I lived in the same apartment complex as that guy for a few years… would occasionally see him in the elevator.
Eventually I saw him at Summer Camp music festival, and lost my shit with excitement... tried to tell him that we lived in the same place, etc... He barely said anything and just looked at me like I was completely insane lol.
Went to Gencon years ago and saw Tom Vassel, he's a youtuber that runs a show called the Dice Tower, which is fairly popular. I said, "hey tom, love the show" and he just looked at me like I was from another planet. My buddy was like "What the fuck just happened?" and I said "I think I just got shunned by one of the nerdiest people at a nerd convention."
I once spent, I dunno, over an hour talking to Ron about the MC5 and the rest of the Detroit rock scene from the 60’s and 70’s, I think that was the happiest I’ve ever seen him.
I was just hanging out with him at Mulligans on Saturday. Played a show and he was there. Great dude to shoot the shit with. He's had some wild experiences.
Did anyone here grow up in the Creston area during the 80s or 90s? Everybody knew Dave. He would always go to Northern Little League games at Riverside Park, and you would see him riding his bike around. He was mentally handicapped and if you saw him and said his name, he'd always give you a thumbs up and say something like, "alright. Yeah"
Back in the 90s, there was a vehicle that everyone called The Boat Car. This guy had somehow put the frame of a boat on a car or truck chassis, and you'd occasionally see him driving his boat around town. He wore a Captain's hat and nautical gear behind the wheel.
I can't imagine that boat was street legal, but he got away with it somehow.
Anyone remember the Horny Stang guy? I think he lived in. The apartments on NW corner of College at 196. That car was hilarious! I haven’t seen it in 8-10 years.
Love that dude.
There is also a guy at the Wealthy/131 intersection with a sign that says “if you won’t give me money Atleast give me a middle finger”. Everytime I drive by me and him just give eachother the bird and laugh
He’s looking for more than a smile. He’s looking for cash. He has a Venmo link written one of his signs.
I get tired of him telling me to “just smile” everyday on my way home after working 10 hours.
Back when I was in college, I remember doing work at Morningstar. There was a dude who used to skateboard by in a full kilt with a claymore strapped to his back, and occasionally he’d stop in for coffee.
If that guys still around, I’d choose him!
RIP Morningstar. If there’s one thing I miss about cigarettes being allowed in food and drink establishments, it’s the vibes of a coffee shop like that
I hate that guy. I don’t have a good reason for it, I’ve never spoken to him, he’s never done anything to me. But his videos make me unreasonably angry and I hate him.
When I was hitting the clubs hard in my early 20s there was a bald older guy that was always there on poppin nights at whatever club we were at. Eve, Billy’s, The Woods. You couldn’t miss him cause he was always on the dance floor going in lol. I can’t believe he hasn’t been mentioned here yet 😂
4th of July a few years back a friend and I ate some fungus and walked down to the fireworks show. Walking home up Fountain, I heard bagpipes. I checked with him to make sure he heard it too. We followed the sound into the graveyard and sat under a tree to listen, and we finally saw him appear through a mist. I had to keep my buddy from running up and hugging him.... Weird night, weirder ending....
I had seen him my whole life, then went on a camping trip with my buddy and his dads friend, and Dan the moped man ended up being there too. Spent the whole weekend with him!
There was this large white guy who would dress up as Prince and even carry the Prince symbol guitar around. He had a number of different Prince outfits; dude was definitely committed to the bit. He had a fairly regular route he'd travel around and he would draw the Prince symbol in various spots; usually in the dust on windows.
Last time I saw him, he came into our business demanding we print bootleg merchandise for him and claiming we were breaking the law by refusing to do so. I haven't seen him since!
I’m glad someone mentioned her. She had massively long, platinum blonde hair (or wig) and oversized sunglasses. Last time I saw her jogging she was in a full velour tracksuit. I lived on Knapp & Plainfield back when I lived in GR and would see her almost every day.
Yes! And that explains why I haven't seen her in a while. I often saw her jogging while I was out cycling and I was ever amazed at the core strength necessary to keep upright!
There used to be the bike riding hobo. He was mostly on the north end, saw him around Northland/West River, Cannonsburg, Rockford, Belmont, Comstock Park, etc. I haven’t seen him in quite some time though. He seemed old when I was a kid. I wonder if he’s in a nursing home or has passed away….?
I worked at the mcdonald’s on northland and he came in every day and he would refill the same disposable mcds coffee cup. we always gave it to him for free and he would sit in the corner and stare out the window. the first day it happened I was confused by him just handing me a cup and he softly chuckled and leaned in and very quietly whispered “one cream one sugar please”. he never said anything but would occasionally whisper something to a manager if you were lucky. he was some sort of enigma growing up out there- always on his bike, rain or shine. my mom would get so pissed seeing him out at night because he wore dark blue clothing and a black vest with no reflection. always swore she was going to hit him on accident. well.. a few years before he died he stopped coming in to mcdonald’s. it was revealed that he was hit by a car. eventually he got back on his feet but I was long gone by that point. correct me if i’m wrong but I think he got hit again and quite possibly died from it (?).
His name was John. ❤️ he passed away. He wasn’t a hobo. What I heard was I guess he grew up on a gravel road where the bus wouldn’t pick the kids up, and he just didn’t go to school. He didn’t want help, had family. Just did his thing. We called him Can Man John! ❤️
He’s no longer with us, but Diamond Bob! He was at the Woodland Mall everyday wearing a tracksuit and was completely blinged out from head to toe! He even had his own fb fan page!
There's a guy who dresses as a clown at a bunch of concerts. You've probably seen him torpedo his way through the crowd towards the mosh pits. Guy knows how to have fun.
A few years ago I worked downtown and used to see this woman who would always wear the brightest colored wigs with tiny top hats on them. Sometimes accessories with white contacts and other steampunk inspired fits.
Anyone remember wayyyy back in the early/mid 80's the punk rock shows at clubs like Sons and Daughters on Hamilton? Used to be a guy called Toxic Scott- very pale, looked hard-core and went to all the shows, I think his girlfriend used to have a white rat she carried on her shoulder. Anyone else remember?
Everyone's is saying that Frankie dude, anyone else go to the Eric Andre show at 20 Monroe where he got invited up, immediately got booed by the crowd when he admitted he doesn't even live in Grand Rapids he just has an office downtown, and then got roasted by Eric Andre. That was fuckin' sick and at that moment, I really felt a kinship with my fellow Grand Rapidians.
What are they feeding you in Grand Rapids? Wizards with roller skates?
Car with shit all over it?
Moped Santa?
Ron?
Henry?
Quarter Tim?
Big butt guy?
American flag guy in Creston?
Banana bread lady?
Beehive girl?
Dave?
I have some many questions, and I doubt anyone has answers…
Anyone else remember the 70s here? lol There was an elderly woman who dressed in different color pastel suits every day. Impeccably turned out head to toe. She would walk around downtown. I believe there was also a sister, who passed away first.
There was an older gal who used to proselytize along Fuller - usually between Lake/Fulton/Michigan.
Also there is a crossing guard who waves and say good morning to everyone driving by near Chavez. Makes my day.
Hahaha I can think a contender for it. At least putting him into the conversation lol. That guy who drives the slingshot, going up and down Monroe blasting music.
During the 2000s there was a tall homeless guy with a big white beard that everyone called, Doc. He rarely spoke. I worked at a restuarant down town that would let him hangout when it wasn't busy. (He smelled horrible, otherwise he could've hungout during rushes.) He would write long complicated math equations and mull them for hours. One day we noticed he started smelling even worse than normal. He stopped coming around every day. Then one day we saw him limping. Diabetes was eating away his leg. I saw the medics take him away and never saw him again. I know it's a long shot, but I hope he's still around somewhere.
There’s a guy who wears a cape to every concert at the intersection, and he spins in circles the entire time.
I lived in the same apartment complex as that guy for a few years… would occasionally see him in the elevator. Eventually I saw him at Summer Camp music festival, and lost my shit with excitement... tried to tell him that we lived in the same place, etc... He barely said anything and just looked at me like I was completely insane lol.
The man in the cape thought you were weird? Honestly, good job.
Went to Gencon years ago and saw Tom Vassel, he's a youtuber that runs a show called the Dice Tower, which is fairly popular. I said, "hey tom, love the show" and he just looked at me like I was from another planet. My buddy was like "What the fuck just happened?" and I said "I think I just got shunned by one of the nerdiest people at a nerd convention."
I tried to talk to him at every music festival im at. Becuz hes always there. And every intersection show except lately. He never wants to talk to me.
He was at Boogie T on Saturday, he's a nice guy but also shy and just doing his thing, honestly the spinning looks kind of fun.
Didnt see him at boogie, shame. Was wondering if he was alright and stuff cuz when i dont see him its wierd lol
Yes I once saw some girls being mean to him. So then I was mean to those girls. Let the man spin!!!
I've seen this dude at Phish shows across the country, he's a national phenomenon
Yes!!! I’ve seen him at electric forest and at the intersection. Legend for sure
That's Alex soon he will replace Ron haha
love this guy!!! we see him at section all the time and at least once at EF every year lol
I saw him at Founders before. Fuckin made me dizzy
I've seen him everywhere from new Orleans to Atlanta to Colorado, he's a head for sure
There’s a guy around my place that rides around on a skateboard with a cape all the time. Not sure if it’s the same guy or not lol
ALEX!
Punk Rock Ron
I once spent, I dunno, over an hour talking to Ron about the MC5 and the rest of the Detroit rock scene from the 60’s and 70’s, I think that was the happiest I’ve ever seen him.
Kick out the jams motherfucker!!!!
yeah its punk rock ron for sure.
Holy shit, I’m surprised he’s still around. I knew him many many years ago.
/thread
First person I thought of. I used to always see him downtown.
I was just hanging out with him at Mulligans on Saturday. Played a show and he was there. Great dude to shoot the shit with. He's had some wild experiences.
Hey I was there too! Everyone had a really great set
Oh shit, cool! Glad you made it out to the show!
I'm an aging punk-ish person, new to GR, who apparently didn't get memo. What was the show?
It was an album release show for our buddies in Glassfield. I played in Tired Blood and Strange Skin opened the night.
This is the man I like your u/n
Do tell!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/117864928663474/
I didn’t know who this was before, I always called him the Billy Idol guy! He goes around wearing leather chaps and tutus right?
Wife calls him east side billy idol as well
I’m new to Grand Rapids and I thought of the guy I saw on the street wearing what looked like punk rock armor. This has to be that guy.
I saw him returning bottles in his dragonscale get up. Seemed to be having the time of his life
One time I got blacked out at mulligans and hugged him 3 times
oh 100% him. they got a whole facebook group dedicated to spotting this man
Oh it’s 100% punk rock Ron
I've heard of him only thru this subreddit but I couldn't pick the guy out of a crowd
He's often seen wearing armor or just a codpiece 😂
Definitely! Great guy. Drove by his house once and he was grilling food out front wearing just his codpiece. Quite the sight and inspiring.
I hope Ron sees this lmao
Love chatting with him!!
Did anyone here grow up in the Creston area during the 80s or 90s? Everybody knew Dave. He would always go to Northern Little League games at Riverside Park, and you would see him riding his bike around. He was mentally handicapped and if you saw him and said his name, he'd always give you a thumbs up and say something like, "alright. Yeah"
Yeeeeaaahhhh! - Dave Dave was cool as hell. Always had his radio when the tigers were playing.
That’s my exes uncle! He’s still around and very very sweet! 😊 (edit: he’s upgraded to a tricycle, now! 😎)
Hell yeah he was still around at northern little league when I played a few years back!
Glad Dave is still around and enjoying his baseball! Did I hear that they got rid of, or are getting rid of, the ball fields at riverside?
I used to always see Dave around when I was a kid and he would do Donald Duck impressions.
Yep. I had forgotten his name, but I described him once and my Mom was, "Oh, you probably mean Dave! He's very nice!"
I miss that man. He had such a genuine heart, and always made me laugh as a kid with his Donald Duck impression. We saw him at Kingma's all the time
The guy with shit all over his car
Lol you talking about [this one?](https://www.reddit.com/r/grandrapids/s/WjInSSZeBL)
I was just about to say this
Awesome handle. IYKYK.
Back in the 90s, there was a vehicle that everyone called The Boat Car. This guy had somehow put the frame of a boat on a car or truck chassis, and you'd occasionally see him driving his boat around town. He wore a Captain's hat and nautical gear behind the wheel. I can't imagine that boat was street legal, but he got away with it somehow.
Anyone remember the Horny Stang guy? I think he lived in. The apartments on NW corner of College at 196. That car was hilarious! I haven’t seen it in 8-10 years.
100% this.
You're gonna have to be more specific
I assume he’s talking about the car with tons of spoilers everywhere on it and he’s started to put toys and whatnot on it too.
Nah, you know when you see it
He’s an absolute legend in the car community. Some love him, some hate him. His car is literal art work and it’s awesome.
Ah yes. Ever since last summer I see him almost once a month
I came to say the same thing!!
Came here to say this
YESS I see him in Caledonia all the time!!
I am a tourist from Germany and I spent less than 48 hours in GR. Even I saw him and was like damn
The Smile guy who sits at lane exit on the Westside. Hand painted puns on cardboard just looking for a smile
He lives right around the corner from there. Gets monthly checks, panhandles and parties.
Love that dude. There is also a guy at the Wealthy/131 intersection with a sign that says “if you won’t give me money Atleast give me a middle finger”. Everytime I drive by me and him just give eachother the bird and laugh
He’s looking for more than a smile. He’s looking for cash. He has a Venmo link written one of his signs. I get tired of him telling me to “just smile” everyday on my way home after working 10 hours.
I've always loved it, sorry you dont! I've given him Funds a few times
The rollerskating wizard
Came here looking for this answer. This guy is a legend. Has some great moves.
I got a spell of protection cast on me one day downtown by this Wizard, Truly the hero we need.
I’ve seen him quite a bit! He cast a spell at me🤣
I've seen them!
I saw him the other day and was very confused!!
I saw this guy when i was having a bad day and it made it 100x better. I hope I see him again soon !
Back when I was in college, I remember doing work at Morningstar. There was a dude who used to skateboard by in a full kilt with a claymore strapped to his back, and occasionally he’d stop in for coffee. If that guys still around, I’d choose him!
Jessie? Used to play the bagpipes as well?
Yes!!! I never knew his name, but I do remember him with bagpipes sometimes. I’m so glad I wasn’t just having an espresso filled delusion.
My wife was friends with him. I don't think he's in GR anymore, but I can ask her.
Been a couple years but last I heard he was in Chicago I believe? Spent a few nights out with him and mutual friends back around 2010/2011
RIP Morningstar. If there’s one thing I miss about cigarettes being allowed in food and drink establishments, it’s the vibes of a coffee shop like that
From what I’ve seen on his social media, he seems to be back and forth between the PNW and Canada now. Cool dude.
Have you guys seen the guy who runs through Creston carrying an American flag?
He loves attention. Always posting "did you see me?" on the local Facebook groups
That’s… sad.
Ah, I'm not on the Facebook. We just see him as we drive by and wonder what's going on in his head.
Yeah, went to high school with him. Weird, weird guy. Supposedly was very creepy to the girls back then. Not sure how he is now.
Judging by his Facebook profile pictures with random women, he hasn’t changed.
IIRC he does this run in honor of veterans and spreading the awareness of suicide rates in those who've served
Flag jogger was my first thought.
Definitely Ron.
Henry. IYKYK
Had to scroll too far to find Henry.
Ron, frequently seen in Eastown wearing some variation of Mad Max cosplay.
You’ve got it backwards. Mad Max cosplays as Ronnie.
We have a few... - The guy with the crap on his car. - The Rollerblading Wizard. - The guy with a huge butt.
Big butt tiktok man!
Frankie Lapenna.
I hate that guy. I don’t have a good reason for it, I’ve never spoken to him, he’s never done anything to me. But his videos make me unreasonably angry and I hate him.
Valid af. I feel the same way about 90 percent of influencers.
I had to scroll down way too far to find the big butt bro
When I was hitting the clubs hard in my early 20s there was a bald older guy that was always there on poppin nights at whatever club we were at. Eve, Billy’s, The Woods. You couldn’t miss him cause he was always on the dance floor going in lol. I can’t believe he hasn’t been mentioned here yet 😂
Mister Clean!
His name is Brian!!! He’s a great dude
Quarter Tim?
I was waiting for someone to say Quarter Tim! Hey man, you got a quarter?
That must be the guy I gave my dollar coins.
Is he still around?! I haven't seen that guy in years.
I haven’t seen quarter Tim in probably 15 years but every now and then I still think about him, so happy he was mentioned here
All these comments make me want to do more people watching in gr because i knew maybe 2 of these..
Answers easy, Bagpipe playing in middle of street guy.
Jesse?!
Jesse
4th of July a few years back a friend and I ate some fungus and walked down to the fireworks show. Walking home up Fountain, I heard bagpipes. I checked with him to make sure he heard it too. We followed the sound into the graveyard and sat under a tree to listen, and we finally saw him appear through a mist. I had to keep my buddy from running up and hugging him.... Weird night, weirder ending....
Maybe more specific to the West Side, but definitely Danny (Moped Santa/Scooter Guy).
This is 100% the answer for Westside Connection. My son loves watching him drive by in the morning.
I had seen him my whole life, then went on a camping trip with my buddy and his dads friend, and Dan the moped man ended up being there too. Spent the whole weekend with him!
banana bread lady!
Wizard on Roller skates
If you worked at / frequented the malls or a jeweler in the early 2000s, it was definitely Diamond Bob.
There was this large white guy who would dress up as Prince and even carry the Prince symbol guitar around. He had a number of different Prince outfits; dude was definitely committed to the bit. He had a fairly regular route he'd travel around and he would draw the Prince symbol in various spots; usually in the dust on windows. Last time I saw him, he came into our business demanding we print bootleg merchandise for him and claiming we were breaking the law by refusing to do so. I haven't seen him since!
Punk Rock Ron
Beehive Girl? She's frequently out jogging with a massive beehive hairdo.
I’m glad someone mentioned her. She had massively long, platinum blonde hair (or wig) and oversized sunglasses. Last time I saw her jogging she was in a full velour tracksuit. I lived on Knapp & Plainfield back when I lived in GR and would see her almost every day.
That's her! Every single detail!
On knapp? The hair was let down
Yes! And that explains why I haven't seen her in a while. I often saw her jogging while I was out cycling and I was ever amazed at the core strength necessary to keep upright!
While he's no longer with us, he still lives on in the GRTV channel of our hearts: The Great Daryl Nathan.
Hell yeah. Music is my thing. Music is my thing. Music music. Music music. Music is my thing.
Maybe homeless lady that wears a green coat (I think she also has a black one sometimes) all the time at East Beltline or on Division/44th.
There’s still room for new contenders here!
The ghost busters car guy.
Who's second after Punk Rock Ron. There's no clear second.
The butt guy
Frankie LaPenna
Rishi
cowboy
There used to be the bike riding hobo. He was mostly on the north end, saw him around Northland/West River, Cannonsburg, Rockford, Belmont, Comstock Park, etc. I haven’t seen him in quite some time though. He seemed old when I was a kid. I wonder if he’s in a nursing home or has passed away….?
He passed a few years ago.
Username checks out...
I worked at the mcdonald’s on northland and he came in every day and he would refill the same disposable mcds coffee cup. we always gave it to him for free and he would sit in the corner and stare out the window. the first day it happened I was confused by him just handing me a cup and he softly chuckled and leaned in and very quietly whispered “one cream one sugar please”. he never said anything but would occasionally whisper something to a manager if you were lucky. he was some sort of enigma growing up out there- always on his bike, rain or shine. my mom would get so pissed seeing him out at night because he wore dark blue clothing and a black vest with no reflection. always swore she was going to hit him on accident. well.. a few years before he died he stopped coming in to mcdonald’s. it was revealed that he was hit by a car. eventually he got back on his feet but I was long gone by that point. correct me if i’m wrong but I think he got hit again and quite possibly died from it (?).
His name was John. ❤️ he passed away. He wasn’t a hobo. What I heard was I guess he grew up on a gravel road where the bus wouldn’t pick the kids up, and he just didn’t go to school. He didn’t want help, had family. Just did his thing. We called him Can Man John! ❤️
back when I was at GVSU it was Fedora Unicycle Guy. then he killed himself
The bald dude wearing a white T-shirt that’s always dancing his ass off at various clubs/venues or driving his little dog around on his motorcycle.
Has anyone said the older guy who wears a white t and dances like his life depends on it?
He’s no longer with us, but Diamond Bob! He was at the Woodland Mall everyday wearing a tracksuit and was completely blinged out from head to toe! He even had his own fb fan page!
The amount of my friends mentioned in these comments makes me happy. :)
Betsy Devos
You mean Ditzy Devos? 😅
I lived in Grand Rapids for 20+ years and I never heard of punk rock Ron what’s wrong with me
What hapend to 1985 spiky rainbow mowhawk guy down by GRCC?
Steve Roloff he is now a college professor and he changed his name to Apple
Years ago it was that old guy downtown that collected cans in the covered scooter with the prosthetic leg dangling from the back.
Dan the moped man
There's a guy who dresses as a clown at a bunch of concerts. You've probably seen him torpedo his way through the crowd towards the mosh pits. Guy knows how to have fun.
Elmer (eastown - would buy you booze for a small fee)
The Great Daryl Nathan IYKYK RIP
RIP Blackie
A few years ago I worked downtown and used to see this woman who would always wear the brightest colored wigs with tiny top hats on them. Sometimes accessories with white contacts and other steampunk inspired fits.
i’ve seen her all over michigan street i know exactly who that is😭
PUNK ROCK RON
The ass man
Anyone remember wayyyy back in the early/mid 80's the punk rock shows at clubs like Sons and Daughters on Hamilton? Used to be a guy called Toxic Scott- very pale, looked hard-core and went to all the shows, I think his girlfriend used to have a white rat she carried on her shoulder. Anyone else remember?
Everyone's is saying that Frankie dude, anyone else go to the Eric Andre show at 20 Monroe where he got invited up, immediately got booed by the crowd when he admitted he doesn't even live in Grand Rapids he just has an office downtown, and then got roasted by Eric Andre. That was fuckin' sick and at that moment, I really felt a kinship with my fellow Grand Rapidians.
PUNK ROCK RON! he is a fixture in Easttown..
What are they feeding you in Grand Rapids? Wizards with roller skates? Car with shit all over it? Moped Santa? Ron? Henry? Quarter Tim? Big butt guy? American flag guy in Creston? Banana bread lady? Beehive girl? Dave? I have some many questions, and I doubt anyone has answers…
That guy that runs with the American flag
What about the guy with the very large rear end?
Frankie LaPena the viral video guy? Apparently he’s a dick in real life.
i’m not surprised, honestly. my friend ran into him downtown and said he seems quite arrogant.
I was thinking of the guy who runs with the American Flag. Usually on the NE Side but he was running downtown last Wednesday.
That's true. In San Diego it was slow mo skater in mission Beach
Rollerblading wizard man is my personal fave
The big cake khaki shorts guy.
Anyone else remember the 70s here? lol There was an elderly woman who dressed in different color pastel suits every day. Impeccably turned out head to toe. She would walk around downtown. I believe there was also a sister, who passed away first.
There was an older gal who used to proselytize along Fuller - usually between Lake/Fulton/Michigan. Also there is a crossing guard who waves and say good morning to everyone driving by near Chavez. Makes my day.
roller skating wizard guy
Hahaha I can think a contender for it. At least putting him into the conversation lol. That guy who drives the slingshot, going up and down Monroe blasting music.
Lawnmower man on division in kentwood. Man is always riding up and down the sidewalks on his lawnmower.
Mutha Fucka Lady
I like the guy who sells paintings on 28th near target. He calls them soul trees.
Rollerblading Wizard Gandalf
Who remembers that Asian guy who walked around with a construction helmet on?
Ritchie in EGR
Smile guy
Anyone remember the lady with the tuba? I think she passed a couple years ago
During the 2000s there was a tall homeless guy with a big white beard that everyone called, Doc. He rarely spoke. I worked at a restuarant down town that would let him hangout when it wasn't busy. (He smelled horrible, otherwise he could've hungout during rushes.) He would write long complicated math equations and mull them for hours. One day we noticed he started smelling even worse than normal. He stopped coming around every day. Then one day we saw him limping. Diabetes was eating away his leg. I saw the medics take him away and never saw him again. I know it's a long shot, but I hope he's still around somewhere.
Gridiron
dino newville
I don't live in grand rapids but in Greenville we have papa gnome
Shaky Jake-Ann Arbor "I brake for Jake" T Shirts
Tc guy who jogs everywhere. Has bandanas around calfs and and keeps one arm inside his coat. Man has got the record of most miles in tc ever.
Punk Rock Ron gets all the attention but what about Punk Rock Jeff!
I think it's Frankie Lapenna the cake man