Revue Magazine, August 2019

WEST MICHIGAN’S ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE FOR 31 YEARS » AUGUST 2019

FREE!

THE WINNERS ISSUE SEE PAGE 31 FOR THE RESULTS ALSO INSIDE

GINZA SUSHI & RAMEN RELAXING AT THE BEACH HOUSE A DAY IN AN ACTOR’S LIFE

AUG

AUG

10

30

TIM MCGRAW

STEELY DAN

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

WITH SPECIAL GUEST

DEVIN DAWSON & LEVI HUMMON

RICK DERRINGER Outdoor Venue | 8PM Tickets start at $26

Outdoor Venue | 7:30PM Tickets start at $35

SEP

OCT

8

5

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE

TOTO

WITH SPECIAL GUEST

CHRIS LANE

Entertainment Hall | 8PM Tickets start at $35

Outdoor Venue | 7PM Tickets start at $43

NOV

NOV

30

22 & 23

WE WILL ROCK YOU THE MUSICAL Entertainment Hall | 8PM Tickets start at $22

Entertainment Hall | 8PM Tickets start at $49

Get your tickets at Soaring Eagle Casino or Saganing Eagles Landing Casino Box Offices, ETIX.COM or call 1.800.513.ETIX. soaringeaglecasino.com

Mt. Pleasant, MI | 1.888.7.EAGLE.7

Performances held at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

Entertainment subject to cancellation. Management reserves all rights.

2 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

STRAIGHT NO CHASER

Entertainment Hall | 8PM Tickets start at $22zzz

Entertainment Hall | 8PM Tickets start at $22zzz

AC Lounge, Grand Rapids

THE SOUL OF SPAIN IN THE HEART OF THE HOTEL DISTRICT. The AC Lounge, where collaboration meets relaxation. An open space, designed for both sides of you – work life and night life.

A place where inspiration crystallizes into creative, actionable ideas by day. By night, our bartenders serve up expert local knowledge along with craft beer, hand-crafted cocktails, and tapas-style small plates.

AC Hotel Grand Rapids Downtown 50 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 | AC-Hotels.com

GRAND RAPIDS

* AUGUST 3 BILLY CURRINGTON w/ Madison Kozak

21+

AUGUST 8 JON ANDERSON

AUGUST 7 BEACH HOUSE

august 9 I PREVAIL

the Voice of Yes

AUGUST 10 FUEGO SATURDAY

w/ ISSUES, Justin Stone

AUGUST 11 HELLYEAH w/ Nonpoint

*

* AUGUST 20 PAPA ROACH

w/ Asking Alexandria, Bad Wolves

AUGUST 28 THE ALLMAN BETTS BAND

AUGUST 23 LA MAFIA

w/ JD Simo

*

* september 27 JUDAH & THE LION w/ Flora Cash

SEPTEMBER 11 THE HEAD AND THE HEART

SEPTEMBER 28

OCTOBER 3 STEVE HACKETT

SKILLET & ALTER BRIDGE w/ BRKN LOVE

Genesis Revisited

NOVEMBER 8 X AMBASSADORS

OCTOBER 15 LITTLE STEVEN & THE DISCIPLES OF SOUL

OCTOBER 10 THEO VON

NOVEMBER 12 BIG WILD

w/ Ben Danaher

* SEATED SHOW

NOVEMBER 23 CHASE RICE w/ Cale Dodds

NOVEMBER 15 RYAN HAMILTON

w/ Evan Giia, Ark Patrol

* NOVEMBER 22 AARON LEWIS

*

OCTOBER 20 AJR

DECEMBER 7 TOM SEGURA

DECEMBER 17 JANE LYNCH

"A Swingin' Little Christmas"

NOVEMBER 16 YELAWOLF

20 Monroe Live Box Office Hours: Mon-Thurs: 12pm-6pm / Fri: 10am-6pm Weekends: event days only / Box office opens 2 hours prior to doors. (closed on non-show days)

Get more info and see the full schedule at 20MonroeLive.com

11 OTTAWA AVE NW • DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS • 20MONROELIVE.COM 4 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

w/ The Record Company

* NOVEMBER 10 LEWIS BLACK

w/ Bear Hands, Verite

SEPTEMBER 22 BLACKBERRY SMOKE

*

* NOVEMBER 4 WILCO

SEPTEMBER 20 LIL DUVAL

PERRIN BREWING CO. 7TH ANNIVERSARY

9.14.19 SAVE THE DATE REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

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6 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

TABLES SLOTS BEST DAYS DINING DRINKS

THE

With a 24-hour café, a 300-seat made-from-scratch buffet, over 2,200 slot machines, 47 gaming tables, a 14-table non-smoking poker room, a non-smoking slot room, a high-limit room and bars and entertainment, Gun Lake Casino always has

THE BEST...

GUNLAKECASINO.COM Must be 21+ and valid photo ID. See Rewards Center or www.gunlakecasino.com for complete details. ©2019 Gun Lake Tribal Gaming Authority.

All rights reserved.

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

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8 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

TO FIND THIS BEER NEAR YOU, GO TO: HTTP://NEWHOLLANDBREW.COM/ BEER-FINDER/

WHAT’S INSIDE

August 2019 | Volume 31, Issue 8

SCENE: 12 16 18 74

What’s Going On Biz Beat Potshots Style Notes: Live a Little

SOUNDS: 20 22 26 28

Walk The Beat Beach House Deadflower August

REVUE ARTS:

THE WINNERS ISSUE

31

1A Visual arts, classical and jazz music, theater, arts event previews and more.

(See the center of this issue)

BEST OF THE WEST: THE WINNERS ISSUE 31 35 39 41 51 55 59 67

Introduction Music Winners Cultural Arts Winners Dining Winners Drinking Winners Nightlife Winners Services & People Winners Shopping Winners

DINING & DRINKING: 77 Ginza Sushi & Ramen 78 Rake Beer Project

74

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W E S T M I C H I G A N ’ S E N T E RTA I N M E N T G U I D E

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

T

here’s a reason why award shows are a national phenomenon.

Even if you don’t want to care and try not to pay attention, it’s hard not to feel something when you hear a small movie you loved unexpectedly pulled out a win, or more often, that huge franchise you hate pulled out a dozen wins.

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

We root for the things we love to get the recognition they deserve, and that’s really what Best of the West is all about. Whether you agree with the results or not, it all says something about West Michigan and its culture and the thousands of people who voted. It’s a chance to have a discussion about who really “deserves” to win, and why.

DESIGN Kristi Kortman / kristi@revuewm.com Kaylee Van Tuinen / kaylee@revuewm.com Liz Romain

We’re in our fourth year of doing this and it just keeps on growing. Even in an age of information overload and political upheaval, people still find time to care about their favorite restaurants, breweries and hair stylists. I think it’s because those are the experiences that make life worth living, so of course we’d have a strong opinion on them.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Andy Balaskovitz Dana Casadei Eric Mitts Grant Kammer Jack Raymond

So go ahead, look through the results and feel free to discuss them however you like. With 140 categories, you’ll probably see some of your favorites at the top. You’ll also probably look at certain categories and think, “Seriously? What the hell?” I know I did! That’s why we write staff picks. To be fair, if we expanded the “winners” from the top three to top five or 10, you might see more of your faves up there. Let’s be honest though, this issue is already big enough.

To all of our winners: Congrats! You’ve clearly earned some time in the spotlight. To everyone who was hoping to win and didn’t quite get there, just remember: There’s always next year, and getting the word out on social media never hurts.

’Til next time,

Kayla Sosa Kelly Brown Marla R. Miller Michaela Stock Missy Black

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Buddies Pet Photography ADVERTISING / 616.608.6170 Rich Tupica / sales@revuewm.com Kelli Belanger / kelli@revuewm.com Crissy Kline / christina@revuewm.com DIGITAL EDITOR Josh Veal MINION Abi Safago

FIND US ONLINE!

Josh Veal, Managing Editor

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

UPCOMING ISSUES SEPTEMBER The Arts Issue

OCTOBER The Beer Issue

A complete season preview of West Michigan’s cultural arts events, as well as artist profiles and behind-the-scenes stories about the local arts community.

Revue’s annual look at local craft beer is a thorough guide to the scene, with an extensive brewery guide, beer face-offs, trends and more.

REVUE is published monthly by Revue Holding Company.

P.O. Box 1629, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-1629 Office: 616.608.6170 / Fax: 616.608.6182 ©2019, 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: Best of The West: The Winners Issue Illustrations by Kaylee Van Tuinen THE WINNERS ISSUE

TO ADVERTISE: Call (616) 608-6170 or email sales@revuewm.com. Space reservation is the 17th of the month before publication.

10 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

See more on page 31

TIME TO TURN

UP THE VOLUME

JOHN FOGERTY

MY 50 YEAR TRIP SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

GRAMMY AWARD WINNER

MICHAEL BOLTON

GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS GOOD TO BE BAD TOUR 45 YEARS OF ROCK

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19

GREATEST HITS & HOLIDAY FAVORITES

BILL ENGVALL

THURSDAY DECEMBER 12

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9

Tickets available now at the FireKeepers Box Office or FireKeepersCasino.com.

Must be 21 or older. Tickets based on availability. Schedule subject to change.

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

11

WHAT’S GOING ON THIS MONTH | Compiled by Revue Staff

8/2-24 Opinions Are Like Potholes

The Comedy Project 540 Leonard Ave. NW, Grand Rapids Aug. 2-24, Fridays and Saturdays thecomedyproject.com Opening earlier this year, The Comedy Project has been bringing strange and singular shows to Grand Rapids like never before. It’s not just your typical improv comedians and stand-up nights — there’s sketch comedy, experimental improv and game shows. August’s big sketch show is Opinions Are Like Potholes, which features Construction - The Musical, beach murder, dancing both “sexy and non-sexy,” and a song about every single city in Michigan. It’s the perfect catharsis after a week of hitting roadblocks on your way to work.

8/5-26 Old School Console Night

Creston Brewery 1504 Plainfield Ave. NE., Grand Rapids Mondays, 5 p.m. crestonbrewery.com Feast your eyes on great food, tasty drinks and a throwback to one of the best parts

of childhood: classic games. Play the best of the best and a variety of games on different systems like the Nintendo 64, NES, Gamecube and more. Plus, if there’s a game you love that isn’t there, you can request it and they will try to find it for future console nights. Either way, you know you can always bring friends and compete for who is really the best at Mario Kart 64.

8/9 Willie Nelson & Family and Alison Krauss Van Andel Arena 130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids Aug. 9, 7:30 p.m., $50+ vanandelarena.com

Renowned as one of the greatest “outlaw country” stars the stage has ever seen, you shouldn’t miss out on dancing the night away to some of Willie Nelson’s best tunes.

Even decades later, people who met Nelson in the ’60s are still adoring him and his wild, rebellious music. Now 86 years old, he still lives for performing and doing what makes him happy with his musical family, some of whom have worked with him since 1973. Joining him at the Van Andel will be American bluegrass-country singer Alison Krauss.

8/10 Public Night at the Veen Observatory

Veen Observatory 3308 Kissing Rock Ave. SE, Lowell Aug. 10, 9 p.m., $2+ graaa.org

Ryley Walker at Arcfest. PHOTO BY EVAN JENKINS

12 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

You can always just look up and you’ll see the same beautiful night sky that artists have painted and adored for ages, but there’s nothing like finding the perfect place away from all the city lights to see the stars and planets with perfect clarity.

Willie Nelson & Family at Van Andel Arena. COURTESY PHOTO

The Veen Observatory offers nights to look at the starry night Van Gogh admired with one of the best views around. Bring your own telescope or borrow someone’s else to dive deep into the night sky. It’s a perfect family trip, date night or even just some alone time to be inspired by nature.

feature the release of the new Soursmith Red Raspberry, alongside plenty of other tasty brews and live music from amazing bands like Ryley Walker and Dream Version.

8/17

Ballet at the Gardens

8/20

Arcfest

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park 1000 E. Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids Aug. 20, 7-9 p.m.

The best kind of festival is an inaugural festival — it’s always nice to see something new come to town. We know Arclight Brewing Co. is going to put on a party to remember, considering it’s one of the best breweries in West Michigan. The fest will

If you’ve never had the chance to see a ballet perform live, you couldn’t ask for a better opportunity. As part of the Frederik Meijer Gardens’ Tuesday Evening Music Club, the Grand Rapids Ballet is coming to the beautiful amphitheater. For just the price of admission to the gardens, you can watch the ballet perform a huge variety of dances at this first-ever Meijer Gardens appearance. From modern contemporary

Arclight Brewing Co. 544 N. Main St., Watervliet Aug. 17, 3:30 p.m., $12 arclightbrewing.com/arcfest

dance styles to classical ballet, this show will keep you on your toes.

8/22 Shoreline Jazz Festival Heritage Landing 1050 7th St., Muskegon Aug. 22-25, $5+ shorelinejazzfestival.com

Certain tunes can soothe the soul or make you want to get up and dance, but jazz is the best of both worlds. The Shoreline Jazz Festival features more than 10 groups and soloists playing this year for its sixth annual festival. There’s no better place to hear singers, saxophonists, drummers and more go at it than alongside the sunny wavy shore.

Continued on Page 14

Relax at Rosa MAY 2 - SEPTEMBER 19

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

CO M I N G UP NE XT

Les Créatif August 8

More info at DOWNTOWNGR.ORG

Cab i ld o - A u gu st 1

Political Lizard August 15

Connla August 22

Earth Radio August 29

Ice Cream Sandwiches with Sponge cake imported from France!

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at Bell's Eccentric Cafe. COURTESY PHOTO

Continued from Page 12

8/23 Movies on Monroe Space Jam & Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Wide selection of Artisan Gelato, Sorbetto, Malts and Shakes ALL AVAILABLE AT

555 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids Aug. 23, 6 p.m., free downtowngr.com

Forces from far away, deep in the galaxy disturb us in two completely different ways at this Movies on Monroe. A cult classic, Space Jam brings the Looney Tunes and Michael Jordan together for one of the strangest/greatest semi-animated films of all time.

Then, Star Wars returns with a new generation of heroes, beginning with The Force Awakens. Beloved characters like Princess Leia and Han Solo return alongside new faces like John Boyega as Finn, a defector against the First Order.

8/23-25 Polish Festival

Rosa Parks Circle Downtown Grand Rapids Aug. 23-25, 11 a.m. polishheritagesociety.com Dive deep into a rich culture at Rosa Parks Circle this August as the Polish Festival returns for its 40th year.

Enjoy amazing home-style Polish foods, live music and a variety of vendors, all in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. Whether you’re looking to try new foods or yearn

ALSO AVAILABLE AT: FOREST HILLS FOODS i D&W FRESH MARKET i SPARTAN STORES i THE CRUSHED GRAPE i MARTHA’S VINEYARD i AND MANY FINE RESTAURANTS PGI of Saugatuck, Inc | 1-800-4gelato (443-5286) 413 3rd Street Fennville, MI 49408-8671 | PALAZZOLOSDAIRY.COM

14 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

for the Polish meals of your youth, head to the festival for pierogi, golabk, kopytka and so much more.

8/24 Burning Foot Beer Festival Pere Marquette Beach, Muskegon Aug. 24, 12:30-10:30 p.m., $49+ burningfoot.beer

If you’re looking for a way to end summer on a high note, this is it. At Burning Foot, you can celebrate art, a massive variety of beers, live music and the beautiful beaches of Muskegon. Above all, it’s a major beer festival, hosting 70-plus breweries from all over the state. Drink, dance, even camp if you’d like — you might just catch a stunning sunset while you’re at it.

Bands performing include Everclear, Melophobix, Matt Williams and more.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Bell’s Eccentric Cafe 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo Aug. 24, 9 p.m., $20 bellsbeer.com

It’s time to put your hands together and make some noise, as they say. Just don’t spill your Bell’s beer everywhere! Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is coming to the brewery’s backroom for a night of true indie classics. The band burst onto the scene in 2005 with an astonishing self-titled album that remains incredibly unique to this day. If you’re a fan of Wolf Parade, Of Montreal or Broken Social Scene, you’ll love lead singer Alec Ounsworth’s out-there voice and raucous instrumentals. n

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

QUICK. CONVENIENT. DELICIOUS.

DOWNTOWN LUNCH MEETINGS MADE EASY Let us take care of the details for your next meeting. Enjoy a laid-back experience in our technologically robust private dining room, The Gallery. Located inside the Courtyard Marriott, downtown Grand Rapids — with accessibilty through the skywalk, you’re ensured a comfortable walk any time of year.

For more information, call: 616.242.6621

/// NEWS

Kingfisher Restaurant and Deli. PHOTO BY ALYSON CAILLAUD-JONES / KAYO LLC

WEST MICHIGAN

BIZ BEAT

A Roundup of Openings, Closings and other Local Business News

OPEN TASTE THE CITY SABORES DE LA CIUDAD

Savor specially priced lunches, dinners or both at 70+ restaurants offering either: • 2 courses for $15 per person • 2 courses for $25 per person • Chef’s Choice for $25+ per person – expect even more creative menus!

RestaurantWeekGR.com MAJOR SPONSOR

DINING | SIGHTS | SOUNDS SCENE

PATROCINADOR PRINCIPAL

16 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

SUPPORTING SPONSORS OTROS PATROCINADORES

BLACK STAR FARMS

Metro Grand Rapids opened last month with the goal of changing the city’s music industry forever. The new venue at 1901 S. Division Ave. — previously occupied

by Yester Years Lounge — was created specifically to act as a launching pad for West Michigan’s up-andcoming musicians of all genres. Metro has 20 beers on tap, a “concise” kitchen menu and an outdoor patio.

Whoever replaced Grand Rapids’ beloved Marie Catrib’s surely knew they have absolutely humongous shoes to fill, but Kingfisher Restaurant and Deli seems up to the challenge. The new restaurant from the owners of Early Bird Cafe and Littlebird brings back many of the Meditteranean and European flavors of Marie Catrib’s, with dishes like a fattoush salad, eggplant caponata and hummus toast. Head to 1001 Lake Dr. SE any day of the week for breakfast, brunch or lunch — 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. — with dinner and drinks coming soon! Also, keep an eye out for the deli’s forthcoming opening.

After closing for roof repairs last year, fans wondered what would become of Citizen, a tiki restaurant in Creston. The answer comes in the form of River North Public House, open now at 2115 Plainfield Ave. NE. Now branded as a community restaurant and watering hole, River North’s food leans toward comfort food and American classics, with burgers, sandwiches, salads and entrees like Mac & Cheese and Grilled Sirloin Tip Steak. The drink menu has shifted too, moving from tiki drinks to a more classic list of beer, wine and a few specialty cocktails.

If you see a cloud of smoke rising from Saugatuck, don’t call the fire department — that’s just Baldy’s Smoked Meats. The new fast-casual barbecue restaurant at 340 Water St., Saugatuck has a custom-built smoker that can hold 1,800 pounds of meat per cook cycle, which also makes Baldy’s a full-service caterer.

Award-winning pitmaster George has more than 35 years of experience smoking meats. Combine that with house-made rubs, mops and sauces and you’ve got our mouths watering. Stop in for smoked meat, sandwiches and classic barbecue sides.

After years of making and distributing mead, Grimsby Hollow Meadery finally has its own tasting room in Middleville. The cozy new spot at 4525 N. M-37 Hwy is serving up cheese, small plates and tons of mead, with flavors like smoked pumpkin, red raspberry, pecan pie, oak-aged traditional and more. The owners, Dave and Mandy, have tasted hundreds of meads while running meadbuzz.com, so they clearly know their stuff.

This year, Jess Carae won best Makeup Artist in Best of the West, so plenty of voters should be excited to know she opened her own business last month. Jess Carae Beauty Bar brings all the services you can imagine to 940 W. Fulton St., from bridal party makeup to eyelash extension, microblading, makeup application and hair styling. It’s the perfect place to make yourself feel special.

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

YOUR ENTERTAINMENT ESCAPE

BOYZ II MEN AUGUST 16

TERRY FATOR AUGUST 24

THERESA CAPUTO AUGUST 30 & 31

AIR SUPPLY SEPTEMBER 6

THE ULTIMATE QUEEN CELEBRATION SEPTEMBER 7

CHAKA KHAN SEPTEMBER 13

38 SPECIAL SEPTEMBER 27

STEVE MARTIN AND MARTIN SHORT SEPTEMBER 28

ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK OCTOBER 19

CHRIS D’ELIA NOVEMBER 8

JASON MRAZ & RAINING JANE NOVEMBER 22

STRAIGHT NO CHASER NOVEMBER 29

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

See you at Four Winds New Buffalo this summer for exciting parties featuring entertainment, food and drink specials, and a whole lot of fun! Admission is Free.

BBQ, BLUEGRASS & BOURBON PARTY SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 | 4PM–8PM EASTERN

PIG ROAST PARTY

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 | 4PM–8PM EASTERN

CRAWFISH BOIL

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24 | NOON–4PM EASTERN Visit our Four Winds Facebook page or fourwindscasino.com for details.

11111 WILSON ROAD • NEW BUFFALO, MI 49117 1-866-4WINDS1 • fourwindscasino.com Must be 21 years of age or older. The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians invites you to play responsibly.

If you think you have a gambling problem, call 1-800-522-4700. ©2019 Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. 3395-6.07.19

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

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/// NEWS

AUGUST 2019 A monthly roundup of marijuana news and notes.

J

uly was a good month for cannabis policy reformers in Michigan who saw a flurry of positive administrative and legislative proposals.

Let’s jump right into the long-awaited rules that will govern the state’s recreational marijuana market. While many were relaxing over an extended Independence Day break, the Whitmer administration published emergency rules on July 3 spelling out the licensing process for on-site consumption and at special events, as well as eliminating capitalization requirements for businesses.

Overall, it will be cheaper for recreational businesses to get licensed compared to medical.

Additionally, medical marijuana provisioning centers will be able to sell recreational product at the same site, and anyone older than 21 can have it home-delivered. Buying recreational cannabis in storefronts is still off-limits, but the state will start accepting business applications on Nov. 1, with sales expected to start in the first quarter of 2020.

DINING | SIGHTS | SOUNDS SCENE

Officials announced a series of other rules to help start the recreational market, and overall, the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association called the rules “well thought out and forward-thinking.”

2 COURSES FOR $25.00 1ST COURSE

2ND COURSE

3RD COURSE

Crab Roll Cucumber Melon Soup Frisse Salad

Scotch Duck Egg Beef Curry Pistachio Crusted Salmon

Raspberry Panna Cotta Blueberry Torte Sweet Corn Gelato

616-957-1111 | 28th Street SE at Patterson Ave. | facebook.com/GandersGR

18 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

Two weeks later, the state Marijuana Regulatory Agency announced a social equity program that will help residents in 19 communities more easily access the recreational market. The cities — which include Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo, Muskegon and Muskegon Heights — were chosen based on populations with income below the federal poverty level and in counties with high rates of marijuana convictions. Residents in these areas will get up to a 60 percent discount on licensure fees, educational sessions on the industry and help with applications. Consider it an attempt to make good on past injustices in communities disproportionately affected by the failed War on Drugs.

Sticking with criminal justice reforms, longtime cannabis-supporting state Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, has proposed a bill to clear criminal convictions of those charged with crimes that would now be legal in Michigan.

Known as expungement, Irwin says the bill would benefit more than 235,000 Michigan residents. It’s also been a major policy priority for reformers who backed the legalization initiative.

Meanwhile, Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting has dropped 275 pending misdemeanor cases involving cannabis since the statewide initiative passed in November. With more work to go, you can’t help but feel a sense of momentum for justice in Michigan after decades of failed policy.

For more on the history of Michigan’s 10-year foray into marijuana legalization, our friends at sister publication MiBiz published the first in a series of stories taking a deep dive into the subject. Reporters Sydney Smith and Jessica Young take a look at the rocky history of setting up a business framework, while local officials in Muskegon and Holland explain why those communities have taken divergent approaches to allowing businesses.

(Hint: Holland is sticking with a ‘just say no’ policy.) They say they’re respecting the will of voters, but Muskegon Planning Director Mike Franzak says it has the added benefit of rehabilitating dilapidated properties.

There’s a similar sentiment in Benton Harbor, where a medical marijuana facility broke ground in late July at a former aluminum smelting facility. The company, NoBo Michigan, anticipates 65 new jobs while adding the property back to the tax rolls.

One community’s sin is another’s opportunity, I suppose.

— Compiled by Andy Balaskovitz

TAPROOM SUN-TUES: 11AM-12AM WED & THURS: 11AM-1AM FRI & SAT: 11AM-2AM

DELI SUN-THURS: 11AM-11PM FRI & SAT: 11AM-12AM

STORE

235 GRANDVILLE AVE. SW GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503

MON-SAT: 11AM-11PM SUN: 11AM-9PM

616.776.1195

AUGUST THURSDAY

01

Appleseed Collective

SATURDAY

03

Marcinek Plays Dead FREE

SATURDAY

17

Theatre Bizarre Orchestra

$5 COVER

SUNDAY

18

The Mighty Pines

$7 COVER

SUNDAY

04

Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra

08

JD McPherson wsg Jeremie Albino

FREE | 5:30PM | ALL AGES

THURSDAY

22

Seth Bernard

FREE

THURSDAY

SATURDAY

10

Wild Adriatic

THURSDAY

24

SUNDAY

15

Delilah Dewylde w/ David Arcari

$5 COVER

FREE

Exmag wsg Mike Dillon Band FREE

SATURDAY

25

Rude Boy George wsg The Skapones

$5 COVER

FREE

THURSDAY

29

Aaron Kamm and The One Drops

FREE

FREE | 8:30PM

Stay tuned to our social media channels for more info regarding our first Annual Founders Barbeque on August 31

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Cheap Pitcher Night with $10 class 1 pitchers & Trivia Night (7pm-close)

Cheap Pint Night with $1 off class one and class two pints & Open Mic Night (8pm-close)

Mug Club Day

Taproom Exclusive Beer Special with $1 off of featured TRX beer & Free Live Music

Live Music

Service Industry Day with $1.50 off pints (11am-close)

Sunday, Monday & Tuesday Late Night Happy Hour (10pm-close): half off all class 1 pints!

ALL SHOWS ARE AGES 21+ AND BEGIN AT 9:30 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

@FOUNDERSGRANDRAPIDS

@FOUNDERSGRANDRAPIDS

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

19

/// LOCAL

DAVE PALMER AT WALK THE BEAT IN 2017. COURTESY PHOTO

TURN THE BEAT AROUND Grand Haven festival returns with more than 40 acts in more than 20 businesses

DINING | SIGHTS | SOUNDS | SCENE

A

fter a year off, Grand Haven is ready to take the beat back out for a walk.

On Aug. 10, Walk the Beat is returning — the free, four-hour festival is bringing 46 live bands and artists to 23 different businesses and locations along the city’s Beechtree corridor.

Started in 2014 by longtime local musician Dave Palmer, Walk The Beat began as a way to celebrate local music, art and small business.

The nonprofit quickly drew attention for bringing live music into the community, including some unexpected locations like a heating and cooling business, tire and auto shops, and even some manufacturing spaces.

The event ran for four years, integrating itself and its mission to make music more accessible on all levels — until 2018, when Palmer decided he couldn’t run the event any more.

“He just bit off way more than he could chew,” said Director Bob Moore, alluding to

20 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

| by Eric Mitts the extensive amount of work it takes to make a massive event like Walk The Beat a reality.

Now in his first year as director of the festival, Moore joined Walk The Beat as a fan first. Stumbling upon the event while on a bike ride during its first year, he soon introduced Walk The Beat to friends, and decided he had to get involved by its third year. “(It) is about the coolest thing I’d ever run across,” he said.

Joining an incredibly small staff of people who work year-round bringing music, lessons and instruments to children in the community who wouldn’t otherwise have access, Moore helped resurrect the annual summer event this year after Palmer abruptly ended it in 2018.

“It was kind of like a death in the family, particularly for a lot of the business people over on the west side of Grand Haven, on the Beechtree corridor where we have our event now,” he said. “They were saying, ‘Oh no, we love this! We’ve got to keep it going!’”

In response, Moore last year organized Keep The Beat Alive, a one-day fundraising concert featuring past Walk The Beat stars Jake Kershaw, Melophobix and Cosmic Knot, alongside Dave Palmer’s band. The event helped give the nonprofit the jumpstart it needed to plan and prepare to make this summer’s return possible.

“Our goal going into this year was to try to have an event that was equal to the last one that we had (in 2017), in terms of the venues and the number of bands,” Moore said.

Attendees can buy raffle tickets with a $5,000 prize up for grabs, all while helping Walk The Beat in its fundraising efforts.

Meanwhile, performers will compete in the annual Best Band contest for a grand prize of 40 hours of studio time at Grand Haven’s Third Coast Recording. Winners are determined by public vote, with second place finishers taking home $500.

Walk The Beat’s small staff relies on a huge group of volunteers on the day of the event to

make everything happen, so anyone looking to get involved should check out the website.

“Grand Haven is a popular destination and it’s becoming even more so all the time, but people just go to downtown and the lakeshore,” Moore said. “Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but you can do both. You can come check out our event and then go downtown and have dinner and go to the beach if you want.

Make a day of it.”

In addition to the Grand Haven festival, affiliate event Walk The Beat Albion — which now operates as its own independent nonprofit — will take place on Aug. 24. n

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/// ON TOUR

DINING | SIGHTS | SOUNDS | SCENE

BEACH HOUSE. PHOTO BY SHAWN BRACKBILL

MUSICAL GETAWAY Guitarist Alex Scally of Beach House shares a glimpse into his creative process | by Eric Mitts

22 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

F

rom the very beginning, dream-pop duo Beach House has always strived to find that perfect spot. It’s not a specific time or place, but the creative space where they can share the beguiling beauty and ethereal elegance of their signature sound in an almost effortless way.

And now, nearly 1,000 shows into a consistently critically acclaimed career — that includes seven enthralling full-length records — the pair has gotten as close to perfection as they’ve ever been.

Vocalist/keyboardist Victoria Legrand and guitarist/vocalist Alex Scally have now traveled the world over, playing countless festivals for crowds of thousands. But right from the start in Baltimore’s indie-rock scene back in 2004, they’ve maintained a certain sense of artistic integrity and a keen eye for detail. Blurring the edges of their music and their shows, they present an unparalleled sense of ambience that taps into the natural balance of life, even as the world seems closer and closer to chaos.

Ahead of Beach House’s first concert in Grand Rapids in nearly seven years — in support of the band’s seventh studio album, fittingly titled 7 — Revue talked with Scally about numerology, time, musical evolution and more.

Continued on Page 24

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

23

/// ON TOUR Continued from Page 22

"I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU’RE YOUNG, YOU GET BENT OUT OF SHAPE ABOUT ALL THE THINGS YOU CAN’T CONTROL, BUT AS YOU GET OLDER, NOT ONLY DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW TO CONTROL THE THINGS YOU CAN CONTROL MORE, YOU JUST LEARN TO BE OK OR VIBE INTO THE THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF YOUR CONTROL." - ALEX SCALLY So I wanted to start off by talking about the evolution of your live show. At this point in your career, how much do you feel like the live experience of your music has grown or shifted or changed?

We’re getting near the 1,000 shows mark later this year, which is completely insane. Not bragging or anything like that, but I just think we’re getting better at it. I think with any live show, there’s a lot of things you can control and there’s a lot of things that you can’t control.

And I think a lot of times when you’re young, you get bent out of shape about all the things you can’t control, but as you get older, not only do you understand how to control the things you can control more, you just learn to be OK or vibe into the things that are out of your control. Where this Grand Rapids show is falling in our tour cycle, as they call them, couldn’t be better for you guys, because we’ve figured out everything. We’ve done 100 shows with this lighting set-up and it’s continued to evolve and change and get better and better.

DINING | SIGHTS | SOUNDS | SCENE

You’ve played a wide variety of different venues and performance spaces and festivals, in front of so many different audiences. How do you think that has affected you creatively?

It’s made us weary of situations that we don’t want to be in. We know certain types of festivals that we don’t want to play. We say no to festivals that we won’t play unless we can play at night time because we feel like we can’t really make our songs or feeling happen during the day. We’ve learned from the things that lead to these bad experiences, and we just consciously avoid them. And we also just don’t play as many shows anymore. We’ve realized

24 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

that you just don’t put on as good of a show if you’re burned out and not excited. So we try not to let that happen.

You first started working on your latest album, 2018’s 7, in your new home studio. How much do you think that helped reinvigorate things for you?

Yeah, it was awesome. If anyone is going to keep working in any creative field for a long time, I think you have to continually reinvent and find new ways to get a fresh look at things.

Being too methodical or too formulaic is a disaster for creativity. So it’s almost more like survival than anything else.

I wanted to talk a little bit about the numerological significance of the number seven.

What meaning does that have for you?

I think seven is a really fascinating number. I don’t think we wanted to load it down with too much, but it’s a really beautiful looking number, as silly as that sounds. For some reason, it has always had a powerful look to it, and I think with it being our seventh record, there’s only one time when you get to call your record a number. We were into all the sevens, all the funny connections throughout the history of mankind.

I’ve read that while you were working on this album, both of you couldn’t help but explore the “societal insanity” we’re experiencing now. As an artist, how do you grapple with what’s going on in the world?

I think just exactly the same as all people do. I don’t know if I even believe in the word ‘artist.’

BEACH HOUSE. PHOTO BY SHAWN BRACKBILL

Artists make things, and I think most humans make things. Some of them make friendships or they make families, or whatever work you do. Generally, most people make things. And I think that all of us process what’s happening in our society in different ways. But everyone processes it. Whether you ignore it or you face it head on, or you obsess with it, or if you’re in denial, it’s still processing. So I think it’s definitely an intense time right now, but not necessarily a bad one. I always try to remind myself that it’s not necessarily bad, what’s happening. Maybe this is what has to happen for us to finally get really serious about

environmental problems. Who knows? I think media in general really feeds off fear, and I have to remember that they’re getting us all to click with the fear, but fear is not the only part of the picture here. n

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25

/// LOCAL

LOVE DIES, MUSIC BLOOMS Local ‘sad-boy’ alternative R&B trio deadflower makes live debut with EP release | by Eric Mitts

DINING | SIGHTS | SOUNDS | SCENE

H

eartbreak has inspired some of the best songs of all time. It’s also pushed artists through some of the roughest moments and led to the greatest growth of their careers.

So when the three guys in new Grand Rapids group deadflower found themselves reeling from the demise of their respective romantic relationships, they didn’t dwell on the end. They looked at it as a new beginning.

“We decided on (the name) deadflower because it hits close to home with our past relationships,” guitarist/vocalist Dustin Lantz told Revue. “They may be dead now, but you can still find the beauty in them.”

Drummer Caleb Gillis (also of hardcore bands Blithe and Discontent) joined up with former Drifter vocalist Mitch Stora-Quintanilla after the two met while having drinks with Gabe Barham of popular post-hardcore band Sleeping With Sirens. Stora-Quintanilla shared a demo he’d been working on, and Gillis dug the new sound of the lovelorn songs.

“This project is vastly different from what we have worked on in the past,” Gillis said.

Likewise, when Lantz (formerly of The Active Inspire and She Screams of Royalty) heard the demo on Christmas day last year, he wanted to be a part of the new project and help bring a new sound to the local music scene.

“We definitely wanted to stand out and shake things up a bit,” Stora-Quintanilla said.

“I feel like what we are doing is different from a lot of artists right now and we’re pushing our music pretty hard to get as many eyes on us as possible.”

The group cites acts like emo rappers blackbear and Nothing,Nowhere as reference points, and takes influence from a long history of music, including John Coltrane, Big Gigantic, Mac Miller and Rage Against The Machine.

With those shared interests, deadflower began to develop Stora-Quintanilla’s self-described “sad boy” aesthetic with a harder and more dynamic sound.

“It seems like a lot of bands these days are just trying to be as heavy as possible,” StoraQuintanilla said. “We obviously love that

26 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

DEADFLOWER. COURTESY PHOTO

music, but wanted to bring something new to the table that people could also enjoy.”

Stora-Quinanilla started piano lessons at the age of five and has been writing ever since.

Now 23, he’s a scene veteran from his days as frontman for GR metalcore outfit Drifter. Gillis started playing drums at 12 years old, and has spent the past decade taking his music increasingly more seriously, while Lantz has played guitar since he was 10.

Now a brand-new band set to play its first show on Aug. 3 at The Stache, the trio hopes to blossom into its own with its live show and the release of its debut EP, XO.

For the EP they started last December and finished in May, the group worked with producer Nick Scott, who helped develop the band’s sound in his home studio.

“He had a big part in making our sound what it is today,” Lantz said of working with Scott, who both produced and co-wrote the five-song EP. “We’ve got a lot more ahead of us this year for sure,” Gillis said. “We plan on releasing more music, which is different than what we’re about to put out. We’ve been in touch with some fairly well-known names to help us get the ball rolling. We’ve got another show booked at

one of our favorite venues in Grand Rapids that we’re super excited for this fall. Don’t worry, deadflower is just getting started.” n

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REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

27

/// LOCAL

AUGUST. COURTESY PHOTO

MAKING CHANGES Local soul-pop band August tours on new LP, Bloom | by Abi Safago

A

s summertime comes to an end, August has just arrived.

The new Grand Rapids band made its debut in June at Creston Brewery with an album release. The band’s name and music alike are inspired by the transition from summer to fall, moving through different periods of life.

While dealing with those changes together, the bandmates said they just want to be happy with what they produce and continue to put on awesome shows. The five members of the band — Olivia Vargas, Bailey Budnik, Theresa Redmond, Michael Pierce and William Wright — are all past and present Aquinas College students who found one another through a shared love and passion for music.

DINING | SIGHTS | SOUNDS | SCENE

BEGINNINGS The bandmates couldn’t get along better, producing just as much laughter as they do fun soul-pop tunes. They’re all good friends who share a love of performing music as well as a cookbook, which they call the “flavor bible.”

They came together through jazz camps, the lounge in the Art and Music Center on campus, being roommates, and band and choir classes. When the band started two years ago, its original name was Tabula Rasa.

It’s a Latin phrase meaning “blank slate,” as many of the band’s songs were inspired by

28 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

growing, changing and starting a new period of life.

However, while it was a great name with a great meaning, they realized people had trouble remembering it. So Vargas came up with August last year, and the group loved it.

“Other than being more marketable, August is the end of summer and the beginning of fall. It’s a transitional period, and a lot of songs are about that change and growing, so we went in that direction,” Vargas said.

She adds that it was a “very nostalgic month” for her and always has been. With a new name, the band set out to create a great album.

IN BLOOM Just like the name, classifying exactly what the band makes was difficult. They eventually settled on the concept of “soul-pop.” While all members favor different styles of music — from indie to metal to classical — those differences come together to create an eclectic soul-pop fusion.

“The thing is, a lot of us come from different backgrounds and have different styles and like different genres,” Vargas said. “Even if it is a bunch of different things, it mixes together really well.”

Vargas writes the vocals for the band, then works with other members on instrumentals

and background vocals. They’ve called themselves “perfectionists” when it comes to working on their songs, in and out of the studio.

After two years, one spent in the studio, August now has an album, Bloom, produced

by River City Studios LLC. The album features 11 original songs, with the underlying theme of growth. The band ended up being extremely lucky, having a friend, Koty Schoenberg, at River City to work with them throughout the year.

“At River City, it’s really comfortable. To work with someone you’re friends with and you’re comfortable with is so cool,” Vargas said.

“We were real perfectionists about it, honestly.

It took us a whole year to record it. He dealt with our perfectionist tendencies really well and he’s really patient.”

Working with a friend took a lot of stress off their shoulders, allowing the band to focus on just making great music. Plus, working slowly on the album is a solid learning experience.

“I think every time you do something, like making two different albums, it isn’t going to be the same thing. Doing it the first time is going to school on it, and the second time is actually doing it,” Budnik said.

LOOKING AHEAD For now, you can catch August touring the west and northern parts of Michigan. One event the

band is particularly excited to perform at is the Willowsong Festival in Sidney on August 24.

The members hope to “make it” in the music world, but all with different end goals.

For Vargas, she has long dreamed of performing at the Frederik Meijer Gardens or the Arc in Ann Arbor. For Budnik and Pierce, they both hope to perform at the House of Blues in Chicago, but for now Budnik would love to play at Bell’s Brewery. Wright hopes to someday play in the Bottom Lounge in Chicago. Redmond is aiming for something a little bigger, saying “anywhere in New York really” will do it for her.

When asked what the band’s overall goal is, Vargas put it simply: “To be successful, which has a lot of different meanings. Make money, make good music, make something you’re really proud of.” n

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CSBREW.COM

By Josh Veal

A THE WINNERS ISSUE

1. DINING 44,589

2. NIGHTLIFE & ACTIVITIES 17,927

fter two and a half months of voting, the fourth Best of the West has come to an end and the results are finally here.

If this were The Bachelor, I’d say this year’s Best of the West is the biggest, most shocking, most dramatic reader poll EVER. And that would be mostly true. We get more voters every year, with 5,019 voters showing up in 2019 — how appropriate.

In fact, there are a lot of interesting numbers to look at here. We have the most categories ever this year too, for instance, with 140 categories spanning everything from your hair stylist to favorite German beer. Across those, 109,961 votes were cast. That means, with 5,019

3. SERVICES & PEOPLE 17,420

voters, there was an average of 21.9 votes per person. We require 15 votes to submit your entry, so it’s good to know some of you aren’t just doing the bare minimum.

We can do some more with those stats — the survey ran for 75 days, which means roughly 67 people voted per day. I don’t know if that sounds impressive or not, so how about this: 1,466 votes were cast per day. That’s a bigger number, which is fun!

Here’s what I’m really interested in though: Which categories were most popular? Theoretically, I could go through all 140 categories and add their vote totals up, but that would take about one infinity times longer than I have. However, we split up the categories into seven larger groups, so let’s take a look at those instead:

4. SHOPPING 11,234

You could say though, “Josh, these groups have vastly different numbers of categories. Cultural Arts only has six categories to vote in, while Dining has 38 — this is totally unfair!” And you’d be completely right. You would have totally destroyed me with facts and logic, and I’d be crying on the floor.

5. DRINKING 9,765

6. MUSIC: 6,240

7. CULTURAL ARTS 2,786

Continued on Page 33 REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

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32 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

Continued From Page 31

COOL SCORE (CATEGORIES OWNING OUR LOVE)

Cultural Arts

464.3 Votes

Shopping

488.4 Votes

Services & People

527.9 Votes

Drinking

697.5 Votes

Music

780.0 Votes

Nightlife & Activities

995.9 Votes

Dining

1173.4 Votes

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

(voters per category) THAT’S why, in my infinite genius, I invented the Categories Owning Our Love (COOL) score. What I’ve done is take the total number of votes per group and divide that by the total number of categories in each group. This gives me an average of votes per category in each group. If this doesn’t make sense to you, please don’t email me — I’m very busy.

Here are the COOL scores for each group, ranked highest to lowest: 1. Dining: 1173.4 2. Nightlife & Activities: 995.9 3. Music: 780.0 4. Drinking: 697.5 5. Services & People: 527.9 6. Shopping: 488.4 7. Cultural Arts: 464.3 Well, well, well, how the turntables! OK, you might notice that Dining is still in the lead, but not by nearly as much — look how close its COOL score is to Nightlife & Activities.

Meanwhile, Music jumped up quite a bit in the rankings. Math is fun. And cool!

What does it all mean, though? Why do we have stronger opinions about Dining than anything else? Well, I’d posit that it simply comes down to the fact we all have to eat. Personally, I do it every day! Then, the Nightlife & Activities group is full of categories like New Brewery, Cocktail Lounge, Distillery and so on — the kind of stuff West Michigan takes a lot of pride in.

Does this mean Shopping is decidedly uncool? NO! It means we’re all broke. Or rather, it feels more reasonable to go out and grab a bite to eat or drink a few times a week than it is to visit local stores that often.

What about Cultural Arts — is theater and art passé? NO! We’re all just uncultured swine.

Hypothetically, if forced by higher-ups to provide an alternative explanation, I’d say that people who love the arts feel weird comparing the groups to each other.

However, let’s take a look at the actual winners that received the largest number of votes. We don’t like to disclose those specific numbers — potential hurt feelings and all that — but here’s the ranking for the top five:

EVERY THING YOU NEED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN 866 609 CITY

C I T Y F L AT S H O T E L . C O M

1. Shopping - Farmers Market: Fulton Street Farmers Market 2. Dining - Hot Dogs: Yesterdog 3. Cultural Arts - Art Museum: Grand Rapids Art Museum 4. Cultural Arts - Symphony: Grand Rapids Symphony 5. Dining - Soup: Uncle Cheetah’s Soup Shop Would you look at that! The highest votegetter is from the Shopping group and two Cultural Arts categories are up there too. There remains hope for us yet.

As you look through the pages ahead, you’ll see a deeper dive into all the categories, so I’ll leave you with one final fun fact: Assuming voters didn’t lie, the most popular ZIP code to vote from is 49503, which covers a large swath of downtown Grand Rapids and beyond. Makes sense!

Thanks for reading, thanks for voting, and thanks for getting the word out. This all only happens because of readers like you. See you next year.

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

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BEST OF MUSIC

20 MONROE LIVE. COURTESY PHOTO

by Eric Mitts

W

ith our Best of the West competition now running strong in its fourth year, one of the most fascinating bits we find when looking over all the results is the rise of career artists and newcomers alike.

In the local music categories, five winners repeated their top spots from last year, with community radio station 88.1 WYCE and vinyl record institution Vertigo Music cementing their places as the solid foundation for listeners, performers and collectors here in West Michigan.

Massive music venue 20 Monroe Live also dominated once again, with its third year of

operation bringing even more big name acts to our area, and offering unique concert-going experiences year-round.

Likewise, the experiential Electric Forest Festival reclaimed its title as the most beloved music fest in West Michigan. Even though the EDM-heavy event dropped from two weekends to just one this year, the sold-out crowd and undeniable pull of the enigmatic forest itself prove it remains a highlight on the concert calendar for fans year after year.

But here at Revue, we couldn’t help but notice a few surprising come-from-behind wins and stand-out debuts as well.

Hard-rockers Trixy Tang jumped from third place to first in the best Original Band category, while also holding on to a solid third place finish in the best Cover Band category.

The throwback rockers plan to release a new album on Sept. 7 at Elevation (inside The Intersection), so they could well be on their way to becoming another perennial powerhouse.

Kalamazoo music ambassador and onewoman-band Megan Dooley also jumped from third to first this year, becoming one of the only non-Grand Rapids-based winners on our list, and breaking a string of third-place finishes for the longtime favorite. She tops an all-female top three in our Best Solo Musical

Artist category, alongside last year’s winner GR rapper Lady Ace Boogie and former Vox Vidorra frontwoman Molly Bouwsma Schultz, who just released a strong solo debut this past June.

Appearing on our winners list for the first time ever this year are GR funk-rock band Melophobix, and DJ Matt Vail, who also plays bass in our second-place cover band Project 90, proving just how wonderfully interconnected our music scene continues to be.

Check out the rest to see if any of your favorites made it onto our list this year!

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

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2019 2ND BEST CHILI 2ND BEST WINGS 3RD BEST OPEN MIC 3RD BEST IPA - HOPLUST 4TH BEST STOUT - SHEEHAN’S

2018 2ND BEST CHEF 2ND BEST OPEN MIC 2ND BEST WINGS 3RD BEST CHILI 3RD BEST LUNCH 3RD BEST IPA - HOPLUST 3RD MOST INNOVATIVE CUISINE

2017 1ST BEST CHILI 2ND BEST CHEF 2ND BEST LUNCH 2ND BEST NEW RESTAURANT 2ND BEST WINGS 2ND BEST OPEN MIC 3RD BEST BURGER 3RD BEST STOUT - SHEEHAN’S 3RD BEST NEW RESTAURANT 4TH BEST IPA - HOPLUST

36 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

thank you, West Michigan!

MUSIC WINNERS COVER BAND

ORIGINAL BAND

1. BRENA

1. TRIXY TANG

brenaband.com

trixytang.com

2. Project 90 3. Trixy Tang

2. Jesse Ray and The Carolina Catfish 3. Melophobix

RADIO STATION

DJ 1. AB

1. 88.1 - WYCE

everythingab.com

grcmc.org/wyce

2. Super Dre 3. Matt Vail

2. 97.9 - WGRD 3. 93.7 - B93

MUSIC FESTIVAL

SOLO MUSICAL ARTIST

1. ELECTRIC FOREST

1. MEGAN DOOLEY

electricforestfestival.com

facebook.com/mdooleymusic

2. Founders Fest 3. Festival of the Arts

2. Lady Ace Boogie 3. Molly Bouwsma Schultz

MUSIC VENUE

VINYL RECORD STORE

1. 20 MONROE LIVE

1. VERTIGO MUSIC

11 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids

129 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids

2. Pyramid Scheme 3. The Intersection

2. Corner Record Shop 3. Dodds Record Shop

STAFF PICKS

MEGAN DOOLEY. PHOTO BY FRAN DWIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

BEST DJ Super Future With the local EDM scene absolutely exploding, it’s surprising that some of the rising talent has yet to crack our list. Super Future, a.k.a. Nick Rowland, embodies so much of what’s happening right now — and what’s next — with a distinct style that bounces from hard-hitting trap to hypnotic world-beat. Co-founder of the Samsara Family collective in 2017, he has quickly built a community of musical collaboration and personal connection that transcends the dance floor. It doesn’t hurt that all his stuff is straight fire too. Look out for next year, as he and his friends could light up our list. — Eric Mitts

TRIXY TANG. COURTESY PHOTO

BEST ORIGINAL BAND

BEST MUSIC FESTIVAL

Desmond Jones

Lamp Light Music Festival

Fresh off a triumphant debut performance at this year’s Electric Forest Festival — and ahead of a huge show celebrating the vinyl release of a second full-length album (Aug. 24 at Elevation inside The Intersection) — GR jam band Desmond Jones is ready to make a lasting name for itself in the local music scene. From rock to jazz to funk to country and more, the group continues to master its already impressive live chops, while delighting a variety of new audiences all around town. Building a loyal fan base, with residencies at places like the Tip Top and tour treks around the state and the country, there’s no telling where they’ll go next. — Eric Mitts

Intimate and inimitable, there’s nothing else quite like the Lamp Light Music Festival. Expanding from the houses and living rooms of Grand Rapids’ Eastown onto the stage of the Wealthy Theatre last fall, this fest replaces the sweaty heat of many popular outdoor summer music festivals with the comforting warmth of the autumn season. A great way to experience a lot of the local music scene up close, Lamp Light continues to shine brighter as it embraces even more diversity and accessibility in its already inclusive environment. For those who like to listen close, and listen with their heart, don’t miss out on this one.

— Eric Mitts

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BEST TATTOO ARTIST

BEST OF CULTURAL ARTS

CHELSEA MICHAL GARTER. COURTESY PHOTO

by Josh Veal

L

ast year, we removed the whole Cultural Arts category with the idea of doing an extended Best of the West that was JUST for arts organizations. Only flaw in the plan: We never ended up doing that. Oops!

Part of the problem is that the arts are so important, so vital to our culture, that figuratively pitting these groups against each other feels a little inappropriate. And yet, we do want to have a chance to highlight some of the amazing people and places bringing their talent to the community, so we decided to do it anyway.

You can look at the winners — they’re obviously all excellent. However, we do also want to highlight some of the other groups we’ve seen producing consistently top-notch art that

anyone can enjoy, especially since the winners are pretty GR-centric.

In terms of theaters, I don’t know if we’ve ever seen a show at Barn Theatre that we didn’t love. It might be a bit of a trek, being halfway between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, but it’s well worth a day trip. It’s a professional equity theater, which in layman’s terms means all the actors absolutely know their stuff. If you read our reviews, you’ll know that Farmers Alley Theatre is doing amazing work out that way too, along with Queer Theatre Kalamazoo, Face Off Theatre and all the other Theatre Kalamazoo groups.

If you’re out by the lakeshore, Mason Street Warehouse is another professional equity theatre putting on unique shows with

consistent quality. Speaking of the lakeshore, Holland Symphony is well worth a visit too, not to mention dozens of art galleries, large and small.

Really, we could go on forever, but we’d definitely miss someone, so instead be sure to check out our Arts Issue in September, which has a comprehensive listing of all the theater shows, music performances and art exhibits coming to West Michigan.

Finally, let’s take a look at the Visual Artist winners. Coming in first place is Chelsea Michal Garter, a West Michigan painter who creates all kinds of work. Her abstract paintings are colorful and beautiful, as are her semi-trippy animals, while her line drawings are unique enough to cover the

entire wall in Squibb Coffee/Rise Authentic Baking’s new location.

Second place goes to Hugo Claudin, owner of Mexicains Sans Frontieres, which also placed for Alternative Art Gallery.

Claudin is heavily involved in the community, aspiring to make Grand Rapids a better place. Then we have a rare tie for third, with Erica Lang — who owns Woosah Outfitters and was just featured on our cover — and Reb Roberts, who owned Sanctuary Folk Art until it closed in 2017. He’s created some incredible murals and street art in Grand Rapids, which you’ve almost assuredly seen, even if you didn’t know it belonged to him.

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

39

HUGO CLAUDIN. PHOTO BY BY KATY BATDORFF

CIRCLE THEATER. COURTESY PHOTO

CULTURAL ARTS WINNERS ALTERNATIVE ART GALLERY

SYMPHONY

1. LIONS & RABBITS

1. GRAND RAPIDS SYMPHONY

1264 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids

300 Ottawa Ave. NW #100, Grand Rapids

2. Bend Gallery 3. (Tie) Mexicains Sans Frontieres, Muse GR

2. West Michigan Symphony 3. Kalamazoo Symphony

ART GALLERY

THEATER GROUP

1. LAFONTSEE GALLERIES

1. CIRCLE THEATRE

833 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids

1703 Robinson Rd. SE, Grand Rapids

2. Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts 3. Lions & Rabbits

2. Grand Rapids Civic Theatre 3. Dog Story Theater

ART MUSEUM

VISUAL ARTIST

1. GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM

1. CHELSEA MICHAL GARTER

101 Monroe Center St. NW, Grand Rapids

chelseamichalgarter.com

2. Grand Rapids African American Museum 3. Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts

2. Hugo Claudin 3. (Tie) Erica Lang, Reb Roberts

40 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

GRAND RAPIDS SYMPHONY. COURTESY PHOTO

AUGUST 2019 REVUEWM.COM/ARTS

FREE

WEST MICHIGAN'S CULTURAL ARTS GUIDE

LIFE AS A LEADING LADY

Isabella Abuan dances, sings and acts her way through a day with Grand Rapids Civic Theatre SEE PAGE 4A. STORY BY MICHAELA STOCK

PAGE

3A

PAGE ROUND AND ROUND Superior Donuts at Circle Theatre

8A

PAGE COASTAL CANVASES Art along Michigan’s lakeshore

17A

PORTABLE SYMPHONY Vintage Parlor Orchestra plays anywhere

2019-20 Season

T H E

M U S I C A L

P H E N O M E N O N

lesmiz.com

Nov. 15–17

Jan. 28–Feb. 2

March 27–29

May 1–3

Oct. 1

Oct. 19

Nov. 20

Dec. 4

Jan. 15 & 16

Jan. 17

Jan. 18

Feb. 5

Feb. 7

Feb. 11

Feb. 21

March 1

March 19

April 7

Visit us online at MillerAuditorium.com or call (269) 387-2300 • (800) 228-9858 2A

May 15–17

| REVUEWM.COM/ARTS | AUGUST 2019

[THEATER]

Doughnut Dreams Two people work for a better future in Superior Donuts

Associate Publisher Rich Tupica Editor Joe Boomgaard / joe@revuewm.com Managing Editor Josh Veal / josh@revuewm.com Copy Editor Claire Boomgaard Design Kristi Kortman / kristi@revuewm.com Kaylee Van Tuinen / kaylee@revuewm.com Liz Romain Contributing Writers Kayla Sosa Dana Casadei Marla Miller Michaela Stock Abi Safago

BY KAYLA SOSA

In a small doughnut shop in Uptown Chicago, two unlikely friends form a bond and find out not only what sets them apart, but more importantly, what they have in common.

The comedy-drama Superior Donuts at Circle Theatre centers on an old Polish shop owner named Arthur Przybyszewski and a young African-American man, Franco Wicks, who becomes the shop’s new assistant despite sharing a pretty different perspective on life and business.

“It’s a story about friendship,” said director Mike Hull. “The two end up becoming friends and changing each others’ lives for the better.”

However, there are a lot of opposing ideas that come between the two men before they see eye to eye.

“It’s the idea of youthful optimism and aged cynicism,” Hull said. “There’s the idea of the American Dream, and really every one of the characters in the show has their own way of living it.”

Hull said the play allows the audience members to reflect on their own experience living in America.

“There’s this chance, that if we work together, not ignoring our past but recognizing the values and the lessons we’ve learned from it, that we can help to shape a better America,” he said.

Hull said he has had his own unique experience with the American Dream, so he sees this play as an “interesting and exciting challenge.”

“I personally have had a very privileged experience of the American Dream,” he said.

“I’m a white guy living in the U.S. I’ve pretty much had everything handed to me when it comes to society’s input on my life. And I’ve

Publisher Brian Edwards

FIND US ONLINE:

Circle Theatre's Superior Donuts. Todd Lewis as Arthur and Nio Walton as Franco.

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

PHOTO BY ASHLEE LAMBART PHOTOGRAPHY

also managed to see the other side of that as well, and see people who haven’t been given the opportunities to take the steps that to me seem small, because they’ve always been placed in front of me.

“A big passion of mine is the idea of recognizing my own privilege and helping to express stories for people who have different chances, or starting places in life.”

As the show moves along, the audience will notice the colors change from plain to more vibrant, a symbolic bit of set design that coincides with the story as the shop is filled with life. He intentionally wanted the set design to be more minimal, because it’s more realistic.

“What makes this piece so compelling is that these are people who could be ordinary people,” Hull said. “They don’t have crazy superhero backstories, they’re just normal, everyday people and that’s kind of the beauty of it.”

Todd Lewis plays the role of Arthur — opposite Nio Walton as Franco — and he said on the surface, the two main characters couldn’t seem more different. “(Arthur) is very quiet and introspective and doesn’t share a lot,” Lewis said. “And the character of Franco is very outgoing and energetic, very boisterous and charismatic.”

As the two work through their own

personal struggles but also work on their relationship together, Lewis said the theme of persistence runs throughout the show.

“Never giving up, never surrendering when you believe in something,” he said.

“I think it’s really an important point all the time, but it seems even extra poignant right now in our political climate.”

Hull said he wants the audience to feel hope for a better society after watching this play. “(I hope they feel) there’s the opportunity through a lot of hard work and a lot of determination to change our country for the better and to make it a more inclusive, more caring, more egalitarian place,” he said. ■

For advertising, subscription, and distribution inquiries, e-mail: Rich Tupica sales@revuewm.com REVUE is published monthly by Revue Holding Company.

P.O. Box 1629, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-1629 Office: 616.608.6170 / Fax: 616.608.6182 ©2019 Revue Holding Company. All rights reserved.

ON THE COVER:

SUPERIOR DONUTS Circle Theatre 1703 Robinson Road SE, Grand Rapids Aug. 8-24 circletheatre.org

LIFE AS A LEADING LADY ISABELLA ABUAN DANCES, SINGS AND ACTS HER WAY THROUGH A DAY WITH GRAND RAPIDS CIVIC THEATRE PHOTO BY ASHLEY WIERENGA SEE PAGE 4A.

REVUEWM.COM/ARTS | AUGUST 2019 |

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[VISUAL ARTS]

Isabella Abuan Performing in Newsies at Grand Rapids Civic Theater. PHOTO ON LEFT BY STUDIO3TWENTY. PHOTO ON THE RIGHT BY ASHLEY WIERENGA

Life as a Leading Lady

Isabella Abuan dances, sings and acts her way through a day with Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

BY MICHAELA STOCK

When we see a show so amazing that it draws us in and makes us forget there are real people onstage, it’s so easy to not think about what performers like Isabella Abuan go through every single day to make that magical performance happen.

Seventeen-year-old Abuan from Lansing is an actress, singer and dancer with the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. She began musical theater at the age of seven with a small church production and has pursued the craft ever since, taking voice and dance lessons along the way.

It wasn’t until Abuan turned 13 and per-

4A

| REVUEWM.COM/ARTS | AUGUST 2019

formed with Michigan State University that she got hooked into the theater world for good, though. Inspired by the passion and diversity at MSU, Abuan realized she could actually see herself pursuing life as an artist.

“Everyone in the musical was so different, but the fact that we could all come together and put on this show, and we all loved each other, made me fall in love with theater,” Abuan said.

Not long after that, Abuan found the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and has been performing with the company for years now, making her mark in the West Michigan theater world.

Abuan spent the most recent show season with the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre starring in Newsies as the lead female role of Katherine Plumber, a bold and outspoken reporter who drives the plot line throughout the musical’s entirety.

However, landing the lead was as much of a mental battle as it was physical for the Filipino actress.

“I rolled into callbacks and was like, ‘Oh, there’s no way I’m going to get Katherine,

I’m ethnic,’” Abuan said. “My mind was already trapped. I’ve gotten a few leads in the past with other theaters, but for the most part, I’m the quirky best friend or the seductive role. It’s hard to see an ‘ethnic’ girl in the main role.”

As always, Abuan went into the audition just looking to gain experience and have fun. But she did more than just sharpen her skills — she landed the lead.

“When the stage manager called me and said I got Katherine, I was literally watching Newsies. I remember screaming, and my whole family was so excited,” Abuan said. “Civic Theatre is so amazing about having an open mindset about racial diversity and things like that.”

Getting the part was just the start of many long days in the theater for Abuan, however. It’s no secret that artists like Abuan live pretty different lifestyles compared to the typical student or nine-to-five employee. But, without daily gossip by the water cooler and back-to-back meetings to run to, how do artists spend their days at work?

To get the scoop, we asked Abuan to

Isabella Abuan.

PHOTO BY MYRTLE TREE PHOTOGRAPHY

walk us through her day before, during and after a performance with the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre as the leading lady of Katherine in Newsies.

After all, not all power suits come with pants and a jacket — sometimes they’re made of wigs and tap shoes.

HOUR BY HOUR: THE BREAKDOWN

During intermission of the show, I’m getting dressed and changing all of my costumes — it’s so fun. The magic of theater is crazy. You can change characters like that.

The beginning of my day is pretty chill. I wake up around 9 a.m. because I don’t have rehearsal, so I can sleep in and have a nice morning. I talk with my castmates because I live with them during the performances in an apartment in downtown Grand Rapids. We have our little breakfast together and our little chats.

The show ends around 10 p.m. It takes a while to leave the theater because people aren’t allowed to see you in costume. That’s a big no-no. It ruins the magic, and those costumes are not cheap. You have to get completely out of costume, put all your set pieces away, and get out of mic before you can go.

Around noon, my friend Josh and I work out together. We do Zumba videos to get our bodies pumping! We actually do videos at home, but we’ve also gone to a Zumba class together, just to get going and do dance-themed things. When you’re in musical theater, you want to get your body used to the exercise it’s going to do every night.

Sometimes after the show, we like to have cast bonding. We often go to Cottage Inn, so a lot of times you’ll catch us there.

Sometimes we all park at this church parking lot and hang out there, where we just sit in a circle and talk for 30 minutes or an hour. We’ve even hung hammocks between our cars. We’d sit in the hammocks and just talk and talk and talk.

Theater people are the craziest people, but they’re also just the best friends.

9 a.m.

12 p.m.

I eat avocado toast for lunch, usually by myself. One of my weaknesses, if I can get my hands on it, is Synergy Kombucha.

1 p.m.

My call time is at 6 p.m., but I usually get to the theater at 5:30 p.m. because I have to do my whole makeup process. A lot goes into getting ready for the show. Oh my goodness, no one realizes how long it takes! Stage makeup takes me about 45 minutes.

5:30 p.m.

Every female actor in Newsies was wigged. Most had to do so many wig changes because they played multiple different characters.

To get wigged, you have to pin-curl your hair as flat as you can to your head, and then we have wig masters who put our wigs on for us. We’re not allowed to touch the wigs, because they’re real human hair, which is very expensive.

6:15 p.m.

We have our vocal warmups and fight call. In Newsies, we had a fight choreographer come in and teach the newsboys all the different moves for fight scenes. All of those scenes were so choreographed.

They rehearse it first at about 15-percent speed, so it’s super slow-motion, and then they build up the tempo and get it faster. It’s super important that they run that every night because if that gets sloppy, someone could get seriously hurt.

We also sing a song from the show just to get in the mood. Then we receive notes from things that went wrong and things we need to fix from the previous performances. We also go over who’s going to be in the audience. This is a time just to get us excited.

6:40 p.m.

Before every show, we also have our physical warmups in the theater’s dance studio. It’s always the same thing. We have three different songs we do the warmups to, and we’ve been doing them since the first rehearsal.

It’s pretty intense stuff, like burpees, just to get even more ready.

7:15 p.m.

7:30 p.m. run the show.

After that, we all stretch out and get in our zen moment. Then we

Intermission

10 p.m.

10:45 p.m.

11:30 p.m.

I go to bed and rest before I do it all over again!

A HUSTLE AND A BUSTLE Even reading about Abuan’s day as an actress with the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre sounds like a lot, but to her, it’s all worth it.

“Being an artist is a super stressful lifestyle. Everything is so crazy,” Abuan said. “I’m so passionate about it though, and if you’re really passionate about it, you have to do it.”

When she’s not performing, rehearsing or taking community college classes, Abuan is planning for her next onstage role. Despite what the nonstop pace of live theater demands of its artists, the craziness has become a routine for Abuan.

“As a performer, you’re always auditioning for the next thing or planning for the next audition,” she said.

“When you’re not in a show, you’re planning for the next show. When you’re in a show, you’re still planning for the next show.

“Theater life is all a hustle and a bustle, but when you get into the swing of things, it’s like muscle memory, and you know what you have to do. When you get it down, it’s just so magical to be a part of telling a story to the audience.”

When the curtains close, Abuan is in the game for more than running the race to the next production or leading part. Her long days as an artist at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre have given her an irreplaceable community unique to the experience of being involved in theater, and for Abuan, that’s the reward of every long day and night she spends honing her craft there.

“Yes, I love performing. Yes, I love telling a story,” Abuan said. “But it’s really the people behind the scenes that make me fall in love with the experience.” ■

Isabella Abuan Performing in Newsies at Grand Rapids Civic Theater.

TOP PHOTO BY ASHLEY WIERENGA. MIDDLE AND BOTTOM PHOTOS BY STUDIO3TWENTY

REVUEWM.COM/ARTS | AUGUST 2019 |

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[theater]

preview There are five plays and musicals premiering this month, not to mention plenty of shows carrying over from last. We’ve got a jukebox musical full of Swedish pop hits and one delightfully “evil” musical with demonic trees. There’s also a play by a Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize–winning author that takes place in a Chicago doughnut shop, and another comedy musical full of love and murder. Check out the details below and see which shows are up your alley. BY DANA CASADEI

THE BARN THEATRE 13351 M-96, Augusta barntheatreschool.org, (269) 731-4121

STEEL MAGNOLIAS, Through Aug. 11, $39+ MAMMA MIA, Aug. 13-25, $39+ Here we go again. In this musical seen by more than 60 million people around the world, a young woman is about to get married and wants to invite her father. There’s a tiny issue though: she knows of three possible choices who might be her dad. Naturally, she invites all three, her mom flips out a little, and a whole bunch of chaos ensues. We hope you’re a fan of the Swedish pop group ABBA, because this Tony Award-nominated jukebox musical features more than 20 of the band’s greatest hits.

EVIL DEAD, Aug. 27-Sept. 1, $39+ Just a heads up, this musical comedy is not at all for the kiddos. Based on the film series of the same name — which is created by and starring multiple people from Michigan — this rock musical follows five college students who decide to spend a weekend at an abandoned cabin in the middle of the woods. That’s always a good idea.

Once there, their weekend plans obviously don’t go as they hoped, as the quintet accidentally unleashes some pretty evil terrors, including but not limited to possessed trees. Then it’s time to survive, all done with some epic musical numbers to accompany the action. No spoilers, but if you choose to sit in the first few rows, make sure you grab a poncho.

former 1960s radical, and Franco Wicks, a young black man who is Arthur’s only employee. Franco wants to update the shop with lively music and healthier options, but will Arthur let him?

Scenes are separated by soliloquies — where characters often talk directly to the audience — in which Arthur discusses his past and reminisces about the city as it was in his younger years. Just be prepared to leave with a strong doughnut craving.

FARMERS ALLEY THEATRE KALAMAZOO 221 Farmers Alley, Kalamazoo farmersalleytheatre.com, (269) 343-2727

AVENUE Q, Through Aug. 11, $32+

GRAND RAPIDS CIVIC THEATRE 30 N. Division Ave., Grand Rapids grct.org, (616) 222-6650

ALICE’S ADVENTURE IN WONDERLAND, Through Aug. 3, $16+

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

CIRCLE THEATRE

ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE’S “WE ARE IN A PLAY!,” Aug. 2-7

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

WEST SIDE STORY, Aug. 3-8

SUPERIOR DONUTS, Aug. 8-24, $26+

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, Through Aug. 6

Written by Tracy Letts, Superior Donuts takes place in a doughnut shop in Chicago. The core duo of the play is owner Arthur Przybyszewski, a

6A

| REVUEWM.COM/ARTS | AUGUST 2019

Above: Avenue Q. Below: Old Man and the Old Moon. COURTESY PHOTOS

ALL SHOOK UP, Through Aug. 4, $16+

THE OLD MAN AND THE OLD MOON, Through Aug. 9

MASON STREET WAREHOUSE 400 Culver St., Saugatuck, sc4a.org, (269) 857-2399

UNNECESSARY FARCE, Through Aug. 10, $49+

A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER, Aug. 16-Sept. 1, $49+ The last show of Mason Street’s summer season is full of love, murder and a certain gentleman.

In this 2012 comedy musical, said gentleman is Monty Navarro, heir to the D’Ysquith family fortune. Unfortunately, he’s currently number nine in line for all the money. Sick of waiting, Monty

decides to take matters into his own hands, quite literally. In between all the murder, Monty has to try to balance his love life, which consists of both a fiancée and a girlfriend. One of the funniest elements of the musical is that one actor plays almost the entire D’Ysquith family. Time to show off those quick change skills.

NEW VIC THEATRE 134 E. Vine St., Kalamazoo, thenewvictheatre.org, (269) 381-3328

CAMPFIRE, Aug. 9-Sept. 21, $25+ Some of the New Vic’s best musicians will gather together around the “campfire,” where they’ll share poems, stories and memories, along with plenty of music to warm the soul.

SEPT 13-14 | DeVos Hall Richard and Helen DeVos Classical Series

BARBER Overture to The School for Scandal BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto BRAHMS Symphony No. 1 Concert Sponsor

Augustin Hadelich

violin

Guest Artist Sponsor Edith I. Blodgett Guest Artist Fund

SEPT 27-29 | DeVos Hall

f e at u r i n g t h e m u s i c o f ARETHA FRANKLIN TINA TURNER

ALICIA KEYS ADELE

PATTI LABELLE

QUEENS OF

Series Sponsor

WHITNEY HOUSTON

Guest Artist Sponsor

OCT 4-5 | DeVos Hall Richard and Helen DeVos Classical Series

Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” and

TCHAIKOVSKY Romeo and Juliet: Overture-Fantasy TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 3 TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6, "Pathétique" Guest Artist Sponsor Edith I. Blodgett Guest Artist Fund

STUDENT TICKETS

TICKETS AS LOW AS

$5 $18

OLGA KERN

piano

ORDER TICKETS AT

616.454.9451 x 4 or GRSymphony.org REVUEWM.COM/ARTS | AUGUST 2019 |

7A

[VISUAL ARTS]

Summer showrooms Savor the season with eclectic and beachy art at coastal galleries

BY MARLA R. MILLER

Lakeshore art galleries offer a little bit of everything when it comes to fine art gifts, home décor and original paintings and pottery.

Rest a cold beer on a wood coaster with a Michigan map; hang a driftwood mobile or decorative glass fish on your patio; mount a large Lake Michigan sunset photograph or plein air painting over your couch.

GRAND HAVEN

Above: C2C Gallery. PHOTOS BY MARLA MILLER

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With a unique downtown shopping district, Grand Haven offers everything from cheesy souvenirs to boutique clothing to art for your everyday life. Three locally run art galleries on Washington Avenue are filled with eclectic gift items, functional pottery, uplifting landscape paintings and fine art photography, and Theatre Bar and the Armory Art Center feature rotating exhibits.

Carlyn & Company focuses on eco finds, eclectic art and uniquely Michigan-made gifts and souvenirs. This funky and earthy gallery has jewelry, coasters, bottle openers, candle holders, ornaments, beach prints and more. Pick up a shoaling glass fish by Karen Nichols, driftwood art by Tom Jacobson, or Michigan coasters by Bryce Weenum’s Mittenwood Design Studio.

Lakeshore photographer Marc Hoeksema said his mom, Joanne, started the fine art Carlyn Gallery in 1989, and he opened a studio there in the mid-1990s. In 2010, the building was remodeled back to its original style and reopened as Carlyn & Company.

The storefront at 205 Washington features the work of about 70 artists, and the adjoining 207 Washington gallery space highlights rotating and special exhibitions.

“The gallery has a wide variety of art and collectibles that most people find quite interesting when they come into our store,” Hoeksema said. “I am trying to provide a new field in the 207 space by having a bit more of

| REVUEWM.COM/ARTS | AUGUST 2019

a museum-style fine art gallery.”

In July, Hoeksema organized a Surf’s Up! exhibition featuring surfing photography.

“I’ve spent most of my life in the waters of Lake Michigan and have found that to be very beneficial to the way I am able to photograph the lake and the motion of the surf,” he said.

Next door to Carlyn, the cooperative Gallery Uptown is the oldest artist-operated gallery in Michigan. The gallery at 201 Washington Ave. displays a wide range of work from 30 award-winning West Michigan artists, all of whom help staff the gallery. Artists such as Lynne Boezaart, Deb Bowen, Chris Brown, Linda Foley, Catherine McClung, Ann Trowbridge, Marlan Cotner, Julie Hegedus and others take inspiration from nature and the outdoor landscape.

Each month, Gallery Uptown hosts a special theme with work by gallery members and invited guest artists in the adjoining Walburg Gallery. Many local artists will also participate in the popular Art on the Riverfront from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Aug. 17 at Grand Haven Municipal Marina.

Meanwhile, local ceramics artist Cyndi Casemier opened C2C Gallery at 104 Washington Ave. in 2011 as a way for herself and other artists to have their work represented in a true gallery setting. C2C represents more than 40 accomplished Michigan and Midwest artists, but emphasizes local first and highlights artists from West Michigan.

The gallery includes ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, glass, photography and more.

You can take home a print of the Grand Haven pier at sunset or handmade soap and a beach-themed ceramic soap dish.

As a potter, Casemier finds inspiration in local beach colors and textures. Her beach series incorporates images of coastal living, and actual grains of sand into her glazes, making functional ceramics.

C2C features colorful beach and lake paintings, prints and coasters by well-known West Michigan painter Christi Dreese, and framed prints of the Grand Haven lighthouse, beaches and sunsets by photographer Bob Walma. Other local artists include LeeAnn Frame, Stephen Bowen, Tonya Rund, jewelry maker Julie Sanford and more.

A coastal storm captured by local photographer Bob Walma.

“I'm inspired, as a photographer, by West Michigan landscapes because our view of them changes all the time, depending on what the clouds are doing or which of the four seasons we’re in, and ferocious-looking storms rolling off Lake Michigan always make for dramatic photographs,” Walma said.

MUSKEGON This lakeshore community continues to expand its retail and art offerings in downtown and beyond. The Western Market chalets, Century Club Retail Center, Art Cats Gallery and Muskegon Museum of Art’s gift shop showcase the work of area artists.

Muskegon's landscape photographer Jeremy Church mans a booth at Muskegon Farmers Market, along with other artisans, and wellknown regional artists and photographers display at Red Lotus Center for the Arts on the lower level of the Century Club.

You can find candles made with Lake Michigan beach sand and rocks plus cards and photography featuring local landmarks, alongside fine art depicting sailboats and the city’s historic Beachwood-Bluffton neighborhood. Artists who

Above: Red Lotus Center for the Arts.

PHOTOS BY MARLA MILLER

HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WIZARDING WORLD trademark and logo © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s19)

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Above: Red Lotus Center for the Arts . PHOTOS BY MARLA MILLER

capture the region’s scenic beauty, nature and local scenes include Gwen Robles, Gail Howarth, Tom Gifford, John Herron, Fred Reinecke, Stacy Niedzwiecki, Michelle Mitchell, Azza Abbasi, Paulette Carr and more.

Artist Jon Workman has work for sale at Red Lotus, MMA’s gift shop and his studio at 3003 Lakeshore Dr. He frequently paints scenes of the historic Bluffton neighborhood and Muskegon Lake. Workman grew up there and said he has discovered this is where his soul and reflections live as well.

“I often see movies and shows centered on scenic places around the country and think to myself, 'Hmm. I'd rather be nowhere else than Bluffton Bay and Lake Michigan in the spring, summer and fall," he said. "I love painting this area with scenes from the early 1900's to the present. I have documented my little paradise."

The Red Lotus gallery has about 50 member artists and features a new juried exhibit every four to six weeks. Summer Fun runs through Aug. 24 and highlights a variety of summer themes.

In Saugatuck, Amazwi Contemporary Art showcases original African paintings, jewelry and unique crafts. The Laffing Glass at 125 Mason St. features whimsical and colorful handmade glass art and offers classes. Armstrong-DeGraaf International Fine Art represents artists from local, national and international studios who are in museum collections around the world.

Douglas’ Button Gallery, located in a historic space from 1906, highlights both regional and national artists and offers an eclectic mix of artistic voices and expressions plus an outdoor sculpture garden. J. Petter Galleries, Water Street Gallery, Thistle Gallery, Roan & Black, Inc., Saugatuck Gallery, and Saugatuck Art Traders are other recommended stops while visiting the area. Or stop by Saugatuck Center for the Arts for its ongoing exhibition, Storied Drawing, with pop-up retail shops and classes this summer.

If you head to the coast for a day of discovery and art inspiration, you’re sure to find fascinating pieces from artists local and abroad. ■

SAUGATUCK/DOUGLAS Marketed as Michigan’s “Art Coast,” the Saugatuck and Douglas communities are filled with quaint shops representing local artists and high-end art galleries.

West Michigan artists including Anne Corlett, James Brandess, Marcia Perry, James Connor, Jeff Blandford, clay artist Ellie Lotz Dietrich and ceramic artists Mike Taylor and Sandra Schneider, among others, have their very own studios in the area.

Above: Carlyn & Company.PHOTOS BY MARLA MILLER

Fri-Sat, October 18-19

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9A

PROJECT 1: CROSSED LINES IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF MULTISITED PUBLIC ART EXHIBITIONS PRESENTED BY ARTPRIZE. Explore spectacular art installations, public events, performances, and community-oriented projects. This brand new public art exhibition by ArtPrize invites you to participate in a citywide conversation about what it means to belong. All events are free and open to the public.

Sept 7

Sept 14

Sept 21

Join us for the Opening Celebration featuring performances by cellist Jordan Hamiltion, Bandaloop and the US premiere of Drag Syndrome.

Enjoy festivities at the Grand Rapids WestSide Street Fair followed by a night of performances on the Blue Bridge.

Meet at Rosa Parks Circle to Pedal Project 1. We’ll bike to all three Project 1 locations with a stop at the African American Art & Music Festival taking place in Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

Sept 28 Experience a performance showcase at Tanglefoot.

MLK PARK

TANGLEFOOT

DOWNTOWN

900 Fuller Ave SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506

314 Straight Ave SW Grand Rapids, MI 49504

135 Monroe Center St NW Grand Rapids, MI 49503

For more info and a full schedule of events visit project.artprize.org.

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616-710-1666 www.michiganballet.org

This activity is supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

[VISUAL ARTS]

PREVIEW

We know that summer is coming to a close and you’re probably spending as much time as humanly possible outside, but while you’re walking around, you should really step into a local gallery for some nice air-conditioned art viewing. There are only a few new exhibitions opening this month, so even if you do check them all out, you’ll still have plenty of time to catch some rays. There’s even one exhibit that has a piece with more than 400 small skulls. How can you miss that?

BY DANA CASADEI

FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS & SCULPTURE PARK 1000 East Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids meijergardens.org, (888) 957-1580

A NATIONAL TREASURE: FRED MEIJER, HIS COLLECTION AND LEGACY, Through Aug. 25

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES, Aug. 17-18 While many of Meijer Gardens’ two-day events focus on some sort of flower, they’re mixing it up this month with a special show dedicated to the heirloom tomato, or heritage as it’s known in the U.K. The weekend of activities will include a family tomato relay, a tomato toss, samples (the best reason to attend), voting on the top tomato, and lots of learning, as always.

NATIONAL DAHLIA SHOW, Aug. 31-Sept. 1

BILLY MAYER: THE SHAPE OF THINGS, Aug. 24-Feb. 2 The beloved late Billy Mayer — who passed in 2017 — was one of Michigan’s most unique sculptors and professors, creating works in a variety of materials and media that focused on the mundane elements of daily life and some bigger ideas about human existence in general. This exhibition combines some of his most interesting works, bringing together both large and small sculptures. The pièce de résistance of the upcoming exhibit is also its biggest, an installation of more than 400 small skulls, each topped with a different everyday image or object handcrafted in clay. Mayer had a very creative imagination and drew from a huge variety of sources for his material, ranging from surrealism and pop art to souvenir kitsch.

KALAMAZOO INSTITUTE OF ARTS

Speaking of flower shows, the West Michigan Dahlia Society is back. Over the course of two days, guests chat with West Michigan Dahlia Society members and scroll through all kinds of different displays created by people from all over the country. If you’re more into lectures on the flower — which is native to Mexico and comes in 42 varieties — there will be a free afternoon talk on how to grow the flower on Saturday. You’ll also discover why the National Garden Bureau named 2019 the “Year of the Dahlia.” Fun fact: Dahlias can be as small as two inches in diameter or as big as a dinner plate!

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

GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM

LAFONTSEE GALLERIES

Above: Moments of Peace at KIA. Below: Billy Mayer Shape of Things at Grand Rapids Art Museum COURTESY PHOTOS

WEST MICHIGAN AREA SHOW, Through Aug. 25

ORNA BEN-AMI: ENTIRE LIFE IN A PACKAGE, Through Aug. 18

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

L'ESPRIT: EXPLORING WIT AND BEAUTY IN FRENCH PRINTS, Through Aug. 25

LIVIN' IS EASY, Through August 17

MOMENTS OF PEACE: WATERCOLORS BY SUNGHYUN MOON, Through Sept. 22

SAUGATUCK CENTER FOR THE ARTS

LOWELLARTS!

400 Culver St., Saugatuck sc4a.org, (269) 857-2399

STORIED DRAWING, Through Sept. 8

MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART

FRAIL DEEDS, Through Sept. 16

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

URBAN INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS 2 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids uica.org, (616) 454-7000

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

833 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids 410 W. Center St., Douglas lafontsee.us

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ROCK ‘N’ ROLL: THE MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY OF PAUL JENDRASIAK,

SELF, SYMBOL, SURROGATE: ARTIST PORTRAITS FROM GRAM’S COLLECTION,

EYE OPENER: ALTERNATIVE VIEWS OF SUMMER, Aug. 9-Sept. 6

REPLAY: THE EXHIBITION, Through Aug. 18

Through Aug. 11

After seven seasons in Douglas, LaFontsee has brought its summer season back to Grand Rapids, including the latest exhibition, Eye Opener: Alternative Views of Summer. The group exhibition celebrates the season of sun and warmth.

MAYA LIN: FLOW, Through Sept. 8 MELANIE DANIEL: ONLY FOUR DEGREES, Through Sept. 8

Through Sept. 1

BREACHING THE MARGINS, Through Aug. 18 MICHIGAN EMERGING GRADUATE ARTISTS (MEGA) 2019, Through Sept. 8

RISING VOICES: THE BENNETT PRIZE FOR WOMEN FIGURATIVE REALIST PAINTERS, Through Sept. 8

GUITAR WITH WINGS: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF LAURENCE JUBER, Through Sept. 1

COMPOSITE: HIGH SCHOOL ARTISTS EXHIBITION, Through Sept. 8 ALL THAT GLITTERS, Through Sept. 8

REVUEWM.COM/ARTS | AUGUST 2019 |

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10 Books, 26 Events

Select August Events GR Reads Pop Up Market Thursday, August 1, 2019, 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm Main Library – 111 Library St NE

Greek Cooking with Greek to Go Monday, August 5, 2019, 7:00 pm Wednesday, August 7, 2019, 7:00 pm Main Library – 111 Library St NE

Oct. 18-19

An Evening at the Calvin Observatory Tuesday, August 6, 2019, 9:00 pm Calvin College – 3201 Burton St SE, Science Building Room 110

Kombucha 101 Monday, August 12, 2019, 7:00 pm Sacred Springs Taproom – 1059 Wealthy St SE

Summer Foraging in the Midwest Tuesday, August 13, 2019, 7:00 pm Main Library – 111 Library St NE (meet on the front steps)

Books & Butchers Monday, August 19, 2019, 7:00 pm Main Library – 111 Library St NE

Shopping for Food: A Short History Tuesday, August 20, 2019, 7:00 pm Main Library – 111 Library St NE

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ORDER TODAY! GRPops.org | 616.454.9451 x 4 Theatre Kalamazoo is a nonprofit collaboration between the live theatre organizations in Kalamazoo, Michigan. We take great pride in promoting the diversity and richness of theatre in Kalamazoo and foster a spirit of cooperation and support among this strong and talented community.

A Community Conversation on Facing the Opioid Epidemic Thursday, August 22, 2019, 7:00 pm Main Library – 111 Library St NE For full list of events and details, visit www.grpl.org/GRReads.

PL AYI NG T H IS M ON T H : A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD

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| REVUEWM.COM/ARTS | AUGUST 2019

[Music]

New Direction With a new executive director, Opera Grand Rapids is doing more than ever before

BY ABI SAFAGO

The new executive director for the Grand Rapids Opera has always been a lover of music, philanthropy and business and it shows in every aspect of her life.

Before the opera, Emilee Syrewicze studied law with a focus on nonprofit organizations. She went on to work with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation and the Northwest Michigan Supportive Housing, and now she is here as an executive director for one of the few opera companies in Michigan.

Even as a child, she remembers being an avid fan of music, thanks in large part to her family.

“My parents are both vocal artists,” Syrewicze said. “I came from a family where my parents, my aunts and uncles, my grandparents, they were all active in choral music. It’s just that classical music has always been a big deal in my family.”

Syrewicze may not perform with the opera, but she’s making sure everything goes as planned so the performers can go above and beyond.

Her path to executive director, meanwhile, can be traced back to an early love for philanthropy. In high school alone, Syrewicze helped host and run four Red Cross blood drives and was a part of bake sales to earn money to donate for big causes like St. Jude’s. She said as she got into the real world, she realized successful nonprofits are all thanks to the people behind the scenes.

“I realized early on watching how a nonprofit organization works, you could have the best mission in the world, but if you don’t have someone safeguarding your organization and its finances and your board, that mission is never going to be realized,” Syrewicze said.

That’s exactly what she’s doing for Opera Grand Rapids. She oversees ev-

erything behind the scenes: the board, funding, what the artists need to succeed and how the community plays into it all.

“That’s one of my primary goals here, to make sure that the West Michigan communities not only has opera available to them, but good opera available to them,” Syrewicze said. “For a city the size of Grand Rapids to have a professional opera company with one of the best maestros, James Meena, is a very big deal.”

She also believes in opera as an art form, and that it stands out more than other types of performances.

“It’s not like the symphony where you go and hear the music, or you go to a play and see the actors. Opera is symphony, acting, singing, a full chorus and a ballet at the same time, all in one production,” Syrewicze said. “It's incredibly complicated to do, because not only do you have one professional art form you’re overseeing, you have five happening simultaneously. It’s very hard to do, which is why there aren’t many opera companies out there.”

To put on a grand opera costs roughly a quarter of a million dollars. Even if money is lost on these productions, it’s slowly being earned back thanks to help from the community. Syrewicze said a revival is underway, thanks to the generation typically known for killing industries.

“We’re seeing a resurgence in the opera,” she said. “Believe it or not, one of the fastest growing demographics of opera ticket holders and supporters is millennials. Which I think shocks a lot of people, but millennials have this great habits of what was old is made new again, and that’s what we’re seeing now. They’re bringing back mason jars and libraries, but they’re also bringing back opera.”

Thanks to all the recent business the opera is able to put on more productions than ever before. At the moment, the coming season has 13 performances lined up. Aside from the two grand operas, the organization also hosts special events and performances. One big party Syrewicze is excited for is the opera ringing in the new year with a roaring ’20s theme, costumes and great food.

2660 28th Street NE Grand Rapids Thank you for voting us one of the Best Book Stores in West Michigan!

YOUNG ADULT AUTHOR PANEL + BOOK LAUNCH AUGUST 1 · 7PM It’s Young Adult Lit Night! Join us for a spectacular panel of young adult authors hosted

by Erica Chapman, author of Teach Me to Forget.

MEET SANDRA BROWN

AUGUST 7 · 7PM New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown will be sharing her new novel Outfox.

For tickets, visit our website.

JAMES MURRAY OF IMPRACTICAL JOKERS Emilee Syrewicze. COURTESY PHOTO

Even with such a busy schedule, the goal remains the same. Syrewicze puts it simply: “People, programs and purpose.”

That means bringing in more cultural events, putting more performances out into the community, staging programs that are for people of all ages, and consistently bringing in world-class operas.

Syrewicze personally just wants people to be captivated by the shows and genuinely enjoy the experience itself.

“I want people in our audience — whether it’s the 20th opera they’ve seen or it’s their very first — I want them to have fun,” Syrewicze said. “I want them to sit there and feel the energy coming from the stage and in the audience.

“I want their whole opera experience to be fun. I think when people have fun, they open themselves up to learning, and that makes opera lovers of everyone.” ■

AUGUST 8 · 7PM James “Murr” Murray will discuss and sign The Brink, the sequel to the international bestseller Awakened. For tickets, visit our website.

KIDS WITH CARS LEARNING COMEDY

AUGUST 24 · 1PM Roll up for a special edition story time during 28th Street Metro Cruise! We are partnering with The Comedy Project to bring you a 45-minute improv class where the comedians will use kid’s ideas to produce the story and then give our littlest comedians a chance to try.

Don’t forget to find a seat on our lawn to watch the cars cruise by!

KID’S STORY TIME

2019 GRAND OPERAS The Mikado November 1-2, 2019 Turandot May 1-2, 2020

SATURDAYS + MONDAYS · 11AM Jump into the pages of our favorite books! We will sing songs, make a craft and go on a new adventure.

SchulerBooks.com/Event REVUEWM.COM/ARTS | AUGUST 2019 |

15A

WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY CLASSICAL MUSIC for EVERYONE

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

Thank you for voting for us!

All-Russian Season Opening

Friday • September 27 • 7:30 pm Frauenthal Theater • Muskegon

Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty Suite 1812 Overture Tickets start at $25

Here’s to making more music together!

(2018 issue)

As a thank you, buy one get one free on the following concerts when you order by August 31!

Use the code THANKYOU

THE ARTS Issue

ON STANDS IN SEPTEMBER Your comprehensive guide to West Michigan's Cultural Arts Scene, distributed at over 500 locations across the region.

FALL AT THE KIA FRIDAY, AUG. 2: EVERYONE’S A MEMBER DAY

Beethoven & Blue Jeans

Friday • November 8 • 7:30 pm Frauenthal Theater • Muskegon

Beethoven Piano Concerto no.3 5th Symphony Tickets start at $25

Buy One Get One Free – Order by Aug 31!

231.726.3231

westmichigansymphony.org

8 am-8 pm: $20 off an art class with on-site registration 11 am-8 pm: Free admission to the galleries 10 am-8 pm: 10% discount in the Gallery Shop 5-8 pm Art Hop fun throughout the museum

SEPTEMBER 4-14: ART CLASSES FOR ALL Adult classes start September 4-11 Saturday youth classes start September 14 Scholarship applications welcome by August 6

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14: FREE COMMUNITY DAY PARTY Celebrating new exhibitions, 11 am-5 pm:

Black Refractions: Highlights from The Studio Museum in Harlem Resilience: African American Artists as Agents of Change Where We Stand: Black Artists in Southwest Michigan Enjoy storytelling; refreshments; art-making projects led by artists Brent Harris, James Palmore, and Al Harris, Jr.; performances by artist Tanisha Pyron, and more.

Juliana Huxtable, Untitled (Psychosocial Stuntin’), detail, 2015, color inkjet print, 40 × 30 in. The Studio Museum in Harlem; Museum purchase with funds provided by the Acquisition Committee 2015.8.1 © Juliana Huxtable Courtesy the artist and American Federation of Art

KALAMAZOO INSTITUTE OF ARTS *Available for Tier 2-4. Valid for new ticket orders only. Limit 4 per household.

16A

| REVUEWM.COM/ARTS | AUGUST 2019

435 W. South Street 269/349-7775 kiarts.org Free parking and entrances on South and Lovell streets

[Music]

Orchestral Odyssey Vintage Parlor Orchestra rethinks the live classical experience

BY GRANT KAMMER

Thomas Pike and the Vintage Parlor Orchestra are working to bring orchestral music back to the mainstream. As the project gains momentum, expect to hear symphonic arrangements in unusual places — maybe even your favorite bar or art gallery.

The Vintage Parlor Orchestra is exactly what its name implies: A throwback group of classical musicians taking acoustic music out of the concert hall and into the community. The orchestra takes classical music and executes it with a modern, almost rock-and-roll flair with a dash of vintage aesthetic. Pike — founder, music director and conductor of this new ensemble — embraces his philosophy that “classical music is for everywhere” by bringing his symphony to bars, rock venues, and anywhere else he can fit his small army of musicians.

Founded in 2018, Pike has assembled a rotating cast of talented musicians forming a nomadic vintage band, performing some amazing orchestral works that have fallen into public domain. Dedicated to bringing chamber and orchestral music to new audiences and venues, VPO is actively engaging and performing in untraditional spaces, such as breweries, art galleries, living rooms and historic buildings.

When considering how orchestras in days gone by would play in drinking halls and common houses, Pike’s revival seems well-timed in an era filled with bands playing in breweries and bars. It especially seems a good fit in a growing region like West Michigan, full of opportunities and people interested in the eclectic. While still a young project, the initial response has been positive, with VPO booking recurring shows at the NOMAD Gallery by Richard App, including two coming in August.

Pike and his VPO look to reignite interest around craft, composition and complexity in art and music. He said that he feels he can make orchestral and chamber music more relevant to our daily lives by making the music easier to access, less formalized and presented in a more relaxed environment. It’s an experiment that seeks to reflect the social listening habits

Thomas Pike and the Vintage Parlor Orchestra. PHOTO BY ERIC TANK

of the concert-going public by marketing and performing the same as any other genre would.

Hoping one day to lead a classical music renaissance, Pike wants to emphasize the emotional impact of the music and the social fun of a concert experience.

VPO invites its audience members to clap between movements, forget the formalities (within reason) and connect with the performance. While many modern concert goers may feel strange cheering on an orchestral score, Pike hopes to remind the world that “this music was written for an audience, it was made to be interactive.”

So if you’re moved by the swelling of strings and an expertly composed symphony, keep an eye out for the next VPO performance. “(It’s) a new way of experiencing this music that doesn’t sterilize the emotion-

al impact of the work,” Pike said. ““It’s just like any other concert with lights, drinks, people taking videos, but the band has 24 people in it and they’re playing a Haydn symphony.” ■

VINTAGE PARLOR ORCHESTRA NOMAD Gallery

by Richard App 74 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids Aug. 13 & 15, 8 p.m., $20 vpogr.com

ART IS CALLING Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University

18164 Revue Arts Ad (August 2019) FINAL NEW.indd 1

kcad.edu 800.676.2787

7/10/19 2:20 PM REVUEWM.COM/ARTS | AUGUST 2019 | 17A

[MUSIC]

PREVIEW August’s list is short and sweet, so we recommend you make it to every show. This also may be one of your last chances for the year to listen to live music outside before the fall chill comes our way. So what are you waiting for? Go grab your lawn chairs and get on out. BY DANA CASADEI

GRAND RAPIDS SYMPHONY 300 Ottawa NW Ste. 100, Grand Rapids, grsymphony.org, (616) 454-9451 ext. 4

NASHVILLE: THE SONGWRITERS. THEIR STORIES. THE SYMPHONY, Aug. 2, $20+ Do you like country music from people like Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, and Rascal Flatts? You know you do, don’t lie to yourself. This show features three guests artists: Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Rivers Rutherford, all of whom have written those country tunes you truly love. Between the trio, they have multiple Grammy, CMA and ACM nominations and wins. The in-the-round evening will have intimate acoustics and shared stories about each legendary song. Of course, the symphony will be joining for special symphonic arrangements, created by ACM Musician of the Year and Nashville studio legend, Charles Judge, who was also the arranger and conductor for Carrie Underwood’s performances with the Hollywood Bowl & Ravinia Festival Orchestras. Arrive to the show early and enjoy a performance by the Grand Rapids string band, The Hoptown Rounders.

HOLLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 96 W. 15th St., Suite 201, Holland, hollandsymphony.org, (616) 796-6780

COMMUNITY POPS CONCERT: DANCES AROUND THE WORLD, Aug. 10, Free This totally free summer concert will be an evening of light classics and symphonic pops, with plenty of songs you’ll recognize and enjoy.

When you aren’t listening to the lovely music, be sure to check out the tables set up with local art groups. With fall just around the corner, the groups will have loads of information about their upcoming seasons for you to peruse. Don’t forget to grab your lawn chairs and favorite snacks — or a picnic if you feel so inclined — before you get there. Snacks and live music? Sounds like a perfect summer night to us.

18A

Sarah D'Angelo with the West Michigan Jazz Society. COURTESY PHOTO

WEST MICHIGAN JAZZ SOCIETY Millennium Park, 1415 Maynard Ave., Walker, wmichjazz.org, (616) 490-9506

PAUL KELLER AND THE SUNDOWN QUINTET, Aug. 5 Jazz string bassist Paul Keller — who is also a composer, music arranger and educator — and his quintet are coming back for this series. He has multiple groups, including a trio, orchestra and ensemble, but this quintet includes Duncan McMillan on piano; Steve Wood on saxophones and flute; Stephen Boegehold on drums; and vocalist and clarinetist Sarah D'Angelo. Keller has said that D'Angelo is “the voice of his music.” With praise like that, you know she’s a star.

Keller’s groups perform locally but also have been featured at a variety of festivals, like the Detroit International Jazz Festival, the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, the Ann Arbor Jazz and Blues Festival, The Michigan Jazz Festival and the Flint Jazz Festival.

GRAND RAPIDS JAZZ ORCHESTRA, Aug. 12 Closing out the annual summer series is the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, West Michigan's premier big band jazz ensemble. Recently, the group has featured top jazz musicians Phil Woods and Randy Brecker as guest artists. The group was founded in 1976 by Bruce Early and has been playing those smooth jazz hits ever since. Hello, longevity!

| REVUEWM.COM/ARTS | AUGUST 2019

From top to bottom: Picnic Pops Concert. Hillary Lindsey. Brett James. Rivers Rutherford.

COURTESY PHOTOS

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BEST OF DINING

WIKIWIKI POKE. COURTESY PHOTO

by Josh Veal

I

n a growing region like West Michigan, the food scene will always be in flux.

Just look at last year’s winner for best New Restaurant: Georgina’s Fusion Cuisine.

The restaurant closed in less than a year for a variety of reasons we won’t speculate on. We’re pretty sure this year’s winners aren’t going anywhere, however.

Hancock took first and has very quickly established itself as a Wealthy Street mainstay.

The fried chicken is phenomenal thanks to an amazing hot sauce, and the many, many sides pair perfectly. Hancock also skyrocketed to the top of the Fried Chicken category, if that tells you anything. You also won’t find the extensive champagne menu and frozen cocktails menu anywhere else. After acquiring the old Wealthy Street Station building, Hancock’s owners could have taken the space in any direction,

but they chose an unpretentious, approachable hang that locals immediately latched onto.

The Commons in second place and Forty Acres Soul Kitchen in third both match the sentiment. The Commons’ retro vibe is uber comfortable, especially when paired with classic American food like burgers and steak frites. More and more, diners are looking for places that offer a full experience that takes interior design, music and mood into account.

Forty Acres offers its own kind of experience as a full-service soul food restaurant, with huge portions of classic down-South, African American-created food. If you’ve been craving some quality grits, black-eyed peas, fried catfish and cornbread, this is the place to be.

Meanwhile, some eateries have been making more of a name for themselves as time goes on. Wikiwiki Poke Shop had a particularly

strong showing this year, coming in first for Service, second for Lunch, and third for both Seafood and Most Innovative Cuisine. The one-of-a-kind poke shop has earned it by being bold on every level and always keeping it fresh and clean. Personally, I could eat here every day and never feel bad about.

Mike’s Wings is also on the come-up, moving into third place for best Wings. This place isn’t trying to be fancy in any way and that’s what makes it great. If you head to Mike’s, you’re going to get crispy, moist wings drenched in top-tier sauce. The Spicy Garlic sauce is my favorite, coated in enough minced garlic to cure any known illness.

There’s a million more things we could say about Dining’s winners, but you can form your own opinions. To close, here are a few stray observations:

•

Marcona on Lyon opened late last year and quickly made a splash, moving up into second place in Mediterranean.

If you haven’t been yet, it’s well worth checking out.

•

The Vegan and Vegetarian top three winners are the exact same, down to the order.

I know they’re two fairly different lifestyles, but the organizer in me just wants to merge the categories.

•

The top two Pizza winners are breweries.

Does this mean they actually have the best ’za, or do we just love to have a beer with our pie? Maybe both.

•

I’m hungry.

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

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®

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

BEST BREAKFAST FOUR YEARS IN A ROW!

42 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

DINING WINNERS AMBIENCE

CHILI

1. BUTCHER’S UNION

1. COTTAGE BAR

438 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids

18 La Grave Ave. SE, Grand Rapids

2. New Hotel Mertens 3. The Commons

2. Rockford Brewing Company 3. HopCat

BAKERY

CHINESE

1. NANTUCKET BAKING COMPANY

1. FIRST WOK

615 Lyon St. NE, Grand Rapids

Multiple locations - firstwokgr.com

2. Wealthy Street Bakery 3. Field & Fire

2. Ming Ten 3. Golden Wok

BBQ

COFFEE

1. SLOWS BAR BQ

1. MADCAP COFFEE COMPANY

435 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

98 Monroe Center St. NW, Grand Rapids

2. Two Scotts Barbecue 3. The Pit Stop

2. Biggby Coffee 3. Rowster Coffee

BREAKFAST

DESSERTS

1. ANNA’S HOUSE

1. AMORE TRATTORIA ITALIANA

Multiple locations - annashouseus.com

5080 Alpine Ave. NW, Comstock Park

2. Wolfgang’s Restaurant 3. Real Food Cafe

2. Arnie’s 3. Brewery Vivant

BRUNCH

DINER

1. SPEAKEZ LOUNGE

1. GRAND CONEY

600 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids

Multiple locations - thegrandconey.com

2. San Chez Bistro 3. Terra

2. Choo Choo Grill 3. Real Food Cafe

BURGERS

FARM TO TABLE

1. STELLA’S LOUNGE

1. TERRA

53 Commerce Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

1429 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids

2. Bridge Street Burger Shack 3. Brewery Vivant

2. Grove 3. The Søvengård

STELLA’S LOUNGE. COURTESY PHOTO

STAFF PICKS BAKERY Rise Authentic Baking Co. 1220 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids

The only thing worse than being gluten-free or vegan and not having the joyful option of a sinister sweet dessert is having a diet-sensitive treat that tastes like cardboard out of a recycling plant. Luckily, Rise Authentic Baking Co., located in the heart of Grand Rapids, offers high-end, quality gluten-free and vegan desserts that don’t taste like your latest Pinterest fail.

Offering unique sweets like handmade pop tarts alongside classics like doughnuts and brownies, Rise can do it all, including custom orders. With a storefront on Fulton Avenue and treats at multiple locations around the city, you’ll never have to go another day without dessert again. Now that’s something to celebrate. — Michaela Stock

BURGER Nonla Burger

2103 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo Cheap eats and small batch shakes are what this boutique burger joint in Kalamazoo does best.

Offering a small variety of classic burgers and one rotating shake flavor each day, Nonla Burger even takes care of its vegetarian customers by serving Beyond veggie burgers and salads. With eclectic seating indoors and out, Nonla Burger is the perfect place to catch up with friends after a long day or a bite of comfort food on your lunch hour. Pro tip: Be sure not to skip a side of fries with your order, as they’re soft yet crispy potato perfection. — Michaela Stock

Continued on page 45 REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

43

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www.michig anirish.org 44 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

DINING WINNERS Continued from page 43

FOOD TRUCK

ICE CREAM/FROZEN TREATS

1. WHAT THE TRUCK

1. FURNITURE CITY CREAMERY

facebook.com/whatthetruckgr

958 Cherry St. SE, Grand Rapids

2. Patty Matters 3. Underground Cookie Club

2. Frosty Boy 3. Love’s Ice Cream

FRIED CHICKEN

INDIAN

1. HANCOCK

1. CURRY KITCHEN

1157 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids

961 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids

2. Cousin’s Tasty Chicken 3. Forty Acres Soul Kitchen

2. Bombay Cuisine 3. Palace of India

FRIES

HANCOCK. COURTESY PHOTO

ITALIAN

1. HOPCAT

1. AMORE TRATTORIA ITALIANA

Multiple locations - hopcat.com

5080 Alpine Ave. NW, Comstock Park

2. Stella’s Lounge 3. Bridge Street Burger Shack

2. Osteria Rossa 3. Licari's

HOT DOGS

LUNCH

1. YESTERDOG

1. TWO BEARDS DELI

1505 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids

38 Commerce Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

2. Jonny B’z 3. Corner Bar

2. (Tie) Founders Brewing Co., Wikiwiki Poke 3. Cherry Street Deli

FURNITURE CITY CREAMERY. COURTESY PHOTO

STAFF PICKS

Continued on page 47

ITALIAN

ICE CREAM/FROZEN TREATS

Palio

Spoonlickers

Palio is criminally underrated, to the point that I always just assumed it must not be that good since I never heard anyone talking about it. Boy, was I wrong, and now I feel the mandate to spread the good word. This is easily some of the best Italian food in West Michigan. Whether you get pasta or pizza, it’s all done exquisitely right. The bolognese is amazing, the eggplant parmesan is unbelievable, and I’ve had my eye on the Fettucini Alfredo al Tavola, which is prepared inside a massive wheel of parmesan right at your table. Plus, you get a little shot of limoncello at the end of every meal.

Salut! — Josh Veal

Every worn-out college kid and tired grownup knows the best way to revive your soul is with a sweet and frozen dessert. A big problem, however, is that everywhere closes too early! This isn’t the case for an amazing local frozen yogurt shop, Spoonlickers, which is open until at least 10 p.m. every night. After a long day of running around at work, with kids, or even doing chores at home, Spoonlickers has found its way into the hearts and stomachs of Grand Rapids locals. Amazing combinations, even better sorbetto and vegan options to boot have made these shops one of the best options for delicious summer sunsets. — Abi Safago

545 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids

Multiple locations - spoonlickersgr.com

BRIDGE STREET BURGER SHACK. COURTESY PHOTO

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

45

u o Y k Than

958 CHERRY ST. SE GRAND RAPIDS, MI

REVUE READERS, YOU ARE THE BEST!!

Thank you from all of us at Yesterdog for voting our hotdogs the BEST of the WEST.

46 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

DINING WINNERS Continued from page 45

MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE

PIZZA

1. SHESHCO MEDITERRANEAN GRILL

1. HARMONY BREWING CO.

2121 Celebration Dr. NE #700, Grand Rapids

1551 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids

2. Marcona on Lyon 3. Le Kabob

2. The Mitten Brewing Co. 3. Brick Road Pizza Co.

MEXICAN

SANDWICH/DELI

1. DONKEY TAQUERIA

1. SCHNITZ DELI

665 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids

1315 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids

2. Tacos el Cuñado 3. Lindo Mexico

2. Two Beards Deli 3. Cherry Street Deli

MIDDLE EASTERN CUISINE

SEAFOOD

1. SHESHCO MEDITERRANEAN GRILL

1. LEO'S

2121 Celebration Dr. NE #700, Grand Rapids

60 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids

2. Le Kabob 3. The Pita House

2. Fish Lads 3. Wikiwiki Poke Shop

MOST INNOVATIVE CUISINE

SERVICE

1. THE SØVENGÅRD

1. WIKIWIKI POKE SHOP

443 Bridge St. NW Suite 1, Grand Rapids

1146 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids

2. Grove 3. Wikiwiki Poke Shop

2. Amore Trattoria Italiana 3. Founders Brewing Co.

NEW RESTAURANT

SOUP

THE COMMONS. PHOTO BY SETH THOMPSON

STAFF PICKS MEXICAN Taqueria San Jose

1338 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids Burritos, tacos, tortas and more, Taqueria San Jose is the perfect spot for all of your taco Tuesday cravings (and on every other day of the week).

The retro, drive-up dive style restaurant boasts a long line of outdoor booths and tables to eat at, as well as a few coveted indoor seats for chilly nights.

Along with in-house service, Taqueria San Jose offers full catering for events, parties and more.

— Michaela Stock

1. HANCOCK

1. UNCLE CHEETAH'S SOUP SHOP

PATIO

1157 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids

1133 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids

822 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids

2. The Commons 3. Forty Acres Soul Kitchen

2. Electric Cheetah 3. Hearthstone Bistro

PATIO

STEAK

1. FOUNDERS BREWING CO.

1. THE CHOP HOUSE

235 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

190 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids

2. Rose’s 3. The Søvengård

2. Butcher’s Union 3. Brann's Steakhouse & Grille

Zoko 822

If I hadn’t asked, I never would’ve known Zoko 822’s patio existed. That’s because it’s perfectly tucked away behind the Spanish tapas and gin restaurant, which is what makes it so good. It doesn’t feel like a typical patio at all. It’s more of a lounge, but outdoors, perfect for grabbing drinks with friends and relaxing in the evening. If you head there earlier in the day, you’ll encounter Gintonica, which is Zoko’s lovely outdoor shipping container bar. This is what summer is all about. — Josh Veal

Continued on page 49 REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

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THANK YOU REVUE MAGAZINE READERS FOR VOTING US BEST BAR BQ!!

High Quality Meats, Full Bar featuring scratch cocktails and 30 craft handles, and Full Service catering across West Michigan.

SLOWS BAR BQ

435 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 slowsbarbq.com events@slowsgr.com 616-454-1588 48 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

MARU SUSHI & GRILL. COURTESY PHOTO

RESERVE WINE & FOOD. COURTESY PHOTO

DINING WINNERS Continued from page 47

SUSHI

VEGETARIAN MENU

STAFF PICK

1. MARU SUSHI & GRILL

1. BRICK ROAD PIZZA CO.

927 Cherry St. SE, Grand Rapids

1017 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids

2. Jaku Sushi 3. Ju Sushi & Lounge

SUSHI

2. Stella’s Lounge 3. Anna’s House

Oppa Sushi & Korean

THAI

WINE LIST

1. BANGKOK TASTE CUISINE

1. RESERVE WINE & FOOD

15 Jefferson Ave. SE, Grand Rapids

201 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids

2. Little Bangkok 3. Erb Thai

2. House of Wine 3. Aperitivo

VEGAN MENU

WINGS

1. BRICK ROAD PIZZA CO.

1. WING DOOZY

1017 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids

Multiple locations - wingdoozy.com

2. Stella’s Lounge 3. Anna’s House

2. Rockford Brewing Co. 3. Mike’s Wings

Thank you for staying with us!

3772 Alpine Ave. NW, Comstock Park

Living in Comstock Park, I have begged for years for a sushi place to open on Alpine.

Just a few months ago, my wish was finally granted in the form of Oppa Sushi & Korean.

I would’ve been happy with any raw fish at all, but we were blessed with a quality sushi spot that stands up there with all the rest in West Michigan. Even if it’s not “real” sushi, the Crunch Burrito is a particular favorite of mine, wrapped in seaweed with shrimp tempura, spicy crab salad, avocado, tempura flakes, eel sauce, spicy sauce, and rice holding it all together. There’s also bibimbap, hot pot, bento boxes and plenty more. — Josh Veal

135 Lafayette Ave NE | thelafayettehousebb.com

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

49

, u o y k n Tha ! s r e d a e Revue R HANCOCK

WHAT THE TRUCK

1st place - Best Fried Chicken 1st place - Best New Restaurant

1st place - Best Food Truck

DONKEY Taqueria

2nd place - Best Bloody Marys

1st place - Best Mexican 1st place - Best Margarita

50 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

WINCHESTER JONNY B’Z 2nd place - Best Hot Dogs

Message us on Facebook “Revue Best of the West” for an Exclusive Revue Reader Offer!

BEST OF DRINKING

LONG ROAD DISTILLERS. COURTESY PHOTO

by Jack Raymond

I

n the days of yore, a pint of lager and a couple fingers of whiskey were enough to whet a drinker’s appetite. No more. With a zillion liquids to choose from, it’s exhausting just deciding what to put in your mouth.

Even our rhymes are changing. Once liquor before beer, you’re in the clear, now negroni before stout, lights out. Gin before mead, yes indeed? Mix and match drinks from this list and send us your rhymes for which pairs spared a bellyache.

Parsing through this year’s results, a few winners come as no surprise. Founders Brewing Co. stouts are unimpeachable. Taking the long road paid in spades for Long Road Distillers. Donkey Taqueria makes the best margaritas in town, which is why you have to wait so long to get a table.

As a Speciation Artisan Ales fanboy, I’m delighted to see Incipient take top honors for best sour beer. With their wine label, Native Species, finally taking shape, maybe we’ll see them knock stalwarts like Hudsonville Winery

and St. Julian’s down a peg in 2020. Railtown Brewing Co. nabbed a bronze for Fruit Beer, which says a lot when Rubaeus and Blushing Monk are your competition. Also, it seems I’ve been too busy slamming City Built Brewing Co.’s food to notice mead on the menu. Time to swing in for a glass — and a half-dozen pork belly tacos please.

Hate to nitpick, but we noticed that a couple medalists initially slipped onto the wrong podiums. Farmhand, for instance, placed for German Beer, when credit is due

a country over — the recipe was modeled after beer served to laborers in old-world France. That’s fine, because now Harmony Brewing Co.’s Erste Lager gets a chance to shine. And yes, Perrin Black might drink light like a lager, but it does say “Ale” right on the can! Disqualified. Cedar Springs Brewing Co. moves in with yet another win thanks to Küsterer Salzburger Märzen — that makes three medals. Personally, I’d vote for DeHop’s Premium Lager, a German Pilsner that nails it in both categories.

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

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id Only Hybr Beer Store

BOTTLE SHOP & FULL BAR 20 DRAFTS, PLUS OVER 1,000 BEERS WINE, CIDER, & MEADS GROWLER FILLS

ROCKFORD BREWING CO. COURTESY PHOTO

GRAY SKIES DISTILLERY. COURTESY PHOTO

DRINKING WINNERS BLOODY MARYS 1. ROCKWELL REPUBLIC

1. CEDAR SPRINGS BREWING CO.

45 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids

Küsterer Original Weissbier 95 N. Main St. NE, Cedar Springs

2. The Winchester 3. Stella’s Lounge

BOURBON DOG FRIENDLY! BEER EDUCATION MUSIC BINGO INUDSTRY NIGHT

1. LONG ROAD DISTILLERS Straight Bourbon 537 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids 2. New Holland Brewing Co. - Beer Barrel Bourbon 3. Gray Skies Distillery - Breakfast Bourbon

CIDER

2.Cedar Springs Brewing Co. - Küsterer Dunkelweizen 3. Harmony Brewing Co. - Erste Lager

GIN 1. LONG ROAD DISTILLERS MICHIGIN 537 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids 2. Gray Skies Distillery - Barrel Finished Gin 3. Long Road Distillers - Dry Gin

CRAFT LAGER

1. VANDER MILL

1. FOUNDERS BREWING CO.

Totally Roasted 505 Ball Ave. NE, Grand Rapids

Solid Gold 235 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

2. Vander Mill - Blue Gold 3. (Tie) The Peoples Cider Co. - Ginger Adams, Vander Mill - Ginger Peach

2. Bell's Brewery - Lager of the Lakes 3. Cedar Springs Brewing Co. - Küsterer Salzburger Märzen

CRAFT COCKTAILS 1. LONG ROAD DISTILLERS

52 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

GERMAN BEER

FRUIT BEER 1. FOUNDERS BREWING CO.

537 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids

Rubaeus 235 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

2. Buffalo Traders Lounge 3. Sidebar

2. Founders Brewing Co. - Blushing Monk 3. Railtown Brewing Co. - POW! Right in the Kizberry

IPA

SOUR BEER

1. FOUNDERS BREWING CO.

1. SPECIATION

All Day IPA 235 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

Incipient 3721 Laramie Dr NE, Comstock Park

2. Bell’s Brewery - Two Hearted Ale 3. Rockford Brewing Co. - Hoplust

2. Jolly Pumpkin - Bam Biere 3. Jolly Pumpkin - Calabaza de Oro

MARGARITA

STOUT

1. DONKEY TAQUERIA

1. FOUNDERS BREWING CO.

665 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids

Breakfast Stout 235 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

2. Luna 3. Lindo Mexico

MEAD

2. Founders Brewing Co. - CBS 3. Founders Brewing Co. - KBS Honorable Mention: Rockford Brewing Company - Sheehan's Irish Stout

1. ARKTOS MEADERY

VODKA

Queen Bee 1251 Century Ave. SW, Grand Rapids 2. Bardic Wells Meadery - Traditional Mead 3. City Built Brewing Co. - Blackberry Mead

1. LONG ROAD DISTILLERS Original Vodka 537 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids 2. Gray Skies Distillery - Utility Vodka 3. New Holland Brewing Co. - Lake Life

LONG ROAD DISTILLERS. COURTESY PHOTO

STAFF PICKS CRAFT COCKTAILS Graydon’s Crossing

1223 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids I’ve always liked Graydon’s Crossing, but in recent years, everything there has only gotten better and better. It’s nice to see one of the old guard change and keep up with the times, which Graydon’s has done through new food and new cocktails alike — don’t worry, the beer menu is still solid. The cocktail list is full of thoughtful spins on classics and some colorful drinks like the Hurricane, with plantation rum, dark rum, sugar, passionfruit and lime juice.

If you’re there for brunch, definitely get the Orange Whip, a frothy, refreshing hangover cure that’s reminiscent of a citrusy remix of SpeakEZ’s Suffering Bastard. — Josh Veal

MI WINE IS YOUR WINE

IPA

Grand Armory Brewing Co. - Crop Duster Citra IPA 17 S. 2nd St., Grand Haven

I can’t identify a hop profile by taste alone, but I do know what I like, and that’s citra hops. If used correctly, a citra IPA is not too bitter, fantastic smelling, full of citrus flavor and just all around easy to drink. With Crop Duster, Grand Armory meets all of that criteria. That’s not too surprising, considering the lakeshore brewery consistently produces quality beer that’s all-around crushable, but I don’t drink IPAs often. When I do find one that doesn’t assault my taste buds with earthy bitterness, I hold it close. Crop Duster is one such brew. — Josh Veal

THANK YOU GRAND RAPIDS!

4425 14 Mile Rd NW, Rockford (616) 263-9087 • stjulian.com REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

53

THANKS TO ALL REVUE READERS WHO HAVE MADE LITTLE OLD TWO SCOTTS A

TOP 3 BARBECUE RESTAURANT FOR 4 STRAIGHT YEARS!

www.twoscottsbbq.com 616-608-6756 536 Leonard St. NW

Old school burger joint located in downtown Rockford. Great for dining in or taking to go!

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BEST BURGERS

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BEST OF NIGHTLIFE & ACTIVITIES

SIDEBAR. PHOTO BY AMANDA VANVELS

by Josh Veal

N

ow here’s a category for the masses.

Nightlife, maybe not so much, but activities? You can’t deny we all do stuff from time to time.

That being said, the most interesting results here come from the breweries, bars and whatnot. There’s just something about going out for a drink that inspires strong feelings.

Whether individually or collectively, those feelings can change on a dime, such as the public suddenly voting O’Toole’s Public House as best Bar/Pub/Tavern. It’s fascinating, because O’Toole’s is right in the midst of the evergrowing Bridge Street, but it’s not one of the new places at all, having opened in 2003. I guess sometimes it takes just takes the spotlight swinging in your direction for people to take notice. The Irish pub moved into second for Open Mic as well.

Then there’s the new stuff! Breweries haven’t stopped opening and they seemingly never will, which I’m perfectly fine with. Hopland Brewstillery took the gold for best New Brewery, partly due to such a wide selection right out of the gate. When you have incredibly unique beer, spirits and even wines, you’re bound to make a splash. Where else can you get pineapple pear pinot grigio alongside blueberry brandy, cocktails and hazy IPAs? Nowhere!

Meanwhile, in Kentwood, Broad Leaf Local Beer worked its way to second place.

This isn’t a huge surprise, given that it’s the second venture from the minds behind the wildly successful Brewery Vivant. Broad Leaf veers away from the farmhouse brews of Vivant and focuses on broader styles like IPAs, stouts, sours, lagers and more. There is a common

denominator between both breweries though: Quality.

In third place, Guardian Brewing Co. in Saugatuck is cranking out ALL kinds of great beer, from a dry Irish nitro stout to a tequila barrel-aged Belgian witbier. Pair that with delicious food in a historic red barn — used as a theater since the ’40s — and you’ve got a destination brewery. Plus, founders Kim Collins and Kate Bishop are just super cool.

There’s plenty else to discuss aside from breweries though. Here are a few notes: •

We have a tie for first place winery, which is highly unusual and honestly pretty unlikely, given the number of votes we receive.

It must mean something — Hudsonville Winery & Restaurant and St. Julian

Winery, with its new Rockford tasting room, both deserve an equal share of praise.

•

Gray Skies Distillery moved up into third for cocktail bar, which may (or may not) have something to do with its reworked tasting room. R.I.P. giant circle table — you sacrificed yourself to make room for more comfortable seats.

•

Logan’s Alley, placed in both Bar/Pub/ Tavern and Beer Bar, which pretty much sums it up. It’s the perfect place for craft beer lovers and well liquor drinkers alike.

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

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GRAY SKIES DISTILLERY. COURTESY PHOTO

BUFFALO TRADERS LOUNGE. PHOTO BY SETH THOMPSON

ST. JULIAN WINERY. COURTESY PHOTO

NIGHTLIFE & ACTIVITIES WINNERS ANNUAL FESTIVAL

BREWERY

DISTILLERY

1. FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

1. FOUNDERS BREWING CO.

1. LONG ROAD DISTILLERS

festivalgr.org

235 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

537 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids

2. ArtPrize 3. Founders Fest

2. Brewery Vivant 3. Perrin Brewing

2. Gray Skies Distillery 3. New Holland Artisan Spirits

BAR/PUB/TAVERN

CASINO

HAPPY HOUR

1. O'TOOLE’S PUBLIC HOUSE

1. GUN LAKE CASINO

1. ROCKWELL REPUBLIC

448 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids

1123 129th Ave., Wayland

45 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids

2. Meanwhile 3. Logan’s Alley

2. Soaring Eagle Casino 3. Firekeepers Casino

2. Terra 3. CitySen Lounge

BEER BAR

CIDERY

KARAOKE

1. HOPCAT

1. VANDER MILL

1. FULTON STREET PUB & GRILL

Multiple locations - hopcat.com

505 Ball Ave. NE, Grand Rapids

801 Fulton St. W, Grand Rapids

2. 7 Monks Taproom 3. Logan’s Alley

2. The Peoples Cider Co. 3. Farmhaus Cider Co.

2. Kale’s Korner Bar 3. Z’s Bar & Restaurant

BOWLING

COCKTAIL LOUNGE

MEADERY

1. CLIQUE LANES

1. BUFFALO TRADERS LOUNGE

1. ARKTOS MEADERY

533 Stocking Ave. NW, Grand Rapids

950 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids

1251 Century Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

2. Wengers Bowling Center 3. Westgate Bowl

2. Sidebar 3. Gray Skies Distillery

2. City Built Brewing Company 3. Bardic Wells Meadery

56 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

OPEN-MIC NIGHT

MOVIE THEATER 1. GRAND RAPIDS NORTH

1. FOUNDERS BREWING CO.

2121 Celebration Dr. NE, Grand Rapids

235 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

2. AMC Grand Rapids 18 3. Wealthy Street Theater

2. O'Toole’s Public House 3. Rockford Brewing Company

SPORTS BAR

NEW BREWERY 1. HOPLAND BREWSTILLERY

1. THE SCORE RESTAURANT & SPORTS BAR 5301 Northland Dr. NE, Grand Rapids

977 Butternut Dr. #4, Holland

2. Peppino’s Sports Grille 3. Big E’s Sports Grill

2. Broad Leaf Local Beer 3. Guardian Brewing Co.

WINERY

NIGHT CLUB

STAFF PICKS BEER BAR The Søvengård

443 Bridge St. NW Suite 1, Grand Rapids While they receive no shortage of praise for their food, vibe, service, cocktails, heck even their bathroom wallpaper, The Søvengård’s draft list is what secured my business. While many beer bars opt for the more handles = more choice approach, a carefully curated list spares the headache of deciding between five amber ales (which probably taste the same). The judiciousness is intentional, catering toward bright, light offerings that taste better on a patio with friends. Give me one well-meaning Pils and I’ll glug it ’til last call.

— Jack Raymond

HAPPY HOUR

1. RUMORS NIGHTCLUB

1. (TIE) HUDSONVILLE WINERY

69 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids

3768 Chicago Dr., Hudsonville

2. Eve Nightclub @ The B.O.B. 3. Billy’s Lounge

1. (TIE) ST. JULIAN WINERY 1123 129th Ave., Wayland 2. Fenn Valley Vineyards 3. Cascade Winery

Social Kitchen & Bar

435 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids Inside the Downtown Market, you’ll find one of the best happy hour deals in West Michigan. To start, Social offers half-off multiple of its best appetizers. Even better, you can get an entire build-your-own pizza for just $7. That means anything you want, with no upcharges for anything except specialty meats.

It’s amazing. Then you can wash that down with $6 specialty cocktails, which typically average $10. — Josh Veal

THANK YOU

FOR VOTING US BEST IN THE WEST, GRAND RAPIDS!

www.mudpenny.com | 570 Grandville Ave SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503

@mudpenny REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

57

SEP

OCT

13

COMEDIAN PRIYANKA WALI

Fri. 8pm | CFAC Auditorium | Free

11

COMEDIAN SAMMY OBEID

Fri. 8pm | CFAC Auditorium | Free

FRANKIE COSMOS

w/ a special guest | Tue. 8pm | CFAC Auditorium | $20

WEST MICHIGAN’S PREMIERE BRIDAL SALON Providing you with an intimate backdrop, personable staff will indulge you and cater to helping you find that perfect gown.

We take the time to get to know all of our brides, so your unique personality can be complimented with your dream gown.

An Evening with BRUCE COCKBURN Wed. 8pm | CFAC Auditorium | $30

THOMPSON SQUARE

w/ a special guest | Fri. 8pm | CFAC Auditorium | $25

SEP

24

SEP

25

NOV

01

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US BEST BRIDAL BOUTIQUE IN WEST MICHIGAN! NOV

LUCY DACUS

w/ Liza Anne | Wed. 8pm | CFAC Auditorium | $20

Tickets on sale now: 1555 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids | (616) 224-0092 reneeaustinwedding.com

58 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

calvin.edu/boxoffice calvinsao

/calvincollegesao

06

BEST OF SERVICES & PEOPLE

CRAIG DUNCAN - GRIT LIFE. COURTESY PHOTO

by Josh Veal

W

here would any of our Best of the West winners be without people?

Nowhere! Businesses don’t build themselves.

The service industry is especially peoplecentric. You may never see your waiter again, but many of us return to the same hair stylist every single time. Personally, for instance, I visit Emily Hauschild for all my cuts, and this year she rocketed into first place as best Hair Stylist.

Close behind her are two of her peers, Hailey Ullrey and Morgan Carlson, at Meraki Salon, which also won best Salon. Clearly, that place is doing something — or maybe everything — right.

This year, we added a couple categories, including Barber, which we always should’ve had, and Makeup Artist, a popular category we didn’t fully appreciate. People care about

how they look and stylists, barbers and makeup artists all play a big part in that.

So do photographers, whether they’re taking headshots, engagement photos or capturing your wedding. Back in the lead for best Photographer is Katy Batdorff, who sometimes shoots for this very magazine, followed by Devin Hendrick, who I went to high school with, and Leigh Ann Cobb, who I went to college with. Small world! Now that I say it out loud, this might seem suspicious, but I’m a man of honor and anyone who lives in West Michigan knows the incredible web of connections you make just by being here for a few years.

Speaking of which, Tyler Devereaux Interior Designs (third place for Interior Designer) has had a hand in multiple other Best of the West winners, such as Buffalo Traders

Lounge and The Commons, which won first place for Ambience. Meanwhile, the first place designer, Kaci Brander of Refined Design, has crafted the space for multiple homes and offices across the state.

Another interesting category is always Advocate/Activist. Practically everyone knows Tami VandenBerg and Tommy Allen, so we’re not too surprised to see them in the top three, but Graci Harkema is a newcomer to BOTW. Earlier this year, Harkema joined on as the diversity and inclusion director at Founders Brewing Co., which was dealing with some major issues in that arena. She’s since led the charge on making sure the company is completely inclusive and supporting the rights of all people outside of its walls as well. Cheers!

We could go on and on, but instead, here are a few other points of interest:

• The Credit Union/Bank winners are all credit unions! That might be just because credit unions are so good, or it might be because most banks are disqualified on account of not being “local.”

• Some bartenders just stick with you. Brian Denboer and Dan Dixon are back again in the top three! This time, Rob Hanks of Reserve joins as well.

• Trimell Hawkins of Forty Acres Soul Kitchen jumped into second place for best Chef. He was on our cover, so it must be thanks to that Revue bump. (Just kidding, it’s because the food is great and he’s cool.)

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

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THANK YOU GRAND RAPIDS

for voting us best bakery and yoshi best barista

Authentic, honest, straightforward, unconventional, personalized, fun and funky real estate.

ALISON GLOWINSKI MITTEN REAL ESTATE

www.fieldandfire.com 60 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

www.mittenre.com alison@mittenre.com 616.920.0078

SERVICES & PEOPLE WINNERS ADVOCATE/ACTIVIST

BARISTA

1. TAMI VANDENBERG

1. LYDIA LEWIS

facebook.com/Tami4gr/

Mudpenny 570 Grandville Ave SW, Grand Rapids

2. Graci Harkema 3. Tommy Allen

ATTORNEY 1. RAQUEL SALAS GUZMAN Avanti Law Group PLLC. avantilaw.com 2. James Scozzari - Tanis Schultz Attorneys and Counselors 3. Robert Buchanan - Buchanan and Buchanan Litigation Counsel

AUTO REPAIR 1. WESTSIDE GARAGE

2. Mallory Root - Roots Brew Shop 3. (Tie) Taylor Hutchinson - The Sparrows Coffee & Tea & Newsstand 3. (Tie) Yoshi Saka - Field & Fire Cafe

BARTENDER 1. BRIAN DENBOER Harmony Brewing Company 1551 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids 2. Dan Dixon - Founders Brewing Co. 3. Rob Hanks - Reserve Wine & Food

BED & BREAKFAST 1. THE LAFAYETTE HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST

856 7th St. NW, Grand Rapids 2. Community Automotive Repair 3. Veenstra’s Auto Repair

BANK/CREDIT UNION 1. LAKE MICHIGAN CREDIT UNION Multiple Locations - lmcu.org 2. Consumers Credit Union 3. Adventure Credit Union

BARBER SHOP 1. HENCHMEN HOUSE 1503 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids 2. Kings Room Barbershop 3. Rogue Haircut & Shave Parlour

BARBER 1. TOMMY RODRIGUEZ Henchmen House 1503 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids 2. Jazz Johnson - Rogue Haircut & Shave Parlour 3. Rob Smith - Forest Hills Barber Shop

HENCHMEN HOUSE. COURTESY PHOTO

135 Lafayette Ave. NE, Grand Rapids 2. Peaches Bed & Breakfast 3. Harbor House Inn

BICYCLE SHOP 1. FREEWHEELER BIKE SHOP 915 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids 2. Grand Rapids Bicycle Co. 3. Village Bike & Fitness

CAR WASH/DETAILING 1. BRETON AUTO WASH 1970 Breton Rd. SE, Grand Rapids 2. Crystal Clean Auto Detailing 3. Walker Car Wash

CHEF 1. JENNA ARCIDIACONO Amore Trattoria Italiana 5080 Alpine Ave. NW, Comstock Park 2. Trimell Hawkins - Forty Acres Soul Kitchen 3. Ryan Martin - Zoko 822

STAFF PICKS BEST BARTENDER Jamie Beyer, Butch’s Dry Dock 44 E. 8th St., Holland Attention to detail, passion and craft characterize Jamie Beyer’s work as a bartender at Butch’s Dry Dock, a high-end bar and restaurant downtown Holland. Each one of her drinks is like a painting in the Louvre, garnished to perfection and layered with complex bursts of flavor. Beyer celebrates every customer’s taste for adventure, patiently describing drinks on the menu and providing personal recommendations that are sure to hit the spot. — Michaela Stock

BEST CHEF Scott Petersen, SpeakEZ Lounge 600 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids I don’t know Scott Petersen personally, but I do know that he’s been with SpeakEZ since the beginning and has made it one of the best restaurants in town since 2012. He conceptualized and executed a menu unlike anything else in town. The Mister Florentine, with mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, spinach and roasted garlic aioli on sourdough bread, herb-grilled and topped with an absolutely amazing, creamy bechamel sauce and egg? I think about it daily. In fact, when I think about getting some great brunch, I think about SpeakEZ, but I’ve always been delighted by dinner as well, especially in recent years. That’s all (I assume) thanks to Petersen.

— Josh Veal

Continued on page 63 REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

61

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

BEST GIN FIRST PLACE

Interior design

BEST DISTILLERY FIRST PLACE

BRAD WstEN1-Z3EL Augu

BEST BOURBON FIRST PLACE

ANDY WOO

August 8DHULL -10

BEST COCKTAILS FIRST PLACE

SHANE TORRES BEST VODKA FIRST PLACE

August 15-17

RACHEL FEINSTEIN August 22-24

BEST GIN THIRD PLACE

MATTt H2O9L-T31

Augus 62 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

shop & studio 952 Fulton st e tdinteriordesign.com (616) 581-1748

SERVICES & PEOPLE WINNERS Continued from page 61

DOG GROOMER

MOVING COMPANY

1. LEAH BELL

1. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

Eastown Veterinary Clinic 1350 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids

Multiple Locations - twomenandatruck.com

2. Mallory Knight - Fido & Stitch 3. Molly Boast - PetCo

FITNESS CLUB/GYM 1. GRIT LIFE 1730 Olson St. NE Suite C, Grand Rapids 2. MVP Athletic Clubs 3. Allegro Coaching

HAIR STYLIST 1. EMILY HAUSCHILD Meraki Salon 6743 Courtland Dr. NE Suite #100, Rockford 2. Hailey Ullrey - Meraki Salon 3. Morgan Carlson - Meraki Salon

INTERIOR DESIGNER 1. KACI BRANDER Refined Design 4628 Hidden Canyon Ct. NE, Ada 2. Jessica Crosby - Delight In Designs 3. Tylor Devereaux - Tylor Devereaux Interior Design

MAKEUP ARTIST 1. JESS CARAE 940 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids 2. Josh Thiel 3. Erick Gerson

MASSAGE 1. ABBY COMTOIS Chasing Vanity Salon & Spa 150 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids 2. Urban Massage 3. Simply Massage - Rockford

2. The Trusted Movers, LLC 3. Big Lake Movers

NAIL SALON 1. CHASING VANITY SALON & SPA 150 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids 2. Posh Nails & Spa 3. Sara’s Nails

OPTICAL

KATY BATDORFF. COURTESY PHOTO

1. GRAND RAPIDS OPHTHALMOLOGY Multiple Locations - seeitclear.com 2. (Tie) Honest Eyes Optical, Rx Optical 3. West Michigan Eyecare Associates

PERSONAL TRAINER

STAFF PICKS

1. CHRISTIAN ROBERTS Streetfit Coaching streetfitcoaching.com 2. Sondra Vogel - Fight 2 Get Fit 3. Craig Duncan - GRIT Life

PHOTOGRAPHER

MALLORY KNIGHT. COURTESY PHOTO

STAFF PICK

1. KATY BATDORFF

MAKEUP ARTIST

katybatdorff.com

makeupbyjamie.us

2. Devin Hendrick 3. Leigh Ann Cobb

PIERCING ARTIST 1. GEORGE EGY Honest to Goodness Tattoo 333 Grandville Ave. SW #300, Grand Rapids 2. Nicole Ashley - Honest to Goodness Tattoo 3. Andrew Stevenson - Screaming Needle

Makeup By Jamie If you’re looking for the perfect smokey eye, stunning lashes or the loveliest blending you’ve seen, Jamie is the person for you. The richest reds in lipsticks, the calmest neutral tones, and the best eyeliner I’ve seen in a long time are all just little works of magic from the hands of this artist who works in Grand Rapids and Grandville. Knowing her and seeing her do this all in person, she’s fun, energetic and patient, which all ref lects in her work. If you want to look special for your special day, head to her. — Abi Safago

Continued on page 65 REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

63

Y IL

FRIE

S ND

FAM

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US YOUR NUMBER 1 SPA IN WEST MICHIGAN! FLEUROLOGY DESIGNS

A BIG HEARTED THANK YOU GOES OUT TO WEST MICHIGAN FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND KIND WORDS!

Best Vet/ Animal Clinic P. 616-676-7294

6555 28th St SE, Grand Rapids • 616.575.6520 • familyfriendsvet.com

64 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

WWW.FLEUROLOGY-DESIGNS.COM

LINDSEY RAE DUCHON. PHOTO BY TIFFANY ANN PHOTOGRAPHY

DESIGN 1 SALON & SPA. COURTESY PHOTO

SERVICES & PEOPLE WINNERS Continued from page 63

REALTOR

STAND-UP COMEDIAN

VET/ANIMAL CLINIC

1. SANTIAGO GOMEZ

1. DAVE DYER

1. EASTOWN VETERINARY CLINIC

Santiago Properties 4301 Canal Ave. SW, Grandville

daviddyercomedy.com

1350 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids

2. (Tie) Kaira Williams, Stu McCallister 3. Matt Lauria

2. Family Friends Veterinary Hospital 3. Cascade Hospital for Animals

2. Pete Bruinsma - Grand River Realty 3. Alison Glowinski - Mitten Real Estate

SALON 1. MERAKI SALON 6743 Courtland Dr. NE Suite #100, Rockford 2. Chasing Vanity Salon & Spa 3. Cheeky Strut

SPA

TATTOO ARTIST

WEDDING PLANNER

1. TONY PUTT

1. LINDSEY RAE DUCHON

Love Tattoo 127 Old M-21, Jenison

Cheeky Strut and Siren & Proper 216 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

2. Gareth Hawkins - Sovereign Arms Tattoo Co. 3. Tiffany Elmergreen - Honest to Goodness Tattoo

2. Alyssa Ferguson - Fleurology Designs 3. Adrien Harding - RSVP Events

TATTOO/PIERCING SHOP

YOGA STUDIO

1. DESIGN 1 SALON SPA

1. HONEST TO GOODNESS TATTOO & PIERCING

1. FUNKY BUDDHA YOGA HOTHOUSE

Multiple locations - design1.com

333 Grandville Ave. SW #300, Grand Rapids

Multiple locations - yogahothouse.com

2. Wanderlux Beauty & Wellness Spa 3. Chasing Vanity Medi Spa

2. Sovereign Arms Tattoo 3. Love Tattoo

2. AM Yoga 3. Twisted Hot Yoga

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

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Summer Specials CROP DUSTER CITRA IPA

ON DRAFT AND IN CANS

SMALL ROUND PIZZA $7 MARGARITAS 51 CRAFT BEER TAPS • GASTROPUB • FULL BAR

740 MICHIGAN ST NE • GRAND RAPIDS 7MONKSTAP.COM • 616.265.5417 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • 3PM TO MIDNIGHT

17 S. 2ND ST. GRAND HAVEN, MI 616.414.7822

HAND CRAFTED TRADITIONAL ALES AND LAGERS

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WEST MICHIGAN

THANK YOU Two years in a row. We’re speechless.

Santiago Gomez Best Real Estate Agent 2018 & 2019

4301 Canal Ave SW Grandville MI 49418

c: 616.337.0564 santiago@kw.com

W W W. SANTIAGOPROPERTIES .US Thinking about buying or selling your home? Contact Santiago!

66 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

BEST OF SHOPPING

FULTON STREET FARMERS MARKET. COURTESY PHOTO

by Missy Black

“

E

legance is refusal.”— Coco Chanel This simple idea couldn’t be more appropriate for this year’s shopping results. Reaching the pinnacle of fashion while editing and refining our style means saying “no” to many ideas (fast-fashion, tacky trends) and yes to a select few. If you’re seeking elegance in this town and looking for beauty that’s effective and straightforward, we can point you toward our winners list.

Keeping in theme, this year’s winner in the Men’s Clothing category is A.K. Rikk’s — a luxury department store featuring sought-

after brands such as Isaia, Ermenegildo Zegna and Stone Island, the brand celebrities are so often photographed wearing. Having bomb brands isn’t enough though — we’re pretty sure this win has a lot to do with the store’s overthe-top events and incomparable service. The Cascade shop also snagged second place in the Women’s Clothing category, so the formula clearly is working.

If you want to shop in an elite category, Lee & Birch won first place for Women’s Clothing. The big news here is that the local chain is expanding to Kalamazoo, adding

to the already beefy list of Grand Haven, Rockford and Grand Rapids locations. The local shop’s selection of dresses, Sorel footwear, top-notch denim and crazy-good accessories put it at the top this year, and the new location is one to watch. The third place winner, Paperdoll Boutique in Rockford, is worth mentioning as well, thanks to a strong jewelry collection (that gets this writer in trouble).

The gifts category has me proud. Of course, the powerhouse shop owners Chip and Dann of Rebel can’t be pushed around or even budged, winning first place again, but

Kennedy’s Flowers & Gifts is showing strong progress. I know I’ve been smitten with the offerings there. The third place winner, Bailey & James, has recently moved from Rockford to Ada, so we’re spreading the good word. If you voted for them, you’ll need to head to the new location for your gift fix of the Rifle Paper Co. line, mugs, faux flowers and the most inspiring presents for the important people in your life.

Inspired to shop the best of the best? Start with these shops and make everyday elegance the new big thing.

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

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7 1 3 W E A LT H Y S E | G RA N D RA P I DS | 61 6 . 7 1 0. 2 1 1 1 | WA N D E R LUXG R .CO M

THANK YOU TO OUR CUSTOMERS FOR THE VOTE! FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME,

ESTABLISHED IN 1932

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68 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

Contact your healthcare provider or local health department for more information.

SHOPPING WINNERS ANTIQUE SHOP

BRIDAL BOUTIQUE

1.EASTOWN ANTIQUES

1. RENEE AUSTIN WEDDING

1515 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids

1555 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids

2. Lost & Found Treasures of Old and New 3. Century Antiques

2. Ali Nicole Bridal 3. Bridal Elegance

ATHLETIC GOODS STORE

BUTCHER

1. GAZELLE SPORTS

1. LOUISE EARL BUTCHER

Multiple locations - gazellesports.com

1106 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids

2. Bill & Paul's Sporthaus 3. Reynolds & Sons

2. Sobie Meats 3. Frank’s Market

BEER/WINE/LIQUOR STORE

COMIC BOOK STORE

1. RISHI’S INTERNATIONAL BEVERAGE

1. VAULT OF MIDNIGHT

3839 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids

95 Monroe Center St. NW, Grand Rapids

2. Martha’s Vineyard 3. Smitty’s Specialty Beverage

2. The Comic Signal 3. Argos Book Shop

BOOK STORE 1. BOOKS & MORTAR

BOOKS & MORTAR. COURTESY PHOTO

DOWNTOWN SHOPPING DISTRICT

955 Cherry St. SE, Grand Rapids

1. ROCKFORD

2. Schuler Books & Music 3. Argos Book Shop

2. Downtown Market 3. Eastown

VAULT OF MIDNIGHT. COURTESY PHOTO

STAFF PICKS

Continued on page 71

ANTIQUE SHOP

ATHLETIC GEAR

The Honeysuckle Co.

Covet Leisure

Antique of the Week is what started it all. Following this home décor shop on Instagram (@thehoneysucklecompany) has turned into a fun hobby where you can score the Antique of the Week, along with 10 percent off that item. If you enjoy antiquing, vintage items and rare, curated treasures from the past, this is your jam. I spent my birthday at the shop and left with glassware, an etched floral tray and a vintage piece of art. Honeysuckle also hosts events and community classes. The owner was a peach and I felt like I made a friend. Some places instantly steal your heart. — Missy Black

The two women behind this online athleisure brand are the definition of heart and hustle. It’s never been just about leggings, hoodies, jackets and casual pieces to equip you for your busy life — these women want to outfit other women to feel great and embrace who they are. They are killing it in the pop-up shop arena, so you can try on clothes and check out Covet on the road. I’m currently rocking the crossbody bag that’s taken me from fashion shows to flea markets, happily hands-free. This shop gets my stamp of approval as one to watch, and certainly a place to shop. — Missy Black

3900 Costa Ave. NE, Grand Rapids

covetleisure.com

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70 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

SHOPPING WINNERS Continued from page 69

FARMERS MARKET

HIKING/OUTDOOR GEAR

1. FULTON STREET FARMERS MARKET

1. BILL & PAUL’S SPORTHAUS

1145 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids

1200 E. Paris Ave. SE, Grand Rapids

2. Rockford Farmers Market 3. Muskegon Farmers Market

2. Switchback Gear Exchange 3. Gazelle Sports

FLORIST

JEWELRY STORE

1. EASTERN FLORAL

1. DEVRIES JEWELERS

2836 Broadmoor Ave. SE, Grand Rapids

411 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids

2. Stems Market 3. Posh Petals

2. Dime & Regal 3. Bauble Patch Jewelers

FOOTWEAR STORE

MENS CLOTHING

1. GAZELLE SPORTS

1. A.K. RIKK'S

Multiple locations - gazellesports.com

6303 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids

2. Mieras Shoes 3. Rockford Footwear Depot

2. Fitzgerald’s Men’s Store 3. New Yorker Men’s Wear

GIFT SHOP 1. REBEL 1555 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids 2. Kennedy’s Flowers & Gifts 3. Bailey & James

GROCERY STORE 1. MEIJER Multiple locations - meijer.com 2. Bridge Street Market 3. Fresh Thyme Farmers Market

HEALTH FOOD STORE 1. HARVEST HEALTH Multiple locations - harvesthealthfoods.com 2. Fresh Thyme 3. Health Hutt

DIME & REGAL. COURTESY PHOTO

Continued on page 73

STAFF PICK

POSH PETALS. COURTESY PHOTO

FARMERS MARKET Holland Farmers Market

There’s nothing better than summertime’s seasonal berries, veggies and flowers, and the Holland Farmers Market doesn’t mess around when it comes to fresh flavors and fair prices for its locally grown goods. Not only does the Holland Farmers Market offers an enormous array of vegetables from multiple West Michigan farms, but it also hosts vendors who specialize in raw honey, jams, barbecue sauces and more. Open on Monday nights as well as Wednesday and Saturday mornings, the lively market is shoulder-to-shoulder busy with shoppers, street performers and everything you need for your next farm-to-table cookout. — Michaela Stock FULTON STREET FARMERS MARKET. COURTESY PHOTO

REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019 |

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THANK YOU FROM

LOGAN’S ALLEY FOR VOTING US THE BEST!

Since 1952

BEER BAR

Best Health Food Store

Thank You West Michigan Grand Rapids Cascade Hudsonville HarvestHealthFoods.com

72 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

BAR

GRAND RAPIDS’ ORIGINAL CRAFT BEER BAR OVER 200 HAND-CRAFTED BOTTLES, 23 AWARD-WINNING DRAUGHTS, WORLD-FAMOUS SMOTHERED TOTS. 916 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids | 616.458.1612 | logansalley.com

SHOPPING WINNERS Continued from page 71

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STORE

VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE

1. RAINBOW MUSIC

1. LOST & FOUND TREASURES OF OLD AND NEW

1148 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids

445 Century Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

2. R.I.T. Music 3. Meyer Music

2. Flashback on Leonard 3. I.C. Hair & Vintage

PET STORE

WOMEN'S CLOTHING

1. FIDO & STITCH

1. LEE & BIRCH

820 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids

Multiple locations - leeandbirch.com

2. Chow Hound Pet Supplies 3. V.I. Pets

2. (Tie) A.K. Rikk’s, Paperdoll Boutique 3. LA Miller Boutique

ROCK PAPER SCISSORS CONSIGNMENT. COURTESY PHOTO

1. ROCK PAPER SCISSORS CONSIGNMENT 145 Diamond Ave. SE, Grand Rapids 2. Urban Exchange 3. Gild the Lily

TOBACCO/CIGAR SHOP 1. TUTTLE'S SELECT CIGARS & TOBACCOS 3835 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids 2. Grand River Cigar Lounge 3. Tobacco Shoppe

STAFF PICK

THRIFT/CONSIGNMENT SHOP WOMEN'S CLOTHING Lou + Marie

3410 Chicago Dr., Hudsonville I’ve become close with the owners, Cassie and Kirsten. I’m the girl asking about available sizes, how items fit and if they ship pieces (they do). They graciously take my extreme interest in stride, and thank goodness, because I don’t see this love affair ending anytime soon. Lou + Marie’s clothing and accessories are stop-you-in-the-street fabulous and whenever I’m wearing anything from the shop, I’m asked about it or complimented on it. Dresses, tops, shoes, purses — everything they pick is wardrobe enhancing. True story: The last time I was at the shop, I unknowingly put my shirt on backwards and left. Being blissed out on a shopping high can do that to you. — Missy Black

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STYLE NOTES

by Missy Black

LIVE A LITTLE O

ur new favorite vintage shop teaches us how to modernize retro looks.

Amanda Westerhof has been selling vintage style for around three years now — collecting pieces since she f irst understood fashion.

She’s the muse behind the local online shop LIVED, where the past comes alive through color, pattern and her good taste. She’s got an eye for fabrics that last through the years and she’s snatching up ’60s and ’70s jumpsuits and rompers like a boss.

“Beautifully lived in clothing — that’s my slogan,” said Westerhof, who stopped shopping fast fashion about six years ago. It changed her life and her wardrobe. Now, she’s mending and cleaning pieces that have lasted years, still retaining and showing their quality.

“I love the story. I love thinking about how a nightie that women only wore to bed is now being worn out as a dress with a leather jacket over it,” Westerhof said. “I wonder about the woman who wore it. Was she super feminine? The clothing brings out a lot of questions.”

Follow her lead when it comes to lingerie. Whether it’s styling slip dresses and nighties under tough moto jackets or repurposing camisoles as tank tops or silk pajama bottoms as daywear, Westerhof ’s boudoir apparel is feminine and f lowy and more worthy than tees and sweatpants for lounging around the house.

“I’m excited when I see a cool floral top or real silk that’s not compromised by any other fabric — they just don’t make it like that anymore,” she said.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN CRAWFORD PHOTOGRAPHY

74 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

When it comes to accessories, her purses and belts are rare finds, a nd she’s feeling today ’s sca r f resurgence.

“Scarves are popular and there’s more ways to wear them,” she said.

“I tie a lot on bags, wear them on the neck and create head wraps.”

She’s also really into clip-on earrings, especially when you pair them with an old-school tee and your favorite denim. Accessories and earrings are a great way to baby-step into wearing vintage. “I have fan earrings that are handwoven and from the ’70s!”

Of course, she has thoughts on denim. She searches for true highrise jeans (more than an 11-inch rise) but knows customizing is key.

“If the jeans are to the f loor and beyond, get them hemmed up.

You won’t ruin the integrity of the pant. Too much of a flare? Get them tapered,” Westerhof said.

She’s been known to chop hems and shred and shorten jeans to achieve her desired look, and you can too.

Westerhof ’s favorite way to modernize a button-down vintage dress is to add your own belt and unbutton down to mid-boob (or lower if you’re really feeling yourself ). Once you’ve created a plunging neckline, you can undo a few bottom buttons to show off your legs.

For Westerhof, vintage is “a way to play. It shouldn’t feel dated or scary. These are the types of clothes we should be making — things that will be available for someone to love in 20 years.”

Ready to shop? Head to etsy. com/shop/shoplived. n

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75

by Josh Veal

DINING

THINKING AHEAD Ginza Sushi & Ramen is a delicious, intentional eatery

C

onsciously or not, diners can sense thoughtfulness. It’s a sixth sense that plays a huge part in whether we decide to return.

I don’t know how many times I’ve been out to eat and had a conversation with friends about how certain aspects of the menu make no sense, or how acoustic panels would make a huge difference, or how the seating layout is awkward. We’re not intentionally looking for criticisms, but sometimes it’s glaringly obvious that the owners haven’t put themselves in the customers’ shoes.

Then there’s Ginza Sushi & Ramen Bar, a Grand Rapids restaurant on Michigan Street opened earlier this year that exudes thoughtfulness on every level. So rarely does a newcomer get it so right.

Just to be clear, this is an understated thoughtfulness. Ginza isn’t trying to be overtly hip or in-your-face modern — it’s just a cool place to be. When I walk into Ginza, I feel like I’m suddenly in a big city, but one I’ve lived in my whole life. The ceilings are high, walls are grey and decor is simple, but the lighting is mostly natural, the furniture is almost entirely made of wood and the barstools are lit by neon lights under the bar, all of which perfectly balances out the entire aesthetic. It’s all laid out in a very communal, yet comfortable arrangement.

Ginza clearly understands that atmosphere is nearly important as the food itself. Despite being so open, the room is kept at a perfect volume. No yelling required! New restaurants, take notes.

Of course, we wouldn’t be writing about this place if the food wasn’t top-tier too. Sushi, ramen, poke, bento, pho, hibachi — there is no single experience at Ginza. On my first trip, I actually “just” got a lunch bento box to go.

That’s when I was hooked. My box was $9 and came with teriyaki chicken, white rice, a spring roll, an orange, four pieces of California roll, shrimp tempura AND a salad. How could you not be impressed?

GINZA SUSHI AND RAMEN. COURTESY PHOTOS

76 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

TONKATSU RAMEN AND FUJI MOUNTAIN ROLL. PHOTOS BY JOSH VEAL

Sitting at my office desk, I was totally lost in the sauce. The thought of even trying to get some work done while working my way through this miniature buffet never even crossed my mind.

On a recent visit, we dove in further, starting with the gyoza. I’m no Anthony Bourdain, but this was the best pan-fried gyoza I’ve ever had. They’re perfectly crispy on one side and tender everywhere else, with a light coating of oil and savory, soft chicken on the inside. Off to a good start.

In order to experience more of the menu, my girlfriend and I decided to split up, culinarily speaking. She ordered the Tonkatsu Ramen while I asked for sushi suggestions, prompting the server to bring me a brand new menu that would officially be rolling out soon (and surely has by now).

Of course, I went for one of the most dramatic rolls I could find: Fuji Mountain. Inside is tuna, salmon and yellowtail with rice, wrapped in seaweed and lightly deep-fried. Then the roll is cut at an angle and stacked to resemble a mountain, covered in a shredded daikon snowcap, scallions and three sauces: eel sauce, wasabi aioli and spicy mayo. Even though I typically go for a roll loaded with actual raw fish, I was there for an experience, and it fully delivered.

The cooked fish flavor comes through strong, mixing with a different sauce in every bite.

To balance it out slightly, I also got a California roll, which to me is always telling of how much a sushi spot cares. If the most basic — and I mean that in multiple senses of the word — roll is excellent, I know I can invest confidently in a $15 sushi masterpiece.

Meanwhile, the ramen was top-notch too.

The milky pork bone broth is rich but not overly so, and the bowl is loaded with ingredients: tender roasted pork, egg, bamboo, mushrooms, nori and green onion. It’s a savory experience full of flavor and it made me excited to try some of the other options. Don’t judge, but I stole the leftovers from my girlfriend and they were still great two days later. Waste not, want not!

While Ginza is still waiting on a liquor license, I did head home with a tasty taro boba tea in hand. I’ve often lamented the lack of quality boba near downtown Grand Rapids, but I think Ginza’s is worth a stop for that alone.

After it all, when I look back on my experience and realize I had absolutely zero complaints, that’s a good sign. When I think about how I wish I was there right now, that’s a good sign. When I already plan to head back to Ginza to try more in the near future, that’s a good sign.

Ginza Sushi & Ramen Bar is thoughtful about everything it does so that when you step in, you don’t have to be. You can just sit back, relax and go on a culinary adventure. n

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77

by Jack Raymond

BEER

RAKE BEER PROJECT:

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A BREWERY O

f all the towns that speckle West Michigan’s coast, Muskegon has perhaps struggled the most with cohesion. Its beaches and state parks are world-class but distanced from the city proper.

Moreover, some could argue that a city proper has been lacking for a while. I remember a visit to Unruly Brewing Company a few years ago: loved it, but noticed a scarcity of surrounding places to be. While rounding the main drag’s cul-de-sac, it seemed like the city was still loading.

Today, it looks much different. Following the initial throes of the Watch Muskegon campaign — a push to position Muskegon as a hub for art, nature and small business — fruits have come to bear. Cranes are swinging, high-rises are flying. Business is booming. Citizens can take pride in this muscle laid on bone.

Enter Rake Beer Project, the newest brewery on the block, poised to add texture to Muskegon’s thriving beer fabric. Originally conceived as a blendery with a small taproom at max, the buildout now occupies the entire basement level of Northtown 794, a renovated furniture store set to contain two restaurants and a coffee shop. The subterranean vibe spills outside into what will eventually house an outdoor beer garden and music venue booked with local and regional acts alike. Only a couple weeks until open remain. The ribbon cutting should feel like a culmination of teamwork, celebrating this new connective tissue uniting Muskegon.

As a local, Josh Rake, owner and brewer at Rake Beer Project, appears equal parts thrilled and surprised by the city’s transformation.

“It’s mind blowing,” Rake said. “No slight to Muskegon, but I never thought I’d want to move back. I didn’t see a future for myself here.”

It hasn’t been the simplest journey — for him or the city — but the good ones never are. It began with Rake doing what all youth do when they grow tired of home: He split.

78 | REVUEWM.COM | AUGUST 2019

Rake spent years as a sponge, distilling the wisdom of his idols through hands-on study.

His resume is impressive, featuring stints at legendary institutions like Jolly Pumpkin, New Holland and Old Nation. For a guy looking to brew hazy, farmhouse and barrel-aged beer, it’s hard to picture a better group of Sensei.

“I’ve been incredibly lucky every step of the way to learn something important from each business,” Rake said.

The lessons stuck, but it would be unfair to write off his brewing style as a hodgepodge of inspirations. Judging from the pilot-batch list, his portfolio outlines a bold and fresh take on farmhouse beer.

Progressive farmhouse ales are what Rake has taken to calling them, saying, “It’s about taking traditional methods and ingredients and using them to make modern styles.” The mission statement beer is Marley, his pup’s namesake, a 100-percent brett-fermented table beer. Lightly tart and nuanced, its beauty is in its simplicity. As a sour aficionado, Rake likens the style to bracing yourself against the elements.

“No matter how good you think you are at brewing them, you’re still at the mercy of bacteria and bugs,” he said.

Rake poured Whispered Mantra for me, a sour session IPA that tasted delicious — think All Day IPA backpacking in Belgium. The kicker: 3.8-percent ABV. Several of Rake’s beers limbo below 4 percent, challenging the notion that you can’t enjoy quality beer in quantity.

But don’t fret, stout drinkers. Rake will dish the boozy barrel-aged goo just when the season calls for it. Keep your eyes peeled for plenty of canned New Englands on par with M-43 too.

At this point, hopefully it’s clear the name Rake implies more than leaf-scratching.

“Family runs deep here,” Rake said. “My parents are partners. My second cousin is a partner. My grandparents are involved. It means a lot to have that name on the building overlooking the new Muskegon skyline.”

RAKE BEER PROJECT. COURTESY PHOTOS

On any given day, Rake can expect three quarters of a family reunion. The circle widens to welcome more.

“We also look at the community as a family,” he said. “Anybody who lives here knows that the city is doing its best to support new businesses getting off the ground.”

The scale of Muskegon’s rallying cry creates this collision of bliss, where the community merges its talents into a larger mosaic. Whether it’s collaborating with a local illustrator for killer can art, hosting Black Circle Radio to spin records, or gathering boots to form a hiking club, Rake takes fostering a relationship with his hometown seriously.

“Next to trying the beer we’re making, that’s what I look forward to most,” he said.

“To see people interacting, using this as a shared space where everyone has some ownership and feels comfortable.”

Rake realizes it’s taken a village, so he’s throwing the village a party. Dubbed the first annual Rake Awakening, the grand opening will take place Sept. 6 and 7 with a two-day beer and music festival. Twelve bucks gets you in to see Flexadecibal and Desmond Jones headline, a ton of specialty beer tappings, can releases, food vendors — above and beyond the requisite hullabaloo.

Ultimately, Rake tips his hat to nature.

“I talk a lot about changing the narrative of Muskegon. The number one thing I like to stress is the nature we’re surrounded by, and being stewards of that as business owners,” Rake said. “The city is growing because we have such a beautiful landscape around us.” n

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