Grand Rapids Michigan First Snow of 2009

Posted on December 4, 2009 by Terry & Bonnie

Grand Rapids Michigan First Snow of 2009

I guess I am still a kid at heart. What a thrill to wake up and see the

white crystals of snow coating everything in sight! Needless to say,

with the amount of snow we received, it is a “Snow Day” for most

of the kids in Grand Rapids area. While it is not inconvenient for me,

it is for most people. Roads are slippery, traffic is slow and commute

times are much longer than our normal speedy travel.

I took a few photos so you can see what we woke up to in GR this

morning.

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The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing

metropolitan area with a diverse business community, great medical

research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts and

entertainment of all kinds.

We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Grand Rapids Michigan Good Eats = Real Food Cafe

Posted on November 20, 2009 by Terry & Bonnie

Grand Rapids Michigan Good Eats = Real Food Cafe

Where Something Good is Always Cooking

Breakfast ~ Lunch~ Take-Out ~ Bakery

The Real Food Cafe is THE REAL DEAL! We probably go there for lunch at

least once a week. They only serve breakfast and lunch but it is better than

my Mom made. Their breakfasts are almost legendary. They serve

breakfast anytime and what a breakfast…..the home fries are just too

delicious to describe.

The pancakes are made with real buttermilk, fresh eggs and served with real

butter. Below is the picture of my two eggs scrambled and home fries.

The home made soups are always delicious. The burgers are 1/3 lb. of

Angus beef. The sandwiches are huge and definitely satisfying.

The omelets are mouth-watering.

The baked goods such as cookies, cakes and pies are all home made on site

and worth sacrificing the diet for. The crew and wait staff are all friendly and

genuinely happy at work. It just makes you feel good to be there. It is

always full of people eating “real food” and enjoying themselves.

One of our favorite people at Real Food is “Rosie.” She has known

the chef, Frank, since he was a little boy and is always busy seating

people, getting drinks, and generally bustling around with a friendly

word and smile to all.

They have recently expanded and added an additional location:

Real Food Cafe

at 5430 Northland Dr. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525

(616)361-1808

If you like “real food made with real ingredients by real people,”

this is the place to go.

We are there often, so we hope to see you , too.

The Real Food Cafe 2419 Eastern Ave.

Grand Rapids MI 49507 (616)241-4080

We have received no remuneration or monies for our endorsement of this business.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing

metropolitan area with a diverse business community, great medical

research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts and

entertainment of all kinds.

We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Grand Rapids Michigan Good Eats = Marie Catrib’s

Posted on November 20, 2009 by Terry & Bonnie

Grand Rapids Michigan Good Eats = Marie Catrib’s

We love to try new places to eat, especially for lunch. But Marie

Catrib’s in the East Hills neighborhood of Grand Rapids is an old

favorite. We have friends, John & Betsy who live in Heritage Hill

and Marie’s is a great place to meet.

The atmosphere is cozy and warm. The restaurant is always busy.

And the food is unusual and delicious. I prefer the vegetarian,

local products, my spouse prefers traditional fare. At Marie’s,

both of us are happy with the selections.

On our recent visit, I ordered the veggie Sweet Potato and

Quinoa burger [heavenly and huge] while my pard ordered the

Turkey Rueben [messy but de-lish].

Marie Catrib’s From the Street

East Hills is the center of the universe.

A take-out case is loaded with great deli and take home offerings.

Marie Catrib’s is located at 1001 Lake Dr SE Grand Rapids MI

We received no remuneration or monies to recommend this business on our blog.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing

metropolitan area with a diverse business community, great medical

research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts and

entertainment of all kinds.

We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Grand Rapids Michigan Online Relocation Guide

Posted on November 19, 2009 by Terry & Bonnie

Grand Rapids Michigan is a diverse metropolitan area comprised of many local cities and communities that surround the city of Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids metro area is the second largest city in Michigan with a population around 1 million.

West Michigan is a beautiful 4 season area of Michigan that has lots of hardwood forests, rolling hills, Lake Michigan beach shoreline, hundreds of lakes and rivers, and a thriving, diverse work environment with educated workers. We have 25 colleges and universities in our area, including the new Michigan State Medical School on the “Medical Mile” in downtown Grand Rapids.

Getting To Know Grand Rapids:

Since pictures speak louder than words, we have links to photos & videos of some of our local communities:

Ada Michigan is a small community southeast of Grand Rapids with an excellent school system and lots of suburban homes.

Caledonia Michigan is a small suburban community that has farms and a rural suburban setting.

East Grand Rapids Michigan is a city bordering on Grand Rapids that has lovely older homes, an excellent school system, and excellent city services, including community events, leaf pick-up in fall, and over 100 miles of plowed city sidewalks in the winter. And a quick commute to the downtown area.

Kentwood Michigan is a suburban community southeast of Grand Rapids with businesses such as Steelcase, one of the nation’s largest office furniture manufacturers. Plus lots of suburban housing subdivisions, both new and established, in addition to rental communities.

Lowell Michigan is a small community east of Grand Rapids with a vibrant business community, excellent school system, and a mixture of older homes and newer subdivisions, all centered around the Flat River.

Rockford Michigan is a small community north of Grand Rapids on the Rogue River. It is home to the global shoe manufacturer, Wolverine Worldwide, but has a small town feeling with unique boutiques, shops, and wonderful restaurants. Many newer homes, established subdivisions and older homes populate the Rockford area.

Quality of Life in Grand Rapids:

Grand Rapids Michigan Rated 5th Most Affordable Housing in US –Aug 21, 2009 – CNN Money has rated the top cities in affordable housing.

Top Schools in West Michigan – June 15-2009 – Six West Michigan public Schools were rated in the top 1500 schools in the nation by Newsweek.

Spectrum Hospital Ranks in Nation’s Top 100 – Nov 3, 2009

Fav Restaurants in the Grand Rapids Area:

Good Eats – Real Food Cafe – Nov 20, 2009 In Alger Heights and NorthlandDr locations offer great comfort food at great prices.

First Choice for Chinese in Forest Hills = First Wok – Dec 4, 2009 – Located inthe heart of Cascade, this Chinese Restaurant is one of our favorites.

The Grille Restaurant at Watermark Country Club – March 9, 2008 –

Serving fresh local foods when possible, this restaurant is always busy. Whether you stop in for a business lunch or have a quick meal after you play nine holes, you can’t go wrong here.

Vitale’s Restaurant & Pub – Aug 23, 2010 – Casual dining in Ada andother areas of Grand Rapids – a very popular place to get your pasta fix.

Recreation in Grand Rapids:

Art Prize – Sept 24, 2009 – Planned to be an annual event in Grand Rapids,

Art Prize took the city by storm this year with over $250K in prizes,

artists from all over the world bringing their art creations to GR.

Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey – May 11, 2009 – A Night at a Griffins

Play-off Game

White Caps Baseball Signals Spring – March 15, 2009 – Opening day

for the local AA Team is much anticipated in Grand Rapids.

Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park:

The Sculptures – Mar 9, 2008 Outdoor sculptures at Frederick Meijer Gardens

The Conservatory – Mar 9, 2008 The tropical conservatory at Meijer Gardens

The Children’s Garden – Mar 9, 2008 – The Children’s Gardens at Meijer Gardens

Butterfly Exhibit – Mar 9, 2008 Yearly special exhibit that draws thousands.

Meijer Gardens Summer Concert Series 2010 – April 26, 2010 – 12 concerts

held at the Outdoor Amphitheater.

Grand Haven – Aug 24, 2009 – Coast Guard City is a great destination for tourists and Michigan day trippers, like ourselves.

Roselle Park – Nov 6, 2009 – Natural Habitat Refuge on the Grand River with an observation tower, viewing deck, canoe/kayak launch, miles of walking trails.

Grand Rapids Golf – With over 900 courses in West Michigan, it could take a few years to play them all. A few local golf course articles & photos.

Real Estate Information for Buyers & Sellers:

You Want to Buy A House, Now What? – Oct 27,2010Buyer question and answers

Which Mortgage Do I Choose? – Key questions to ask yourself and lenders before you finalize your mortgage.

Buying Foreclosed Homes is NOT FUN! – May 6, 2008 – A few buying tips on foreclosed properties. Be Aware. Be Prepared. Use a SeasonedBuyer’s Agent.

Are you Looking for your Grand Rapids Dream Home? – May 13, 2008 –Lots of internet searches for the perfect home are being done right now.

Sellers Beware! Avoid 11 Mistakes That Could Cost You Hundreds, even
Thousands of Dollars! The difference between a profitable, seamless transaction and a break even, miserable experience is often a fine line.

Top Ten Questions You Should Ask Before You List Your Home – Crucial areas of expertise your Realtor should possess.

SEARCH for Homes in Greater Grand Rapids Area:

Grand Rapids Michigan- Homes for Sale

Ada Michigan – Homes for Sale

East Grand Rapids Michigan – Homes for Sale

Caledonia Michigan – Homes for Sale

Cascade Michigan – Homes for Sale

Kentwood Michigan – Homes for Sale

Lowell Michigan – Homes for Sale

Rockford Michigan – Homes for Sale

Waterfront Homes for Sale

Luxury Homes for Sale

Grand Rapids – Condos for Sale

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The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate, the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live inWest Michigan. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing metropolitan area with a diverse business community, great medical research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts andentertainment of all kinds.

We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Mandarin Chinese Spoken in Forest Hills School

Posted on November 16, 2009 by Terry & Bonnie

Mandarin Chinese Spoken in Forest Hills School

Would your kindergartener come home and ask for a bowl of cereal

in Mandarin Chinese? If you live in the Forest Hills School System

in Grand Rapids Michigan, this isn’t as far fetched as it sounds.

The Meadowbrook Elementary School is home to the Forest Hills

Chinese Immersion Program. This program is the first of its kind in

West Michigan. The program just received a Federal Grant of $238,000

for the first year. If all program objectives are met, it will receive

additional funds for the next 2 years.

Leaders in Forest Hills educational community decided to add Mandarin

Chinese Immersion to their bilingual offerings with the assistance

of Michigan State University’s Confucius Institute. Currently 2

Chinese teachers are on the school faculty to give students in

the program an early start in bilingual education.

The Forest Hills District is continuing to expand Mandarin language

courses at middle and high school levels. With 55 percent of the

world’s population speculated to be from Asia in the year 2025 and

5 percent from North America, being fluent in Chinese will be a real

asset in the future business world.

Forest Hills also has a Spanish Immersion Program running at the

Ada Vista Elementary School.

Additional Forest Hills Schools Articles:

Forest Hills Schools Post Outstanding MEAP Scores

West Michigan Schools in Top US Ranking

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing

metropolitan area with a diverse business community, great medical

research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts and

entertainment of all kinds.

We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Front Doors Say Hello…..

Posted on November 15, 2009 by Terry & Bonnie

Front Doors Say Hello…..

Front doors are the first impression that visitors and passersby

get of your home. We all make instant judgments about a home’s

interior when we see the front door, just like we do about a person

we first meet. If you want to make a good first impression, you

should make sure your front door and front entrance as attractive and welcoming

as possible.

I have a fascination with front doors. I drive by homes and look at the front door

or front entry. I love to see a home with a touch of personality or a piece of

artwork displayed by the front door. This immediately lets you know if you have something

in common with the home’s owner, like a love of cats or dogs.

This front door reminds me of castle. I saw several doorways similar to

this in England inside the castle walls. Even though it is unadorned, it

has architectural style and the twin lights would be welcoming at night.

Holidays and seasonal decorating are especially fruitful for my

voyeuristic entertainment. I especially like the his and hers

well-dressed scarecrows guarding this front door.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing

metropolitan area with a diverse business community, great medical

research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts and

entertainment of all kinds.

We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Grand Rapids Hospital Ranks in Top 100 for Nation

Posted on November 13, 2009 by Terry & Bonnie

Grand Rapids Michigan Hospital Ranks in Top 100 for Nation

No one wants to get ill and end up in the hospital. But life happens.

We get sick, we get in accidents, we fall off ladders and break bones,

we have babies. When this happens it is very comforting to know

you have an excellent hospital in your local area that will be able to

care for you until you recover.

Here in Grand Rapids, Michigan we are very fortunate to have one of the

nation’s best hospitals to care for our citizens in need of health care.

Spectrum Health has 7 Hospitals and more than 140 service sites.

Spectrum Health’s 14,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members

and 2,000 volunteers are a major part of our community and our economy,

providing $98.6 million in community benefit during its 2007 fiscal year.

Spectrum Health has earned more than 50 national awards during the

past 10 years. A recent study recognized Spectrum Health as one of

the best hospitals in the country for the sixth time in 10 years.

Spectrum Health was included on the list of Thomson Healthcare’s

100 Top Hospitals for 2007.

The winners were announced in the March 17, 2008 issue of

Modern Healthcare magazine.

The 100 Top Hospitals have higher survival rates, keep more patients

complication-free, and have lower expenses-all while maintaining financial

stability. Thomson Healthcare estimates that if all Medicare inpatients received the

same level of care as those in the 100 Top Hospitals winners:

more than 120,000 additional patients would survive each year
nore than 138,000 patient complications would be avoided annually
expenses would decline by an aggregate $6.2 billion a year
the average patient stay would decrease by more than half a day

If you are planning on relocating to Grand Rapids Michigan, you can rest assured your

medical needs will be in good hands.

Spectrum Health facts taken from Spectrum Health website – press releases

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The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing

metropolitan area with a diverse business community, great medical

research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts and

entertainment of all kinds.

We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Fall in East Grand Rapids Michigan

Posted on November 10, 2009 by Terry & Bonnie

Fall in East Grand Rapids Michigan

We enjoy autumn in Michigan, it is one of our favorite seasons.

The fall colors, the crisp fall air, football games, crisp crunchy apples are

just a few of the wonderful things about fall in Michigan.

While the autumn colors on the trees are a thing of beauty, they quickly become

a much detested chore to clean up. Raking leaves on a beautiful fall day

is fun for about 30 minutes. On a blustery cold, rainy day, it is a miserable

chore, a never ending job to complete. The leaves fall like rain, and will

take a few days to 2 weeks to completely leave the trees.

If you live in the city of East Grand Rapids, Michigan, this isn’t such a

chore because the city will contract to remove your leaves for you. All you

have to do is get them to the curb.

As you can see in these photos of a few streets in East Grand Rapids, many

leaves are at the curb, ready to be picked up and composted. A sure sign of

fall in these neighborhoods.

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The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing

metropolitan area with a diverse business community, great medical

research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts and

entertainment of all kinds.

We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Roselle Park Ada Michigan Grand River Natural Habitat Refuge

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Terry & Bonnie

Roselle Park Ada Michigan Grand River Natural Habitat Refuge

Roselle Park in Ada Michigan along the Grand River is 247 acre park

that is a dedicated Natural Habitat Refuge. On a rainy Saturday a few weeks

ago, we stopped and took a few photos. It was cold and windy but

the fall colors were great. We walked on one of the trails along the Grand

River. A very peaceful place to visit. Dogs on leashes are welcome.

These silos were left from the previous owner of the property. The one with

the stars on top has been made into a 9 story observation tower.

View from the observation tower toward the Grand River

On the walking trail along the river.

The Grand River is the longest river in Michigan. It starts near Hillsdale MI and

winds it’s way north then west, eventually emptying into Lake Michigan.

This photo above is just north of the confluence of the Thornapple River at Ada MI.

Additional Articles on Roselle Park:

Roselle Park Nature Preserve on the Grand River

Roselle Park Flood Stage Spring 2009 Video

Roselle Park Photos

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing

metropolitan area with a diverse business community, great medical

research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts and

entertainment of all kinds.

We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Autumn on the Thornapple River Grand Rapids Michigan

Posted on November 3, 2009 by Terry & Bonnie

Autumn is a picturesque time of year here in West Michigan. We

have lots of rivers, lakes, fall color, and lots of wildlife. This series

of photos lets you see a few residents of the Thornapple River at

their daily routine. The Thornapple River flows into the Grand River,

the longest in the state at Ada Michigan. Needless to say, a haven for wildlife year round. This gaggle of geese was just off the

Thornapple Pointe Golf Club in southeastern Kent County a few

weekends ago.

If you are looking for a home in the Grand Rapids Area, we service the following areas: Metro Grand Rapids, Ada-Cascade, East Grand Rapids, Caledonia, Kentwood, Lowell, and Rockford. We have assisted Grand Rapids buy & sell homes for the last 35+ years. Call 1-616-292-7263 to talk with Terry or email him at: terry@terrywestbrook.com.

For MLS access to the homes for sale in the West Michigan Area,visit: Westbrook Realty ~ Grand Rapids Real Estate for a free search. Your search can be saved and modified as you view homes, with no obligation.

Thinking of selling your home? We offer one of the most extensive marketing campaigns in Grand Rapids with a major online presence for your home. With over 85% of buyers looking for homes online, this is where we concentrate our efforts. Click here to view Terry’s Realtor profile.

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