Doozey of a week-end

Wowzers Folks!
Can I just say this is one of the best weekend line ups I have seen in a while?…. So exciting! The mash up between the cultural festivals sweet shows (bands galore) and a whole mash up of movie goodies… a little light on the Art but the fall season is on the way!

So with little less gab and a few more events!
Here is Word on the Street for August 27, 2010

ALL WEEKEND LONG!
The Polish Festival is going to be taking over the circle this weekend with food, beer, dancing, music and activities (it is the festival format!) So polka to the left, polka to the right, and get ready for some hard core polish entertainment… my favorite entertainment picks for the weekend include: The Polka Towers Friday at 7, the GR ACcoridan Esembaleat 1pm on Saturday and it is a toss up on Sunday between the Haz-beens and the Diddle Stiyx!  Noon till 11:30 on Friday and Saturday, and only till 6pm on Sunday!
Cost: Free to get in, money for food and beers.
Location: where Monroe and Monroe collide.

FRIDAY!
Want to “Go Greek” this weekend? Quell your urge to go Frat and think culture! Yassou! the Grand Rapids Greek Cultural Festival is taking place at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. (the cool church with the new domes that you can see off to the west of the express way) They will be serving Greek food and pastries(oh so good!)  and of course there is the customary live Greek music and dancing. There will be beer, wine, traditional arts and crafts and tours newly renovated church (which I would LOVE to see!) The festival starts at 3pm on Friday night and goes until 10!
Cost: $2.00
Location : 330 Lakeside Drive NE

So these guys are really cool The Kent County String Band is playing at Schuler Books Downtown Friday night at 6pm. Grab a beer, (cause you can drink in the book store) grab a book, (cause that is what book stores are for) and then get ready for some old time jazz standards by a group of elegantly dressed gentleman. Starts at 6 goes till 7:30~
Cost: Free!
Location: 40 Fountain NW

This is pretty interesting. At 6pm you can catch a film preview at the GRAM. The movie is called Public Museum created by George Bradshaw. The film was developed in conjunction with Michigan Land of Riches so that is an interesting context. You will get a chance to chat with the cast and crew, and it is the last Gram on the Green and since the polish Festival is RIGHT THERE you can make a full night of it and stuff yourself with kielbasa afterwards! Starts at 6pm!
Cost: $5.00
Location: GRAM, Monroe and Monroe 101 Monroe Center

There is a rad line up at the DAAC on Friday night. From ukulele dou named Saldaje to the infamous Jess Kramer the show has a little dance party, Stepdad, and a one man singer song writer Nathan K. Talk about a mix up, show’s at 8pm
Cost: $6.00!
Location: 115 South Division

SATURDAY N’ SUNDAY
Yeah, there are like 3-4 novelty events at the BOB each year that I am willing to go out on a limb and recommend. This one is so crazy to me that I feel like over looking it’s bizarre phenomena quality would be like saying “hum, having wakeboarding where there was originally no water is totally normal for GR, but it’s not. SO Saturday and Sunday g gawk at the 40,000 gallons of water that are making the BOB parking lot into a wakeboading competition zone and gee don’t forget to wear your swim suit (like being in you underwear but different)  and hang out in the 30 foot partypool with a wade up Absolut Vodka bar (WHHHAAAAT????) want to skateboard? Don’t wory there will be a street course open to the public and copious amounts of food on hand.  There is more but I am boogled just thinking about it…..
Location: 20 Monroe Ave NW
Cost: I frankly don’t know…. Looks like most of it is free but be prepared to buy something….


SATURDAY NIGHT!
Count them not just one but TWO house shows on Saturday!!!!!

First: The Beerhorsts are hosting a house show with Nik Thomasma on Saturday night beginning at 7pm  The atmpshere will be super chill but electrically charged, and this show should be super SO! Get relaxed and head on over…
Cost: Bring some cash I am sure there is a cover…
Location: 106 Fuller SE Grand Rapids MI

Second: Drunken Barn Dance, Chris Bathgate & Tokyo Morose are playing at Mexicains Sans Fronteries located at 120 South Division (226 up around the back) from 8:30 until 11:30 pm. All three bands are suppose to be great, I always enjoy Tokyo Morose and so should you!
Cost: $5
Location : 120 South Division unit 226.

Want to Rock on Saturday? Check out the show in Eastown, Shores, Charles the Osprey and Ambassador, they take the stage at 9pm and smash it up until 2am!
Location: Mulligan’s Pub, Eastown Baby!
Cost:Free

SUNDAY
I love this because it seems really quite dangerous but, I haven’t been on a bike in like 10 years and have the coordination of a 5 year kid and I know you are all more talented then that, do the danger level is probably mitigated! So Bicycle Polo (seriously!) the court is asphalt, extra mallets are on hand and please bring a helmut!  They have a facebook page Grand Rapids Bike Polo or show up Sunday at 2pm at the polo court ready to whack about.  
Location: 1 Front Ave SW.  
Cost: looks like it is free!

Sunday Soup is currently on a summer format serving Sunday Sundaes. Which means: Bring $5, come to the DAAC this Sunday at 6pm. In exchange for your $5 you get to load up a sundae and listen to awesome local people talk about cool projects they are doing. Then you get to vote on which cool project should get the entire donated sum (all those accumulated $5.00) then you get to go home feeling good because you had ice cream and that is delicious and you helped support an arts related activity that seems awesome. How Sunday of you!
Cost: $5.00
Location: 115 South Division


TUESDAY
So it is Tuesday at 5pm and you want to do something different from the norm but you aren’t sure what…. Here are a few choices to shake up the weekday whowzers.
Haed to the daac for some BANDS!  Check out Positive Noise, The Great Reversalsm, Brothers, Cloud Rat, Zann From Germany and Black Kites the doors open at 5 and the show starts at 6pm.
Cost: $8.00
Location 115 South Division

OR

Up for an epic battle between Ming and Flash over Dale?.… yep… recently I have seen a lot of Flash Gordon’s tv series (like every night for a month) so I am totally interested in seeing the movie. Luckily the Wealthy Theater home to the Meanwhile Film series is playing Flash Gordon the movie on Tuesday night beginning at 8:30. Perhaps if I watch the movie the purple death will make more sense?  
Location: 1130 Wealthy
Cost:: 5$


The BUZZ…. Minty Keen is getting ready to open their doors at 125 Ottawa NW. the space is a pop up and will be around during the fall season. Angie has  a great eye for antiques so it is sort of like having fantastic taste recommended to you… more coming soon…

NOMINATE!
Know some totally fantastic Nonprofit organization that does invaluable work in your community, more specifically know a great staff person who does fantaboulous, go the extra mile sort of dedicated greatness that makes that organization pop?  Are they under 40? Then you should nominate them for a Young Nonprofit Leadership award! Find out more at  http://www.ynpngr.org/leadership-awards

GIVE IT AWAY,  GIVE IT AWAY,  NOW….
Want to give to a good cause, of course you do! Donate your old music, records, Cds tapes what ever to WYCE and they will sell them at the Eastown Street Fair. All of the proceeds benefit WYCE and we all know that locally run radio stations are better then medial mogal giants. Cause they are local. SO Sort those CDS (you know most of them are on your pod anyhow…) Drop them off at 711 Bridge Street or call for pick up! 4594788 ext 109 (ask for Nicole!)


This weekend is going to be super duper GRAND RADICAL!
If you are on facebook you can join the group. Currently we are sending word out as an “event” and a message on facebook so feel free to share….. you can post feedback there or of course send me an email at… [email protected] . OR if you want to check out the news section on the RAPIDIAN.org

Thanks for reading all the way down to the very bottom.
Jenn