Huge arena. A lot of spots for snacks and drinks. However, expensive for drinks and snacks, it…read morewasn't half bad. Just an extremely lack of parking for big events. Might need a lot of extra time to figure out where to park.

Been to Van andel a few times now for concerts and a hockey game for the GR Griffins. Parking on a…read moreFriday night is usually a challenge if trying to find street parking but lots of garages/lots around for 10-20$ for the evening which are all pretty close by. Entrance/security has always been pretty easy and convenient. I just wish they had more food options inside the arena. Lots of beer, cocktails, canned drink options with arena pricing. Food options included popcorn, pizza, hot dogs, nachos and other snack kind of foods. I usually just plan to eat before or after the show or game. Thankfully, in the heart of downtown with lots of options for dinner.

It's so cool to live in a city with some fun sports teams. Griffins hockey is a favorite and I've…read morebeen going to games since I moved to Grand Rapids over 10 years ago. Friday nights are a big draw as they have $2 beer and $2 hot dogs for part of the game. I recently went to the opening weekend on a Saturday and had a bit of sticker shock at the regular drink prices... I'm talking $16 for a White Claw, which was bonkers. Tallboy cans of Bud Light were $12 and a cup of Bud Light was $11. And that's just domestic beer - if you want anything craft, expect to pay even more. Whoa! I guess I'll be sticking to Friday nights. There are plenty of food options at the arena and tons of restaurants within walking distance from Van Andel if you want to grab dinner before a game. That said, games are super fun and tickets themselves are typically pretty reasonable, $17-$30 or $50 for VIP glass right up by the action. You can get discounts for large groups and they offer suites and other upgraded seating options. The seats themselves are a bit of a squeeze, but the view is pretty good no matter where you sit. Each season there are fun promotions on different nights, like Star Wars night, giveaways for the first [x] number of fans, post-game skate events, and more. The entertainment between periods is always entertaining (bubble soccer on ice is my favorite), and the vibe at games is fun and the crowd usually has great energy. Here's to a great season, let's #GoGRG!

I love the Griffins! It is such an inexpensive thing to go do that is fun for the whole family!…read moreFrom the announcer to the mascots it's a blast! The fans are electric and the energy is impressive for being a minor league (AHL) team. A lot of pride when it comes to Grand Rapids and this team and you can feel it. They keep you entertained the whole time and plenty of T-shirts and hotdogs being launched In the air! The announcer (Eric Zane) keeps the place electric and is one of the best announcers I've seen going to live sporting events! This truly is a special place! The only down side is the expensive food and beer so look out for $2 hotdogs and $2 beer nights!! GO GRIFFINS!

For a cheaper Dave and Busters experience, this may be a good place for kids to go. I'd probably…read morerate it 2/5 because the workers were not super great and the tablets to load up the cards would sometimes not work or take forever. My husband ordered a drink at the bar that had red-hots and they just gave him the drink and said "sorry, no red hots".... Which was the only reason he got that drink. We did two-on-two laser tags (all adults) and that was fun. It was $11 per person though and one of the laser guns didn't work, so probably wouldn't do it again. They did have a variety of arcade games as well and some prizes you could redeem tickets for. We did a VR game but my husbands head had to look straight up the whole time or it wouldn't work... At one point. We played a game that wasn't working and when I went to tell someone, he told me to "make sure no one else plays it" like I worked there? I was so confused. Thankfully they did refund the card for that one game (but none of our other issues). For kids birthdays, it may be a nice place to go, but I left feeling underwhelmed and frustrated by the lack of care that was clearly present.

My daughter wanted to go bowling for her birthday, so we tried the new Main Event at the mall…read more We paid to bowl for an hour and it took 45 minutes to get a server. We asked multiple people if we had a server and even went to the bar, but never had anyone help us. We ordered some apps and drinks but nothing showed up until 20 minutes after our bowling time expired. The service was so bad that it completely ruined the experience. The bowling isn't even real bowling because the pins are attached to strings. The place is very clean and offers a variety of things to do. We probably won't waste our time again.

Not our typically theater we go to but if we're wanting to do a more boujee movie date we'll go…read morehere. They have recliners and heated seats to enjoy. You're also able to order food in the comfort of your seat so you don't have to go back up to concessions. If you park in the parking ramp attached they'll validate parking as well.

A surprisingly well priced movie theater, considering you get super comfortable couches that extent…read moreall the way back, personal tables and they deliver your food to your seat. They also have a bar for cocktails and beer and wine for you to drink during the movie too.

This review is for the beginner adult ballet class that I took through SweatNet. The Grand Rapids…read moreBallet is the only professional ballet company in the state of Michigan, which is so amazing to me. I have only ever been to one performance at the ballet, but have always been interested in seeing more at this theatre. I grew up taking dance, including ballet, and have always been interested in dance. Plus Center Stage was one of my favorite movies in the early 2000s, haha. The Grand Rapids Ballet also includes a ballet school for students ages 3-19, plus adult and Adaptive Dance classes. The beginner adult class is open to anyone and you can request a complimentary trial class. Beyond that, classes are usually $15 for drop ins, or you can get a 10-class punch card for $120. Classes are on weekday evenings from 6:30-8 pm. They also offer adult intermediate classes. Parking is limited in their lot, and the night I went there were lots of parents picking up kids so I ended up parking on the street. The class was taught by Attila Mosolygo, one of the instructors at the school. We started with warm ups and lots of barre work, focusing on strength, lower body movements, and flexibility. There weren't a ton of modifications given but with my limited knowledge of ballet I made it through as best as I could. We ended with a bit of floor work, including practicing chene turns and lots of jumping. My quads were definitely working hard and I worked up a sweat. I had a lot of fun and would go back for another class in the future.

From the start, the entryway of Grand Rapids Ballet shows you just what you'll be experiencing! The…read moredoors are lively and inspirational, and, once inside, the soaring, light-filled space, decorated with a large-scale photo of a dancer, fills you with joy. That's just a taste of what's to come. The most powerful, moving, and extraordinary dance I've ever seen? Aquatic hypoxia, choreographed by Nicolas Blanc, and part of MoveMedia: handmade... 7 new, original works, all world premieres. If this is the caliber of GR Ballet's shows, this company will go FAR. The dancing and choreography talent is tremendous. There is a spacious coat room, a closer men's bathroom, and a women's bathroom at the far end (why? I wished there was a closer handicap bathroom for either gender). The seating is pleasing, with plenty of leg room and comfortable chairs. I sat at the end of the row, and perhaps 10% of the stage was obscured by the side curtains. Luckily, most of the dancing occurred in visibility. One very smart thing inside the theatre: the lighting on the stairs is very clever. It is covered, so not obtrusive, but definitely lit up the stairs if you needed egress during the snow. Thank you! There is a parking lot in front (with 2 handicap spaces, so get there early if you need it), and a city lot across the street. We attended this as part of an official Yelp event, and I am SO glad we drove from Kalamazoo in a crazy winter ice storm!

decided to check out Cocoon Art Space for my first time on First Fridays and it was fun!…read more there were a lot of cute and cool things made from local artists. the space didn't feel too crowded and was spacious enough to walk around and look at everything from the art exhibit to the unique little knick knacks. the store is located on the corner with no designated parking lot but street parking wasn't too bad for a friday evening. i would definitely would come back to check out more things for a cute and unique gift and to support local artists!

Cocoon Art Space is such a lovely gallery. While not huge, they have done a great job in curating…read moreart in different mediums most by local or Michigan artists. They have loads of natural light from their front windows which gives their space a warmness. I appreciate that they rotate themes and embrace diversity in their art and artisans. They also offer a wide variety of more moderately priced gifts from stickers to prints also made by local artists. The staff is kind and welcoming. Parking is on the street so be aware of the meters.

This is such a cool concept and store. The Arts Marketplace is a nonprofit that exists to support…read moreand further woman and minority owned businesses by providing them subsidized rent to have their goods displayed at the Arts Marketplace store. This is a one stop shop for anyone you could probably think of! I saw tons of fun gifts and products, including clothes, jewelry, accessories, home goods, coffee, Polish pottery, books, tea, cards, art, etc. I love that it gives the opportunity for these small businesses to have a space to sell things even if they don't have their own storefront. I'm not sure how often the vendors rotate, but it's always fun to stop in and check things out. I especially love the Public Thread bags and accessories, the Polish pottery, and all the interesting art. There are signs everywhere letting you know that if you break something, you buy it, so be careful. I have purchased gifts here for myself and others and hope it sticks around for a long time!

this is one of the shops that you can revisit and wander around just for fun to look at all the…read morelocal companies. it was great to learn that it is a non profit too and supports these local artists. I've been back multiple times now. My most recent purchase was an art print from Rachel Hull Art, some super cute earrings, & a book. I was really surprised by the reasonable prices for local gifts.

Came for the most amazing performance by comedian, Alok!…read more The Pyramid Scheme is a fun retro take on a dive bar known for their great shows, pinball machines and (somewhat) reasonably priced drinks. The staff may seem rough on the outer edges, but they are all actually teddy bears once you get to know them. Usually shows are standing room only, which is a drag if you are old like me and opt not to wear orthotics. Luckily, the 9 pm encore show was seated. My old bones appreciated this. Now look below as I'm fangirling in the attached photos! I absolutely adore Alok and their courage to humorously challenge the gender binary and systematically poke holes in the patriarchal system that comprises The USA.

i have been attending the Pyramid Scheme for years now. I absolutely love all of the staff and they…read morereally become like friends and family after constantly seeing them when attending shows. The lineups are often pretty diverse, now offering more local music and the addition of more free events to bring together the community. They've added vintage nights, trivia, and free pinball days which I think is a very important and necessary community good. The venue has a front half with a bar, pinball cabinets, and even some outdoor seating. The back hosts the concert venue with interior bar, seating, and elevated stage. I'm allergic to alcohol so I can't speak to the drinks nor the prices but they have free water jugs readily available which is a lifesaver during shows and is just such a small, nice feature to have access to. I definitely would recommend coming here for a concert, finding some new local music, or establishing a new hang out for your friends.

Nestled in a historic neighborhood next to Aquinas College, Wilcox Park is a gathering space for…read moreneighbors. Here's why you should visit: 1) Space: It's a large park with lots of green space, a playground, a community center, courts and a mural. There are restrooms and working drinking fountains,. 2) Amenities: My toddler loved the playground. There are two parts to it and a merry-go-round and swings. 3) Art: The mural depicts Michigan's wildlife adding color to the space and entertainment for kids. 4) Cleanliness: I find the park clean. On a Saturday morning, we saw staff diligently pick up trash and empty the cans.