Projects:Indie Guide
This page is meant to be a central collecting point for content to be included in the Indie Guide to GR. Items collected here will eventually end up on a static web-guide and hopefully in print.
Example:
Contents |
Record Stores
Vertigo Music
129 S Division
Avenue For The Arts
Easily one of the best record stores in all of Michigan is found right here in Grand Rapids. Vertigo is particularly good for new vinyl and used 7"s. Vertigo is located conveniently downtown and acts as a central figure in the burgeoningly hip Avenue for the Arts section of Division. Be sure to wade through the countless discount CDs, there are some true gems.
George 14:13, 6 July 2007 (EDT)
I would not say Vertigo is that great for 7"s unless you are looking for punk and indie stuff. Even then it is stuff from the past 10 years more or less. They don't buy 45s anymore so the new stuff the do get are brand new 7"s. They are great for new CDs and new vinyl and they have AWESOME prices. They beat Schuler and even Best Buy on occasion. The used CDs are great as well. Grandrapidian 00:52, 11 July 2007 (EDT)
Dodds Records
20 Division Ave 49503
616-451-3161
Avenue For The Arts
Jerry Dodd is the old-timer in Grand Rapids Record stores. His shop has been selling records for some time (I believe 40 years+) and he is not going anywhere any time soon. This is the worst store I have ever been to for browsing, so it is much more of a digger's haven. It is essentially like looking through an old dude's basement with all the mustiness and piles that come with it. You have to WORK to find the gems. But they can be there.
BE CAREFUL, he sometimes reshrinks records, so you are best off buying ones you can check out first. There are usually piles of stuff in the back that you can look through, I recommend it. Many times he sells them for 50 cents each (cause they are in worse condition). The best finds I have ever pulled from Dodd's came from the 50 cent piles.
Grandrapidian 00:26, 11 July 2007 (EDT)
Corner Records
3562 Chicago Dr
Grandville, MI 49418
616-531-6578
If you are looking for older vinyl this is your destination in Grand Rapids. Corner is stocked with 1000s of Albums, 12"s and 45s and they are mostly in impeccable condition. Some people complain about the prices at Corner, but you get great quality records for the price. Hip Hop is one genre that is usually under-priced at Corner, so you may be able to find some sweet deals there (although their selection is slim.) They recently opened an entire room just for 45s if that is your bag, and they also feature used CDs DVDs and old stereo equipment.
Grandrapidian 00:16, 11 July 2007 (EDT)
Beat Goes On
1007 Fulton St 49503
616-235-4666
Not for vinyl seakers. Beat Goes On is filled with mostly CDs and DVDs both used and new as well as incense and similar stuff. Lots of Hip Hop and Dance CDs but I can't attest to their quality, I always just pop in to see if I have missed anything in their vinyl boxes on the floor under the racks. I haven't.
Grandrapidian 00:35, 11 July 2007 (EDT)
Aris's Disc Shop
2121 Celebration Dr NE # 550
616-447-6000
Vinyl, CDs and DVDs from local legend Aris Hamper. He played in the Fenton Records band "The Soul Benders" and had his own radio show on a number of local stations; now he sells used CDs and vinyl (no doubt some of it from his days in radio). You can find some gems here on occasion but the prices are great on some things and outrageous on others. If you want Northern Soul, he is the guy to go to, but probably not in person; he has made a small fortune selling records on eBay (also most probably from his days in radio).
This store is in a strip mall anchored by a movie theater, not much of the Grand Rapids experience (or at least not the best of it), but for the visitor looking for the complete GR record hunting experience it can be an alright visit (after Corner and Vertigo and Dodd's, of course). Grandrapidian 00:46, 11 July 2007 (EDT)
Getting Around
Bicycling
Bicycling is fast becoming the preferred method of getting around Grand Rapids. However, this guide will be the first to admit that the area is not exactly as bicycle friendly as it could be. The lay of the land is not particularly difficult (with the exception of "the hill"), but there are scant few bicycle lanes, and many of the roads designated as "bicycle routes" are in considerable disrepair. But it is slowly getting better. Nearly the entire fleet of city busses, for example, now have front racks that can carry two bicycles. This has opened up commuting on a bicycle considerably.
Officially, bicycles are no different from cars as far as city law is concerned. Cyclists are subject to the same rules and regulations when riding in the streets. It is illegal to ride on sidewalks in the city's center-most area if you are above 15 years of age. (this ban has been in place since 1913) Not to mention more dangerous as collisions with pedestrians are imminent. Most bicycle accidents involve people riding on sidewalks, and it is recommended that one use the streets just like any other vehicle. George 13:28, 7 July 2007 (EDT)
Bicycle lanes
There are far too few of these for it to count, really. But, it is good to know where they are if you can use them and which to avoid. One of the only ones to avoid outright is the stretch of Grandville Ave. headed south from Wealthy. It is a complete mess of potholes and rough patches, and is particularly difficult to manage on a road bike. Some of the nicest are on Plainfield north of Knapp. Both of these are kind of out-of-the-way, but the lanes on north Monroe are essential for safely getting to Grand Rapids' NW side. George 13:28, 7 July 2007 (EDT)
Bicycle Helmets
While there is only one mandatory helmet law in the Grand Rapids area (East Grand Rapids for under-16's), we recommend getting one anyways. The drivers in this town still haven't totally gotten used to cyclists exercising their right to the streets and can be big time jerks. You can get new helmets at any of the bike repair shops listed in this guide, and used ones at most thrift shops in town. Check out St. Vincent DePaul's on Division especially (but really, it's worth it to just get a new one). George 13:28, 7 July 2007 (EDT)
A note on used helmets; I heard recently that bike helmets are meant to be useful for one accident only (I assume a helmet-impacting accident); and that not all helmets will show the scars of such an accident. I've therefore been warned agianst used ones because one never knows the past life of such a helmet, and getting one's head injured is kind of a big risk to take. I currently have a used one... But I've been getting around to purchasing a new one since I heard that.
Ruby 21:19, 7 July 2007 (EDT)
Critical mass
There is a monthly group bike ride through the city's downtown area. It is meant to demonstrate the strength of Grand Rapids' bike culture, and demonstrate cyclist's right to the road. Critical Mass leaves promptly at 5:15pm on the last friday of every month from Veteran's Park (near the corner of Fulton and Sheldon). Routes are generally flat and accessible for riders at all skill level. Find more information and sign up for the Critical Mass mailing list at http://www.mediamouse.org/cm/. George 13:28, 7 July 2007 (EDT)
Fixed Gear Scene
Fixies have been a small part of Grand Rapids cycling culture for the last couple of years, but have recently EXPLODED. There are now weekly midnight races (on Wednesdays) at Grand Rapids Community College track (colorfully referred to as the "ghettodrome") and around Reed's Lake in East Grand Rapids. In addition there are occasionally midnight "alley cat" races through downtown. these typically happen on wednesday nights as well. George 13:28, 7 July 2007 (EDT)