Pop! Six! Squish!

I'll start with a warning: if you see Chicago The Musical, you will undoubtedly spend a minimum of a month with the songs in your head. Heed my words! You'll sing All That Jazz in the shower and shimmy to Cell Block Tango while spring cleaning. You'll puppeteer We Both Reached for the Gun and end your day contemplating Mr. Cellophane. In fact, it's been six years since I've seen it performed live, but as soon as I found out that Broadway Grand Rapids was bringing it to West Michigan in May, it's been a nonstop vaudeville extravaganza in my brain.

The award-winning musical is set in the seedy streets of prohibition era Chicago, where the call of booze and jazz is too hard to resist, especially for Roxie Hart who longs for excitement and fame far more than a quiet life with husband Amos. Unfortunately for her (and even more so for lover Fred), she ends up with a smoking pistol and a spot in the big house with Matron "Mama" Morton's merry murderesses. Soon, she finds herself to be a media darling, a celebrity criminal, stealing the spotlight - and lawyer - from Velma Kelly, a vaudeville star similarly on trial for the events following finding her husband spread eagle with her sister.

This world of razzle-dazzle is made even more incredible by the fact that it was ripped straight out of the Chicago Tribune's headlines in 1924. Reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins sensationalized the trials of Beulah Annan (the basis for Roxie) and Belva Gaertner (Velma). With her column's success, she wrote a play on the two, which made its way to Broadway for 172 performances and eventually became the musical applauded by today's audiences.

If you'd been there, if you'd seen it... Experience the topsy turvey world of Chicago for yourself as it hits the Broadway Grand Rapids stage May 10 -11. Just tell us what your favorite play is, and you could have two of the hottest tickets in town. The winner will be picked on Friday, April 8.

Jazz hands,

-Shannon

Butterflies Winner

Congratulations to spring lover bpakh2! Send an e-mail with your name and address to Shannon@wmta.org, and we'll get you hooked up with your family four-pack of tickets.

West Michigan Wednesday

Last night's unseasonable ice storm not only brought out the snow scrapers, but hopefully the cameras too! Trees are hanging heavily, laden with sparkling ice crystals. Unpack your winter wares, bundle up, and take some shots. It's West Michigan Wednesday!

If you have a West Michigan photo you want to share, whether it's of a dazzling landscape, a St. Patrick's Day parade, or any other image you've happened to capture, post it on our Facebook page or e-mail it to Shannon@wmta.org, and we'll post it here on the blog for everyone to enjoy. It's that easy!

Giveaway reminder! You have until this Friday, March 25 to enter our Frederik Meijer Gardens giveaway.

High five,

-Shannon

We've been spotted! by Jennifer Orr Bumstead, Grand Rapids

Jennifer Orr Bumstead, Grand Rapids

Tawnya Shepherd, Memphis

Butterflies Are Blooming

Looking out my window here at the WMTA HQ, I can't help but notice the tell tale signs of spring, only four days away. The snow drifts are dwindling, the grass is greening, and folks going for the mail don't have twelve layers on. Ah, spring. What a uniquely transitional time of year. Before we know it, the browns and grays of winter will be replaced with pink tulips, yellow daffodils, and the orange of butterfly wings. Butterflies!

Is there anything more quintessentially spring than butterflies? I think not. Spring = butterflies. Butterflies in spring = Meijer Gardens.It's that simple. When you start seeing announcements for the Gardens' annual Butterflies Are Blooming event, you know the season has arrived. And this is no mere butterfly house. The five-story tropical conservatory is turned into a fluttering frenzy of 6,000 local and exotic species, freely flying from flower to flower, dazzling visitors with their colors, textures, and all around whimsy. As you may recall from our fall visit, the Gardens are magical year round. Add butterflies to the mix, and you might as well start each sentence with "Once upon a time" while wearing a princess cap and fairy wings. Yes, Butterflies Are Blooming transforms you into a young girl searching an enchanted forest. No small feat, especially if you're a dude.

Butterflies Are Blooming isn't all fairy dust and frolicking though. It's interesting and scientific and wonderfully educational. How does a caterpillar become a butterfly? How long do they live? What do they eat? What makes their wings so iridescent and colorful? What's the difference between a moth and a butterfly? All these questions are answered with informative signage that is sure to get the conversation going with your favorite little ones. Informative and fun? Yes, it's a double whammy in the parental handbook. Look how sneaky you are.

This Week's Giveaway

To celebrate spring and the wonderful world of butterflies, we're giving away a family four pack to the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, located on East Beltline in Grand Rapids. All you have to do is tell us what your favorite thing about spring is. The winner will be picked on Friday, March 25.

High five,

-Shannon

Here's looking at you, kid.

Ultimate Sports Show Winner

Good morning and happy Monday, West Michigan. I apologize for last week's lackluster posting, but I was suffering from my yearly pre-spring cold, and it knocked me right off my feet. Having made a full recovery, I can now announce the winner of tickets to the Ultimate Sports Show. Are you ready?

Congratulations, Andy!

Andy, my friend, time is of the essence on this one, so send an e-mail to Shannon@wmta.org by Wednesday, and we'll get you hooked up. You'll be fishing like a pro in no time.

Speaking of the Ultimate Sports Show, Kelly and Judy will be there manning the WMTA booth Thursday - Sunday. If you happen to be in northern Indiana this week, stop by the Fort Wayne Outdoor Sports, Lake & Cabin show where I'll be holding down the fort... in Fort Wayne. Ha! I crack myself up.

Check back later today for this week's giveaway, a family four pack to the Frederik Meijer Gardens to experience Butterflies Are Blooming.

High five,

-Shannon

Ultimate Sport Show -Giveaway

Hey West Michigan Fans!

Just a reminder that our giveaway from last Monday is still open until this Friday! We are giving away 3 pairs of tickets to the Ultimate Sport Show in Grand Rapids. This is a fantastic show for any outdoor enthusiast. Check out last weeks blog post here and enter to win.

If you do win, make sure you stop by the WMTA booth to say hi!

We look forward to seeing you!

--Kelly

Bodies Revealed Winner

Shame on us, we never picked the winner for the Grand Rapids Public Museum's Bodies Revealed exhibit last week. This just gave a few more people time to enter. Without further ado, the winner is Jamie! Congratulations, Jamie. Please send me an e-mail at shannon@wmta.org, and we'll send your tickets out.

Remember, this week's contest for the tickets to the Ultimate Sports Show lasts for two weeks, so tell your friends. We'll pick the winner next Friday.

Happy weekend (and high five),

-Shannon

Weekend Idea Round-Up

It's time for another fun filled edition of your weekend idea round-up. This week, Kelly and I are combating cabin fever with a few spring events, starting with Butterflies Are Blooming at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids. Wouldn't this simply be a perfect opportunity to snap a few shots for next week's West Michigan Wednesday? Of course! Who doesn't want to see butterflies flitting and floating about with their colorful wings and dainty legs. Actually, one of my dearest friends is terrified of butterflies, and I simply don't understand it. She won't enter a butterfly house with me. Absolutely refuses! Yet butterfly exhibits make me feel like I'm in a fairy tale, and I so desperately want one to land on me. "They" say if you wear bright colors and lovely scents, they'll come to you, so when I make my annual visit to see Butterflies Are Blooming, I will surely follow these directions.

Meanwhile, we also talk about a great Mardi Gras themed fundraiser for the Silver Beach Carousel in St. Joseph and a mouth watering Spanish cooking class at Chateau Chantal Winery & Inn in Traverse City. Enjoy!

High five,

Shannon

All Weekend

• Grand Rapids: DeVos Performance Hall: Broadway Grand Rapids presents Grease
• Interlochen Center for the Arts: Cyrano de Bergerac

Saturday

• Grand Rapids: Gerald R. Ford Museum: Chris Vallillo: Abraham Lincoln in Song
• Manistee: Little River Casino: The Association / Jay And The Americans 
• St. Joseph: Silver Beach Carousel: Pardi Gras
• Traverse City: Chateau Chantal Winery & Inn: Cooking Class - Techniques of Spanish Cooking

Sunday

• Muskegon Museum of Art: Cinema Sunday Film: Descended from Guerillas: The Pioneers of American Independent Cinema

 Don’t Forget

• Coopersville Farm Museum: Art of Rural Life Gallery: Photography Exhibit by Peg Alofs Becker | Through April 16  
• Grand Rapids Art Museum: Class Pictures: Photographs by Dawoud Bey | Through March 20
• Grand Rapids Public Museum: Bodies Revealed | Through May 1
• Grand Rapids: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: Jim Dine: Sculpture | Through May 8
• Grand Rapids: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: Butterflies Are Blooming | Through April 30
• Marshall: Cornwell's Turkeyville USA: Peace in the Valley | Through April 16
• Muskegon Museum of Art: We Are the Ship: the Story of Negro League Baseball | Through March 13
• Muskegon Museum of Art: Upcycling! Creating More with Less | Through April 11
• Muskegon Museum of Art: Primal Inspirations/Contemporary Artifacts | Through April 10
• South Haven Center for the Arts: Building Blocks | Through March 28
• South Haven Center for the Arts: Artists in Transition | Through March 20
• Traverse City Restaurant Week | Through March 5

West Michigan Wednesday

The months of February and March mark a rather unique time of year at the WMTA HQ. Not only are we suffering from the same bout of Cabin Fever as the rest of the mitten, but we're also in the midst of our busiest, biggest projects. As you know, Kelly and Judy have been crisscrossing the Midwest attending travel shows and spreading the good news of West Michigan. These shows are such fun, especially when we get to meet WMTA fans, but a lot of work goes in to gathering information, making packets, and loading the trailer, not to mention all the miles we've traveled. Nearly every day you can hear the merry chatter coming from the mail room in the afternoon as we circle the table preparing thousands of travel bags for you.A special high five to Judy and Kelly for rocking out the shows. Be sure to stop by one of our remaining shows to say hello.

Meanwhile, we're nearing the finish line for this year's West Michigan Carefree Travel Guide, the100 page publication full of useful planning tips and all 700+ WMTA Members. I have a love-hate relationship with the guide. It is a beast, yet it is my baby. It means long hours and meticulous attention to the tiniest of details, but it also means I get to learn so much about our members and see fabulous images of the state I love so much. Michigan is gorgeous! Gorgeous! How is it that we are so lucky to have crystalline snow in winter, blossoming buds in spring, lapping shores in summer, and fiery colors in fall? Really?

Celebrate West Michigan with us once again this week with West Michigan Wednesday. E-mail your photos to shannon@wmta.org or post them on the WMTA Facebook Page, and we'll move them here for everyone to enjoy.

Grand Rapids in Winter by Jen Orr Bumstead, Shutterbug Photography

Winter by Jen Orr Bumstead, Shutterbug Photography

Outdoors Experience!

Judy working the WMTA booth!

My eyes have been opened to a whole new world- and that new world is the world of Outdoor Shows. I had no idea anything like these even existed until I came to the WMTA. I will admit it right up front that I am a city girl. So you can imagine my shock when I first walked into an outdoors show.

My first encounter was at an outdoor show in Chicago this past January. I walked into a room full of deer heads, stuffed lions and bearskins adorning the walls of different booths. There were cross bows and fishing rods on every corner- I didn’t even know where to look first. People from all over the world promoting different “hunts” and “fly-in” services (I found out later that had to do with fishing). Luckily I had my sidekick Judy with me to walk me through the ropes. She explained what different hunting terms meant, she went through some quick fishing lingo with me, and she made sure I knew the difference between a bow and arrow and a cross bow. With all my new knowledge- I was ready to take on the show, and it was a great success!

Fast forward a month to this past weekend where I attended my second outdoors show (I’m getting the hang of these things). Judy and I drove the WMTA trailer (successfully I must add) to the Showspan produced show, Outdoorama, in Novi. I have raved about Showspan shows before, and I will do it again.

This time I was prepared for the dead animals and funny turkey calling noises that we would hear all weekend. The show was executed beautifully. They had every outdoor supply you could image. From boats to ATVs, travel information to bear hunts, they even had a trout pond and pool with jumping dogs! Yes, you read that correctly, “Air Dogs” to be exact.

Speaking from an attendee’s perspective and a perspective of an exhibitor, Showspan really out does themselves. From customer services to vendor appreciation, every show of theirs I have attended has been absolutely flawless. As an added bonus, they always make it a point to pack their days full of informative seminars for the attendees. At this past show they had seminars that ranged from fishing tips to gutting a deer (yep, they had an exhibitor gut a deer right there on the main stage). I am not outdoorsy enough for that one quite yet, but there was a seminar that I will never forget and that was the turkey calling information session and competition.

The winning ladies with some nationally renowned turkey callers!

Why the turkey calling you ask? Well, I may be a little biased, but here is why. I told you before that I am a city girl, which obviously means that I come from a city family. I am originally from the east side of the state, and since the show was close to home, my family came to check it out! Much to my enjoyment, they were just as shocked at their first trip to an outdoor show as I once was. A few hours had gone by since they first arrived and they had pretty much seen everything they could have but my mom is one of those people who has to participate in absolutely EVERYTHING there is to participate in (that must be where I get it from)! Needless to say, as she heard the announcement about the turkey calling over the loud speaker, she about jumped out of her seat. Judy and I manned the WMTA booth as my sister, mom and dad went off to the turkey calling seminar/competition. A short time passed before they came back. You could hear them laughing all the way from the end of the aisle and Judy and I were curious as to what all the racket was about. It turns out, my sister and mom WON the turkey calling competition. I don’t know how it happened, but all I know is that it is a moment neither they nor I will ever forget. It’s the little things in life, ya know?

Showspan has another outdoor show coming up in just a few short weeks. The Ultimate Sport Show in Grand Rapids is always a hit and this year it will be no different. Make sure you check out the indoor lake, big buck contest, and the ultimate air dogs. They will also have seminars such as open water walleyes, finding and hunting big bucks, tracking Grand River catfish, and of course the turkey calling competition!

I want everyone to experience an outdoor show at least once in their lifetime, so for the next two weeks, we are giving away three pairs of tickets to the “Ultimate Sport Show” in Grand Rapids the weekend of March 17-20. Just tell us why you want to go, and you will be entered to win! And if you do win, do me a favor and enter the turkey calling competition!

--Kelly