Impressions of the "No Kings" Protest, October 18, 2025

 

View at Rosa Parks circle near the art museum, 18 Oct. 2025

Around the USA, and maybe among expatriates outside the USA, there were about 2600 rallies and demonstrations planned. Estimates put the June "no kings" protestors at five million. First estimates for the next "no kings" protest of October 18 at seven million. That works out to just over 4% of the 174 registered voters in the country, more than the critical mass of public dissent declared of 3%. What all this means in the short, medium, and long term is hard to know in the moment, but future observers of USA political and social life will be able to trace a line from this, the avowed largest single public protest in the almost 250 years of national history, to the course of events that follow.

What was it like to attend the protest? In the case of Grand Rapids, Michigan the Saturday morning began with rain showers, but was drying up around the start time of the festival event at Riverside Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. inviting young people and families, in particular, but open to all ages. Then the rally of speeches and songs, followed by a downtown circuit of chants, began just before 1 p.m. in the city center at the Rosa Parks open space and stage. The above sign was among the fancier ones. Many others were hand-drawn on cardboard or poster board. Maybe 1 in 10 people had some form of sign, many with a message taken from a common pool of two or three dozen phrases, but others straight from the marcher's own mind. Impressionistically, over 1000 people participated at the morning event and three times as many came for parts or the whole of the afternoon proceedings. Both were well organized, thought through, and had contingency plans for weather, health difficulties, or attacks by agitators. Technical difficulties with sound, documenting, featured acts, speeches, and so on did not appear. All went smoothly in the end.

"The revolution will not be televised" is a famous phrase during the Vietnam War protest years from two generations earlier [attributed to Gil Scott-Heron]. The idea is that you cannot sit in your living room to be a spectator to events taking place around you. So get up and join your neighbors in protest. And yet, now that social media is becoming familiar to young and old alike, it seemed like every other person was taking photos and video at one moment or another, some more than others. Maybe 1 in 20 or 30 carried equipment more professional-looking than a cellphone: enthusiast or professional camera, or rigs to transform their cellphone into something capable of high production values (gimbal to avoid shakiness, tripod, external microphone). In other words, recording self and others, seeing how others dressed, protested (singing in loud or soft voices, joining the call-and-response, dancing, dressing in costumes) and behaved, including how others were snapping photos and capturing video, all this was integral to being present and participating - presumably then to share selected parts online for friends and also for strangers to see and hear, too.

Vietnam Vet (left hat band) snaps protest stage photo

There were several audiences and intended recipients of these demonstrations of disapproval for #TrumpConvictedFelon destroying the social infrastructure for healthcare, supports of vulnerable people, slowing down research and the production of knowledge and criticism, and enrichment of cronies, for example. Protestors both active and passive were there for each other: showing interest in each other's signs and/or costumes, bearing witness to the occasion by paying attention to speakers and entertainers, and watching out for each other so that no one put themselves in a precarious position (breaking property, laws, etc). But attendees also demonstrated solidarity for the hosting organizations such as #IGGR (Indivisible.org in the chapter for Greater Grand Rapids) and for the representatives of like-minded organizations and institutions that contributed expertise, promotional efforts, volunteers, and so on: area churches and non-profit organizations that serve the various demographic segments around the city and county, and so on. Then, too, the legacy news media were identifiable and were welcomed: TV camera person and accompanying Live Reporter, but also people from radio and from print media. City police were also part of the equation: would they interfere with lawful exercise of public protest described in the U.S. Constitution or not. A squadron of officers on sturdy bikes were visible at the edges a few times, but otherwise they could monitor things from overhead surveillance cameras on permanent venue poles downtown; maybe others were watching incognito (undercover). Fellow citizens were also meant to see and hear the protestors, either in person when driving by or later on social media. For every person who showed up, maybe another 5 were interested but lacked the motivation or circumstances allowing them to attend. Speculatively, for each attendee maybe another 20 or 30 were generally sympathetic, but perhaps also were ambivalent about the connection between political office holders and the role of constituents in making change, expressing approval, or demonstrating disapproval. A large bulk of citizens had no particular awareness, interest, or inclination for or against the sequence of slow-motion killing of U.S. traditions of democratic process. Also among the fellow citizens in the intended audience for protesters are those holding the diametrically opposite opinion of the world and the trail of destruction presided over by the "executive order" POTUS. All of these various neighbors were intended audiences of the solidarity being abundantly expressed.

Ultimately, though, the chief audience of the "no kings" events are the henchmen of the POTUS who abet and enable his offenses, crimes, and infringements of the letter and the spirit of the system of federal government: showing them that nationwide there are a lot of displeased people prepared to judge the failures and harms by voting the scoundrels out of office and then prosecuting them for their crimes of commission and crimes of omission - failures to discharge the duties of their office according to the laws of the land. The natives are restless and those pretenders, playing at leadership, but too incompetent to perform basic functions of government, should be afraid of what awaits them.

From the time of the January 20, 2025 swearing in of POTUS #47 to now on October 18, there is nothing but obstruction of government function; destruction instead of creation. By the time of January 20, 2026 no doubt there will be fresh crimes and harm caused. It seems unlikely that the wrongs will slow down or be reversed, and there are absolute limits to the abuse that the voters and citizens of the land will withstand. One sequence of events is impeachment, criminal charges proven, and prison time. Then the business of building the housing, healthcare, and energy infrastructure of the future (not the past) can begin. The decades of litigation for liabilities of the Trump Disaster owed to claimants will also begin. Once full operation of the federal governance resumes, destruction is repaired, and new initiatives have begun, then an accounting for the lost generation of opportunity costs wasted by the nitwits will be documented and published.  

City 2024 budget for social fabric mending and extending

 

from city of Grand Rapids, MI newsletter, January 12, 2024

This morning the city council's newsletter came by email and included the following text.

55 special events on tap now through mid-summer

The City Commission approved $209,085 in General Fund sponsorships for 55 events planned in Grand Rapids now through June 30. The special events sponsorship awards are allocated from budgeted event support/reactivation dollars made available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). These 55 events are being put on by not-for-profit, non-governmental organizations or people who have applied for funding through the Special Events Sponsorship Program and confirmed their dedication to holding open, free, and accessible events on public property in Grand Rapids that support the City’s mission, vision and strategic priorities.

By making a screenshot and then color-coding the kinds of things worth city financial support, a sort-of mirror shows the aspirations of the elected officials and the perspiration of the community organizations and businesses dedicated to bringing residents and visitors together. Although this typology of events is based purely on imagined content, based on the title of each, it may not be entirely accurate, but does distill some of the ways that modern society can still bring fragmented attention spans and unbalanced work-life conditions temporarily in repair through face-to-face mingling and meeting of others seen in the neighborhood or in other city contexts.

TYPOLOGY OF CITY-FUNDED EVENTS IN 2024

visual, performing art
charity, fund-raising
physical activity
mental wellness
food-centric
parade, visibility
neighbor/community gathering
ethic celebration
market/crafts

One way to appreciate the value of these many kinds of happenings is to imagine a city lacking such semi-structured public opportunities to interact with others in civil society: not work pals nor kin folk, but strangers who share a few basic facts of common environment and shared geography of cultural landmarks and annual cycle of events around the city.

Social observers and commentators describe "social fabric" usually in the sense of wearing thin, breaking or tearing. This metaphor is close to people's skin; it is personal and tangible. But as a metaphor, it points to the intangible layers of recognition, admiration, blame or praise - tacit or outspoken among people of a particular place and time. Social fabric that is strong or well woven can withstand stress and sudden shock, but weaker stuff unravels or breaks altogether. In this sense, the budget allocated for these 55 public happenings encourages participation and spectating by the great and the ordinary. It is a way to expand, deepen, and add detail to previous relationships to add conversations and possibly names to what previously might only consist of passing visual recognition of some of the people around the city. Although difficult to measure or even to give indirect indicators of the net effect of public events like these, surely there is more gained than lost by hosting so many kinds of things in and around the city.

Traces of earlier lives and livelihoods

The cultural landscape not only mirrors the present moment in the flow of events and personalities, but it also fits into the quote attributed to science-fiction writer, William Gibson; that "the future is already here, but it is distributed unevenly." By extension the cultural landscape is also the place where the past is still here, but it is distributed unevenly.

Fulton and Jefferson Streets, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

This photo shows a variety of buildings in downtown Grand Rapids, each with a different origin story. A closer look at the physical expression of the historical moment that each one dates to will reveal some of the desirable design elements of the time, the state of the (then) art installed and contractors' standard of practice in craftsmanship, the functionality and features of the time, and the purpose it was meant to be used for when first opened. Apart from the church steeple barely visible over the treetops on the right side of the horizon in this photo, most of the other buildings have tenants or owners much different to the people who dreamt of the building and then brought it to completion. 

Just as the assemblage of buildings from different eras all jostle side by side in the present moment, the same can be said of people of different generations, social-economic status, ethnic origins, and so on who comprise today's nation and this particular municipality. Likewise of books in the lending collection on the nearby library shelves; of trees in the park of different ages and origins; or words found in conversation or present in this sentence. What is common to all these examples is the co-incidence or coexistence of subjects with origins of different years and possibly of different geographic setting. No matter what the roots are and what the path was that brings the things together in the present moment, they all share the space and time right now: the future is already here, but also the past is still here. This mix of dates and styles is what makes it so engaging and rewarding to read the cultural landscape. Even with incomplete knowledge, it is possible to see in the photo a Chinese buffet across the street in a sturdy and stylish brick building with decorative ceramic elements. Surely, the original owners did not envision the series of businesses that have filled the premises across the generations since it was built and opened for business decades ago.

Without expertise, deep memory, or local knowledge it is hard to know with confidence the meanings, uses, and chronology of personalities and events connected to a given building and surrounding location. But even approaching the cultural landscape with much ignorance, there is some satisfaction that is earned upon starting the adventure by paying attention; noticing details, patterns, and surrounding conditions that may contribute to the design, siting, and features visible in the durable structures of years ago.

In contrast to mass produced features of the cityscape like clothing, vehicles, and functional parts of the infrastructure like signage, traffic rules, and public safety services like police and fire, the creation of a building is usually one-of-a-kind. So whereas these other elements of the present moment might reflect something about the purchaser and user, in the case of buildings the massive scale and the long lifespan allow curious observers to imagine some of the considerations of the designer, builder, and owner at the original creation of the architectural form created. Later developments in technology, economy and consumer relations, and trends in people's lives play a part in the second and additional chapters in the each particular building, but traces of the original decisions baked into the structure can still be read into what we see there today. Perhaps there was a degree of pride, fashionableness, or ambition to present the latest services and products. 

Generations later those faint echoes from the original time of opening perhaps remain for those who seek them, but even without turning an eye to "the past is still here, but it is distributed unevenly," it is possible to appreciate the diverse eras all buildings present here within walking distance in the city center. Then after exercising one's imagination of the past that lives on, it is natural to continue the process and look ahead through the mists of time to suppose how these same durable structures may carry on as time travelers to the future, under the management of new owners or tenants who continue their livelihood among the lives of those future people who only now being born.

Getting to know whales by museum engagement

 At the Grand Rapids Public Museum in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan there is an impressive display of a mature Finn whale killed around 1900 and later donated by the private owner near Jackson, Michigan to the museum, where it is suspended about 35 or 40 feet above the main floor hallway. In the past year or two a large video display (twin monitors about 10 feet apart and mounted in portrait orientation to accommodate visiting groups) has been added.

 

The animated scene shows a mature Finn whale swimming along with accompanying text (and voice) in both English and Spanish on a continuous playback loop, first one language loop and then the other. It would be interesting to document the bi-lingualization of the permanent exhibitions here: how the decision came about, how visitor native-language was surveyed, how the content was edited (native speaker or team of speakers? online machine translation? Castilian Spanish or one of the varieties of the Western Hemisphere?)

Some of the facts on the screen concern daily diet of krill, organ size (tongue of 18 feet, heart, brain, and so on). This video clip shows part of the recording in Spanish when biological facts are given. The animation illustrates each organ singled out by showing the steady beat of the whale's tail, but instead of the skin view or the skeleton view in motion, now we see the organs specified in the description, all the while moving as if in motion.

The large video screens are mounted low enough for 5-year olds to approach the display before looking overhead to the ceiling where the skeleton hangs. For the generations accustomed to video animation, this kind of window into knowledge, spectacle, and curiosity is normal and natural and desirable. But for people over the age of 35 or 40 it still seems a little futuristic to find a multimedia production of such high quality outside of a movie theater. 

No matter if the digital presentation seems normal or seems futuristic, though, it does seem to attract passing visitors to pause long enough to figure out what is being described. Then they either drift to the next visual hook, or settle in, prepared for the full course of what is being told. In the end, some visitors satisfy a small appetite for marine biology and others expand their appetite. What was little known, rarely experienced, or not even wondered about across the wide oceans' leviathans now has come alive, if only for a short while under the shadow of the overhead whale. Through such things as museums, stories from people in one's world or those seen on TV and online, little by little the relationship and knowledge of life on Earth grows. Of course, the exact character of the human to non-human relationship changes across history as technology makes possible wider and deeper experiences, and then there is variation according to language/culture (worldview, livelihood traditions, and so on), too. Meantime the encroaching human life endangers the habitat for all other forms of life. So there is more frequent intersection of human and wild things, some of which are endangered or one step away from extinction.

Covid-19 dramatics for (backyard) cabaret

part of "backyard cabaret" hosted by Grand Rapids residents for friends or neighbors

A dozen or two cars lined the quiet residential street to enjoy outdoor, socially distanced snacks and b.y.o.b. drinks ahead of the evening's contracted performance with some of the city's local theater production company actors. Before the pandemic the Grand Rapids Civic Theater performed downtown regularly throughout the year to season subscribers and to one-time ticket buyers. As well, the city had at least one stand-up comedy location. But with public indoor gatherings of more than a handful of people no longer allowed because of the risk of transmitting the virus between asymptomatic spreaders in particular, some of the thespians launched "backyard cabaret" with brief sketches, song, and commentary for private performance at the host's house. Apart from the novelty of professionals appearing at one's home and repurposing the deck as a stage, there is the great satisfaction that comes from supporting the arts locally and engaging peers invited for the evening, too. Perhaps from the performer's point of view, as well, there is some degree of satisfaction in performing on the "small stage," after all. It would be interesting to know how widely this (business) model is happening around the country and indeed around the world.

Star-spangled (blue) banner

National USA flag imitated with no red stripes (downtown Grand Rapids, MI 7/2020)

The black and white U.S. flag with a single blue line in the middle of the field appears in front of people's houses here and there. An early June essay at The Marshall Project discusses this version of the flag with reference to the intensified scrutiny and protest over police abuse of black and brown-skinned people since late May 2020. What originally was imagined as a visual expression of police solidarity is being seen by others as symbol of White Supremacy agitators.

The reason to snap this photo, though, is not to mull over the specific case of the monochrome banner containing a thin blue line, but to reflect on the more general practice of co-opting this national symbol for narrow, sometimes personal, uses. During the 1970s and around the time of the bi-centennial in 1976 , especially, there was a lot of pop art and commercial use of the readily recognized combination of red and white stripes and the white stars that comprise the Star-spangled Banner. Motorcycle helmets, knickknacks, wallpaper, paint schemes on muscle cars, badges, cake decoration, and underwear like this could be bought or made. Now more than 40 years later the splintering of TV channels and (online) news sources and alternative schools has led to the tribal divisions that group people into communities sometimes defined by what they are not and emphasizing difference to others instead of being concerned with commonalities and common cause that everyone shares a stake in.

This black and blue likeness of the USA national flag seems to say that the "thin blue line" (uniformed members of local police departments) is what connects and holds together the halves (and the "haves" and have nots) of the displayed flag and by symbolic extension also the halves of the whole country itself: social order that comes from firmly enforcing laws, no matter if those codes are written well or poorly. Taking a similar approach of appropriating this national (and thus diversely shared and experienced) symbol for public display, school teachers could claim a key role in the life and future of the society. So could tax collectors, farmers, truck drivers, and car repair professionals. Taking a different theme from the occupational one, political factions might want to claim that only their way of seeing the world can be good for the country. A riff on the national flag could then express their own self-appreciation. Maybe most foundational of all, as William Ross Wallace put it in his 1865 poem, "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." By that estimation, the national flag should be interpreted to express the abiding presence of mothers and the very most formative child development years.

Seeing the flag in this photo displayed on the top of a pole in downtown residential Grand Rapids could be a private statement of support for friends, family, or neighbors who devote their working lives to the various roles within the police department in this city or elsewhere. Or maybe it is a larger statement about Law and Order as the basis for human relationships in the public arenas of commerce, communication, and cultural expression. Without talking at length with the person displaying the flag it is hard to know the shape and size of the meaning that the flag holds in this one instance. Perhaps it is most of all a reflection of this generational moment or historical intersection of events, ideas, and personalities that has no parallel in other societies or even around the USA at other points in history. But one thing is certain, because that flag has appeared in domestic and foreign places in private gatherings and public occasions, the meanings are many and the image is readily recognizable.

It is a rich source of meanings which can be harnessed for individual, organizational, or (inter)national purposes. Seeing it on this morning brings to mind a distant recognition: ah, that looks  familiar, except that this flag has drained away the full-color form to give only black and white, along with one stripe of blue. It may express a truth or the lived experience among past, present, and future employees of police departments, but for people without this direct connection, the original red stripes and blue field for the 50 stars to represent all citizens somehow is muted into black and white. Only the blue stands out in that flag; all else is diminished by comparison.

Winter competition by teams playing "hungry hippos" on city ice rink

This past Sunday while waiting for the free downtown area shuttle bus (D.A.Sh) at city center of Grand Rapids, the sounds of recorded music on loudspeakers and a few shrieks and other excited sounds from the outdoor ice rink caught my attention. So I walked across the grass embankment for a closer look (right-click the image to view the video in full-size, directly on Youtube).

The table-top game, "Hungry Hippos," has been adapted for the "live action" scale of competition, here at the public ice rink in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Each team has a designated color and is dressed in matching T-shirts, pulled over top of their winter coats. At the starting signal each team launches one player on an inner-tube, tethered to a rope. This player uses an upside-down laundry basket to trap as many plastic balls as possible from the middle of the ice. The team then reels in the player when the basket is full and relaunches the person to gather more. The object is to take as many of the balls as possible for one's team before the supply of colored plastic balls is used up.

For a spectator coming from a warm country, this vigorous embrace of the cold and disregard for the gusts of snow might look outlandish. For a spectator of this region, but coming from 100 or 150 years earlier, the concept of leisure time might seem odd, because in those earlier lives so much of living required time and effort: pump the water, empty the chamber pot, secure something to prepare for cooking on stove, fireplace, or oven. Much of what passed for recreation or diversions in those conditions somehow had to fit into work routines or in the brief interval between one task and the next. So to see so many people gathered in matching outfits with music emanating from boxes atop poles for a couple of hours really would be a rare use of daylight hours on a Sunday late afternoon and evening. But for the people there on this day, completely accustomed to snowy weather and well-insulated for it, doing something outdoors that involves major muscle groups, social interaction, and active involvement (nothing virtual or digital or asynchronous about it) is a precious thing to prize and fully enjoy. Even in the short span of 24 seconds in this video clip, the pleasant engagement of the people pulling their teammate on the rope while standing on the ice can be sensed.

Digest of January: beer, international exchange, dentist office, science matters, worship

As an expedient to catch up and display some scenes that drew my camera, several topics will comprise this digest of early February 2019. Click images for full-size view.

"Beer City" is one nickname for Grand Rapids, MI (microbrewries)

Full 16 oz. pints of beer from the menu of maybe 20 varieties locally made are reduced in price during the 3pm to 6pm Happy Hour from Monday to Friday to attract patrons who are free then, or for whom the list prices are too dear. Along with tasty food that fits in with the range of beer flavors (spicy or fatty or salty or deep fried) the business encourages and enables local community events, including performing arts (music nights, mainly). James and Deborah Fallows, Our Towns, observe that microbrewries are a sign of urban vigor in US regional cities now.

afternoon thaw at Fairplains cemetery after last week's days of snow and sub-zero weather - history in (head) stones

In the distance the straight rows of gravestones stands out against the blanket of snow. Each name carved onto the polished stone face tells a story and is rooted to a span of years, in this case mostly from the tumults of the 20th century. Back in the 1980s in Japan there arose an amateur history that can be translated as "Self as History" (自分史) in which a small group of family members become the lens to view the larger events of the decades at the national, regional, and sometimes international scale. In the same way,  the mortal remains resting here can be regarded as a library of stories. In principle there should be enough documentary information to form the outlines of a life course for each person here.

Currently engaged in 5 sister-cities on 3 continents

A very great proportion of all active exchanges and interactions between municipalities date back to the time of global conflict ending in 1945. Many of the origin stories have to do with specific individuals who felt particularly motivated to initiate the process that resulted in formal acknowledgement of each other's cities and societies. From that acceptance and honoring of one city by the other comes a variety of activities, much of which is volunteer-driven, or otherwise requires little capital expense by the local governments. The most active partnerships might involve annual visits by students or city officials or citizens. In other cases there is a commercial or corporate or cultural component to the communications and ongoing conversations about promoting the relationship and making it better known among the residents of each other's city. Seen in the aggregate, the many individual stories created and lives touched contributes to the social fabric between languages and societies. It is hard to know the tangible and intangible effects of these ongoing efforts that ebb and flow, according to interest level, ambition, and personalities driving things forward. Hopefully, curiosity expands and ignorance diminishes in the process, though.

state of the art dentistry has come a long way since...

A visit to the dentistry gear and office from 100 years ago in the upstairs of the Paine-Gillam-Scott local history museum shows the changes and the continuities from then until now in this view. In the days before electrically powered highspeed and precision-tipped drills and other implements, dentistry sometimes was an ordeal - in the original meaning from the days of witch trials and tests of physical endurance. Now there are x-rays that are all digital, never using chemicals or film to produce the view of dental decay. Special wavelength lighting illuminates cracks in teeth and dental work, too. Software like the one on the screen show the status of each tooth, with room to add notes or pictures that document the changes and recommended dental treatments. However, then as it is still today, this profession is a highly personal service, with hygienists and dental docs working inside one's mouth with sharp instruments and powerful, industrial strength bonding agents, etc. What historically may have been a side-job for a barber (pulling teeth rather than to repair, restore, or replace) now is something very different.

front yard declaration at a time of voices that protest the fake truth value of news and similar "ALT" (alternative) claims

This black sign with brightly lettered writing can be seen here and there from time to time around the city since early 2018 or maybe before that. In the time since DJ Trump's presidential inauguration the tone of the commander in chief has cast aspersions on things like fact, science, peer-reviewed publication, thoughtful analysis, public debate, and the transparency and civility and accountability that has been customary during the previous 44 presidents of the USA. One result is this sign this several direct contradictions to Trump's imaginary vision of reality: "Science is real," for instance. Click the image to see full size image and read all of the text on this yard sign.

annual orchid show in the coldest part of winter

Every winter the Frederik Meijer Gardens hosts the orchid fanciers' organization and their exhibition and sales of the warm weather plants in their diverse shapes, sizes, colors, and habitats. This photo with orchid in foreground and fancier bending down for closer look in the middle distance. At the top left is someone with flowers bundled up to take home, perhaps. A sign in the hall said that due to the abnormally cold temperature that new purchases would be delivered to the address of the buyer. The video clip, below, documents the tide of visitors moving in and around the hall, panning from left to right across the hall just before lunchtime on Saturday, January 26.

the many lives of this section of land: pre-contact, oil, leisure

On this cold bright day a few of the oil pumps were in motion, but most were idle since crude oil prices are low and don't cover the costs of producing the fossil fuel at the moment. Since around 2000 all this land that had been mined for sand and gravel left by the glaciers 10,000 years earlier was repurposed for area residents to park and enjoy the beach, water, boating, bike riding along multiple paved pathways, jogging or walking with or without dogs. Before its life as Millennium Park to the west of Grand Rapids, Michigan, this gravel pit supplied the many road-building projects around the west part of the state Before that traces of farm buildings show that early land owners tried to make a living in this region along the Grand River on the sandy ground.
     Going back in time pre-1830s, when Joseph Campau and other trappers and traders began settling in the river vicinity, the cultural landscape was dotted with place names, memories, and significant locations for seasonal harvest of foods and animals and medicines, as well as for trading and for ceremonies to mark life events of birth, marriage, (alliances) and death among the resident Odawa (Ottawa) Indians. Before them, perhaps a different mix of people - resident or mobile/itinerant knew the land. Still today there are spots respected by descendants of those Native Americans of 250 years ago and before.

opening morning of the 32nd annual Worship Symposium, hosted at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

At the end of this morning's worship service in the College Chapel one of the event organizers gave a thumbnail sketch of the proceedings: more than 30 countries represented, over 1400 registered participants, and themed tracks for the workshops and seminars of interest to church musicians, preachers and teachers, lay leaders, and all other followers of Christ's Way of the heart.
     By clicking the photo, the full-size image file displays and some of the details of the focal point in the middle of the worship space can be seen now in the 15 minutes before things begin: there is a lectern for the preacher's notes, the installed bank of organ pipes, as well as seats and music stands, including piano to the back of the lectern and raised dais. The long table and chairs to the front of the lectern hearkens to the Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples, made famous in various paintings. It is used in some of the dramatizations with worship leaders silently acting out the scenes read from the Bible passages at a few points. Out of view to the right at the back wall is the bank of sound engineering controls to allow optimum balances of voice and music, including the various mic'ed speakers. The worship is live-streamed for those unable to attend, and is recorded for online release 3 weeks later. The black ball suspended in the air above the lectern has a dozen lens to allow video editors to cut between the various angles of view during recording.

entryway to worship venue on Thursday morning

The entryway to the college chapel 20 minutes before the morning worship begins shows the wide and welcoming space that greets people coming in from the cold. The artificial light renders a warm tone, making the outdoor natural light appear bluish by contrast.
     For a person attending a Christian worship service for the first time, perhaps there are many first impressions that stand out. The architecture, interior details of decoration, and effect of lighting and sound design all make some sort of impression. An electronic kiosk in the distance above most people's height gives scrolling set of messages and announcements. Probably 99% or more of the worshipers are very experienced in the Order of Service and no printed program or bulletin guides the congregation in when to stand, sit, sing, or verbally respond. It all seems to happen telepathically with only the slightest direction given by the worship leaders by gesture or brief verbal direction. To an outsider, perhaps, that mass experience in synchronization may seem strange; a sort of tide of mass emotion ebbing out or flooding in all together. The mix of music, dramatization, reiteration of Bible passages translated into modern day English, and commentary or teaching interpretations touch various parts of the worshiper: head, heart, spirit, and body. It is a social-public experience and also a personal-private one at the same time; something to which all can agree and affirm to some extent, but also permitting vigilance or critical distance from blindly accepting a view.

Community Performances (civic theater) as social fabric measurement

balcony view of stage at Grand Rapids Civic Theater (Michigan)

One after another the city of Grand Rapids is venue to locally produced stage productions of high quality and wide range of styles and subjects. Before the announcement about switching digital devices to silent or turning them off and the opening scene unfolding with the curtain's rise, one of the leaders for volunteer services and management spoke briefly about audience members committing to season subscription; in effect pre-paying for 6 performances, thus bankrolling the enterprise up-front to meet costs, rather than paying at the ticket gate, one show at a time. She gave a few numbers to capture the attention of audience members who respond to the persuasive logic of numbers: 700 volunteers operate behind the scenes, at the seating areas, in concessions and ticket counter, and in the costumes as actors, not to mention set construction and movement. Only the administrative staff, (union?) musicians, and cleaners are paid. Other costs are performance rights, venue costs for rehearsal and performances, printing of programs and publicity efforts. In the lobby areas are some frames scenes of past productions, along with donor recognition displays with hundreds of names at the various levels of contribution, including individual and corporate sponsors.

The experience of buying a ticket, searching for seating area and being guided the rest of the way by an usher, then sitting down in comfortable but compact theater seats for 3 hours of live entertainment, relieved for a 15 minute intermission, is very pleasant. Certainly the experience on the stage and backstage or in the orchestra pit will be a little more anxious, since there is so much to coordinate: singing, lighting, musical cue and accompaniment, audio mixing and balancing the individual speaking or singing roles (each one WiFi mic'ed) in proportion to the orchestra; sound effects, costumes changed and sets moved, props accounted for and everything placed on tape marks on the stage according to plan. There is make-up and vocal warm-up, last minute changes, repairs or adjustments. Then the movements of the players on the stage, their direction of gaze, their enunciation, and sense of timing with each other  --all this must fit into the complex and delicate threads that form the drama.

The whole thing begins long before the opening night when the subject or title is selected and rights purchased, then the casting and rehearsing, considerations of costume, set design and lighting and sound design, musicians or audio recorded track, publicity, etc all must be taken into account. At last the performance nights arrive and all must be at-ready for each one. The crew and cast come to the venue from the home or workplace (day-job) and perform the piece, then clean-up and go home to rest. The whole magical dance of materials, text, timing, and audience response exists for a matter of weeks and then is gone forever, remaining only as memories of melody, dramatic tension that resolves, or maybe a character that is brought to life with some of the lines spoken that linger in the ear of the audience.

In the days before recorded entertainment, live music and live theater was the pinnacle of cultural stimulation for mind and heart. New ideas were put into the words of characters or the complications of plot. New fashions were on display. New language and social standards were celebrated or tested or criticized. But in the amplified, supercharged sights and sounds today, the theatrical space seems to pale, even as it trumps recorded art with the face to face presence and authenticity it requires. And so it seems that civic theater is a 'canary in a coal mine' for showing the health of a city or town. It takes a lot of effort and imagination to bring all the elements together in public performance. So a place that can sustain live theater, and to some extent live music, does seem to enjoy social fabric that is living and breathing.

Microbrewery profusion around Grand Rapids, Michigan

a bit bleary view (for privacy) at main floor of Founders Brewery in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan

Around 12:30 p.m. on a sunny and relatively mild January 2nd with memories of the New Year's Day (Friday) fresh in mind and now faced with the weekend and perhaps family or friends still on hand from the year end holidays, the microbrewery had all seats filled with a dozen people near the entrance waiting for a table. Since this one is the grand-daddy of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, established in 1997, and with a statewide distribution for its bottled beers alongside its local license to serve directly to retail customers, the reputation is wide and well established. But even at the other two city center locations on today's 4 hour beer tour later in the afternoon there seemed to be a steady steam of diners and drinkers coming and going, despite the slightly higher price (about $5) per ?16 oz. serving, compared to ordinary domestic nationwide brands available on tap or in bottles.
     Several questions came to mind which were answered in the course of the 4 hour tasting tour (3 sites, 2 production tours, 12 samples):
  1. Business climate: many of the 9 microbreweries in the city center date to the past 3-4 years. How do they get along: more cooperative than competitive, according to production guide at Harmony Hall. Each offers different foods to go with their somewhat overlapping beer varieties, both the main flavors and the seasonal 3-6 week availability and trial basis recipes. For example fancy soups and sandwiches; wood-fired (or brick kiln) pizzas; German sausages cuisine. Some feature live music nights; others have a happy hour. Interstate highway billboard in the Lansing area (70 miles east and south of Grand Rapids) says "Beer City" come and visit Grand Rapids. Less than 100 yards beyond this one is "River Cit" come and visit Grand Rapids, too.
  2. Production cycle in outline: prepare the mash (bath the roasted grains to extract the sugars and other flavors) and introduce the yeast (brewer's yeast versus peculiar varieties to bring specific flavoring of its own derivation). Pig farmer collects the spend grain for his animals to consume. Then monitor the conversion from grain sugars to alcohol. Refined sugar can be added as necessary to sustain the life of the yeast, but due to its difference to grain sugar, this added sugar is not converted. It merely sustains the yeast cells until the process is complete and hops (one or more of the 200+ commercial varieties) are added for flavor, filtering, and anti-bacterial effects. Now the long wait begins: about 3 weeks or more for lager, a shorter time for ales, and for sturdy stouts 4 more days than with lagers.
  3. Genesis of a microbrewery: siblings or friends or successful business person(s) fulfilling a hobby or dream get together to make business plan and secure a facility and equipment, financing and license. Then production needs testing and consistency with reserves readied for opening day. The whole thing from decision to commit to the creation of a brewing company open to the public could take 6 months or a year or more.
  4. Most risky or delicate stage in the recipe of brewing: home brewers using kits with malt extract rather than source grain or grains have fewer variables and smaller scale, so there is relatively less risk of contamination or ruining the beer. But commercial production has several steps that need consistent handling, uniform treatment and careful control (temperature, ingredients, timings).
  5. Experimenting: smaller equipment can be used to trial new recipes, then another location can do mainstream production at higher volumes (example: retail beer keg is equal to 1/2 barrel, experimental production line uses 3 barrel vessels for the warm work and then 7 barrel vessels of stainless steel for the cool process of maturing/finishing the process; but the production of tried and true varieties that are in constant demand uses 20 barrel vessels).
  6. Training to brew beer: some learn on the job (apprentice), others learn by experience (home brewing taken to vocational level of expertise), others specialize in the coursework and lab experience at colleges or university.
  7. Demographic profiles of customers and brewers: servers, production staff seem to be 22-45 for the most part. Customers on this Saturday afternoon included couples or groups of couples, in at least once case a couple included a little one in carseat/carrier. Then groups of female friends 20s-30s, and some male groups 20s-30s or 50s-60s. As for that day's tour group of 12 plus guide/driver/buyer consisted of couples in 20s, one couple in 50s, father - son.
  8. Speculating on microbrewery life cycles: Surely there is a limit to the number of establishments that can attract local and visiting customers in the city center, especially given the fact that other towns have one or more of their own, and the fact that the surrounding Kent County has at least 14 more. So it would seem that a strategy for a small place with high quality product in limited volumes would want to attract a base of regular, returning or subscribing customers (for example Beer of the Month club or "buy a mug and receive a discount") and then seek to attract newcomers who have reached drinking age, and to partner with surrounding restaurants to sell the beer there, too, if licensing allows this sale outside the production premises. In other words, rather than to expand infinitely and get into the world of bottling and distribution contracts, the nature of the beast is to cultivate steady customers who appreciate good beer.
  9. Range of flavors: all three sites seemed to showcase their IPA varieties - many seemed to seek to be more extreme than the previous, always ramping up the hoppiness to a point of excess possibly. All seemed to have made one or more variety of stout and/or porter, but not all were constantly in stock. Ordinary pilsner/lager seemed to be just one or two of the choices. The guide commented that Michigan is fifth in some regard: either per capita consumption or production of micro brewed beer, or number of enterprises. And he said that prominent use of hops is one characteristic of (Michigan?) microbrewed beer in USA. Naming of each brewer's creations and the accompanying sentence or two of adjectives lends itself to creative expression. Examples (Founders) include 'Dirty Bastard' and 'Old Curmudgeon'; or (Mitten Brewery) 'Triple Crown Brown' and 'Relief (session IPA)'; or (Harmony Hall) 'Erste Lager' and 'Los Conejos' (stout with cinnamon, chili, chocolate hints) available in regular (CO2) or Nitro (60% CO2, 40% nitrogen bubbles for silky texture on tongue).
 --see also http://experiencegr.com/brewsader [booklet with single page entries for each of Kent County's 23 establishments]

Upshot: Who are the people choosing to spend a sunny, mild Saturday at beer brewery to enjoy treats to eat and drink? Why do they come and not content themselves to bottles at home or with friends off site (a handful of big craft brewers bottle theirs: Bells, Founders, Shorts).