One of the ways to really get to know a city’s vibe is to find the arts district and spend a little time hanging out. Art tells stories of time and place, even while being timeless and universal. Artists reveal truths about humankind within the context of their cultural and historical setting.

If glitter is to gaudy as milk is to the nectar of life, it's a safe bet that the Glitter Milk Gallery will showcase only the loudest and most dazzling lowbrow and pop-surrealism works that you'll find in Grand Rapids. The gallery is currently under construction on Alpine Avenue and if all goes as planned, will have its first show on April 5. The gallery will feature contemporary works of illustration, graphic design, sculpture, and a wide range of eclectic styles.

For more than 50 years, The Jim Henson Company has brought us characters that have become some of America's most heartwarming, hilarious and—let's be honest—grotesque celebrities. While Kermie and Miss Piggy may be household names by now, there actually are still a few things we don't know about them. Indeed, our ability to believe and enjoy most puppet shows hinges on one big mystery—the hidden actions of the puppeteers.

Winter in Michigan, especially the one we just experienced, leaves quite an impression. While beautiful outside, it tends to encourage a bit of hibernation in us as well, a yin to summer's yang. It influences who we are and what we do, creating a particular rhythm in the Midwestern way of life, a common bond among us. LaFontsee Galleries took note and decided to organize an exhibition around this very theme.

Black Eagle Press, a local screen-printing operation, has made itself at home on Jefferson Avenue with the opening of Black Eagle Trading Post. The eclectic store features locally handcrafted goods, an impressive collection of antiques, custom clothing reminiscent of a traditional "Sailor Jerry" style, and a screen-printing station in the back.

• Grand Rapids
• Black Eagle Trading Post

Back when crop tops were going through their first wave of cool and rollerblades were the rage, a lounge singer became a nun. Not a real-life lounge singer, but Sister Act's Deloris, who discovered that a wimple is a slammin' good witness protection disguise.

A quote by Emily Fisher Landau provides a little insight into the mind and motivation of one of the preeminent collectors of post-war American art in the United States: "Never stop learning. Never stop looking. Art is the greatest teacher."

It's no secret that children are wizards capable of transforming even the most mundane objects into portals of extraordinary adventure. Building on this idea, the Peter Pan prequel, Peter and the Starcatcher, uses a minimalistic collection of everyday objects to transport audiences to a land where children and make-believe never grow old.

A peculiar opportunity can sometimes find a perfect fit at smaller arts organizations in West Michigan. Just such an opportunity arose recently at Saugatuck Center for the Arts (SCA), according to Executive Director Kristin Jass Armstrong.

It’s been more than a month since Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines, claiming the lives of more than 5,600 people and displacing an estimated 4.4 million.