A frontier fur-trading town that continues to evolve as a hub of innovation and can-do spirit, the Center City district of Grand Rapids is the financial and cultural anchor of Michigan's West Coast. Rising on the eastern shore of the Grand River, Center City features numerous attractions. The Civic Theatre is Michigan's oldest community theatre. The GRAM holds more than 5,000 works in its permanent collection. The Monroe Center walking mall offers a wide selection of coffee houses, restaurants, and boutique shops. Rosa Parks Circle, the district's public park and amphitheatre, hosts weekly blues concerts in the summer and ice skating in the winter. Another unique highlight is La Grande Vitesse, a large outdoor sculpture at the center of government square, which is distinguished as America's first publicly-funded art installation. The district's major festivals include a three-day arts celebration in June, as well as distinct Polish, Irish, Italian, Native American, Latino, Mexican, German, and African American celebrations of cultural heritage throughout the summer. Incorporated as a city in 1850 with a population of 2,686, Center City now is the heart of Michigan's second largest city. Once known as the Furniture Capitol of the World, this also is the epicenter of Grand Rapids effort to redefine its identity as a leader of modern medical research and sustainable design.
Michigan’s winter can lead many to spend more time than ever indoors. The Kent District Library (KDL) provides a wide range of programming, special events and festive fun during the cold-weather months.
In response to community needs, the Kent District Library (KDL) has partnered with Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) to offer a free mental health series. This is in addition to their regular virtual resources and physical materials available for checkout to help with anxiety, depression, health and wellness.
Designed to showcase West Michigan musical talent, the VIBES collection is expanding to include a pop-up mini concert series. On Thursday nights, the VIBES Reference Desk Mini Concerts transform library branches to live music settings.
Grand Rapids Restaurant Week shows off social districts that were developed during COVID lockdowns and expanded to permanent status since.
Public libraries exist to serve their communities. At the heart of their mission, the goal is to provide materials and resources that reflect and represent their diverse communities, including LGBTQ+ and BIPOC populations. A recent uptick in book-banning discussions is putting pressure on libraries, including Kent District Library, threatening their future funding and millages.
Tech Week GR underlines Grand Rapids’ claim to the Silicon Valley of the Midwest. The Right Place and other strategic partners have created a foundation for helping technology companies thrive in Grand Rapids, driven by the live event.
Grand Rapids Public Library celebrates readers of all ages, and that includes adults. Their latest program, storytimes for adults, invites adults to enjoy short stories read aloud by special guests, along with a cash bar and appetizers at the Golden Age at the Creston Brewery.
Many are surprised to learn of West Michigan’s place in the international fashion industry scene. The Grand Rapids area is home to many designers, stylists, and 10+ different apparel and accessory manufacturers. Many of them are focusing on sustainability, shifting away from the wasteful footprint the industry is known for.
Improving old technologies with new is, in many ways, the heart of improving access for humans. It is also a great motivator for those with the talents to do so. Here are the people behind those efforts and why this work is so important to them and within the region.
In the age of the pandemic and growing digital platforms, the Grand Rapids music community looks to the future of music making and live performances.
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