Arts and entertainment places

The Arcadia Creek Festival Site is the place to be. It annually welcomes the coolest festivals around. The Taste of Kalamazoo, The Ribfest, the infamous Winter Mixer on Ice ... the list goes on. There are often live bands on the modern stages and fun, friendly folks to meet and greet. The Arcadia section of Kzoo is one of the city's best - don't miss out!

Who says you can't have fun while learning, mingling and networking? Kzoo's annual Art Hop is a great time to get out and see more of the city. Held once a month, Art Hop features a schedule of art exhibits that are open to the public. You hop from venue to venue (snacks are provided) and see all there is to see.

History lesson: Kalamazoo's founder, Mr. Titus Bronson, donated the land that is Bronson Park way back in 1831. Now it's on the National Register of Historic Places. All of Kzoo can enjoy this New England-style commons located in the city's center.

What has 12 screens and special student discounts? If you said Celebration Cinemas then you're right. Located in Kzoo's Portage area, Celebration shows the latest and greatest movies complete with stadium seating and the latest technological advancements.

When mom and dad come for a visit, clean your room, take them somewhere nice for dinner, and finish the night with something cultural. How about a nice trip to the Civic Theater? The Civic puts on shows like "Cats" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Head to the Fire Cultural Lounge for some great local theater productions.

Do SDDS, DTS, THX and DLP mean anything to you? If so, then head to the Kalamazoo 10 for a technologically superb movie experience. This megaplex has it all – stadium seating, a game room, café, party rooms for rent and kiosk ticket printing. Go online for shows and show times.

Located in downtown Kalamazoo, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, or KIA, offers 10 galleries designed to impress and entice all kinds of students. With low cost student rates to most exhibits, awesome classes (like oil painting, jewelry making, ceramics and knitting) and a Chihuly chandelier (if you don’t know, you need to go) hanging in the foyer, the KIA is a day well spent.

The Kalamazoo State Theater, a fixture since 1927, is so beautiful you might have a hard time paying attention to the show. While operas and ballets are performed on the theater's main stage, the Band in the Basement features more contemporary performing artists.

If you live in Kalamazoo and never head to Miller Auditorium, you're missing out. Let your imagination breathe while you watch acts like David Copperfield or "The Phantom of the Opera."

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum offers visitors all kinds of cool stuff, and it's all free. Head to the planetarium and check out the constantly changing night sky. On Saturday nights, autumn through spring, you can enjoy a special film series, live performances and other events in the Mary Jane Stryker Theater.

Located on WMU's East Campus, the Little Theater is just that. But the price is right. Showcasing big-budget and art house films, the Theater lets students purchase tickets for a special discount rate. Both the Western Film Society (which is student-run) and the Kalamazoo Film Society present films here.

The Park Trades Center describes themselves as "a large community of artists, artisians, designers, entrepreneurs and small business people responsible for some of the most inventive and creative work being done between Detroit and Chicago."

Located in Downtown Kalamazoo, the Rave has stadium seating and large screens, which makes going to the movies a great experience. With multiple theaters, a party room and two concession areas, this is a great place to go catch the latest blockbuster.

Every college town has hip hangouts. And, The Union is one of Kzoo's. With a relaxed atmosphere and awesome live music, The Union is the place to be. Swing by at lunch for a lobster melt or spinach and feta veggie burger, and return after dark for duck salad and grilled swordfish. Don't leave after dinner, though. The live music is most likely coming from a current WMU student or faculty member. The electric atmosphere is contagious.