This struck us as funny! Electric Beach with arrows to parking in the snowy lot. Just part of Grand Rapids winter scene.
Foto Friday: Electric Beach Sign
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Tag Archives: West Michigan Living
Foto Friday – Order Your Chicks!
Foto Friday – Order Your Chicks!
You know spring has arrived in Lowell, Michigan when it is time to order
your chicks for summer. Have you ordered your chicks yet?
SEARCH for LOWELL MI HOMES
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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. We believe Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!
Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate
Contact Terry 616-292-7263
Foto Friday – Grand Haven Michigan Sunset
Foto Friday – Grand Haven Michigan Sunset
Painting the sky with a fiery brush, the sun sets over Lake Michigan
at the Grand Haven pier. On a beautiful summer evening last September,
we watched the sun slowly disappear over the horizon. One of nature’s
most pleasing spectacles that we never tire of viewing.
If you would like to have this view from your front porch*, give us a call.
*Anywhere in West Michigan, the big lake is usually less than 1 hour away.
SEARCH FOR Grand Haven WATERFRONT HOMES
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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. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!
Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate
Contact Terry 616-292-7263
West Michigan Living – A Perfect First Day of Summer
It doesn’t get much better than this. A perfect day on Glen Lake in northern
Michigan. Just over the dune in the distance is Lake Michigan, which provided
our fresh grilled whitefish for supper.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________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
Lowell M Riverboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts 2010
Lowell MI Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts 2010
Lowell is a pretty little city on the Flat River just east of Ada &
Grand Rapids. In fact, it takes us about fifteen minutes to drive there,
which we do quite often.
Lowell ShowBoat Sizzlin’ Summer Concert Series 2010
Thursday night this summer, there is a FREE CONCERT from 7 to 9pm
at the Riverwalk in Lowell on the Showboat stage. The concerts are
wheelchair accessible, free parking, there is bleacher seating or bring
your own chair.
The Flat River Grill is offering food and a cash bar, as well as other
vendors along the Riverwalk plaza.
NOTE: Construction on the Flat River Bridge in the center of Lowell will
complicate parking and traffic as it only goes one way – east – at this point.
The detour takes you out to Grand River Drive and then back to M 42 on
the return trip west to Grand Rapids.
Summer Concert Line Up Thursday Nights June 17th – August 26th
June 17th – Bronk Brothers Band – ( Rockin’ Hillbilly)
June 24th – Kathy Lamar & the Bob Van Stee Trio ( Jazz, R & B, Blues)
July 1st – Boogie Woogie Babies – (a 1940’s Musical Revue)
July 8th – Madcap, Kane and Maxwell Street (Acoustic Blues- American Roots)
July 15th – Alive and Well ( Classic Rock/Pop)
July 23rd – River City Jazz Ensemble – ( Jazz)
July 30th – Lynn Thompson Band (eclectic)
Aug 6 th – Eyde Evans Hyde & MacNaughton Trio (Jazz, Blues. Pop)
Aug 13th- No Show at Riverwalk – 4-H Fair – Performing at the Fair
The Black Canyon Bluegrass Band ; Patchwork Bluegrass Band
Aug 20th – Dewsouth – (Rockin’ Country)
Aug 26th – Argentucky Blues Band – ( Blues)
As you can see by this photo, there is an awesome shade tree to sit
under, over by the river or in the bleachers. A great line up of local talent for
your summer enjoyment. Come on out and enjoy an evening in Lowell, Michigan.
Lowell Area Arts Council and Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce are
joint sponsors. More information on their web sites.
If you would like information about Grand Rapids, Ada or Lowell Homes,
please contact me directly: toll free at 1-888-240-1968 ext 0
Copyright 2010 All rights reserved
Photos of Lowell Showboat Concerts by Bonnie Westbrook
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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
Grand Rapids Michigan Holiday Traditions
Grand Rapids Michigan Holiday Traditions
Holiday traditions to celebrate the winter solstice are common
to every culture around the world. The transition from the shortest,
darkest day in mid-winter to the longest day of light at the beginning
of summer are a common theme to our world.
Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids
celebrates the light by showing the traditions of many countries
and cultures around the world. Besides the forty one gorgeous
Christmas Trees that are decorated as they would be in their native
regions, they also display Kwanza, Jewish, and Buddhist traditional
decorations. New this year is Tet Nguyen Dan, the Vietnamese
celebration of the lunar New Year; pronounced day wen don,
it literally means, “the first morning of the first day.”
Meijer Gardens is celebrating the completion of a $7.6 million
renovation and expansion that was awarded a silver level LEED
certificate in energy and environmental design. The renovation
and expansion was centered around the cafe, visitor areas, office
and storage spaces. The new cafe has a stunning Dale Chihuly
blown glass sculpture of colored glass flowers hanging from
the ceiling.
We have put together a few photos we took at the gardens
recently, so you can see some of the holiday decorations from
near and far. The gorgeous Christmas trees are all 12-15 feet tall
and loaded with beautiful ornaments. This is just a sampling of the
Christmas Traditions displayed here:
[slideshow id=2594073385393193256&w=500&h=375]
Our Holiday Wishes for Peace & Goodwill to all of you!
_____________________________________________________________________________
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
March is Sugar Bush Time in Grand Rapids Michigan
March is SugarBush Time in Grand Rapids Michigan.
We are fortunate to have Blandford Nature Center, a 143 acre natural site
in the second largest city in the state. And all this month on Saturday and Sunday
(*except Easter weekend) there will be a SugarBush Festival with the smell of maple
syrup cooking in the air. This fresh maple syrup is available to eat at the annual
pancake breakfast. So, you can have some real maple syrup on those pancakes!
If you have never had one of nature’s sweetest treats – make it a point to sample:
The Annual 2008 Pancake Breakfast
March 15th from 8 AM to 12 PM
1715 Hillburn Ave. Grand Rapids Michigan
Admission: $3 Adults $1 children
If you are interested in Maple Sugaring Facts, here are a few to consider:
- Tapping does no permanent damage and only 10 percent of the sap is collected each year.
- Many maple trees have been tapped for 150 or more years.
- Usually a maple tree is at least 30 years old and 12 inches in diameter before it is tapped
- It takes 30-50 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup
Much more information is available at the Michigan Maple Sugar Association
Volunteers are needed to run the sugar bush and help with all the facilities. A perfect way
to learn all about this process, a hands on education for yourself and your children/grand children.
Blandford Nature Center 616-735-6240
* Easter Weekend, Blandford Nature Center’s 5 miles of Nature Trails will be open for self-guided tours.
Mixed Greens has more information on volunteering, Blandford Nature Center, and Sugar Bush Fun.
Copyright by Bonnie Westbrook 2008
Contact us at : 1-888-240-1968 x 0
Westbrook Realty ~ Grand Rapids Real Estate
sugar shack photo courtesy of mixed greens.com
Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park ~ The Conservatory
Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a world class park with world class attractions in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is more than a garden, it is a community and area treasure with many aspects of the fine arts on permanent and traveling displays. Listed below are the major attractions:
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The Sculpture Park
- Gallery Collection
- Garden Trails & Conservatory Collection
- Sculpture Exhibitions
- Children’s Garden
- Outdoor Concert Stage
Because there are so many aspects to the gardens, I will only discuss The Conservatory Gardens in this article.
Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory is more than 5 stories tall and features tropical plants from 5 continents as well as waterfalls and misty streambeds. Palms reaching over 30 feet amidst banana and coconut trees, bromeliads, and a changing display of over 3500 orchid plant collection.
They have a special Butterfly Exhibit in the conservatory every spring starting in late March and running through the middle of April. Hundreds of butterfly cocoons are brought in and they hatch at different times so there are always tropical butterflies to see. They have special feeding stations set up through out the conservatory for them. There is also a special entry constructed to go and out of so the butterflies do not escape the conservatory environment where they would perish because of the lower temperature outside.
The conservatory is always kept about 80 degrees for the tropical plants. Stepping into this in the middle of winter is a real treat.
There is a waterfall constructed you can walk under, plus a bridge and a winding circular pathway through the conservatory gardens where the permanent orchid exhibit can be seen. There is always something blooming in conservatory. Why don’t you treat yourself and your family soon? If you haven’t been to the Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, you should plan a trip to Grand Rapids soon.
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Copyright by Terry Westbrook 2008
Contact me: 1-888-240-1968 x 0 toll free
Website url: Terry Westbrook.com
Email: terry@TerryWestbrook.com
photos by Bonnie Westbrook