I'm very sad this place is closing down. Skelletones is where I spent 90% of my time when I was a…read morepunk kid. I used to play shows here with my band, and I have been to hundreds of local and not-so local shows over the years. Skellies isn't located in the best part of town, but it's a pretty safe place to be. The cover to get in, when a band is playing, is rarely over 7 bucks, and the inside of it is fucking awesome. Sure, scenesters took over, but I still love it.

I've been going to skelletones for years, and I've always loved it. Sadly, it's turned into the new…read more14 year old scenester hang out, but the shows there are always amazing. Good sound, the owners are great- and I'd suggest getting to know them, and the view of the stage is awesome from everywhere in the room. This place gets 5/5 because they've made it possible to see some of my favorite bands in such a small venue. Plus, shows are super cheap. ($5-ish)

If you are looking for a fun way to explore the city of Grand Rapids and like to laugh, look no…read morefurther! Amy and Will, the hosts, are hysterical and have a lot of perspective and interesting facts about the city. You can even enjoy a drink or two on the bus if you'd like. Don't miss this one!!

We went to see the pianist Tiffany Poon at the St. Cecilia Music Center. It was my first time at…read morethe concert hall and I found it a very pleasant experience. The interior of the building is quite pretty and the moong around the stage is lovely. Tiffany Poon was absolutely lovely and the acoustics were very good. We noticed that the piano sounded a little out of tune as the concert progressed, making us wonder how they were storing and humidifying the piano. Unfortunately, sound can be fickle during these intensely fluctuating temperatures but it was noticeable. There was a free coat hanging area in the front and before entering the main music hall which was a nice addition in the winter months. There is a small lot for parking so we ended up street parking a couple blocks away. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience and first time.

Our wedding here was amazing! The building is gorgeous and Nadine was super easy to work with. We…read moreused the projector in the ballroom to play MarioKart which was so fun! It was also very convenient to have everything in one place; two suites for getting ready, a room for the ceremony, and the ballroom was the perfect reception hall.

GR Crime Tours was a super fun experience! My boyfriend and our friend did a Friday evening tour…read morewith Eirann. Each walking tour is two hours and covers about two miles, and the tours go through the refreshment zone downtown, with stops at a few different bars along the way. You can purchase adult beverages and walk around with them on the tours! We started at HopCat and then went all over downtown learning about different crimes that transpired in the area. I learned a few new stories which were very interesting. I love that the tour guides have backgrounds in comedy, improv, and acting - it makes for a really entertaining experience! I also appreciated that Eirann took the time to point out crimes against BIPOC and indigenous people in the area. The subject matter is pretty heavy but it is entertainment, so there's a bit of comedy sprinkled in. Luckily we were in a group that was open minded and everyone had a great time. I had a lot of fun on this unique tour and the two hours flew by. GR Crime Tours does private tours as well as some special events like a Mother's Day brunch tour coming up. I highly recommend this company to any true crime enthusiasts or people who enjoy history.

If you are looking for something to do that's fun, different, and outdoors you should definitely…read moretry a GR Crime Tour! It's such a great time! My friend and I signed up for the Damsels Give Distress tour that focused on local crimes of female perpetrators. It was a special event tour, and came with small goody bags from local, women-owned businesses, which was a fun added touch. The tour starts at Studio Park, and you can order drinks to carry on the tour. It is all within the designated "refreshment areas" so walking with drinks is allowed (and legal). Studio Park and House of Wine were both drink stops on our tour, and it concludes at Pyramid Scheme as the third stop. Due to capacity restrictions they do ask that one person from your party go in to place your orders, or one person from your party at a time. It's definitely enough stops, and not an excessive amount of stops. The tour lasted about 1.5 - 2 hours in total, and probably spanned about 1.5 miles. They recommend comfy shoes. I wore a pair of (comfy) wedged boots and had no issues. The stories told are really interesting, detailed, and told with a bit of humor. They definitely give respect to victims but balance it well to keep it light. Eirann was our tour guide, and I'm sure all the guides are equally great, but Eirann is so funny! The inflections and the style of story-telling is fantastic. I think these are a fun new offering for Grand Rapids, and an interesting way to get out and enjoy our great city. Definitely recommended!

Bartenders are very friendly. Great prices. You can get a bunch of munchies on the food menu or…read moregrab a burger or tacos. I like the food here, nothing complicated but good.

I have been to PSP a few times now for Tuesday night trivia and expect to hit them for some of the…read moreother nights, too. They have a great staff that is extremely friendly and helpful. Today they have a new menu they released. My friends tried the wraps and I tried the Southwest eggrolls. Both wraps were considered at least very good and the Southwest eggrolls were outstanding. I definitely recommend the Southwest eggrolls. I might just go back for the eggrolls. Update: I went back for trivia and eggrolls this week. I was even more impressed with the eggrolls this week. I cannot wait until next Tuesday!

I grew up surrounded by music, from piano lessons to playing viola for six years as an adolescent…read more My former viola teacher is a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony and I always enjoy seeing her perform. The GRS is currently shut down due to COVID-19 but they have been providing videos of symphony members performing in their "From Our Home to Yours" video series which can be found on their Facebook page and YouTube channel. These performances are so beautiful and I love that we can still enjoy the music that they provide, even if we're all staying in our homes. Throughout a regular season, the GRS has so many fun performances for everyone, even if you're not a classical music fan. I personally love classical music, but their movie score play-along events are really amazing. I love the Home Alone performance they do every year. Picnic Pops is also a great concert series that takes place at Cannonsburg each summer. The arts community needs our support and if you have the means to do so, you can donate money to this treasure of a nonprofit.

My mom and me arrived just in time, I bought tickets to see the Snowman. I was excited because I…read morelove the Symphony. Our symphony was great and there was an interactive part that the attendees got to be partake. Adult and kids were able to partake in the concert. The words were on the screen and we sang lod and proud some Christmas carols. When I lived in San Diego, I went to see the Symphony at least every two months, so I was excited to see my new symphony play. I can't explain how I feel when I hear those talented musicians play their hearts out. The passion is so evident and every chance i get i will continue to attend. Thank you Grand Rapids Symphony!

Lively event with tons of local artist, local food, and live music that plays every hour. The…read morestreets were full of hundreds of people from young to old. Their website asks people to kindly not bring pets, but there were many pets. The event was finally continued after being halted in 2019 due to covid. If you live in Grand Rapids, and love art and music then this is a must attend event in the area. Mark it on your calendar for next year if you missed it. Senator Winnie brinks attended this year to share her political message so it's clear this is a popular event with a lot of interest from the community.

I saw on Facebook that a new business was opening in Midtown (where Flatlander's, then Maggie's bar…read moreused to be) and got excited because it's walkable from my house... then I found out it's a wine bar and got even more excited. The wine bar is a nice addition to the neighborhood because we don't have any others super nearby. I texted my friend to see if she'd join me at 3 pm on their opening day and we walked in right as they opened their doors. The space has been refreshed, and we loved the color palette with the soothing light greens and darker wood. The layout is the same as before, with some little nooks and cozy seating arrangements. We sat at the bar and had a couple of pours. They don't currently serve flights, but hopefully soon. They also have an offering of items for sale like wine openers, aerators, snacks, and more. You can buy wine to take home, or enjoy it on site for a corkage fee. They kept the covered patio, which is a must for the warmer months ahead. I'm excited to see what's to come for this spot and hope it becomes a bustling neighborhood go-to. I'll be back!