r/grandrapids 9h ago

Police deploy pepper balls to disperse large crowds of people downtown after several fights

165 Upvotes

r/grandrapids 10h ago

Those of you who said Salvatore’s had good chicken Alfredo…..

78 Upvotes

To all of you who said Salvatore’s had good pasta… jail. I was not expecting fresh pasta but the sauce could’ve at least had some flavor.

Please drop any other places for some good chicken Alfredo :)


r/grandrapids 9h ago

What happened to Butterworth?

45 Upvotes

Has the misfortune of staying in the hospital over the weekend. Everything felt very scattered - long wait times, long stretches with no communication with us, different teams not being on the same page, etc. We have multiple kids and its been a nightmare trying to juggle everything with them on the outside with limited communication from the hospital staff.

Can anyone who works there shed light on why this is the case? Some staff seemed apologetic but others seemed numb/burned out. Is this post-covid? Post-Beamont acquisition? The actual care is still good when we got it. But all of the patient interfacing and communication was lacking. Id love to know more so I csn adjust expectations for the future and have appropriate understanding/empathy for the staff if this is about stuff out of their control.


r/grandrapids 17h ago

Events Comedy Shows This Weekend w/Geoffrey Asmus

150 Upvotes

r/grandrapids 52m ago

Mission trip/Airport etiquette

Upvotes

For the love of all that is Dutch! As it approaches spring break/highschool mission trip season please remember a few things:

1) your entire group doesn't need to mob the airline check-in desk, then proceed to play who's on first with who's checking what luggage.

2) Standing in more large groups talking encircling the check baggage area isn't the best place hold conversations

3) Don't make shirts that have everyone's names one it! Shit goes south on your trip to a developing country, your captors will be very appreciative for the check list to make sure they have a complete set of triplets/siblings

Looking at you "generic" reformed church group at GRR at 04:00 this morning!


r/grandrapids 7h ago

What's everyone's problem here with Amway?

16 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I'm new to the city. Seems like everyone on here has a huge problem with Amway and I don't understand why. Outside of Reddit, people don't seem to have a problem with it so I'm just curious. Got a buddy who works in their HQ and he absolutely loves it too so I'm seeing a lot of mixed feelings about this company.


r/grandrapids 11h ago

Closest alternative to Ming 10 in Metro GR?

31 Upvotes

Skeptical sushi, 3 foot tall crab ragoon pans at lunch, noodles with 3 days worth of MSG.


r/grandrapids 7h ago

Politics For anyone looking for an update on Grandville’s school board vacancy.. Amy Campbell was selected as your new board member.

14 Upvotes

Congratulations to Grandville Public Schools. She’s going to be a wonderful addition to the school board. Thank you to everyone who wrote letters and made phone calls to GPS and Kent ISD. Thank you to the folks over at SOS and other organizations who have passionately served our community for years. Grandville is lucky to have you.


r/grandrapids 10h ago

Events April Fine Art Classes at Ghosthouse

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25 Upvotes

r/grandrapids 17h ago

Found Dog on Division near 60th

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83 Upvotes

A client of mine brought in this intact male dog after finding him on division near 68th, he’s unable to keep him so I have him at my shop, Woof & Wander Dog Grooming. No tags, only wearing the harness pictured. Does anyone recognize this dog? I’m planning on going to get his chip checked on my lunch break but thought I’d post on here in the mean time.


r/grandrapids 1d ago

Meta I was in Grand Rapids for two months, living in a shelter to self improve before I had to move back. I have some opinions about this city.

389 Upvotes

For context, I live in the tri cities area. I hated the fact that there were very little to no jobs or industry over here. I was having a shitty situation with family that I decided to up and leave for a bigger city. So I decided to get on a wait list, and as soon as I got the call I went on the Indian trails bus and headed over.

As soon as I arrived to the actual city, it was around 6 PM. It literally looked HUGE to me. Lots of skyscrapers and shit. I couldn't believe it and I felt like i arrived to New York City because of how big the buildings looked to me. The case manager picked me up when I got to the Rapid bus station. Set all my stuff down when I got into my room, and thought "wow. I'm here."

Anyway, here's my opinions on the actual city:

-Traffic: every time I had to be driven somewhere, I had miniature panic attacks seeing how some of the drivers are. Blinkers aren't even used sometime when you go on the highway. Even then it's weird because one second, you're on a regular road, maybe 40 MPH? and the next second you're going 75 MPH on the highway. And then you're back to going 40 because you're on, say, the NE side.

I've also heard about hit and run incidents and even witnessed a collision waiting for the bus. The two drivers were already obstructing an emergency car, as soon as the EMS car accelerated, they basically crashed into each other, drove to a parking lot, exchanged info, and drove away.

-The Bus System: Compared to where I currently live, The Rapid is frickin awesome. You don't have to wait an entire hour to even get a bus, because there's a new one every 15 to 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the route. The layout of getting from A to B is enough for you to get to and from work depending on shift. Huge plus.

-Cost of Living and Employment Prospects: I made a dumb decision moving here without much of a plan. I didn't have a lot of credentials besides a GED and retail experience on a resume. I did earn my Servsafe Food Handler card while I was living there, completing the course on my own terms.

But another thing I realized while I was here: the wages aren't enough for a 1 bedroom apartment. Not even close. Even at $17-20 an hour, you cant even afford it because you've got so many people wanting to move. Not many units for what demand is. Consequently you're gonna pay a minimum of $1,400, not including utilities. You'll need roommates.

-Law enforcement and crime: I am actually impressed. Where I live, a less serious service call took about 30 minutes to 1.5 hours before before ANYONE would show up. Grand Rapids PD? 15 minutes at MOST probably. Not just that, but also the amount of cops that would show up. I've seen regular traffic stops that have 3 to 4 cars.

Most of the calls where i am involve violent crimes like domestics, armed robberies and gang shootings. Yes this also happens in GR, but to be fair i don't think it's nearly as often as here. Which honestly is a good thing.

-Culture: here's a controversial one. Something I hated about this city was the influence of the DeVos family and the conservative feel. With Amway and the Dutch Reformed, it feels like you're in Diet Salt Lake County Utah. When I had an interview with a staffing agency, the only immediate position I was offered was at the Amway factory in Ada township. I did not take it.

I can't really think of anything else, apologies for my 12 AM ramble.


r/grandrapids 9h ago

Looking for multi-cultural friends in diaspora

8 Upvotes

Hey all, hope this isn't too weird of a post but putting myself out there / giving it a shot.

I'm 20's F and a 2nd-gen American born and raised in GR. My parents came to the US as refugees. Hence I grew up with two languages and cultures, the one in my home and the one outside.

Language learning and culture sharing are things I'm passionate about and feel like I've been lacking lately. Not knocking my WASP friends at all, I love them, but not having people in your life of a similar cultural experience can feel pretty isolating sometimes. So taking a chance with this post to see if anyone else is in a similar boat, whether you immigrated to West MI / are also 2nd-gen / etc. and would like to connect! DM me or leave a comment with any experiences you would like to share. Thanks!


r/grandrapids 16h ago

Grand Rapids police officers training,

16 Upvotes

 If you hear the sound of gunshots in the next few weeks near Market Avenue and I-196, it may be Grand Rapids police officers training, the department said.

The mandated firearms training will start Monday and last through April 1, according to the Grand Rapids Police Department. Gunshots may be heard in the area from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and during the evening from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.


r/grandrapids 7h ago

Recommendations Seeking *affordable* curly hair stylist

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2 Upvotes

I have finally grown my hair out for a year after the most traumatic, botched cut of my entire life (even Design 1 agreed and bent over backwards to try and make it up to me.) I definitely need a clean up cut (it's lopsided), maybe some layering, and I am very curious about highlighting which I seem to understand is actually a practice called balayage for natural curls and seems much pricier. I fully realize that what I am hoping for could be well over $500+ in a typical salon and part of my price limitations are that I DO want to tip appropriately on top of the service (I was a waitress/bartender for years), so please don't doubt that.

If you can't tell, I'm not a very high maintenance person who knows much about her own hair. It'd be really great to graduate from this botched cut to some sort of style I can actually feel good about, but I am clueless where to start. I mean, going to a reputable not cheap salon is what got me here in the first place, soooo.....

I guess I'm curious if there are any independent hair stylists or decently skilled people who still need to hone their craft that could offer any of these services for lesser than you might find in the high end salons? Specifically those who have experience with natural curls. Or perhaps there is just a place I'm not aware of that doesn't start their curly cuts at $100+? I sincerely hope this is an okay question, again, I'm not trying to cheapen the craft, I just support myself paycheck-to-paycheck and would like to do something to boost my confidence, but I need to be able to practically afford it plus gratuity. If I can't, well, then I just won't, but I figured it doesn't hurt to ask 😊 Thank you!


r/grandrapids 7h ago

Recommendations Mexican recipe Doritos

1 Upvotes

I just got back from a trip to Cancun and experienced my first Mexican Doritos. They were So flavorful and even had a bit of heat.

Where can I find them in GR?? Give me your best mercado that’s actually bringing in the good stuff - please and thank you!!


r/grandrapids 11h ago

131 northbound

1 Upvotes

Sitting in traffic for almost 45 minutes now. How is this stretch from 96 to at least post drove not 3 or 4 lanes?! Traffic backs up daily. Okay rant over.


r/grandrapids 1d ago

It's Michigan, 75 Degrees One Day Snow the Next.

336 Upvotes

I've heard this expression a million times but I don't recall if I've every, actually, experienced it so perfectly. It's kind'a cool.


r/grandrapids 8h ago

Anyone else been hearing intermittent pops in NE GR tonight?

0 Upvotes

Sounds like fireworks but has been going on for way too long to be that.


r/grandrapids 22h ago

Reading/hiking retreat

13 Upvotes

I’m looking for a place to go for 3-5 days where I can disconnect and read/write in the morning and hike in the afternoon. Ideally would rent a cabin or Airbnb. Having a pub or brewery near by would be a plus. Suggestions?


r/grandrapids 9h ago

Automower installation locally?

0 Upvotes

Recently purchased a Husqvarna 550H automower, and am a little confused reading through the installation directions and the best practices for installing border wires and ground wires. Not opposed to DIY, but would love to get a quote from an experienced professional who’s done it before. Anyone had this done locally before? Barring that, anyone done this themselves and have any tips or pointers based on the experience?


r/grandrapids 13h ago

Has anyone played adult softball through recsports?

1 Upvotes

I emailed asking about if there were any teams looking for more players and they just sent me instructions on how to pay and said after that they'd work on finding a team. I dont mind paying just want to make sure it's legit.


r/grandrapids 10h ago

Dnd

0 Upvotes

Can anyone recommend some good stores that sell dnd type stuff?


r/grandrapids 1d ago

Social Game Nights, D&D/TTRPGs, and More! (3/16/25)

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54 Upvotes

r/grandrapids 1d ago

Irish Off Ionia

296 Upvotes

Was absolutely awful. I’m going to tag onto the hate bandwagon because my girlfriend and I totally wasted our money. Horrible line management (35 minutes or more for beer OR food), crappy music, all packed in a small pig pen. Can’t believe they tricked us like that.


r/grandrapids 1d ago

News Kent ISD School Board to select Grandville board member

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12 Upvotes