Dining Drinking
REVUE’S TOP PICKS: FOOD & DRINK 10 UNDERRATED EATERIES IN GRAND RAPIDS
West Michigan Cannabis Roundtable | Gilmore Piano Festival
The Evolution of a Frontman: Martin Johnson of Boys Like Girls
WHAT'S INSIDE
Revue’s Top Picks: Food & Drink + 10 Underrated Eateries in Grand Rapids
Managing Editor | Josh Veal, josh@serendipity-media.com
Art Director | Courtney Van Hagen
Marketing Specialist | Kelsey Hewson
Distribution | Kelli Belanger
Contributing Writers | Allison Kay Bannister, John Kissane, Eric Mitts, Michaela Stock
ADVERTISING
Media Sales Consultant | Anna Sullivan, anna@serendipity-media.com
Cover
Photo courtesy of Principle Food & Drink
JOSH VEAL Managing Editor
josh@serendipity-media.com
/// LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
To be honest, it feels like there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with the annual Dining & Drinking Issue. At a time when inflation and lingering supply chain issues have made everything more costly, when wages haven’t exactly caught up, when people habituated to the comfort and convenience of simply staying home, nearly everyone in the hospitality industry is just making ends meet.
With that in mind, we’d love to be able to tell you about every single great spot in West Michigan and leave no stone unturned—to find the perfect take-out joint or dive bar near you, the reader. We’d like to not just support but celebrate every passionate, hardworking chef, server, bartender and manager around.
But we only have so many pages, so what you’ll find in this issue is a sampling of our favorites, places that we are confident deserve a go, if you’ve never been. We cover our top picks for things like first dates and discovering new flavors, along with some hidden gems around town.
If your own favorite is excluded, the good news is our annual readers survey Best of the West is happening right now, so it’s the perfect time for you to make your voice heard. Through March 20, you can nominate any local business you like in 130 categories, and starting April 24, the second round of voting begins with the top three finalists in each category.
This issue also has interviews with local and touring bands, as always, along with an extensive roundtable with folks from the cannabis industry. We talked for nearly two hours about all the issues plaguing the canna world, especially for smaller operators, and why they’re still feeling optimistic regardless.
Through all these discussions, one thing is clear: Despite everything going on in the world at large right now, people want to come together, be there for each other, and stand up against injustice. We hope you’ll do your part, even if it’s “just” opting for a local eatery over a national chain—it makes a difference.
‘Til next time,
3/1
WHAT’S GOING ON, MAR/
BUTTERFLIES ARE BLOOMING
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
1000 E. Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids March 1-April 30 meijergardens.org
The annual Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies are Blooming exhibition at Meijer Gardens is the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the nation. More than 60 species from Africa, Asia, and Central and South America flit about the five-story Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory, giving visitors an up-close look at the stunning diversity and exquisite beauty of these winged wonders.
3/5
COTTAGE CHEMISTRY:
A HEATED RIVALRY DANCE PARTY
The Pyramid Scheme March 5, 8 p.m. pyramidschemebar.com
From organizers What the Dance comes this party themed around everyone’s favorite gay hockey phenomenon. Dance to the Heated Rivalry soundtrack, the hottest queer pop anthems, and nostalgic alt hits all night long. Tickets are already selling fast!
3/7
CANDLELIGHT:
TRIBUTE TO TAYLOR SWIFT
St. Cecilia Music Center 24 Ransom Ave. NE, Grand Rapids March 7 & 28, 8:45 p.m. feverup.com
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Grand Rapids. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Taylor Swift at St. Cecilia Music Center under the gentle glow of candlelight.
3/8
DANCING WITH THE STARS LIVE
DeVos Performance Hall
303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
March 8, 7 p.m. devosperformancehall.com
Straight from Hollywood, See Dancing
with the Stars, Live! With special guest Andy Richter. See the glitz, glam and breathtaking performances of America’s favorite dance show with this ALL-NEW SHOW starring your favorite pros like Alan Bersten, Britt Stewart, Daniella Karagach, Emma Slater, Jenna Johnson, Pasha Pashkov, Hailey Bills and special guests to be announced!
3/11
LAUGHFEST 2026
Grand Rapids
March 11-15 laughfestgr.org
Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s first-ever community-wide festival of laughter, has quickly earned a reputation for being one of the nation’s marquee events. Across four days, there will be tons of events around West Michigan, including showcases like Clean Comedy, Cancer Survivors, and the Michigan Mashup Variety Show; improv from groups like Pop Scholars and Battle Bots; as well as big headliners like Adam Ray and Monet X Change.
3/13
SUGARBUSH FESTIVAL 2026
Blandford Nature Center 1715 Hillburn Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
March 14, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. blandfordnaturecenter.org
Discover the delights of the season as you explore Blandford’s Sugarbush Trail and watch live demonstrations.
Be sure to visit the Sugarhouse where you’ll see the final steps of the sugaring process in action and get a taste test of pure maple syrup. The Festival includes many activities for the whole family, including wildlife encounters, food trucks, games, crafts, music, puppet shows, maple cotton candy, concessions, and more!
3/14
IRISH OFF IONIA
Calder Plaza
March 14, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. irishoffionia.com
Don’t miss out on Michigan’s largest St. Patrick’s Day festival! Irish Off Ionia features live music, Irish
dancers, entertainment, and festive food. The organizers took note of some concerns last year, so this year, expect: Double the stages, double the drink tents, a new layout, and elevated food and beverage offerings, on top of all the usual fun.
3/21
GRAND RAPIDS WHISKEY FESTIVAL
DeVos Place Convention Center
303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids March 21, 6-10 p.m. devosplace.org
Connecting Whiskey Lovers with great whiskey and building relationships with top whiskey brands while creating memories with friends sampling American whiskey, Kentucky bourbon, Scotch whiskey, Japanese whiskey, Rye whiskey and flavored whiskies— no matter its place of origin.
3/20
MONSTER JAM
Van Andel Arena
130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids March 20-22 vanandelarena.com
Get ready for the event that will change everything you thought you knew about freestyle monster trucks (if you knew anything about freestyle monster trucks). For the first time ever, Monster Jam trucks team up with Freestyle Motorcross bikes to deliver gravity-defying skills and thrills.
3/25
RIFF RAFF
The Stache
133 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. SW, Grand Rapids March 25, 7 p.m. sectionlive.com
Riff Raff is a neon-drenched, largerthan-life rapper known as much for his outlandish persona as his Southern hip-hop sound, carving out an independent lane in the rap world. With his braided hair, face tattoos, grills, and flamboyant fashion, Riff Raff leans fully into absurdity and spectacle—but beneath the cartoonish bravado is a surprisingly nimble flow and a knack for catchy hooks.
4/8
THE GRAND RAPIDS LANTERN FESTIVAL
John Ball Zoo
1300 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids April 8-June 14 jbzoo.org
The Grand Rapids Lantern Festival is a truly breathtaking experience for all ages. John Ball Zoo is the fi rst and only place you can see these incredible works of art in Michigan. The festival features handcrafted Asian lantern displays that will illuminate the Zoo and tell the intersecting story of wildlife and Asian culture.
4/11
STAVROS HALKIAS: THE DREAMBOAT TOUR
GLC Live at 20 Monroe
11 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids April 11, 7 p.m.
glcliveat20monroe.com
Stavros Halkias is a Baltimore-born stand-up comedian known for his booming laugh and razor-sharp crowd work. A former co-host of the cultfavorite podcast Cum Town, Halkias has since built a massive following on his own, thanks to viral standup clips that showcase his quick improvisation and gleefully unfiltered style. His comedy blends selfdeprecation, cultural commentary, and unapologetic raunch with an affable charm that keeps audiences on his side.
4/19
STOMP
Forest Hills Fine Arts Center
600 Forest Hill Ave. SE, Grand Rapids Apr. 19, 7 p.m. fhfineartscenter.com
There is no dialogue or plot in STOMP. Instead, the eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments—matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters and hubcaps, just to name a few—to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms. The show has an industrial, urban feel, meant to amaze you with the music they are able to create from everyday items.
PRETTY SURE THEY’RE GOING PLACES: GR ‘Goober Punks’
Celebrate
New EP
| by Eric Mitts
Founded on friendship, fun, and finding yourself, Pretty Sure has confidently made their own place in Grand Rapids’ diverse music scene—one that’s equal parts heart-on-your-sleeve vulnerability and mall-rat mischief.
They call it “goober punk.”
And on March 20, the three-piece will release “Places You’ve Been,” their second EP, before celebrating the new music with their biggest hometown headlining show yet on March 28 at The Pyramid Scheme.
Formed in the winter of 2022, Pretty Sure’s rise has been pretty steep. They’ve already released an earlier EP, two singles, and a full-length album – 2024’s “Too Early To Tell” – all while building a loyal following rooted as much in affirmation as amplification.
Best friends Bryce Couch (vocals/guitar), Colin Daniels (bass) and Kyle Harmon (drums) have been playing together since high school jazz band in Cincinnati.
Life eventually pulled them in different directions — college, other bands, relationships — before Couch relocated to Grand Rapids with his wife, while she pursued graduate studies at Grand Valley State University. The distance didn’t dissolve the friendship. It simply forced an evolution in how they would make music.
“It was a lot of learning how to do it, and learning what you can do with relatively little,” Couch said of forming Pretty Sure remotely. “I’d record an idea, we’d meet (over Zoom), talk details, smush everything together, and see where it fell.”
Those early songs showed the struggle of making things work, but also the promise and potential of what Pretty Sure would become as they continued to find a way to pivot their process.
“If we could get three demos in two months, that was huge,” Harmon said. “Now we’re overhauling parts, changing smaller minutiae, sending the same songs back and forth way more often. We really lock into what we want.”
That sharpened focus defines their new EP ‘Places You’ve Been.’
Following a whirlwind 40-hour tracking session at River City Studios for their full album in 2024, the band approached this EP differently, coming in to record at Cold War Studios more prepared and emotionally primed.
“We weren’t learning songs in the studio,” Couch said. “We were performing. It wasn’t saying, ‘I hope I can play this right.’ It was, ‘I am playing this right — how do I put the emotion and inflection into it?’”
Lyrically, Couch said he’s never felt more certain.
“There’s not a single word I would change throughout this entire upcoming EP,” he said. “We just pulled back the curtains, ripped our hearts out.”
It’s that unfiltered honesty — often wrapped in humor — that defines Pretty Sure’s ethos. That “goober punk” label started as a joke but stuck for a reason.
“When we recorded the first EP, it felt like being surrounded by our friends and reminiscing,” Harmon said. “There were a lot of laughs, a lot of goofs. We’re goobers.”
But finding that juxtaposition in their music quickly became the point.
“Punk has such a serious undertone,” he said. “People are severe when you think about punks, and goobers are not that.”
The band’s humor often masks heavy themes. A working title for one new song? “Peter Griffin Fortnite Skin.” The subject matter? Couch’s aging grandmother and the complexity of that relationship.
Still, beneath the silliness lies something intentional and affirming. Pretty Sure’s mission is clear: remind people they’re unique, capable and worth it.
Landing a Saturday night headliner slot alongside local powerhouses Low Phase and Ficus, plus Detroit’s Riot Course, only underscores how far they’ve come. The band has also enlisted local artists for the show flyer, partnered with favorite businesses for ticket giveaways and brought in local photographers and videographers to document the night.
“This event is 100 percent Grand Rapids from start to finish,” Couch says. “We’re blessed to be able to make music and have that be our vessel, but it takes a whole community of artists to make something like this happen.”
Grand Rapids has embraced them in return.
“It’s serious bottom-to-top here,” Harmon said. “There are very serious acts and very committed people playing at all levels, be it house shows, 200-person rooms, to full theaters… There’s really good hip-hop and R&B, DJs, and string quartets that are phenomenal.”
For Daniels, who still travels from Cincinnati, the connections have expanded both geography and identity.
“The Grand Rapids music scene has been very, very kind to me,” he said. “I’m happy to be part of the scene and expand part of the scene. And I think in turn, that scene has quite literally geographically expanded my area, but also me as a person.”
After the release of “Places We’ve Been,” Pretty Sure has nearly finished booking a 14-show spring tour hitting Milwaukee, Chicago, Nashville, Cincinnati and Muskegon.
“We’re still kind of the new kids on the block,” Couch said. “Everyone has been so welcoming and supportive. We’re really hoping this show and this release can serve as a big ‘thank you’ to Grand Rapids.” ■
PRETTY SURE
“Places You’ve Been” EP Release Wsg. Low Phase, Riot Course, Ficus
The Pyramid Scheme, 68 Commerce Ave. SW, Grand Rapids March 28, 7 p.m., $12 advance Pyramidschemebar.com, prettysure.bandcamp.com
THE EVOLUTION OF A FRONTMAN:
Martin Johnson of Boys Like Girls
| by Michaela Stock
Martin Johnson, frontman of Boys Like Girls, has built far more than a cult following. Across his two-decade career and multi-platinum songs, Johnson has soundtracked a generation while quietly navigating his own evolution. But what lies beyond his chart-topping hits is a more personal narrative—a story of hitting rock bottom, choosing sobriety, and building a family.
Were there any specific moments when you realized you wanted to be a musician?
My cousin was in a street punk band, and my first show was at The Rathskeller, which is a classic punk rock club in Boston. I was 10. There was a brass knuckle fight. I was in my little starter 90s jacket standing on stage, just being like ‘This is obviously what I want to do.’ It was a 200 cap venue, but it felt like a stadium.
You ended up touring while you were still in high school. What was it like to be on the road so early?
I learned a lot about myself. I was 17, and trying to go back to senior year of high school after going on tour was not super possible. I had a really cool principal that let me turn in a 12 song album with lyric sheets and song descriptions as my senior project for an arts credit and a couple of English credits.
I ended up starting a band with John (Keefe) in early ‘04, as seniors in high school. It was called Lancaster, and we went through a few different names, but we had some of the same songs we play now. That was the first generation of Boys Like Girls.
When did you decide to get sober?
I got sober June 15th of 2010. The first wakeup call I had was shutting myself in the bathroom in New York City in 2010 and just doing a whole eight ball with these drag queens I’d never met, while they were playing Mamma Mia over the speakers, in this Hell’s Kitchen theater gay bar. I got back and was like, ‘I want to quit music, I think I want to die.’ I was taking 15 Xanax bars a day and speedballing 24-7.
I decided to stage an intervention for myself, which was bullshit because I had one already, I just didn’t realize it. We got flown to Pebble Beach to play a show and I soiled myself on the flight, so they had to ground it, and they sent my dad out. I stopped drinking and doing drugs after that, but I kept the med bag.
Later, I sat with somebody who was eight years sober in a sauna. He said, “I’ve never met anybody who died from coming off pills, but I’ve met a lot of people who’ve died from taking them.” I’ve been sober since that conversation.
You recently launched Thunder Club, a digital subscription to access the band’s archives. Why did you go this route?
I have folders and folders of hi-8 tapes and camcorder footage nobody’s ever seen. On Myspace, you could have dumped anything, but you can’t just put that on Instagram. It gets buried. So Thunder Club is giving us an outlet to do that. We’re dropping songs that have, and will, never come out. I think we’ve become friends with some of our biggest fans, which is a huge blessing, to see things through their eyes.
And now you’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first Boys Like Girls record with The Soundtrack Of Your Life Tour. How does that feel?
A lot of this tour is making peace with that kid. That kid who was a little bit conflicted, quitting theater, starting this new band, and deciding not to go to college. I left him behind for a while, but he wrote that first record 22 years ago. Stepping back into it with full bravado, as if I wrote it yesterday and I’m super, super proud of it, is a challenging thing to do. Now I get to invite that kid into the room to show respect for the people that those songs made the most sense to.
Spending decades on the road has also taken you on a journey to sobriety.
It’s what happens, right? You have a record, it’s a hit. Everybody starts doing drugs and getting a ton of tattoos and expensive clothes, and arguing with each other, and getting in fistfights on the bus at seven in the morning, coming down from whatever you’re doing at 22 years old.
Can you tell us what it’s like being in Boys Like Girls today?
Boys Like Girls felt really heavy to pick up for a very long time. I’ve done the work to be able to pick it up again and not feel that emotional baggage that came along with it, which was a lot of work. We were all a little bit more headstrong as kids. Now we’re boring, sober, best friends, you know? And so it’s really easy to communicate. There’s a lot of mutual trust. We’ve been through a lot. At the end of the day, art, to me, is just telling stories. I’m hoping I can find some of that out there playing our first records every night, because that kid had something to say. ■
Read the full version of this Q&A online at revuewm.com.
BOYS LIKE GIRLS: SOUNDTRACK OF YOUR LIFE TOUR
GLC Live at 20 Monroe 11 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids March 28, 6 p.m. glcliveat20monroe.com
GARDENING WILL GROW ON YOU
| by Allison Kay Bannister
When the pandemic locked us all down in midMarch of 2020, I, like many other people, decided to up my gardening game. It was either that or learn how to make sourdough bread, and my kitchen already had enough going on. So, it made sense to move additional hobby operations outdoors.
It started small, with cucumbers, peppers, marigolds, and zinnias—all in pots on the porch. What happened next is best described in the words of Ron Burgundy: “Boy, that escalated quickly.” The following year I sectioned off part of my front lawn, and, the year after, I targeted another portion of lawn beside the driveway where I planted deerresistant perennials. (Spoiler Alert: they were not deer resistant.) I also fenced off another area for a fruit garden.
It was exciting to watch my yarden dreams slowly materialize. Trust me, though, over the years, there have been many times when my mouth wrote a check that the other end couldn’t cash. I have hired help, reluctantly abandoned half-baked schemes, and watched in helpless dismay as Mother Nature dashed my efforts.
While I don’t seem to reside mentally in a space that understands what is and what is not reasonable, I do occasionally learn. Most important is this: Whether your garden is a couple of planters on the patio or everexpanding pandemonium, getting outdoors to tend to it is incredibly good for the body, mind, and spirit.
I belong to a few local gardening groups and a neighborhood Buy Nothing group where I get a lot of free and cheap supplies and trades. Few things send off warning bells in the Mister more than my announcing that I am taking the van somewhere to pick up something. Inevitably, he’ll be helping unload bricks (or re-loading and unloading bricks in a different spot), heaving some large object, or digging a three-foot-deep hole… there. Nope, there. Wait, there is better.
Marital exasperation aside, being into gardening is a great way to meet people and build mutual relationships—in addition to the other aforementioned benefits. That’s how I came across Kind Hearts Bloom, a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit organization focused on connecting neighbors and promoting mental health through gardening.
Here’s where I’m going to switch gears and plug in some advice from their team. Revue readers, meet Kristen, the Founder, and Corey, the Program Lead for the Community Roots Gardens program.
What do you think prevents people from getting into gardening? What could change that?
Corey: It can be really overwhelming to know exactly where and how to start. On social media we see these huge, sprawling vegetable and flower gardens, but there are often not many great examples of compact, manageable garden spaces. A single raised bed or an assortment of pots in a sunny location can provide significant gardening opportunities.
Your programs put an emphasis on native, pollinator-friendly plants. What are the benefits?
Corey: Great question! Native plants provide crucial food and shelter, with many of our native insect and wildlife species relying on specific plants. A great example is the Monarch Butterfly. Its caterpillar feeds exclusively on native milkweed plants. Without milkweed present in the environment, Monarchs would vanish!
Native plants also require significantly less water, fertilizer, and pesticides than a traditional lawn or garden. And, they have the ability to reduce erosion, build soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce air pollution!
What is the best piece of advice you have for new gardeners?
Corey: 1) Don’t wait, just go for it! 2) Start small! It’s not only cost effective, it also allows you to slowly build your confidence as you begin your gardening journey.
Kristen: I always tell folks, “You will kill plants.” Every successful gardener has a kill-count. Don’t lose your enthusiasm if a plant doesn’t thrive under your care—you’re learning!
How does gardening promote community interaction?
Kristen: Using gardening as a way to build community and foster relationships between neighbors was the inspiration behind my founding of Kind Hearts Bloom. Gardening, especially front-yard gardens, offer easy, natural opportunities to meet your neighbors and connect with others who care about your community. I learned this firsthand when I converted my front yard from grass to garden after moving to Grand Rapids in 2023.
What programs do you offer and what can we look forward to this season?
Corey: This year we’re launching our Community Roots Gardens! We’ll be partnering with twelve homeowners to replace their traditional lawns with native plants, food gardens, or a mix of both. Participants join a two-year program that includes garden designs, plants, education, and community workdays. Our goal is to create visible, welcoming gardens that will inspire and beautify neighborhoods.
In addition is our Grow & Give program, a self-guided resource that offers simple guides, practical resources, and realworld examples to make gardening feel approachable and meaningful.
Kristen: We also have a full volunteer schedule on our website. Not only will you learn something new when volunteering, you’ll meet some pretty amazing people too! ■
If all of this interests you, head to kindheartsbloom.org to get involved. You can also follow them at facebook.com/kindheartsbloom or instagram.com/kindheartsbloom.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KIND HEARTS BLOOM
FIRST DRINK DATE: Pursuit of Happiness
1426 Robinson Rd. SE, Grand Rapids
For your first date, this champagne and cocktail bar has something for everyone, including beer, espresso and N/A options. That means you don’t have to worry about what they do or don’t drink! Plus, the big windows and clean, modern design creates a vibe that’s not too fussy but not too casual.
FIRST DINNER DATE: The Commons
547 Cherry St., Grand Rapids
For your first meal together, we like a spot that’s cozy and welcoming, and The Commons fits the vibe perfectly. The menu boasts classics like burgers and goulash. With lots of wood paneling, wallpapers and vintage furniture, it’s like having a meal at your grandma’s house—but maybe even tastier (no offense, meemaw).
REVUE’S TOP PICKS:
H| by Revue Staff
Food drink
ere at Revue , we believe West Michigan’s dining and drinking scene punches well above its weight.
We have incredibly driven, passionate and innovative people creating a stellar constellation of experiences across the region—Scandinavian cuisine, tapas, wild breweries, vegan coffee shops, dive bars. It’s almost too much to process, and you might find yourself revisiting the same list every time you think about going out.
That’s where we step in, attempting to bring our years of experience trying every spot in town to the table. While we’re certainly not saying these are objectively the best restaurants and bars around, we are saying these are some of our favorite spots we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to locals and visitors alike.
Here are a few of Revue’s top picks for any occasion.
ANNIVERSARY: Café Mamo
1601 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
With limited seating that gives a view right into the small, open kitchen, Café Mamo feels a bit like having a private chef come to your house. That includes a friendly and knowledgeable staff, a legit wine program, and a weekly rotating menu based on fresh, local ingredients. It’s just as perfect for a special occasion like an anniversary as it is for any night of the week.
NIGHTCAP: Eastern Kille Wealthy
634 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids
When you’re done with dinner, or even your post-meal drink, and want to grab one more to cap things off, EK Wealthy is there for you. This hip cocktail lounge is abuzz with activity later into the night, thanks to an inventive, acclaimed cocktail program and all-around great vibes.
NEW AMERICAN: Principle Food & Drink
230 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo
It’s hard to pin down exactly what “New American” means, but Principle is the perfect example. They take classics like meatloaf and pork chops and elevate them to something entirely different from your typical home cooking—not to mention the stellar cocktails. Every plate that comes to the table is a delightful surprise.
GR INSTITUTION: San Chez Bistro
38 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids
San Chez has been around since 1992, and we don’t think they’re going anywhere anytime soon. The atmosphere strikes
the perfect balance between comfortable and upscale, and the menu of top-notch tapas (along with a daily brunch) has been bringing people together with a shared dining experience for decades now. If you’ve never been, you’re simply missing out.
PATIO: Archival Brewing
6266 W. River Dr. NE, Belmont
Known for their recreations of historic and forgotten styles of beer, and an excellent kitchen, Archival is well worth a visit yearround. But once it’s warm enough to enjoy a pint outdoors, this is especially the place to be. There are multiple fire pits, yard games, tons of seating, and a beautiful view—along with plenty of events, including outdoor yoga and live music. Plus, it’s dog-friendly!
FOOD + BEER: Harmony Brewing Co.
1551 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids
From the moment they opened their doors, Harmony has been known for their pizza. The uniquely fluffy crust pairs perfectly with lightly-sauced, topping-forward pies, and makes for irresistible breadsticks as well. That alone would be plenty, but we’re blessed that they make great craft beer and cocktails to go with the ‘za.
CREATIVITY: The Unicorn Tavern
415 S. Beechtree St., Grand Haven
Voted Best Restaurant in Grand Haven by our readers, the Belgian-inspired Unicorn Tavern is unapologetically bold. They like to have fun with their menu, aesthetics and taproom atmosphere. Expect everything from Belgian dishes like Schnitzel and Mitraillette to classics like mac & cheese and steak & frites. Plus, lots of beer, cocktails and wine.
NEW FLAVORS: The Søvengård
1232 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids
There are only so many New Nordic restaurants in America, and certainly only one in Grand Rapids. Don’t let this intimidate you: It’s all approachable, but refreshingly unique. They offer dishes like risotto, walleye and short rib with a Scandinavian approach. That means plenty of seasonal ingredients, including roasted root vegetables, fresh herbs and plenty of pickled things.
INNOVATIVE DRINKS: Speciation Cellars
928 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids
For innovation on the beverage side, Speciation reigns supreme. What started as a wild brewery has expanded into cider, seltzer and wine. You’ll find saisons and sours loaded with fruit and other flavors, aged in foeders and puncheons, all served in a taproom that celebrates nature.
IMAGINATIVE COCKTAILS:
Drip Drop Cocktail Room
445 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids
Drip Drop isn’t afraid to make anything into a cocktail. The Cornbread Old Fashioned and avocado Margarita are proof enough of that. You can find less adventurous drinks here as well, but for those of us who like to try entirely new experiences, this is your spot. And the menu changes frequently thanks to their inventive bartenders, so you have plenty reason to come back again and again.
WINE BAR: Good Good Good
1590 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
Good Good Good feels like a wine bar (and flower shop) for the modern age. Its interior, filled with fresh blooms and natural light, is clean and minimalist yet cozy and relaxing. The husband and wife duo who run the place are passionate about natural wine and flowers, but completely unpretentious and excited to welcome you into their world. Think you don’t like wine? They might just change your mind.
HIDDEN GEM: Nightwatch Lounge
201 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids
Chances are, you’ve walked right past Nightwatch Lounge without even realizing it. It’s a classy place downtown, full
of lovely art, offering boundary-pushing cocktails and mocktails. If your friends don’t know about it, you’ll seem real cool when you lead them behind a nondescript door in The Plaza Apartments and up a stairwell to this hidden gem.
BEER CRAWL: Downtown Holland
Downtown Holland is a wonderful little haven of craft beer that, in our opinion, isn’t discussed enough. In one visit, you can very easily and quickly walk from Tulip City Brewstillery to Big Lake Brewing, to New Holland Brewing, to Our Brewing Co., to Hops at 84 East. And not even a mile off are Brew Merchant and Brewery 4 Two 4 (which has some of the best beer in West Michigan, in our opinion).
BAR CRAWL: Michigan Street
It may be the Medical Mile up the hill, but down the road, Michigan Street becomes the perfect place for a bar crawl. Start at Duke’s Social House, hop next door to Glass House, then Bob’s Sports Bar (don’t forget the chambong), the iconic Birch Lodge (perfect for bar bites), 7 Monks Taproom for craft beer, and Logan’s Alley for even more. Then you can cap things off with Elbow Room on Fuller! We’d just suggest you avoid drunk driving the tempting e-scooters all around.
PILE OF MEAT: Two Scotts Barbecue
536 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids
Two Scotts has barbecue down to such an impeccable science—or maybe it’s more of an art—the meat is the star. All you really need is a ½ pound of pulled pork, brisket or burnt ends, along with a flight of sauces for dipping, and you’re good to go. But of course, it doesn’t hurt that their sides like pimento mac & cheese and collard greens are killer too.
VEGAN (& GF): FIKA
1359 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
No meat? No problem. From the owners of Rise Authentic Baking comes FIKA, a coffee shop and eatery in Creston doing incredible things with an all vegan, entirely gluten-free menu. If you think meat and dairy are necessary for delicious food, or for some reason you’re a big gluten stan, FIKA will prove you wrong. Get the Tot + Sausage Hash and thank us later.
DIVE BAR: The Derby
816 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids
Picking just one dive bar in all of West Michigan is by no means easy, but Derby embodies the ethos while still making everybody feel comfortable. They have the wood-everywhere design, the darts, the jukebox, pool table, microwaved snacks, cheap drinks, and most importantly, good vibes. ■
REVUE’S QUICK PICKS
We don’t have space to list every single amazing eatery in West Michigan, but here are a few of our favs, if you’re new to town or just looking to expand your horizons.
Fried Chicken
» 616 Batter Mix
» Cousin’s Tasty Chicken
» New York Fried Chicken
Chinese
» Chopstick House
» First Wok
» Rice Wok
Indian
» Pind Indian Cuisine
» Roti Indian Kitchen
» Mithu Srilankan & Indian Cuisine
Italian
» Palio
» Mangiamo
» Nonna’s
Mediterranean
» Chicago Style Gyro
» Sheshco Mediterranean Grill
» Zivio
Mexican
» Iker’s Tacos
» El Granjero
» Mezkla Taqueria (Holland)
Thai
» Bangkok Taste
» Lai Thai
» Bangkok Flavor (Kalamazoo)
Lunch
» Schnitz Deli
» KCM
» One Stop Coney Shop
Breakfast
» Crow’s Nest (Kalamazoo)
» Cherie Inn
» Morning Star Café (Grand Haven)
Pizza
» The Mitten Brewing
» Quarantino’s
» Fricano’s (Grand Haven)
Burgers
» Black Napkin (duh)
» Nonla Burger (GR & Kalamazoo)
» O’Briens Deli & Burgers
Wings
» Mike’s Wings
» LFG (Kalamazoo)
» Wing Kingz
10 UNDERRATED
Eateries in GR
| by Josh Veal
In any city, there are eateries that become big names through word of mouth, marketing and familiarity. And then are the hidden gems.
By “hidden,” we don’t necessarily mean they’re tucked away on a random corner in the middle of nowhere. Call them underrated, or overlooked, or best-kept secrets, if you want.
These spots have a smaller but highly devoted following, who sometimes keep the good word to themselves to avoid long lines (understandable, but a risky gamble if you want them to stick around). Or fans might try to bring more people into the fold, but struggle with the fact people get anxious about trying new things and stick with what they know.
Regardless, it’s our job at Revue to help blow up their spots, and we won’t apologize for doing so. We want these hidden gems to get the love they deserve and not just survive, but thrive. So if you’re looking to go beyond the usual big names, here are a few underrated hidden gem restaurants and take-out joints around Grand Rapids.
7 MARES RESTAURANT
1403 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids
Tucked away in the South East area, 7 Mares has thrived as a neighborhood favorite, with fans raving about their entire menu as the best Mexican food in all of Grand Rapids. Fish tacos, al pastor, shrimp enchiladas, California burritos—it’s all top-notch. Whenever it’s recommended, you’ll see people saying, “Shhh, don’t blow up my favorite spot!’
SUSHI YAMA
146 Monroe Center St. NW, Grand Rapids
Sushi Yama has been serving up sushi in the heart of downtown for decades now, despite being somewhat hidden in the basement of McKay Tower. They serve up affordable yet quality sushi in a unique environment, just down some stairs off Monroe Center. It’s the real deal.
THE LATIN HOUSE
3363 Remembrance Road, Walker
If you keep driving west down Leonard, you’ll eventually find The Latin House, an underrated treasure serving authentic South American cuisine you won’t find anywhere else. It’s Argentinian, Colombian and Peruvian food packed with flavor, like Lomo Saltado, Bandeja Paisa, and Churrasco. Don’t know what that means? Go check it out!
ADOBO BOY
4492 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
Having just recently moved into their spot on the north end of Plainfield, Adobo Boy isn’t in the most visible area, but they’re drawing fans from not only around the city, but across the state. Their Filipino cuisine is authentic as it gets, and served with an abundance of heart, passion and joy from the whole Marasigan family. Get the adobo bowl, the lumpia, and everything else.
MI PUEBLITO
1499 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids
In our opinion, not enough people are talking about Mi Pueblito, despite being located right in the heart of Eastown. This Mexican eatery has all the usual faves, plus a large selection of tostadas, tlayudas and tortas. Not only that, but they’re open ‘til 2 AM on weekends and offer online ordering, if you need a quality fourth meal.
WISHES FOOD-SNACKS-AND MORE
1216 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids
There are burgers, and there are fries. What more do you need? Nothing, when they’re done this well. It’s highly affordable, noticeably fresh, and famously delicious. The end!
B&N SANDWICHES
4242 S. Division Ave., Kentwood
If you want a true blue banh mi—authentic, affordable and quickly prepared—this is the place to be. Stowed within the hallway leading to Kim Nhung Superstore, it’s easy to miss, but hard to forget once you’ve visited. Head there for banh mi, banh bao, summer rolls, and a whole bunch of packaged snacks.
DIRTY PLATE BISTRO
961 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids
While not exactly hidden, we have to admit some people have been turned off by the name—this is a mistake. You want to try Dirty Plate’s rotating menu, passionately crafted by the chef and owner Ben, bringing classic meals with flare to the table. This week’s menu, for instance, includes a pork belly sandwich, kimchi grilled cheese, elk hachis parmentier, and more.
AL-BO’S
2930 Shaffer Ave. SE, Kentwood
Just off 28th Street, Al-Bo’s is quietly serving up a delectable array of Albanian, Bosnian and Coration cuisine. If you love meat, this is an especially great place for you. Try the cevapi sausages, served with fluffy lepina bread, onion, sour cream and ajvar (an amazing red pepper relish).
FIREFOX & CM CHICKEN
3323 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids
Nearby Al-Bo’s is FireFox, an unpretentious Korean fried chicken eatery with rave reviews. You can go for something as simple (yet delicious) as wings or tenders, or go for a “snow” bowl, smothered in sliced sweet onions and your sauce of choice. ■
WEST MICHIGAN CANNABIS
Roundtable
With just over six years of a legal market under our belt, everyone in Michigan’s cannabis industry is still feeling the growing pains, to say the least.
A massive amount of oversupply has driven prices into the ground. A new 24% wholesale tax (HB 4951) has just been placed on the industry in order to fund fixing the damn roads. And thanks to “marijuana’s” classification as a Schedule I substance, operators are subject to federal tax 280E, which means they can’t deduct operating expenses and are taxed on gross profit.
On top of all that, the hemp industry has stepped in to offer unregulated products under the guise of names like “THCa” and “plant buzz”—despite being effectively the same thing as cannabis, but produced in less safe ways.
To discuss all this and more, we brought together just a few experts from the cannabis industry for a roundtable, and they had a whole lot to say. For the sake of space, this is a drastically reduced version of the conversation, so head to revuewm.com for a much deeper dive.
PARTICIPANTS (L-R):
Casey Kornoelje, Owner Pharmhouse Wellness
John Lipford, Professor Grand Valley State University
Karen Kekelik, Co-founder Indigrow
Chris Silva, Board Member West Michigan Cannabis Guild
Steven Kekelik, Co-founder Indigrow
What are the top concerns at the moment?
Steven: One of our biggest things right now is you see a giant growing subset of customers who are entering the cannabis market, and the hemp market is actively trying to pull them into hemp. You see a ton of this Facebook marketing and online accessibility of hemp-derived beverages, which our state is supposed to protect us from. People are moving away from alcohol to cannabis as an alternative, and how do you keep those people inside the regulated market? Because a lot of them want to be discreet, and ordering online is easier than walking into a dispensary, for some first timers.
Chris: They can do cannabis products that are illegal here to produce, like a 5000 milligram edible or like a much larger vape container. And none of that stuff’s regulated. It’s just on these people to be good dudes, but if the conversion is done wrong, you can poison people.
Tell us more about that.
Steven: We’re looking at things from hemp consumers as far as epilepsy, having seizures, feeling a hungover effect, uneasy, dizzy, unsteady. I mean, these things are getting attributed to THC, but done correctly, it doesn’t bring that. What you’re seeing is unrestricted or untested additives. They get a list of what they can’t use, and then go ahead and find anything else that works. That’s not how any other industry works. We can only put in our products what is FDA GRAS, or edible approved. Other things that come from hemp, oils brought in from out of state, they don’t follow those.
Casey: The scary thing there is, you’ve got people that potentially could be medical patients, and they rely on this product for wellness, for healing, and that’s the reason why I got into this. But if they’re getting something that has additives or that’s been converted inappropriately, and you’re introducing that product to somebody who is immunocompromised or who just has susceptibilities from a health standpoint, it’s going to magnify that. And so that’s why it is so critical, that testing or identification of those things.
Chris: They can do all this stuff outside a regulatory environment, even though it’s effectively the same thing. There’s no such thing as THCa or any of that. It’s THC, it gets you high. They’re skirting the law that all of us helped create and push for, and they’re not paying any of the regulatory fees, the testing fees, any of that stuff, and they’re selling it to anybody. People are able to get this in gas stations and grocery stores.
Steven: And it’s already happening. There are stores in Grand Rapids that already carry these products. So, this isn’t some threat that is looming or coming. It’s here.
Casey: It’s in a lot of gas stations, tobacco shops, it’s definitely our biggest competitor. I came from the black market, so I don’t knock the hustle, but I totally agree.
Why is it being allowed?
Karen: As someone who has a legal background, I think that the biggest hurdle is that these legislators, lawmakers, and regulators, they either don’t know enough about cannabis in the industry or they don’t care, or both. And so that’s part of the struggle, right? We have all this other stuff going on. We have the Epstein files. How do we fix the roads? And they just don’t know or don’t care about cannabis. And it’s easy to scapegoat cannabis, or say, “we’ll just charge them the extra,” or “the rescheduling will be delayed because now we’re focusing on this other issue.”
Steven: I was on a call with Senator Rand Paul about a month ago where he talked about hemp medicine, and then proceeded to describe every THC product that we make in the state of Michigan. And if you look right now at ballot initiatives, three states have active ballot initiatives to repeal cannabis. The pontificating is, “Oh, they’re repealing because cannabis is bad.” No. They’re repealing it because they don’t want to touch it. Hemp is federally legal, so they’re saying, “Oh, hemp is just nature’s good stuff.” It’s cannabis. There’s no difference. But when you say cannabis, someone might freak out. When you say hemp, it’s “hemp medicine.” It’s not politically charged.
“Showing up matters. Going to neighborhood association meetings, or being there at community events … can help build that collaboration.”
- Karen Kekelik
Chris: It’s not because they don’t want people getting high, it’s because they want their rich friends in the hemp and whatever industries to come in and control it. That’s what all that’s always been about.
What could help change all this?
Casey: There was an executive order that was signed by President Trump recently, saying that they were going to begin again the process that had previously begun under President Biden to go through the Health and Human Services, with the DEA, all that. I don’t know if it has legs to make it all the way, but if it does effectively become reclassified from Schedule I to Schedule III, that could potentially relieve the burden of the 280E tax code, which I think a lot of people in the room are hoping for to make the businesses viable.
What some benefits or risks of rescheduling?
John: Because it is still a Schedule I substance, the opinions I share are mine alone, they’re not necessarily those of Grand Valley. But the research component, at least from a university standpoint, is going to be easier. Perhaps putting students in placement, in jobs and internships will be easier. But we also have to watch out for a big grab by big pharma, which would be the issue, because the FDA would now have some oversight over cannabis products. And then we wonder, will they just limit it to FDA approved things? But hopefully states continue to get autonomy here and get to decide what’s best for them.
Karen: Yeah, although that could be a step in the right direction, that’s not the end goal. What happens if it’s Schedule III and you have to have a prescription to access that? What happens to the recreational market? Does that go away? Is there a path to transition?
Chris: And in Michigan, the people in that rec market, they paid for the ballot efforts that got us this. They wrote the checks. And so that’s crazy, because basically, we’re in a scenario where these people are going to be stomped out of the market, and if it wasn’t for them, there would be no market for any of us in the first place.
Casey: I’m hopeful that they would look across the national landscape, see that there’s a thriving, 30 plus billion dollar industry that has state regulatory frameworks already in place and still kind of defer to that state regulatory structure. That’s my hope. But you’re absolutely right, we don’t know. We’re all just guessing. So, more to come.
How can canna companies be good neighbors and counteract the stigma?
Karen: I think showing up matters. Going to neighborhood association meetings, or being there at community events, just showing up in your community can help build that collaboration. We’ve had issues with certain organizations within our community, but when we keep showing our face there, they eventually have to kind of accept us and start talking to us and figuring out, how do they fit in our community? So I just think showing up again and again, it helps to be a good neighbor in that way. Plus, we wouldn’t know certain issues or pain points if we didn’t show up. When someone’s like, “Well, they’re always smoking in the parking garage.” Okay, what can we all do as a community to curb that?
Casey: That’s awesome that Muskegon is really open. I wish Grand Rapids was more receptive to some of that collaboration. Any changes in Grand Rapids have to come from the City Commission, who are a little bit tight. For whatever reason, they’re not open to the consumption stuff. But GR does have a pretty good social equity program. Pharmhouse is a social equity operator. We receive a certain amount of breaks on our regulatory fees from the state and from the municipality, and so we’ve tried to put those discounts back into the neighborhood, and just through beautification, we’ve done tree planting, we’ve done local art installations, we’ve done transit improvement down at the corner of Wealthy and Front.
Chris: Casey’s a little humble. He’s actually a gold star social equity operator, and he does a lot of stuff for patients. There’s a lot of stuff he does that he’s not telling anybody about for patients, like giving away RSO to very sick people. Every year, they’re giving out turkeys to the community. He does a lot to beautify that area, and just make it a safe place to be. So, I just want to make sure that Casey’s getting the credit he deserves. If you want to feel good about this, go support people like Pharmhouse and Indigrow, people that care and are always doing this for the community without being told or forced.
“[Hemp] isn’t some threat that is looming or coming. It’s here.”
- Steven Kekelik
John: And this is exactly what I’m teaching my students in these courses, right? Because it’s interdisciplinary, because it’s looking at cannabis and community operations, we are highlighting businesses like this, and examining why what they’re doing is impactful and working. And we look at it through that holistic lens, through looking at social equity, looking at how they contribute to regulatory change. And this sets an example for students that, not only in cannabis can this be accomplished, but in any field you’re in, if you get involved, if you give back to your community and you’re a good neighbor, it goes a long way in terms of bringing us together.
Karen: And I do think cannabis companies hold a cultural responsibility to educate their consumers and their communities, right? Like, Indigrow has this parents event coming up that we do every year. It’s our fourth year doing it. We collaborate with a bunch of community resources, we have it at the local museum, and we let parents come in and ask questions about, how do they start conversations with their teens about cannabis? How do they practice safe use within their house? We know how to talk to our kids about alcohol and prescription drugs. But how do parents talk to their kids about cannabis when, growing up, they were taught that it’s terrible and don’t ever do it, and that’s the end of the conversation.
What’s your advice to readers about all this?
John: Shop local, shop small, go to licensed establishments.
Casey: I couldn’t agree more. Vote with your dollars. If you can support a small, locally owned, independent operator who cares about the education, who’s maybe not so crazy busy that you’re just in out, in out. I mean, we definitely experience busy periods too. Friday evening can be quite busy. And so, yes, there are pinch points, as far as making sure that people get that education. But as a whole, I like to believe that our staff really still does care about giving people the right thing, making sure that they take time to consult with the consumer, to ask them questions about their preferences, about their dosages, about what makes them feel good, what doesn’t make them feel good, and try to hone in on that.
Steven: If the price seems too good to be true, don’t buy it. Do you really think the bag of 200 milligram infused gummies should cost more than the non-infused gummies at Meijer? Think about what it costs to create that product. If you think, “how am I getting all this for this cost,” you know there’s something wrong. They’re doing something to that product that is going to affect you negatively. The value should match what you pay for.
Karen: Also, in the long game, if you are a cannabis consumer or you know someone who has benefited from consuming cannabis, speak up about it. Talk to your local state rep or senator, or even just your local government, and let them know how important this is to you. Or tell them,
“This is a little confusing to me. I’m not sure what the difference between hemp and cannabis is.” And make them aware that this is a priority to the people, to the constituents. I think that there’s power in your voice, and people forget that.
“They’re skirting the law that all of us helped create and push for, and they’re not paying any of the regulatory fees, the testing fees, any of that.”
- Chris Silva
Ending on a positive note, what still gets you excited about this work?
Casey: I still get to work with the plant that I love, a plant that I fell in love with a long time ago. Despite all the drama and the backdrop and all those uphill battles that we face on a day to day basis, I still get to be close to a plant that is one of the most dynamic and powerful plants on planet Earth. So, with that as kind of like my North Star, I hope that that will be enough, that the economics will be there to support it. January is always a really tough month for dispensaries and for retail, weather, temperature, snow, all the things. But despite that, in January, it was the best month of sales that we’ve seen for the last two to three years.
Steven: I work with a group of growers who are just so passionate about what they do. To them, it is such an art, and to see and be able to cultivate that, I think, is incredible. But one of my favorite things in the industry is taking a person who’s never done cannabis before, and having them come back in that second time, being like, “I can’t believe it. I played with my child on the ground yesterday.” I mean, we get that on a regular basis because we generally focus on newer activations, and the eye-opening level of like, “I can’t believe that this is the experience I had, and this is a natural thing.” I mean, that really is the driver for us. I will echo Casey, this is our best January ever, and we’ve been open for four years. So, I think the market is moving to places people trust.
Karen: Yeah, you can’t get anything better than a customer being like, “Oh my gosh, this has changed my life in the most positive way.” I mean, that makes it
worth it 10 times over, just to hear it from one person. So that’s one of my favorite parts about working in this industry is hearing all the time about like, “Thank you for being here. This has helped me so much.” And being in the industry has taught me so much about so many things, how government works, how plants work and can affect us and the benefits. So, even though sometimes it feels discouraging and it’s very difficult, I’ve never felt more like I’m exactly where I need to be. This is what I need to be doing. This makes sense. This fills my cup. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Chris: I’m generally optimistic about the direction things are going. It’s inevitable. More and more states are legalizing. The pendulum is moving our way. So, I see that there’s stuff happening, and I think that as this gets more normalized, and honestly, as more people make more money on it, I think that will probably open up a lot of the things that that we’re talking about, and it will work itself out. Maybe not completely to the way that I would do it if I were dictator, but definitely better than what we have now. And I think that’s the story of this country is, shit gets wild for a minute, and it takes time for those things to work themselves out. But I’m confident that it will.
John: The one thing I’ve been really enthused about over the past six years teaching about this subject is, yeah, knowledge is power, but there’s not always that hunger for the knowledge initially, right? And no offense to our accounting department, but there’s not that genuine excitement usually. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to just meet the students halfway. Like, the desire to learn about this and the openness in speaking about it has been really refreshing to see, where it’s no longer as taboo in a classroom to discuss all the ways this plant impacts society. To see the demand that exists among students from every single major at Grand Valley, from studio art to the medical fields to hospitality, tourism, social work, criminal justice, business— they’re coming from all these different angles, and then they are able to intermingle their thoughts about this with one another. And so, it’s always been a blessing to just be privy to those conversations and see how students from different walks of life are approaching this. ■
“In any industry, if you get involved, you give back to your community and you’re a good neighbor, it goes a long way in terms of bringing us together.”
- John Lipford
GILMORE PIANO FESTIVAL:
10 Days, 75 Events, 88 Keys
| by John Kissane
The Irving S. Gilmore International Piano Festival is, not to put too fine a point on it, enormous. 2026’s festival brings over 75 events to many venues in multiple cities over a little less than two weeks (April 30th through May 10th). While classical music and jazz will constitute the base of the music played, a wide range of genres will be represented. Audience members can attend master classes, films, talks, and performances. Some performances will be by established masters, while rising stars will feature in others. Well-known pieces will be played, as will newly commissioned work. Above all, the piano will be celebrated.
Asked why the instrument is so beloved, Executive and Artistic Director Pierre van der Westhuizen directs your attention back to the 18th and 19th centuries. “The piano was the main way people engaged with music before CD players, Apple Music, or Spotify,” he said. “Piano lessons were part of culture.”
It’s an accessible instrument, at least to a degree. “You don’t need a musical background or training to make a sound, just come up. There’s something magical about it. Here’s this huge, black, shiny, attractive object, and, boom, sound appears the minute you touch it. That holds some power.”
Van der Westhuizen joined the Gilmore in January 2018. A pianist and educator himself, he greatly admired the Gilmore Artist Award (at $300,000, the largest in the world; it’s given every four years). He attended the 2012 festival. “I couldn’t believe it. Here in this Midwest town were artists from all over the world. I got to see my heroes. I was drawn like a moth to a flame.”
Today, he helps draw others. The list of 2026 performers is extraordinary, as even a small sample demonstrates.
May 1st sees the premiere of From Cliburn to Kantorow: A Celebration of Tchaikovsky at Kalamazoo’s Chenery Auditorium. The mini-opera, by Evan Mack and Mark Campbell, explores the impact of American pianist’s Van Cliburn’s winning the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow during the Cold War. 2024 Gilmore Artist Alexandre Kantorow will perform, along with baritone Joseph Lattanzi and pianist Stanislav Khristenko.
A collection of short films by pioneering film fantasist Georges Méliès will be screened at the Chenery Auditorium in Kalamazoo on May 2nd. Right In The Eye assembles twelve of his best pieces. Three musicians will perform live accompaniment on fifty (!) instruments.
On May 5th, pianist and vocalist Kandace Springs will play Western Michigan University’s Williams Theatre. Acclaimed as an artist in her own right, Springs has played onstage with some of the greats, including Sting, Norah Jones, and the ever-exacting Prince. Her set will include songs from her latest album, Lady in Satin , a tribute to Billie Holiday’s 1958 album of the same name.
On May 6th, pianist Charlotte Wu will lead a master class (as with all the festival’s master classes, it will be free and open to everyone), providing insight into the art of music and its demands on the performer. On the next day, May 7th, she’ll perform works by Chopin and Viardot, accompanied by world-renowned mezzosoprano Raquel González.
Grammy Award winner Nicole Zuraitis, a classically trained pianist and vocalist (and, not incidentally, songwriter), will perform at Kool Family Community Center, in Battle Creek, on May 8th. Attendees can expect her customary mix of
jazz, pop, and more.
On May 9th, Sara Davis Buechner will perform at Western Michigan University’s Dalton Center Recital Hall. She’ll be presenting her one-woman show, “Of Pigs and Pianos” (the title’s a reference to her childhood dream, which was to grow up to become a pianist and pig farmer). Through spoken word, music, and visual accompaniments, she’ll tell her life story, including the story of how she transitioned her gender in mid-career.
Also on May 9th, longstanding jazz master Chucho Valdés will take to the stage. He’ll perform at Chenery Auditorium in Kalamazoo, bringing his trademark AfroCuban jazz and drawing on inspirations as wide-ranging as Chick Corea, Mozart, blues, Cuban folksongs, and more.
On May 10th, Kalamazoo’s Chenery Auditorium will host Sullivan Fortner (2026’s Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist). Along with his trio, he’ll accompany Grammy Award-winning singer Cécile McLorin Salvant. Tyrone Allen on bass, Kayvon Gordon on drums, and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire will round out the event. The event will serve as the festival’s finale.
Asked which events van der Westhuizen hopes to attend, he said, “All of them. You kind of can’t help yourself. I’ll say goodbye to my family for a couple of weeks.” Whether audience members match that level of commitment or not, they’re certain to find something exciting, joyous, beautiful, moving and deeply memorable in this year’s remarkable series. ■
To learn more, and to secure tickets, visit thegilmore.org.
Past Gilmore Piano Festivals. PHOTOS BY CHRIS MCGUIRE
MARCH/APRIL
ARTSCalendar
| by Revue Staff
AVENUE FOR THE ARTS
106 Gallery
106 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids avenueforthearts.co
FIRST FRIDAYS, Mar. 6, Apr. 3
BREAK IT DOWN | MAKE IT BETTER, Mar. 20-21
BROADWAY GRAND RAPIDS
122 Lyon St. NW, Grand Rapids grandrapids.broadway.com
& JULIET, Mar. 10-15
DISNEY’S THE LION KING, Apr. 8-26
FARMERS ALLEY THEATRE KALAMAZOO
221 Farmers Alley, Kalamazoo farmersalleytheatre.com
MISERY, Mar. 5-15
GOOD NIGHT OSCAR, Apr. 16-26
FRANKE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
214 E Mansion St., Marshall thefranke.org
HANNAH LAINE, Apr. 17
FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS
1000 East Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids meijergardens.org
JAUME PLENSA: A NEW HUMANISM, Through Mar. 15
FRED & DOROTHY FICHTER BUTTERFLIES ARE BLOOMING, Mar. 1-Apr.30
SPRING NIGHTS: BOURBON & BUTTERFLIES, Apr. 21 & 28
GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM
101 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids artmuseumgr.org
BRICK BY BRICK: THE CREATIVE ART OF LEGO, Through Apr. 26
AS WE RISE: PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE BLACK ATLANTIC, Through Apr. 26
PARISA GHADERI: FOR DANCING IN THE STREETS, Through Apr. 26
THE MATTER OF AWE: LANDSCAPES IN ART, Through Aug. 16
GRAND RAPIDS BALLET
341 Ellsworth Ave. SW, Grand Rapids grballet.com
JUMPSTART 2026, Mar. 27-29
IN THE COUNTENANCE OF KINGS, Apr. 24-26, May 1-3
GRAND RAPIDS CIVIC THEATRE
30 N. Division Ave., Grand Rapids grct.org
THE LIGHTNING THIEF, Feb. 27-Mar. 15
DIAL M FOR MURDER, Apr. 17-May 3
GRAND RAPIDS SYMPHONY
300 Ottawa Ave. NW Ste. 100, Grand Rapids grsymphony.org
MAHLER’S SIXTH, Mar. 6-7
DOLLY PARTON’S THREADS: MY SONGS IN SYMPHONY, Mar. 20-21
SEDUCTIVE RAVEL, Mar. 27-28
JEWISH THEATRE GRAND RAPIDS
2727 Michigan NE, Grand Rapids jtgr.org
WIESENTHAL, Apr. 16-May 3
KALAMAZOO CIVIC THEATRE
329 S. Park St., Kalamazoo kazoocivic.com
ANGELS IN AMERICA, Mar. 13-22
THE ODD COUPLE, Apr. 10-19
MIRROR OF MOST VALUE, Apr. 17-26
KALAMAZOO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
359 Kalamazoo Mall Ste. 100, Kalamazoo kalamazoosymphony.com
MUSIC TAKES FLIGHT, Mar. 10
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL, Mar. 21
MILLER AUDITORIUM
2200 Auditorium Dr, Kalamazoo millerauditorium.com
TINA - THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL, Mar. 3-4
MUSKEGON CIVIC THEATRE
425 W. Western Ave., Muskegon muskegoncivictheatre.org
ANASTASIA, Apr. 30-May 3
MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART
296 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon muskegonartmuseum.org
EXTENDED LOOK: ART NOUVEAU
- AGE OF ELEGANCE, Through Apr. 26
CROSSROADS: INTERSECTIONS OF BLACK FAMILY CULTURE, Through Mar. 15
POW! THE ART OF COMICS, Through May 17
ST. CECILIA MUSIC CENTER
24 Ransom Ave. NE, Grand Rapids scmc-online.org
BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET, Mar. 19
SAM BUSH, Mar. 26
QUINTET REVELATIONS, Apr. 16
WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY
360 W. Western Ave. Ste. 200, Muskegon westmichigansymphony.org
FIESTA SINFONICA, Mar. 2
HOUSE OF HAMILL, Mar. 13
CAMILLE ZAMORA, Mar. 21
VARO STRING QUARTET, Apr. 18
GUITAR ROMANCE, Apr. 17
View our full arts and entertainment calendar at www.RevueWM.com/calendar
