Michigan started Craft Beer Week out with a bang with last week’s Beer City USA poll.

Grand Rapids, which tied for first place last year alongside Asheville, North Carolina,  took exclusive rights to the title this year, getting over twice as many votes as any other nominated city. Kalamazoo took second place, with Asheville slipping to third, cementing Michigan’s reputation as The Great Beer State.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.-- There is no question 2012 was great year for Grand Rapids and beer.

A record number of breweries opened, including Eastown’s Harmony, Mitten Brewing, and Grand Rapids Brewing Company as well as both Pike 51 and White Flame in Hudsonville, Perrin in Comstock Park and Rockford Brewing Company. Additionally, Grand Rapid’s most successful brewery, Founders, celebrated their 15 year anniversary in style which included the release of their 15% Bolt Cutter Barleywine. But perhaps the defining moment in 2012 was the nomination and securing of the title Beer City USA in a tied vote along with previous year victors Asheville, North Carolina.

Read Article: http://www.imabeerhound.com/michigan-brewery-news/grand-rapids-beer-city-usa-2013-the-time-to-vote-is-now.html

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—See how Grand Rapids firefighters save lives during the annual Fire-Rescue Expo Saturday, May 4.

This is the fourth year for the event, which runs from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the fire department headquarters on the corner of LaGrave Avenue and Weston Street. This year’s expo will feature kids’ activities, games and a contest to become a firefighter for a day.  Visitors can also check out antique apparatus and equipment displays, take part in a fire truck driving simulator, and watch live fire and rescue demonstrations. 

Workers for the Residential Safety Program will also be on hand to answer questions and sign up people for home assessments and smoke detector installations.