West Michigan – With 2016 upon us, let’s take a peek ahead into what’s new this year in West Michigan. Plan to check out the below, or use our website to plan a trip that’s new to you this year!
New in Snow Sports
Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire went through a “Big Changes” campaign in 2015, but that doesn’t mean they’re done updating! Building on last year’s changes, Shanty Creek is moving into their next phase of updates this year, which includes a new warming center and restrooms for the Beginner Ski Area, as well as new shuttle transportation services for the area. New and improved Nordic Trails, preset rental equipment and advance purchase for Alpine Tubing tickets, High-Performance ski/snowboard rentals from Summit Sports, and an improved snowmaking infrastructure.
Walloon Lake isn’t just a warm weather destination anymore! New this season, visit the Village of Walloon Lake to rent snowshoes and cross-country skis to use on the newly created trails near Hotel Walloon, in addition to their preexisting beautiful outdoor ice rink for skating. Snowmobilers will be in for a treat as well, with a recently added snowmobile trailhead in the village.
Renovations & Updates
In Traverse City, the Chateau Chantal Winery B&B is renovating its Van Gogh and Renoir master suites, installing cornice work, new paint, furnishings and updated bathrooms. You’ll want to make plans to visit for a weekend of wine once the renovations are complete for new levels of comfort and elegance!
The Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2016, and they are going to be undergoing some major construction to add 9,000 sq ft to the museum! The Dennos Museum Center has received a $1 million gift to expand its signature Inuit art gallery. The expansion will add about 2,650 square feet to wrap around the existing Inuit Gallery and will include additional storage space for the growing collection, which now stands at nearly 1,500 works and is one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive.
New Shopping Opportunities
New this year at the JW Marriott in Grand Rapids is the “Shop ’til you Drop” package! The JW Marriott Grand Rapids has teamed up with the new Tanger Outlets shopping center in Grand Rapids to create a package that allows guests to enjoy the very best in shopping and accommodations (not to mention dining) all at once. More information on this package can be found here:http://ilovethejw.com/packages/shop-til-you-drop-package
The North Face Store at Boyne Mountain Resort opened in late December of 2015, and is a one-stop shop for all your gear essentials from the slopes to an evening of après ski. Carrying a huge selection of men’s, women’s and juniors’ clothing and outerwear, as well as footwear and backpacks, The North Face Store will change offerings seasonally. Through the holidays, the store will be open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Regular hours of operation take effect on Jan. 4.
New Food & Drink
Crane’s Pie Pantry, Restaurant, & Winery in Fennville will be offering their blueberry and cherry hard ciders in cans by the four pack for the first time this year. They will also be releasing a Riesling wine of their own!
Green Door Distilling is a new face in Kalamazoo, and one you’ll want to stop by for some hand-crafted spirits. At Green Door Distilling, they specialize in artisan spirits crafted from Michigan ingredients. Join them in the Rivers Edge district in downtown Kalamazoo to enjoy a cocktail and relax. Their honey whiskey is made with pure Michigan honey and is sure to impress. Come hang out, have a drink, and “Join the Adventure.”
Detroit native Atwater Brewery & Spirits is expanding in summer of 2016 into a new location in Grand Rapids, and will be offering custom spirits, along with their widely acclaimed beer offerings. Their whiskey is vibrant and rich in flavor with a nice spice aroma and warming alcohol finish. The gin is refreshing, with the juniper giving off notes of citrus and pine. You’ll also find their own vodka and rum when you visit, both perfect for sipping on their own or mixing into your favorite cocktail.
New Holland Brewing will be opening a new location in Grand Rapids this year! The Knickerbocker Brewpub & Distillery is set to open on Bridge Street on the West Side of Grand Rapids in Fall of 2016. The Knickerbocker will feature onsite distilling and brewing, a 400+ seat restaurant specializing in artfully crafted fare, and an outdoor bar and beer garden.
Forty Acres Tavern at Boyne Mountain Resort is the newest dining destination located in the former Pierson’s Grille & Spirits. The restaurant celebrated its launch last December. Forty Acres Tavern is equal parts watering hole and refueling station satisfying with a selection of spirits and elevated American pub fare. The menu takes traditional favorites and adds a fresh and innovative spin. The bar features 40 beers (a beer for every acre), an array of coffee drinks, Bloody Marys, cocktails, wine, and martinis. The name, Forty Acres Tavern, pays tribute to Boyne Mountain’s first 40 acres.
New Performances to Attend
There’s a whole slew of artists and events coming to West Michigan for the first time ever this year! Check out the lineup of new performances at DeVos Place and Van Andel Arena that you won’t want to miss in the upcoming year:
An Evening with Neil deGrasse Tyson at DeVos Performance Hall on Monday, March 21st, 2016. Dr. Tyson, the host of National Geographic’s StarTalk, best-selling author and Director of the Hayden Planetarium, guides the ship of imagination to transport viewers to the nucleus of an atom and the farthest reaches of the universe as he explores humanity’s quest for understanding. “I’ve put together an engaging multi-media presentation that brings the expanses of modern science directly to audience members. Fans love the Q&A sessions that rival the event itself,” says Dr. Tyson. “These are family-friendly events. I’ll frequently take questions from children since I’m fascinated with young ones who are interested in science.”
Peppa Pig Live! Peppa Pig’s Big Splash at DeVos Performance Hall on Thursday, March 31st, 2016. More fun than a muddy puddle! On the heels of strong U.S. ticket sales for its first leg of tour dates, and by popular demand, an additional 65 cities and 100 performances have been announced for Peppa Pig’s first-ever U.S. theatrical tour, Peppa Pig’s Big Splash. Peppa Pig is an absolute superstar among the preschool set and their families all across America, and she will be making her biggest splash yet with the upcoming tour. Peppa Pig’s Big Splash is an action-packed live show, based on the popular Peppa Pig television series, designed to deliver to preschoolers and young fans an unforgettable first live theater experience. A fully immersive musical production featuring a dozen familiar and original songs, as well as an interactive sing-a-long, the live stage show will have fans laughing, singing, dancing and of course jumping in muddy puddles too – just like Peppa. An interactive experience full of singing, dancing, games, and muddy puddles, Peppa Pig’s Big Splash is a guaranteed blast for preschoolers and their parents alike!
Marvel Universe Live! at Van Andel Arena, running March 31st through April 3rd, 2016. Marvel fans, assemble! Marvel Universe LIVE! is taking the live entertainment experience to a whole new level, with an epic show unlike anything you’ve seen before. Watch your favorite Marvel Super Heroes including Spider-Man and The Avengers (Iron Man, Black Widow, Hulk and more) and sinister villains come to life in an action-packed arena performance, coming to Grand Rapids. You’ll definitely feel the energy with cutting-edge special effects, pyrotechnics, aerial stunts, martial arts, motorcycles and more. It’s being hailed as the most technically advanced live show ever. Join Marvel fans of all ages for this once-in-a-lifetime, monumental performance. The fate of the universe depends on it!
Cesar Millan Live! at DeVos Performance Hall on Friday, April 8th, 2016. Star of the hit television series “Cesar 911” on NatGeo WILD and original host of the long-running series “Dog Whisperer,” Cesar is the pet care industry’s most recognized and sought-after authority working in the field of dog care and rehabilitation. Cesar Millan will reveal the secrets of happier, healthier relationships between humans and their canine companions in his exciting live show. Cesar will share his philosophies and methods, then present examples via live training demonstrations with multiple dogs from local rescues. His famous four-legged companions, “Junior” and “Benson,” will also join Cesar onstage. From his years of experience, Cesar will show that for a transformation to take place in a dog, the real transformation quite often needs to take place in their human companion first. You’ll be amazed and inspired by the simplicity with which Cesar’s Way can bring harmony and balance into your and your dog’s lives.
Alton Brown Live: Eat Your Science at DeVos Performance Hall on Wednesday, May 4th, 2016. Television personality, author and Food Network star Alton Brown, who created a new form of live entertainment with his first live culinary variety show, hits the road in 2016! Brown’s first North American tour, “Edible Inevitable” was a huge success over two years and 100 cities with more than 150,000 fans in attendance. With “Eat Your Science,” fans can expect more comedy, talk show antics, multimedia presentations and music (yes, he sings) but Brown is adding a slew of fresh ingredients including new puppets, songs, bigger and potentially more dangerous experiments and what every cook needs in his kitchen: FIRE. Critics and fans have raved about the interactive component where Brown invites audience members on stage to serve as his assistant. Brown has a knack for mixing together a perfect base of science, music and food into two hours of pure entertainment.
Twenty One Pilots “EMØTIØNAL RØADSHØW” Tour at Van Andel Arena on Saturday, June 4th, 2016. The“EMØTIØNAL RØADSHØW” tour will see the band bringing their explosive live show to arenas and amphitheaters across the country and is set to kick off on May 31st at Cincinnati, OH’s US Bank Arena before making a stop in Grand Rapids at Van Andel Arena. Twenty One Pilot’s current “Blurryface Tour” has proven to be a phenomenal success with all dates swiftly selling out. Highlights from the road have included a stunning two night stand at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom, capacity crowds at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheater and Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre as well as a victorious homecoming performance at Columbus, OH’s Schottenstein Center. By trying on nearly everything in the pop-music spectrum (as well as nearly every form of headgear), (Tyler) Joseph and Josh Dun yielded huge, if unlikely, success.” Meanwhile, following the massive success of their #2 Alternative radio smash “Tear In My Heart,” Twenty One Pilots’ new single “Stressed Out” is rapidly climbing the Alternative radio chart. The track, which is currently #3 at Alternative Radio, has earned more than 28 million streams thus far while its companion video has scored over 23 million views and counting.
