Though traditional art seasons are wrapping up, the blazing heat has failed to dry up all opportunities for West Michigan artsy-fartsy fun. Summer theatres are drawing back their curtains, while year-round venues are lining up a diverse array of events and exhibitions sure to offer visitors more than just air conditioning.

Puccini's Madama Butterfly couldn't be more aptly named. Besides the fact that its main character's name means “butterfly” in Japanese, Madama Butterfly also has a fitting title in light of the opera’s history.

At the turn of the 20^th century, a debate was happening in the art world among scholars and crafts persons: are applied arts, handicrafts and crafts included in the visual arts?

• Grand Rapids Art Museum
• Frederick Meijer Gardens
• Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
• Holland Museum

Miller Auditorium is bringing a little Broadway to Kalamazoo with its PNC Broadway in West Michigan Series. The 2014-2015 lineup was announced today and includes Jekyll & Hyde, Sister Act, Elf The Musical and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. The Broadway Plus Series includes shows like Blue Man Group and Peter and the Starcatcher.

• Kalamazoo
• Miller Auditorium
• PNC Broadway in West Michigan Series

Some stories are just worth retelling, and The Wizard of Oz is one of them. Since the novel’s debut more than 100 years ago, we're still in awe with a certain plucky prairie girl’s crash landing in a realm of breathtaking magic.

One of the ways to really get to know a city’s vibe is to find the arts district and spend a little time hanging out. Art tells stories of time and place, even while being timeless and universal. Artists reveal truths about humankind within the context of their cultural and historical setting.

If glitter is to gaudy as milk is to the nectar of life, it's a safe bet that the Glitter Milk Gallery will showcase only the loudest and most dazzling lowbrow and pop-surrealism works that you'll find in Grand Rapids. The gallery is currently under construction on Alpine Avenue and if all goes as planned, will have its first show on April 5. The gallery will feature contemporary works of illustration, graphic design, sculpture, and a wide range of eclectic styles.

For more than 50 years, The Jim Henson Company has brought us characters that have become some of America's most heartwarming, hilarious and—let's be honest—grotesque celebrities. While Kermie and Miss Piggy may be household names by now, there actually are still a few things we don't know about them. Indeed, our ability to believe and enjoy most puppet shows hinges on one big mystery—the hidden actions of the puppeteers.

Winter in Michigan, especially the one we just experienced, leaves quite an impression. While beautiful outside, it tends to encourage a bit of hibernation in us as well, a yin to summer's yang. It influences who we are and what we do, creating a particular rhythm in the Midwestern way of life, a common bond among us. LaFontsee Galleries took note and decided to organize an exhibition around this very theme.

Black Eagle Press, a local screen-printing operation, has made itself at home on Jefferson Avenue with the opening of Black Eagle Trading Post. The eclectic store features locally handcrafted goods, an impressive collection of antiques, custom clothing reminiscent of a traditional "Sailor Jerry" style, and a screen-printing station in the back.

• Grand Rapids
• Black Eagle Trading Post