Foto Friday – January Series Beats Winter Blahs

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Terry & Bonnie

Foto Friday – January Series Beats Winter Blahs

The January Series hosted by Calvin College is one of January’s

bright spots on the winter scene in Grand Rapids Michigan. Famous

authors, public figures, sports celebrities, and many, many other speakers

are brought in every year for the public’s education and entertainment.

The above photo was taken last Friday at the Calvin College Covenant

Fine Arts Center waiting for Ensemble Galilei to perform. What a treat!

The January Series runs until the 25th of this month, so check out the

remaining speakers for yourself.

An added bonus to this local feature is the archives, where many

speakers from the past have been recorded, so you can browse the

list and listen anytime it is convenient.

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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

Foto Friday – What Were They Thinking?

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Terry & Bonnie

Foto Friday – What Were They Thinking?

Driving down the East Beltline today, we came across this van.

Uhhh, I don’t get it……what were they thinking? It must be a new definition

of “GREEN”. Isn’t it wonderful that individualists can express themselves in

any way they want? And you thought Grand Rapids was boring.

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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

Forest Hills Public Schools Top State of Michigan Rankings

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Terry & Bonnie

Forest Hills Public Schools Top State of Michigan Rankings

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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

Foto Friday – Christmas Railway Garden Meijer Gardens 2010

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Terry & Bonnie

Foto Friday – Christmas Railway Garden Meijer Gardens 2010

Did you ever have the thrill of constructing a train set with a model village

to run your track through? I have visited a few but never had the fun of

constructing my own. Elves have made an awesome model railway village

in the Meijer Garden Conservatory that runs past quite a few West Michigan

landmark buildings. The model train runs through the Victorian

Conservatory and the “Special Exhibit” Rooms. The model Railway Garden

village is constructed of only natural materials. It is decked out in African

Violets, orchids from the Gardens large collection, numerous ground covers,

small fir trees, tree bark, rocks and moss to give a green and magical feel

to the model railway village.

See if you can recognize the buildings before you scroll down to read

the description.

This is the iconic Fountain Street Church famous for liberal speakers and

bringing the outside world to West Michigan since 1924.

The Covered Wooden Bridge in Ada Michigan is represented here.

This odd looking building is the Steam Power Plant on Fulton Street in

downtown Grand Rapids. This still functions, supplying steam power to many

downtown buildings.

The Big Red Lighthouse in Holland Michigan.

Gothic style Church – my guess is Immanuel Lutheran on Michigan Avenue hill?

[There are over 1200 churches in Grand Rapids, so help me out if you know]

The Fallasburg Covered Bridge over the Flat River in Lowell Michigan.

An arts & Crafts Style Grand Rapids Michigan home, typical of many homes

built here in Grand Rapids in the early 20th century.

We hope you enjoyed the brief tour through the Christmas Railway Garden

Village at Meijer Gardens this year. It will be on display until Jan. 9th, 2011.

In addition, horse drawn carriage rides, carolers, 40 theme Christmas trees,

and other holiday specials will be happening till the end of this year.

There will also be extended holiday hours on December 21, 22, 23,

27, 28, 29 and 30. The entire facility will be open until 9 pm.

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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

Foto Friday – Grand Rapids Michigan is a Winter Wonderland

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Terry & Bonnie

Foto Friday – Grand Rapids Michigan is a Winter Wonderland

Yes, we have snow in Grand Rapids Michigan already. It came right after

Thanksgiving this year and looks like it is here to stay.

Lots of people smitten with the mitten (people who love our winter weather)

have been waiting for snowfall to start their winter activities, such as snow-

mobiling, snow skiing, snow boarding, cross country skiing, sledding, and

even just making snow men and snow angels!

Come on over, the snow is here and the hot chocolate is ready!

Forest Hills Adult Community Band Hosts Winter Concert Sunday Dec 12th 2010

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Terry & Bonnie

Forest Hills Adult Community Band Hosts Winter Concert

Sunday Dec 12th 2010

The Forest Hills Michigan Adult Community Band will present it’s winter

concert at Forest Hills Eastern High School Auditorium from 2:30 to 3:30 pm on

Sunday December 12th, 2010. The auditorium is located at 2200 Pettis

Avenue Ada Michigan.

The Forest Hills Adult Community Band is a 70 member band made up

of former high school graduates or adults that have played in a concert band.

This Free Concert is open to the public. Parking at the Knapp Street entrance

is closer to the auditorium and handicapped accessible.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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

St Cecelia Music Society Free 2010 Christmas Concert

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Terry & Bonnie

St Cecelia Music Society Free 2010 Christmas Concert

On December 19th, 2010, at 4 pm, the Winter St Cecilia Grand Band

and the St Cecelia Adult String Orchestra will hold a free Christmas

Concert in Grand Rapids.

The Royce Auditorium is located at 24 Ransom St NE just north

of Fulton Ave and east of Division Ave.

See the link for more concerts coming up in 2011……

St Cecelia Music Society Free 2010 Christmas Concert

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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

Foto Friday – Oh, Deer Oh, Deer

Posted on November 19, 2010 by Terry & Bonnie

Foto Friday – Oh, Deer Oh, Deer

This mom and baby deer were grazing out in the open at Tulleymore Golf

Course when I played there this spring. We were also met by a herd on

the driveway into the course early that morning in Stanton, Michigan. If you

live in Michigan, the white tail deer is a common sight, either in your yard

eating your shrubbery or along the road in open fields.

In case you have been living in a bubble, this Monday was opening day

for Firearm Deer Season in Michigan. The Department of Natural Resources

estimates that this is a $1 Billion industry for Michigan, with hunters buying

gas, food, licenses, and hunting gear. In the recent past, about one and half

million licenses were bought each year. This year, with the down turn in the

economy, just over a million licenses are expected to be sold.

Kent County had the first reported case of Chronic Deer Wasting Disease

in 2008. All Kent County deer killed must be taken to a check station where

the DNR checks for CDW by removing the deer head and sending it in for

testing.

If you are interested in Deer Hunting in Michigan, the DNR and Michigan

State University have a website with lots of information including: updates,

weather, news, field data, and more.

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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 – City of Bridges

Posted on November 15, 2010 by Terry & Bonnie

Grand Rapids Michigan – City of Bridges

Grand Rapids Michigan is a city of bridges. With the mighty Grand River

running right through the middle, bridges are extremely important to everyday

transportation and mobility in our city and to the suburban areas surrounding

Grand Rapids proper.

The Blue Bridge is a pedestrian walkway between the Amway Grand Hotel

and Grand Valley State University campus on the west side of the river.

The Fulton Street Bridge is one of the major thoroughfares in Grand Rapids

and bisects the center of the heart of downtown.

The 6th Street Bridge is an older bridge on the northern section of the

city near Monroe Avenue seen from the Fish Ladder.

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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

GRAM Sunday Classical Concert Series Fall 2010

Posted on November 11, 2010 by Terry & Bonnie

GRAM Sunday Classical Concert Series Fall 2010

Grand Rapids Art Museum is hosting a Sunday Classical Concert Series

for the Fall of 2010, where you can soak up the art and the music on Sunday

afternoons 2:00 -3:00 pm.

The Sunday Classical Music Series schedule is:

Oct 24 H2 Quartet

Award winning Saxophone Quartet
Jonathan Nichol (Faculty GVSU)
Geoffrey Deibel
Kimberly Goddard
Jeffrey Loeffert (Faculty – Oklahoma State University)

Oct 31 Trio Nouveau

Harp – Elizabeth Colpean (Principal Grand Rapids Symphony)
Viola – Leslie Van Becker (Principal Grand Rapids Symphony)
Flute – Edward Clifford

Nov 7 Giuseppe Lupis

Solo Piano (Faculty GVSU)

Nov 14 Seunghee Lee

(Concert Master – Lansing Symphony and Faculty at Central Michigan University)
Nariaki Sugiura (Piano faculty at DePauw University)
Violin and Piano

Nov 21 Castalia Quartet

Piano – Mary Scanlan
Violin – Jennifer Walvoord (Concert Master – West Michigan Symphony)
Viola – Leslie Van Becker (Principal Viola – Grand Rapids Symphony)
Cello – Alicia Eppinga (Associate Principal Cello – Grand Rapids Symphony)

Nov 28 Eric Tanner

(Principal Second Violin – Grand Rapids Symphony)
Violin and Piano

Dec 5 Gene Hahn

(Violinist – Associate concert master West Michigan Symphony)
Violin and Piano

Dec 12 The Merling Trio

Violin – Renata Artman Knific (Faculty – Western Michigan University)
Piano – Susan Wiersma Uchimura (Faculty – Western Michigan University)
Cello – Bruce Uchimura (Faculty – Western Michigan University)

Dec 19 Matt Albert (Violinist with “Eighth Blackbird”)

Andrew McCann (Violinist – New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago)

Dec 26 Robert deMaine

Cello – (Principal Detroit Symphony)

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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

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Foto Friday – January Series Beats Winter Blahs