Hi Grand Rapids, hope you’re having a great weekend! In today's in-case-you-missed-it edition: Fireworks move, a transit hub daycare, and pridefest 2026 + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing Most popular stories this weekThe three top stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
A fresh holiday backdrop: Grand Rapids Fourth of July fireworks will move to the Fulton Street Bridge as Ah-Nab-Awen Park remains closed for Grand River restoration. Expect an expanded Meijer finale marking America’s 250th -- see the fireworks move.
New riverside attractions await: Grand Rapids Public Museum debuted its riverfront expansion with free carousel rides and Summer Saturdays running June 13 through August 15, featuring a geology sculpture wall and outdoor classroom -- explore the riverfront opening.
Family support innovation: Grand Rapids opened what officials call Michigan’s first childcare center inside a public transit hub, featuring eight classrooms, a rooftop tricycle track, and support services for 100 children under 6 -- tour the transit hub daycare.
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with Lemonade*. All the crowd favorites: |
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03 — On our radar
This week's top findsLocal spotlights your fellow readers loved last week.
Make your week smarter: Grand Rapids Public Museum packs three floors of history, science, and local stories, plus a planetarium and a lovingly restored 1928 carousel. Perfect for a low-key reset that still feels productive, whether you’re corralling kids or just indulging your inner nerd.
Meat lovers, assemble: Butcher's Union nails the comfort-meets-upgrade vibe with serious steaks, a West Village double cheeseburger that refuses to be humble, and bacon-wrapped meatloaf, all alongside a whiskey ledger that reads like a novel. Bring a friend, split the Brussels, and let dinner turn into a night.
Dinner or brunch plan: Downtown’s Littlebird keeps things cozy and considered, with seasonal, locally minded plates and genuinely thoughtful hospitality. It’s the kind of spot where brunch feels celebratory and dinner just clicks, plus a wine list that rewards curiosity and cocktails that taste like they were mixed just for you.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Google your own name and you'll probably find your home address: It's sitting on a people-search site right now, next to your age, your relatives, and your phone number, free for anyone to look up. Incogni gets it taken down. It contacts 420+ data brokers on your behalf, uses privacy laws to legally demand deletion, and keeps resending requests so your information doesn't creep back online. No hours of opt-out forms, it runs quietly in the background. *Remove my data →
Your plastic cutting board sheds 100 to 300 microplastic particles per knife stroke. Half of them wash down the drain, but the other half end up in your food. And if you're thinking about switching to wood to avoid it, that grain soaks up bacteria you can't scrub out. We found a cleaner solution to tackle these two issues. *Check it out →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Sneak peek at next weekPlan ahead for the next seven days. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🍦 Popsicles in the Park @ Ideal Park | Tuesday (6/16) at 4:00 PM – Celebrate 20 years of the Refugee Education Center with popsicles, treats, and neighbors who actually talk to each other. Activities from the Grand Rapids Children's Museum and the Grand Rapids Public Library keep the kids busy, rain or shine, and your conscience gets dessert too.
🎨 Paint & Sip! Area 11 Special Olympics Fundraiser @ Painting with a Twist | Wednesday (6/17) at 6:00 PM – Break out your inner Bob Ross and your favorite cab for a Paint & Sip that actually does some good. A portion of your ticket supports Area 11 Special Olympics, serving 2,000+ neighbors in Kent and Barry counties at no cost, reservation required.
🧠 Miles for Mental Health 5K @ Grand Rapids Rowing Club Boathouse | Saturday (6/20) at 8:30 AM – Because Grand Rapids pairs good deeds with cardio. The inaugural Miles for Mental Health 5K, celebrating 10 years of Still I Run, turns your jog or power-walk into support for the Mental Health Runner Grand Rapids Cohort, opening doors for beginners, community, and steadier minds.
💿 Grand Rapids Record & CD Show @ American Legion Neal E. Fonger Post 179 | Saturday (6/20) at 9:00 AM – Crate-diggers, stretch your backs and meet at the American Legion Post 179 for 50 tables of vinyl, CDs, cassettes, and assorted nostalgia. Free admission, shopping spree drawings, and every genre from classic rock to jazz, punk, and soundtracks. Bargain bins, rare grails, zero algorithms.
🔧 FREE Hands-On DIY Workshop: Tile Setting @ Home Repair Services | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – If you’ve been threatening to retile the kitchen since your first HGTV binge, here’s your sign. A free, hands-on tile workshop where you’ll learn measuring, cutting, and laying tile for backsplashes or floors, no RSVP required, courtesy of LMCU. Your grout lines will thank you.
🏳 Grand Rapids Pridefest 2026: Together We Glow! @ Calder Plaza | Saturday (6/20) at 12:00 PM – Grand Rapids PrideFest is turning Calder Plaza into a neon block party with free admission, local makers, food trucks, drag royalty, and headliners Wreckno and Durand Bernarr. Wear something that glows, and bring your best pacing strategy, not your 1998 rave moves.
🛍 Summer Solstice Market @ Grand Rapids Downtown Market | Sunday (6/21) at 10:00 AM – Whether you worship the sun or just want an excuse to loiter outdoors, the Summer Solstice Market at Downtown Market is under the outdoor Market Shed with local makers, artisan finds, and extra daylight. Think slow browsing, sunny strolling, and that smug first-day-of-summer glow.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — Announcement In case you missed itWe opened The Insiders’ Club last week and hundreds of folks have already joined (seriously… can’t thank you enough!!). For a few bucks a month, The Club gives you every newsletter ad-free on your schedule, plus members-only updates to help you stay connected to your community. The Weekly Events Roundup is my favorite feature. You get one email a week with all the best events and nothing else cluttering it up. Want only that? Skip the daily emails and turn the rest off. Join the club → |
07 — The Grand Rapids report Weather forecastToday — High: 71°F — Low: 52°F — Precip: 73%
Showers and thunderstorms likely before 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind 3 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Mostly clear. Low around 52, with temperatures rising to around 54 overnight. West wind 2 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 74°F — Low: 56°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 74. West southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southwest wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Most popular house this weekSet on 2.2 private acres in Forest Hills Central, this 4,300-plus sq ft home blends classic space with serious fun. Formal living and dining rooms, a granite-and-stainless kitchen with island, and a main-floor office keep things practical. Upstairs and down, there is room for everyone, plus a heated pool, insulated outbuilding, and 3-stall garage.
Take a peek inside → |
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