This week, we speak with Nola Steketee, executive director for West Grand Neighborhood Organization. West Grand is home to CMC - Bridge and one of the biggest neighborhood organizations in Grand Rapids. Among the many services they offer, starting today is the WinterWest event at Richmond Park.
Music today comes from Petal Shop's album, City Hymns, with the song "Summer Air." Petal Shop is now based in Detroit has roots in Grand Rapids.
ANALYSIS
Jonathan Safran Foer reintroduces the public to experimental literature
Last year, Jonathan Safran Foer published an unusual book that employed die-cutting techniques to create a completely new story out of an existing book of short fiction. Foer is best known for his book Everything Is Illuminated, which was made into a movie, and more recently, Eating Animals.
[More: Utne Reader]
Federal Communications Commission approves NBC - Comcast joint venture 4-1
Last week, the FCC approved Comcast's acquisition NBC, justifying it in the public's interest. The cable and Internet access company has the largest subscriber base and now has access to more programming avenues. The FCC explained that Comcast will offer more news and information programming, programming for minorities and affordable Internet access.
[More: Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor]
Verizon contests FCC's net neutrality authority and Metro PCS follows suit
After the FCC asserted its right to regulate Internet traffic earlier this month, Verizon has filed a lawsuit that the FCC is overstepping its authority. The order that the FCC put out, which we covered earlier this year, was aimed at keeping Internet service providers from blocking Internet traffic to applications and websites at their discretion.
[More: NYTimes, Washington Post]
Pew creates interactive year-in-review of 2010 news coverage
After much cataloguing, Pew Research Center has put out an interactive year-in-review tool that compares gaps in news coverage. Users select a media sector and can then compare up to five different issues, news stories, outlets or media makers at a time.
[More: Columbia Journalism Review, Pew]
CALENDAR
Queeries Film Series: Xanadu
7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28 at Wealthy Theatre (1130 Wealthy SE)
GVSU's LGBT Resource Center puts on a monthly film series called The Queeries. This month's screening is the 1980s film "Xanadu," starring Olivia Newton John.
[More]
Duct tape designs
2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29 at Grand Rapids Public Library (111 Library NE)
The library will be supplying all stripes of duct tape in this event geared toward teens. Attendees can craft fun and fashionable items to take home with them.
[More]
Outside the Lines
6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29 at Sazerac Lounge
Outside the Lines is a non-artist competition and silent auction to raise money for the Kendall Youth Scholarship Fund (hear them on last week's Catalyst Radio). Attendees can purchase as many ballots as they want for $3 a piece, and all proceeds go to the scholarship fund.
[More]
Excerpts from CARE Ballet's Carnival of Animals
2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 30 at the East Grand Rapids Library
Each year, local nonprofit Care Ballet puts on a performance at St. Cecilia's Music Society. Their upcoming one is in early February, but they will perform excerpts for free at the East Grand Rapids branch of the Kent County Library.
[More]
Arena District's culture club meets to explore Asian cultures
5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at Louis Benton Steakhouse (77 Monroe Center NW)
On the first Wednesday of each month, the Arena District's culture club gets together to explore a new culture. Coming up, the club will be sampling a few Asian cultures through food and a brief cultural lesson. The event is free.
[More]
Bodies revealed for artists
6-9 p.m. on Feb. 2 at the Public Museum
Next Wednesday evening, the Public Museum is inviting artists working with dry media to practice human anatomy drawing. After hours from 6-9 p.m., the Public Museum will make its "Bodies Revealed" exhibit free to those attendees. Space is limited and interested participants need to RSVP. For more information, call 616.456.3977
[More]
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