It’s no secret that we have a love affair with water in West Michigan. We choose to live in a state that, while the four seasons are beautiful, the winters can make less-hardy people question our sanity. But we know how much sweeter that makes the sunsets at Lake Michigan in the summer, how clear blue is the water and how soft the sand that makes zipping noises as you walk barefoot through it.

 When it comes to annoying personality traits, most of us would place arrogance near the top of the list. There’s just something about a stuck-up, snooty demeanor that seems to grate on almost everyone’s nerves.

Those looking for a taste of feel-good tunes a la Kings of Leon, The Killers or other alt-rock heavy hitters would do well to check out American Wifi’s release show.

Contemporary art at its best surprises you. It offers you something you haven’t seen before and often alters your perspective. Wired & Wrapped: Sculpture by Seungmo Park, opening Dec. 20 at Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA), promises to do just that.

ignoring most venues and social graces for two straight days, my trusty photographer and I excitedly combined our favorite annual art contest with our favorite not-so-annual contest of drinking too much. We accomplished very little of our original intents, but saw anything worth seeing — according to us.

• artprize
• Grand Rapids
• Producer Joe

Audiences have come to expect this universal story at the core of many Broadway musicals. Often, however, it is not so much the romantic relationship that draws people toward a particular show. Rather, it is the packaging around the relationship—the exotic sets, spectacular costumes and dizzying special effects that reel in audiences.

Sometimes, you just got to dance. REVUE has compiled a rundown of West Michigan dance options for everyone.

Artful Exploration of the Practical MindA cultural study of the Midwest reveals an interesting trajectory. InThe Middle West: Its Meaning in American Culture, geographer James R. Shortridge notes around the turn of the last century, the Midwest enjoyed a prosperous time and was revered in the national consciousness as the most “American” part of the nation. The self-reliance of the inhabitants secured the region’s identity as the ideal America. There was a strong commitment to progressivism, with an emphasis on education, women’s rights and temperance.

 Whether you realize it or not, you are probably already familiar with Carmen. One of the most popular operas in existence, the tempestuous tragedy has permeated American culture, with references popping up in everything from Doritos ads to the Pixar film, Up. 

Artists often take inspiration from their environment. Georgia O’Keeffe moved to New Mexico for the light and landscape. Andy Warhol thrived on the constant buzz of New York’s social scene. Many a muse was found at the ballet for Edgar Degas.