Profile

Dr. Charles Gibson is one of only a few Black trauma surgeons in the country.

This past June, Parliament the Boutique rebranded as Gemini Handmade after five years on the South Division Avenue for the Arts corridor. Now, the local artisan-based shop has made another big move—to 963 Cherry St. SE.

The new activewear shop TO & FRO helps you look good during yoga, at the gym or while running (your life).

“When in doubt go to the library,” said bestselling author J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame.

There’s an old phrase, “Home is where the heart is.” To many, family members mean a full heart. To some, great friends often become as close as family. For the Grand Rapids Women’s City Club, members found both family and a sense of home at the historic 1860s Heritage Hills home, the Sweet House, which the club had occupied since 1927. This past April, due to financial reasons, the club said goodbye to its long-term home and entered into uncharted territory.

A West Michigan philanthropist and retail mogul recently died.

It’s been 20 years since Marge Palmerlee first became the executive director of Dégagé Ministries, a nonprofit dedicated to helping homeless and struggling individuals in Grand Rapids get back on their feet.

Jordan Fisher first dreamed of opening a flower shop several years ago, but he was unable to find the right location and his career ended up taking him and his wife, Faten Fisher, to Seattle for two years.

For David Leslie, leaving his hometown of Grand Rapids in the 1990s began a 25-year journey west and back. He’s a furniture craftsman, owner of The Maker’s Bench, but that wasn’t what he set out to do intentionally.

There are few Grand Rapidians who seemingly have their hands in as many endeavors as Jonathan Jelks.

A few years ago, Jim Torrey started reaching out to new breweries in Grand Rapids offering his woodworking services. “I started cold-calling them on Facebook and asking to make their cheeseboards and beer flights.”

Once Valerie Burkholder retired early this spring, after working for 28 years, she decided to follow her lifelong dream of opening a bookstore.

Mr. Sandman might be out of a job. The legendary figure who’s been putting people to sleep and bringing good dreams has some competition in town with a woman who’s got her own bag of tricks for overnight fun and rest, and she’s a hit with the kids.

The Urban Institute for Contemporary Art (UICA) is switching things up this year with the first annual Off the Wall fundraiser. For 20 years, the UICA hosted Live Coverage—an event that invited artists to create in a live setting while spectators mused, hoping to win auctioned art.

“All Manner of Things” was selected as a Michigan Notable Book.

The life of a candle shop owner means your trash never smells bad.“I mean literally, it never stinks,” says Jill Bromley-Sung, owner of Wax Poetic Candle Bar, who also comes away smelling pretty nice herself.

The sleek vehicles showcased at Cars & Coffee Grand Rapids (C&CGR) exude a zip-zing panache that unfetters spectators’ imaginations.

Kelly Kermode still has the small pinch pot she made in kindergarten. It’s a reminder of where she started and where she’s going when it comes to life and her pottery skills.

Nothing beats the experience of travel, but two Michigan teachers have come up with a way to help children in Michigan visit the state’s impressive natural resources and well-known landmarks without having to pack a suitcase.

A furniture showroom and interior design firm has moved into the former MoDiv space and it is quickly gaining attention from interested passersby.