Snow drifts, sleds, seasonal cheer and pussycat beer!

Ho,ho, howdy!

I have shamelessly blaring holiday music in both my office and my home for 3 days straight. A few years ago I realized the Holiday season had sped by and I had barely noticed SO to retaliate I now INDULGE in the holidays…. I listen to music, sit on my couch staring at my tree, cook seasonal food (this year we made holiday cookies) and I make a sport out of finding great presents and wrapping them. So I am going to overthrow the weather this weekend (we DO live in Michigan) because there are so many great opportunities to pick up gifts and relish in the seasonal cheer!  Time to bundle up, snap on the snow shoes, harness the dogs to the sled and head out and about!

 

Here is Word on the Street for December 10, 2009!

 

ALL WEEKEND LONG!

All weekend long Dogstory Theater is hosting “Pericles!” Epic, possibly Shakespearan, romantic and magi: if you need an additional bonus there are chances to catch it on Friday (8pm) Saturday (8pm) and Sunday (3pm) for details check out dogstorytheater.com Location: 1115 Taylor street Cost: 12$

 

All weekend long you can catch the Nutcracker!  I try to go every other year! My favorite part (of course) are some of the treats especially the Russian dancers! Followed by a very close second the faceoff with the mouse king and the Nutcracker! Ok so you can find out more, including show times at grballet.com! Location: DeVos Performance Hall Cost: tickets are between $20 and $53.

 

FRIDAY!

Looking for the perfect pot? Or bowl, or plate, or mug? Dutch Lake Pottery is hosting their second Annual Christmas Gift Sale Friday and Saturday! On Friday stop by between 10 and 8 and on Saturday from 10 until 4pm.  work is made by potters from around West Michigan! Location: 820 Monroe Ave Suite 44 Cost: looking is free!

 

Friday Night is URBAN LIGHTS! There will be maps avaiable at Sanctuary Folk Art Or just print the list!  Here is the awesome list of 20 participating spaces!

• Urban Institute of Contemporary Art (S)Edition: Prints as Activism, A Juried International Printmaking Competition Lisa Kellner: Suspended Presence, Mira Burack & Narine Kchikian: The Economist Series, Carrie Olson: Complications May Occur, Joel Seah: Atrocities, Juliane Beth Shibata: Compositions Location: 41 Sheldon Blvd- open until 9pm
  

• Bohemia Too Featuring great holiday shopping, from shoes and clothing to books and beads. Location: 10 Weston - Open until 11pm 

• Premier Clothing, accessories, skate apparel & shoes. Location: 139 S. Division- Open until 7pm
  

• Heartside Gallery- New work by intuitive, folk and local artist!  Location: 54 S. Division-Open until 9pm
  

• (106) Calvin College Department of Art and Art History- Featuring Portfolio:  2010 Bachelor of Arts –work by graduating Art Education students as well as work by          introductory painting and drawing students, & sculpture students. Location: 106 S. Division Ground floor- Open until 10pm
  

• Hollowell Art- holiday Studio Sale and Portfolio Clearance, Prints and original work, Music Menagerie w/ Dj loving Spoonful. The L Loft. Location:106 S. Division/MLK Second Floor Unit # 215 Open until 11pm
  

• Temporary Gallery Space Featuring 10 local artist and craft persons, Alison Jones, Becca Schaub, Mike Guyette, Heather Robinson, Erwin Erkfitz, Jenn Schaub, Kelly Allen, Jay Portvanfliet, Hyun Yoo, Nathan Mabie and more! For information about leasing this space contact Heather at 855-0418. Location: 120 S. Division- Open until 11pm
  

• Randall A. Gornowich of Randallart Studios- Holiday Clearance Sale; photographs, paintings, sculptures and wearable creations. Location: 120 S. Division Second Floor Unit # 224 Open until 10pm
  

• Mexicains Sans Frontieres-Artwork by artist Hugo Claudin, Jamin Rollin, Jevon Dismuke, Jodi Rietberg Schmalz, Tom Duimstra, Melissa Arpin Duimstra, Diana Frentzos, Jim Gebben, Michael Bona and the Obscene Bird Trio. Location: 120 S. Division Second Floor Unit # 226 Open until 11pm
  

• Stache Gallery - The AIGA group from GVSU is presenting a poster exhibition. Submissions have been collected from West Michigan students and designers.Location: 120 S. Division First Floor Unit #124 Open until 11pm
  

• Commute Bike Shop- 5 bucks off t-shirts- 15% off everything in the store. Location: 120 S. Division First Floor Unit #125 Open until 10pm
  

• Imagination Creations- Recycled/reconstructed goods, hair and vintage treasure.  Location: 120 S. Division, First Floor Unit #126 - Open until 11pm
  

• Capsule Modern Furniture and Art-Featuring Cameron VanDyke’s custom furniture and Rachael Vandyke’s paintings! Location: 136 S. Division- Open until 11pm
  

• Sanctuary Folk Art - Packed full of intuitive art! Location: 140 S. Division- Open until 11pm
  

• The DAAC- Brilliant: a show of artwork that glows or lights up! Location: 115 S. Division-Open until 11pm
  

• Scavenger Hunt- Stop in for great vintage presents and holiday wear! Location: 117 S. Division- Extended business hours until 9pm
  

• Vertigo Music-  Everything on sale- $1 off all new CDs/Vinyl LPs buy 3 used Cds/LPs...get a 4th (of equal or lesser value) free. Holiday discounts and sales throughout the store! Location: 129 S. Division- Open until 11pm
  

• Mixedtape Café- Craig Owens, Nocturnal Me, The Arrival, and Katie Stanley Show starts at 6:00 PM $12 all ages welcome. Location: 133 S. Division- Open until 12am
  

• All City Kicks- The coolest fashions for the hip, including clothing & shoes. Location: 139 S. Division- Open until 9pm
  

• Open Source Studio and Gallery- live music from russ brakefield (of winter sessions) and friends live art and original jewelry from Joe Sherry and more, Location: 235 S. Division Unit #112 (Williams and Division)Open until 11pm
  

Stay in the neighborhood by heading over to Bethlehem Lutheran Church where the Grand Rapids Women’s Chorus will be performing. There will also be an art opening featuring the work of the Dominican Sisters. The show will include work from Sister Lois Schaffer, Sister Francetta McCann, Sister Phyllis Mronzinski, Sister Mona Schwind and Sister Laurena Alflen. The performance will feature a culturally diverse music program. The MAJIC event begins at 7pm! to find out more grmajic.org  Location: 250 Commerce Ave Cost: suggested donation of $10  

If you are looking to get international on Friday the Wealthy Theater is hosting “Beneath Everest-Nepal Reborn.” The film reflects upon the complicated Maoist insurrection and violence in the Nepolise countryside and was created by GVSU graduate Tulsi Bhandari.  The piece is Starts at 7:30pm beneath-everest.com/ Location 1130 Wealthy St SE Cost $5

 

SATURDAY!

This weekend looks great for Ice Skating! The Rink downtown is open Monday-Tuesday 6pm to 9:30pm, Wed-Sunday 12-9:30! Location: Monroe Center St NW & Monroe Ave NW Cost $1

 

Blandford’ Homestead Holiday event is uber holiday with carolers, horse drawn carriages, ornament making, snacks, snow snakes and candle luminaries. Starts at 4pm and goes until 8pm Location 1715 Hillburn Avenue. Cost: $5

 

Mixedtape on Saturday catch Chase Coy, 12 track radio, This April and Jake Sciacchitano. Show starts at 6:30 All ages Location 133 S. Division. Cost $10

 

Saturday night at Mulligan’s catch Chance Jones with Burgertime and guests from the east side of the state “Dutch Pink” The singer for Dutch Pink is very Tom Watts. Gig Starts at 9pm! Location: Mulligans in Eastown Cost: I think it is free.

 

SUNDAY!

If you need to step it up on Sunday stop by Armenta Studios and do a Zumba Fitness By Donation Class with the Wild and wonderful Kate! Zumba= aerobic dance fitness world music dance party work out. Test it out this Sunday from 2 until 3pm. Location 955 Wealthy St Se Cost: up to you!

 

On Sunday the Pussy Cat Beer Guild or the PCBG is releasing their “Black Cat” brew and having a holiday party! Join them for a tasting at 4pm at Hopcat Location: Corner of Ionia and Weston Cost: Free and a great place to grab dinner and a beer!

 

MONDAY!

I am SO Stoked to be able to pass this on! On Monday night you can catch a Very Speical Local Christmas Concert to benefit the Special Olympics at Fountain Street Church. Check out the line up! The Concussions, Nobody's Darlin', Members of Domestic Problems, J. Oscar Bittinger and Friends, Spencer Mulder and a few special surprise guests! The show starts at 7pm but doors open an hour early.  Thanks for the tip James! Location: 24 Fountain Street NE Cost:$15. the day of (cheaper ahead of time at Vertigo Music!) free for kids under 5!

 

Life online:

Shulers books has a new site, so much better then its old one: check it out! http://www.schulerbooks.com/

 And if you aren’t already put the Rapidian on your daily digest list. Great, local citizen journalism site. http://www.therapidian.org/

 If you visited the Avneue for the Arts Market this summer chances are you heard a performance by Kurt Denison.  His new release Surface is ready to download and you can check it out on his facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/kurtdenisonmusic the perfect suggestion for your local-ite Jack Johnson loving buddy!

 Ah the Pandora just cued up Winter Wonderland…. Lovely!  Ya’ should let me know if there is some thing cool going on, I would love to add it to the list….

Where to find Word:

• Facebook: Post comments on the group, share events I missed or drop me a message.
• G-rad.org: the original HOME of WOTS, check it out!
• TheRapidian: Citizen News journal
• And of course there is always good old email. [email protected].

 

Drop me a message and let me know what your favorite holiday song is…

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