Story by Liz Ptaszynski, Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of D’arts Donuts

Well, Saints, we have officially reached that time of year.  For us returners, we seem to practically smell what it is: the fresh ink off the printer as professors gather the syllabi you’re supposed to read; the sweaty scent of stress that every college student over the country is united in feeling as they stare at their bank accounts, wondering how they’re going to pay $400 for a textbook they might not even get to return. Then, of course, there’s the optimistic whiff of the empty promises of being more organized and that we won’t wait until the night before to do our homework for our class in six hours. For those who are new, let me introduce this complex fragrance as the start of a new semester…and no amount of Febreze your parents sent you up with can cover it up.

However, in my final year at Aquinas, I have discovered a way to hide this scent, and lucky for us it’s right outside our backdoor. The name of this savory, sweet smell that every nostril needs to breathe in?  Well, it’s called D’arts Donuts located right in Eastown, and it’s about to be your new favorite place to do homework. Recently opening just a couple weeks ago, this hip and eclectic cafe offers you a quiet haven that is impossible to resist. The second you walk in, you are greeted with a warm aroma of local coffee beans straight from Madcap right in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.

Now I happen to consider myself a bit of a dessert connoisseur; anything regarding cookies or pastries, I happen to have an opinion on, and with as much experience as I have in this particular field I can sometimes be a little harsh in my reviews to other people about them. So when I walked into this shop, I didn’t allow myself to have too high of expectations. But after ordering my first donut (which may have led to a second and…okay a third, but it was my cheat day, okay?) I found absolutely no flaws. Every bite offered me a sweet and savory taste that is way too addicting, only encouraging me to take more.

For those of us who like to take adventures when we eat, D’arts allows us to take any risk you can with a donut. Flavors ranging from peach pistachio to peanut butter and jelly, all the way to a whiskey bacon flavor that will make your taste buds salivate just by looking at it—D’arts has it all. However, for people who like to play it more safe, they also offer more classic flavors, like honey glaze and chocolate glaze.

There is also a variety of pastries baked fresh in case you aren’t in the donut mood. What really sets this place apart from other cafes are all the ingredients that come in locally to help support small businesses.  Not only will you feel full and satisfied from the taste of the food and coffee, but you also can feel good about supporting the local businesses in this city that we love.

Now, as college students, I know the one thing that is holding you back from running to this place before even setting this article down is the price. But that’s the best part about D’arts. It is 100 percent affordable. Donuts range from $1 to $1.75 for their signature flavors. So lace up your shoes and take a walk to D’arts to help you prepare for this upcoming year. Satisfaction is guaranteed.