Get gifting.
Tis' the season for giving and Heartside businesses and organizations are bustling with preparations for the holiday season. The HBA is proud to present the Heartside Holiday Gift Guide in place of our November Newsletter. The Guide features gifts as unique as the person you are buying for.... and the bonus is you can pick them up within walking distance of your business or office! Have fun exploring Heartside this Holiday season, we hope to see you out and about!
 In the mood!
Art Van Santa Parade - Presented by the Grand Rapids Jaycees November 20, the parade has been the traditional holiday season kick-off for the region for more than 100 years. See nearly 100 entries and floats, and a visit from Santa Claus, beginning at 9 a.m. in downtown Grand Rapids. The parade will begin at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Monroe Avenue, travel south on Monroe, turn left onto Monroe Center, right onto Division Avenue, right onto Fulton Avenue and left onto Market Avenue. Free.
Create holiday memories with friends and family by gifting tickets to one of these fantastic Heartside Holiday Events.
The Christmas Pageant - You've never heard Christmas quite like this. Christian crunk rock band Family Force 5 performs live at The Intersection December 1 with special guests Forever the Sickest Kids and Secondhand Serenade. Admission is $16 in advance, $18 at the door.
The Nutcracker - For more than 3 decades, the Grand Rapids Ballet Company has brought the Christmas classic to life with dazzling choreography, sets and costumes, along with 100 dancers, including children and celebrities from the community. The Ballet returns to DeVos Performance Hall accompanied by the Grand Rapids Symphony for 11 performances beginning December 3. Tickets: $20-$53.
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols - The Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys will present its traditional "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" concert at the Cathedral of St. Andrew December 17 and 18 at 7:00 p.m. The choral performance will have two to three carols interspersed between nine scripture lessons of Christmas. Free will offering; no tickets necessary.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The symphonic rock group returns to Van Andel Arena for two holiday performances December 29 (3 p.m. & 8 p.m.). Tickets range from $27.50 to $61 and $1 from each ticket purchased will be donated locally to God's Kitchen.
Make Holiday shopping an event.
Grab a friend and enjoy the shopping experience. There are severeal great downtown shopping events so you can slow down, treat yourself to dinner and enjoy shopping in Grand Rapids!
UICA Holiday Artists' Market - Stop by the UICA December 3 & 4 for the 22nd annual holiday sale and find one-of-a-kind works by some of the region's most exciting artists. Take advantage of free admission and parking, plus beverages, snacks and a children's workshop.
Urban Lights - On December 10, businesses, galleries and artists along South Division Avenue will open their doors to sell unique and one-of-a-kind gifts just in time for Christmas. From 6-11 p.m., enjoy shopping during extended hours, live entertainment, sales, custom luminary displays and more. Free.
E-Specially for you!
Heartside has a great collection of specialty shops for finding gifts for those hard to please fathers, brothers, neices and nephews.
Dodds Record - Shop 20 South Division
Kicks Dance and Active Wear - 2 Jefferson SE
Premier Skate - 14 Weston
Purple East - 250 Ionia SW
Get Pampered
Purchase personal care items or gift certificates that can be enjoyed all year long, great gifts for your leading lady, BFF, sister, mom or a hard to buy for in-law!
Orbit A Salon - 7 Jefferson SE
Natural Solutions Salon - 351 South Division
Edge Salon - 4 Jefferson SE
Douglas J Aveda Institute - 138 Commerce Ave
Cheeky Strut Salon - 216 Grandville Avenue Southwest
Salon Lark - 64 Ionia Avenue Southwest
Ecouter Salon - 15 Ionia Ave SW # 100
Echo Salon - 24 Sheldon Boulevard Southeast
Original Offerings
Heartsiders are exposed to it everyday so share the beauty of the Heartside artisans with your families and friends. Shop the local Art Studios for great gifts for new home owners, friends or a Grand Rapidian afficionado.
Heartside Gallery - 48 South Division
Sanctuary Folk Art - 140 South Division
Visions Beyond Art - 235 South Division
The Spirit of the Holidays
Have a relative whohas declared they just don’t need a thing? Make a donation in their name to one of these local social service organizations to provide essentials for those in need.
Mel Trotter - 225 Commerce Avenue Southwest
Degage Ministries - 144 Division Avenue South
God’s Kitchen - 303 Division Avenue South
Dwelling Place - 101 Sheldon Blvd.
The Grand Rapid Community Foundation- 85 Ionia
Get-up-and-go!
Need the perfect gift for a coworker or an afternoon pic me up? Swing by a neighborhood coffee shop for a warm up or gift certificates!
Go Java - 15 Ionia Ave SW
Java Junkies -325 S. Division
Special Gifts for Special People!
Still at a loss??..... here are some specialty tips for those last minute hard to buy for friends and family.
Brian's Books 120 East Fulton
Student’s going home for the Holidays? Deck your family members out in your school colors. Shop for College and University Clothing at unbeatable prices.
Vertigo - 129 South Division
For the Music enthusiast and beyond! Sign-up for their weekly newsletter and follow their sales and specials throughout the Holiday shopping season.
Bohemia TOO - 10 Weston St SE
An eclectic mix of treasures from around the world, including Antique Chinese furniture, contemporary men's and women's clothing, accessories, jewelry, beads and fine gifts. Sales and specials updated weekly, watch their website for more details.
Goodwill Industries - 200 South Division
Always changing, always a different store. Gifts for every budget. Shop or donate to Goodwill Industries during the season of giving.
Still Stumped? ... FOOD!
Heartside is home to over 30 fantastic food locations from breakfast to dinner and late night drinks gift certificates are a great gift for someone you want to spend more time with, the family social butterfly or an office mate!
The Heartside Business Association hopes you have a great time holiday shopping and searching for the perfect gifts for special people in your lives. Enjoy shopping locally in the neighborhood that is hope to unique and exceptional gifts for everyone on you list!
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Handsomely Handmade
By Robert Conrad
There is a new jewelry store in town this Holiday season called Craft Revival, and they specialize in custom made pieces. As a man who appreciates all things handmade and local, I decided to check it out.
Craft Revival is located right downtown at 16 Ionia Avenue, and they are open for business. Started by father-son team Brandon and Jayson Case, Craft Revival is a locally owned and operated jewelry store. Brandon has been handcrafting jewelry for over two decades now and has passed on his craft to his son.
Jayson explained to me that the vision of Craft Revival is to restore the notion of the neighborhood jewelry store where customer service is paramount and everything is handcrafted.
Taking me around the shop Jayson took care to explain to me how Craft Revival is unique in that nearly everything created is done in house. Starting with the wax mold down to the final polish, Craft Revival does it all.
“When most people here custom jewelry they think high prices,” Jayson said, “but since we cut out the middleman and make all of our pieces in house, our prices are competitive with those guys in the mall selling massed produced jewelry.”
Before I knew it, Jayson had busted out his iPad and began showing me the custom made program they had to help customers get started creating their own rings.
“This program helps my customers see that they have options all over the price board in terms of using different types of gold, silver, and platinum.”
Jayson is the only person I have met who has ever gotten me passionate about learning different gemstones. For fifteen minutes or so he had me captivated by explaining all of the various stones they have on display, what they are, where they come from, and how they are unique.
“Most of those people you have working with you at other jewelry stores are just salespeople. They don’t actually know anything about what they are selling. Here we do.”
He is right, and if you doubt the credentials at Craft Revival just check the walls.
If you are buying jewelry this Holiday season or ever in the future, check out Craft Revival. There are no pushy salespeople looking for a big commission, just a group of artists who love what they do and want you to be a part of it.
Rob is a Hope College student who enjoys biking, reading, hanging out in Heartside and is currently planning the 2011 Heartside Talent show.
Other contributers to this month's Happening in Heartside include Jenn Schaub and Kaleena Kowalkowski.
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