John 
There are so many songs with lyrics about “getting lucky” and “staying up all night.” Certainly, those would make the perfect intro to an article about casinos near Grand Rapids, right? Imagine my horror when I discovered in no way are these songs about “getting lucky” or “staying up all night” at one of Michigan’s … Read more
Does your dance routine at weddings make your partner blush? Look, I’m not here to dance shame you. If you’re throwing down “the sprinkler,” “the robot,” or even an advanced move like “the running man,” I’ll back off the dance floor and give you your space. Genius needs room to grow. But if you’re jerking … Read more
Banksy. Frida Kahlo. Georgia O’Keeffe. da Vinci. And. You. Or maybe your children. Are you ready to make some art? It’s your opportunity to add your perspective to an activity that humans have been engaging in for millennia. You may think that the Lascaux cave in southwest France, with its stunning depictions of cows, stags, … Read more
Did you see the 2019 film Hustlers? The movie, which starred some of our greatest queens, including Constance Wu, Cardi B, and Julia Stiles, was a triumph at the box office, earning over $100 million dollars. The plot follows a group of women who know a thing or two about pole dancing. They steal money from … Read more
When did drop-in art studios become a thing, anyway? They’re kind of like escape rooms. I don’t remember them existing at all, and then at some point in the 2010s, my Instagram feed – this was in the dark days before reels or stories – was flooded with budding artists, glowing over their work with … Read more
My son came home with a pinch pot from one of these studio classes. He hoisted it above his head like a trophy, his face beaming. Remember pinch pots? Simple things, really. Form some clay into a ball, stick your thumb in the center to create a void, and pinch around the top of the … Read more
Is your mise en place good to go? “Yes, chef!” Are you prepared to chiffonade some leafy greens? Oh yea, we’ve got some chiffonading to do. “Yes, chef!” Do you have your EVOO (that’s extra virgin olive oil if you’re new here) and unsalted butter on hand? “Yes, chef!” Alrighty. You guys are ready. Sharpen … Read more
Let’s talk vinyl rigs. What’s your setup? Do you spin your favorite records on a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO? And then run that through a Yamaha R-N303 receiver? Then pump that sound out from a Rogersound Labs Speedwoofer 10S MKII? I bet that album sounds sublime coming out of your Q Acoustics 3020i bookshelf speakers. Great … Read more
Who invented mini golf, anyway? Imagine the looks their neighbors must have given that brave soul. I picture the inventor of mini golf scurrying around their backyard with a hacksaw, cutting into some PVC pipe, then burying the PVC in the ground. Wiring up a windmill with electricity so the blades would rotate with the … Read more
Fried chicken might be my favorite food of all time. It’s definitely up there. The juicy meat, the crispy skin, and the built-in handle of a drumstick. What’s not to like? I’ve even fried chicken in my home (it turns out great, by the way, but your house will smell like an Arby’s for DAYS). … Read more