May 18: Summary of pitches and goings-on

If you're up for covering an event, let us know by commenting on the story bank listing in The Rapidian. If you want to attend a paid event, organizers might be open to providing access. Although editorial standards are not negotiable, other parameters such as deadline should be negotiated directly with the organizer.

Each iteration of the weekly story pitches spans the Wednesday it's sent out to Friday of the following week.

Want to see something on The Rapidian? All registered users can add pitches to our storybank!

SPECIAL PROJECT

Check it out! We have almost 50 submissions to our collaborative photo project, Picturesque, and have mapped them out (anything in your neighborhood?). Throughout May, The Rapidian is asking everyone to share a snapshot of something they spy in their Grand Rapids routine that others might miss. Browse contributions, get inspired and add your own two cents to Picturesque: In plain sight!

IN THE STORYBANK:

• City of Grand Rapids, Creston Neighborhood Association, Amway and KaBoom building new playground in one day
• Plenary - The Grand Rapids Renaissance with Richard DeVos, David Frey and Kate Pew Wolters
• 17th Annual HIstoric Preservation Awards Ceremony
• City Commission Approves Fee Reductions for Most Business License Categories
• Town Hall Meeting to Discuss the City's Financial Position
• Pastor of new Grand Rapids church to lead Jesus Wins forum series as a response to Love Wins conversation

Thursday, May 19

• [ARTS + ECONOMY] Starting smart, an arts group discussion about smart business tactics
  5:30 p.m. at Sparrows Coffee, Tea and Newsstand (1035 Wealthy SE)
  The legal steps to starting a small business can seem daunting. Hear local creative professionals talk about how they made the leap from hobby to business owner and figure out how to navigate that paperwork.
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • There is a little bit of confusion as to whether these events are free. Let us know!
  • What have been some of the topics covered in this arts series and what's coming up? How are they chosen?
     
• [ARTS + LECTURE + EDUCATION] Design for change
  6:30 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (101 Monroe Center)
  Today, it is no longer enough to create beautiful things, but a necessity to form the conditions and experiences that surround these beautiful things. Hear Tom Sieu, a leader in sustainable design and founder of R3 Lab in San Francisco, discuss the role of designers in this creative process and follow up with a hands-on workshop on Saturday.
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • What does sustainable design mean? Does it apply to all design disciplines or mostly physical design such as the industrial and architectural arts?
  • Who is Tom Sieu, what is R3 Lab known for and what does R3 stand for?
  • Who actually gets to do sustainable design? Often times, designers don't have much choice in their client work, so at what point do designers have the flexibility to be part of the strategic process?
     
• [HISTORY + EDUCATION] Genealogical research education at GRPL
  6:45 p.m. on Thursday, May 19 at Grand Rapids Public Library (111 Library NE)
  The library uses a genealogical database called GEDCOM, or Genealogical Data Communication. Learn how to define, create and edit genealogical information in the GEDCOM format.
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • Is GEDCOM a free service?
  • How does GEDCOM get genealogical information? Is it the type of place to uncover genealogical histories or add genealogical histories?

Saturday, May 21

• [HISTORY + ARCHITECTURE] 42nd Annual Heritage Hill Home Tour
  11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday, 12-6 p.m. on Sunday
  $15 tickets
  Experience one of the largest urban historic districts recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. The 1,300 homes in Heritage Hill date from 1843 and represent the best of American architecture. This is a fundraiser for the Heritage Hill Neighborhood Association.
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • Does the tour really go through 1,300 homes?
  • What are some of the other fundraisers that Heritage Hill holds? Rumor has it that  a neighborhood wide yard sale is coming up.
     
• [SPORTS + DINING] New local company to host its first group bike ride
  11 a.m. starting at Sixth Street Park
  Bike Friendly GR is hosting a ride that is 2.5 miles (15-20 minutes), ending with a big picnic at Riverside Park with desserts from vegan cookie delivery service, Wednesday Evening Cookies.
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • What distinguishes Bike Friendly GR's bike rides from the Wednesday Evening Ride, Pedal GR's group rides and others in the area?
  • What are other plans that Bike Friendly has for community outreach?
     
• [CAUSES] Blind auction to benefit Kent County's abused children
  2 p.m. at American Legion Post (658 Michigan NE)
  American Legion Post 459/B-93 is holding an auction.
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • What exactly is a blind auction (is it different from a silent auction), what was auctioned?
  • What is the American Legion Post?
  • Why did the Post decide to raise money for this particular cause?

Monday, May 23

• [COMMUNITY] Refugee foster care orientation
  6 p.m. at Bethany Christian Services (45 Coldbrook NW)
  Bethany Christian Services' Refugee Foster Care provides homes for refugee children between the ages of 13-17 who have been seperated from home and family, have no adult caregiver, and are eligilble for protection in the U.S. We are the only Refugee Foster Program in West Michigan!
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • Is refugee foster care the same as adoption?
  • How many refugees does Bethany Christian Services help each year? How many are between 13-17? Do the refugees tend to skew toward any age group?
  • Which countries do the refugees come from?
  • What are the experiences of some of the adult caregivers? The refugees?
     
• [MUSIC + CAUSES] Drumming group performance to raise money for Ghana related causes
  7 p.m. at Goei Center (818 Butterworth SW)
  $10 cover
  WaZoBia is a GR-based African band) that will be performing to raise funds for two nonprofits: LIWWA (Love Is What We Are), which provides clean water through sustainable filtration in developing countries and the Korye Community Art Project, which is building a school in a remote village so children won't have to walk 10K-plus each day to the nearest educational facility.
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • We heard about funds being raised for Korye in a Rapidian article. What was the result of that walk?
  • LIWWA is currently focused in Ghana. Are there plans underway to expand to other countries?
     

Thursday, May 26

• [SUSTAINABILITY + EDUCATION] Rapid Growth Speaker Series: East meets West
  6 p.m. at Wealthy Theatre (1130 Wealthy SE)
  Urban pioneers from Michigan's two largest cities, Detroit and GR, on stage together at Wealthy Theatre, to talk about what inspires them, success stories and challenges, and common mis-perceptions about both cities.
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • What are some of the common threads between GR and Detroit's urban pioneers?
  • Have there been collaborations between like-minded groups in each of the cities in the past? Planned?
  • Will the Detroiters get a chance to tour GR? What are their impressions, and how do the two renaissance cultures compare?
     
• [ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT] Grand Rapids Comic Society's collection release party
  6 p.m. at Sparrows Coffee Tea and Newsstand (1035 Wealthy SE)
  After a year of pooling together funds and efforts, the GR Comics Society has finally printed and bound its first collection of comics by its members.
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • The GR Comics Society has had this collection in the works for quite a while. What enabled them to pull it together recently?
  • Who are the comics artists featured

Saturday, May 28

• [SCIENCE + EDUCATION] GR Amateur Astronomical Association hosts public night to view Saturn and the crescent moon
  9:30 p.m. twice a month at James C. Veen Observatory (3308 Kissing Rock Ave, Lowell)
  The Observation Nights feature a closer look at the stars, our neighboring planets, the phases of the moon and many additional wonders our galaxy has to offer, provided the sky is clear.
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • This isn't in GR, but it has a direct connection to the city. Tell us about the history of the GR Amateur Astronomical Association and what their goal is.
  • How often is Saturn visible? And what exactly does a crescent moon mean?
  • What are other astronomical highlights that happen on a regular or annual basis?

REGULARLY

• [SCIENCE + EDUCATION] GR Amateur Astronomical Association hosts public night to view Saturn and the crescent moon
  9:30 p.m. twice a month at James C. Veen Observatory (3308 Kissing Rock Ave, Lowell)
  The Observation Nights feature a closer look at the stars, our neighboring planets, the phases of the moon and many additional wonders our galaxy has to offer, provided the sky is clear.
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • This isn't in GR, but it has a direct connection to the city. Tell us about the history of the GR Amateur Astronomical Association and what their goal is.
  • How often is Saturn visible? And what exactly does a crescent moon mean?
  • What are other astronomical highlights that happen on a regular or annual basis?
     
• [LITERATURE] Pre-reading classes for babies and toddlers
  11-11:30 a.m. on various weekdays at Grand Rapids Public Library (111 Library NE)
  Parents and caregivers are invited to introduce their babies, birth through 18 months, to music, movement, and language in 30-minute classes designed just for their specific developmental stages. Classes geared toward toddlers 18 months to 3 years of age feature hands-on, literacy-rich activities such as stories, songs with fingerplays and other action, and sign language.
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • Is this a new program at the library?
  • Did the library use any sort of recommended learning models to organize their 30-minute classes?
  • Are the classes part of a series or one-time sessions?
     

• [MEETUP] Toastmasters roundtable
  7:30 a.m. on every Thursday at the downtown GVSU campus
  Toastmasters hosts weekly roundtables with the goal of bolstering members' public speaking skills.
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • When did the local Toastmasters group first begin?
  • Are there other local groups like Toastmasters?
  • What are some of the basic tips they impart for pulic speaking?
     

• [TECHNOLOGY] Computer literacy classes at Grand Rapids Public Library
  Regularly
  Grand Rapids Public Library (111 Library NE)
  The library offers free adult education classes that range in level from basic computing to effective use of social media. Click on one of the links above for more information about the specific class.
  Potential questions
  • What does computer literacy encompass?
  • How did the library determine what to fit into each computer literacy course?
  • What are some common things that the "computer literate" take for granted?
     
• [ARTS + EDUCATION] Friday nights at GRAM
  5 p.m. every Friday at GRAM (101 Monroe Center)
  $5 admission
  On Friday nights, Grand Rapids Art Museum invites the public to tour their galleries (open late), enjoy live piano music and a cash bar. alleries open late, live piano music, and a cash bar. The evening includes participation in their Friday Night Conversations series.
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • What are the range of activities for Friday Nights?
  • Why are certain exhibitions (like Princess Diana) excluded from Friday Nights access?
  • What are the range of topics for Conversations?
     
• [MUSIC] Weekly Irish music sessions at McFadden's
  7 p.m. on Sundays at McFadden's (58 Ionia SW)
  Free
  Whether you are a musician or an Irish music fan, this session is as close to visiting an Irish Pub Session in Ireland, as you can get without flying to the Emerald Isle! Food, beer and drink specials, and toe-tapping traditional Irish Music. Traditional Irish musicians (any instruments - including voice,) are invited to join in!
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • How popular are the weekly Irish music sessions?
  • This weekly event is is not advertised on McFadden's site, so who are the organizers and sponsors of the music sessions?
  • What are some traditional Irish instruments? What are the defining characteristics of Irish music?
     
• [DANCE] English ritual dance group holds practice every Sunday
  6:30 p.m. every Sunday at St. Mark's Episcopal Church (134 N. Division)
  Bells of River City members have fun while educating the general public about the tradition of English ritual dance as performed in Grand Rapids, modeled upon but not limited to Cotswold Morris, Border Morris, Mumming, and English Sword Dance.
  [More]
  Potential questions
  • Opportunity for a photo essay: What do the dances mentioned above look like?
  • How old are these ritual dances?