neighborhood Actors’ Colony. Related programming includes film screenings and an historical Bluffton walking tour.

REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights Diing | Schedule

Other Art Events

TOP: An Art.Downtown. volunteer hands out maps.

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by Allison Parker

theatre

S

Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene

o m e sto ri e s are j ust wo rth re telling, and The Wizard of Oz is one of them.

Since the novel’s debut more than 100 years ago, we’re still in awe with a certain plucky prairie girl’s crash landing in a realm of breathtaking magic.

Ozians at heart can now watch the iconic fantasy unfold before their very eyes with Broadway Grand Rapids’ sparkling new production of The Wizard of Oz. As far as Oz adaptions go, this one remains mostly faithful to its film source by preserving the setting, story, characters and songs everyone knows and loves.

That’s not to say it’s without updates and surprises, however.

Broadway Grand Most notably, Broadway’s Oz Rapids presents represents a mini not-in-KansasThe Wizard of Oz anymore adventure for its lead DeVos Performance Hall, actress, Danielle Wade. For this Grand Rapids Ontario native, the yellow brick April 22-27, show times at 1, road leading from community 2, 6:30, 7:30 & 8 p.m. theatre to Broadway came in the $32-$81.25 form of the Canadian reality broadwaygrandrapids.com, TV series, “Over the Rainbow.”

(616) 235-6285 During this Dorothy boot camp run by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Wade defeated 10 other finalists to land role of America’s ruby-slippered sweetheart.

Wade’s story not only makes her an inspiring leading lady to root for, but also serves as a reminder of Oz’s tremendous power to resonate with universal aspects of the human experience. “[Dorothy is] extremely relatable. Everyone has some situation where they feel like nobody is listening or where all they want to do is go home,” Wade said. “There’s something in that character that everyone knows and can hold on to.”

Broadway’s Oz helps audiences connect with the story further by adding a few modern touches to the classic tale.

“Our version is more contemporary. The script is updated a little and there are a few new jokes thrown in. … It’s more our time—I don’t talk like a 1930s movie,” Wade said.

Other Performing Arts Events Rock of Ages

Wharton Center, East Lansing April 6, 6:30 p.m. $22-$57 whartoncenter.com, (517) 353-1982 Jam-packed with poofy hair, rock hits and ‘80s clichés, Rock of Ages is a high-energy tribute to Hollywood’s totally rad decade.

The story centers around busboy Drew, who falls for wannabe actress Sherrie while aspiring (of course) to be a rock star. As the deliciously cliché duo struggle to make it big, a group of developers plans to demolish the club at the heart of the Sunset Strip’s

38 | REVUEWM.COM | April 2014

Original Toronto Cast.

Photo: CYLLA VON TIEDEMANN

Back to Ozness The Wizard of Oz at DeVos Performance Hall

This Oz also gives off a more modern vibe by fleshing out its heroes and villains in the tradition of many other recent remakes. While supporting characters don’t take center stage, a few new songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice give characters such as the Wicked Witch and the Wizard a bit more of a voice.

“They’ve thrown in a few new songs for character development. [The songs] make the characters more human and help us understand what they want. … I think my interpretation of each character has changed the more I get to know them,” Wade said.

Although it may have been tweaked here and there, the enduring presence of the Oz adventure in American culture is a testament to its tremendous emotional pull and timeless sparkle.

“I think no matter how many times you’ve seen the movie or seen the show, you just get so wrapped up in it as you see the story come alive in front of you. It makes you want to laugh and cry. It’s always there in spite of everything else around you,” Wade said. n

rock scene. Things go from bad to worse when Drew mistakenly friend-zones Sherrie, who quickly finds a rebound hookup. “Don’t Stop Believing” though, folks, because Drew and Sherrie are in love and ultimately “Can’t Fight This Feeling.”

their bodies, the company exalts the human form as a compelling instrument of expression.

Pilobolus

Miller Auditorium, Kalamazoo April 15, 7:30 p.m. $25-$45 millerauditorium.com, (269) 387-2300 Named for a fungus that propels spores with remarkable speed, Pilobolus is an avant-garde company that challenges the very definition of dance. A collaborative effort of multi-disciplinary geniuses, the company often blurs near-acrobatic movement with innovative biological imagery. By creating unusual shapes with

King Stag

WMU Theatre, Williams Theatre, Kalamazoo April 3-6, 10-13; show times at 2 & 8 p.m. $10-$20, WMU students $5 wmich.edu/theatre, (269) 387-6222 Like many classic fairytales, King Stag begins with a king looking for a woman who will love him for who he is, not for the crown he wears. When one of his jealous officers notices sparks between the king and a potential Miss Right, he transforms the king into a stag and banishes him to the forest. Featuring a blend of live actors and puppetry, the production showcases guest artists from NY’s Puppet Kitchen and South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company.

comedy

by Josh Spanninga

Joey CoCo Diaz’s Journey from Prison to the Limelight

M

o st c o m e d ian s wi ll ag r e e that when you’re starting out at open mic nights, the crowds can seem intimidating.

For Joey Coco Diaz, his first audience consisted of what many would view as an especially rough crowd — his fellow inmates. During the time Diaz served in prison, the inmates were treated to Thursday movie nights, but when the projector stopped working, Diaz followed his natural inclinations and started performing.

“I was doing comedy, but I didn’t even know I was doing it,” Diaz said. “I was just getting up on a table and talking.”

After being released from prison, Diaz moved to Los Angeles to further pursue comedy. While it’s about as far away as you can get from his childhood home of New Jersey, he still cites his old hometown as the main source of influence for his material.

“I was doing comedy, but I didn’t even know I was doing it. I was just getting up on a table and talking.”

Scene | Sounds | Sights Diing | Schedule

“My hometown of Jersey is a really funny town, like the people are really funny, really sarcastic,” Diaz said. “I really just took a piece of all my friends and that’s who you see onstage in a way.”

Aside from stand-up, Diaz also began taking on small acting roles in LA. He saw it as a great way to make extra cash, and better yet, free publicity for his comedy.

“When I got here (LA), after about eight or nine months, I knew that I wasn’t going to get noticed for standup,” Diaz said. “I was dirty, I was little longer in the tooth.

I knew that the stand-up wouldn’t push me over the top, but I knew I’d get noticed if I acted.”

Eventually, his acting roles kept getting larger do a movie with DeNiro and Stallone, which at the as he landed a recurring role on “My Name is Earl” end of the day, that’s f***ing big for a guy like me.” and a supporting character role in The Longest Yard.

Joey Diaz Of course, his plan to use acting as a platform to More recently, he had a part in Grudge Match, opDr. Grins, Grand Rapids draw audiences to his stand-up has paid off. Diaz says April 10-12, show times at posite Sylvester Stallone and Robert DeNiro. While he’s at a point where his stand-up career has caught 5:30, 8 and 10:30 p.m. he admits it probably won’t win any Oscars, he’s still up to his acting career, and his most recent comedy $10-$20 proud of his work in the film, and grateful for the album confirms. He’s also been touring extensively, thebob.com, (616) 356-2000 opportunity to work with some of his favorite actors. and has made time to visit one of his favorite places “I’m 51 years old. They’re a part of who I am,” — Michigan.

Diaz said. “And for me to do a movie with them “I’ve been from Mackinac Island all the way down to Niles,” Diaz ... listen, I was in prison. I’m not on Comedy Central, I’m not the said. “I ain’t no Johnny-come-lately when it comes to Michigan.” n number one guy you think of when you think of comedy, but I did

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39

by Kyle Austin

LIT LIFE

Kent District Library’s Warehouse of Wonders

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were published within the last 10 years. That makes Book Bash the f the phrase “used book sale” brings to mind perfect opportunity to build a home library on a budget, something those sad piles of tattered Harlequin novels and dog-eared Garrison believes is equally beneficial to both kids and adults. microwave cookbooks found in every thrift store, then per“It’s great for adults to have a season’s supply of great books haps you need to pay more attention to what the Kent District to read at home or take on vacation, but it’s really important for Library is up to. For the last two years, the organization has children as well” she said. “In terms of developing literacy, it’s reinvigorated this once-tired concept by transforming a giant crucial for children to see books in their home and to see adults warehouse at its Comstock Park Service Center into a veritable book enjoying reading.” lover’s utopia during an annual event they’ve At its heart, Book Bash is more than just fittingly dubbed Book Bash.

Book Bash 2014 a used book sale; it’s yet another way KDL For three days, the untold riches of

Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene

Kent District Library Service Center nurtures the symbiotic relationship between KDL’s vast collection of donated and out-of814 West River Center Dr., Comstock Park itself and the public it serves. The sale is a circulation materials - paperbacks, hardcovers, April 24-27 major fundraiser for the organization, one that audiobooks, even CDs and DVDs - are laid kdlbookbash.org Garrison and others hope will bring in around bare across more than 100 tables, and here’s the $20,000 in profit. That money will go a long kicker: every item in the warehouse is 50 cents way towards ensuring the KDL’s continued ability to provide the to a dollar apiece, and on the last day of the sale, shoppers can get community with unparalleled (and not to mention, free) access everything they can fit into a bag for just five bucks. to a world of media, as well as enrichment opportunities like the Cheryl Garrison, manager of KDL’s Bryon Center Branch, is Summer Reading Club. spearheading Book Bash’s third iteration, which she says reflects With additional activities including a special sale for area teachthe library’s universal appeal. ers, children’s face painting activities and live music on Saturday “Maybe you have a favorite author that you’re collecting. afternoon, this year’s Book Bash proves without a doubt that used Maybe you’re a history buff. Maybe you’re a music aficionado. books are indeed something to get excited about.

Whatever you’re into, there’s something here for you, and at a “This event has grown a great deal each year, and we hope fraction of the price you’d pay in a bookstore.” that trend continues going forward,” Garrison said. “The But don’t let the ludicrously cheap prices fool you into thinking wonderful thing about books is that there’s always a new that you’re walking into a musty, dusty trap of ancient generation of readers waiting to discover them.” n and irrelevant media. Only the highest-quality materials, ranging from brand new to gently used, make it to the tables, and most of the items for sale

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Other Literary Events Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Inauguration Ceremony

Grand Rapids Public Library — Main Branch April 3, 5:30 p.m. grpl.org, (616) 988-5400 Join a host of the city’s poetic talents at this special ceremony welcoming Calvin College professor and distinguished poet L.S. Klatt as Grand Rapids’ fifth Poet Laureate. Klatt, whose latest collection, Cloud of Ink, won the prestigious Iowa Poetry Prize, will begin his three-year term with a reading and a discussion of his vision for poetry in the city.

Kalamazoo Poetry Festival Opening Ceremony Kalamazoo Public Library April 4, 5 p.m. kalamazoopoetryfestival.com

Kalamazoo is celebrating National Poetry Month all month long with this unique festival. Events throughout the month include a performance workshop, an introductory writing workshop, a craft Q&A panel and a host of readings.

What’s more, all of these great events will feature some of the state’s brightest poetic talents.

GLCL Poetry Contest Reading

Great Lakes Commonwealth of Letters 758 Wealthy, Grand Rapids April 12, 7 pm readwritelive.org Celebrate National Poetry Month at the Great Lakes Commonwealth of Letters.

Michigan poet Thomas Lynch, author of five collections of poetry and four collections of essays, will join the winner of the GLCL’s annual poetry contest for a special reading that celebrates the strong literary traditions of our state.

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Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene

he Grand Rapids-based Etsy shop LoveCharles has a philosophy when it comes to its hand-selected, classic vintage clothing from the 1930s to 1980s.

“It’s important for people to realize vintage can be easily incorporated into a modern wardrobe and not look like a costume,” said Lily Greig, the owner, photographer and curator. Mixing decades like a pro, Greig keeps in mind how pieces will transition into the contemporary woman’s closet and features staple pieces such as pencil skirts, blouses, pants and “a good balance of special party dresses and plenty of separates that you could build an entire wardrobe out of vintage.” Even accessories are covered with shoes, hats and purses. At a young age, Greig fell in love with the construction details, fabric and how “everything was just made better back in the day.” Ask her who’s doing vintage clothing well and she name-drops Minty Keen and Lost & Found in Grand Rapids. Sure, there’s the recycling aspect too, but at the end of the day it’s the floral chiffon dress from the ‘20s that makes LoveCharles the real deal. Follow (happily) along at lovecharlesvintage.blogspot.com.

The Grand Rapids Film Festival takes its first foray into fashion with a fashion showcase featuring costume designer Bernadine Vida of 8 Mile, Semi-Pro and The Wannabes fame, as well as her work with Nickelodeon installing “Dora the Explorer and Friends” on Norwegian Cruise Lines and the currently in-theaters, award-winning film The Citizen. The main focus here is the artistic arena of fashion design as it relates to the film industry. “It’s a broadening of the perspective — it’s not just filmmakers. There’s a full costume industry with lots of jobs for fashion designers,” says Executive Director Jen Shaneberger.

Both Vida and the Kendall College of Art and Design’s fashion department collaborate for a semester-long journey designing character-themed pieces from a selected film. The Fashion for Film showcase is an exhibition of these pieces along with Vida’s personal creations all with a Grease theme. View work from students and Vida followed by film shorts. It’s a night of style, creativity, drinks, fashion conversation, networking and hobnobbing. “Film is a wonderful way to insert ideas of fashion. It’s purposeful, once you think about film that way — that something was picked out and hand-selected for an image a character needs to project.” The Fashion for Film showcase is held April 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Pyramid Scheme. Tickets are $10 and students receive a free film pass with ticket purchase.

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LoveCharles vintage hat and dress If you follow the website and blog Sidewalk Ready, it’s getting a makeover. Collaboration with Thinkbox Creative has created a brand-new site with fresh design and re-branding upgrades. Another big perk is the debut of Sidewalk Ready Men. According to Grant Floering, the face of Sidewalk Ready Men, you can expect the same aesthetic for photos, style content and series such as Friday Favorites.

Less personal, the men’s version focuses strictly on style with an eye for things that look nice or make a good composition. “I’ve done some modeling in the past,” Floering said. “I might have a post where I get a bunch of my friends together. It’s not just focused on me, but more on my friend group as well.” His personal style can be described as an everyday dressy casual — easily worn in any situation. “I could wear most anything I have for meetings or dates out to dinner.” Hopefuls can learn how to put their own spin on current trends and receive input from other men featured in posts. “It would be neat to even feature girls and show what they like to see.” See for yourself at sidewalkreadymen.com.

Mod Bettie is new in town and she’s of the vintage variety. She’s looking to make friends and have fun being a girl with her pin-up boutique offering a retro/Hollywood style photography experience complete with authentic hair and makeup from the ‘20s through ‘50s.

The goal here is to celebrate women, empower their sexy self-confidence and liberate their inner Bettie. “Mod Bettie is sort of a vintage experience for the modern woman. Bettie Page was the first pin-up — it’s where the name comes from,” said Elise Hibbard, who, along with Jennifer Deming, are Mod Bettie: the Founding Betties and co-photographers pin-up who look at old-school sketches of women for boutique

LoveCharles 1970s platforms inspiration to help decide what kind of Bettie you want to be. It’s all about being comfortable and sexy, and props can be anything from a heart-shaped chair to ‘50s dresses, lingerie, suitcases and swimsuits. A private experience of intimate shooting with wardrobe, relaxation and primping are the secret ingredients to make a Mod Bettie come to life.

Keeping it real to the era, images can be printed on playing cards or calendars. “That’s how pin-ups got their start — creating a calendar for men or sending images overseas so men had something to look forward to when they came home.” Digital images are offered as well and bachelorette parties are in the works. Push the envelope and get as sexy as you want and leave with some girl time, a great story and tons of confidence. This is for the woman that loves playing dress up and getting pampered. Don’t be shy — head to modbettie.com and check them out on Facebook, too. n

MADAMA BUTTERFLY

BY PUCCINI 7:30PM, MAY 9 & 10, 2014 DEVOS PERFORMANCE HALL 616.451.2741 EXT. 2 TICKETMASTER OPERAGR.COM

APRIL 5 APRIL 19 MAY 3 MAY17 RIVERCITYIMPROV.COM

REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights Diing | Schedule

LADIES LITERARY CLUB: 61 SHELDON BLVD SE ALL SHOWS 7:33 PM

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Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene

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.

Bar Divani 15 Ionia Ave. SW. 616-774-WINE. ECLECTIC. Bar Divani offers a sophisticated environment, with the chefs use local ingredients in their creations. Taste the homegrown flavor in the Prosciutto Flatbread, the Linguine Alfredo or the Plum Salmon. By pairing with Dancing Goats Creamery, Otto’s Chicken, S&S Lamb, Ingraberg Farms, Mrs. Dog’s and Madcap, Bar Divani serves extraordinary tastes. But, what would a night out be without a few drinks? The bar serves more than 300 types of liquor, 300 wines and 50 beers to compliment each handcrafted meal. » SERVING: Dinner after 4 p.m. OPEN ON: Everyday but Sunday. GO THERE FOR: Local Cuisine.

BarterTown Diner 6 Jefferson St. SE. 616-233-3219 VEGAN. This workerowned-and-operated restaurant offers a variety of tasty healthy dishes fresh and hand-picked right from local family farms. Want a certain recipe or cooking lessons?

Events and programs are BarterTown’s way of getting the community involved. So don’t be surprised if one day there’s Greek and Mediterranean cuisine and the next it’s all about pizza. » SERVING: Breakfast (Saturday & Sunday), Lunch, Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Locally based vegan meals.

Big Bob’s Pizza 661 Croswell Dr. 616-233-0123 ITALIAN. Located in Gaslight Village in East Grand Rapids (across from Jersey

Big O Café 80 Ottawa NW. 616-451-1887 ITALIAN. The downtown (and downstairs) restaurant has a reliable menu featuring pizza, pasta, and sandwiches that are Italian and Cuban influenced. A great spot for lunch or a quick glass of wine and plate of pasta before a downtown event. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Dead Head Vegetarian Pizza, Cuban dinners on Friday nights.

The Bistro 11 Monroe Avenue NW (at Courtyard Marriott).

616-242-6000 AMERICAN. Serving American food bistro-style, whether it’s grab-and-go or guests dining in for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Bistro offers fresh seasonal options, serves Starbucks beverages and has a full-service bar. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Sandwiches.

Bistro Bella Vita 44 Grandville Ave. SW. 616-222-4600 ITALIAN. One of Grand Rapids’ best dining experiences, featuring Mediterraneaninspired 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.

Blue Water Grill 5180 Northland Dr. 616-363-5900 SEAFOOD. One of Grand Rapids’ most inspired restaurants in terms of overall ambiance, with Frank Lloyd Wright-style architecture, a stunningly massive fireplace, and some of the best water views in West Michigan. The food is similarly inspired, drawing from Italian, Mediterranean and classic American influences. All the traditional favorites are accounted for with a wide variety of wood-fired pizzas, seafood, steaks, chops, salads, and sandwiches. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Grass Fed Beef.

Bobarino’s 20 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-356-2000 ITALIAN. A melting pot of food, live entertainment and fun. Live music Tuesday through Saturday, including rock, jazz, retro, country, rockabilly and more. Large game room with video games, billiards and shuffleboard. Menu includes vast array of wood-fired pizzas, plus burgers, entrées and classic appetizers. Lunch buffet with pizza, pasta, and salad for $6.45. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Wood-fired pizzas.

Bombay Cuisine 1420 Lake Dr. SE 616-456-7055 INDIAN. Offering savory and subtly spiced dishes from northern India, Bombay Cuisine is a hot spot for those who like to add a little flavor to their lives. With a lunch buffet served every weekday, this restaurant provides its eaters with an array of traditional Indian cuisine. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Naan, Butter Chicken.

Brewery Vivant 925 Cherry St. SE. 616-719-1604 BREWPUB. Housed in a former funeral chapel, Brewery Vivant crafts Belgianstyle ales with a focus on barrel aging. The brewpub also brings Belgian tradition when it comes to food, featuring French and Belgian-style meals to pair perfectly with the beer. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The Burger Bulls Head Tavern 188 Monroe NW. 616-454-3580 AMERICAN. Downtown eatery is a great spot for business lunch or casual pre-show dinner, with a wide-ranging menu that includes salads, burgers, pasta, seafood and steaks. Specialties include the ostrich burger, sashimi tuna and smoked Gouda chicken pasta. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed on Sunday. GO THERE FOR: The Ostrich Burger.

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

Charley’s Crab 63 Market SW. 616-459-2500 SEAFOOD. A staple on the finedining scene in Grand Rapids. Fresh seafood, a world-class Sunday brunch and a comfortable, upscale atmosphere for drinks and dining. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The Sunday brunch buffet.

The Corner Bar 31 N. Main St. 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.

Cygnus 27 Cornucopia 187 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-776-6425 ECLECTIC. Enjoy 187 skyline Monroeas Ave. NW. 616-774-2000 DELI. A refreshing the you dine atop the Glass Tower.

Indulge option for on-the-go, or casual, fare. deli in a variety of globally infusedlighter dishes at Enjoy this AAA options such asrestaurant. homemadeCasual soups,attire; salads, Four-Diamond no Panini jacket sandwiches and freshly brewed gourmet»coffee. required.

Private dining also available.

SERVING: SERVING: Breakfast Lunch OPEN ON: Open 7 days.FOR: GO Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days.

GO THERE THERE FOR: Sandwiches.

Seasonal Sunday Brunch.

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Erb Thai 950 Wealthy St. SE #1A. (616) 356-2573 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.

Marketing representative Molly Rizor was a Thai virgin when she went and is now glad Erb Thai was her first experience. » 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 beer-lover’s paradise with a national reputation for flavorful, awardwinning 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: Awardwinning beer, handcrafted sandwiches.

REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining Schedule

Bentham’s Riverfront Restaurant 187 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-774-2000 AMERICAN. Enjoy great breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert options while looking out at the Grand River. Bentham’s now offers a lunch buffet with choices of salads, breads, soups and roast beef and poultry carved to order — not to mention stir-fry stations with fresh vegetables, meats or seafood and unique sauces. Casual attire. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch OPEN ON: Open 7 days, closes at 2 p.m. GO THERE FOR: Lunch buffet.

Junction), Big Bob’s is a cozy restaurant that serves up specialty pizzas, pastas, burritos, sandwiches and salads.

Sit out on the deck and enjoy Happy Hour from 4-6 p.m. and 9p.m.-close seven days a week. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 Days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza and beer (is there a better combination?).

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 revamped 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.

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Dining

Garden Court Lounge 187 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-774-2000 LOUNGE. An excellent choice for a quick drink with friends or when you desire relaxing with your favorite drink. The Garden Court Lounge offers a fine array of beer, wine, cocktails and liqueurs. » SERVING: Drinks OPEN ON: Open 7 days.

GO THERE FOR: Specialty cocktails.

Gilly’s 20 Monroe NW. 616-356-2000 SEAFOOD. Gilly’s may not be the biggest name on the seafood block, but it takes second place to no one in regards to quality, freshness and inspiration. A vast array of exotic fish is line-caught, flown in and prepared fresh daily. Every facet of Gilly’s speaks to impeccable attention to detail. SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Closed on Sunday. GO THERE FOR: Fresh seafood at a great price.

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GP Sports 187 Monroe Ave. NW 616-776-6495 SPORTS BAR. Catch the big game on one of GP Sports’ 30 televisions, including a big screen for optimal game viewing. This colorful and casual restaurant not only caters to sports fans, but also features top-notch burgers, pizzas and specialty drinks. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Score Big Burgers.

G.R.P.D. (Grand Rapids Pizza and Delivery) 340 State St. SE. 616-454-9204 ITALIAN. The current GR location opened in 2004 as the first established pizzeria in the Heritage Hill district. 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.

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Grand Rapids Brewing Company 1 Ionia Ave SW. 616-458-7000 BREWPUB. Good for the environment and your palate, GRBC is Michigan’s first certified organic brewery and features a menu stocked with locally grown ingredients. With a diverse selection of beers on tap inspired by historical Grand Rapids figures and a hearty array of burgers, melts and hand-cranked sausages, this place represents the best of the Grand Rapids Brewing Company’s 120-year legacy. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Organic beer and locally sourced food.

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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 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.

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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

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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.

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Green Restaurant 2289 E Beltline Ave. NE Ste. 8, Grand Rapids. 616447-8294 ORGANIC. The first of its kind, at least in this area, Green Restaurant uses nothing but all-natural and organic ingredients. This includes everything from fruit, vegetables, meat and cheese to juice, ice cream and more. It’s a restaurant where almost anyone with a unique diet could find something to eat within their specifications. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Monday GO THERE FOR: Sandwiches, soups, burgers, smoothies/juice blends.

The Green Well 924 Cherry SE. 616-808-3566 Eclectic. REVUE’s “Free Market” columnist Steven de Polo writes, “Green Well is the best restaurant in GR.” The East Hills gastro-pub serves up an ever-changing menu featuring local ingredients, and a wide array of local craft brews and wines. The green refers also to the LEED© certified building and management’s commitment to a small carbon footprint. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Baked local goat cheese, Michigan maple whiskey chicken over risotto.

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The Holiday Bar 801 5th St. NW, Grand Rapids. 616-456-9058 AMERICAN. For 107 years, The Holiday Bar has been serving its loyal customers great beer and food, with 12 specialty beers of tap and its homemade “Porter” Pulled Pork sandwiches.

Fully stocked with pool tables and nine HD flat screens, this dive is the perfect spot for cheap beer and good times.

SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Cheap beer.

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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’s ultimate deal is a take-out combo that features one of its 10” gourmet wood-fired pizzas and a growler of beer for $20, as well as a $5 cheese and $6 pepperoni pizza deal every Tuesday. SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza and brews.

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HopCat 25 Ionia SW. 616-451-4677 TAVERN. Rated the 3rd best beer bar on the planet by Beer Advcoate, HopCat’s spin on its food is thus: “It’s the food your Mom would feed you, if your Mom loved beer.” That’s specifically true for HopCat’s beerbar cheese, cheese ale soup and porter braised beef, but mom would also love the Hippie wrap (it’s vegetarian), the crack fries (not real crack), and Killer Mac and Cheese. Because what mom doesn’t like mac and cheese? SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Widest variety of beers, crack fries.

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JD Reardon’s Bar & Grill 940 Monroe Ave NW. (616) 454-8590 AMERICAN. Neighborhood pub offers 15 Michigan beers on tap and more bottled, along with a full menu of handmade appetizers, pizzas, salads, sandwiches and 16 half-pound burgers.

Nightly drink specials and karaoke on Tuesday night.

SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Burgers.

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Gluten Free Girl: Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate

H

erbs and decadent chocolate might not sound like a winning combination, but at Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate, the two mesh masterfully.

Grocer’s Daughter’s Chocolate is fair-trade and commonly mixed with all-natural and organic ingredients, many from local partners including Madcap Coffee, and most are gluten free.

Truffles in the Herbal Collection — six total — are crafted using the finest herbs from local farms, some from just upstairs at Downtown Market’s own greenhouse.

Grocer’s Daughter To make a lavender truffle, artisans combine Chocolate cream, organic cane sugar and lavender. It is boiled Downtown Market, 435 Ionia and steeped, much like a tea, and then the lavender SW, Grand Rapids is strained back out. The lavender-infused mixture grocersdaughter.com, (616) is then added to the chocolate to make the ganache. 551-0565 This is set, rolled and dipped in more dark chocolate and topped with powdered candied violet. The re- Item: Lavender Truffle sult is a creative concoction that’s flavorful without Price: $2.50 each or 6 for $14 being overpowering. —Kelli Belanger

Lumber Baron Bar 187 Monroe Ave. NW. (616) 774-2000 LOUNGE. Settle into the warmth and charm of this historic bar — complete with a fireplace, leather club chairs and a large selection of premium drinks and appetizers. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays and Mondays GO THERE FOR: Scotch or Brandy after a Symphony concert.

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.

Mixology 235 Louis St. NW. 616-242-1448 LOUNGE. Casual, upscale service and atmosphere allows guests to relax and enjoy the city views. This type of service allows guests to complete business tasks while still enjoying the accessibility to great food and libations. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Specialty cocktails.

O’Toole’s 448 Bridge St. 616-742-6095 PUB. This West side pub is equipped with delicious and outrageously topped burgers, as well as an extensive beer selection, and arguably, the best happy hour specials in town. If food is not your passion, this is a prime place to kick off your Sunday Funday with its $3 Absolut Bloody Mary bar. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 Days. GO THERE FOR: Gourmet burgers, Absolut Bloody Mary bar.

Olive’s Restaurant 2162 Wealthy St. SE. 616-451-8611 ECLECTIC. Gaslight Village mainstay for Easties looking to have a cocktail and casual dinner. The menu is surprisingly broad, with innovative starters (e.g., Napoli fritters, Paella cakes) and diverse entrées like Southern meatloaf, braised short ribs and mobu tofu. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: A broad selection.

The cocktail menu runs the gamut from classics like the Manhattan to more modern variations and the beer and wine menus are nothing to sneeze at either. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Specialty cocktails, broad menu, lively atmosphere.

Rose’s On Reeds Lake 550 Lakeside Dr. SE. 616-458-1122 ECLECTIC. The East Grand Rapids landmark is one of those places that has a different feel in each season. In the summertime, it’s a great spot to hang on the decks and have cocktails and light appetizers; when the snow is falling, it’s a warm and cozy spot for a hearty meal and big glass of wine. The menu draws from a multitude of influences including Mediterranean, Italian,

and Casual American. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Root Chips.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House 187 Monroe Avenue NW. 616-776-6426 STEAKHOUSE. Serving only the best steaks, Ruth’s Chris hand-selects its steaks from the top 2% of the country’s beef, which is then broiled to perfection at 1800 degrees. Enjoy the freshest seafood, classic sides and homemade desserts that satisfy any craving. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays. GO THERE FOR: Steak.

San Chez a Tapas Bistro 38 West Fulton St. 616-774-8272 ECLECTIC. Using available local products, San Chez a Tapas Bistro is a social setting where people can remember the one rule of kindergarten: sharing. Featuring small, delicious dishes, San Chez a Tapas Bistro can satiate your desire for variety. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 Days. GO THERE FOR: Tapas.

San Chez Cafe 38 West Fulton St. 616-774-8272 ECLECTIC. This comfy venue allows customers to “walk on sunshine” with its windowed-out structure. A hidden secret for breakfast in downtown Grand Rapids, San Chez Cafe promises a great

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 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.

Red Jet Cafe 1431 Plainfield Ave. NE. 616-719-5500 ECLECTIC. The funky restaurant in Creston’s old library is the kind of place you’d find in Chicago’s hip neighborhoods, offering non-sequitur menu items that somehow seem to work. Seriously, how many other places in town can you find that serve high-end organic coffees, crepes, wood-fired pizzas and artisan baked goods.

Is it a bistro? Is it a coffeehouse? Does it matter? » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Crepes.

Reds on The River 8 E. Bridge St. 616-863-8181 AMERICAN. This highly acclaimed restaurant in the Rockford area promises no processed foods. Red’s sports a cylindrical fireplace and is known for its incredible views and outdoor dining.

SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays. GO THERE FOR: Steak and Wine.

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TASTE SOMETHING NEW TODAY CAN’T DECIDE ON PAD THAI OR HAND-DIPPED TRUFFLES? WITH 20 VENDORS, YOU DON’T HAVE TO.

Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining Schedule

Reserve 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: Dinner OPEN ON: Closed on Sunday GO THERE FOR: Wine and food pairings, charcuterie.

Rinaldi Pizza and Sub Shop 966 E. Fulton St. 616-458-3737 ITALIAN. The tiny pizza shop at the corner of Fulton and Diamond is publisher Brian Edwards’ favorite spot to stop for a large slice after a late night at the office. “It’s got the four C’s of pizza going for it: chewy, cheesy, crusty and cheap — with a perfect balance of sauce and cheese,” Edwards says. Fold it over, New York-style, he recommends. » SERVING: Lunch, Dinner.

OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza.

Rockwell-Republic 45 S. Division Ave. 616-551-3563 ECLECTIC. Menu offerings range from sushi to burgers and everything in between.

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/// Beer

by Ben Darcie

Brewery Spotlight:

Walldorff Brewpub

M

Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene

i k e Bar naart i s a c lass i cally trai n e d chef who spent many years pleasing palates, most recently as the executive chef at Michigan State, but he never forgot his first job out of high school washing dishes at the then-brand-new Arcadia Brewing Company in 1994. This was where he was first introduced to the craft beer scene, and it stuck with him.

Barnaart took his various culinary experiences and beer passion and combined them into one new, exciting endeavor that he called the Walldorff. The building the brewery is housed in is 140 years old and was vacant for six years before Barnaart secured it for Walldorff. It features a 200-person ballroom on the top floor, as well as the brewery, the pub, and a full kitchen.

“I saw potential and I thought it really fit the vibe and feel of a brewery that I wanted to create,” Barnaart said. “It’s hard to create character in a strip mall. For me, it was looking at the building, peering through the dirty windows and thinking ‘This could really be something.’”

Barnaart joined forces with brewer Sam Sherwood and developed their beer offerings, which were designed to be sessionable and balanced to cater to their local crowd, all while finalizing licensing and finishing renovation.

The Walldorff officially opened on July 20, 2006 to great response.

Current head brewer Brett Hammond started as a dishwasher in 2009. The following year, he was approached by Barnaart and

Sherwood, who invited him to join them bottling. He was soon taken under Sherwood’s wing, and they spent three years brewing together before Sherwood moved on to the recently opened Perrin Brewing Company, leaving Brett the reigns to the Walldorff.

“Out of the gates we had a simple, straightforward beer menu with hopes we could evolve people’s tastes, and I think we’ve managed to do that,” Barnaart said. “A lot of these big, quirky beers are too extreme.

Balance is really the key.”

“Our mindset is to keep it clean, balanced and good,” Hammond said. “Keep the taps always changing, besides our mainstays, and keep the creative side.”

The beers on tap during my visit included a Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, Bee Sting Honey Rye, Hopnoxious IPA and Cobain’s Double Dark IPA, which took a gold medal and best of show at World Expo of Beer 2010. They are also currently featuring a Belgian series, including a wit, an IPA and a golden strong ale. Sundance, a summer wheat brewed with orange and coriander, will be returning to the taproom soon for the remainder of the summer.

“We’re trying to come up with beers that other people aren’t doing, which is getting harder and harder,” Barnaard said. “But it’s fun to think of the kind of beers we’re not necessarily seeing, and giving our interpretation of it.”

In seven years, the Walldorff has doubled in size, taken on more than 50 employees and has seen production grow from 270bbls to more than 800, exceeding all expectations.

Brew of the Month

Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere This lively saison from Jolly Pumpkin is a treat any time of year. The beer pours a hazy gold with a bright, white head that’s full of spicy yeast tones, some bright malt and some sourness. This light-bodied brew features a prominent yeast presence alongside subtle tones of green apple, some bread-y and biscuit-y tones, along with some earthy, spicy tones from the yeast.

48 | REVUEWM.COM | April 2014

Photo: Ben Darcie

Walldorff hits capacity often, and the demand has grown to the point that expansion plans are starting to take form.

“It never slows down, we’re always cranking beer out,” Hammond said. “Meeting the demand is pretty intense, we created such a big, thirsty market.”

Grab some friends and head down to Hastings for a great time with handcrafted food and beer.

“We have this really simple, one-word mission statement: happiness,” Barnaart said.

“It’s about giving people a great place to hang out and feel good about being here, and that’s where I get my joy. I see a smile at a table and I know we’re doing something right.” n 105 E. State Stree, Hastings (269) 945-4400, walldorffbrewpub.com

Beer News At Beerfest at the Ballpark on April 5, join over 32 Michigan breweries for a day of sampling at the Cooley Law Stadium in downtown Lansing. Visit beerfestattheballpark.net for tickets/more info.

Shorts Brewing Company recently announced a major brewpub expansion in Bellaire, which will add an additional 20 jobs and expand the taproom, to be completed by summer 2014.

Founders Brewing Company brings out its darkest brew for the Black Party at the taproom on April 19. The event includes some rarities, taproom-only brews and firkins. For ticket information, visit Founders’ website.

Founders Brewing Company launched a new mobile app that allows you to quickly locate the nearest Founders pint or bottle, along with beer information and what’s currently on tap.

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A rotating selection of seasonal and flagship beer available in our taproom. Check out our full range of home brewing supplies available in the retail store.

Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining Schedule

418 ADA DRIVE SE, ADA GRAVELBOTTOM.COM 616.920.7398 TUES-THUR 2PM-11PM FRI & SAT 11AM-12AM

REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

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Dining start to any day. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch OPEN ON: Open 7 Days. GO THERE FOR: Sandwiches.

Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Vegetarian and vegan bar food.

of a joke, remains a (very tasty) staple item. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: DIY Bloody Mary Bar Special, Yucca Fries.

The Score 5301 Northland Dr. NE. 616-301-0600 SPORTS BAR. Multifaceted restaurant and sports bar has a lot to offer, including expansive menu with discount options, happy hour specials, countless big screen and projection TVs broadcasting big games and pay-per-view UFC matches, outdoor beach volleyball and live music in the summertime … the list goes on. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Sports bar atmosphere.

Tavern on the Square 100 Ionia Ave. SW. 616-456-7673 ECLECTIC. The re-fashioned former Irish pub still has that neighborhood feel, and offers up a unique menu with salads, antipasto, appetizers, a pub burger, and an array of unique “Yankee Tapas” like Fish Tacos, Loaded Carnival Fries and the ultimate West Side tapas: Pierogies. A hodgepodge to be sure, but fun. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: PBJ Tuna.

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.

Six.One.Six. 235 Louis St. NW. 616-242-1448 ECLECTIC. Marketinspired menus, sweeping views and progressive rhythms combine to create a memorable dining experience. The dishes tempt taste buds and is the perfect spot for foodies. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 Days GO THERE FOR: Variety and being seen.

Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene

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, a superexcellent jukebox stocked with rock and punk classics, 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? REVUE’s British ex-pat David Smith calls Stella’s his favorite bar in the world. » SERVING: Lunch

50 | REVUEWM.COM | April 2014

Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill 760 Butterworth St. SW. 616-272-3910 AMERICANA. You might walk into Tip Top for the cheap happy hour specials or one of the many rockabilly acts. But get comfortable with one of the venue’s signature menu items. Get classic with a sandwich or burger, but we recommend immersing yourself fully in GR’s west side and ordering Tip Top’s Polish Plate. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Dinner, drinks and a show.

The Winchester 648 Wealthy St. SE. 616-451-4969 ECLECTIC. Upscale Wealthy Street bar and restaurant feels like it was plucked from Chicago’s Bucktown or Logan Square neighborhoods.

A comfortable spot to drink or dine, with an always evolving menu featuring shared plates, salads and inventive sandwiches. The Cuban Reuben, originally created as something

Yesterdog 1505 Wealthy St. SE. 616-336-0746 HOT DOGS. The steamed buns and generously sloppy toppings keep people coming back, especially at 2 a.m. when the bar crowds at nearby Billy’s and Mulligans let out. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Ultra Dogs or Veggie Dogs.

Lakeshore 8th Street Grille 20 W. 8th St., Holland. 616-392-5888 AMERICAN. This eclectic grille located in the heart of Holland offers a mix of draft and bottled craft beers and a variety of pub classics and new, American beer-inspired dishes. Enjoy happy hour from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, which includes delicious half-off appetizers and $1 off drafts. » SERVING: Lunch, Dinner

OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: 28 taps of craft beer, hometown atmosphere.

84 East 84 East 8th St., Holland. 616-396-8484 ITALIAN. While we categorize it as “Italian,” that’s a bit limiting for this downtown Holland spot, which specializes in creating inventive pasta dishes. Housed in an old industrial building, 84 East is a favorite splurge spot among REVUE’s Hope College minions. 84 East also serves up designer pizzas and a few non-pasta house specialties like Pork Marsala and Mahi Mahi. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sunday GO THERE FOR: Baked Spaghetti Pie, Tuxedo Chicken Pasta.

Bil-Mar Restaurant 1223 S. Harbor St., Holland. 616-842-5920 AMERICAN. A destination restaurant for locals and tourists for more than 60 years. Dazzling sunsets and an all-American menu featuring fresh seafood and hand-cut steaks. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Lake perch, lobster strudel, prime rib.

CityVu Bistro 61 East 7th Street, Holland. 616-796-2114 AMERICAN. Located atop CityFlats Hotel in downtown Holland, CityVu Bistro offers unique breakfast creations, an array of flatbread dinners, and small plates. Full bar with extensive wine list and great views of Holland. Hours of operation change with the seasons. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Flatbreads.

Taste This

by Alexandra Kadlec

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: Lunch Dinner OPEN: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Gorgonzola Pork Chop, Greek Salad with Grandma Gigi’s Dressing (Edwards).

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.

Kirby House 2 Washington, Grand Haven. 616-846-3299 AMERICAN. The Grill Room doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is — a chop house and grill. Atmosphere is warm with Tuscan tones, atmospheric lighting, classically cool music and leather booths. The menu focuses on steaks and chops and makes no apologies. The steaks are prime USDA choice, the seafood selection immaculate, and the wine and beverage list is top shelf. Relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days.

GO THERE FOR: Nightlife.

Mia & Grace 1133 3rd St., Muskegon. 231-725-9500 AMERICAN. Calls itself a bakery and bistro, but that’s too limiting to describe the creativity of Mia & Grace’s menu. The farm-to-table eatery in downtown Muskegon is casual and comfortable and serves lots of one-of-a-kind items like the Pork Belly Reuben or the Duck PB&J (duck confit, carmelized onions, cashew-peanut butter, green pepper jelly, anadama bread). » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch OPEN ON: Closed on Sunday. GO THERE FOR: Salads, Soups, Creme Brulee.

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 the Tarheel barbecue Pulled Pork, Grilled Portobello and The Treehugger, which is billed as “a vegetarian sandwich utopia.” » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Mad Hatter IPA, Dragon’s Milk.

Piper Restaurant 2225 South Shore Drive, Holland. 616-335-5866 AMERICAN. Upscale-but-casual spot located on Lake Macatawa, offering great views from virtually every table. Menu includes tastefully prepared items like Almond Crusted Walleye and Grilled Pork Loin, as well as wood-fired pizzas.

Fries, Any Way You Want Them Fries — the versatile nosh that’s just as enjoyable in the form of fast-food snack or gourmet side. While the classic French fry may be your salt-tooth vice, go ahead and expand your horizons with these creative alternatives. You won’t be disappointed.

Calamari Fries A tasty precursor to any entrée on the menu, these crispy bites are dusted in cornmeal and come with marinated vegetables and chili aioli for dipping.

The Green Well (924 Cherry St. SE, Grand Rapids)

Truffle and Parmesan Frites White truffle oil, Parmesan and herbs add new dimensions of flavor to these house cut fries. Pair with a cold beer selected from the restaurant’s extensive list or class things up with a glass of wine. Central City Tap House (359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo)

Crack Fries There’s a reason these are called “crack” fries. They’re as addictive as crack. (Just say no, kids.) Enjoy the house-blend seasoned beer-batter fries alone, or kick it up with Loaded Crack Fries with house soft

cheese sauce, pepper-jack cheese, onion, jalapenos and bacon. HopCat (25 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids)

(4315 W Main St., Kalamazoo; Grand Rapids locations)

Idaho Nachos

As if these thick, russet potato fries weren’t satisfying enough on their own, the addition of black truffle oil, beet frites, scallions, and buttermilk bleu cheese dressing take this plate to a whole new level. The Electric Cheetah (1015 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids)

Waffle fries go incognito under a blanket of sharp cheddar and jack cheeses, bacon and scallions. A sweet-and-spicy barbecue ranch tops this dish off. Salt & Pepper Savory Grill and Pub (11539 E. Lakewood Blvd. #50, Holland)

Fries Two Ways

Smashfries

Chronic Fries

What’s a burger without fries? Smashburger forgoes the traditional route in favor of their Smashfries, seasoned with rosemary, olive oil and garlic. Don’t forget the Smash Sauce — they won’t tell you what’s in it, but you’ll be too happy dunking your fries into it to care. On subsequent visits, sample the Sweet Potato Fries and Veggie Frites (flash-fried carrot sticks and green beans). Smashburger

Another culinary mystery. Tossed in a “secret spicy seasoning,” these fries are meant to be enjoyed with a side of spicy queso dipping sauce. Up the ante with the chili cheese version — covered in chili, queso, scallions and jalapenos.

Stella’s Lounge (53 Commerce Ave., Grand Rapids) n

REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining Schedule

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.

Calamari Fries (At The Green Well)

51

Dining Reservations are welcomed. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Almond Crusted Walleye.

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek

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.

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.

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.

Vitale’s of Zeeland 59 W. Washington St. (616) 772-5900 ITALIAN. This family owned restaurant specializes in Italian dining, but also has a full menu including Mexican and American specialties. Family friendly atmosphere with newly remodeled dining, and an expanded sports bar with big screen TVs. Happy hour specials, live music every Saturday and has been voted Best Pizza seven years in a row by the Grand Rapids Press. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza.

Bell’s Eccentric Cafe 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave. 269-382-2332 BREWPUB. Eccentric Café’s regular menu of appetizers, sandwiches, sides and salads — plus the daily soups and specials — exists for a simple and important purpose: to complement the Kalamazoo microbrewery’s award-winning beers. Eat up while you drink up. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The Beer.

Bravo!

5402 Portage Rd., Kalamazoo 269-344-7700 ITALIAN. Much-lauded restaurant has earned its stripes over past 23 years as one of the region’s best dining experiences, including a 3-star rating in the 2010 Forbes Travel Guide (formerly the Mobil Travel Guide). The Tuscan-inspired cuisine is spectacular, the atmosphere comfortable and intimate, and the service first-rate. Also brews its own

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., Kalamazoo. 269-382-1888 AMERICAN. An eclectic American menu that reflects ownership’s fixation on “finding honest-to-goodness fruits, vegetables, meat and eggs that come from the farm, not the factory.” Lots of unique choices, for breakfast (gingerbread pancakes), lunch (crab cake sandwich) and dinner (beer roasted chicken). » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh Local Foods.

Old Burdicks Bar & Grill 100 W. Michigan Ave. (269) 226-3192 AMERICAN. Old Burdick’s Bar & Grill features tasty sandwiches, burgers, salads and entrees, as well as a great selection of cocktails, wines and beers. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner. OPEN: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The Old Burdick Burger.

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.

Martell’s 3501 Greenleaf Blvd., Kalamazoo. 269-375-2105 AMERICAN. Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood that overlooks Willow Lake, Martell’s offers casual ambiance and an expansive menu with steaks, prime rib and other comfort food entrées like Italian style meatloaf and pork shank. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days (Sundaysdinner only) GO THERE FOR: Quiet casual ambiance.

Union Cabaret & Grille 125 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo. 269-384-6756 AMERICAN. A partnership with Western Michigan University, 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. n

GLASSES

April 25 & 26

before the next

Big James and the Chicago Playboys

GLAD THAT’S OVER. get rid of your

WITH KEIL LASIK ICE AGE HITS! PHOTO: PHO TO: LI LIZZ WEST WEST S

Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene

beer in small batches for pairings with menu offerings. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. (Closed Sat. lunch) GO THERE FOR: A great dining experience.

52 | REVUEWM.COM | April 2014

Michael L. Keil, D.O., FAOCO 2500 E. Beltline SE, Suite C Grand Rapids, MI info@keillasik.com (616) 365-5775

Join Grand Haven for a weekend of blues! Beer tent, blues pub crawl, chili cook off, and much more!

Snug Harbor, Kirby House, Theatre Bar, Odd Side Ales, Rosebud, The Grand

www.harborrestaurants.com

616.846.8400

REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

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54 | REVUEWM.COM | April 2014

The Schedule Get Scheduled! E-mail your info to schedule@revuewm.com or add your events into our calendar at revuewm.com.

Ladies Literary Club Okkervil River wsg Hundred Visions LaFontsee Galleries Out of the Polar Vortex Louis Armstrong Theater Sex and the Supernatural Pyramid Scheme WHY?, ADM, AOK Saugatuck Center for the Arts Balancing Point: Centered on KCAD UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Maladies, Our Vinyl Weighs a Tom

thursday

tuesday

4.01

7 Monks Taproom Founders KBS Release & Tap Bonanza Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Easy Star All-Stars Dub Side of the Moon Anniversary Tour Billy’s Lounge Funkle Jesse DeVos Performance Hall Tyler Perry’s ‘Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned’ Foundry Hall Music Lessons Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It

The Intersection A Loss for Words wsg Veara Pvris Wind In Sails The Moms JW Marriott Art Dart 5K Running Tour KIA ArtBreak: Susan Badger: Watercolor En Plein Air, Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Knickerbocker Theatre Spinning Plates LaFontsee Galleries Out of the Polar Vortex Louis Armstrong Theater Sex and the Supernatural The Pyramid Scheme Chiodos Album Release Party, ‘68, I’m William Cutting, Martyr for Madison Saugatuck Center for the Arts Balancing Point: Centered on KCAD UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Maladies, Our Vinyl Weighs a Tom Wealthy Theatre Black Perspective Live Taping, Meanwhile Movie: The Outsiders

wednesday

4.02

7 Monks Taproom Founders KBS Release & Tap Bonanza Foundry Hall Song Swap Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It The Intersection Tribal Seeds wsg New Kingston Inna VIsion JW Marriott Lapping the Landmarks 5K Running Tour KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Knickerbocker Theatre Spinning Plates

4.03

The B.O.B Hopsun Tapping Party Bell’s Eccentric Cafe The Whipstitch Sallies Calvin College The Head and the Heart wsg Basia Bulat Dr. Grins Nick Griffin Founders Brewery The Appleseed Collective Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gilmore Theater Complex King Stag Grand Rapids Art Museum GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GRAM Reading the Great Lakes: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It The Intersection Infected Mushroom wsg Austin Churchill Radwyn Sawer Radio Peter

JW Marriott Steeple Chase 10K Running Tour KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Knickerbocker Theatre Spinning Plates LaFontsee Galleries Out of the Polar Vortex Louis Armstrong Theater Sex and the Supernatural Old Dog Tavern The Music of Frank Zappa performed by Ugly Radio Rebellion wsg Ike Willis Planet Rock Planet Rave ‘Battle of the Decks’ Ritz Koney Bar & Grille Late-Night Open Mic hosted by Jason Eller The Pyramid Scheme Archnemesis Saugatuck Center for the Arts Balancing Point: Centered on KCAD Schuler Books 28th Street Rapid Wheelmen and Schuler Books Present Author/Illustrator Jef Mallet St. Cecilia Music Center Ralston Bowles and Friends plus The Northern Skies UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Maladies, Our Vinyl Weighs a Tom Wealthy Theatre 2014 Latin American Film Festival

friday

4.04

Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Dopapod wsg Scott Pellogrom Trio Bobarino’s GlamHammer

Cancun Connection Bar & Grill Big Cadillac Czar’s 505 Gizzae Dr. Grins Nick Griffin Foundry Hall Rachel Ries and the Never Lonely Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color Gilmore Theater Complex King Stag GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It Grand Woods Lounge Borrowed Time The Intersection Iced Earth Sabaton Revamp JW Marriott Art Dart 5K Running Tour KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Kzoo Public Library 2014 Kalamazoo Poetry Festival Kickoff: Local Poets Reading and Reception Kirby Grill Trilogy Knickerbocker Theatre Spinning Plates LaFontsee Galleries Out of the Polar Vortex The Livery Woody Pines Louis Armstrong Theater Sex and the Supernatural Mulligan’s Pub Bowery New Holland Brewing Company Big Boss Blues Old Dog Tavern The Real Fantastics

Best Bet: Indie

REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining Schedule

The National

The National is a band that, like our The National nation itself, embrace diversity alongside Van Noord Arena, Calvin a wicked rebelliousness streak. But wait, College, Grand Rapids diversity? We mean of sound, silly. Yeah, April 12, 8 p.m.

OK, it’s five white dudes jamming together $15 for students with ID, $40 on an indie rock label, but don’t let what’s for general public on top fool you: The National’s cred actucalvin.edu, (616) 526-6282 ally stretches well beyond the length of the Mississippi. Combining the best elements of standard lo-fi, chamber rock and of course, sadcore, the Cincinnati-originated group has been busting out spoonfuls of indie rock perfection since 1999, and even found themselves nominated for a Grammy this year. (Which just goes to show: hard work and persistence will eventually land you on the same playing field as Justin Bieber.) Closing out the Festival of Faith and Writing, this show is likely to provide one anthem we don’t mind mind pledging allegiance to. As long as The National keeps at it, consider us eager and willing patriots. Reported

by Emma Kat Richardson

55

Schedule Planet Rock Super Bob My Own Misery Ditchwater Coldville Pyramid Scheme The Hard Lessons Ramsdell Theatre Driftwood The Riviera Theatre Rivers of Justice Film Festival Rockford Brewing Company Moonrays Saugatuck Center for the Arts Balancing Point: Centered on KCAD Schuler Books 28th Street Booksigining with Greg Gutfeld Shakespeare’s Lower Level Kris Hitchcock and Small Town Son Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill The Di Maggio Connection wsg Jane Rose and The Deadend Boys UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Maladies, Hide Your Smiling Faces Wealthy Theatre 2014 Latin American Film Festival

saturday

Howie Day

Best Bet:

Schedule Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

Acoustic

It’s entirely possible that Howie Day is an egotistical jerk (further reading: Day, Howie, history of arrests), but it’s hard to deny the role he’s played in putting power pop back on the musical culture map. A frequent presence on the early 2000s indie rock scene, Day has recorded and released three full-length studio albums and nearly a dozen EPs. And let’s not forget the plethora Howie Day of singles meant to supSeven Steps Up, ply a nation of car radio Jackson karaoke-singers with April 16, 7:30, $40 a continuous fount pindropconcerts.com, of material. What’s (231) 557-7687 more, his work has been known to pop up on TV juggernauts like “Scrubs” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” which makes for an undeniably ubiquitous quality to Day’s sound and style. We’re relieved he seems to have put the Bieberian antics on the back-burner for the time being and shifted focus to where it belongs: on the music. Day has been singing a different tune, and we’re more than happy to hum along. Reported by Emma Kat Richardson

56 | REVUEWM.COM | April 2014

4.05

The 411 Club Dead Rider Brown Company Forget the Times Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Appleseed Collective wsg Adam Ezra Group Billy’s Lounge SP3 That Freak Quincy & Sound Is Red Bobarino’s Azz Izz Cancun Connection Bar & Grill Big Cadillac The Cricket Club The Fifth Dimension The Curragh Deep Greens and Blues Czar’s 505 Country Night Dr. Grins Nick Griffin Fenn Valley Michigan Wine Month and New Release Celebration Dinner Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative Kalamazoo Poetry Festival: Body of the PoemPerformance Movement and Breath FireKeepers Casino Don Rickles First Baptist Church All Ears Theatre Presents Ananse - The Original Spiderman Founders Brewery Andy Frasco and The U.N. Foundry Hall Miles Nielsen Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color Gilmore Theater Complex King Stag GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It Holland Park Theater Old School Bash

The Intersection Battle of the Bands Final, Wayland wsg Devin and The Dead Frets Uncommon Road Jim Shaneberger The After Effect KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway, Poetry Reading by Aracelis Girmay and Ilya Kaminsky Kzoo Public Library Kalamazoo Poetry Festival: Finding the Power in Poems Workshop Kzoo State Theatre Kalamazoo Bodybuilding Championships Knickerbocker Theatre Spinning Plates LaFontsee Galleries Out of the Polar Vortex Little River Casino Resort Christopher Cross Louis Armstrong Theater Sex and the Supernatural Mulligan’s Pub Iron Chic & Broadcaster Old Dog Tavern Elvis Presley Live and in the Flesh Planet Rock Oeno wsg Virgin Mobile Meth Lab Portage District Library Kalamazoo Poetry Festival: Obsessed with Place Workshop The Pyramid Scheme Back to the 90s.

The Riviera Theatre Rivers of Justice Film Festival Rocky’s Bar & Grill The Swamphouse Band and Sunny Pickett’s High Flying Quartet Saugatuck Brewing Big Boss Blues Schuler Books 28th Street Special Spring Break Storytime with Grand Rapids Ballet!

Tip Top Deluxe Greg Nagy UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Maladies, Hide Your Smiling Faces Wealthy Theatre 2014 Latin American Film Festival

sunday

4.06

Foundry Hall Adam Miller Fountain Street Church Oratorio Memorial Concert Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color Gilmore Theater Complex King Stag GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It The Intersection Pop Evil

KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Kzoo State Theatre Don Williams Salt of the Earth Delilah DeWylde and The Lost Boys Seven Steps Up Ken Yates & Brian Dunne Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill MiniMilk Gathering UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Maladies, Hide Your Smiling Faces Wealthy Theatre 2014 Latin American Film Festival

monday

4.07

Aperitivo Charcuterie Class - Learn & Taste 101 DeVos Performance Hall Red Green ‘How to Do Everything’ Tour Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It JW Marriott Lapping the Landmarks 5K Running Tour LaFontsee Galleries Out of the Polar Vortex The Livery NTAA Open Stage

tuesday

4.08

Billy’s Lounge Funkle Jesse DeltaPlex Arena & Conference Center Kidz Fest Foundry Hall Music Lessons Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It Gun Lake Casino Big Boss Blues The Intersection Gramatik wsg Russ Liquid Gibbz Branx JW Marriott Art Dart 5K Running Tour KIA ARTbreak: Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037, Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway LaFontsee Galleries Out of the Polar Vortex Miller Auditorium Evening with the Stars of Guy Code and Girl Code

Peter Martin Wege Theatre Grand Rapids Ballet Presents A Different Tune The Pyramid Scheme Spirit Caravan Tip Top Deluxe Amy LaVere wsg Hannah Rose Graves UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Maladies, Hide Your Smiling Faces Wealthy Theatre Black Perspective Live Taping, Meanwhile Movie: Jaws

wednesday

4.09

DeltaPlex Arena & Conference Center Kidz Fest Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It The Intersection Sleeper Agent wsg Holy Child Pagiins JW Marriott Lapping the Landmarks 5K Running Tour KIA Art League Lecture, Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway LaFontsee Galleries Out of the Polar Vortex Loosemore Auditorium My Year in Vietnam - Vietnam Veterans Share Their Stories Muskegon Museum of Art Home School for the Arts Peter Martin Wege Theatre Grand Rapids Ballet Presents A Different Tune The Pyramid Scheme Jucifer Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill Open Mic Night with Sam Kenny UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Maladies, Hide Your Smiling Faces

thursday

4.10

Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Indigo Sun DeltaPlex Arena & Conference Center Kidz Fest Dr. Grins Joey Diaz Founders Brewery Whiskey Shivers Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color Gilmore Theater Complex King Stag

GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It JW Marriott Steeple Chase 10K Running Tour KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway LaFontsee Galleries Out of the Polar Vortex Lansing Public Media Center Capital City Film Festival Old Dog Tavern The Brothers Kalamazov Peter Martin Wege Theatre Grand Rapids Ballet Presents A Different Tune Planet Rock Planet Rave ‘Battle of the Decks’ The Pyramid Scheme Fashion for Film Showcase Ritz Koney Bar & Grille Late-Night Open Mic hosted by Jason Eller Rockford Brewing Company Scott Pelegrom Trio Rocky’s Bar & Grill Romance for Ransom and Matt Sala Schuler Books 28th Street Miriam Pederson and Hedy Habra.

Seven Steps Up Teddy Geiger Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill Mutts Tex Railer’s Doomtown UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Maladies, Hide Your Smiling Faces Van Noord Arena Calvin College Festival of Faith and Writing: James McBride

friday

4.11

The 411 Club The Singles The Hand Grenades Billy’s Lounge Starfarm Bobarino’s Stone Thrown Cancun Connection Bar & Grill Refurbushed DeltaPlex Arena & Conference Center Kidz Fest Dr. Grins Joey Diaz Foundry Hall Cindy Kallet and Grey Larsen Frauenthal Center Alley Door Club Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color Gilmore Theater Complex King Stag GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Library Genealogy Lock-In GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It The Intersection GRiZ wsg Michal Menert Late Night Radio JW Marriott Art Dart 5K Running Tour KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Kalamazoo State Theatre Ladies Night with Sharrie Williams & Sena Ehrhardt Kirby Grill Oregon Dreamchild

LaFontsee Galleries Out of the Polar Vortex Lansing Public Media Center Capital City Film Festival Lemonjello’s Fine Fine Titans Chin Up Tall Tales Michigander and My Departure The Livery Appleseed Collective Mangia Mangia Bob Schultz & Doug Decker Old Dog Tavern The Claudettes Osgood Brewing Eller Duo Planet Rock Jack Russel’s Great White The Pyramid Scheme Guttermouth Rockford Brewing Big Boss Blues Saugatuck Center for the Arts Material Girls: Quilts by Judith Jarzembowski and Rugs by Judy Bowman Anthrop Schuler Books 28th Street Eric Nassau & Friends Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill Todd Wolfe Band UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Maladies, Hide Your Smiling Faces Van Noord Arena Calvin College Festival of Faith and Writing: Anne Lamott Wealthy Theatre International Folk Dancing

saturday

4.12

The 411 Club The Marci Linn Band

Barnes & Noble Woodland Mall Author Signing John Borgstedt Billy’s Lounge Battle of the Bands Presented By Gorilla Music, Hip Pocket Bobarino’s Oregon Dreamchild Cancun Connection Bar & Grill Refurbushed The Curragh 5 O’Clock in Dublin DeltaPlex Arena & Conference Center Kidz Fest Dr. Grins Joey Diaz Fenn Valley New Release Wine and Food Pairing Founders Brewery Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, Tokyo Morose Four Winds Casino Wanda Sykes Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color Gilmore Theater Complex King Stag GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It Griswold Auditorium Art in the Garden The Intersection Mega ‘80s KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Kzoo State Theatre Fly Fishing Film Tour Lansing Public Media Center Capital City Film Festival Malarky’s Big Boss Blues

Miller Auditorium An Evening with the Stars of Guy Code and Girl Code Old Dog Tavern Duffield Caron Project & Dumela Project The Orbit Room Mindless Behavior The Pyramid Scheme The Bangups Rocky’s Bar & Grill The Martyrs Short Division and Andy Behrens and Dead Eye Zack Saugatuck Brewing Schrock Brothers Schuler Books 28th Street Thomas Lynch Seven Steps Up Seabird wsg Briar Rabbit Tip Top Deluxe Junior Valentine Jason Wheeler and Brandon Grinwis UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Rewind This!, Hide Your Smiling Faces Van Noord Arena Calvin College The National wsg My Brightest Diamond Wealthy Theatre GRFAS concert series: Lil’ Rev, Jake’s Music Festival

sunday

4.13

Fenn Valley New Release Wine and Food Pairing Founders Brewery Caroline Smith Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper

Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color Gilmore Theater Complex King Stag GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Lansing Public Media Center Capital City Film Festival Mulligan’s Pub Margy Pepper Cemetery Circus O’Connor’s Home Brew Supply Basement Brewing 101 Seminar The Pyramid Scheme La Dispute Salt of the Earth Joshua Davis Tip Top Deluxe Green Room Rockers wsg Jesse Wagner of The Aggrolites plus Auslander Sailor Kicks and Sol UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Rewind This!, Hide Your Smiling Faces

monday

4.14

Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Square Dance Kalamazoo! Common Taters & Jo Mortland Calling Craft House Gallery Synthesize Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper

Best Bet: Rock Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining Schedule

You know what grandma always used Tokyo Police Club wsg to say: “Never trust a Canadian in Japanese Geographer and Said the Whale clothing.” Or wait, was it “always trust them….

The Pyramid Scheme, To rock your friggin’ little socks off”? It was probGrand Rapids ably the latter, especially if granny made a regular April 16, 7 p.m. habit of grooving to Tokyo Police Club instead of $16 in advance, $18 at the door Lawrence Welk. An established indie rock outfit pyramidschemebar.com, hailing from Ontario, TPC is not immune to the (616) 272-3758 concept of success - as veteran tour-meisters and festival main-stage mainstays, the boys have long nurtured an enthusiastic, committed following from music fans. Doesn’t hurt to have a resume with the words “Lollapalooza” and “Coachella” displayed prominently, either.

March brought the release of the band’s fourth album, Forcefield, and this forthcoming Pyramid Scheme show displays every sign of fulfilling anyone’s reasonable Wednesday night goal of rocking out. This is one police squad we wouldn’t mind showing up in the middle of our keg party. Reported by Emma Kat Richardson

Tokyo Police Club REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

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Schedule Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It JW Marriott Lapping the Landmarks 5K Running Tour Ladies Literary Club Julianna Barwick wsg Vasillus Saugatuck Center for the Arts Material Girls: Quilts by Judith Jarzembowski and Rugs by Judy Bowman Anthrop

tuesday

4.15

Ben Folds

Schedule Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

Best Bet: Piano OK, we already know exactly what you’re thinking: “Wow. A whole festival devoted to keyboards!” That’s it, right? Only thing about the heading that gripped you? Or was it the fact that BEN FREAKIN’ FOLDS is going to be in KALAMA-FREAKIN-ZOO, and oh hey, that’s kind of right next door, no matter where you are in West Michigan. But wait, let’s just simmer down Ben Folds for a minute here and Gilmore Keyboard get our bearings. For Festival, Kalamazoo 25 years, the biennial Saturday, April 26, Keyboard Festival has 8 p.m., $45-$55 been bringing exactly thegilmore.org, this sort of prestige (269) 387-2300 and excitement to the the area, and we’ve definitely come to expect the best from them when it comes to all things keyboard-related. Yup, that includes the key-tar and the keyboard tie. But what of our beloved Mr. Folds? In addition to judging NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” he’s been keeping busy by producing, advocating on behalf of music education in public schools, and of course, doing a little recording of his own. Then there’s the Keyboard Festival itself, which is likely to receive an enthusiastic turnout, thanks to the A-list billing in play here. Suburbs, go ahead and consider yourselves rocked. Reported by Emma Kat Richardson

58 | REVUEWM.COM | April 2014

Billy’s Lounge Funkle Jesse Covenant Fine Arts Center An Evening with The Lone Bellow Craft House Gallery Synthesize Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It The Intersection The Werks JW Marriott Art Dart 5K Running Tour KIA ARTbreak: Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037, Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Kellogg Arena Harlem Globetrotters Miller Auditorium Pilobolus Saugatuck Center for the Arts Material Girls: Quilts by Judith Jarzembowski and Rugs by Judy Bowman Anthrop UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Rewind This!, Hide Your Smiling Faces Wealthy Theatre Black Perspective Live Taping, Meanwhile Movie: I Heart Huckabees

wednesday

4.16

Bell’s Particle wsg Freekbass Craft House Gallery Synthesize Foundry Hall Song Swap Fountain Street Church GRCC Diversity Lecture: ‘Youth Revolt: The Future of the Middle East’ Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It

The Intersection Machine Gun Kelly JW Marriott Lapping the Landmarks 5K Running Tour KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Pyramid Scheme Tokyo Police Club Saugatuck Center for the Arts Material Girls: Quilts by Judith Jarzembowski and Rugs by Judy Bowman Anthrop Seven Steps Up Howie Day UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Rewind This!, Hide Your Smiling Faces

thursday

4.17

Bell’s Eccentric Cafe The Mainstays wsg Kris Lager Band Craft House Gallery Synthesize Dr. Grins Nick Turner Founders Dustbowl Revival Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Library A Fiction Writer After Fifty GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It JW Marriott Steeple Chase 10K Running Tour Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway, Get the Picture! Gallery Talk: John DeMartelly’s Looking at Sunshine Knickerbocker Theatre Visiting Writer Series - Amy Bloom Miller Auditorium Mindless Behavior and the OMG GIRLZ with special guest Hi-RiZ Old Dog Tavern Kyle Jennings and Keith Post Planet Rock Planet Rave ‘Battle of the Decks’ The Pyramid Scheme Record Club: A Benefit Show for Well House Ritz Koney Bar & Grille Late-Night Open Mic hosted by Jason Eller Rockford Brewing Company Brett Mitchell Trio Rocky’s Bar & Grill Glitter Kitten and Soso Garcia Saugatuck Center for the Arts Material Girls: Quilts by Judith Jarzembowski and Rugs by Judy Bowman Anthrop Spectrum Theater Actors’ Theatre Presents God of Carnage Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill The Moonrays

UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Rewind This!, Hide Your Smiling Faces

friday

4.18

The 411 Club Biscuit Miller Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers Bobarino’s Drop 35 Cancun Connection Bar & Grill 8th & Amsterdam Craft House Gallery Synthesize Dr. Grins Nick Turner Foundry Hall Circle of Friends Frauenthal Center West Michigan Symphony Presents Simple Songs Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Civic Theatre Junie B. Jones GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It The Intersection Granger Smith wsg Earl Dibbles Jr. Weston Burt Union Guns; Reid Speed wsg Jenny Disko Lady Reign Naytive JW Marriott Art Dart 5K Running Tour KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Lemonjello’s The Cardboard Swords The Livery Fly Paper Mulligan’s Pub Creepoid Old Dog Tavern Captain Ivory The Orbit Room Doug E Fresh The Pyramid Scheme Retro D’Luxe Rockford Brewing Company Ben Daniel’s Band Saugatuck Center for the Arts Material Girls: Quilts by Judith Jarzembowski and Rugs by Judy Bowman Anthrop Schuler Books 28th Street The Saltbound Seven Steps Up Sally Barris Spectrum Theater Actors’ Theatre Presents God of Carnage Tip Top Deluxe Matt Woods Old and Dirty Jeff Shepherd Jailhouse Poets UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Rewind This!

saturday

4.19

Billy’s Lounge Kris Lager Band Bobarino’s Crawpuppies

Cancun Connection Bar & Grill 8th & Amsterdam CityFlatsHotel Cook In Style - Interactive Dinner Corner Record Shop (Grandville) Record Store Day Corner Record Shop (Kalamazoo) Record Store Day DeltaPlex Arena Knockout Promotions Presents: WORLDS COLLIDE III The Dock at Bayview Kari Lynch Band Dr. Grins Nick Turner FireKeepers Casino Hotel Aaron Lewis First Baptist Church All Ears Theatre Presents Swiss Family Robinson Forest Hills Fine Arts Center 10th Anniversary Celebration with Mid-Life Crisis and FHPS Student Performers Founders Brewery Black Party 2014, Nathaniel Rateliff Foundry Hall Emily Hurd Emily White and Katie Dahl Frauenthal Center West Michigan Symphony Presents Simple Songs Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Full Circle Record Store Day Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Civic Theatre Junie B. Jones GR Public Library Tilling the Soil: African American Genealogy Series GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It Green Light Music Record Store Day The Intersection Beats Antique wsg Sean Hayes Horsehead McGee, Toubab Krewe KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Kirby Grill Sprague Brothers The Ledges Sports Bar and Grill Big Boss Blues Millennium Park Nature Photography Walk Miller Auditorium Take Back Tour Mulligan’s Pub The Boss Mustangs The Orbit Room ScHoolboy Q wsg Isaiah Rashad and Vince Staples The Pyramid Scheme Breathe Owl Breathe Rocky’s Bar & Grill Flex.0 Lambo and Luke Shoemaker Saugatuck Brewing Brian Fedewa Schuler Books 28th Street Record Store Day Spectrum Theater Actors’ Theatre Presents God of Carnage UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Rewind This!

Vertigo Music Record Store Day

Wealthy Theatre GRFAS concert series: Davie O.

sunday

4.20

Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Civic Theatre Junie B. Jones GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It The Intersection The Polish Ambassador wsg Wildlight Saqi Ayla Nereo KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway The Pyramid Scheme Suport’s 6th Annual 420 Celebration Salt of the Earth Younce Guitar Duo UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Rewind This!

monday

4.21

Aperitivo Charcuterie Class - Learn & Taste More Bobarino’s Jeff Haas Quintet Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It JW Marriott Lapping the Landmarks 5K Running Tour The Orbit Room Chevelle wsg Middle Class Rut Saugatuck Center for the Arts Material Girls: Quilts by Judith Jarzembowski and Rugs by Judy Bowman Anthrop

4.22

DeVos Performance Hall Broadway Grand Rapids Presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It

wednesday

4.23

DeVos Performance Hall Broadway Grand Rapids Presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ Foundry Hall Open Mic hosted by Paul Hogan Frauenthal Center The Osmond Brothers Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Civic Theatre Junie B. Jones GR Public Library Backyard Birding GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It JW Marriott Lapping the Landmarks 5K Running Tour KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Planet Rock Twiztid wsg Blaze Ya Dead Homie The Pyramid Scheme The Soil and the Sun Saugatuck Center for the Arts Material Girls: Quilts by Judith Jarzembowski and Rugs by Judy Bowman Anthrop UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Rewind This!

thursday

4.24

Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Big Daddy Love DeVos Performance Hall Broadway Grand Rapids Presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Wizard of Oz’

Downtown Market Introduction to the Downtown Market’s Rooftop Greenhouse Dr. Grins Andy Woodhull Founders Brewery Black Eyed Vermillion Frauenthal Center Our Town Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color Grand Haven Community Center Football Night In Amerika GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Civic Theatre Junie B. Jones GR Public Library Path of Destruction: The Story of West Michigan’s Worst Natural Disaster GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It The Intersection The Outer Vibe wsg American WiFi JW Marriott Steeple Chase 10K Running Tour KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Old Dog Tavern Steven Lee Pesch The Orbit Room Three Days Grace Ritz Koney Bar & Grille Late-Night Open Mic hosted by Jason Eller Rockford Brewing Company B-Side Growlers Rocky’s Bar & Grill Nathan Kalish & The Lastcallers and Dan O’Brien Salt of the Earth Bubbles and Booze - A Michigan Cocktail Party Saugatuck Center for the Arts Material Girls: Quilts by Judith Jarzembowski and Rugs by Judy Bowman Anthrop Schuler Books 28th Street ‘Shakespeare: An Evening with the Bard’ Spectrum Theater Actors’ Theatre Presents God of Carnage Tip Top Deluxe Josh Rose and Joe Cartoon UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Rewind This!

friday

4.25

Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining Schedule

tuesday

The Intersection All Time Low wsg Man Overboard Hand Guns JW Marriott Art Dart 5K Running Tour KIA ARTbreak: The Passenger Pigeon in Michigan, Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Saugatuck Center for the Arts Material Girls: Quilts by Judith Jarzembowski and Rugs by Judy Bowman Anthrop UICA ...Mercurial Silence..., Rewind This!

Wealthy Theatre Black Perspective Live Taping, Meanwhile Movie: Dogma

The 411 Club Kalamazoo Academy of Rock Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Steppin’ In It Billy’s Lounge GR Soul Club Bobarino’s Sprague Brothers Cancun Connection Bar & Grill YSU DeVos Performance Hall Broadway Grand Rapids Presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ Dr. Grins Andy Woodhull

REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 |

59

Schedule Farmers Alley Theatre Old Wicked Songs Frauenthal Center Alley Door Club, Our Town Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Civic Theatre Junie B. Jones GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It The Intersection The Devil Makes Three wsg Joe Fletcher, The Prince and Michael Jackson Experience JW Marriott Art Dart 5K Running Tour KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Kzoo State Theatre Keith Sweat Kirby Grill Crossroads Larkin’s Other Place The LowellArts! Players present MOLL The Livery Ben Daniels Band Mulligan’s Pub Three Cents Short the Penske File Peter Martin Wege Theatre MOVEMEDIA II Planet Rock The Double Vision Tour: Black Light Paint Foam Party Hyper Crush Try Jayefkay The Pyramid Scheme Heavier Than Air Flying Machines Rockford Brewing Company Mystic Dub Rocky’s Bar & Grill The Moonrays Saugatuck Center for the Arts Material Girls: Quilts by Judith

Jarzembowski and Rugs by Judy Bowman Anthrop Schuler Books 28th Street Junior Valentine and Jason Wheeler Seven Steps Up Alice Peacock Spectrum Theater Actors’ Theatre Presents God of Carnage Tip Top Deluxe Rosie Flores and Delilah DeWylde and The Lost Boys UICA ...Mercurial Silence...

saturday

4.26

The 411 Club Holly Golightly & The Broke-Offs Jake Simmons & The Little Ghosts Cobalt Mexican Wolves Barnes & Noble Woodland Mall Book signing: A Polish Doctor in the Nazi Camps Billy’s Lounge Flashing Blue Lights EMINOR & More Bobarino’s Global Village Cancun Connection Bar & Grill YSU DeVos Performance Hall Broadway Grand Rapids Presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ Downtown Holland GrooveWalk Dr. Grins Andy Woodhull Farmers Alley Theatre Old Wicked Songs Fenn Valley New Release Wine and Food Pairings Founders Brewery The Carboys Foundry Hall Tom Chapin Frauenthal Center An Evening with The Crane Wives, Our Town

Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Civic Theatre Junie B. Jones GR Public Library Community Bike Ride, Got Garden?, Plaster Creek Stewards Native Plant Sale GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It The Intersection Golf Clap KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Kirby Grill 18th Annual Chili Blues Cook-Off, Junior Valentine Larkin’s Other Place The LowellArts! Players present MOLL The Livery Gurf Morlix and Ralston Bowles Mulligan’s Pub Longbox Muskegon Museum of Art Buster Keaton Film Festival Noto’s Old World Italian Dining An Evening Out Old Dog Tavern Dragon Wagon Osgood Brewing Company The Eller Duo Peter Martin Wege Theatre MOVEMEDIA II The Pyramid Scheme Pinback Rivertown Sports Grand Raggidy Roller Girls vs Bleeding Heartland Rocky’s Bar & Grill Sin Sick World and Rotten Bastards and Deth Bunny Saugatuck Brewing Pieces of Work Seven Steps Up Hannah Thomas

Spectrum Theater Actors’ Theatre Presents God of Carnage Tibbs Brewing Co. Women of West Michigan Beer Tip Top Deluxe The Lustre Kings wsg The Rhythm Aces UICA ...Mercurial Silence...

Wealthy Theatre Pop Scholars

sunday

4.27

DeVos Performance Hall Broadway Grand Rapids Presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ Farmers Alley Theatre Old Wicked Songs Fenn Valley New Release Wine and Food Pairings Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Legacy, Michigan Artist Series GR Civic Theatre Junie B. Jones GR Public Museum Dinosaurs Unearthed, Dream It Build It KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Mulligan’s Pub Pistolbrides Dan Mariska Mavericks & Monarchs New Holland Brewing Company King’s Day Criterium Peter Martin Wege Theatre MOVEMEDIA II Pyramid Scheme Bangarang Circus

Salt of the Earth Drive South UICA ...Mercurial Silence...

monday

4.28

Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color Grand Rapids Public Museum Dream It Build It JW Marriott Lapping the Landmarks 5K Running Tour Saugatuck Center for the Arts Material Girls: Quilts by Judith Jarzembowski and Rugs by Judy Bowman Anthrop Tip Top Deluxe The Sweetback Sisters wsg Nobody’s Darlin’

tuesday

4.29

Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper, Secchia Garden Lecture: Peter Hatch Gallery Uptown Fire Fiber and Color GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Museum Dream It Build It JW Marriott Art Dart 5K Running Tour

KIA ARTbreak: Hidden treasures of Indian Art: Textiles, Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway Saugatuck Center for the Arts Material Girls: Quilts by Judith Jarzembowski and Rugs by Judy Bowman Anthrop Wealthy Theatre Black Perspective Live Taping, Meanwhile Movie: Romeo + Juliet

wednesday

4.30

Frederik Meijer Gardens Bernar Venet, Butterflies Are Blooming, Committed to Paper GRAM GRAM Selects ArtPrize 2013, Michigan Artist Series GR Public Museum Dream It Build It The Intersection Kid Ink wsg King Los Bizzy Crook JW Marriott Lapping the Landmarks 5K Running Tour KIA Cultural Encounters, Environmental Impact, Inside Steinway The Pyramid Scheme Miss May I Saugatuck Center for the Arts Material Girls: Quilts by Judith Jarzembowski and Rugs by Judy Bowman Anthrop n

For more events and info, check out our calendar at revueWm.com.

Schedule Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene

Best Bet: Hip Hop

60 | REVUEWM.COM | April 2014

While soaking up the beats and ScHoolboy Q wsg Isaiah Rashad and rhymes of Quincy Matthew Hanley Vince Staples – better known as ScHoolboy Q – it’s The Orbit Room, Grand Rapids not hard to draw the conclusion that April 19, doors at 6:30 p.m.

Hanley may have been born a decade $22 in advance, $25 day of the show too late. With rapid West Coast-rapper orbitroom.com, (616) 942-1328 sensibilities and a maximum dose of (616) 942-1328 dynamite delivery, the Q man (he can’t be a boy forever, can he?) could have fit quite snuggly among West Side elites like Snoop, Tupac and Dre. No doubt these pioneers of the genre are guiding influences on second generation gangsta rappers like ScHoolboy and it’s refreshing to see this particular torch carried forward when so much inauthenticity abounds. Let’s just say that, for every Jay-Z, there are at least 30 Pitbulls (and let’s not even get started on the sets of Ying Yang Twins). Even though the show is on the weekend, it doesn’t mean you won’t be schooled - in the arts of spitting the fiercest of flows. Preach on, Mr. Q. Reported by Emma Kat Richardson

ScHoolBoy Q

WORDS. MUSIC. HUMMUS. 360 W Western Ave, 2nd Floor Muskegon, MI 49440 For tickets and program: westmichigansymphony.org facebook.com/AtTheBlock 231.726.3231

Martha Guth, soprano Wed, Apr 16, 7:30 pm Doors and bar open at 6:30 pm Accompanied by pianist Kelly Karamanov

Tickets

$20

Martha’s program includes the words of Edna St. Vincent Millay, Noel Coward, Victor Hugo, Pushkin, and Goethe set to the music by Debussy, Liszt, Rahmaninov, Tchaikovsky and Schumann.

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61

Last Call

by Elijah Brumback

“The New Old Pal” at Bar Divani

The New Old Pal is a house favorite among the bourbon drinkers at the dimly lit Ionia Avenue hideaway. It’s a take on the classic Old Pal and similar to a Negroni, both sweet and bitter. The original Old Pal is said to have been created

by William “Sparrow” Robinson, once sporting editor of the New York Herald Paris bureau, who often called associates of all sorts old pals.

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz. Four Roses small batch Bourbon ¾ oz. Campari ¾ oz. Carpano sweet vermouth 2 shakes Fee Brothers rhubarb bitters Flamed Orange peel

HOW TO MAKE IT:

Add all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Stir vigorously to chill and strain the mixture into cosmopolitan cocktail glass over new ice. Garnish with a piece of flamed orange.

62 | REVUEWM.COM | April 2014 Photo: Erica Horoky