Hey hey hey!
Did you know the Super bowl is this weekend!? How did that happen!? I have to admit, I am not a sports fan, but once a year... on Superbowl... I resign myself to watching a single sporting event.... Of course I have NO idea what is going on most of the time AND I don't even know what teams are playing BUT I do it.... So Sunday. Rah Rah, Football!

But before that....... here is Word on the Street, February 5, 2010~

FRIDAY!
The DAAC is hosting a pretty interesting conversation about the local impact of art, labor and economics on February 5th from 3-5pm, Artists, city planners, community organizers, strategists, interested or interesting parties are invited to participate in conversation. A little FYI Chicago artist Marc Fischer is leading the discussion and focusing on the issues addressed in the ART WORK project, a national dialogue concerning art and economies.
Cost: FREE!
Location: The Division Avenue Arts Collective 115 S. Division (www.thedaac.org)

The Litibune is BLOWING this weekend up! Celebrate their winter issue (Litribune is a zine) with Dan and the clan on Friday at Sparrows. Meet up with featured artists, including Rebecca Green, Rick Beerhorst and an artist from K-zoo Chelsea Thorpe, at the Sparrows from 3 until 10... there will be music from Benjamin Riley, Julio Gomez, Shane Tripp, Nathan Kalish and Chance Jones... THEN check out their Saturday show at Funders!
Cost: Free
Locations: Sparrows1035 Wealthy

FRIDAY is art day! UICA has new shows opening inclding work by Ashley Jon Pigford, Chad Curtis, Travis Graves & Jackson Martin, and Dan Price. The opening begins at 6 and goes until 9pm....
Cost: Free
Location: 41 Sheldon Avenue

I love the violin... it is one of the best instruments for expressing pain....and sadness.... Anyhow this weekend the Symphony is performing the Beethoven Violin Concherto and Shotakovich's Symphony No. 5. There are performances on Friday and Saturday at 8pm each. Tickets range start at $18.00.... don't make that face! Lots of people will spend more then $18 on DINNER tonight! THIS IS CULTURE!
Cost: $18
Location: Devos Performance Hall!

SATURDAY!
Last weekend I got a chance to check out the Calder Jewelry show at the GRAM and it was totally freaking great! The work was really interesting, the displays are sweet and it was pretty inspiring all around... on Saturday if you are looking for something to do the museum is open from 10am to 5pm....
Cost: 8$
Location: 101 Monroe Center

On Saturday the Litribune is back and still celebrating! Starting at 9pm you can meet up with the Litribune Crew for a local brew and music by Petals Rang the Bell, Fields of Industry and The Fainting Generals. I really like Fields and the Generals but I haven't heard Petals yet.....anyone checked them out yet?
Anyhow get out, support the Litribune, pick up a copy and read'em up!
Cost: $5
Location: Founders 235 Grandville

Need a little Latino Caribbean music in your life? Akaray is playing at Mexicains Sans Frontieres on Saturday beginning at 8pm until 10pm!
Cost: I am sure there is a cover, maybe like 6$ish?
Location: 120 S. Division

SUNDAY!
Don't get envious, this is for KIDS... Sunday Corey is holding a Meet N Greet for his spring Rock Band class. The Class is SWEET. Kids "audition" and the meet and greet and then Corey puts them into groups. The kids then take private lessons with corey and also practice as a group... at the end of the term they are fully functioning. Last years class played all over town it was SO FREAKING AWESOME... like on stage and everything! The Meet N Greet is Sunday from 2-5pm and if you know a kid who would be interested you can call Corey for details 881-3287
Cost: (call Corey!)
Location: Movement and Music 120 S. Division (across from Vertigo)

Superbowl. 'nough said.

MONDAY!
Interested in getting involved in Heartside? The Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association is electing new board members on Monday and they need a few new faces AND voting is open to ANYONE! Board members serve for a year, the board is a working board and last year they accomplished some amazing things! Including Harvest for Heartside, Cleansweep, the Heartside Talent Show, and the Neighborhood Watch... So come vote, join the board OR just meet up with friends and neighbors! 5:30 Monday night...
Cost: Free!
Location: 54 S. Division

Dog Story Theater's Comedy Mondays, improve, standup, Sketch, Film, music, one act plays, puppets the kitchen sink..you name it! And there are two shows, 8pm and 9pm
Cost: $7.00
Location: 1115 Taylor Street

TUESDAY
So they say it's almost time... they say we might not have to wait very much longer... but I am scared to say it out loud and jinx it.... So pretend I am whispering... pppssssttt.... Little Mexico's Grand Opening is Scheduled for Tuesday the 9th.... Keep your Fingers Crossed! I CAN"T WAIT!

CLASS!
Corez is "offering" a wine tasting class a hard core WINE class... not a shmoozzy taste test but suposidly a knowledge building CLASS. The First class is Tuesday the 9th. You need to call and reserve a spot, it is $35 for each class and you need to reserve a spot via Credit card. There is a limit of 12 students in the class. So if you are interested get up on it... 855-2310 or mike@corezwinebar.com
Location: 919 Cherry Street

GET FIT!
Audrey Chapman's Yoga Class takes place on Tuesday nights and Thursday mornings... her new session Starts next week and I totally recommend it... you can find out more about pricing and locations on her blog! http://abeautifulyoga.wordpress.com/

LIFE ONLINE:
The Arts Council and the Community Foundation have launched www.whatsyourartgr.com. Designed by Plenty Creative the site is like a clearing house for performance, fine and local art. Looks spiffy. You need to be a member of the Arts Council to load up events and I will be excited to see how the site evolves as people are using it.... So Check IT OUT!

OPPORTUNITIES!
The Lowell Area Arts Council is holding their annual Regional show and submissions are due on February 12th. If you are interested you will want to check out their website http://www.lowellartscouncil.org/ There is a $30 entry fee....

OH WHOAH!
I got such a rad response from last week's question about places to snowshoe that I thought I would share some of the suggestions....here are a few of them...
Townsend
http://www.accesskent.com/CultureLeisureAndTransit/Parks/townsend.htm

Seidman
http://www.accesskent.com/CultureLeisureAndTransit/Parks/seidman.htm

Pickeral Lake (one of my Faves)
http://www.accesskent.com/CultureLeisureAndTransit/Parks/pickerel.htm

Blanford Nature Center
http://www.blandfordnaturecenter.org/

I also received suggestions for Riverside and Aman Parks!!!

This weekend is going to be super Rah Rah! I hope to see you at the Lecture on Friday...
If you are on facebook you can join the group. Currently we are sending word out as an "event" and a message on facebook so feel free to share..... you can post feedback there or of course send me an email at... wordonthestreetgr@gmail.com . OR if you want to check out the Blog got to http://www.g-rad.org/projects/wordonthestreet/

Thanks for reading all the way down to the very bottom.
Jenn

On the Cheap! WOTS 1-27-10

How are you all?
I know this time of year can be tight SO this weekend there are a bunch of SUPER cheap options (mostly 6$ and under!) and a whole bunch of freebies! If you are going to splurge I suggest the Ballet, normally maybe not for everyone, but their Chaplin performance, Flickers, is gonna be good for all ages and tastes... So time to zip the lip and get down to business!

Here is Word on the Street for January 27, 2010

WEDNESDAY
Volunteer Fest at the DAAC: Otherwise known as the day you stopped thinking about it and started getting involved! We are going to talk about some DAAC details, get trained on how to use some sound equipment, install brand new vynal on the windows and it is a potluck! Also since Geo got the DAACUMENT, the DAAC's new ZINE finished on time there will be PIZZA! WHOA! Meet up at 7pm
Cost: Free
Location: 115 S. Division

YNPN-GGR (The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network) is hosting an community conversation about West Michigan and the Global Economy during Happy Hour (amazing specials!) at Gardella's from 5 until 7pm.
Cost: Free
Location: 11 Ionia.

ALL WEEKEND LONG!
Splurge! I love the ballet because there are moments when you can hardly believe that a person can DO THAT with their BODY, jump that high, move that fast or be that graceful! This weekend the Grand Rapids Ballet is performing Flickers a piece embodying Charlie Chaplin's escapades interpreted through dance. The performance on Friday begins at 7:30 but there are also performances on Saturday and Sunday!
Location: 341 Ellsworth
Cost: Tickets for A-dults start at $30

FRIDAY! IS-ART-DAY!
Mexicains Sand Frontieres is hosting a experimental noise, art, no wave show this weekend with Astro Bats, Warp 51, and DAST. Artists include the wildly talented Melissa Aprin Duimstra, Tom d, Cherie Hilliker and Pascle Suxe. And while you are there don't forget to wish Hugo a HAAAAPPPPPPYYYYY BBBBIIIIRRRRTTHHHDAAAY, because a birthday is always a happy day indeed! Show starts at 8pm
Location 120 S. Division
Cost $5

Also on Friday is the opening of the Calder Jewelry show at the GRAM. I have head good things about the work and it sounds pretty interesting. Because it is a Friday night at the GRAM it is reduced fee for the public to get in. There is also live music and you can grab a bite in the Café.
Location: just off of the Mya Lyn elliptic
Cost $5

If you missed the premier of Coyote (which was AWESOME) you can catch it this weekend at the "Mr. Spookity Horrorfest Film Festival" over at the wealthy theater on Friday the 29th beginning at 6:30 pm. There are going to be 7-ish pieces created by local film makers, a performance by Dangerville and you can gorge yourself on popcorn!
Location: 1130 Wealthy St. SE
Cost: $5

SATURDAY!!
Looking for a great laid back house show this weekend? The Beerhorsts are hosting Soil the Sun, experimental folk music from 7 until 9pm.
Location: 106 Fuller Ave SE
Cost $6

Saturday at the DAAC check out PK fire along with Lake Minuscule. The show starts at 7, the music is folk acoustic there may be a special guest and its pretty freaking cheap.
Location: 115 S. Division.
Cost : 6$

SUNDAY
Sunday the Saz is getting rowdy. There is an afternoon Mr. Sketchy's Art School and then starting at 10pm the Shimmy Shack Burlesque is talking the floor. They will feature four performers form Chicago along with the local ladies! Favorite performer names: Wham Bam Pam, La La Vulvaria and Velveeta the Cheetah!
Cost$5
Location 1418 Plainfield Ave NE

DiscFunktional Sunday at Founders! Sweet beats mixed by a Brewer at the Brewery! You are bound to want to get up and MOVE! The Music starts at 9 and goes till close.
Cost: Free
Location: 235 Grandville

UICA is home to the Chiaroscuro Movie festival and on Sunday you can watch the movies "Archilles and the Tortoise" and "Invisiblites" for FREE!
Invisiblities is created by local film maker Jennifer Proctor... Starts at 2:30 goes till 4:20
Cost: Free
Location: 41 Sheldon Blvd.

Every Sunday night Katherine is gracious enough to host Negative Space Poetry Open Mic, original work is encouraged but a few people have been known to read the work of someone else...Meet up starts at 7pm. If you need in buzz up to unit 311 and if you want to contact Katherine, goestoshowpress@gmail.com
Location: 106 S. Division Apt 311
Cost: Free!

LIFE ONLINE
Check out the new DAACTRAXX the podcast of the DAAC Radio hour from WYCE
Find it on their website http://www.g-rad.org/daac/

Want to find out more about the Crime in your neighborhood? I wrote a Rapidian piece about how easy it is to use the new GRPD crime mapping software. Check it out!
http://bit.ly/crimetime

SUGGESTIONS!?
I am looking to get out and snowshoe this weekend. Any suggestions on locations? I don't want to drive further the 20 minutes and I want to trek around for about an hour. Also I have my own snow shoes! Let me know if there is a park you dig!

Here is hoping you have a great weekend. If you are on facebook you can join the group. Currently we are sending word out as an "event" and a message on facebook so feel free to share..... you can post feedback there or of course send me an email at... wordonthestreetgr@gmail.com . OR if you want to check out the Blog got to http://www.g-rad.org/projects/wordonthestreet/

Thanks for reading all the way down to the very bottom.
Jenn