Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts (314 S. Park St.) is the city's jewel box. After being housed in a number of Victorian mansions, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill designed a permanent home for the museum in 1961 based on the ideas of architect Mies vander Rohe. The KIA expanded again in 1994, and the 72,000-square-foot facility provides space for an art school and a collection featuring American painting, European and American prints and photographs, and pre-Columbian gold. Highlights include a massive Dale Chihuly chandelier hanging in the museum's atrium, a dozen Ansel Adams photographs, a growing collection of Tiffany art glass and a turquoise Art Deco ceramic bowl commissioned by Eleanor Roosevelt. This summer, look for a major exhibition on photographer Yousuf Karsh. "Regarding Heroes" (July 9–Sept. 4, 2011) will explore Karsh's masterful technique to capture iconic portraits of Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, Albert Einstein, Audrey Hepburn and many other 20th-century celebrities.

The Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers in the Epic Center (359 S Kalamazoo Mall) has been Kalamazoo's home to modern dance for 30 years. Cori Terry, Wellspring's founder and artistic director, trained in New York City and performed throughout the United States and Europe. In 1980, she was WMU's artist-in-residence and then formed Wellspring in 1981. The company has been in the Epic Center for 11 years, performing in the state-of-the-art Wellspring Theater and a second rehearsal studio, Studio 19, on the lower level. Watch the creative process by attending the company's open rehearsal during Art Hop on May 6. The company's Spring Concert of Dance, May 12-15, will help shake off the dreariness of a Michigan winter.

Learn how to become a performer of a different sort at the Crescendo Academy of Music, on the lower level of the Epic Center. The academy evolved from a violin program that was part of Western Michigan University's Community Arts Program. It offers private lessons on most orchestral instruments, theory and composition classes and chamber music. Practice sessions are held in 19 teaching studios and two large ensemble rooms at the academy. All students are encouraged to perform at public recitals given approximately ten times per year.

The Nature Connection operates out of a storefront space in the Epic Center facing onto Kalamazoo Mall. The attractive shop is great place to find nature-related books, toys, educational items and gifts sourced from "Kalamazoo to Timbuktu." The friendly staff can also show you a delicious selection of Michigan food products. You will find Charles Layton truffles from Traverse City, which are adored by the sprightly Miss Carolita, as well as several new coffees from Schuil Coffee of Grand Rapids and a number of tasty items from Cherry Republic of Glen Arbor. Buy some educational toys for you and that special youngster in your life.

The community's historic theaters balance gilded elegance with technical excellence. The Riviera Theatre (50 N. Main St.) just to the south in Three Rivers was originally billed as "Southern Michigan's Most Beautiful Amusement Palace." The Riviera Theatre has served patrons almost continuously since 1925, closing only for a long and meticulous renovation by the current owners. The Vaudeville palace offers a lively calendar of movies, live music, stage productions, televised events, and variety acts. On May 7, the theatre will stage the Heavy Hammer Jamboree with root-music acts like the Tillers, Calamity Cubes and Ten Foot Polecats. You can also attend the Riviera's Chaplin Film Series with The Great Dictator in May and Monsieur Verdoux in June. Before and after the show, bend your elbow at the Riviera Theatre Bar. The fully stocked bar has live music every Thursday and serves the tastiest movie theatre popcorn with the best Michigan-made liquors, beers and wines.

The ornate Kalamazoo State Theatre (404 S. Burdick) is a popular live music venue from spring through the fall. Designed by renowned theater architect John Eberson for the larger-than-life, it'sbig enough to hold rocking shows but not so cavernous that you feel like you're in another ZIP code. Ya hear me Wealthy Theatre? The theater is currently dark until September, but keep an eye out for an exciting 2011/2012 calendar of events.

You can drink that microbrew and listen to live music all in one place at Bell's Brewery (355 E Kalamazoo Ave.). How efficient, my peach. Bell's became the first Michigan brewery to serve beer by the glass to the public on June 11, 1993, which should be a state holiday that consists of pumpkin launchers and tossing unicorns into volcanoes. The brewery recently spent 17 months and $3 million to transform its drab warehouse into the Back Room at Bell's Eccentric Cafe. The Back Room will be able to host national touring acts that couldn't squeeze into the Front Room. The first band to play in the new space was Greensky Bluegrass, which has been playing at Bell's for 10 years. Look for upcoming shows like Jacob Fred's Jazz Odyssey and the first ever Bell's Prom with Ella Riot. Don't worry; you will still be able to listen to music under the stars while sipping from 20 beers on tap in the Beer Garden. Save a Round House IRA for Poppa Steve.

The Strutt (773 W Michigan Ave.) is an eclectic coffee shop and diner during the day and smoking bar and recording studio at night. Sit and sip a 6 oz. Espresso Con Panna while penning the next great jangly Emo chart topper. Later, you can chow down a Pollo Pazzo Pizza as you wait for the band to get back together. Then head down to Strutt Studios, which is located below the bar/venue/cafe and record a masterpiece that will do justice to your skinny jeans and shaggy haircut. The Strutt's Jazz Brunch is a fine way to wile away a Saturday afternoon. And don't miss the May 13 CD release pretty for Small Brown Bike, a post-hardcore/Emo band from Marshall with the Casket Lottery from Kansas City and the Minutes from Kalamazoo. Support local and alternative music, my pets.

Owned and operated by the extended Stamos family, Papa Pete's (502 South Burdick St.) opened its doors in 1991. If you like booze and live music, you're in luck. Papa Pete's has always featured live music from metal to house to shoegaze. The popular three-nights-a-week concert lineup featuring national acts and local bands started in 2003. Look for the Kazoo Destruct dubstep show on May 7 and a massive metal show on June 11 with Mine Enemies Fall, Tirade Parade, HeadCase, and Ill Hollow Chamber. Rough around the edges, the taverna does not skimp on its extensive wine list, full liquor selection and rotating beers on tap. Papa Pete's shares the same Greek and American food menu as its adjoining sister restaurant the Blue Dolphin. Nibble on some homemade Mousaka and Dolmades while you bang your head.

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