The Gift Shop At John Ball Zoo
John Ball Zoo is also home to a crowd-pleasing retail outlet, The Gift Shop at John Ball Zoo. The shop is filled with a variety of locally and internationally-made items for kids and adults.
Many products pay homage to different cultures and animals. T-shirts, souvenir cups, key chains, hand-crafted items made by Kenyan tribesmen, handmade purses from India and beautifully carved marble animal figurines are just some of the items you’ll find here. Many are eco-friendly and fair trade certified. There is also a great collection of toys and stuffed animals.
As an added bonus, John Ball Zoo members receive a 20% discount on purchases from The Gift Shop at John Ball Zoo. The gift shop is open during the zoo’s operating season, which generally runs March-November.
shopUICA is part gallery shop and part college bookstore – a great combination for shopping for an artist or artist at heart.
The Ballroom At Cityflatshotel
The Ballroom at CityFlatsHotel located within CityFlatsHotel is a one-stop shop when it comes to your wedding day.
Katrina Scott, ballroom and events manager forthe Ballroom at CityFlatsHotel says, Our boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids offers in-house The Parlour Blow Dry Bar + Full Service Salon for hair and makeup needs, a location for the ceremony and reception with a cocktail hour space, event spaces for rehearsal dinners and post-wedding brunches, and of course hotel rooms.
The Ballroom can host up to 200 guests for your special day while the Event Room can accommodate up to 150. Additionally, CityFlatsHotel is connected to the city-owned Monroe Center Parking Ramp giving your guests the option to keep their cars in a covered parking ramp for easy access to-and-from wedding festivities.
Scott advises the happy couple to soak it all in on their wedding day, The day goes by so quickly. Really take the time to live in the moment. Trust that your vendors are in control and just enjoy your day!
Visit CityFlatsHotels website for more information on having your wedding at The Ballroom.
The Ballroom at McKay was once the Grand Rapids National Bank.
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Free Passes To Area Attractions
Kent District Library has partnered with area attractions to provide our patrons with access to complimentary guest passes to area museums and botanical gardens. More partnerships may be added over time.
KDL patrons ages 18 and above can use their library card to reserve free passes to attractions and experiences around the county. Cardholders can reserve passes online, print their passes and visit their attraction on the date they reserved.
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Artprize Gifts For Sale At Grand Rapids Art Museum Gift Show
GRAND RAPIDS — In addition to this weekend’s Artists’ Market at the UICA, holiday shoppers can pick up ArtPrize paraphernalia at the Grand Rapids Art Museum starting Friday.
The GRAM gift shop, at 101 Monroe Center, will sell various products donning the ArtPrize logo through Jan. 31.
“We all ended ArtPrize with a very high, energetic feeling. And not everyone had the chance to see it — out-of-town friends, neighbors. So this gives an opportunity to share that with them in the hopes that they’ll come join us next year in 2010,” said David Abbott, ArtPrize’s new director of development and former director of retail.
Abbott said an online store, accessible through artprize.org, is in the works but won’t be finished in time for Christmas.
Rather than coining the products as ArtPrize ’09 “leftovers,” Abbott said they are core products that will be revisited again next year. He also said having products available via an online store always was a part of the long-term plan.
Some of the core product for sale at the museum include reusable woven bags , pens , Moleskin journals , logo T-shirts , Michigan T-shirts , water bottles and a commemorative poster .
Abbott said the museum was a natural choice, considering first-place-winning painting “Open Water no. 24” is on display at the GRAM until Jan. 31.
GRAM hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. The museum is closed on Mondays.
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Frederik Meijer Gardens Grand Rapids
One of my favorite memberships is to the gardens. Their warm greenhouses with beautiful flowers and plants are a welcome haven in the cold winter months and beyond. They offer memberships for Students, Individuals, and Families of different sizes.
TIP: Memberships grant access to the gardens whenever you like as well as member-only events, discounts, and exclusives.
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Planning A Wedding How To Share Your Big Day
This year, MLive plans to spotlight some Michigan weddings. If you are planning to get married in the coming months or you were married in the past year, let us know if you want to share your celebration. Details here.
When she met Sidney, he was living in Southeast Michigan, serving as an elder in a church in the same denomination.
They had countless Facebook friends and friends-of-friends in common. She grew up in Inkster, and has relatives in Southeast Michigan. Sidney has relatives in Grand Rapids.
We kept finding all these connections, TaLawnda said. It was more and more confirmation that our paths were meant to cross, even though it was in an unconventional way.
Within 10 months of their first phone call, they became engaged at Grand Haven State Park.
Sidney, a sales rep with AT& T, relocated to Grand Rapids. He continued working in ministry, becoming an elder in TaLawndas church.
After their wedding June 28, 2014, they settled into a home on Grand Rapids Southeast Side.
They both love to travel. In the past year, they have visited Mexico twice, Niagara Falls, Toronto, New York and a number of other places.
Close to home, they like to visit local parks. And the Grand Rapids Art Museum which is special to them for more than one reason now.
Whenever I go there, even when I go there for art, I relive the moment, TaLawnda said.
The date
Dr. TaLawnda and the Rev. Sidney Bragg were married June 28, 2014, at the Grand Rapids Art Museum.
The venue
Schuil Coffee Grand Rapids
This family-owned company has been serving Grand Rapids coffee since the 80s. They pioneered roasting specialty coffees in Michigan, and their subscription service makes a great gift! Simply choose the product you would like, frequency of delivery, and wait for fresh coffee grounds right to your door. TIP: If you need individual bags of coffee to give as gifts, there are many local stockists where you can pick up products or schedule a pick-up at Schuils headquarters on 29th Street.
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Michigan Weddings: Blending Art And Fairytales At The Grand Rapids Art Museum
GRAND RAPIDS, MI A love of art is one of many interests that TaLawnda and Sidney Bragg share. So when they looked for a spot for their wedding, they checked out the Grand Rapids Art Museum.
The familiar place suddenly looked different in the brides eyes.
I could just see myself walking down that glass staircase in my wedding gown, TaLawnda said.
They changed their wedding date so they could book the museum for their big day.
The Braggs met through an online dating site, blackpeoplemeet.com. They quickly found out they share so many interests, friends and connections, they wondered why they had never met before.
TaLawnda, an internal medicine physician with Spectrum Health Medical Group, has belonged to Renaissance Church of God in Christ in Grand Rapids for 15 years.
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Loves Ice Cream Grand Rapids
For the ice cream lover who appreciates real, hand-packed ice cream. Loves operates out of a whole flavor philosophy creating sweet treats that are intentional, local, and mindfully sourced. Give the gift that keeps on giving by joining the club. Loves offers Pint of the Month and Chocolate of the Month Clubs, which allow you to choose a pint or 4 chocolates of your choice each month for a year.
TIP: If you are trying to think of a food-related gift for someone with food sensitivities, Loves is a great option. They offer dairy-free, vegan, and low net carb options.
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Brandon & Kara // Gram Wedding
Oh, My! Where do I begin with this wedding? Kara did not miss one single detail of her downtown Grand Rapids Art Museum Wedding! I always love photographing details so it was so fun to see what special touches she dreamt up for her wedding day. I have not seen the delicate rose gold detail paired with a marble swirl at any previous wedding so how fun to see how Kara and Brandon had these elements woven throughout the entire wedding.
So many have commented on that they loved how fresh and modern this wedding was. The playful touches of the confetti and the guys shoe game was quite strong with a change after the wedding. I always thought the girls considered this, but Brandon is one stylish guy so this didnt surprise me. I loved the fun touches! Dont get me started on the donut wall. If you take a second look it highlights the first letter of their last name. I overheard many guests raving about this surprise. You know I had one as welljust to taste! ha
Take a peek at this Beautiful wedding full of the prettiest details, gorgeous florals and amazing venue! Kara and Brandon suit each other well and are so sweet together. Their bridal party was full of energy and were up for anything! My favorite! We even swung by to grab a few shots of Brandon and Karas adorable pup. How could we possibly leave him out on the biggest day of their life? No way!
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Henchmen House Grand Rapids
After just a couple of years of being open, Henchmen House has become a staple in Creston. This locally owned business offers Grand Rapids first barbershop membership, which provides consistent cuts as well as discounts on products.
TIP: Henchmen also offers online booking for ease of use and allows people to gift their services if you know someone who could use a bit of pampering.
Grand Rapids African American Museum
The Grand Rapids African American Museums mission is collecting and retelling the rich, colorful stories which compose the historic African American tapestry of living in Grand Rapids. Getting its start in 2014 with a grant from the Michigan Humanities Council, the project initiated the recording of oral histories from African Americans right here in Grand Rapids and throughout West Michigan. This was just the beginning as the project grew and led to the opening of the current 2,100 square foot location open today. With the planning stages underway, the GRAAMA is looking to expand into its new 13,000+ square foot location in downtown Grand Rapids.
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What To Do At Uica
The galleries at the UICA have art pieces of all sizes and inventiveness. If you want to see the art from a truly unique perspective, behind-the-scenes tours are available.
Outside of the walls of the UICA building, you can find its Exit Space Project locations, where local street artists add more color to downtown Grand Rapids by painting murals on utility boxes, buildings, and parking ramps around the city.
The UICA is currently reopening at the Woodbridge N. Ferris Building, on the campus of Kendall College of Art and Design. We will update you when more information is available.
University Club Of Grand Rapids
The University Club of Grand Rapids is a banquet hall on the 10th floor of a private club. The University Club offers panoramic city views, and offers several rooms to fit your wedding needs. The venue doesnt have a room rental fee, or set up and tear down fees, however you do have to go through their catering services. The venue prefers plated meals, but does offer a buffet option, it is more expensive and has a time limit of one hour. The venue holds up to 300 guests and also includes free parking.
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Bissell Tree House John Ball Zoo
Situated at one of the highest points in Grand Rapids, celebrate your wedding day overlooking the citys beautiful skyline. The unique ambiance of this space at the John Ball Zoo will knock the socks off your guests. You will surely be pleased with all the options offered here like having a full meal catered for your guests or just doing drinks on the wrap around deck. This woodsy yet romantic setting makes the Bissell Tree House the most beautiful backdrop for your wedding photos.
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Bissell Tree House At John Ball Zoo
Why not have your reception at the wildest place in town! The Bissell Tree House is situated on one of Grand Rapids highest points and is inside of the John Ball Zoo. It can be casual or elegant, but always unique. Guest arrive in style as they ride the funicular up to the top of the hill ~ sure to be a crowd pleaser!!. The banquet hall is a modern design which can hold approx 180 guests with windows floor to ceiling showcasing the spectacular views of downtown. There is a wrap around deck where you can have your ceremony or cocktail hour outside in the treetops.
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Best Venues For Your Grand Rapids Wedding
The city of Grand Rapids paved its way into our hearts after we executed one of our all-time favorite cover shoots there. it didnt take much for us to fall in love with the spirited city on the Grand River. So when our guest blogger Taylor Kraai pitched the idea of exploring some of the fan-favorite venues in the city, we couldnt resist. Plus, we trusted Taylors opinion because we knew she had great tasteshe was the first Grand Rapids wedding we featured on our new website. She gave us her top five picks and threw in a few honorable mentions for good measure.
City Flats Hotel
City Flat Hotel | www.cityflatshotel.com | 83 Monroe Center St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 If you want your guests to say WOW then this is the venue for you!! The guests walk up a grand staircase and turn the corner to a jaw dropping room its embellished with high vaulted ceilings, marble pillars, and elegant woodwork. Not only does this venue offer onsite catering it can host your ceremony too! The package also includes beautiful Mahogany Chiavari chairs, colored lighting of your choice, silver charges, and all of your flatware and glassware for 200 guests. Also the ballroom is connected to the hotel which will be convenient for your guests after a long night of dancing! They recently added on the Parlour where you can get your hair and makeup done and an extra event space so your guests can enjoy a wonderful cocktail hour. You cant beat this one stop shop!
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Grand Rapids Art Museum
A docent is a volunteer educator that engages in conversation with museum guests about artwork.
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| About us | On June 1, 1910, a constitution was adopted establishing the Art Association of Grand Rapids, which eventually became the Grand Rapids Art Museum. |
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Closing tomorrow! Artist Carole Harris sat down with us to discuss her lifelong fascination with sewing, and how her creative approach has changed over the years. See Carole Harris: Bright Moments before it closes June 18. Watch the full interview: https://bit.ly/3hF0Ssd
In a New Light: American Impressionism 1870 – 1940 is now open! Explore over 130 landscapes, seascapes, portraits, and city scenes exploring Impressionism in America during the late 19th-early 20th century. See the works on view on Level 2: https://bit.ly/3wfqp3H
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The Gift Shop At Blandford Nature Center
Blandford Nature Center provides enriching nature experiences for all ages, and its Gift Shop is stocked with unique products for outdoor- and animal-lovers. The selection varies with the season and runs the gamut from locally made maple syrup and limited edition hoodies to books, calendars, mugs, stuffed animals and even Owl Pellet Investigation Kits!
Creative and local gifts for all ages at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum.
Wedding At The Gramgrand Rapids Mi
Congratulations Hahyoon and Andrew! This cute couple, with their cute families, cute friends, just cut cute cute. The day was so fun with warm smiling faces all around.These two met through church while they were in college. They knew each other two years before they actually started dating. After about four years together, they started planning a wedding. Andrew surprised Hahyoon at home one day when he wasnt supposed to be there, with a ring! It was private, quiet, and perfect. They celebrated with wine and string cheese.If you missed their adorable engagement session in Gaslight Village, please check it out here:www.lookatthebiggerpicture.com/blog/hahyoonandandrewSome plans changed for us on the big day, due to a boisterous parade right where the ceremony was supposed to be- with loud generators- so we all adjusted to a new plan, still at the GRAM, which was truly amazing. Nothing could spoil the bigger meaning of this day for Hahyoon and Andrew.
What a beautiful day to celebrate! I am honored that I got to document it. Enjoy the preview!
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