The term “dive bar” has evolved in meaning over the years. What once meant an uncertain destination for many now points to an off the radar, unpretentious spot that serves great drinks and is full of local character. If you’re looking for a lesser-known option that’s not as mainstream, Grand Rapids…
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Congratulations to the soon-to-be-married couple! So many of my friends (and now my friends’ children) have tied the knot in Grand Rapids, and for good reason. Our setting, with plenty of outdoor space and a thriving riverfront, and our countless and varied venues, are gorgeous any time of year. But whether you’re getting married next month or next year, first you’ll want to host a Bachelor or Bachelorette party. Using one or a combination of the following ideas, Grand Rapids will deliver one to remember…
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Happy fall, everyone! I’m Ben Darcie, and I’m a 14-year veteran of the Grand Rapids beer scene, including being a beer writer for 12 years and working in the beer industry itself for 10 years. In short, I’ve spent the last 14 years getting to know the breweries of this great city, as well as their…
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In classic Michigan fashion, fall has arrived in full force, and quickly. Beers turn darker, cocktails turn toward hard spice, and we arrive at the penultimate season for hard cider. A good friend of mine, Pat Evans, wrote an awesome article on fall beverages a few years ago, which still holds…
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Amidst the chaos of 2020, Black Calder Brewing Company found itself in a supremely unusual position: trying to open a Grand Rapids brewery in the middle of a pandemic. I got to speak with Terry Rostic, one of the two owners of Black Calder, Michigan's first Black-owned brewery, about the journey to…
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