After the success of the original Cranker's Coney Island in Big Rapids, Jim Crank Sr. pursued a second location in Mt. Pleasant. He called on his son, Jim Crank Jr., to return to Big Rapids from Massachusetts, where he was playing Hockey for Umass, to take up the family business.

Put down your brews and listen up, Grand Rapidians: the Grand Rapids Summer Beer Fest has been rescheduled from its previous when and where. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, the festival will now be held on Saturday, Sept. 13 at Heartside Park from 2-6 p.m. Tickets are still available, and if you already bought some, don’t worry: all previously purchased tickets will be honored at the festival.

When enjoying beer, it’s easy to forget about the more aesthetic side of the craft beer experience: the coaster. Kind of like the album art to the beer’s music, we often fail to notice the work that goes into the design of those coasters as we enjoy our beer. Thanks to a new contest brought to us by the good people at Experience Grand Rapids, SpringHill Suites North, plus a slew of local GR breweries and bars, that might change.

Latitude 42 Brewing Company CEO Joe Stoddard had been running a restaurant for years, all while having a dream of opening his own brewery with spectacular food. The kitchen aspect of the endeavor was covered, but he was faced with the challenge of finding the next key piece of the puzzle -- the brewer -- before moving on to the business plan.