Tag Archives: JW Marriott

Party hearty New Year’s Eve at ‘The Ballroom Bashes in Downtown GR’

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Holidays, Local Business, Upcoming Events, , , , ,
Image courtesy AHC+Hospitality
Celebrate the past and look to the future!

Be a part of the most epic New Year’s Eve experience the area offers at The Ballroom Bashes in Downtown Grand Rapids! Spanning from the Amway Grand Plaza to the JW Marriott Grand Rapids to the Downtown Courtyard by Marriott (all connected via skywalk) you can party in four glamorous hotel ballrooms, each with a distinct theme and energy, along with a dozen restaurants and bars. Find the bash that suits you best and party all night long — or hop from one to the next to keep your night moving.

 

The purchase of one ticket includes entrance to the following Ballroom Bashes:

 

GLOW Party
Ambassador Ballroom at the Amway Grand Plaza
Glow sticks and cups pop in this black-lit environment where a band and DJ take turns playing pop hits

 

Bourbon and Bubbles
Pantlind Ballroom at the Amway Grand Plaza
Bourbon and champagne bars, dueling pianos and a lounge singer for a classic glamour vibe beneath the gold leaf ceiling

 

Caribbean Jam
Imperial Ballroom at the Amway Grand Plaza
Pina Coladas, a steel drum band and décor to transport you to the islands

 

Throwback Bash
International Ballroom at the JW Marriott Grand Rapids
Music and dancing from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s played by both a band and DJ with sections decorated to celebrate each decade gone by

 

NYE at The Bistro
The Bistro at the Courtyard by Marriott
Sample small plates, crafted cocktails and more in the intimate Bistro setting with a DJ! Complimentary tapas offered with the purchase of a drink. 

 

Sat., Dec. 31, 2016, 8 pm-Sun., Jan 1, 2017, 1:30 am EST

 

Downtown Grand Rapids Hotels

187 Monroe Ave NW

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

 

To purchase tickets, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-ballroom-bashes-tickets-29285262007?aff=es2

 

Redeem your ticket for a wristband at the Amway Grand Plaza Center Concourse on Dec. 31. Must have photo ID showing you are at least 21 years of age.

Enjoying Adventures Inside the Snowglobe of West Michigan

Local Business, Recreation, Weather, , , , ,
There are only four public luge tracks in the country, one of them is right here in West Michigan!
There are only four public luge tracks in the country, one of them is right here in West Michigan!

Even though some of us may not be big fans of the cold weather, winter plays host to some of West Michigan’s most fun activities. Coats and boots may be necessary, so pack accordingly! Whether you enjoy speeding down the slopes or taking your time to enjoy the snow covered outdoors, West Michigan will keep you more than entertained during these winter months.

 

The Muskegon Winter Sports Complex

 

For some unique winter fun, check out the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex, located in Muskegon State Park. They have one of the only four publicly accessible luge tracks in the country! They also have snowboarding, skiing, and sledding on their five miles of groomed track. If you’re not interested in hitting the slopes, there is an ice rink and tracks for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Equipment is available for rent.

Rosa Parks Circle

 

JW Marriott

 

The JW Marriott is helping you embrace and enjoy winter with the JW on Ice package! This package includes passes for ice skating at nearby Rosa Parks Circle, a holiday gift welcome amenity, and a complimentary breakfast from their delicious farm-to-table restaurant, six.one.six, to help you warm up.

 

Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place

 

Van Andel Arena will be home to the WCHA Final Five hockey championship on March 18. The men’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) is college hockey’s most historic, tradition-rich and successful conference and their premier conference tournament is coming to Grand Rapids. This two day event pits some the best college hockey teams in the region against each other. Visit the website for more ticket and group sale information.WCHA final five

Crystal Mountain

 

January is National Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month and Crystal Mountain has you covered with their professional instructors and special lift tickets offer all of January. For January only, Crystal Mountain is bringing you an amazing deal with a ski and snowboard rental and 1-hour beginner group lesson for only $20. Advanced reservations requested.

 

Don’t need a lesson? Then bring a friend and enjoy the day with a two for one deal on lift tickets! Offer valid Mondays through Thursdays for the month of January. Whether you’re a newbie looking to learn how to shred the slopes or an experienced rider, Crystal Mountain is the place to be.

Courtesy of @ShantyCreekResorts
Courtesy of @ShantyCreekResorts (instagram)

 

Shanty Creek Resorts

 

Shanty Creek, rated the “Midwest’s Best Downhill Terrain” by OnTheSnow.com, transforms themselves every year into a winter wonderland. There is something for every skill level from beginners to veterans who are always looking for a challenge. If the skiing and snowboarding doesn’t interest you, check out their tubing park, snowshoe trails, and cross-country trails. If you are interested in some snowy fun, Shanty Creek’s winter wonderland is calling to you.

 

Here in West Michigan we are lucky enough to experience all four seasons. This winter, get out and about and soak up the winter in a new way. The cold and snow isn’t going anywhere, might as well enjoy it while it’s here!

Brewery Tour to Give Rare Glimpse Into Hop Harvest Season

Local Business, Local Entertainment, , ,

Hop Head Farms, breweries to showcase flavor, aroma of the Michigan hops

Late August and early September mark the end of summer and the peak of the hop harvest season.

Of the four main ingredients in craft beer, none of them boast the rabid following of the humulus lupulus, or hops. West Michigan Beer Tours, in collaboration with JW Marriott Grand Rapids, Hop Head Farms, of Hickory Corners, Walldorff Brewpub & Bistro, of Hastings, and Founders Brewing Co., of Grand Rapids, will offer a unique immersion into the exciting season with our Hop Harvest Beer Tour.

Registration for the Hop Harvest Beer Tour will be held from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 29 at the Six.One.Six restaurant inside the JW Marriott Grand Rapids. The bus will depart at noon for Hop Head Farms, a 30-acre farm in Hickory Corners outside of Kalamazoo that is growing and providing hops for breweries all over the country, as well as internationally. Several Michigan breweries will provide samples of their beer using hops from Hop Head Farms to be tasted as part of the unique tour of the hop fields and processing equipment.

“This is a rare opportunity to get a look into what happens to bring our hops to harvest. We do not offer public tours during harvest because of the sheer busyness of the time. We have only a few short weeks to get all of the hops down, picked and dried at their peak maturity. Our facility is the only of it’s kind in the United States, German engineered and chosen to handle our hops to result in the best end product,” Hop Head Farms co-founder Bonnie Steinman said.

After Hop Head Farms, the bus, with Bonnie Steinman on board to answer questions about hops, heads to the Walldorff Brewpub & Bistro in Hastings where brewer Brett Hammond frequently uses Hop Head Farms hops, including in Walldorff’s Harvest Ale. We’ll deliver fresh hops to Hammond. Guests will receive samples or a pint, as well as a tour of the production space.

The trip also visits Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, a frequent collaborator with Hop Head Farms, before returning to the JW Marriott Grand Rapids at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Beer City USA Hotel Packages are also available at the JW Marriott. For more information, contact Brian Behler at brian.behler@jwgr.com or by phone at 616-242-1462.

Tickets for the tour are on sale now. They are $69 for the standard ticket, which includes samples or a pint at Hop Head Farms, Founders and Walldorff, or $85 for premium tickets, which includes everything from the standard ticket as well as a beer at the JW Marriott during registration, a logo’d pint glass from Hop Head Farms and a West Michigan Beer Tours T-shirt.

For more information, go to www.westmichiganbeertours.com/tour.