When winter’s cold blast approaches and the warmth of summer is a distant memory, it’s time to winterize your home to ensure you keep heating and other costs at bay. Here are some simple tips on how to winterize your home this season. Seal up Windows and Doors Nothing acts more like a beacon to […]
Tax Tips for Homeowners Claiming a Home Office Deduction
A recent survey by the Small Business Administration indicates that nearly half of all businesses are based in American homes. These home-based businesses for the self-employed run the gamut from accounting services to providing medical care. American professionals surveyed by Telework Research Network indicate that the number is expected to grow in the next five […]
The Grand Rapids Symphony Presents “Symphony Idol” March 21-23
A full orchestral sound accompanies the stars of one of the most popular music shows in the country. The Grand Rapids Symphony presents “Symphony Idol” March 21st through the 23rd. Joining the symphony for this performance are “American Idol” finalists Matt Giraud, LaKisha Jones and Haley Scarnato. They will perform hits such as “Georgia on My Mind,” “My Heart Will Go On,” “I Will Always Love You, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” and many other rock, jazz, pop, country and Broadway numbers.
Born in Dearborn, Michigan in 1985, Giraud attended Western Michigan University and performed at various clubs during his time at the school. After graduation, Giraud auditioned for “American Idol” during the show’s 8th season. His renditions of “Human Nature,” “So Small” and “Part-Time Lover” propelled him to a 5th place finish on the show. Giraud also has the distinction of being the first “Idol” contestant to be given a judges’ save, allowing him to continue despite receiving the lowest number of votes on that particular show. Giraud has appeared on shows like “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Live with Regis and Kelly,” and has been part of the American Idol Live Tour.
Jones hails from Flint, Michigan, where she began singing with her church choir at the age of five. After graduating from Flint Central High School, she majored in music at University of Michigan-Flint, where she starred in the play “Godspell.” Jones auditioned for “American Idol” during the 6th season and made it to the final four thanks to songs like “Think” and “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” She was also a vocal coach on MTV’s “Legally Blonde: The Musical” and released her debut album “So Glad I’m Me” in 2009.
Scarnato grew up in San Antonio, Texas, where she spent much of her time as a gymnast. But an injury in high school forced her to abandon the sport and move on to music. Like Jones, Scarnato was on the 6th season of “American Idol” and ended up with an 8th place finish, performing songs like “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.” She has sung the National Anthem at NBA playoff games.
The Grand Rapids Symphony has been in existence for over 80 years. “Symphony Idol” takes place at the DeVos Performance Hall.
The Mud Room In Grand Rapids Offers Fun For The Whole Family
The Mud Room in Grand Rapids offers great fun for the entire family!
This exciting art studio offers pottery painting, glass fusing and clay & potter wheels. In addition, Camp Mud Classes are offered at various times throughout the year in the areas of Paint Techniques, Glass Fusing, Potters Wheel and Clay Sculpture (the Potters Wheel class is 1.5 hours long and the other classes are 1.25 hours in length). Unique special events also take place at the Mud Room, such as Family and Friends nights and PJ Parties where guests wear their pajamas to the studio. The studio is open at various hours, but reservations are available outside of normal operating hours.
The Mud Room pottery painting, glass fusing, and clay & potters wheels provide excellent opportunities for a fun day of activities. For pottery painting, artists begin by selecting an item from the Mud Room’s large selection of pottery. At that point, the item is designed and decorated using books, samples and tools to guide the way. This part of the project normally takes approximately one hour, but it may take less time for younger children. Upon completion, the artist leaves the item with the Mud Room where it will be glazed with a non-toxic clear glaze and fired within a kiln. After one week, the artist can return to the Mud Room to pick up their finished work.
The glass fusing activity begins by selecting a size and shape from various samples on display. The artist is provided with a flat glass tile where they glue on small pieces of colored glass to create their design (the Mud Room has plenty of pre-cut glass shapes to simplify the process). Upon completion, the item is fused and shaped in the Mud Room’s kiln and is ready to be picked up within one week.
Finally, the clay & potters wheels are delightful activities where artists can spin their ball of clay to create bowls, cups and dishes. Artists can also use their hands to mold the clay into an assortment of different shapes. The Mud Room has unique under glazes that can be applied to the wet clay so that the projects can be painted the same day. Once the project is complete, the Mud Room fires it in the kiln and it is ready to be picked up within two weeks.
Grand Rapids 17th Annual Bid For Bachelors and Bachelorettes Event
Grands Rapids society will host the 17th Annual Bid For Bachelors and Bachelorettes Event on March 1, 2014 at the DeVos Place. Single tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Tables for 10 persons are priced at $280.
Join a proud Grand Rapids tradition in bidding on a date for the bachelor or bachelorette of your choice. It is all in good fun and a great time is guaranteed. There will be a cash bar and appetizers will be served.
5:30 p.m. – Doors open
6:30 p.m. – Opening remarks and presentations
7:00 p.m. – Bidding begins
5:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Silent Auction
As a lead-up to the big night, the following Meet & Greet events will be held in the Grand Rapids area:
Saturday, Feb. 8, 8 – 11 p.m. – Scavenger Hunt Downtown ending at Back Forty
Saturday, Feb. 15, 8 – 11 p.m. – Mega 80s at Intersection
Thursday, Feb. 20, Happy Hour at The Score
Saturday, Feb. 22, Early Night at The Bob
What Is Cystic Fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that is life threatening. The disease affects both the lungs and the digestive system. Life expectancy has greatly increased due to new medications, treatments and lung transplant procedures. However, more research is needed.
What Is the Friends & Families of Cystic Fibrosis?
The nonprofit organization Friends & Families of Cystic Fibrosis brings together families and friends of persons who are affected with cystic fibrosis and who live in West Michigan.
This entirely local organization is dedicated to aiding the special needs of this community in the following ways:
Through the local CF Care Center at DeVos Children’s Hospital, helps to obtain needed medical equipment or supplies not covered by other means.
Raises funds to help pay for lung transplants.
Provides special care packages for children and young adults while they are hospitalized.
2014 Event Sponsors
Meijer
CSC Centennial Securities Company LLC
Avron, Inc.
Hunt for a Cure
Image Builders Marketing Inc.
Since 1924 Ferris Coffee & Nut Company Has Been A Grand Rapids Staple
One of the best things about living in Grand Rapids, MI, is the stable economy. There are businesses here that were established decades ago that have added jobs and money to the area. One such company is the Ferris Coffee & Nut Company, established in 1924. They have contributed to the area for nearly one hundred years.
Their longevity means that the community at large has weathered economic swings, both up and down. This stability means local housing has fewer turnovers than in other parts of the country and allows property prices and taxes to remain affordable. Neighborhoods with the majority of houses occupied results in lower crime rates overall, which is a boon for new homeowners.
This company has remained in business by selling both to the public and online communities. They are committed to making lives better both locally and internationally by offering products that are Fair Trade Certified. They offer 35 different coffees and coffee blends, such as:
• Michigan Sweet Cherry
• Michigan Sweet Cherry Decaf
• Organic Bali Kintamani Natural
• Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Konga
Coffee is not the only product; they offer healthy snacks as well which include 14 different nuts and nut mixes for every palate. Customers can place orders in person or online and have them shipped to recipients as gifts. Gifts in reusable containers are available that will have the recipient think about you long after the treats have been consumed. Varieties of container types are offered, filled with nuts or mixed treats.
• Party or snack trays
• Decorative tins
• Glass jars with stainless steel lids
• Glass jars with glass lids, a classic for any kitchen or room
Customers with a sweet tooth are not limited to nuts or specialty coffees. Seventeen varieties of chocolate treats are presented for chocoholics, those seeking a quick snack and gift shoppers. Chocolate covered coffee beans are a delightful treat for adults as well as an old favorite, chocolate malt balls. Children love chocolate covered raisins, chocolate covered sea foam and different varieties of chocolate covered nuts.
Business stability equals stable communities with economic stability. Ferris Coffee & Nut Company is one example that Grand Rapids, MI, has and will continue to have established communities that are secure for generations to come.
Prepare Your Grand Rapids Home For Spring
If you’re like many Midwestern homeowners, you’re itching to throw open windows and doors and revel in balmy temperatures after an unusually frigid and snowy winter. There are a number of preparatory spring chores you should do, but concentrating on just a few simple repair and maintenance actions will help protect your home from damage this summer or fall.
Fix leaks around windows and doors
While you don’t have to worry about cold air leaking in once the weather warms up, taking time now to fix leaks that have developed around windows or doors in your home will pay dividends next fall. Caulking should be done when temperatures are warmer, so adding it now is a good idea while you aren’t busy taking care of late-season chores that might supersede fixing cracks.
Clean and repair gutters and downspouts
Strong autumn winds as well as winter ice and snow storms allow leaves and other matter to collect in your downspouts. When it’s safe to venture up a ladder after snow and ice have melted, make sure the gutters are clear of debris and the downspouts will funnel water away from your foundation when hard spring rains or summer thunderstorms hit. While you’re cleaning your gutters, visually inspect the roof from the ladder to determine whether shingles are damaged or missing. If that’s the case, you’ll need to call a roofing company to provide repair estimates.
Have your air conditioning system checked
No matter what kind of air conditioning system your home uses, you should have a pre-season inspection done by a professional HVAC technician to ensure you’ll be cool when the first heat wave hits. Regular maintenance will not only ensure that your system will work when it’s needed, but will also help prolong its useful life. Even before a HVAC technician comes to your home, you can change the filter you used through the winter heating season.
Check safety systems
Spring is usually severe weather season. It’s a good idea to make sure that you have batteries on hand for flashlights and a battery-operated NOAA weather radio so that you can get updated essential information during a power outage. You should also check your smoke detector’s batteries. Many experts recommend doing this on the weekend that you change your clocks to daylight savings time.
These are just some of the spring chores you’ll need to do, but they are some of the most important ones. When you’ve completed them, you can enjoy the pleasant weather knowing your house is ready for the coming season.
Dream It, Build It: A LEGO Exhibit Opens March 1 in Grand Rapids
The Dream It, Build It: A LEGO Exhibit will be running from March first to August 31st at the Grand Rapids Public Museum located on Pearl Street North West. Thirteen recreations done in LEGO bricks of the world’s most well-known architectural works will be on display. All are done by Adam Reed Tucker who is a certified LEGO Professional. Pieces will include The Empire State Building, Burj Dubai, The Gateway Arch, and Jin Mao Tower.
Tucker has had his creations displayed at Dearborn, Michigan’s Henry Ford Museum, Chicago, Illinois’ Museum of Science and Industry, Washington D.C.’s National Building, and Midland, Michigan’s Midland Center for the Arts. Tucker sees LEGO bricks as an art medium, and just as an artist uses paint, he uses LEGO bricks to celebrate the architecture of the world.
Adam Reed Tucker has been using LEGO Bricks for many years to recreate the most impressive architecture in the world. He is one of only 12 people who are considered to be Certified LEGO Professionals. In 1996 Tucker earned his Professional Degree in Architecture, specializing in Philosophy of Design Theory. He worked as an architect until 2006 in the Chicago and Kansas City areas. It was then that he realized the possibilities LEGO bricks had when it comes to creating and understanding architecture. Tucker started his own company called Brickstructures, and he teamed up with the LEGO group to design a new line in LEGO Architecture.
Not only is Tucker’s work on display, but there will be works by the Western Michigan LEGO Train Club throughout the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Working with Milton Train Works, their exhibits will include a recreation of the museum’s trolley car from 1885. In addition to the awe inspiring displays, there will be an interactive play area where guests can build their own LEGO masterpieces. Tucker will be working on his recreation of the Van Andel Museum Center as a scale model. The LEGO Exhibit is included in your museum’s general admission.
The GRPM is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The museum’s goal is to become a monument of ideas, artifacts, and stories depicted through events, exhibits, and educational programs. The GRPM enriches the community by bringing us those experiences that motivate, inspire, and celebrate the human bond.
Butterflies Are Blooming Returns To Grand Rapids March 1, 2014
The largest tropical butterfly exhibit in the nation, returns for its annual visit at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park on March 1, 2014. You will see more than 40 different species of butterflies, and witness their magical transformation from chrysalis to magnificent butterfly in the Butterfly Bungalow.
Once the adult butterflies are released into the Conservatory, get up close and personal, as you watch them drink nectar from flowering plants, congregate along stream beds, frolicking near the waterfall and fly freely around the Conservatory. If you are lucky enough, one may even land on your shoulder. This is a nature-lovers dream come true. Seeing 6,000 magnificent butterflies in their natural habitat is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The event begins on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 9 AM/5 PM and runs daily through April 30, 2014. There are interactive exhibits throughout the display. Entrance to this exhibit is included in general admission to Meijer Gardens, located at 1000 E. Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Lena Meijer Children’s Garden offers special butterfly-themed activities during this exhibit.
This exhibit is a chance for a fun-filled family day. No need to pack a picnic lunch. Enjoy lunch at Taste of the Gardens Café, with hand-blown glass sculptures by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. He named the sculptures Lena’s Garden, in honor of Lena Meijer. In addition to the Butterfly exhibit, tour the Kenneth E. Nelson Carnivorous Plant House to view meat-eating plants from around the world. Watch in awe as the Venus Flytrap captures its prey.
Wander through the 30-acre sculpture park before you leave. Sculptures are set amid waterways, meandering paths, lawns, meadows and quiet walkways. Works by Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Louise Bourgeois, Mark di Suvero, Richard Serra, Roxy Paine and others are featured in this area.
Take a stroll through the Leslie E. Tassell English Perennial and Bulb Garden, or take a seat on a bench to enjoy the amazing view of English border plants mixed with native American species.
The Earl and Donnalee Holton Arid Garden houses cacti, agaves, succulents and other desert plants from around the world. Beautiful stone arches divide the plants into groups.
The Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse features special, new garden designs with each season. The Earl and Donnalee Holton Victorian Garden Parlor features ornate benches set amid flowering plants seen in Victorian garden parlors during the turn of the last century.
Congratulations To The Winners Of ArtPrize 2013!
ArtPrize is a sprawling event in three square miles of downtown Grand Rapids. For almost three weeks, the community of Grand Rapids joins together for an international art competition unlike anything seen before. The winner of the art competition is given a prize of $200,000, and is chosen by public vote. Anyone is welcome to attend the event as well as enter their work into the contest.
ArtPrize welcomes artists over the age of 18. Entry into the contest is not limited by professional or amateur status. Not only is there a public voting, but there is a jury that will award additional prizes based on certain categories like Time-Based or 3-D. The grand prize awarded by the jury is $100,000.
The event is organized by many vendors and artists in the community gathering together to sponsor a truly original event. The ArtPrize event as well as the competition itself is open to the public. Visitors can wander the three square miles of downtown Grand Rapids at no cost and enjoy the many exhibits.
ArtPrize 2013’s winner picked by the public was Ann Loveless and her landscape art quilt. The piece was sectioned into four panels that each represented a piece of the Lake Michigan shoreline during sunset. They are all standalone pieces that when combined created a beautifully stunning depiction of the landscape.
Second place went to Anni Crouter and her acrylic paintings of a polar bear. Each piece was 48 inches in height by 72 inches in length.
The jury awarded the grand prize of $100,000 to Carlos Bunga for his diorama called Ecosystem and is based on living organisms dealing directly with their environment.
The entire downtown community becomes a large exhibit for the artwork each year, and many local businesses get involved and can become a sponsor of the artwork. ArtPrize prides itself on its open design and accessibility to all artists no matter what their experience or level of talent.
Thousands of people visit the Grand Rapids community for this celebration of art. This event takes art out of the studio, out of the museums and art galleries and gives everyone access to the creative expression and surrounding environment of the artists.