A must wen visiting Grenada rapids So stunning how they…read morebrought this place back to live And on top the tours are free!

If you are in the Grand Rapids area and like Frank Lloyd Wright, don't miss the opportunity to…read morevisit the Meyer May house. It is a very good example of the prairie style that he is known for. The tour starts with video history of the house emphasizing the history of the restoration. It gave a great insight on the research for the restoration. Then the tour of the interior of the house ending with a tour of the gardens. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and kept us engaged by asking us questions along the way. The tour takes about an hour and a half. Make sure to make reservations ahead of time.

Calder Plaza is home to La Grande Vitesse, an Alexander Calder sculpture that was formally…read morededicated in 1969. The plaza is also a popular gathering place for events, art exhibits, festivals, etc. As of January 2023, there are some World of Winter exhibits at Calder Plaza, including a big house of cards that features art from local artists. It lights up at nighttime. I've attended many festivals and events at Calder Plaza throughout the years. The sculpture is impressive and makes for great photos - It's 43 feet tall! Street parking can be tough to find close to Calder Plaza, and there is no natural shade for events that take place there during the summer. The Plaza connects City Hall and the Kent County building in downtown Grand Rapids. La Grande Vitesse is one of the most recognizable icons of Grand Rapids, and is included in the city's official logo.

Calder Plaza. ⁣ ⁣ The…read moreproper name for this 42 ton red sculpture is actually La Grande Vitesse. Translated from French, it means The Grand Rapids. However, us locals refer to it as The Calder, because Alexander Calder, an American sculptor, created it. ‍⁣ ⁣ The Calder is an ode to our city that is home to so many artists and has inspired numerous new art initiatives. It hosts many events, festivals, and even summer food trucks! The Calder is an iconic spot for those of us who call this city home. ⁣

Grand Rapids is very lucky to have the Meijer Gardens & Sculptor Park. We were visiting from out of…read morestate and made sure we made time to visit. It did not disappoint. There are many exhibitions from desert to tropical to Japanese gardens as well as an interactive children's garden. There was also a CHIHULY exhibition which added to our experience at the gardens. A cafe, gift shop and clean restrooms can be found in the main building. We spent about four hours exploring the beautiful gardens and look forward to returning and enjoying the park.

To start, I cannot believe I've never reviewed Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park having…read morebeen a member for many, many years and a regular visitor. It is sometimes hard to believe our "little town" has such a wonderful place to go to. Meijer Gardens is where we regularly take our walks. Whether on the Boardwalk, Shade trail, Japanese Gardens or the Sculpture Park, there is always an abundance of beauty to enjoy. Currently Meijer Gardens has a Chihuly Exhibition on display throughout the park. Chihuly is a glass sculpture who has created amazing pieces. Usually I've seen his work in museums. (Baker Museum in Naples has a fantastic display for example) It is amazing to see his work outdoors in the variety of settings available at Meijer Gardens. There is also a paid indoor exhibition that we have not seen. In addition to the various gardens and sculptures, Meijer Gardens also sponsors a Summer Concert Series in their outdoor venue. We have enjoyed dozens of concerts over the years. Thankful we have this treasure so nearby.

This spot is amazing! Its a coffee shop and more that's open late. They have breakfast, lunch and…read moreflatbreads on the menu, plenty of food choices. The lunch options are only served from 11-4. Besides coffee, they have wine, beer, pop, and kambucha. I got the masala chai, which was nice and not overly sweet. For meal I got the hippie ki yay, and I enjoyed that flatbread, it is vegan. The spinach dip is also good but different than what you'd expect. It is not too creamy and has a little tangy taste. But I liked that a lot, so I enjoyed it. The ambiance is lively and energetic. There's a lot of seating available, and different types including a massive couch. It is noisy in there with everyone talking, but I dont think its too bad if you want to study there. They do have a stage where they have bands perform, they also have trivia nights. I hope to check out one of the trivia nights. There is a decent size parking lot in the back. This parking lot was filled on a Tuesday night, so its definitely a spot to go and check out. This is one of the best places I have been to in GR! Highly recommend it!!

This was a great surprise. The unique combination of many different features: variety of artwork,…read morestage of live acts, a booth, high top and low tables, bet on tap, unique menu, great landscaping, really unique decor, cool merch. And the service was great. There is clearly something special going on here. People with heart, authenticity for something they love. I really like this place. It's a new favorite. We were on the SW of town and thought we would try someplace new. We will now find a reason to go here again.

I had been looking for some things to do while visiting Grand Rapids that were within walking…read moredistance of my hotel. The Public Museum had come up in several searches, so I decided to stop in for a visit. This museum was the perfect way to spend a couple hours. The displays and different installations were just long enough to get a better understanding of the subject, but not so long and detailed that it was overwhelming. I particularly liked the baseball collection display. Upon buying my ticket, I was asked if I also wanted a ticket to the carousel or the planetarium. I decided to do both. The carousel was fun, but I think I could have probably skipped it. The planetarium was really cool. It was kind of a "choose your own adventure" as we hopped around via audience input. All in all, a fun way to spend a couple hours and very family friendly.

We had a wonderful visit, two adults. I'm sure our adult kids would have enjoyed it, too, but it…read morewas great for us older adults

There are so few places in West Michigan where you can experience clear, dark skies and the wonders…read moreof the universe. The non profit Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association run this observatory. Check out their web page for public nights schedule in spring, summer and fall.

We chose L&R Rosebud again for our daughter's baptism and were just as impressed this second time…read morearound. Hannah and Joey were excellent coordinators and the rental price hadn't changed at all since we rented from them 3 years ago. We also were still allowed to choose our own caterers and decorate as we pleased. The space was still as bright and beautifully decorated with local artists' masterpieces. Overall, my initial review remains the same! Thanks so much!

Lions & Rabbits. ⁣ ⁣…read moreWhen I think of the Creston neighborhood, I immediately think of them. ⁣ ⁣Lions and Rabbits functions as a gallery, education center, and event space in the Creston neighborhood. They write curriculum for Kent District libraries, host classes, organize artist markets, and do community outreach through public space design and street parties through After Dark GR. (They are a main reason why Creston businesses are covered in incredible murals done by artists).⁣ ⁣ We couldn't be more proud to belong to the same city as the people and minds who work with Lions & Rabbits. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the work you do in the community.

What a great find! I want to keep this a hidden gem but I can't. It's too good!…read more Check out their concerts and summer series! The staff is helpful and attentive. I was even provided with a full list of events and a couple of extras so I can stay connected. The best thing about this gallery is that it's also a design store in a way. Come in and feel inspired ! Please check them out if you're in the area !

LaFontsee Galleries is a place you shouldn't miss. Everything they do, they excel at. They…read morerepresent some of the best artists in the Grand Rapids area and beyond. I love supporting them. They started out as a "hole-in-the-wall" frame shop over on Grand Avenue. Then they moved to their two-story space over on Monroe Avenue a few blocks north of the old Grand Rapids Press. Now they have two sites. I love that they have continued to grow. Their success is well deserved. They support artists in a big way. They help you with your presentation, ie., framing, installation, giclee printing, etc., and they have the perfect gallery space to showcase great work. Their quality of work is always top notch. When you leave your work in their hands, you know it will be handled with great care and an immense attention to detail. I've never felt fully confident with picking out frames on my own for my work, but the staff at LaFontsee Galleries has never let me down. Our combined work is still on my walls from over the years all the way to the 1990s when I moved to Grand Rapids and they opened their first frame shop. This summer, I needed to have several canvases stretched on bars for my ArtPrize entry. Linda LaFontsee and her staff performed an excellent job and helped to make my artwork a success. If I were you, I wouldn't go anywhere else in West Michigan for preparing my work for a gallery show. LaFontsee cares and it shows.

love the second floor a lot, lots of seating with big windows looking out towards a field that is…read moregreat to work at plenty of study / meeting rooms available as well

This library is beautiful. There is plenty of parking and the staff is always friendly. They host…read morelots of events for children and families!

avolio is primarily a teaching facility. They do have a small shop with completed artworks for…read moresale, which was very nice. But I was very impressed with the teaching program they offer. I'm hoping I get back to Kalamazoo sometime in the next year so to take advantage of some refresher instruction and studio time.

These guys are the best! If you've joined a local mug club in which hand blown glasses are the…read moredrinking vessels, chances are its an Avolio masterpiece. They make the loveliest small, swirled glass cups for the art hops that they sell for only $10 including a wine or beer fill. We are building up a lovely collection. They also carry Christmas ornaments, vases, fishes, and more. Masters of their craft!