JUNE 2023 | VOLUME 35, ISSUE 6
FEATURED
22 Calling All Ages: Family Fun in West Michigan
26 Palling Around: Fun with Friends
28 The State of Skate
SPOTLIGHT
30 Summer Must-Haves
32 Getting Inked: A Tattoo FAQ
NEWS
10 What's Going On
CANNABIS
12 Love Supreme: Putting the Craft in Cannabis
MUSIC
14 Women of Rock Tribute: Stronger Together
COMEDY
16 Jordan Klepper: Hometown Hero Returns to Celebrate and Protect Books
DINING
18 Get Decked Out: Patio Guide
DRINKING
20 Sip & Sample: West Michigan Variety Packs
ARTS
34 Mason Street Warehouse's Summer Shows
36 Sounds of the Summer with Grand Rapids Symphony
38 Arts Calendar
Summer has arrived, as far as I’m concerned, and I’m ready to cram as much fun as possible into this painfully short season.
Of course, that means beach visits and road trips (which we’re covering next issue), but it also means getting out and enjoying the special experiences I’m just too lazy to pursue in the dark of winter.
Escape rooms, axe throwing, cooking classes, playing games at a bar—not to mention summer exclusive activities like visiting the zoo or waterparks. The time is ripe for any and all of these activities, and that’s what we cover in this first-ever Attractions & Experiences issue. We tell you where to have fun with friends as adults, unique ideas for family outings, and even explore the local skatepark renaissance.
This issue also has our style spotlight! We let you know about some of the cool new clothing stores in town and what they have to offer, from the latest trends to upcycled vintage finds, modern menswear and more. Plus, check out our tattoo FAQ to alleviate all your ink-based fears and learn how to get a result you’ll love.
Summer also means patios, big packs of beer and concerts outdoors, all of which you can read about in the pages ahead.
Whether you’ve lived in West Michigan your whole life or are just stopping in from out of town, I hope this issue can help inspire you to make the most of your time here—or do your darndest, anyway!
’Til next time,
JOSH VEAL Managing Editor josh@serendipity-media.com
PUBLISHER
Serendipity Media, LLC
President, Kasie Smith www.serendipity-media.com
EDITORIAL
Managing Editor, Josh Veal josh@serendipity-media.com
LAYOUT
Designer, Courtney Van Hagen
MARKETING
Marketing Director, Loren Eisenlohr Marketing Coordinator, Jasa West
DISTRIBUTION
Kelli Belanger
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Zachary Avery Allison Kay Banister
Missy Black
John Kissane
Eric Mitts
Michaela Stock
ADVERTISING / (616) 458-8371
Media Sales Manager, Kelli Belanger kelli@revuewm.com
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@2023 Serendipity Media LLC All rights reserved.
6/2
FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
Downtown Grand Rapids
June 2-4
festivalgr.org
Grand Rapids’ biggest celebration of local art, music and food is one of the longest-running festivals in the state. Completely free to the public, it features a huge selection of food from local vendors, plus six music stages, theater, poetry, dance and much more.
KALAMAZOO INSTITUTE OF ARTS FAIR
Bronson Park
200 S. Rose St., Kalamazoo
June 2-3
kiarts.org
This annual start to summer in Kalamazoo began 72 years ago and it’s back once again, featuring the work of over 100 fine artists, music, food trucks and a beer garden filling Bronson Park.
GRAND RAPIDS
ASIAN-PACIFIC FESTIVAL
Calder Plaza
300 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
June 9-11
grapf.org
The annual Asian-Pacific Festival celebrates as much Asian and Pacific-Islander culture as it possibly can in one weekend. You’ll find traditional attires, martial arts demonstrations, fashion shows, Luau and much more, including (of course) all kinds of Asian-Pacific food.
ROLLIN’ ON THE RIVER
Downtown Allegan, Riverfront Stage
June 9, 7 p.m.
downtownallega.com
Start every weekend of summer with live music on the Allegan Riverfront! Rollin’ on the River is a free, weekly Friday night concert series on the Allegan Riverfront Stage featuring touring musicians from across the country. Two hours of live music starts at 7 p.m. For this first show, enjoy local rock band The American Hotel System.
6/10
EASTOWN BIZARRE BAZAAR
420 Ethel Ave. SE, Grand Rapids
June 10, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. facebook.com/eastowngr
Eastown Bizarre Bazaar features local artists, potters, sculptors, and jewelry designers in the heart of Eastown. This event is hosted by the Eastown Community Association to celebrate art, entertainment, and the unique Eastown culture with over 80 local artists and craftspeople, with bands performing throughout the day!
BELL’S PUB ANNIVERSARY
Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo
June 10, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. bellsbeer.com
Cheers to thirty years! Bell’s is celebrating the anniversary of the Eccentric Café with an all-out backyard bash. What can you expect? Throwback beer pricing (such as $2 pints of Amber Ale) and packaging on Amber Ale, food specials, merch giveaways, and lawn games. Plus, free live music.
6/11
ART! AT THE MARKET
Fulton Street Farmers Market
1145 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids June 11, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. facebook.com/fultonstmarket
On Sunday, June 11, more than 100 vendors will feature art, crafts and locally grown flowers at the Fulton Street Market! Attend an artisan-led workshop from Leo + Lore, enjoy a kids activity with John Jurries Art, snack on concessions from local vendors, and so much more!
6/17
GREATER GRAND RAPIDS PRIDE FESTIVAL
Calder Plaza
300 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids June 17, 12-10 p.m. grpride.org
Going into its 35th year in 2023, Grand Rapids Pride Festival is an event that brings LGBTQ+ community members, LGBTQ+ businesses, allies, and organizations together to celebrate
diversity, inclusion, and celebrating the beautiful vast LGBTQ+ community! This year’s Pride Festival will have all the music, performers, rainbows and other fun of years prior, with local bands performing.
Kalamazoo State Theatre
404 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo
June 17, 3 p.m. kazoostate.com
June is pride month, and Kalamazoo is ready to celebrate. Join outside the historic Kalamazoo State Theatre for Queer the Block, featuring Beats by DJ Dazzelship and a drag show performance by the Kunty Kittens. They’ll have free live entertainment, patio seating, drink specials, and more! Help decorate the dance floor during “Chalk the Block” from 3-5 p.m., with the patio and bar opening at 5 p.m. and live entertainment from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Sixth Street Bridge, Grand Rapids
June 17, 3-10 p.m. citybuiltbrewing.com
Time to celebrate City Built Brewing’s anniversary with another amazing Bridge Blast. The brewery takes over the Sixth Street Bridge to offer free live music from five bands, beer from 13 Michigan breweries, and tons of food trucks. You can also visit the City Built beer tent in the park! Entry is free for all of it.
GLC Live at 20 Monroe
11 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids June 17, 7 p.m. livenation.com
Known for their introspective lyrics, unique sound, and experimental instrumentation, Modest Mouse is an influential American indie rock band from Issaquah, Washington. Over the years, their albums like “The Moon & Antarctica” and “Good News for People Who Love Bad News” have built a dedicated fanbase worldwide, and now they’re returning to Grand Rapids once again, following their latest studio release, 2021’s The Golden Casket.
GRAND RAGGIDY ROLLER DERBY
Griff’s Georgetown Ice Arena
8500 48th Ave., Hudsonville June 17, 4:30-7:30 p.m. grandraggidy.com
Founded in 2005, Grand Raggidy Roller Derby is proud to be one of only 30 founding member leagues of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come see their games, where women showcase their speed, agility and strategic prowess. Watch skaters with names like “Marzi Pain” and “Scary Magdalene” slam into each other, slip past each other and race around the track. It’s fun for everyone!
6/23
THE ULTIMATE DOORS: TRIBUTE TO THE DOORS
The Intersection
133 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. SW, Grand Rapids June 23, 7 p.m. sectionlive.com
With great attention to detail, The Ultimate Doors provide their audiences with an authentic looking and sounding tribute to Jim Morrison & The Doors. From Jim Morrison’s leather outfits all the way down to the color of the microphone cable, The Ultimate Doors leaves no stone unturned in bringing an authentic Doors tribute show to the stage.
THE INSIDERS: A TRIBUTE TO TOM PETTY Midtown GR
123 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids June 23, 7:30 p.m. themidtowngr.com
Close your eyes and you won’t know the difference. Open them and you still might be fooled. The Insiders present the premier Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers experience. With six veteran musicians and decades of combined stage and touring experience, The Insiders are genuinely running down the dream and setting a new standard for Tom Petty tributes.
6/27
MORGAN WALLEN: ONE NIGHT AT A TIME Van Andel Arena
130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids June 27, 7 p.m. vanandelarena.com
Morgan Wallen is an absolute star in the world of country music. With his distinctive voice and heartfelt songwriting, Wallen has made a significant impact on the genre. Hailing from Tennessee, he gained recognition through his appearances on the reality show “The Voice.” Since then, Wallen has released charttopping hits like “Whiskey Glasses” and “7 Summers,” solidifying his status as one of country music’s most promising artists.
6/29
RELAX AT ROSA: COSMIC KNOT
Rosa Parks Circle
135 Monroe Center St. NW, Grand Rapids
June 29, 12-1:30 p.m. downtowngr.com
Every Thursday, all summer, Relax at Rosa offers live music, food and fun. The free lunchtime entertainment series features an incredible lineup of local musical talent, a variety of food truck offerings and oversized outdoor games for all to enjoy.
Relax at Rosa gives workers the opportunity to step away from their desks, get out of the office, and enjoy the benefits of working in a vibrant Downtown.
6/30
Smiling Acres
3060 N. Johnson Rd., Trufant
June 30-July 2 smilingacresfestival.com
Located on 40 acres of incredible ground under Michigan’s wide-open skies, Smiling Acres Music Festival is three days of music, food, art, camping, and community. People from all over come out to hear a spectacular lineup of musicians –but the music is only the beginning! In addition to dozens of incredible bands from across the country and near to home, there’s also yoga, food vendors, workshops, and artists of all kinds. Plus an open mic, so you can do a performance of your own.
Much like the beer and spirits we love in Grand Rapids, cannabis has gone craft.
Arriving on the scene in early April, Love Supreme Craft Cannabis is just one of three “microbusinesses” in all of West Michigan. As a microbusiness, they can only sell their own products and are limited to just 150 plants at a time (though advocates are working on increasing that cap to give these smaller businesses a better chance).
We stopped in to visit and chat with owner Skyelar Hoort, and the whole crew showed us the ropes.
Drive south from the city on 131 and in no time you’ll see a building with a large flower mural on the side, done by local artist and art teacher George Eberhardt. The exit ramp there practically drops you right
into the Love Supreme parking lot, making it one of the most accessible cannabis stores in town.
When you walk in, rather than a sterile waiting room staffed with security guards, you’re greeted to a cozy little counter area decorated with vintage furniture and art. The whole vibe here is a mix of the ’70s and the modern, resulting in a comfortable, yet hip atmosphere. This aesthetic also comes through with the name, Love Supreme, inspired by John Coltrane’s masterpiece album.
Step around the corner and you arrive at the flower bar, an area to chat with the budtenders and examine the offerings. It’s set up just like a craft brewery, complete with barstools, a chalkboard menu, and someone to walk you through the experience. There’s also a shop, selling stylish and completely unique bongs, bowls and other smoking accessories,
alongside art and accessories from local artists.
At the bar, you can see and smell the cannabis up close, using cute heart-shaped bowls, while learning more from the budtenders. Hoort said every worker there also spends time in the back, learning about the grow operation and helping to trim and cure the flower.
Plus, the current budtenders all have experience in the restaurant and bar industry, so they not only know the cannabis strains inside out, they know how to ask questions and guide customers to the best experience. They can even tell you exactly which terpenes are in each strain, according to their lab.
The menu itself is limited, with just six strains when I visited (though a new harvest should be hitting shelves in the near
future), but that’s not really a downside. At Love Supreme, you don’t have to sort through dozens of different strains you’ve never heard of, from growers you’ve never heard of. You have a small selection of the best of the best, narrowed down by their team over months of work too complex to go into detail here. The grow team at Love Supreme are also all former caregivers, bringing another layer of expertise to the tightknit crew.
When I visited, Love Supreme was in the process of switching to a hydroponics system created by the Byron Center-based Hydra Unlimited. Aside from that system, everything they do is by hand, which lends to the “craft” moniker. That includes their ice water hash, a method of making cannabis concentrates that doesn’t use any solvents—such as CO2 or butane—or big machines, just agitating by hand. This hash is then used to make vape cartridges and tasty edibles!
Personally, I took home three different strains as pre-rolls. I’m not a weed sommelier, but I will say the Hella Jelly was sweet and fruity, and simply a fun time. The Cold Feet was uniquely tasty and very light, giving more of a body high. Then there’s the Ice Cream Cake, which smells so good they had me sniff the BIG jar. The high was potent and pleasant enough that the joint lasted multiple sessions.
Hoort and her team come from the restaurant and bar world—
you may know her husband Todd Hoort and Love Supreme’s head grower Christopher Weimer as the co-owners of Linear Restaurant. When the industry got going five years ago, they tried to apply and secure a spot but where quickly edged out by the big players.
Hoort said the initial heartbreak just strengthened her resolve, and she then realized microbusinesses have more options in terms of licenses and available buildings. While they originally planned to just be a grow operation, they quickly realized this type of business, where they could interact with customers and create a community, was a much better fit.
Going forward, Love Supreme plans to keep producing quality flower while building that community with events like artisan markets and potentially a consumption space down the road. Hoort also hopes to use their kitchen expertise to create unique edibles, such as THC honey and chocolate bars.
They’re just getting started, but Love Supreme is already a unique and special place, with plenty of room to grow. As Hoort puts it, “We’re going to evolve as our city evolves.” ■
An unprecedented super-group of over 20 female and non-binary performers will take the stage at The Pyramid Scheme on June 22 for a first-ever event for the West Michigan Music Scene.
Featuring Jennifer Barlett of Lokella, Grace Theisen, Erin Zindle of The Ragbirds, Hannah Rose Graves, Kait Rose, Dani Darling, Carolyn Striho, Cailtin Cusack, Rachel White of Lighting Matches, Kanin Wren, Fay Burns, Shelby Leigh of Nathan Walton & The Remedy, Melissa Dylan, Suong Nhu Pham, Miranda McAllister of Deep Enough, Clare Crumback aka Empress Eyes, Meg Hainer, Rosie Cusack, Hals Smedstad, and Elle Lively, the show brings together professional and aspiring performers of all ages, backgrounds and genres to celebrate women in rock music.
From longtime performers like Striho, who has played with the legendary Patti Smith, to new artists like Kanin Wren, who is just breaking into the music scene, the show welcomes women from around West Michigan and across the state to share their talents and their love of music equally.
“Building this community of women who support and celebrate each other is super rewarding,” Elle Lively told Revue. “It isn’t common. Especially in this business, we are almost pushed to tear each other down to get a leg up. We are taught that there is only room for so much talent and that is just not true… We’re building a longer table! We’re stronger together and this show is embodying collaboration over competition.”
A Music Collaboration Facilitator and Music Business Consultant for Crooked Tree Creative,
Lively began what has become the Women of Rock Tribute Show back in 2019, before the pandemic, when she brought together a group of 14 women to cover Fleetwood Mac’s classic “The Chain” in 2019.
“Having been in the industry a few years, I had experienced firsthand some of the struggles that are unique to being a woman in music,” Lively said. “I wanted to bring some visibility to impressive talent and send a message that we are powerful together.”
Confronting how easy it is for women to compete for gigs and other opportunities rather than lift each other up, Lively hoped the collaborative project would foster a community for female artists in the area.
Third Coast Recording Company in Grand Haven shared her vision, and helped record the cover, which the group later performed again live at the WYCE Jammie Awards.
Following the massive disconnect caused by the pandemic and social distancing, Lively sent out a call in 2021 to cover Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” in celebration of International Women’s Day.
Earlier this year the group gathered together again for a rendition of Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” which they shot on video and shared on social media. That led to talks of how to further showcase all of their collected talent.
“I am of the belief that when you get a group of driven women together to work towards one goal, things can happen really quickly, and this process has only reiterated that notion,” Jennifer Bartlett said.
Bartlett and singer/songwriter Grace Theisen soon joined on with Lively to organize the
| by Eric MittsWomen of Rock Tribute as a live show featuring the large ensemble all together onstage.
“Initially, our main goal in doing this was just to pay tribute to the women who have come before us and paved the way for us to ‘rock’ onstage and have a voice in the industry,” Theisen said. “But then a lot more people wanted to be a part of it, so we decided to broaden our horizons and try to get as many people as involved as possible, even if they didn’t identify as a woman. At the end of the day, men are still dominating the industry, so this show has become one in which we get to highlight some of the marginalized groups who aren’t getting enough representation. I always say, if someone doesn’t invite you onto their stage, go and build your own, and that is exactly what we are doing.”
Lining up schedules, rehearsals, photoshoots, and sponsors, and paring down the show to 27 songs, complete with costume changes and countless collaborations, the Women of Rock Tribute took a lot of time, and a lot of work, from a lot of women behind the scenes.
“If we had gone with our original set list full of songs that warrant being considered, it would have been an eight-hour show,” Lively said. “There is no shortage of great rock music from female icons.”
Making sure to include songs by legends
like Janis Joplin, Patti Smith, Carly Simon, Tina Turner, and Kate Bush, the show will also include favorites by Shania Twain, Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse, Paramore, No Doubt, Alanis Morissette, and more.
“I certainly hope that this project helps to give women and non-binary folk a push into music, but if it only helps to support even one person’s confidence in their journey, it’s a win,” she said. “There is so much more work that needs to be done, but we can only move one step at a time.”
Helping take that first step are the event’s sponsors including key sponsor Nutrl Vodka Seltzer, which will be the official beverage of the show, as well as Broad Leaf Brewery, Morning Belle, Stan’s Tacos, and ProCare Unlimited. A portion of the proceeds from the show will go to Girls Rock Grand Rapids to help fund their summer programs, where young women go to learn an instrument and find their voice.
“Women average $0.70 to every male $1,” Lively said. “Female artists earn 88 percent less in their bonuses compared to male artists. Women deserve equal pay. Our goal is to pay every artist involved a fair wage for their time and talent. We hope this sets an example for future artists and organizers who want to support women in music in our area.” ■
Few comedians have put West Michigan on the map quite like Jordan Klepper.
Born and raised in Kalamazoo, Klepper has become best-known for his “Fingers The Pulse” segments on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.” Often going viral online and racking up millions of views, the clips find Klepper interviewing attendees at Trump rallies and other MAGA events, including documenting the events at the capitol on January 6, 2021.
But before venturing out into the field to confront the most conspiratorially-minded citizens in our now extremely polarized political climate, he fondly remembers growing up in Kalamazoo.
Klepper graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School, and the Kalamazoo Math and Science Center, in 1997. He went on to graduate from Kalamazoo College in 2001, where he doublemajored in Math and Theatre. While there he also joined Monkapult, the student improv comedy group.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life when I went to college,” Klepper told REVUE. “I knew I was good at math and science, but I wasn’t sure if that was the career for me. And I jumped on an improv team at K, and I loved it and immediately started taking theater classes, and went to Chicago to see the improv community there, and really opened up to the possibility.”
After graduation Klepper moved to Chicago, where he joined the famed Second City, and went on to both teach comedy, and tour with the company nationally.
Growing up, Klepper also had a unique look into the world of comedy as his mom’s cousin is fellow Michigan comedian Tim Allen.
“My dad went to Central Michigan (University) and Tim was his college roommate there,” Klepper said. “And that’s kind of how (my parents) got together.”
Seeing Allen both at family holidays, and on TV in the ‘90s during the heyday on his hit ABC sitcom “Home Improvement,”
Klepper said he started connecting those worlds, even though he didn’t see himself heading that direction.
Klepper said he did talk with Allen some about the world of TV and comedy, but he ultimately took a different path, as Allen had ground along in the standup circuit, hitting comedy clubs, while Klepper dove into improv, taking classes, spending nights with groups, and writing sketches.
After about a decade in Chicago, Klepper and his wife, comedian Laura Grey, moved to New York, where they started working with the acclaimed Upright Citizens Brigade. His work there, as well as several short films and web series, led to a sudden audition with “The Daily Show,” then hosted by Jon Stewart, in 2014, where he became a correspondent nearly on the spot.
Klepper spent three years on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” before hosting his own Comedy Central late-night show “The Opposition with Jordan Klepper,” in 2017. He then rejoined “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” in 2019, and following Noah’s departure last year, most recently had the opportunity to guest host the show for a week back in April.
“What’s exciting about ‘The Daily Show’ is when you get a week, they ask you what you’re passionate about, the things you want to talk about,” Klepper said. “Part of the show is reflecting on what happened in the moment nationally that day, but also a few weeks prior we get to make some plans about topics, and people you want to talk with.”
So Klepper took that opportunity to interview Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo.
“As I told the governor, that’s where my son took his first steps,” Klepper said. “I’ve spent many hours into the deep nights at that brewery. And so to get a chance to be at home, and talk to the governor about issues that were important to myself and the people that I know are affected by those issues, was kind of a real dream scenario.”
With his family in attendance for the taping of the show in New York, the week stood out as a highlight in Klepper’s comedy journey that he was all too happy to share with his community back home. When the Kalamazoo Public Library reached out to him about coming back to help celebrate the library’s 150th anniversary this year, he emphatically said yes.
“I think libraries are such an important resource for a community, to get information, to get curiosity, and to get books,” Klepper said. “They’re also a symbol of curiosity and of knowledge in a way that all communities should have.”
Citing how society is in an information crisis right now, with libraries all over the country under attack, and books being banned, Klepper shared how he felt honored to talk publicly about the importance of having reliable sources of information freely and widely available.
“People want to control the narratives and the stories we tell,” he said. “And this is how we come to grips with the news. It’s how we come to grips with the society we live in. We tell stories. We’re exposed to different stories and different points of view. The library has always been a place where you can go there and you can engage with these stories. You can develop
your point of view, you can find information on your own. And the fact that that’s under attack right now is really scary to me.”
Klepper will lead a discussion on his career, his work out in the field facing down misinformation at MAGA rallies, and his connection to Kalamazoo, when he joins the library for an event called “Celebrating Books While They’re Still Legal!” June 30 at Miller Auditorium. The event is free, however, online preregistration has already reached capacity.
Klepper will also be doing a book signing at the Kalamazoo Public Library on June 30, from 4-5:30 p.m., where he will sign any book anyone brings in or purchases from the Friends of the KPL Bookstore, as he has not yet written a book himself.
“The whole purpose of this, I’m going to do a talk about some of these big issues, and then it’s opening it up to a big Q&A with the audience,” Klepper said about the event. “So the idea was, ‘Let’s have a conversation, see what people are curious about.’ If you want to talk books, if you want to talk politics, if you want to talk any experiences that I’ve had in the past, I am, for
| by Eric Mittslack of a better term, an open book, and will be that day.”
In addition to his regular appearances on “The Daily Show,” Klepper also hosts the podcast, “Jordan Klepper Fingers The Conspiracy,” where he and guests dive deep into many of the most troubling conspiracies of our time.
“I think we are in such a dire place right now, because we have more access to information than we ever have in human history,” Klepper said. “But because of that, you have people who are curating that information and controlling it so that you see just the things that you want to see. And so we’re crafting these separate strange narratives and it can be used for nefarious purposes. And it has put us in places where it’s being weaponized against one another.
“So the age of information, it’s a unique one, and it’s one that I think we need to have more open conversations about how we can get good credible information and how we can trust that information. Because if you can’t trust the info that you’re basing your ideas off of, then you lose the ability to have any kind of true conversations about important issues.” ■
CELEBRATING BOOKS WHILE THEY’RE STILL LEGAL! –A TALK WITH JORDAN KLEPPER Miller Auditorium, 2200 Auditorium Dr., Kalamazoo June 30, 7-9:30 p.m., Free (online pre-registration is currently at capacity) Kpl.gov, (269) 553-7800
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by Allison Kay Bannister
THE DECK | 1601 Beach St., Muskegon
Located in Muskegon, The Deck is really the granddaddy of patios. It’s incredibly spacious with decks that wrap around the restaurant and sprawl out toward the shores of Lake Michigan. The upper deck is full service for food and beverages, while the lower deck is self-serve. There are swings, games, and volleyball, as well as live music at select times. What’s not to love?
COTTAGE BAR | 18 La Grave Ave. SE, Grand Rapids
About as polar opposite as you can get from The Deck, the Cottage Bar patio is a small, urban space tucked away in the alley next to the restaurant itself. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in intimacy and vintage charm. Grab one of the best burgers in GR and chill out in this casual, old-school spot.
BREWERY VIVANT | 925 Cherry St. SE, Grand Rapids
An East Hills institution, Vivant’s patio serves up European-inspired beers, plus eats that are as modest as pomme frites and beer cheese or as outré as duck nachos, bone marrow, and oysters. Sit in the shadow of the historic structure that was once a chapel and funeral home while enjoying the energy of the often-bustling Cherry Street.
CEDAR SPRINGS BREWING COMPANY | 95 N Main St. NE, Cedar Springs
Worth the short drive, this Cedar Springs hotspot is known for its German-influenced fare and brews. They have a covered—and heated—patio/bier garden for cooler weather that opens up as warmer days roll in. They offer bier hall-style counter service and put on special events, such as Jeep Nights on Thursday evenings during the summer.
HORROCKS | 4455 Breton Rd. SE, Kentwood
The best thing this specialty market ever did, in our opinion, was grow its space to include a tavern and beer garden. Get your shopping done, then grab a table or Adirondack chair and relax outside in the sun or shade with one of their roughly 50 rotating craft beers, ciders, and meads on tap. You can even take home a growler to go, to enjoy on your own patio!
One thing we love about Graydon’s is that it’s almost always possible to get a seat—in a city where the dining scene is always packed. This is thanks to not one, but two large patios; one on the ground level and one on the upper deck. The food has a British pub vibe with Indian flair, and their beer selection is as expansive as the space.
This is another spot for patios upon patios, with its large biergarten, as well as wraparound, covered deck. As the afternoon winds down to evening, families begin to filter in to enjoy a place where they can relax with friends around a firepit and their littles can run around. There are also yard games, including corn hole and bocce ball.
This is definitely one of those hidden gems, as it is, in fact, a little hidden. But, once you get around the bend, it opens up into sizeable grounds with communal-style picnic tables and pockets of smaller seating all around. The perfect setting for sipping on craft ciders! They don’t serve food directly, but they have a rotating selection of local food truck on most days.
If you’re into people watching, you’ll get your fill from the patio of this popular spot where locals flock. Situated in downtown Rockford near the Rogue River Dam and the White Pine Trail, the beautiful surroundings draw everyone out for dog walking, kid strolling, and beverage sipping within the Rockford Outdoor Refreshment Area (RORA).
THE TOASTED PICKLE | 17 Squires St. Square NE, Rockford
Right near Rockford Brewing Company, The Toasted Pickle offers many of the same appeals. It has a nice-sized deck overlooking the Rogue River and the menu is as interesting as the name. More than just a sandwich joint, they also serve beer, wine, cocktails, and fresh-squeezed lemonade in more than a dozen flavors—and you can even add boba!
THE HOLIDAY BAR | 801 5th St. NW, Grand Rapids
Ahhh... finally, it’s beginning to look a lot like summer. And not the pretend summer that pops up between surprise snowfalls in April and sometimes May—it appears to be the real thing this time! That means, all around West Michigan, eateries and imbiberies are feeling confident about putting out chairs and umbrellas and opening up their outdoor spaces to those who want to soak up the sun while they dine.
On the next warm day, where will you pull up a seat? We have some suggestions!
This Westside/Bestside favorite has been in business for more than 115 years, so they’ve had some time to figure out what the people want. Ask anyone—really, we asked!—and they’ll tell you to hit the patio and bier garden at The Holiday if you’re looking for a great place to have a delicious meal in the open air.
THE FRIESIAN | 720 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids
A Midtown neighborhood gastro pub, The Friesian has a covered, lower-level patio that’s enclosed and heated during colder months, as well as a gorgeous rooftop deck that opens in warmer weather. It has a laid-back energy and eclectic menu—and desserts you’ll want to save room for!
We don’t have the space to name them all, but these are some of our top picks in the region. Summer’s short; get out here and soak it all in! ■
It’s always good to have options on hand, especially when it comes to beverages.
Now that a huge swath of West Michigan is familiar with the basics of craft beer, cider and seltzer, it’s time to move into the experimentation and innovation phase. This has led to the latest trend in craft beverages: variety packs.
These packs are hardly new, but more breweries are releasing their own offerings than ever before. It’s a great way to not only find new favorites, but enjoy brews made exclusively for those variety packs.
While these offerings change with the seasons, here are just a few of the local variety packs we’ve seen in stores recently:
GREEN ZEBRA PACK
Love fruity goses? If so, this is the pack for you. Watermelon, pineapple, mango and peach—you get three of each of these slightly sour, slightly salty brews.
FOUNDERS
ALL DAY VARIETY PACK
The beer that helped grow Founders into a huge success deserves a variety pack. If you like IPAs so much, you want to be able to drink multiple throughout the day and not fall over, this is the pack for you. The pack has the classic All Day IPA, a Hazy variation, a West Coast IPA variation, and a Red IPA variation called Crimson Sky, which is exclusive to the pack.
FARMHOUSE FLIGHT
PERRIN BREWING
FLOAT DRINKS
Perrin went for true variety with their summer pack perfect for tubing, kayaking or beaching. This 12can pack has Passion Fruit Gose, a funky and fun summer brew; Willo Wheat, a classic hopped wheat ale; and Rewired Pineapple Tangerine, a fruity and refreshing hard seltzer!
STARCUT CIDERS
VARIETY PACK
If you’re more of an apple fan, check out Starcut Ciders (part of Short’s Brewing) variety pack, which includes Pulsar, a dry cider fermented with pinot noir yeast; Octorock, classic cider; Mosa, blended with orange juice; and Imago, a packexclusive cider with ginger and lemon.
SAUGATUCK BREWING
A TRIP TO THE ART COAST
Brand new to shelves is this themed variety pack made of classic styles. The pack includes the new Rainbow Rodeo IPA, made with 5 different hops; the new Vienna Lager, a malty, amber take on the style; Bonfire Brown, a fan favorite; and Lake Street Lager, another easy-drinking mainstay.
Vivant-heads love the classics, so that’s what this farmhouse brewery is offering with their first pack. Nine cans, three beers, each one pint: Farm Hand farmhouse ale, Hop Field farmhouse IPA, and Big Red Coq red IPA.
Bell’s is known for a lot of great things, but if you had to pick one, it would probably be Two Hearted Ale, one of the most popular IPAs around anywhere. So, they built their variety pack around this brew, along with Official Hazy IPA, and two pack exclusives: Juicy Gossip, a juicy session IPA, and West Coast Hazy IPA, which is exactly what it sounds like!
It’s not all IPAs and lagers! Odd Side now has enough different hard seltzer flavors to have multiple different variety packs. One pack in stores includes tropical flavors like POG, Lemon Elderflower, Fuzzy Navel, and Pina Colada. Another pack focused on cocktails, offering Blueberry Mojito, Cosmopolitan and Moscow Mule.
This year, New Holland has introduced a new beer (or rather, returning) exclusive to the variety pack, Zoomer, a nice and sessionable wheat ale. The pack also includes Hazy River, a New England IPA; Tangerine Space Machine, a citrusy hazy IPA; and Lightpoint, a very crushable (it’s just 3.7% ABV) white ale. ■
| by John Kissane
West Michigan is flush with family-friendly events and attractions. From indoor places to play and explore to outdoor adventures, there are tons of top-notch places to bring the whole family (or, just your friends, if you’re young at heart). But what you might not know is that many of these attractions have special experiences you can enjoy with just a little extra time and/or money—so let’s take a look at some of the best family friendly attractions around, and their unique offerings.
Saugatuck Dune Rides offers exactly that: a chance to ride through sandy dunes, strapped into an open-top vehicle while learning from a local expert. One online reviewer wrote that “the dune rides were amazing! We had no idea how much we would learn and how much we would laugh.” Be sure to book early; two weeks’ of time open for booking each day, at 12:01 AM.
Alto’s Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park allows you to spend some time with creatures we sometimes forget that we share the world with: giraffes, camels, antelope, and more. There are 23 varieties of waterfowl alone. And if you take advantage of one of the park’s VIP Animal Encounters, you can take part in behind-the-scenes, guided encounters with rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and penguins.
On Front Street in Grand Rapids, you can take in Fish Ladder Park . Designed by Joseph Kinnebrew, it’s been described as both brutalist architecture and aid to migrating fish. Visitors can take in the action before rounding out the afternoon with a picnic, fishing, or swimming.
For the indoor-inclined, Grand Rapids Public Museum is a short walk away. Don’t forget that the museum has not just exhibits to explore, but a newly renovated carousel, a brand-new special Mastodon presentation, and a slate of fascinating planetarium shows that range from educational to mindbending.
Why not spend the night at Portage’s Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum ? Whether you’re interested in aviation, space travel, or both, the Air Zoo has programs designed to stimulate young minds. After all, anyone can sleep in a sleeping bag, but how many people can sleep in a sleeping bag under an SR-71B Blackbird? As a bonus, the museum’s overnight programs count toward certain elective requirements for Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Nelis’ Dutch Village , in Holland, appeals to more than just the tulip-obsessed. Visitors can take in rides, a petting farm, and demonstrations of Dutch dancing, shoemaking, and more. Kids will enjoy making their own stroopwafel cookies, while everyone will be charmed and perhaps astonished by the golden angel street organ. And you can buy your own wooden shoes there—and, yes, tulip bulbs.
You don’t need us to tell you John Ball Zoo is a top-tier family attraction, but did you know there are special experiences to join in on all season long? Check out the Twilight Tours, which let you see the zoo in a new light and occur most Fridays and Saturdays, right before sunset. Or sign up for one of the Behind the Scenes tours that lets kids see special spots close up, such as the Under the Sea tour, which gives you the chance to touch a sea star and urchin while learning about how the aquarium is kept clean and running. There’s also the African Savannah tour, giving you a sneak peek of the bongos, warthogs and hornbills habitats. PLUS, they offer animal encounters and feedings with red pandas and penguins, but these are more premium (pricey) experiences.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a perennial draw, and not just for its open air summer concert series. From the huge, beautiful marble faces adorning the walls of one room to the understated beauty of its Japanese garden, it dazzles. Kids can burn through their energy in the children’s garden before standing in awe beneath Leonardo Da Vinci’s Horse.
Action Wake Park is known for water sports and cable wakeboarding, but they’re adding an even more family friendly experience this summer with an outdoor water park! This inflatable aqua park features 10 fun elements to run across, climb on and jump off of. You can even book the waterpark for a private party if you’re looking for your summer child’s unique birthday celebration.
School may be over, but learning is eternal: sorry, kids. Seeking out West Michigan’s historical markers can make that learning fun, and can help even adults realize how much history has happened around them. Finding them can turn into something like a treasure hunt: there, another one! Read, learn, and—why not?—snap a selfie. After all, it’s summer. ■
There’s so much more to do with friends in West Michigan than just eating and drinking.
Especially as a segment of people shift away from alcohol and seek out other ways to gather, it’s key to know about fun options available year-round in town. Casual games, brain-teasing challenges, VIP experiences—we have a wide variety of activities and attractions for a great day with friends.
From immersive escape rooms to adrenalinepumping axe throwing, and even cooking together, here are some fantastic places where you and your friends can have an unforgettable time in West Michigan.
ESCAPE ROOMS: Unlock the Adventure
Escape rooms have gained immense popularity in recent years, and West Michigan has a variety of captivating options to choose from. These interactive experiences challenge your problem-solving skills and teamwork while providing an exciting adventure. With multiple themed rooms to choose from, such as solving a murder mystery or escaping a zombie apocalypse, you and your friends will be immersed in a thrilling race against the clock.
A few options: The Great Escape Room, The Ruse, Locked460
AXES AND ALLIES:
Axe Throwing Fun
The satisfaction of hitting a target, the exhilarating experience of challenging your skills, the friendly competition between peers, and a little bit of physical activity—just a few reasons why axe throwing has exploded in popularity recently, not to mention all the other experiences local spots have begun to offer. For instance, FlannelJax has not just axe throwing, but crosscut sawing and “Thump the Stump” too. Anywhere you go to throw, experienced instructors will guide you, so you don’t need to be a lumberjack to join.
A few options: FlannelJax, Wood-Splitters, BattleGR Tactical Games
For a more laid-back yet entertaining night, gather your friends and head to a bar with board games. One of the best spots around for this is House Rules Lounge, which combines craft beer, cocktails, non-alcoholic drinks and board games, creating the perfect atmosphere for a game night extravaganza. Choose from a massive extensive selection of board games or bring your own! Unwind, strategize, and engage in friendly competition as you bond over the nostalgic joy of tabletop gaming.
For a truly unique and entertaining experience, head to the “Fowling Warehouse” in Grand Rapids. Fowling is a hybrid game that combines elements of football and bowling, aiming to knock down the opposing team’s pins by throwing a football at them. It’s an exciting and social activity that lets you and your friends compete in a casual way, cheering and laughing the whole time. The Fowling Warehouse provides the perfect setting with multiple lanes, a large bar, and a lively atmosphere that guarantees an evening filled with fun and friendly competition.
Unleash your creativity and enjoy a night of painting and sipping at one of the many studios around town. Gather your friends and follow step-by-step instructions from experienced artists to create your own masterpiece. Whether you’re a seasoned painter or a novice, this lively and relaxed environment is perfect for unleashing your inner artist while enjoying your favorite beverages. Take home your artwork as a memento of your fun-filled evening with friends.
A few options: Painting with a Twist, Brush Studio, Wine and Canvas
Step into the realm of virtual reality (VR) and embark on extraordinary adventures with your friends. Virtual reality arcades provide a wide variety of play experiences, where you can explore virtual worlds, fight zombies, solve puzzles, or engage in multiplayer battles. Whether you just want to play some classic VR or immerse yourself in one of the newer, more unique free-roaming experiences that take things to the next level, West Michigan has it all.
A few options: Amped VR, Nova VR, Zero Latency
A chef’s table is a very unique dining experience that often involves sitting inside the kitchen. While we don’t have exactly that available in town (though you might be able to make it happen with enough charm (and money)), there are two chef’s tables to choose from in GR. Since opening, One Twenty Three in Studio Park has offered a chef’s table, which sits near the kitchen, and the chef will create an entirely unique menu just for you, based on your preferences. Meanwhile, Noto’s offers a similar experience in the wine cellar or the center of the dining room, with customized multi-course meals.
Discover the art of culinary excellence at The Local Epicurean in Grand Rapids. Offering a range of engaging and hands-on cooking classes, this renowned establishment invites food enthusiasts of all skill levels to expand their culinary horizons. Led by expert chefs, these classes provide a unique opportunity to learn essential techniques, explore global flavors, and create delectable dishes using locally sourced ingredients. ■
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| by Zachary Avery
What started as a temporary skatepark in this city-owned vacant lot has rapidly blossomed into a go-to for outdoor recreational activities for all ages. Boasting a fair variety of stairs, rails, small ramps, and one halfpipe, this is the perfect spot for more experienced skaters to practice new tricks or novices to see what’s possible. With its diversity in obstacles and large park size, the 555 Monroe skatepark is also suitable for rollerblades, scooters and bikes. Be mindful, however, of the position of your fellow skateboarders. Since this park is nearest to downtown of all three, it tends to fill up quite quickly, especially on weekends. If you’re tackling some of the larger obstacles, make sure to keep your head on a swivel and wait your turn.
Personally, this was the perfect spot to begin my skating journey. Being able to tackle certain tricks at my own pace and difficulty level (thanks to the sheer variety of options) has been crucial to my development as a skater. Here, it’s not uncommon to be skating alongside a mother/daughter duo, a father and his two pre-school age kids, or a middle-aged couple who maybe haven’t ridden a board for decades. It’s uplifting to see how much the hobby has grown over the years and keeps growing.
In 2015, the city of Grand Rapids lifted a ban that had prohibited skateboarding throughout any of the downtown area. Since then, we have seen a boom in activity from old and new skaters alike who have already begun to lay down the groundwork for making GR a home for their favorite pastime. We spoke with Chris Gray, art director at Premier skateshop, who shared some of the insights and history on the local scene’s progress thus far:
546
About 13 years ago, the city of Grand Rapids granted stewardship of the abandoned Roberto Clemente Park lot over to a local committee who sought to adapt the space into a community built and community funded skatepark. Since that first venture, Clemente DIY has asserted itself as quite possibly the best spot in GR.
“You dream it up, you can make it,” Gray said. “The fact that it’s not perfect almost makes it more appealing. It’s like skating a street spot, which is more of a novelty.”
The differences between 555 and Clemente are night and day. While the park at Monroe sits neatly downtown with plenty of flat ground and open space, Clemente DIY feels out in the woods, nestled in its own pocket of experimental thinking. Obstacles form themselves almost organically at Clemente, and new ones emerge all the time. For instance, a long slappy curb and a wide variety of ledges and banks create a familiar atmosphere for skaters, but the old court’s cracked, segmented concrete base offers another unique feature.
“All the stuff we had built at Rosa Parks Circle, we took down to Clemente,” Gray said. “We slowly progressed and started learning concrete and what we could build with that. Clemente has been an evolution of getting better at building and getting more creative.”
Another beloved trait of Clemente DIY is its long history of community events. The famous “Clemente Games” drew in huge groups of skaters to try some of the most difficult obstacles at the park, while also adding in entertaining challenges that forced competitors to switch their style on the fly (a pushing Mongo race and “pole vault” contest come to mind).
Leading the community effort for Clemente DIY, Gray is also in charge of the recent GoFundMe campaign found at the park’s Instagram page (@diyclemente), contributing to the volunteers and business leaders who regularly repair and support their park.
Witnessing these skate contests firsthand, Gray enjoys seeing how the various styles, techniques and tricks of yesteryear blend together and reform. In this way, skateboarding and its surrounding culture seems best described as an artform rather than a sport. Gray especially agrees with the sentiment that certain athletic events (namely, Olympic skateboarding) can actually detract from the activity’s unique style and desensitize audiences to what’s possible on a board.
“It’s not relatable for me,” Gray said. “It doesn’t have to be the largest trick in the world to be interesting. Half of it’s about style and having a unique look at skateboarding.”
752 Watson St. SW, Grand Rapids
Last but not least, we have Westown Commons, or “Straight St” as it’s typically called. With this park’s lack of obstacle variety and open space, Gray believes Straight St might not always cater toward a beginner. While the other parks have sections that almost reflect different difficulties in skating, at Westown, what you see is what you get. With that said, the convenient neighborhood location offers a calm, quiet atmosphere to get outdoors and exercise. Still, Westown offers a service that local skaters remain starved for: Room to properly enjoy their hobby and passion.
“It was always a battle for space,” Gray said. “The issue has always been money and not having funding to do it. And none of us are fundraisers.”
The fact is that really great skateparks, like Grant Plaza in Chicago or Riverside Park in Detroit, cost a substantial amount of money, sometimes ballooning to half a million or a million dollars. Despite these hurdles, there is certainly enthusiasm from local government to construct a proper park. In the ongoing “River For All” project, which focuses on revitalizing waterfront access and attractions between Riverside and Millennium Park, a potential spot has already been laid out as the ideal home for a new, permanent skatepark. Little is known as to how long it will take to reach that point, however.
“There’s really great skatepark designers out there and companies,” Gray said. “It’s just getting the money in our hands and getting the space secured.”
If you’re looking to get started in skateboarding but not sure how to begin, we have the perfect thing. On July 15, Premier will be partnering with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks to hold an all-day event at Clemente DIY. Designed with beginners in mind, the “Gear Library” through Grand Rapids’ GR Outside program will also be accessible, with skateboards ready to rent. With beer and food, contests, pro skater appearances, and a late-night video premiere, Gray and his team of passionate volunteers look forward to continually introducing the wider Grand Rapids community to how amazing skating can be.
“We’ll have all-new features, ones that will be brought down just for the event,” Gray said. “Modifying things, maybe adding onto and repairing a few things. It’ll really finish the park.”
With all that in mind, are you still nervous to drop into skateboarding for the first time? Gray has advice on why it’s time to finally try it yourself:
“It’s so freeform, and it can be whatever you want it to be,” Gray said. “Skate downtown, that’s what I did growing up. You find stuff to skate along the way, and it puts you out in an environment you might not always be in. I’ve met so many people of different ages, different cultures and different races that I would never have met without skateboarding. It’s given me a lot of perspective on the world.” ■
| by Michaela Stock
As a sought-after tattoo artist with a niche for nature-inspired designs, Audrey Kacel has become one of West Michigan’s most in-demand tattooers. Originally a printmaker, Kacel got her start tattooing as an apprentice at Htown Ink in 2019. Despite learning how to tattoo during the COVID-19 shutdown, Audrey grew her clientele online, and she increased her Instagram following from a few hundred to over ten thousand followers in less than five years. As of this month, Audrey and her business partner Ryan Schlinz have opened their own shop–a vibey, intimate studio located in Holland’s South Shore district called Broken Vessel Tattoo.
Having given hundreds of tattoos, we asked Kacel to break down the do’s and dont’s behind a successful tattoo appointment. From booking inquiries to aftercare, Kacel shares typical studio etiquette, as well as her own tips on how to get the most out of the tattooing experience.
HOW SHOULD A CLIENT CONTACT AN ARTIST FOR A TATTOO, TYPICALLY? AND WHAT INFORMATION DO YOU NEED WHEN THEY DO SEND YOU THAT INITIAL INQUIRY?
It depends on what the artist personally likes. I have a booking link that, when my books are open, people can fill out. It asks you about the placement, sizing, what you want, reference pictures, and the vibe you’re going for, so all the information is laid out in a nice, easy way. It’s a good idea to have all these details in your mind before you approach a tattoo artist, because that will help them give you a good quote or estimate on how much it could cost.
WHEN CREATING A DESIGN FOR A CUSTOMER, WHAT SHOULD THEY EXPECT IN REGARDS TO REVISIONS?
My revision policy is that I will do one complete redraw of a design without charging extra. Some people just want to see a bunch of options, but that’s a waste of my time because they only end up getting one of the designs. People don’t realize how much time it takes. I also feel like that’s on the artist to be clear about expectations. I’ve had some clients ask for sketches months ahead of their appointment, but I have months of tattoos lined up ahead of them. I always tell people when to expect art.
I would just say for especially first time tattooers, people who want their first tattoo, definitely do your research about artists. If you want to fine line tattoo, don’t go to a traditional tattooer. Look for somebody who does the style that you want to do.
WHAT IS THE ETIQUETTE AROUND THE CLIENT GIVING A TATTOO ARTIST FULL ARTISTIC FREEDOM TO CREATE A CUSTOM DESIGN FOR THEM?
You would think that this would be an artist’s dream situation, but I’ve found that if it’s a new client who’s never been to me before, I hate it, because I don’t know what they like. They could say, “Do whatever flowers you want,” and then I draw peonies or something, and they’re like, “Oh, but not those.” If you’re truly going to give artistic freedom, that’s super great. But if you have any semblance of an idea of what you want, you should probably communicate that—tell an artist to do what they want, they’re actually going to do what they want to do.
HOW SHOULD A CLIENT PREPARE FOR THEIR APPOINTMENT?
Definitely make sure to bring water and eat food before you go in. Make sure you sleep!
WHEN IT COMES TO THE APPOINTMENT ITSELF, WHAT IS THE ETIQUETTE FOR THE CLIENT BRINGING FRIENDS?
This is shop dependent. Some shops, post-COVID, won’t allow any guests in them. I’m fine if people bring one friend. Any more than that and it gets crazy, because there’s not a lot of space in the booths. Also, when people bring up a lot of friends, they’re all putting their opinion in. Then, all of the sudden, the client is asking for last-minute changes based on their friends. If a tattoo you chose is going to be on your body forever, you probably shouldn’t listen to your friend’s opinions about it.
WHEN THE APPOINTMENT IS OVER, HOW SHOULD THE CLIENT GO ABOUT TIPPING?
With tipping, it’s pretty customary. Like any other service industry, do 15 to 20 percent based on your experience, like getting your haircut or going to a restaurant.
HOW SHOULD A CLIENT CONTACT THEIR ARTIST IF THEIR TATTOO ISN’T HEALING RIGHT?
If we give clients aftercare and things start to look different, or their skin itches, or something feels off, I always encourage them to reach out to me and show me pictures of what’s happening, because obviously I want to help as soon as possible.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY FOR A CUSTOMER TO ASK YOU TO CORRECT SOMETHING THEY DON’T LIKE ABOUT THE DESIGN AFTER THEIR APPOINTMENT?
Ideally the customer communicates earlier down the line in the sketching process that they didn’t like something, but very rarely this does happen. As the client, you should always tell the artist and try to be as nice as possible. I would ask, “Is there anything we can do?” Because sometimes there’s just not. If something is darker than you want it to be, you really can’t make it lighter unless you cover it up with something. It’s better to communicate earlier on, but if that does happen, just manage your expectations.
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT THE ARTIST HAS TO DO BEHIND-THE-SCENES THAT CLIENTS MAY NOT REALIZE?
We’re people, too. We make scheduling mistakes sometimes. I feel like tattoo artists are a little unique in the way that most of us do our own scheduling. We do our own emailing, we do our art. We’re running an entire business by ourselves, so it’s a lot. ■
EVERYWEAR
51 1/2 E. Bridge St., Rockford everywearonline.com
@shop_everywear
GINA’S BOUTIQUE 496 Ada Dr., Ada 214 Butler St., Saugatuck ginasgr.com
@ginasboutique
ENDORA 36 W. Center St., Douglas endorashop.com
@endorabohemian
| by Missy Black & Josh VealSummer gets even sweeter when you have the right gear.
Bold patterns and bright colors, neutral tones and natural materials— whatever your style is, summer is the time to put your true self out there and turn heads. We asked a few local tastemakers sound off on what’s hot this summer and what you can expect to shop in their stores.
Everywear is a new men’s clothing and lifestyle store right in downtown Rockford, offering smart casual clothing, weekend wear, work casual and light technical gear. Whether you want tasteful graphic tees, outdoor accessories or just some quality shirts and pants, they have it all. With this simple summer outfit, Everywear is showing off shirt and pants from Toad & Co, a ballcap from Jetty, belt from Mountain Khaki’s, and shoes from Olukai. Don’t forget your everyday carry needs: The soap is from Maggie Anne Soap Company, and knife is from Titan International.
Style essentials are stocked at Gina’s Boutique in Ada and Saugatuck. You must own a pair of wide-leg pants. Comfortable and trendy, these pants from Z Supply are ideal for hot summer days and come in multiple colors. Versatility is where it’s at and these pants are part of a set so you can wear the coordinating top for the full look or treat them as separates. The pants sync perfectly with sneakers, sandals or a summer wedge. The shop also has fun colorful sunglasses for a pop of color that adds a finishing touch.
Eccentric pieces give your look a vibrancy that screams cool-girl coming through. Endora in Douglas presents have-to-own items that are part of the Summer Starter Kit. If you don’t own a kimono, that’s a shame and something to quickly fix as the shop carries a number of prints, colors and patterns. The Fete Tiger Kimono in white shows off your animal instincts and is hand printed and features pockets and a removable sash for the closure. For $139 this effortless piece is the airy and breathable layer that always feels right. Colorful wrap bracelets are fun to stack and mix and match with current bracelets you own. This Ebba bracelet in a blue colorway is made with wood, glass, beads and a silk tassel for an exotic accessory for $96. It’s the kind of artistic and quirky piece to bring life to monochromatic outfits or basic garments that need a boost.
FOX NATURALS
619 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids fox-naturals.com
@fox_naturals
SECOND VIBESS 13 Division Ave. SW, Grand Rapids secondvibess.com
@second_vibess
LEIGH’S 1942 Breton Rd SE, Grand Rapids leighsfashions.com
@leighs.fashions
A signature scent for the summer? We love that idea. Fox Naturals in Grand Rapids is proud to offer the Cosmic Love Perfume. It’s described as ethereal and captivating as well as bright and romantic. This fragrance is inspired by a world of infinite love and endless possibilities and has notes of peach, pomelo, peony, vanilla, rose and patchouli. It’s priced $25 for mini sprays and $45 for full size spray bottles. Thinking of something more practical that still smells amazing? Enjoy a blissful, bug-free summer with the Botanical Extract Bug Repellent. It’s a gentle and natural bug and insect repellent spray made with essential oils of citronella, cedarwood, palmarosa, lemongrass, eucalyptus and rosemary with vitamin E for extra soft and moisturized skin.
Run by two overwhelmingly stylish young entrepeneurs in GR, Second Vibess features curated vintage and upcycled pieces that are totally unique. For instance, their Flame Totes are 13x13 bags made from old jeans and decorated with denim flames, and they sell out fast! Or check out the Crochet Shrugs, colorful handcrafted sleeves to wear with/over another top. There’s also camo pants and overalls reworked with smiley faces all over, shorts made from a blanket, and much more.
Natural materials and neutral tones are trending for summer 2023, so Leigh’s put together this outfit inspo of neutral accessories, braided jute espadrilles, raffia-wrapped sandals and jewelry, and straw bags. Head to the shop for prices, but outfits include: Jacquemus Le Bob Gadjo bucket hat, Cult Gaia Asha sandals, Poolside The Mak Pearl mini tote bag, Vanessa Baroni Bast necklace and earrings, Jacquemus Le Panier Soli Raphia bag, Cult Gaia Cleia platform shoes, and of course, Gucci sunglasses. ■
This summer, Mason Street Warehouse at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts (SCA) will stage two musicals famous from Broadway: Kinky Boots and Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys tells the story of The Four Seasons, the 1960s rock and roll group fronted by Frankie Valli. Their biggest songs have endured for over half a century: “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night),” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Walk Like A Man,” and more. For people of a certain age, just reading the titles can set musical earworms into motion.
The musical dramatizes the band’s rise and fall through the conceit of four “seasons”: sections narrated by individual members. Through them, the band will go from being lower-class New Jersey kids to wildly famous chart toppers. Premiering on Broadway in 2005, it played there for twelve years, drawing huge crowds and earning, among other awards, the Tony
for Best Musical, the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album, and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical.
Kinky Boots is just as big a crowdpleaser, as its pedigree attests; pop star Cyndi Lauper wrote the music and lyrics, and actor/playwright Harvey Fierstein did the book. Based on a 2005 British film, it’s about a young man who, having inherited a shoe factory from his father, finds financial success and real fulfillment by joining forces with a drag queen and turning out a line of sparkly red boots. The result is a show determined to make you happier walking out than you were in
Despite facing stiff competition in Matilda and Pippin , Kinky Boots received thirteen Tony nominations (the highest of any show that season) and won six (also a season high), including Best Musical and Best Score. Lauper was the first woman ever to win a solo award for Best Score. It played on Broadway for six years, from
To produce these shows at the level they deserve requires time, money, energy, and talent. Kurt Stamm, artistic director of SCA, points out that the talent that will be onstage is considerable. Thirty-eight actors will be involved, many hailing from New York City, allowing for a high level of artistic success.
He’s confident audiences will turn out. “These are contemporary shows, shows that our audience wants to see. We are competing heavily with any kind of a screen these days. Over the pandemic, we trained ourselves to stay at home. We need to give people a reason to come out.” He shared that, during the pandemic, he tried to watch the recording of Hamilton but turned it off after fifteen minutes. “I don’t want to be told where to look. That’s what movies are for.”
Megan Scheerhorn, director of marketing, said, “Our vision as a company
| by John Kissaneis that we connect to people and build community and transform lives through the arts. Musical theater is just another form of art that we bring to west Michigan that allows us to do that.
“Hopefully, the audience members are able to learn a lesson along the way, or even just have a moment to relax and enjoy some entertainment. That can be a transformative experience in itself.” ■
MASON STREET WAREHOUSE
Saugatuck Center for the Arts
400 Culver St., Saugatuck sc4a.org/msw
Kinky Boots, June 23-July 16
Jersey Boys, August 11-September 3
If Grand Rapids’ Symphony’s 2023 series of summer events has a theme, that theme is accessibility. The organization is determined to meet people where they are in every sense: content, price, and location. Rather than hold a Picnic Pops series at Cannonsburg, as in the past, the symphony will hold concerts in various locations, some of which will be free of charge.
“The decision was made to be able to give more access to all,” said Julie Nystedt, assistant vice president and assistant general manager. “We’ll be all over the community, really. And we’re going to have a variety of offerings. We really want to have something for everyone.”
On Saturday, July 8th, the symphony will perform at Blodgett Recital Hall, at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. The program includes works by Brahms, Fauré, Strauss, and others. A week later, on July 15th, there will be a free neighborhood concert at Sullivan Field, in Grand Rapids; it will serve as a preview of the 23/24 season. Attendees can bring picnic dinners or purchase food and drinks on-site, and children can take
advantage of opportunities to make crafts and try out some instruments.
On July 20th, the symphony will appear before a sold-out crowd at Frederik Meijer Gardens, opening for and performing with singer-songwriter Ben Folds, who has been releasing literate, sometimes humorous music for nearly thirty years.
On July 21st, members of the brass and percussion sections will perform at Thornapple Plaza, in Hastings. They will play songs described by the symphony’s site as “patriotic classics,” including classic rock staples such as “Live and Let Die” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The show will be free of charge.
Nystedt is perhaps most excited for July 26th. On that evening, the symphony will return to Devos Performance Hall, playing live during a screen of The Goonies, the cult 1985 film in which children attempt to find long-lost treasure while pursued by members of a crime family and accompanied by a remarkable-looking person saddled with the name of Sloth.
Also on July 26th, members of the
symphony will open for and accompany Amos Lee, Philadelphia-born singersongwriter, as he plays Frederik Meijer Gardens. As with the Ben Folds show, this, too, is sold out.
Finally, on July 27th and 28th, the symphony will accompany famed travel writer Rick Steves at DeVos Performance Hall. During Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphony Journey, Steves will draw on his extensive European knowledge to provide context for each piece of music played. Projected onto a screen will be images from each piece’s respective country.
Nystedt appreciates the work the symphony has put into making itself accessible and has already seen it bear fruit.
“We’re seeing new folks attend,” she said. “What’s making it successful is going into neighborhoods where people already are, where they’re comfortable. Not just DeVos Hall. And this will continue to be a longterm project for us. But we’ve already made a lot of progress.”
Asked why attendees come out given all that they can experience in the comfort
of their homes, she said, “There’s nothing like the experience of live performance. You don’t get the same energy, the same kind of excitement. We need communal experiences. We need to experience it together.” ■
Multiple locations grsymphony.org
July 8: GRS at Blue Lake
July 15, Free Neighborhood Concert at Sullivan Field
July 20, Ben Folds at Frederik Meijer Gardens
July 21, Free Concert at Thornapple Plaza
July 26, The Goonies in Concert
July 26, Amos Lee at Frederik Meijer Gardens
July 27-28, Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey
by Revue Staff
In 2023, arts organizations are largely back on their feet and offering full seasons of art, conversations, fun and community involvement. The season ahead has an incredible lineups of concerts, symphonies, dance performances, art exhibitions, musicals, plays and more. This month, you can visit the summer theaters for big and fun shows, the symphony for their last remaining shows of the season, and museums for a variety of incredible art. Check it out.
ACTORS THEATRE
160 Fountain St. NE, Grand Rapids actorstheatregrandrapids.org
WITCH, June 15-24
BARN THEATRE
13351 M-96, Augusta barntheatreschool.org
THE GREAT BIG BAR SHOW, June 6-18
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, June 20-July 2
CIRCLE THEATRE
1703 Robinson Rd SE, East Grand Rapids circletheatre.org
BLITHE SPIRIT, June 1-17
FARMERS ALLEY THEATRE KALAMAZOO
221 Farmers Alley, Kalamazoo farmersalleytheatre.com
RENT, June 23-July 9
GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM
101 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids artmuseumgr.org
FRANÇOISE GILOT: SYMPATHETIC RESONANCE, Through June 17
NOCTURNES: NIGHT SCENES FROM GRAM’S COLLECTION, Through Aug. 12
MESSAGE FROM OUR PLANET: DIGITAL ART FROM THE THOMA COLLECTION, June 17-Sept. 9
JULIE GOLDSTEIN: VIRTUAL MEMORY, Through June 13
KALAMAZOO INSTITUTE OF ARTS
314 South Park St., Kalamazoo kiarts.org
LINES THAT…, Through June 11
SUGOI! 200 YEARS OF JAPANESE ART, Through Sept. 3
UNVEILING AMERICAN GENIUS, Through Dec. 31
KALAMAZOO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
359 Kalamazoo Mall Ste. 100, Kalamazoo kalamazoosymphony.com
TAKES ON TANGO, June 4
LOWELLARTS
223 W. Main St., Lowell lowellartsmi.org
CONNECTED, Through June 24
MASON STREET WAREHOUSE Saugatuck Center for the Arts
400 Culver St., Saugatuck sc4a.org
KINKY BOOTS, June 23-July 16
MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART
296 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon muskegonartmuseum.org
THE LESSONS I LEAVE YOU, Through Sept. 10
THE BENNETT PRIZE: RISING VOICES, Through Sept. 10
AMERICAN REALISM: VISIONS OF AMERICA, Through Aug. 27
SAUGATUCK CENTER FOR THE ARTS
400 Culver St., Saugatuck sc4a.org
JUMP INTO SUMMER, June 9 OF PLANTS AND PLACE, May 26-Sept. 8
TO PRACTICE TAKING ROOT, May 26-Sept. 8
CREATIVE FELLOW MINDY TRAFMAN, Through Dec. 31
WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY
360 W. Western Ave. Ste. 200, Muskegon westmichigansymphony.org
HOLST THE PLANETS, June 9
