Monday, July 04, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
1st night @Electric_Forest is a little wet. If Rothbury in 2009 was born again, then this year is the baptism. Enjoy! http://rapidgrowthmedia.com/gsync/Default.aspx#c82cc69a-699c-4c12-ac17-f8ff4b1ded55
Monday, June 13, 2011
Can picturing trash change our habits? You will be surprised at the answer. I also share a (personal) trashy #GrandRapids story. http://www.good.is/post/facebooking-trash-bins-shame-the-wasteful/
From personal experience I can say "picturing trash" works. I remember a few years ago when attending a local concert venue I was appalled at the level of waste generated as I watched trash containers overflowing with recyclable materials.
So I snapped pictures and posted on line.
The results?
A member of the PR team for the venue contacted me and I explained it didn't have to be just one way. The next season this venue began actively encouraging recycling at their facility. And they gained a super loyal customer as a result.
I am happy to see someone else taking a bold step as well in this area to create positive new patterns of behavior.
Everything has to be on the table if we are going to successfully make the leap to the next.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Even with the rain, you cannot stop the fun at #Movement2011 #VitaminWater stage !
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Slight Delay Due to Late Night Monsoon Like Rain. (photo) #Louisville post #Derby
I was so sleepy after @LevitationStage event at Palace that I crashed and slept in until 12:45 pm.
Can you blame me when you see my clothes.
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Thursday, May 05, 2011
#iPhone snaps of #GRmi artists frm #CrestonGR's ArtBattle for Community. Thnks to MLive, GRSD, WZZM13 & @RapidGrowth
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Before I rtn 2 #Louisville 4 my @LevitationStage project, I release this silly image before @CrestonGR's Art Battle for Community @SazeracLounge in #GRmi
Enjoy my silliness because Louisville loves and encourages loonies. I fit right in.
Before I rtn 2 #Louisville 4 my @LeviationStage project, I release this silly image before @CrestonGR's Art Battle for Community @SazeracLounge in #GRmi
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Let's Roll! Historic Transit Millage is today. Here is Ted Lott's thoughts. @RapidYes
Rapid Yes!
Ted Lott nailed it so beautifully today.
Lott Metz is a firm that understands the need for a solid design for our future MUST include a modern transportation.
Read his take here: http://lott3metz.com/2011/05/rapidyes-may-3rd/
In 30 years, your Yes vote will be admired by those who will benefit from your bold move. Let's win this with numbers greater than 70% today. We can do it because we have history on our side!
Monday, May 02, 2011
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
One of Guided By Voices biggest fans and my good friend, Scott VW. #PyramidSchemeGR #GBV
Thursday, April 21, 2011
#HermanMiller's #SteveFrykholm: Geezer is One of Us (and of the @MOMA, too) #AIGA
Steve Frykholm: Geezer – Greatness Among Us (and the MOMA, too)
THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 6 PM, PROGRAM BEGINS AT 7 PM
GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM, 101 MONROE CENTER ST. NW
It is a rare treat to have the chance to meet and listen to an artist from our own midst whose work is not only heavily collected here and abroad, but whose iconic works are a part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The AIGA West Michigan, with generous support from The Etheridge Group, is proud to welcome Steve Frykholm in a special talk entitled "Geezer."
Frykholm is the man behind the image of Herman Miller for over 40 years that dominated the mid-century modern movement.
But to many on the street, it is his Herman Miller annual picnic posters that he created over the years that has won the world over with their vibrant color, exaggerated sizing and minimalist sensibilities that never sacrificed the humanity of this time-honored tradition.
Recently, Frykholm won the term legendary from the Ad Club of Michigan who awarded him the Silver Medal award for his "outstanding contributions" to the advertising and marketing industry.
If you have never heard Steve speak, you will be thoroughly entertained at this rare opportunity to be so close and in the presences of a living icon of our art and design culture.
from RapidGrowthMedia.com's G-Sync Lifestyle Editor, Tommy Allen, 4/14/2011
Admission: $5 AIGA West Michigan Members, $15 General Public
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Oh Joy, Oh Rapture! @Paxahau's 2011 #Movement 105 Artists! Who's going? #Detroit #DEMF #GR2Detroit
Sunday, April 10, 2011
This collaborative event in #GRmi made me so proud to live here. http://t.co/NNdECgW #Film
This year's showcase film is the Peruvian film "Contracoriente" (Undertow), a film that at its core explores the complex emotions of intersecting human sexuality within this tiny seaside town. After each of the six films, students from each of the colleges will lead a discussion with the audience to help enrich the educational aspects of the festival. This immersion of students into the programming is key to the festival's success and an on-going goal of fostering dialog across cultural lines.A major addition to the festival this year is the appearance by the screenwriter, actor and producer Oscar Torres, who will be attending the Friday, April 8 screening of "Voces Inocentes" (Innocent Voices) to discuss his semi-autobiographical film.
(Tommy adds, I saw this film on Saturday and it was beautifully rich in every way. The conversations after the film ended with the audience members were also insightful.)
Thursday, April 07, 2011
#GimmeShelter - my review on Expanding on the Form in #GrandRapids #GRmi Design in #GR
from Rapid Growth's G-Sync by Tommy Allen
Gimme Shelter -- Expanding on the Form
THURSDAY - SATURDAY, APR 7 - 9, SEE WEBSITE FOR EXACT TIMES
FOUNTAIN STREET CHURCH, 24 FOUNTAIN STREET NE
What started off as just a single book launch lecture under the guidance of Fountain Street Church has blossomed into something worth celebrating as well as making time to attend Apr. 7, at 9 p.m.
Gimme Shelter will kick off with an inspiring lecture by Sarah Susanka, a noted architect and thought leader and the author of the New York Times bestselling Not-So-Big... series of books including her latest release, The Not-So-Big Life.
This kickoff event will bring together national and local scholars, professionals and philosophers to discuss the American idea and image of shelter and to challenge assumptions that are proving increasingly unworkable in the modern world.
On Friday, the church will host a series of panel discussions focused on creating community projects that benefit the masses with Saturday's events focusing more keenly on the individual and how they can make small changes to make an impact in our world.
Saturday afternoon will include visits to key sites within our community where sustainable projects have been put into place including tours of the Newberry Place co-housing and Habitat for Humanity's Wealthy Heights neighborhood renovation project.
Also scheduled to appear are John Peterson, architect and founder of the One Percent Project and Jess Zimbabwe of the Urban Land Institute.
Please see Gimme Shelter's site for a complete list of speakers and all the lectures happening over the course of three days, including an appearance by Rapid Growth's Tommy Allen who will be a part of the Friday Sustainable Community panel discussion at 12:30 p.m.
This three-day empowerment symposium has been lovely designed by community members for more than just those who work in the design world. It is open to everyone from students to homeowners to backyard farmers to localvores looking to create good in their community.
Admission: $10 for Thursday night's lecture with Susanka, but Friday and Saturday sessions are free.
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
2Nite @whatsyourart, #ArtPeers, #Ave4theArts @KevinBuist & others take on GR Art Criticism, R U Ready?
from RapidGrowthMedia.com's G-Sync by Tommy Allen
Critical Reality – Is Arts Criticism Important In Grand Rapids?
THURSDAY, MAR 31, 5:30 - 7 PM
WEALTHY THEATRE, 1130 WEALTHY STREET SE
Last year, Rapid Growth hosted a panel discussion about the practices of the creative in our "big small town" community and for the most part, the conversation centered on the topic of creative best practices. And while all agreed we have it good here in many ways, one area that is lacking is in the arena of arts criticism.
Caroline Older of the Arts Councils of Greater Grand Rapids remembers well the discussion thread that followed at the bottom of an article by Kevin Buist of ArtPrize in The Rapidian.
So earlier this year, she and her staff set about creating a panel that would address this much discussed question both online and over table tops around the city: "Are Grand Rapids' artists, performances and arts institutions ready for a serious critique of the art created here?"
This question will be at the center of the discussion at Wealthy Theatre where artists, patrons and arts lovers are encouraged to attend this panel event.
"I would argue it is important that we have a serious critique of our arts community," says Older, "but where will this criticism come from in is still unsure since we in a time of flux from ever-changing media sources."
The panel was assembled by the Arts Council along with Erin Wilson of ArtPeers and Jenn Schaub of the Avenue for the Arts and will include GVSU's Paul Wittenbraker, Grand Rapids Press' Jeff Kaczmarczyk, UICA's Elizabeth Goddard, ArtPrize's Kevin Buist and Musician Ritsu Katsumata. Schaub will be moderating the panel.
So if you have ever poised these questions or would simply love to hear a fresh perspective on this topic, please stop by on Thursday.
Bar privileges at Wealthy Theater are available for CMC members ($12/yr).
Admission: $10; Free for Arts Council members, ArtPeers artists, Avenue for the Arts members, and college students with valid ID.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Congrats #5x5Night Mar. contenders: Margarita Barry's 71 POP, Landon Bartley’s Storefront Windows to the World, David Buick’s FitCup, Nicole Infante’s GR Signature Sandwich Competition and AJ Paschka’s Weather Collage
I am excited to see your projects and to be one of your judges this round.
Good luck and just remember if you get nervous, imagine all your judges in the underwear. A little throw up in the mouth lubricates the vocal cords.
:-)
Tommy Allen, Twitter: TommyGsync for RapidGrowthMedia.com
Saturday, March 19, 2011
#LaughFest - Just sayin "ThisIsaNiceLimo!" u get $1 off #MichiganBeers at #TeamAmerica @WealthyTheatre Tonight. Jump for details & time
Come check out the actual marionettes, courtesy of Ypsilanti's own Dreamland Theatre, practice with the artists from Dreamland theatre, see live improv and a very naughty human/marionette film intro with @RapidGrowth G-Sync's Tommy Allen!
Along with Dreamland Theatre marionettes LIVE pre-show TONIGHT... our Team America: Wold Police / LaughFest screening will feature a DRAUGHT BEER SPECIAL DISCOUNT *CODE*!!
When you order, simply say "This is a nice limo!" and you'll get $1 off every Michigan draught beer!
This code is good for all Michigan draught beers, tonight only - doors at 7pm!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Put down the GreenBeer, #LaughFest scores a comic coup - American Premier of BillHicks Movie w/creators LIVE
Thursday, 8 PM - We get it before LA and New York!
American: Bill Hicks Movie - The Big LaughFest Coup
While all local eyes have been on Betty White as she takes to the stage for her very special (and rare) live appearance to celebrate Gilda's Club of Grand Rapids' 10th anniversary, a tiny little film was programmed in the LaughFest's schedule that is catching the eyes of comedians and film lovers alike..
American: Bill Hicks Movie will open here in Grand Rapids almost a month before it does in New York and Los Angeles, and that is more than just cool -- it is awesome.
Often ranked as one of the top ten comedians in history, Bill Hicks is the subject of this award-winning documentary that has dazzled the festival circuit for its honest and imaginative portrayal of an American comedian that could be called the foul-mouthed, truth-seeking love child of Lenny Bruce and George Carlin.
Hicks was not one to hide his opinions on stage with silly gags, but rather used his unique ability to twist language to an absurd conclusion always landing squarely on our funny bone, even though sometimes that laughter was painful in the revelation.
"I loved when Bush came out and said, 'We are losing the war against drugs.' You know what that implies?" asks Hicks. "There's a war being fought, and the people on drugs are winning it."
Hicks was always a huge hit in the UK, but in America, he was just on the verge of mass discovery when on Feb. 24, 1994, at the age of 32, he passed away from cancer.
On the eve of his death, he wrote a sentence that is the key to his unique brand of humor: "I left in love, in laughter, and in truth and wherever truth, love and laughter abide, I am there in spirit."
Wealthy Theatre and LaughFest are proud to feature a Q&A session after the movie that includes live Skype with the producers in London, England, Bill's brother Steve Hicks (in person) and Bill's longtime fellow comedian Dwight Slade, both of whom knew Bill well. There will perhaps never be a screening of "American" like this again.
Please check LaughFestGR.org for the complete list of films they have programmed on a variety of screens around our area.
Film : $7 Non-Members, $5 Members
Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI
from RapidGrowth's Tommy Allen review in G-Sync, 3/10/2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
#LaughFest, It seems like only yesterday we were slinging a strawberry smelling unit @Pub43. Oh wait, it was yesterday!
Meitsee Red Bird
Q: What was your name again?
#FogOfTheNew Day
Thursday, March 10, 2011
I am betting this has been the most social clip today about @LaughFest. Congrats, #FOX17 http://t.co/Kk0wDir
And thanks to @emilyrichett and @briankelly for putting up with all the comics who stormed that segment. It was daunting how much we crammed in a few minute broadcast.
Now can we break that world record tonight for the most rubber chicken's tossed at one time?
G-Sync Walks N2 A Bar. (OUCH!) 2day reflections on #GildaRadner, #LaughFest & the human finger puppet. http://t.co/Xb8KI0G
March 10 - 20, 2011
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Friday, March 04, 2011
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
"I bet our official AfterParty can beat up your AfterParty" #LadyGaga #ClubWars #GRmi 2011
