Art Prize art returned to Community
Art Prize Artist Corey VanDuinen returns pieces of his entry to the community. Children around West Michigan helped create the art over the summer at Maranda’s Park Parties.
Events
Family Fun in West Michigan!
What are you going to do with kids today? We have some great ideas! In fact, every weekday I’ll share a Five Star Family Fun Update with something free or super low cost your family can do. From free community events to fun ideas to do at home, the Five Star Family Fun Update is a great place to gather ideas on simple ways to spend time together this summer! Catch my Five Star Family Fun Update everyday at 8:05 a.m. on STAR 105.7 with Tommy and Brook or click on the logo on the right side of this website! It’s a great way to celebrate summer Where You Live!
Fifth Third River Bank Run Fun!
It’s time for the 34th Annual Fifth Third River Bank Run! This weekend the streets of downtown Grand Rapids will be packed with 20,000 plus runners, walkers and wheel chair athletes all gathered to participate in the largest 25K in country! We are super excited to provide a “Where You Live” special from this amazing community event! Greg Meyer, 7 time 25 k winner, will be joining me as a co-host to provide insights and highlights of the big event! Join us for a special presentation of “Where You Live” from the Fifth Third River Bank Run, Saturday, May 14th 7:30 p.m. on WOOD TV 8 and WOTV 4!
Underwater Egg Hunt!
I’m super excited for this Saturday’s first ever underwater egg hunt at the Holland Aquatic Center! The plan is to fill the pool with 8,000 plastic Easter Eggs. At 9:30 the doors will open and kids will sit on the edge of the pools. At 10 a.m. the hunt begins! Kids will collect as many eggs as they can. (Thanks to Meijer for donating thousands of eggs!) After that, it’s open swim for the family! If you have a plastic basket with holes in it, bring it along. If not, there will be a limited number available for purchase. Every child will leave with a special goodie bag. The cost is $5 per person and that includes the egg hunt and the open swim. Be sure to bring the camera. It’s going to be such a cool event I hope you can join us Saturday, April 16th at the Holland Aquatic Center!
Get Ready For Spring Break!
Spring Break 2011 is right around the corner and this weekend on “Where You Live” we’re giving you everything you need to know to make Spring Break super fun for your family! Find out what special events are taking place at some of West Michigan’s favorite family fun hot spots like Craig’s Cruisers, The John Ball Zoo, the West Michigan Whitecaps, The Holland Aquatic Center and Celebration Cinema! Plus, clever crafts and tasty treats to try at home. Plus, we’re giving away a great prize-it’s from my friends at Culture Pass GR and it’s an overnight stay at a local Holiday Inn Express, a gift card to Cinco de Mayo and great discounts at over 20 cultural organizations! And a huge BONUS—check out my Facebook page (facebook.com/marandatv) every day during Spring Break because we’re giving away amazing PRIZES everyday including tickets to Opening Day at Fifth Third Ball Park, Family Fun Packs to Craig’s Cruisers and the Holland Aquatic Center, tickets to the Grand Rapids Ballet’s Spring Break show and more!!! We truly are your headquarters for everything you need to make Spring Break in West Michigan super fun for your family!!
Family Friendly New Year’s Eve Party!
Ring in the new year spending time playing together as a family! My friends at Craig’s Cruisers are offering two great New Year’s Eve parties for you to choose from! The first event takes place New Year’s Eve from 4 – 8 p.m. and the second is New Year’s Eve from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. For $24.99 per person or $125 for six people you’ll get Craig’s Special New Year’s Eve Feast at the All-You-Can-Eat Pizza, Pasta and Salad Buffet, unlimited go-karts, laser tag, bumper cards, high ropes course and frog hopper! If one of your New Year’s resolution is to make more time for family time-here’s just one great idea to kick-off 2011!!
Winter Break Fun!
Looking for something to do with the kids during Winter Break? Here are some fun family events taking place over the next two weeks.
Christmas & Holiday Traditions Around the World
Now through Sunday, January 9
Frederik Meijer Gardens – Grand Rapids
www.meijergardens.org
See over 40 international trees, 300,000 lights, strolling carolers and a holiday express train exhibit.
Snowflake Break Days
Now through Sunday, January 2
Public Museum of Grand Rapids
www.grmuseum.org
A special buy-one-get-one admission ticket continues through next weekend. Enjoy discounted rates, free carousel rides, free crafts and fun activities.
Tubing at Pando
Now through Sunday, January 1
Pando Winter Sports Park – Rockford
www.pandopark.com
The park is open from 10am-10pm over Winter Break for tubing.
Cirque De Noel
Thursday, December 23 at 7:30pm
DeVos Performance Hall – Grand Rapids
www.grsymphony.org
The Grand Rapids Symphony performs holiday classics along with acrobats, jugglers and aerialists.
Night at Your Museum
Monday, December 27 from 6-9pm
Public Museum of Grand Rapids
www.grmuseum.org
Characters will come to life on all three floors of the museum. Kids will get a flashlight and have the evening to explore! Cost is $20 per person and includes dinner.
½ Off Kroc Center Day Passes
Monday, December 27 through Thursday, December 30
Salvation Army Kroc Center – Grand Rapids
http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/grandrapidskroc
Kids get in for $2.50 and adults for $3.50 for full use of the facility.
Learn to Luge
Monday, December 27 through Thursday, December 30
Muskegon Winter Sports Complex
www.msports.org
Have you ever wanted to learn to luge? Now is your chance. Classes are held at Noon and 3:30pm. While you’re there you can also ice skate or check out the sledding hills.
Come See The New Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital!
For months I’ve been driving down Michigan Street in downtown Grand Rapids watching with excitement as the new Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital moved closer and closer to completion. The building of the huge circular glass building and the amazing suspended bridge all were incredible milestones to witness. Now, we as a community have the chance to peek inside this wonderful place for kids! Be one of the first to see it all on Saturday, December 4th. It’s the official community preview and you’re invited! Schedule a time for a self-guided tour by calling 616/776-9626. I’ll be there taping for “Where You Live” from noon – 2 p.m. and I know my friends Crash from the West Michigan Whitecaps and Flick from Celebration Cinema will be there as well! Hope to see you there too!
1,715 Teachers Need Your Help!
The Teacher Wish List campaign is in full swing and it’s been amazing! We have 1,715 teachers from 525 different schools around West Michigan who have posted wishes for their students. Several of our partners including Amway, Fifth Third Bank, Meijer, Craig’s Cruisers and Priority Health have made very generous donations. But the needs are still great! If you and your family or business can grant a wish-big or small-I know teachers would greatly appreciate it! Thanks to everyone for stepping up and giving. There’s more work to be done. Together we can help our teachers help our kids in a big way!
Blogs
Maranda's Blog
Keep in step with Maranda as she explores issues affecting your family.
Maranda's Go-To Gal
Insights from the mom who helps Maranda get it all done.
Whitecaps Blog
Whitecaps mascot Crash takes you inside the ballpark.
Cruiser's Blog
Cruiser has the inside track for Craig's Cruisers.
Health & Wellness
Make health and wellness a priority.
Fifth Third River Bank Run
On pace with the Fifth Third River Bank Run.
Healthy Living
Simple solutions for healthy living.
Social Media
