Who will remember the history of our city if some stories were left out of the books? Grandma's Voice, a multimedia project that seeks to capture multigenerational stories of community elders, hopes to do just that by interviewing and archiving the lived experiences of local African American women.
Can Beer City, USA craft a shot as well as it can create a pint? Grab your copper mug and read on as Audria Larsen surveys the rising distillery scene in West Michigan -- and finds some up-and-coming local options for your beachside Moscow Mule.
It's about the beats, that's for sure. But in a survey of the local hip hop scene, writer Audria Larsen discovers it's also about culture, community, and a collection of arts that combine to make hip hop more than a music genre. Read on for a sample of the local history and current talent involved in West Michigan hip hop and find out where to hear it for yourself right here in G-Rap.
It's being written and read in classrooms, spoken at slams, slung at bars and shared at storytelling events all over the city. It's poetry, and when writer Audria Larsen checked in with Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Lew Klatt and visited the weekly event The Drunken Retort, she found the local scene alive and well.
With teamwork from WMEAC, furniture designer Herman Miller's Team 53 provides home energy audits to its community, encouraging residents to design a more sustainable home. Audria Larsen gives us a peek inside the program -- and inside one updated home in Holland.
This summer, the West Michigan maker scene gets a makeover, as Mini Maker Faire comes to town and lets local inventors and innovators get in on a burgeoning national trend. Audria Larsen finds out why the event is a boon for creators and creatives of all ages and occupations.
Artist, entrepreneur, and all-around maker-of-magic, Marco Riolo is making his mark on West Michigan with Riolo Creative Engineering. Audria Larsen finds out what makes this creative tick and why he's decided to call Grand Rapids home.
Glitter Milk Gallery aims to fill a void in the Grand Rapids art scene when it opens on the West Side next weekend. Audria Larsen peeks inside the unassuming Alpine Avenue storefront and finds a talented local artist duo creating a riot of color.
Reverend Charles Preston Smith acquires Dodds Records and breathes new life into a treasure trove of musical memories on South Division. Audria Larsen visits the newly re-opened shop and scratches the surface of local vinyl history.
If you're making a list and checking it twice this season, don't head out to tackle your holiday shopping without making plans to hit a few of these local favorites. Just in time for the annual Uptown Shop Hop, Audria Larsen shares the inside scoop on some local stores full of holiday cheer.
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