During the first week of October, art transforms downtown Grand Rapids into a pretty frickin' crazy place. There's stuff everywhere, and the cause [ArtPrize] pretty much provides the context for talk about art for the three weeks it takes over town. So, in the spirit of art's magnificent role in civic life, this month's featured event is something happening in the one place in town that has made art its mission.

• artprize
• Grand Rapids
• Avenue for the Art
• Crafthouse
• Gaspard Gallery
• Mexicains Sans Frontieres
• Calvin's Gallery
• Amanda Carmer
• The DAAC

If we're talking video game heroes, few have stood the test of time quite like The Legend of Zelda's Link. Whether radiating pudgy, pixilated charm, or vanquishing foes in his new sleeker form, the pointy-eared warrior has left an indelible mark in gamers' hearts. Grand Rapids Symphony allows fans to relive the excitement of Link's oldest and newest adventures in the touring symphony concert, The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses.

• Grand Rapids Symphony
• The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses
• Roger D Nelson

In Glengarry Glen Ross, the letters 'ABC' aren't Big Bird's pals or the cheesy accessories of choice on Teacher Appreciation Day. That's because in this dark psychological thriller, 'ABC' stands for 'Always Be Closing,' and if you're not closing a deal, then someone's closing you.

In July, we found out all-ages, D.I.T. (Do It Together) venue the Division Avenue Arts Collective would close its doors at 115 S. Division Ave. on Aug. 1. The news came from a letter posted on the DAAC's homepage titled "Sad News." In it, readers found out the space where the DAAC resided for nearly 10 years had been sold. Recently, a town hall meeting was held in order to determine the next step for the venue.

A full run down on all the things you need to know about this year's installment of ArtPrize.

2013 marks the fifth year of ArtPrize, the "radically open, independently organized international art competition" that presents the winner with the largest prize in history of art prizes. Each of the four first prize winners have walked away with racks on racks on racks – $200,000 to be exact – and the satisfaction of knowing their work struck a chord with the Joe the Art Critic.

For Boeing-Boeing’s Bernard, love has always been a smooth cruise through clear skies. As an adroit juggler of three stewardess fiancés, the suave Parisian thinks he knows how to handle women. But fasten your seatbelts, folks.

When a fast new jet changes timetables, the playboy’s plans take an unexpected nosedive and all three women arrive at his apartment at once. Uproarious chaos ensues as Bernard desperately attempts to keep the international beauties from discovering each other.

Hard Femme brings together more than 15 artists that each explore themes related to femininity, and promises to be much more than a salute to the ever-inspiring lady lumps.

Curator Miranda Sharp said the Aug. 10 show contains work that shows you don’t have to be weak to be feminine. “The work deals with having feminine traits but still being kick ass,” she said.

Just in time for the summer slump, Mason Street Warehouse introduces a cool breeze of originality to Michigan’s theatre scene.

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park transforms into Chinese Contemporary artist Zhang Huan's world throughout the end of summer, featuring a diverse body of work that contrasts and blends two sides of the globe.

"Looking East, Facing West: The World of Zhang Huan" is now on display at the Gardens and will run through Aug. 25. The retrospective explores the work of Huan both thematically and artistically through his sculptures, photography and installations, and is the first of its kind in the American Midwest.