📚🐦🎶 Birding, Books & Big News | What’s Up Big Rapids – 2.18.26

This week’s episode is packed with local momentum — from birding breakthroughs and basketball milestones to big retail rumors becoming real applications.

Chris may have officially caught the birding bug, Shavon surprised him with concert tickets, and downtown continues to build steam with new businesses on the horizon. But the heart of this episode is a fantastic conversation with Lauren Perkins, Director of the Big Rapids Public Library, who reminds us just how much more a modern library offers than most people realize.

Spoiler alert: You can check out a ukulele. You can check out seeds. There’s even a hedgehog named Quill-iam Shakespeare.

It’s another full week of Festival of the Arts events, live music, workshops, comedy, and community connections.

0:00 – Intro & welcome
1:30 – Chris catches the birding bug + Badfish tickets at The Intersection 🐦🎸
2:30 – Real estate help this spring
3:30 – Uplifting Moment: Cole Haist hits 1,000 career points 🏀
5:04 – Banded Raccoon indoor farmer’s market (10–4 Saturday)
6:15 – Featured Creature: Phantom Glass Catfish 🐟
9:25 – Guest intro: Lauren Perkins, Director of the BR Public Library 📚
11:00 – Lauren’s path to becoming a librarian
15:05 – What does it cost to join the library? (Hint: Free!)
15:30 – Learn 110 languages free through the library 🌎
16:52 – Yes, you can check out a ukulele 🎶
17:30 – Citizen Science kits & activity packs available
21:55 – Borrowing movies & music — is that still a thing?
26:25 – Tool lending library possibilities 🔧
28:00 – March is Reading Month & Chris’ embarrassing story
29:10 – What does a modern library look like?
33:40 – Surprises inside the BR Library: seeds & Quill-iam Shakespeare 🦔🌱
36:20 – Join the Friends of the Library
38:29 – Burlington Coat Factory & Five Below applications submitted 👀
40:55 – Birding 101 success + new public artwork unveiled
43:05 – New Big Rapids Regional Chamber director coming soon
43:50 – Dom returns! Thanks to Kenzie
44:48 – FOTA events: MoSo (Museum of Sexist Objects) + Dolby Atmos demo
47:28 – Birdseed wreath workshop, public art walk & tropical bouquet class
49:30 – What happened with the Ed Mallett Quartet?
51:50 – Hawk & Owl String Band jam & contra dance
52:24 – High Strung Steel at the Sawmill 🎸
53:10 – Third Coast Swing at Immanuel Lutheran
54:50 – Motown History with Paul Kwant
55:55 – Live comedy at The Peaks
56:35 – Lion King Jr tickets on sale 🦁
57:11 – Turnips farewell show (Feb 28)
57:34 – Polar Plunge for Special Olympics 🧊
59:00 – Glitter & Sawdust at Quinn’s (March 7)
1:00:00 – Taste of Mecosta returns March 24 🍽️
1:02:20 – Dom’s Corrections: Library 50-item limit!
1:06:24 – Outro & goodbyes

What’s Up Big Rapids podcast, Big Rapids Public Library Lauren Perkins, Burlington Coat Factory Big Rapids, Five Below Big Rapids, Festival of the Arts Big Rapids, High Strung Steel Sawmill Saloon, Birding Big Rapids, Banded Raccoon vendor market, Polar Plunge Michigan, Taste of Mecosta 2026

#WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#SupportLocal#FestivalOfTheArts#BigRapidsLibrary#ShopLocalBR#CommunityStrong#SmallTownStories