Tag Archives: Bridge Street Market

Gonzo’s Top 5: Dragon boat races, summer concerts, garden tours, and much more

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Dragon boat races are one of many features at the family-friendly Global Water Fest on Saturday, July 30 at Canal Park in Grand Rapids. (Courtesy)



By John D. Gonzalez, WKTV Contributing Writer

Happy weekend, everyone.

Make sure to get out there as summer begins to wind down. If you’re looking for a few ideas, I have put together my Top 5 things to do, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.

Here we go!

Gonzo’s Top 5


5. Wild Ones Garden Tour & Fundraiser

Wild Ones Garden Tour and Fundraiser on Monday, Aug. 1. (Courtesy)

Wild Ones River City Chapter will show you how to add native plants, shrubs and trees to your garden to provide food, shelter and habitat for birds and beneficial insects.


“Removing invasive plants, reducing lawn size, and using natural care also helps heal the earth. Even small changes can make a difference,” according to its website. To learn more about these benefits, the Wild Ones River City Chapter is having a garden tour and fundraiser on Monday (Aug. 1).



You can visit the Native Plant Education Garden at 920 Cherry Street SE, Grand Rapids, which will feature more than 80 species of native plants. Wild Ones members will be on hand to talk about the evolution of the garden and answer questions. The tour is free. Then, across the street, you can enjoy a bite to eat and a beer at Brewery Vivant, which will donate a portion of their proceeds to Wild Ones River City Chapter. Hours are noon to 10 p.m. More info at rivercitygrandrapids.wildones.org.

4. Wyoming/Kentwood Summer Concerts

The seasons are coming to a close.

Grupo Latin Soul closes the Concerts in the Park series on Tuesday, Aug. 2 at Lamar Park in Wyoming. (Courtesy)
  • Grupo Latin Soul closes the Concerts in the Park series on Tuesday (Aug. 2) at Lamar Park in Wyoming. Learn more on the event’s Facebook page.

  • In Kentwood, The Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra (July 28), the Moxie Strings (Aug. 4) and Brena (Aug. 11) close out the Summer Concert Series on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall.







All concerts will be live streamed by WKTV Community Media. Watch the events live at: https://www.wktv.org/live25.html. If you miss a show you can watch it here at WKTV On Demand. All are free. All begin at 7 p.m.

3. Last Sundays Outdoor Market, Grand Rapids

Looking for something to do on Sunday? Make sure to check out “Last Sundays,” which is a monthly outdoor market at Bridge Street Market in Grand Rapids. It features a variety of local makers, vendors, farmers, food carts, samplings and more. It takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday (July 31) on the corner of Bridge Street and Seward Avenue. Other dates: Aug. 28 and Sept. 25. More info at https://www.bridgestreetmarket.com/blog/2021/6/3/last-sundays-outdoor-market.

2. Ballpark Series: Around the Horn with the Grand Rapids Symphony

The Ballpark Series at Sullivan (formerly Valley) Field is one of many events spearheaded by a group called Fans of Valley Field on Saturday, July 30. (Courtesy)

I have mentioned this series a few times this summer, that’s because you will love this old, historic ballpark that dates back to 1937, and located on the West Side of Grand Rapids. The Ballpark Series at Sullivan (formerly Valley) Field is one of many events spearheaded by a group called Fans of Valley Field. On Saturday (July 30) the Grand Rapids Symphony makes its first appearance, along with local legends Rick Reuther and The Tom Hagen Trio. Admission is free, but tickets are needed.

The symphony performs “Peter and the Wolf,” as well as another piece, followed by Reuther and the trio. An Instrument Petting Zoo will be set up for kids to touch, play and experience instruments. There also will be an art area with other activities as well before the Symphony performance. Gates (and bar) open at 5 p.m. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. Food is also available. Go to the Facebook event page for tickets and more details. The Neighborhood Concert Series is presented by Meijer and underwritten by the Wege Foundation with sponsorship from Wolverine Worldwide, David & Judy Frey, BDO, Fox Motors, Chuck & Julie Frayer, Hung and Elsie Liang Fund for Music, United Bank and Delta Dental of Michigan.

1. Global Water Fest, Grand Rapids

Dragon boat races are one of many features at the Global Water Fest on Saturday, July 30 at Canal Park in Grand Rapids. (Courtesy)

My friend Ace Marasigan of the GR Asian Foundation reached out recently to tell me about the 2nd Annual Global Water Fest Grand Rapids on Saturday (July 30) at Canal Park, 941 Monroe Ave. NW, and on the Grand River. The family-friendly event features Dragon Boat Races, a globally-themed variety of food vendors, live music and entertainment. The Dragon Boat Races begin at 8 a.m. The winner gets $500 for their team and $500 for their non-profit of choice – Prize money sponsored by Kim Nhung Superstore. Youth Fishing Derby is from noon to 4 p.m. and includes free fishing poles while supplies last. Global Water Fest is from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is presented by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., City of Grand Rapids Office of Special Events, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and Mobile GR. Learn more on the Facebook event page.

That’s it for now.

As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com

Have a great, safe weekend.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Homeless women find ‘sweet job’ with local cookie business

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  • Volunteers and workers comes together every Tuesday to make Paul’s Mom’s Cookies.

By Micah Cho
WKTV Contributor

Susan Schur lived on the streets of Grand Rapids for eight months. Now, thanks to the partnership of Dégagé Ministries and Paul’s Mom’s Cookies, she has a steady job and an apartment.   

“Dégagé helped me reinvent myself after being homeless,” Schur said.

Founded in 1967, Dégagé Ministries looks to serve homeless women in the Grand Rapids area. Men and women in need of assistance can visit Dégagé for food, hygiene, and legal services. Only women, however, can stay at the “Open-Door Women’s Center,” a homeless shelter for women in crisis.

Employing women that come through the shelter, Paul’s Mom’s Cookies gives women the opportunity to work for a real business and make a wage, something that’s difficult for homeless women. 

“We were able to use those women to come in and pay them a fair wage and teach them the trade of baking the cookies,” said co-owner Cindy Knape. “So to us it was a win-win because we’re not just giving money to a charity, but we’re helping it from the ground up.” 

Knape, along with co-founder Chris Mason, started the business out of Knape’s home kitchen and sold their cookies at the Rockford Farmers Market. After the cookie’s popularity took off, it was time to find a new place to start baking. Now, 20-30 volunteers and employees pack Trinity United Methodists Church’s kitchen on Tuesday mornings producing more than 1,500 cookies. 

“A year ago it took us three hours to bake 800 cookies and now its three hours to bake 1,500,” said cookie business manager Zenobia Taylor-Weiss. “So, we’re getting good at what we do”. 

Taylor-Weiss has noticed the different types of relationships that have been formed between the volunteers and the women from the open-door program. Because of the situations some of the women have gone through, Taylor-Weiss says there is nothing better than a strong support system. 

“The community that’s been created here… It’s been really beneficial to everybody,” said Taylor-Weiss.

Community has been especially beneficial to Schur. With an apartment and job, Schur is also a strong believer in the community that has been created at Paul’s Mom’s Cookies. 

“The volunteers and the rest of the workers are fabulous, I have great relationships with all of them,” said Schur. “I have their phone numbers and I can call them at any time if I have any questions and I just love it.” 

Paul’s Mom’s Cookies can be found in Forrest Hills Foods, 4668 Cascade Rd. SE; Kingma’s Market off Plainfield, 2225 Plainfield NE; and the Bridge Street Market, 405 Seward Ave. NW.

For updates on Paul’s Mom’s Cookies, you can visit their facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/paulsmomscookie/)