By Teresa Russo
Swing Dancing
Put on your dancing shoes and grab a group of friends to head downtown to Rosa Parks Circle, where starting May 6 hundreds of young people gather every Tuesday night to dance and socialize. The Original Swing Society meets at 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. The first outside dance will include a live band, playing tons of old time swing music. Lessons are even held from 7 p.m to 7:30 p.m. The entire event is free, although donations are accepted. Walk across the street for some Sweet Yo’s ice cream or a Dog Pit hot dog. It’s a great reason to get dressed up with your friends and spend a summer night outside downtown.
Meijer Gardens
Step into spring as you watch the butterflies soar over your head in one of the best kept spots in Grand Rapids. You won’t want to miss out on the fun Frederik Meijer Gardens has to offer. The beautiful sculptures alone are enough to keep the art guru satisfied. If you walk far enough you could catch a glimpse of “The American Horse” a 24 foot bronze monument, created by Nina Akamu. There are only two in the world, one was made for Meijer Gardens, and the other lies in Milan, Italy.
If you bring your student ID the rate for general admission to Meijer Gardens would jump down to $9. This is a great local place to check out, and it’s great for pictures as well.
Whitecaps Game
With the Whitecaps’ newly renovated stadium, it should be compelling to check out a game or their summer concerts held in the ballpark! Catch a home game with your significant other and head over to watch the Whitecaps baseball team.
Every Thursday home game throughout the season is “Thrifty Thursday” and “College Night.” Get $2 drinks and hot dogs. Show your student ID and get a $5 reserved seat. Otherwise, cheapest seats are $6 to just hang out on the lawn with some friends, and be free to roam around. For tickets check out whitecapsbaseball.com.
Michigan’s Adventure
Spending a day at the largest amusement park and waterpark in Michigan can include not only roller coasters like Shiverin’ Timbers, but also a giant water park with huge rides like the Funnel of Fear.
Whether you want to take your significant other on a cliche date, or just go with a group of friends you are sure to get your money’s worth. Instead of buying food there, just take a cooler and tailgate in the parking lot at Michigan’s Adventure, that way you only need to spend money on the ticket. Tickets cost about $30, and can be purchased online or at the door.
Detroit
The weekend of May 30 will be an exciting weekend for all indy car enthusiasts. On the beautiful island between Detroit and Canada, in the middle of the Detroit River, Belle Isle lets The Grand Prix Raceway take over a fun filled weekend. Take your friends and go enjoy some sunshine as you watch the races and take a look at some sweet cars. General admission is $35 for a day pass.
This would be a fun road trip for you and your friends. While you’re in Motown you could spend a day at the Detroit Zoo, where you can feed the giraffes, take a ride on the train throughout the zoo, ride the carousel, you can even grab a Starbucks in the middle of the zoo. General admission is $14.
For the best barbecue around, stop by Slow’s Bar BQ, in downtown Detroit where you can satisfy all your taste buds before you sit down and take in a Tigers game. Try the most delicious BBQ’d slab of ribs complete with your choice of signature sauces, some melt in your mouth mac’n cheese, and crispy waffle fries will leave you wanting more. At your table is your choice of their sauces with flavors like spicy, sweet, apple, and mustard.
After a delicious dinner why not stay a little longer and watch the Detroit Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays on June 3. The cheapest ticket is about $15, and there are still some great seats in the bleachers for $20. Spend a day in the sunshine cheering on our Tigers!
