Third Thursdays invites tourists, locals to explore downtown

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Periwinkle Fog is one of several downtown businesses participating in Third Thursdays. From left are co-owners Lisa Radeck and Susan Coombes. Photo by Dianne Carroll Burdick

Avenue for the Arts will preview its new monthly downtown event this week. 

Third Thursdays will be a recurring monthly event in downtown Grand Rapids, inviting locals and tourists to explore businesses and art exhibits after usual hours. The first event will be at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 21.

Participants include Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM), Kendall College of Art and Design, Dwelling Place, Little Space Studio and Periwinkle Fog. Each month, local businesses will host a different series of local artists and free public workshops. 

Periwinkle Fog Co-Founder Susan Coombes said Third Thursdays aims to invite people to experience the wide variety of art, museums and unique shops that make up downtown Grand Rapids. 

“There’s more down here than just restaurants,” Coombes said. 

This Thursday, vintage shop OTONO will host a free mending workshop, inviting participants to bring clothing or other fabric pieces in need of patching. Tools will be provided. 

Periwinkle Fog will host local photographer Dianne Caroll Burrdick, whose work has been featured in ArtPrize. She will be available for a meet-the-author and book signing event. 

GRAM also will feature the second installment of “Kitchen Table Conversations” from 7-9 p.m. The program, inspired by the photography of Carrie Mae Weems, will be a conversation on identity, culture and experience. Like other Third Thursdays events, “Kitchen Table Conversations” is free and open to the public. 

Third Thursdays will kick off in full, with more participating businesses, on May 19 and is planned to run through August. Participating businesses will remain open until 9 p.m. 

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