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A rust-colored tree stands in the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, its leafless arms contrasting with the surrounding sugar maples. Get closer, and you’ll see this is no real tree but rather Iron Tree, a sculpture by Ai Weiwei.

A short walk away stands Eve, a glossy bronze by Auguste Rodin tucked in a corridor of European hornbeam trees. Further still, Mark di Suvero’s 25-foot-tall industrial steel sculpture Scarlatti occupies a wildflower meadow.

Some 300 sculptures — most of them by superstars such as Weiwei, Rodin, Louise Bourgeois and Nina Akamu (who utilized Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches to create the gardens’ The American Horse) — spread across a 158-acre campus at Meijer Gardens.

“This place is special for its ability to intersect art, culture and nature,” says Charles Burke, the president and CEO of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

“We love to generate curiosity around art for those who come to see the gardens,” he says. “And we love to generate curiosity around the gardens for those who come to see the art.”

Michigan’s second largest city (population 200,000), Grand Rapids lies in the heart of the Great Lakes state’s fruit belt, a region rich with orchards and gardens, lakes and fishing streams, all within an easy drive of Lake Michigan.

But at its core, this city is one of crafters, designers, innovators and artists. Grand Rapids exudes a creative energy that extends from the art and flower beds at the Meijer Gardens to downtown parks and from industrial design to breweries.

Grand Rapids may be best known as Beer City, USA. The city has won at least half a dozen nationwide people’s choice honors for its beer scene in the past decade. More than 100 breweries, distilleries and cideries lie scattered around Grand Rapids — so many that the city has created an app to help visitors navigate their options.

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Local mainstays include Founders, one of the city’s oldest post-Prohibition era breweries; Brewery Vivant, a Belgian-style brewer that operates the world’s first LEED certified microbrewery; and The Mitten, which pays homage both to baseball and to the shape of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

Other Michigan brewing powerhouses have opened taprooms in Grand Rapids, too, including Holland-based New Holland, Dexter-based Jolly Pumpkin and Detroit-based Atwater.

The city’s robust craft beverage industry has naturally led to an inventive dining scene, too. Favorite restaurants include Bistro Bella Vita, with an inviting Mediterranean menu; Mertens, a brasserie serving up French classics; Maru Sushi; and MDRD (pronounced Madrid), with modern Spanish fare.

These dining hot spots, like most in Grand Rapids, rely heavily on the agricultural richness of western Michigan. The area’s natural beauty is visible even in the heart of the city, which features dozens of waterside parks and kayak launches. Plus, there’s a downhill ski/mountain bike resort 20 minutes outside the city.

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You can even go fly fishing in the middle of downtown, where a “fish ladder” provides spawning salmon with a place to “climb” upriver on their fall migration upstream (the Grand River’s natural rapids were removed in the late 1800s for the sake of river commerce). The fish ladder doubles as a sculptural piece.

Creativity has been a part of the fabric in Grand Rapids from the beginning. Long before becoming Beer City, Grand Rapids was Furniture City.

In 1837, the city’s first cabinet maker set up shop downtown, and by the 1880s, Grand Rapids had become the capital of fine American furniture design. Buyers from around the world traveled to the city for their premium goods. Office furniture giants Steelcase, Haworth and Herman Miller all trace their roots to greater Grand Rapids.

A passion for creativity was so integral to the city’s ethos that in 1967, Grand Rapids commissioned sculptor Alexander Calder to create La Grande Vitesse, a 43-foot, 42-ton sculpture that sits downtown.

French for The Grand Rapids, the cherry-red La Grande Vitesse has served as a backdrop for the city’s numerous cultural festivals: Festival of the Arts, the Hispanic Festival, Pride Festival, World of Winter and ArtPrize.

Grand Rapidians call the sculpture The Calder, and it has become so identified with the city that La Grande Vitesse is depicted on Grand Rapids’ letterhead, its street signs and even on its garbage trucks.

“Public art is such an important part of the landscape of Grand Rapids,” says Kayem Dunn, a long-time resident who has been involved with downtown development projects for more than two decades.

Dunn cites not only The Calder as worth seeing downtown, but pieces such as Ecliptic, a combination sculpture and outdoor gathering space designed by Maya Lin for the city’s Rosa Parks Circle, and Steel Water, a 33-foot (10-meter) blue artwork by Cyril Lixenberg, which overlooks the Grand River.

“There are 252 works of public art in downtown Grand Rapids alone,” says Dunn, who believes the works are telltale signs of the region’s creative roots. “I tell people ‘Just walk around a little bit. You’ll see some remarkable art.’”

Five art and history museums lie within Grand Rapids’ downtown, as do most of the city’s more than 100 live music venues. These cultural offerings represent not only a deep interest in the arts but a longstanding commitment among local business leaders to bankroll them.

Having all those entertainment options within such proximity makes life simple for travelers to the city. Visitors can easily make their way between museums and restaurants, theaters and breweries, nightclubs and hotels entirely on foot.

More than 1,500 pieces of furniture highlight Grand Rapids’ decades-long design creds at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, which focuses on historical, cultural and science exhibits. Hand-carved Victorian bedsteads, sleek Arts and Crafts-era dining tables and mid-century Eames chairs showcase the region’s noteworthy designers.

Other highlights include displays about the area’s indigenous Anishinabek; the history and culture of Grand Rapids’ immigrant peoples, beginning with French fur traders; and a look at Grand River wildlife.

“The Grand River is Michigan’s longest,” says Dale Robertson, president of the Grand Rapids Public Museum. “It runs through the center of downtown. Our city borrows the river’s name. So it only makes sense for this museum to offer a view of the world through that lens.”

The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) was founded during the height of the city’s furniture boom, in 1910, as part of a citywide movement to create a stellar art repository. The institution has accomplished that with its collection of works ranging from 17^th-century etchings to photography, from 19^th-century prints to modern neon sculpture and from 20^th-century oils to still more exquisitely crafted furniture.

Also part of the downtown cultural landscape is the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum, which commemorates the life and service of America’s 38^th president, who hailed from Grand Rapids.

Live music venues include the DeVos Performance Hall with Broadway-style shows and the Grand Rapids Symphony; the 300-seat Peter Martin Wege Theatre with the state’s only professional ballet company; and the 12,000-seat Van Andel Arena, all downtown.

Outdoor concerts take place all summer long on Rosa Parks Circle and live music acts perform at venues as varied as the Founders taproom and the Grand Rapids Public Library.

Whatever history Grand Rapids has in fostering community creativity, it’s clear that city planners strive to do still more.

All the buzz these days surrounds the recent groundbreaking of Acrisure Amphitheater, a 12,000-seat outdoor performance venue that will revitalize a 31-acre swath on the banks of the Grand River. The $184 million project is set to open in 2026.

At the same time, work is progressing on a new professional soccer stadium (also slated for 2026), improved public access to the Grand River, the restoration of the city’s namesake rapids and a redesign of the Grand Rapids Public Museum as a riverfront interpretive center.

All the projects will be located downtown. And all of them will incorporate public art.

“At the groundbreaking for the new amphitheater, there was already a place set aside for a sculpture,” says Kayem Dunn. “Every time something is built in Grand Rapids, it presents an opportunity for more art.”

It’s a safe bet the project will include a taproom, too.

This “scruffy little city” tastes and sounds great.

Writer Amy S. Eckert lives in Michigan, but she covers travel destinations around the globe for such publications as AFAR, Conde Nast Travel, The Saturday Evening Post, Hemispheres and Fodors.com.

A TikTok user has revealed a potential beer hack for pouring the perfect pint as he tips the glass upside down instead of holding it at an angle, but comments were less than impressed.

A man has revealed a way to pour the perfect beer – and says it works every time with little to no froth.

User creativeexplained on TikTok warned users not to pour the carbonated drink directly into the cup and instead suggested an angle which removes the froth and fizz which can lead to spillages. Members of the public who were tilting their glass on an angle or slowing the pour of their drink were told to stop and follow this hack instead.

The TikTok has amassed thousands of likes since it was posted two days ago (June 15), as users are left stunned to see the simple yet effective hack works.

Creativeexplained said: “When you pour a beer or a soda into a glass, don’t do this… or this.” He then demonstrated pouring the beverage into a glass not on a tilt, followed by pouring a beer into a glass on a 45 degree angle. Neither worked, according to the TikTok creator who instead says putting the glass on top of the can is the best way to use it.

“Just put the glass over the can and flip it upside down. Then slowly pull up the can. Boom. Done.” The TikTok user later showcased the hack with two other beers and claimed there was “no spill” and “no loss of bubbles” with his method. But some TikTok users say the pouring technique is a germ nightmare and that the froth is part of the beer.

One wrote: “Uhm no. The germs from that can everyone put their fingers on… no.” Another wrote: “And with it all the dirt and bacteria from the outside of the can. HORRIBLE suggestion.” A third user was horrified, adding: “Let’s not even think about mentioning pesticides that may have been used around these products as well. that stick to surfaces very well.”

One comment suggested the foam was needed, otherwise it would cause bloating and add to a sickly feeling. It read: “Actually no, you WANT the beer to foam in the glass, otherwise it will foam inside your stomach and you’ll feel sick.”

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Blue River Productions are bringing together breweries from around the state for The Great New Mexico Beer Festival on Saturday, June 22 at Balloon Fiesta Park.

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The event runs from 12 – 6 p.m. and is for ages 21 and over only. The event will features beer from all over the state for guests to sample and purchase. Attendees can participate in brewing classes and check out the variety of local artisans and exhibitors that will be on site. There will be live music, mini golf, lawn games and an outdoor movie theater for people to enjoy. To help guests keep cool during the event there will be 12,000 square feet of shaded seating, free water stations and misting stations.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the event. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

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The Gelson’s Markets chain is getting into the craft beer business as it partners with a local brewery for a new summer brew. But don’t expect to buy a six pack at Gelson’s to enjoy at home later, because you’ll have to drink this new beer right at the grocery store.

The high-end market is now pouring Gelson’s Summer Blonde Ale at the chain’s wine bars, where customers can sit down and sip on wine and beers and order food from the bartender inside the store. The beer is a result of the store’s collaboration with El Segundo Brewing Company, which created the ale that is described by Gelson’s as having subtle floral and herbal spice notes and good balance between maltiness and bitterness.

“It’s got a touch of sweetness, it’s very balanced and it will definitely please your typical non-IPA drinker. It’s just a very easy drinking summer Blonde Ale,” said Ray Brych, category manager of wine, beer and spirits at Gelson’s.

While the wine bars pour beers that are carried at the store, this is the first time the chain has collaborated with a brewery to create its own beer, which is only poured on tap. So, yes, if you buy it at the store you have to drink it at the store. But people can also get a taste of the same beer at El Segundo Brewing, where Brych said it is being poured under a different name; the Ballpark Blonde.

“They don’t can it or bottle it, they only have it on tap and it’s one of the best sellers in their tap room,” Brych said. “We were looking for something that wasn’t everywhere so it would be unique and exclusive to us,” he added.

The brewery made about 50 kegs of beer for Gelson’s. But the collaboration could continue for a while.

“We would maybe like to do different flavor as we get into the fall, maybe an IPA, a Red Lager or something like that. We maybe even branch out and explore a little bit with some other local breweries,” Brych said.

The wine bars are located at Gelson’s across Southern California, including stores in Calabasas, Century City, Dana Point, Hollywood, Irvine, Long Beach and several other locations.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Ruskin man stated he would “rather just go to jail” than pay for beers he confessed to stealing from a gas station, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a social media post.

Abrian Guerrera, 64, of Ruskin, was accused of leaving a Shell gas station with four 24-ounce cans of Modelo on Tuesday.

The clerk informed deputies that when he asked Guerrera where he got the beers, Guerrera replied, “from this store,” and admitted, “No, I did not pay for it… I stole it.”

Deputies mentioned that when the clerk offered to let the incident go if Guerrera paid for the beers, Guerrera refused. Guerrera was told to leave, but he reportedly opened a stolen beer and said, “I don’t want to leave, and I’d rather just go to jail.”

Guerrera told a deputy he was going to Orlando “and got thirsty, so he decided to steal some beer.” He was arrested and charged with retail theft.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Travis and Jason Kelce.

One is Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, the other is a popular podcaster.

They also happen to be quite good at football.

But now they can add beer barons to their LinkedIn profiles, because the brothers just bought an ownership stake in Ohio-based Garage Beer.

They’re certainly not the first athletes to get into the alcohol game. In fact, they may be the only celebrities not currently repping a tequila. But the Garage Beer brand seems to better fit their personalities. The small batch light beer was founded in their home state — Jason and Travis both played college football at Cincinnati — and has been growing rapidly across the country.

The brand makes two beers: Classic, described as a small batch light lager and “beer flavored beer,” and Lime, which carries the tagline, “It’s exotic.”

The marketing further leans into the name and often takes shots at craft beer’s obsession with IPAs. The website says: “No bitterness. Beer that tastes like beer. Definitely not an IPA.”

According to the partnership announcement, the Kelce brothers believe that beer should be fun, and they want to partner with a brand that embodies the spirit of a neighborhood feel, a light beer all will enjoy.

“People crave quality and simplicity, and Garage Beer nails both for me. We are light beer drinkers and Garage is the best light beer,” said Jason Kelce.

“It comes down to quality for me,” added Travis Kelce. “I think everyone knows I like to have a couple beers now and then, so being an owner of Garage Beer and heavily involved in making the best light beer is exciting, man! There is nothing better to bring people together than an ice-cold beer, and for Jason and me that is what beer is all about — friends, family and fun.”

Drinking a few beers does sound pretty fun right about now.

Nothing is sacred anymore as April Fools’ morphs into a new way to stealth launch weird products.

The Simpsons have “predicted” dozens of eerie moments in history. Ironically, they never saw a recent callout from Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan coming down the pipeline.

On June 7, during a chat with Stereogum, McKagan claimed that the show’s fictional adult beverage company, Duff Beer and by extension Duffman, was actually named after him. However, writer and producer, Jay Kogen slammed the accusation to TMZ.

Although the band has certainly influenced a generation of rockers and music lovers alike, Kogen rattled off two reasons why McKagan’s supposed “King Of Beers” nickname had nothing to do with the ‘The Simpsons’ beloved booze brand.

According to Kogen, “there actually wasn’t any deep reasoning behind choosing the name Duff,” it was a toss around idea. Ultimately, the team landed on Duff for comic reasons. “It’s a synonym for butt, tushy, booty, and so on,” he said. “Duff is a beer for people who sat on their fat ass all day.”

The second reason, according to Kogen, “‘The Simpsons’ writers and producers back in the day didn’t know anyone in Guns N’ Roses beyond [frontman] Axl Rose.”

In the interview, McKagan also claimed to have been approached by the show between 1988 and 1989. McKagan eluded that the denial was tied to its financial stake in its branding and merchandising profits. “So I think it’s very probably business savvy of them to say that’s not true,” he said. “But if you just do your own math behind it, look at when they started off with the King of Beers, and I had my King of Beers belt I wore all the time.”

But Kogen doubled down on his stance. “It’s very weird, this Duff McKagan guy wants to claim credit for Duff Beer,” he said. “[When Duff] had zero to do with it.”

Grabbing a locally made beer has become easier in small towns across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley.

Twenty breweries opened in Arkansas between 2019 and 2022, according to the National Brewers Association.

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Would you take a dip in beer, all in the name of health and wellbeing? The answer appears to be an overwhelming ‘yes,’ with this curious European tradition well and truly arriving in the US and spreading rapidly across the country.

While ‘beer spa’ may sound like a euphemism for a keg party around a hot tub, it’s a fairly recent wellness trend with its roots in the Czech Republic in the 1980s. It’s essentially a spa treatment that involves soaking in a tub that may be filled with beer, or elements of it – in particular, aromatic hops, yeast and barley. While light on robust scientific research, the practice is said to have wide-ranging health benefits, from exfoliation to alleviating inflammation and other skin conditions.

In the US, the traditional ‘European bathhouse’ vibe has been refined to resemble the kind of establishment that would never ordinarily have beer on its premises, nor many clients who drink it. Think private rooms, hand-crafted wooden tubs, soothing lights and music, and plenty of fluffy bathrobes and towels.

The first US beer spa was actually opened in 2016 in Sisters, Oregon, which in hindsight might have been a few years ahead of its time as it’s since shut down. But like a bubbly, frothy phoenix rising, new treatment houses have sprung up across the country, including My Beer Spa in Orlando, Piva Beer Spa in Chicago, Oakwell Beer Spa in Denver and the tap room-spa mashup of Bierbath in Sykesville, Maryland.

While there’s certain novelty in the name, beer baths are generally not actually, drinkable beer; they’re normally different treatment ‘blends’ of hops, yeast and malt, without the boozy part (most do, however, offer some kind of on-brand drinks to have while soaking).

As for the health benefits, they don’t reinvent the wheel of wellness spa treatment, so any sort of miracle cure for ails with ales should perhaps be taken with a grain of salt. Though proponents of the beer spa attest that extracts from hops, barley and brewer’s yeast boast polyphenols with antioxidant properties for skin health, barley’s epidermal growth factor protein can boost skin appearance (and there is some research into this), and an assortment of vitamins in the mix can help hydrate skin and condition hair.

One thing we’d guarantee, though, is the relaxing factor. Hops have been shown to have a mild sedative effect that encourages sleep. While you wouldn’t be eating them, of course, there are relaxing properties to their aroma.

The beer spa experience is also often accompanied with chill-out day beds but instead they’re hay beds – yes, literally made of hay. If you’ve ever been around hay, you’ll know that it’s not a material that evokes ‘blissful relaxing mattress,’ but we won’t knock it till we try it.

Government data from 2021 showed that Americans drink around 6.5 billion gallons of beer each year. While alcohol use in general is falling, it’s still by far the most popular booze in the fridge (wine was second, by a long shot, with 935 million gallons per year).

While an hour-long soak may set you back a little more than a six-pack – most one-person packages start at around $100 – a trip to the beer spa certainly has health benefits in comparison to the more traditional way of indulging.

Sources: My Beer Spa, Piva Beer Spa, Oakwell Beer Spa, Bierbath, Spa Beerland