Gerry T
Jul 29, 2026
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Wagging Riders, based near Byron Center in southern Kent County, Michigan, is the state's only dog bus — and it started with a boy who loved dogs and a mom who bought a bus while he was on vacation. Co-owner Amy Oostveen was inspired by a similar concept her sister mentioned in Alaska. Her son, Aleksander Slott, who had already been walking dogs since around age 11, became the natural heart of the operation. Founded in January 2024 during homeschool, the family-run business picks up local pups, takes them on supervised outings to parks and play spaces, and returns them home happily exhausted — treating every dog like family, not just a passenger. |
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Long before Grand Rapids became a film-friendly city buzzword, Bruce Willis and 50 Cent were shooting scenes there for a 2011 action film called Setup — a direct-to-video revenge thriller that currently sits at a humble 17% on Rotten Tomatoes. The production left a memorable mark on downtown GR: the owner of MadCap Coffee, Trevor Corlett, agreed to have his shop's windows "shot out" for the film, with prop windows swapped in for a staged shootout at Monroe Center and Ottawa Ave. Chase scenes featured Ryan Phillippe and 50 Cent sprinting through local landmarks, including a Christmas-decorated Rosa Parks Circle. Willis himself never even visited the city — but the legend lived on. |
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Grand Rapids locals are naming names — or at least industries — when it comes to the area's most dreaded jobs. Residents took to Reddit to sound off on the positions they consider the worst in the region. The usual suspects topped the list: understaffed healthcare and senior living facilities, high-turnover entry-level manufacturing roles, and low-paying retail and food service gigs. Delivery warehouse jobs and postal work also drew strong reactions, with one commenter comparing a warehouse role to the trash compactor scene in Star Wars. Of course, "worst job" is in the eye of the beholder — but when a whole community agrees, it's worth paying attention. |
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Pioneer Construction has reached a major milestone in Grand Rapids, Michigan, successfully installing a pedestrian sky bridge connecting Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital to the new Joan Secchia Children's Rehabilitation Hospital. The bridge required roughly 135 tons of structural steel, erected by Pioneer's own steel team through careful planning and coordination. The new pediatric facility is a joint venture between Mary Free Bed and Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, aimed at expanding specialized rehabilitation services for children across West Michigan. Once complete, the connected campus will improve accessibility for patients, families, and staff while strengthening the region's pediatric healthcare infrastructure. |
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Downtown Grand Rapids is facing a wave of business closures, with the latest being REV: Road to Revitalize, a juice bar that opened less than two years ago. Owner Shardaira Jones announced the closure, citing personal reflection, though no final date has been set. REV's closing follows the departure of F. David Barney, a beloved menswear shop that operated for nearly 50 years before its owner retired. Both businesses are located in the historic Ledyard Building, currently undergoing an $11 million renovation. Storefront vacancy in Grand Rapids' Center City district has climbed to 21%, with eight downtown businesses already shuttered in 2026 — though a revitalized block may be on the horizon once the building project wraps up. |
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Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit made a triumphant return to the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in West Michigan, delivering a two-hour, 21-song set spanning his 30-plus-year career. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter drew on material from his Drive-By Truckers days alongside beloved solo cuts like "If We Were Vampires" and "King of Oklahoma." Critics and fans alike prize Isbell for his unflinching, compassionate lens on working-class American life — tackling themes of broken promises and economic struggle without ever sounding preachy. If you missed the Meijer Gardens stop, the alt-country mainstay headed next to Interlochen Center for the Arts to continue the tour. |
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Grand Rapids, Michigan has earned platinum status in the statewide Michigan Green Communities Challenge, the highest recognition the program awards to local governments. The city hit several notable milestones to secure the honor, including growing its tree canopy to 37%, raising its electric and clean-fuel fleet vehicles to 46%, and cutting municipal water consumption by more than 8%. Grand Rapids also advanced a food-waste diversion program and launched Zone GR, a zoning overhaul designed to align city development with sustainability and housing goals. The Michigan Green Communities program is free to all local governments across the state and is backed by several state agencies and municipal organizations. |
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🗓️ West Michigan Events | July 28 – August 3, 2026 |
🗓️ West Michigan Events | July 28 – August 3, 2026 1. Houndmouth at Frederik Meijer Gardens (Grand Rapids Township)
2. Dirty Heads & 311 – "So Glad You Made It Tour" at Acrisure Amphitheater (Grand Rapids)
3. Music on the Grand — Backwoods Express (Grand Haven) Actually, per the confirmed schedule: 📅 Wednesday, August 5 4. Jazz in the Park — Sunny Wilkinson Quartet (Walker)
5. Holland Summer Concert Series — Violet Velure (Holland)
6. Grand Haven Free Fridays — No show this week (note: the Grand Haven Free Fridays series runs July 3, 10 & 17 and August 7, 14 & 21 — next show is August 7) 6. Brothers Osborne at Frederik Meijer Gardens (Grand Rapids Township) |