Artist, musician and multi-business owner Jared DeMeester was born and raised in Grand Rapids. He works as a freelance designer under the moniker I Tried My Best and is a founder of Stovetop Coffee Roasters, which is opening a café on 944 E. Fulton St. this fall. Over the past few years, DeMeester has started eight companies, played in multiple bands and become an award-winning package designer for Stovetop. But for DeMeester, this is all just the beginning.

A painting is never really done for Jean Stevens.

The Kalamazoo-based artist said she’ll sometimes take down a painting hanging on the wall of her Park Trades Center studio and add a few more brush strokes of color to it.

When you hear the word “embroidery,” you might not immediately think “artform,” but for Carrie Burch of Stitch Folks, embroidery is just as much a medium of art as painting or sculpture. An Ohio native, Burch is a graduate of Biola University in Los Angeles and a five-year resident of Grand Rapids. Her embroidery company, Stitch Folks, has been featured in Magnolia Journal and Better Homes and Gardens. The success of her online Etsy shop continues to grow month to month, bringing in dozens of new orders, each one as exciting as the last. 

A preview of upcoming Museum exhibitions in late 2018.

A complete preview of West Michigan classical music and jazz performances for the 2018-2019 season.

A complete preview of West Michigan's theater and dance performances in the 2018-2019 season.

A complete preview of West Michigan's visual art exhibits in the 2018-2019 season.

A group of talented actors and musicians took to the Dog Story Theater stage Monday night to perform the musical episode of the late ’90s cartoon “Daria,” which takes place on season three, episode one.

Musicals born of film adaptations abound — perhaps even more so than truly remarkable love stories. But there’s nothing like “Once,” the 2012 Broadway adaptation of a beautiful little independent Irish film that practically swept the Tony Awards.

Some jokes never get old. Others grew tiresome long ago. And yet there’s also schtick that’s relatively new and yet feels immediately old and tired.