Eastown Community Association

We spy 8 Eastown venues plus our new mural - which you can vote for! Take a walk around the neighborhood to see what ArtPrize has in store this weekend.

Planning your weekend attack today?👊 Remember than in addition to our nearly 400 small and independent restaurants, boutiques, pubs, theatres, breakfast joints, galleries, bookstores, discos, grocers, and more,...we've also got EXPERIENCES. Tons of them...and many of them free and accessible to all. Come take a stroll and see what you can find!🧐😉

Also remember that we are currently home to 25 official venues, whom together are hosting more than 60 artists competing for a prize. 🏆 We'll list those venues below, but you can also find the official ArtPrize map via the link in our bio. Look for the yellow map titled 'Eastside' - that's us! 🌟📍🌟

Here's where to head for ArtPrize in Uptown:

📍IN EASTOWN: ; ; ; ; ; ; McKendrick Bldg (home to and .gr)

📍IN EAST HILLS: ; ; ; ; , and Cherry Park

📍IN EAST FULTON: and Salvation Army of Kent Co

📍ON WEALTHY ST: + ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Happy Friday!
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Do you know the story behind that wickedly cool building on Wealthy?

We're so excited to see our neighbors celebrated and bring more folks into the funky, Eastown fold through ArtPrize. Allow us to reintroduce ourselves with a bit of history.

The McKendree building was constructed in 1977-1978 as a home for the McKendree Collective.

The “chaotic wood glory," as described by McKendree founder Andrew Hetland, is embellished with 12 stained glass windows salvaged from an old church. The improvised structure was artistically directed by the late Melvin “Mel” Aukeman.

The facade and interior work took about six months to complete and was paused for Streetfair, at the time a fairly new event. "We had people from the neighborhood
helping and a lot of them gawking," Hetland told Eastown Access in 2020.

Glass artist Ron Lichtenstein was at the forefront of constructing Eastown's now iconic landmark and worked with Hetland for 15 years. You can still catch Ron at his wife Chris' Gallery 154 on Lake Ave.

For 45 years, Mckendree Jewelers sat inside the mystical wooden structure before closing in 2020. Now you can get a plate of Caribbean soul food from Chez Olga or intricate body art at Zodiac Lines Tattoo Co.

Check out our new mural on the side of the McKendree building, 1443 Wealthy St SE.

We're extremely proud "A Postcard of Eastown" represents our neighborhood in ArtPrize. You can vote for the mural by artist Devin DuMond here: https://www.artprize.org/entries #23605

📸: McKendree Jewelers, Eastown Access, Joe Miles

🚴‍♂️ Join Us for the Next Community Bike Ride! 🚴‍♀️

Gather your neighbors and ride with the ECA and King Park Neighbors on Thursday, September 26th from 6:30pm-7:45pm! We'll start at the ECA Office (415 Ethel Ave SE) and end at Harmony Brewing Company – a perfect evening ride!

This month, we’re thrilled to welcome Upcycle Bikes as our guest speaker! But that’s not all – one lucky rider who’s joined us for every ride will have the chance to win a brand-new Specialized Bike! 🚲🎉

We’ll also be giving away helmets, bike tune-ups, bike bags and bike lights! You don’t want to miss it!

Route 🗺️ on Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3225994160511332160

A big thanks to our sponsors:
Meijer
Uptown
Rebel Bike Shop
Johnny D's Bike Bags, LLC
Biked Grand Rapids

🍻 Eastown Community Happy Hour! 🍻

Grab your neighbors and join us at Quarantino’s on September 18th from 4-6pm for an evening of good vibes and great company!

🎉 Drink specials all around, so bring a friend or two!

This isn’t a one-time thing either – we do this every 3rd Wednesday of the month, so mark your calendars and make it a habit!

Have you checked out the ArtPrize pieces in Eastown and Uptown yet⁉️

We're so excited 24 Eastside businesses are featured as venues this year. This is a great opportunity to walk around our neighborhood and appreciate our vibrant art community 🤸🎨

📍Here's where to find ArtPrize entries on our side of town:

Argos Comics and Used Books
Arts in Motion in the Blackport Building
Basic Bee Boutique
Gemini Handmade
Harmony Brewing Company
Paddle North
Scorpion Hearts Club
Speciation Cellars
Wealthy Theatre
Brewery Vivant
Cherie Inn
Cultivate
Kava Kasa
Mammoth Distilling
Popnotch Goods
Rowster Coffee
Spike & Mike's Party Store
The McKendrick Building
The Salvation Army in Kent County
The Wi******er
Vinyl Alchemy
Wax Poetic Candle Bar
Woodways LLC

We are so stoked to welcome ArtPrize to our neighborhood! Don't forget to vote for our new Eastown mural by artist Devin DuMond! 🗳

Wow Eastown you know how to party!

THANK YOU to all 20,000 lovely people who shopped, danced, ate and rocked out with us 😎

We appreciate all the hard work behind the scenes from our vendors, sponsors and volunteers who helped make Streetfair 2024 happen. Time to start planning for next year!

📸Joe Miles

🎨✨ The Eastown Mural is Complete! ✨🎨

We are excited to announce that our vibrant new mural, designed by the talented Devin DuMond, is now finished! 🌟 Stop by the McKendree Building (1443 Wealthy SE) to see this work of art up close – it’s the perfect excuse for a stroll through Eastown. 🚶‍♂

A huge shoutout to our sponsors Rhoades McKee PC and Uptown for making this masterpiece possible! 🙌🎨

But that's not all... 🎉 This mural is officially part of ArtPrize! Don't forget to vote for it 🗳️ and show some love for our neighborhood’s newest addition to the art scene.

Can't wait to see you all at Streetfair! 😎

We'll be set up from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. along Wealthy St, from Giddings Ave to Lake Ave plus EBA Small(er) Business Market on Ethel Ave.

Here's today's schedule:
🤸‍♀️ Junior vendors 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Youth programming 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
🎸 Music 12 -10 p.m.
🎨 Art vendors 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
🌮 Food vendors 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Hey, did you hear? Eastown Streetfair is tomorrow!

📆 9 am- 10 pm Saturday, Sept. 7
📍Wealthy Street

We're stoked to bring you local artisans, food vendors and bands. Plus junior vendors and youth programming! Stay tuned for a full vendor list and map later today.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to our sponsors who help make this happen:
Short's Brewing Company, , Harmony Brewing Company, Wolfgang's Restaurant,The City of Grand Rapids Office of Special Events, Rebel, Basalt, Smitty's Specialty Beverage, Eastown Financial Advisors. Eastown Business Association, B. Dickenson Homes, Eastown Pediatric Dentistry

This election year every voice matters, even those not yet old enough to vote.

In an effort to embrace the voices of youth, Our Community’s Children is hosting a Mayoral Candidates Forum for students K-12.

The forum will be moderated by the Mayor's Youth Council 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Grand Rapids City Hall in the City Commission Chambers.

This event is uniquely curated to feature questions, comments and concerns of youth. The event will be open to the public and parents, guardians and all caring adults are welcome to attend.

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFD8Tr3mZ1n0j6ebwPsT3K1XqBN6vu0ZG7O_BZLhZSXGNrOg/viewform

This free event will also feature a reception as well as an opportunity for attendees to register to vote.

Patiently counting down the hours to the best block party of the year....‼️

Streetfair is THIS SATURDAY! Huge thanks to our friends at Uptown for helping us bring art, music, food and community to Wealthy Street by sponsoring our stage this year.

We can't wait to see you 9am - 10 pm Saturday, Sept. 7.🤩🥳

Get your party shorts on because Eastown Streetfair's drink tent will be packed full of refreshing bevvys from Short's Brewing Company.

We'll have your favorite craft beers and ciders plus a non-alcoholic option with the Thirst Mutilator hop water.

We're so grateful for Short's support over the years helping us can carry on this awesome block party tradition.

We're looking forward to seeing you all 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. this Saturday. Cheers! 🍻😎

If there's one thing Eastown knows its fooooood! We can't wait for you to check out the good eats happening 9am - 10 pm Saturday, Sept. 7 at Streetfair.

Huge thanks to Harmony Brewing Company for being a stage sponsor and keeping the good vibes rolling 😎 We won't blame you if the good smells coming from Harmony's pig roast carry you all the way down Wealthy Street to their corner spot on Lake Ave. Get it while it's hot! The pig roast starts at noon and goes until they sell out!

Tune in to The Shelley Irwin Show to hear ECA board member AJ Julcher talk about what's planned for Streetfair this weekend, including the first EBA Small(er) Business Market!

Nine junior vendors will be selling their handmade goods 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday on Ethel Ave. Plus youth programming from John Ball Zoo, face painting, Bricks 4 Kidz,Grand Rapids Fire Department and Grand Rapids Public Library will go on until 6 p.m.

Big thanks to Family Futures for providing changing and nursing stations in the kids’ area as well.

Listen on WGVU Public Radio for all the details with Shelley Irwin this morning, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.: www.wgvunews.org/the-shelley-irwin-show

Happy Labor Day, Eastown!

Some reminders from The City of Grand Rapids:
Non-emergency offices and departments, the Butterworth yard waste drop-off and compost site, and all Grand Rapids Public Library locations are closed for the holiday. Normal operations resume Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Other holiday weekend reminders:

💧Grand Rapids splash pads remain open
🍃The City’s refuse, yard waste and recycling collection services will be delayed one day during the week due to the holiday. That means Monday’s refuse, recycling and yard waste collection will take place Tuesday, Sept. 3, Tuesday’s will take place Wednesday and so on.
📲 More info at www.grandrapidsmi.gov

Make sure Streetfair is on your calendar!
📆 9 am- 10 pm Saturday, Sept. 7
📍Wealthy Street

We're stoked to bring you artisan vendors, local food and lots of music! Don't forget our Small(er) Business Market is making its grand debut at Streetfair after we heard how much you loved supporting junior vendors at Biz Baz.

We are so grateful to our sponsors who help make this community event happen. Big thank you to Short's Brewing Company, Uptown, Triumph Music Academy Harmony Brewing Company, Wolfgang's Restaurant, The City of Grand Rapids Office of Special Events, Rebel, Basalt, Smitty's Specialty Beverage, Eastown Financial Advisors, , B. Dickenson Homes and Eastown Pediatric Dentistry

We love our friends at Uptown!!! Our cheerleaders online and IRL. Big thanks for being a stage sponsor for Streetfair so we can keep our music scene live, loud and local❤️ Thanks for pumping us up, bestie 🥹🫶

⚠️It's almost here!⚠️ The Eastown Streetfair returns NEXT SATURDAY, September 7 and you don't want to miss this! The lineup includes 90 artisans, 12 food vendors and 10 bands.🎨🍺🎶

Plus a junior vendor market, additional youth programming provided by , , , and ; a bike donation program by ; beer tent; and much more.

As always, the event is 🆓 and family-friendly! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦👨‍👩‍👧👨‍👧‍👦

For further details, check out the press release via the link in our bio.
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We can't wait to see you all dancing at the Streetfair stage next weekend!!!

Big thanks to our stage sponsor Wolfgang's Restaurant for helping us carry on the Eastown tradition of music, art and community. Can you believe this party has been rocking for 51 years?

See you at Streetfair 9am - 10pm Saturday, Sept. 7! 🤩🥳

Big thanks to Triumph Music Academy for setting up the sound system for Streetfair! They did an incredible job putting together this rocking lineup! Come down and enjoy some extremely talented musicians 9 a.m. - 10p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7 on Wealthy Street 🎸🥁

Our junior vendors are getting ready for the EBA Small(er) Business Market, happening at Streetfair next weekend!

New this year, nine young entrepreneurs will sell their handmade goods from 9 am - 3pm at the end of Ethel Ave, just south of the ECA building. We heard how much you loved Kids Baz at Bizarre Bazar so we decided to continue the fun!

Youth programming will last until 6 p.m. with activities from John Ball Zoo, Bricks 4 Kidz, Grand Rapids Fire Department and the Grand Rapids Public Library.

Mark your calendar for Streetfair!
📆9 am- 10 pm Saturday, Sept. 7
📍Wealthy Street, Between Giddings Ave and Lake Ave

Donate adult bikes at Streetfair and get two free drink tickets! 🚲🎫

Check out our friends Upcycle Bikes at Eastown Streetfair, on Saturday, Sept. 7.

Upcycle Bikes refurbishes and donates adult bikes to provide an affordable and accessible transportation resource for financially constrained individuals. Through the gift of a bike, community members are able to realize greater independence, opportunity, and stability in their lives.


Upcycle Bikes distributes bikes to those in need through 30+ community partners who know their clients and their clients’ needs. They all share that transportation is one of the top challenges their clients face on the path toward greater stability. A bike proves to be an invaluable tool necessary to overcome this challenge.

We Need YOU! 🫵

We need your help to make the 2024 Eastown Streetfair on Saturday, September 7th, a success! Volunteers are crucial to this event, and we have multiple shifts and tasks available throughout the day. Whether you can join us for a few hours or the whole day, your time and effort are greatly appreciated. Sign up now and let us know your availability and task preferences. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Events Committee at [email protected]. Thank you for your support!

📜 Applications are available here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNdMnW8Sn0NUlpCbCV9VskkFkqjpYFxvrw1TSTRFowcVaFdw/viewform?pli=1&fbclid=IwY2xjawE0fY1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHV_WquhSz7RNWsUiDXUzpfuKXF9yJAzWJ1sKGdyGe8VPt9BlvDvsbp99-w_aem_gV5GR2ul4jqvcT-I4MUm1A