Being this is Revue’s Cheap Issue, let’s celebrate the current state of the back catalog CD, starting with this list of a dozen inarguably great bargain-bin albums you can pick up at several chain bookstores and big box emporiums for just five or six dollars a pop. Your locally-owned indie record shop usually has a pile of these titles, as well.
Congrats! You’re moving into a new space or maybe just modernizing the interior design of your current crib. Either way, it’s time to get shopping. Whether you’ve just parted ways with your longtime roomie or have just finally decided to retire that tattered Bob Marley poster in the living room, it’s never too late to step into a sleek, mature look.
Perhaps it was a turbulent holiday season or maybe you’re just strapped for cash. Either way, prepping for any date, especially Valentine’s Day, can be a stressful task in itself. Those extravagant dates can empty your wallet. Take our advice: Don’t order a pizza and stay in. Treat your date to some of Grand Rapids’ finest locations without breaking the bank.
For the budget minded, or the impossibly hip who prefer to hunt for treasure in lieu of the instant gratification of online shopping, West Michigan has fabulous frugal finds. Whether you jam on vintage shops offering curated gems, enjoy the charm of a fine antique store, or prefer chic scores strictly available in higher-end resale and consignment shops — here’s where to start.
It’s safe to say Grand Rapids has cemented its place as a growing, up-and-coming city. Of course with big-city culture comes big-city prices. Sure, it’s satisfying to splurge on gourmet $15 burgers or $6 tacos — it’s also easy to let it break the bank. Never fear: The Cheap Bastard is here to save you some dough.
Now in its fifth year of laughing for the health of it, LaughFest returns to Grand Rapids March 10-20. The annual event benefits Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a free, supportive community for families and others coping with cancer, grief and emotional health.
How many do you suppose know the first ever recorded flight in Kent County took place from the roof of Nick Fink’s bar in Comstock Park? Or that Grandville Avenue was created by a wayward cow that took the long route back to the barn? I’m not making any of this up. These stories, among others, have been recently brought to light thanks to the efforts of Norma Lewis and her latest book Lost Restaurants of Grand Rapids, released late 2015.
While it’s been 35 years since his death, Alfred Hitchcock is still the critics’ darling. If you browse any “greatest films in cinema history” list you’re bound to find Psycho and Vertigo peppered alongside others.
Like the saying goes: You can take a comedian out of Michigan, but you can’t take Michigan out of a comedian. Fifteen years after moving from the Great Lakes State to sunny Southern California, stand-up veteran John Heffron has a deep-seated appreciation for his childhood home and its unique seasonal challenges.
If you’re not the gym type but have been looking to change your lifestyle, you’re probably realized there’s no shortcut to a fit bod. But to help nudge you along, Revue tracked down some experienced personal trainers and fitness experts and asked them how to get off the couch and stay motivated.
