The Grand Rapid’s Public Library is hosting numerous educational and literature-based events throughout the summer. Books, theater, science, comics and even animals can be expected to make an appearance at a few of their events. The best part: They’re all free. For all the details, visit grpl.org.
In the ‘80s, stand-up comedy boomed. Clubs were packed, legends were born and anything was possible. For one glorious decade stand-up reigned. Decades later the Internet has introduced the new generation of stand-up comedians. A comedy renaissance is underway and it’s larger and more diverse than ever before. That’s where Taylor De La Ossa comes in.
Milwaukee-based Americana songwriter Peter Mulvey, who’s no stranger to the West Michigan music scene, sat down on Friday and wrote a new song in a basement dressing room at the Calvin Theatre in Northhampton, Mass. The song, “Take Down Your Flag,” is a direct narrative on the tragic Charleston, S. Car. church shooting and the accompanying push to remove the confederate flag from the state’s capitol.
For a long time, Station Eleven author Emily St. John Mandel only told stories through the language of her body in motion. But one day, while studying contemporary dance at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, the narrative stopped making sense. “There was a point where I realized that dance wasn’t fun anymore,” St. John Mandel recalled. “It was more a burden than a joy.”
Some familiar faces will be rolling back into town Thursday, June 11. The New Belgium Clips Beer and Film tour returns to Ah-Nab-Awen Park for its third year in a row. At the event New Belgium will be offering some of their best sellers, as well as hard-to-find items like its dry-hopped sour ale and a peach ginger beer. The brewery will also be raffling off a brand new New Belgium Fat Tire bike.
Even the hopelessly lethargic are welcome to celebrate National Bike Month. It’s true: No strenuous riding is required to partake in the festivities. You can remain peacefully seated while sipping brews and watching bicycle-related short films. Nil calories will be burned.
Monica McFawn is constantly on the lookout for characters. In everything she reads, watches and hears, she’s searching for a thread, a situation, a quirk — anything that can give birth to her next protagonist. And when it comes to fictional people, she believes the badder they behave, the better.
Kent County Girls on the Run (KCGOTR) have teamed up with the Grand Rapids Art Museum to bring the LUNAFEST film festival to Grand Rapids on Friday, April 23. The prestigious traveling film festival showcases woman-made films exploring current women’s issues.
If the vinyl sales boom hadn’t pulled Vertigo Music out of dire straits amid the MP3 uprising, Vertigo Music store manager Herm Baker would’ve found another solution to keep the store afloat. Failure is not an option for this music-shop veteran.
Stu McCallister has hosted the Funniest Person in Grand Rapids competition for eight years now. At this point, he’s always frank with the newcomers taking the stage for the first time.
“I’m completely honest. I say, ‘You’re not going to win,’” McCallister said. “So many people have this thing where they come in like, ‘I’m gonna f*ckin’ win,’ and I tell them, ‘There are 90 people in this contest. One person wins. You’re not going to be that person.’”
If you fancy a cup of tea, try on this gold metallic, hand-painted, lip-stained mug with gold edging. The cure for drab weather and sour moods, this refined china piece (not dishwasher safe) runs $16 and is the definition of a simple pleasure. “It’s time to take those daily routine items and make them something special or out of the ordinary,” said Spring Sweet, owner of the shop with the same name in Holland.
When Nardos Osterhart wanted to practice public speaking for her day job, she turned to unconventional training to help her master the art of delivery.
Whether it’s a duet or a mass protest, something incredible happens when human voices join together. The convergence of different ideas and expressions allows us to see, think and feel from a perspective far broader than our own. This is especially true in the world of poetry, where many are finding that collaboration both in and outside of the medium reveals a wealth of untapped potential.
It's time to face the facts, film lovers: there's not much new going on in Hollywood. I mean, we love thrills and inspiring stories as much as the next person, but at this point we get it — the misunderstood hero fights the bad guy, and after a bunch of explosions and witty banter the good guy wins, gets the girl and leaves enough ambiguity at the end of the film to option a sequel.
