If you're an animal lover and looking for something entertaining to do this week, you're in luck! Tonight at 6 PM, you can attend the second annual Paws, Claws & Corks event at the Steelcase Ballroom in DeVos Place, which is being held to raise money for the Humane Society of West Michigan. This will be the second year that the Humane Society has used this upscale event to raise funds for their programs, and if last year is any indicator, this year should be a roaring success and wildly entertaining for attendees to boot!

For those who aren't familiar with the West Michigan Humane Society, it is located at 3077 Wilson NW, near Walker in Grand Rapids. Via the donations of people in the community, they place 11,000 animals in loving, forever homes every year according to their website. They do not receive any federal funds or donations from any federal organizations; they are completely reliant on the generosity of donors to ensure their continued success in animal placement.

Thus, Paws, Claws & Corks: a decadent fundraiser catering to the upscale foodie crowd. There are also wines from local wineries and beer from local breweries. Food at this year's extragavant fundraiser will be provided by Amway Grand Plaza Hotel Catering, City Sen Lounge, FireRock Grille, FOODesign by Chef Brech, Leo’s, Olive’s Restaurant & Bar, One Trick Pony Grill & Taproom, Reds on the River, Reserve Wine & Food, San Chez Bistro, The Catering Company, Twisted Rooster, Schuil Coffee, andFurniture City Creamery. There will be a wide range of foods and desserts available, including vegetarian options, as well as vegan ice cream served at the event.

Additionally, there will be items available for bidding on during the Paws, Claws & Corks event. Various donated items will be available, including wine, sports memorabilia, and adventure trips, as well as many other exciting items, with all proceeds going to the Humane Society of West Michigan. Last year, between ticket sales and the silent (sealed box) auctions, the Paws, Claws & Corks event raised $127,000 dollars to help rescue, treat, spay/neuter, and place homeless or abandoned animals who otherwise might never have found their forever home.

If you are interested in getting out for a really special night on the town and helping an excellent, local non-profit organization at the same time, consider attending this year's Paws, Claws & Corks event. Tickets to the event are $100 per person, with $50 of that ticket price being tax-deductible. The dress code for Paws, Claws & Corks is business attire or cocktail chic. You can possibly still reserve a space at the event by contacting Tammy Hagedorn at thagedorn@hswestmi.org or by phone at (616) 791-8138. Those who do attend will have not only the satisfaction of a great meal but the knowledge that they are helping a great cause.

Today is the last day for people here in West Michigan to visit one of the amazing fish frys around town. Some of you may be confused by this, as Easter isn't this weekend; it's next weekend. But next week Friday is Good Friday, a day of observance that is traditionally believed to be the day Jesus was executed. As such, it is a day of fasting, and not a day when gorging oneself on a pound of fried fish is considered appropriate.

If you weren't familiar with the background of Lenten Fish Frys, they actually began as a Catholic thing due to a rule saying Catholics can not eat meat on Fridays during Lent. As a result, many churches and parishes began offering fish frys as a way for the community to get together during this time. Over the years, more and more local churches and even businesses have begun participating in this tradition, leading inevitably to arguments over who has the best fried fish.

This year, the local ABC affiliate ran a contest, called the Fish Fry Frenzy, wherein locals were encouraged to visit various fish frys and then log into the WZZM 13 website to vote. Weeks ago, at the beginning of the season, there were 32 different local fish frys in the running for this contest. Each week, half of the competitors were eliminated, until only the (voter-determined) best remained: the Marne American Legion #376.  According to the WZZm report, there were over half a million votes cast during the course of this contest, proving just how much West Michigan citizens love fish frys (and a good old-fashioned competition between churches).

There are at least 40 different local fish frys, all of which have slightly different offerings and experiences for those who attend. St. Alphonsus, for example, a small Catholic church on the West Side of the city, is locally famous for being the only fish fry to offer walleye (either fried or baked, along with a grilled cheese on the menu for those who don't like or eat fish). St. James in Montague, the runner-up this year, offers beer-battered whitefish on their menu. Blessed Sacrament offers cod, while the Grand Rapids' St. James offers pollack.

Some of these fish frys are all-you-can-eat, while others only allow for a single serving. Side dishes also vary, but the standards are french fries and/or baked potatoes, rolls, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, applesauce, and an assortment of desserts. The cost for adults is generally $8-10, and kids are $3-5, with some parishes offering a flat rate for families, allowing those with lots of children to still attend affordably.

If you don't already have Friday night plans, consider rounding up the family and hitting up one of the dozens of fish frys across the city. If you choose to pass, it'll be late next winter before the opportunity presents itself again.

If you're looking for something a little more artsy than the average Sunday night television fare, then West Michigan has plenty to offer you. In lieu of hitting up a movie and restaurant this weekend, consider heading on down to Nature Unleashed: The Original Hair Ball. This high fashion event will be held on Sunday, March 29^th and runs from 6 PM to 11 PM, though the VIP reception begins at 5 PM.

Hosted at the JW Marriott at 235 Louis NW, this unique event brings together some of the most talented hair and makeup artists in the state for a runway-based hair show competition. The event will certainly bring out the originality in area artists, as the three competitive categories for presentation are avant-garde, glamour, and makeup. In addition to judged awards, there will also be a People's Choice award that each attendee gets to vote for, ensuring your favorite has a chance to take home an award.

General admission to the event is $15, which includes admission to the runway show, one vote in the People's Choice competition, and the ability to dance and hit the bar with some of the hippest people in the state's beauty industry. For those who really want the full experience, there are also VIP passes available for $60 a person. That VIP pass will snag you preferred seating at the runway hair competition, access to a sneak peek reception featuring the stylists and their models, and an exclusive VIP Aveda grab bag.

The Hair Ball is sponsored by Aveda in honor of Earth Month, and all proceeds will be donated to The Alliance for the Great Lakes. As far as international brands go, Aveda has a strong reputation and is known for not only leading the pack as far as natural beauty and hair supplies goes but also for having cutting-edge sylists and makeup artists working in their salons. The Hair Ball is certainly in keeping with that corporate culture, and it promises to be an entertaining and inspiring evening.

The judge's panel for the event includes Sin Chun from Sin Republic, Jerad Rushlow from Daybreak Salon & Spa, and Jamie Cross from the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Those who wish to RSVP on social media can do so via the event's Facebook page. Alternatively, tickets can be purchases for the event on EventBrite. 

As Grand Rapids continues to establish itself as an artistic city with plenty of unique culture, events like Nature Unleashed: The Original Hair Ball will help cement that impression in the minds of others across the midwest. If you are a fashionista, an environmentally concerned citizen, or just someone with an appreciation for the skill it takes to create art with the human face and hair, then this event may be an excellent opportunity for you to meet like-minded folks and appreciate some highly-skilled stylists and artists.

Few foods are more iconically American than the cheeseburger. At once synonymous with comfort and convenience, the cheeseburger has become a staple representation of American cuisine, and with good reason. Restaurants all over the county make and re-make this simple sandwich, adding everything from avocado to fried eggs to deep-fried pickle slices to top their burger. One of the best things about West Michigan is the wide variety of locally-owned eateries available to locals and tourists. If you were to ask a Grand Rapids native where to get a great burger, chances are pretty good they'll refer you to Stella's Lounge.

 There are many things that set Stella's apart from the average burger joint. First of all,in 2012, Stella's was endorsed by GQ's deputy editor Michael Hainey as the best burger in America during a promotional segment for an upcoming issue of the magazine on MSNBC's Morning Joe. The burger also made a list of the best placed to eat in 2012, according to an article in GQ. On a more local level, Stella's burgers have been voted the best burger in Grand Rapids by the readers of both On The Town magazine (2014) and Grand Rapids Magazine (2014 and 2015).

The restaurant features an arcade, in the form of vintage video games and pinball machines. While the offerings vary based on what is currently working, you can definitely expect to find classic games such as Tetris, Q*bert, Mortal Kombat, and Asteroids in the rotation. There is an ATM available, as well as a change machine, meaning that you don't have to lug in a bag full of quarters just to get your game on while waiting for your meal.

As for the meal itself, well, Stella's has rapidly risen in local esteem for good reason; in addition to unfinishable, half-pound stuffed burgers, they also offer vegetarian black bean burgers, chili, salads, and brunch offerings, all of which are original (Kahlua syrup on your pancakes, anyone?), some of which are unusual (deep-fried avocado slices).

Many people visit Stella's for their assortment of whiskeys, not their unbelievable food. Not only do they have a dozen beers on tap, some of which rotate regularly, they also offer dozens and dozens of whiskeys, starting as low as $3 a glass, going up according to rarity and bottle price. Whiskey aficionados would be well served to spend a few evenings at Stella's, checking out the variety of Irish, Scotch, Canadian and American whiskeys.

You can bring the family here, but you'd be best served by coming in earlier in the day if you have minors in tow. Stella's Longue opens at 4 PM, and much later than that the place is generally filled with whiskey-loving adult patrons. After 10 PM, minors won't be allowed in, even if their parents are with them. The later in the day you visit, the longer you'll have to wait, the louder the music will be, and the more packed the business becomes. Hit it up early if you want to share a meal with the kids, or bring the wife for a night out when the kids are otherwise entertained.

If you needed one last push to consider checking out Stella's Longue, perhaps their efforts to offset their environmental impact will sell you on this little burger joint. Not only do they compost their food waste and recycle as much as they can (diverting an estimated 90% of their waste from landfills), they also use compostable takeaway containers, meaning you can throw that box out in your garden compost and help enrich your soil with it, instead of contributing yet another piece of styrofoam to the trash bin.

The next time your burger craving kicks into high gear, consider a trip downtown to Stella's Longue, a restaurant that is quickly becoming an iconic staple of the West Michigan restaurant and bar scene.

When you own Rockford real estate, you live in a place with a rich and fascinating history. The Rockford Area Historical Society (RAHS) is dedicated to preserving that history. In 1975, the Rockford Area Historical Museum was founded and operated by the RAHS. It was housed in the Power House, which was a generator plant for the Rogue River Electric Light & Power Company. On September 26th, 2014, the Museum moved to another piece of historic Rockford real estate. The former 63rd District Court building has been converted into an exhibition space. The story of Rockford, beginning with its founding as a logging community is told there. A second phase, focused on specific aspects of the town, will open later.

The Rockford Area Historical Museum is an interesting place to spend an afternoon. It’s open Tuesday through Sunday and closed Monday. Serious students of local history should consider a membership to the Rockford Area Historical Society. An individual adult membership is just $10. Member fees help to fund the work of the RAHS. Members interested in geneaology or projects on the Rockford area can get help from the Museum’s research staff. Another way to learn about the history of Rockford real estate is to attend the monthly guest lectures at the Rockford Community Cabin on North Monroe Street. Talks are given the first Thursday of the month from September to May. Visit rockfordmuseum.org to learn more about this great local resource. 

Reeds Lake is a wonderful place for East Grand Rapids home owners to explore. The city maintains several parks around the lake. Reeds Lake Trail connects several of the parks. Walk, jog, or cycle on this 4.2 mile loop trail. There are both paved and unpaved areas.

John Collins Park provides a public access boat launch to East Grand Rapids home owners. Fishing is allowed in Reeds Lake. Patient fishermen may be rewarded with bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, rock bass, yellow perch, or northern pike. A canoe and kayak launch is located behind the Community Center. Motor boats are not allowed.

Waterfront Park is a great place for observing wildlife in the 11 acres of undeveloped woodland and wetland. The 425 foot floating boardwalk system gives visitors a unique way to view the lake shore. Hodenpyl Woods, is a great place for bird watching. There’s also a trail that identifies many local plants. The Reeds Lake Trail also takes users to Griffiths Parks. It’s a small, mature woodland space and is not developed for recreational use, except for the paved trail and benches.

East Grand Rapids home owners have access to many other beautiful parks around Reeds Lake. Click here to visit the website and plan a day out at the park. 

Experience history and gather inspiration for your own Grand Rapids home by visiting the Meyer May house. This house, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, has been painstakingly restored to its original glory. After being acquired by Steelcase in 1985, much research was done to figure out the original design of the house. Little by little the 1909 vision of Wright came to light after two years of work which included the demolition of an addition from 1922. This famous Grand Rapids home has become the most completely restored of any of Wright’s homes. No interior or exterior detail was overlooked.

Originally designed for a popular Grand Rapids clothier, this house truly exhibits Wright’s Prairie style of architecture. With a mix of original furnishings as well as convincing reproductions, this Grand Rapids home provides guests with a rare chance to see a Prairie house just as Wright wanted it to be. What a wonderful opportunity to pay homage to an influential architect. Visit the house at 450 Madison Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm or on Sundays from 1:00 until 5:00 pm. Admission is free and reservations are only required for groups of 10 or more.  Click here to visit the Meyer May House website.