Grand Rapids, MI - A place you can call home

[efoto]

Probably soon to be labeled as the ultimate geek thread, but I like my home town!

If you either live in GR, have been to GR, or plan to come then post it here. After reading all of the great responses I'm sure you will all plan a visit :rolleyes: :D

[runninmac]

Ok I will move my post to here.

Well It looks like we sorta took this way off topic... but thats ok. I live in Rockford MI it i think NorthEast of GR. Its a really growning subburb. Are you going to be going to the Grand Opening of the apple store in Woodland. Its should be sometime in July says ifoapplestore.com.

But yeah GR is a great place except the weather. In the winter you freeze you ass off. Then in the summer ,like today, it started the day at 72. Then in the car today at 12 it read that it was 90!! WTF??

[mkrishnan]

My favorite minor memory of GR (aside from all the major memories) is Vinyl Solutions...I think that's my favorite indie record store ever. :) Ahem, I mean EVAR! :D I don't think it exists anymore, but it used to be on 28th st....

[efoto]

Ok I will move my post to here.



But yeah GR is a great place except the weather. In the winter you freeze you ass off. Then in the summer ,like today, it started the day at 72. Then in the car today at 12 it read that it was 90!! WTF??

Ah the seasons, lovely full four seasons weather in Michigan, I love it! Winter is cold as frozen hell, summer can get quite hot, spring is just all-around nice and pleasant and fall is full of color and just amazing in nature.

So we are finally getting an AppleStore on the west side of MI!!? :eek: :D Are you serious!?
I come home July 7 (in France for work for 3 months) and if it is open then I'll be in heaven!

[runninmac]

Yeah I was really excited about it when I heard about it. Yeah the spring and fall has some of the nicest weather around, very pleasnt.

[Applespider]

To stay OT, I took a trip to Grand Rapids last year. We had a crazy night out there - boy, Grand Rapids natives can drink with the best of them. We'd gone out to meet up with Curt Anes, the ex GV State QB, and then go up to the Saginaw football game. From the little I can remember, Grand Rapids seemed like a great place!

I'll move my post too. ;) We were there in early October - great drive round from Chicago stopping at the Indiana sand dunes.

Now that we're on-topic, I do recall the piano bar (near the Amway Grand Plaza hotel which was also fabulous!) which we started the evening in... and was a lot of fun. The next bar I seem to recall involved lots of shots of schnapps etc... ouch...

[feakbeak]

efoto, you are in France and you're raving about Grand Rapids? I've been there a couple times but not recently. It's alright, but I'm not sure I would have started a thread about it. I prefer the Traverse Bay, Petosky, Macinack area. I live about a half hour east of Detroit, in suburbia. Overall, I'm not a huge fan of Michigan weather despite living here my entire life. I don't mind the cold in the winter as much as how often it is overcast. Michigan is one the cloudiest states in the US, not sure how it ranks with the rest of the world. I just wish we had some more sunshine. Autumn, particularly September and October is my favorite time of the year in Michigan - not to hot, not too cold. The air is crisp and there is often a gentle breeze and the colors of the trees is amazing.

[efoto]

I'll move my post too. ;) We were there in early October - great drive round from Chicago stopping at the Indiana sand dunes.

Now that we're on-topic, I do recall the piano bar (near the Amway Grand Plaza hotel which was also fabulous!) which we started the evening in... and was a lot of fun. The next bar I seem to recall involved lots of shots of schnapps etc... ouch...

I never really thought of GR natives as being heavy drinkers, but now that you say it and I think about it, I can see it and completely agree that we like our liquer and beer, and hold it pretty damn well too.

I'm just happy with how the city has been growing in the last few years. Van Andel Arena really helped get some big names into the city and spurred the 'tourism' which I never thought GR would have tourists since it isn't a very big city.

I'm risking a war here, but I would argue that GR is probably the nicest city in Michigan currently, and I say that not just because I live there but because I think it really is better. I have taken classes in Lansing (gone downhill in the late years) and Detroit has nice parts but they seem outweighed by the not-nice parts.

[mkrishnan]

I'm risking a war here, but I would argue that GR is probably the nicest city in Michigan currently, and I say that not just because I live there but because I think it really is better. I have taken classes in Lansing (gone downhill in the late years) and Detroit has nice parts but they seem outweighed by the not-nice parts.

GR is very nice. Ann Arbor is not such a large place, but it would be high on my list too. Detroit isn't "nice" -- it's charms lie in completely different things. But I really do think it has many charms. Detroit is...erm...it's a good place to be a twenty-something, more than a particularly good place to raise children.

[efoto]

efoto, you are in France and you're raving about Grand Rapids? I've been there a couple times but not recently. It's alright, but I'm not sure I would have started a thread about it. I prefer the Traverse Bay, Petosky, Macinack area. I live about a half hour east of Detroit, in suburbia. Overall, I'm not a huge fan of Michigan weather despite living here my entire life. I don't mind the cold in the winter as much as how often it is overcast. Michigan is one the cloudiest states in the US, not sure how it ranks with the rest of the world. I just wish we had some more sunshine. Autumn, particularly September and October is my favorite time of the year in Michigan - not to hot, not too cold. The air is crisp and there is often a gentle breeze and the colors of the trees is amazing.

I am in France for work, and raving about GR because I love it and can't wait to get home (early July). Its not the greatest place on earth and not for everyone, but I personally love the seasons, hot and cold. I do agree with your overcast assessment though, it sure is cloudly a helluva lot.

[feakbeak]

Detroit has nice parts but they seem outweighed by the not-nice parts.Nice parts? There are a few blocks around the sports stadiums and theatres that are nice, aside from that it is awful. The surrounding suburbs have some nice areas such as Ann Arbor, Royal Oak and I do like where I live Plymouth/Northville. However, real estate prices in my area are insane which is why I own a cheap ($140/sq ft) apartment-like condo. I'm only a few blocks from downtown Plymouth, I really like being able to walk down there.

[efoto]

GR is very nice. Ann Arbor is not such a large place, but it would be high on my list too. Detroit isn't "nice" -- it's charms lie in completely different things. But I really do think it has many charms. Detroit is...erm...it's a good place to be a twenty-something, more than a particularly good place to raise children.

True, all good points. I was making the point about GR based loosely around it being a nice family town. I was brought-up in GR and love it. I have been all over MI and to over 30 US states and I always end up liking GR for a 'family' the best, although I personally would prefer to live elsewhere if I am still single.

I forgot Ann Arbor which is very nice, although the size of the town is based on the population of the University of Michigan, so its essentially a college town through and through. Of course there are areas not near the campus, but a lot of the people are all UoM attendees.

[efoto]

Nice parts? There are a few blocks around the sports stadiums and theatres that are nice, aside from that it is awful. The surrounding suburbs have some nice areas such as Ann Arbor, Royal Oak and I do like where I live Plymouth/Northville. However, real estate prices in my area are insane which is why I own a cheap ($140/sq ft) apartment-like condo. I'm only a few blocks from downtown Plymouth, I really like being able to walk down there.

I didn't want to come out shouting that D-town sucks because I don't have a ton of experience there and I didn't want to make a rash judgement based on the few visits I have to the area. If the movie 8-Mile is any indication of the situation, then Detroit really sucks :p

I have been to a few of the suburbs and they are very nice, so its hard to classify the entire city as crappy when there are redeeming qualities, even though they may be few.

[buryyourbrideau]

i havent really heard any good things about GR until this thread but i like where i live as of now (Livonia)

but next friday i am moving to the burbs of chicago for college. passed through GR a few times but it was mostly at night for the drive up north.

[efoto]

i havent really heard any good things about GR until this thread but i like where i live as of now (Livonia)

but next friday i am moving to the burbs of chicago for college. passed through GR a few times but it was mostly at night for the drive up north.

Livonia isn't all bad, there are places I have been for friend's houses that were nice but its getting towards the sticks for my liking.

What college in Chi-town are you going to?

[feakbeak]

I didn't want to come out shouting that D-town sucks because I don't have a ton of experience there and I didn't want to make a rash judgement based on the few visits I have to the area. If the movie 8-Mile is any indication of the situation, then Detroit really sucks :p

I have been to a few of the suburbs and they are very nice, so its hard to classify the entire city as crappy when there are redeeming qualities, even though they may be few.Fair to reserve your opinion if you haven't been to D-town much. I grew up two miles from eight mile so I believe I am justified in saying this - Detroit sucks! That goes for the city itself, as for the surrounding suburbs it varies quite a bit, some very nice towns, some crappy ones and a lot in between.

As for Ann Arbor, I've lived there and there is a lot of U of M students and staff, but Pfizer has really been building up in A2 so that brought even more people into town. I lived in Ann Arbor/Ypsi area for 7 years before moving to Plymouth. I like Ann Arbor, very diverse, a lot to do... but I'm not sure I would want to live there permanently.

[mkrishnan]

but next friday i am moving to the burbs of chicago for college. passed through GR a few times but it was mostly at night for the drive up north.

Ahhh, so it's finally time? I remember when you mentioned that you were thinking about doing this. Congratulations! I hope you love Chi-town! My, ahem, *other* favorite Midwestern city. :D

[buryyourbrideau]

Livonia isn't all bad, there are places I have been for friend's houses that were nice but its getting towards the sticks for my liking.

What college in Chi-town are you going to?

haha livonia is like the top 5 safest cities in the US, i wasnt too sure as to what you meant by "sticks"

i am going to dupage community in glen ellyn for 2 yrs

then northern illinois for 4

[Calihafan]

My mom went to Calvin, everyone at my church either is going, or has gone to Calvin, and my Uncle is a senior dean at Calvin. So I've been to Grand Rapids many times.

Kind of gets boring after a while though, doesn't it?

Calih

[efoto]

haha livonia is like the top 5 safest cities in the US, i wasnt too sure as to what you meant by "sticks"

i am going to dupage community in glen ellyn for 2 yrs

then northern illinois for 4

That is actually quite the funny response based on what I meant....

"Sticks" was meant to imply country or low-population-density....which it is, and therefore results in lower crimerate. So yes, Livonia is a very safe, and very....you get the picture ;)

I'm not sayings its all bad, don't get me wrong, I just prefer a little more city than that. GR is a good fit for me currently being smaller than Chicago but bigger than, o I don't know, say Livonia :rolleyes:

[efoto]

My mom went to Calvin, everyone at my church either is going, or has gone to Calvin, and my Uncle is a senior dean at Calvin. So I've been to Grand Rapids many times.

Kind of gets boring after a while though, doesn't it?

Calih

BLASPHEMY! I move to have you removed eternally for all internet usage from any terminal and have an ankle-locator on at all times :confused:

I sentence you to never visit GR again! which from the sound of things from your vantage that wouldn't be aweful punishment :p

Its not the best, not the worst, but I think its pretty nice and really like how it all functions. If it's true we are getting an Apple Store in Woodland mall then that makes GR even more of a 'hot spot' seeing as it would be the only Apple Store to the west of Yipsi (I believe....two over there, closest on the west is Chicago which is actually twice as far as driving to Yipsi is :( )

[feakbeak]

That is actually quite the funny response based on what I meant....

"Sticks" was meant to imply country or low-population-density....which it is, and therefore results in lower crimerate. So yes, Livonia is a very safe, and very....you get the picture ;)

I'm not sayings its all bad, don't get me wrong, I just prefer a little more city than that. GR is a good fit for me currently being smaller than Chicago but bigger than, o I don't know, say Livonia :rolleyes:Livonia is a pretty big town. It's only half the population of GR, but 100,000 people is certainly not "the sticks".

[buryyourbrideau]

That is actually quite the funny response based on what I meant....

"Sticks" was meant to imply country or low-population-density....which it is, and therefore results in lower crimerate. So yes, Livonia is a very safe, and very....you get the picture ;)

I'm not sayings its all bad, don't get me wrong, I just prefer a little more city than that. GR is a good fit for me currently being smaller than Chicago but bigger than, o I don't know, say Livonia :rolleyes:

hahaha my bad i didnt know what you were saying, everyone i meet that isnt from around here thinks its like some small hick ass country town, but the other funny thing is i am always meeting someone in other places that are from here. yea it kinda sucks here. whatev

[FightTheFuture]

never thought i would see a thread based on an obscure michigan city. well, maybe not that obscure. i'm in suburbia right now. middle upper-class sterling heights. it annoys me alot. but i guess it suits me cause i'm a geek. i've been to GR once, to shoot a car dealership spot. seemed pretty nice. a lot more down to earth than some of the materialism in the more upperclass areas surrounding detroit *cough* birmingham *cough* royal joke. i would like to spend some time in GR, just cause gillian anderson grew up there :p

[runninmac]

I don't know if you care or not but The Prisident, Gerald R. Ford also grew up there and has a museum. Not that exciting but a way to kill an afternoon. And I too never thought that I would see a thread that was talking about GR.

[kjr39]

I'm over in the Brighton area and really like the GR area.

In fact, the only thing I don't like about GR is that my sister lives there....

[Bibulous]

GR is a great town, anyone know the name of a late night hotdog place, where you through coins in a bucket behind the bar for some reason...

Anyone use the Kal-Haven trail?

[Toreador93]

WOO! Some Michiganians!

An ex-girlfriend lives in Grand Rapids (actually caledonia), so I've been there a few times. I personally have lived all over South East and Middle Michigan, and the Thumb. Grand Rapids is better than most of the places I've lived, but much harsher weather. You guys get A LOT of snow!

I also enjoy the fact that I-69's implied speed limit goes from 75mph to about 90mph around Grand Rapids :D

I agree with Feakbeak, Autumn is our BEST season by far. I personally hate the humidity in the summer most of all.

Cool Buryyourbrideau, I went to Loyola Univ, Chicago for a year. I LOVE Chicago food. Be sure to have a lot of money on hand, because you'll want to eat out a lot! I recommend Carmen's for pizza and Leona's for pasta (both near Loyola's stop on the "L". They are elsewhere too, but Loyola's is the best I've had). And you MUST eat at the Cheesecake Factory at the base of the Hancock building! All their food is awesome, and their Tiramisu Cheesecake is TO DIE FOR!
Beware of all the homeless! Some are pretty cool, and you can end up giving away a lot of money over time. Then when you start refusing, some can get nasty. You'd probably be better off ignoring them. Sad but true.

[efoto]

never thought i would see a thread based on an obscure michigan city. well, maybe not that obscure. <snip>
And I too never thought that I would see a thread that was talking about GR.

Just imagine the possibilities, GR can do so much for you all! :rolleyes:

I never thought it woudl get replies, I just got excited and did it quickly and rashly, glad people care enough, or not at all, but are still posting :)

[mkrishnan]

Anyone use the Kal-Haven trail?

Does that trail run up alongside the lake? I used to *love* cycling in the summer along Lake Michigan up to downtown GH and get ice cream on the board walk.... Ahhhh, happy days. Come home just as dusk hit. :)

[18thTomorrow]

w00t, a thread about my darling little city!

I really do love it--it's got so much culture and class for a city of its size, and the VanAndel/Devos families have been so amazing in the things they've done for our city. Sometimes people complain about having everything be named "VanAndel this" and "DeVos that" but I don't care, they've been very instrumental in the growth of our city.

Bibulous, I think you might be talking about "The Dog Pit"...

[Nanda Devi]

What a strange coincidence - I grew up in GR (lived there since I was 3). I've now lived in East Lansing (home of MSU) for about 8 years, and I just happened to make my first trip back to GR yesterday because my folks are moving back up (they've lived down south for the last 5 years).

I found GR a bit boring while I was growing up there, but it does have some good stuff to offer and I'm looking forward to spending some time there again now that my folks will be there again.

I've always preferred northern MI though - especially the UP, but also Charlevoix, Petoskey, Harbor Springs, etc.

Lansing sucks. I'm just dying to get out of MI altogether and move out to the mountains...

[Nanda Devi]

My favorite minor memory of GR (aside from all the major memories) is Vinyl Solutions...I think that's my favorite indie record store ever. :) Ahem, I mean EVAR! :D I don't think it exists anymore, but it used to be on 28th st....

Yes, Vinyl is a great store! Haven't been there in MANY years. I used to find some incredible t-shirts there... I found one from "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (before the film came out - this was a shirt with Ralph Steadman's art work on it) and one from "Eraserhead" (early David Lynch film), not to mention a plethora of Pink Floyd shirts.

I used to like the area known as "East Town", near Calvin college. There was a great little coffee shop there called Kava House (probably still there), and a very good vegetarian restaurant called Gaia's. Also a nice used book shop called Argos. Anyone else familiar with that area? It was sort of like a mini Ann Arbor in GR...

[runninmac]

GR is a great town, had a friend at GVSU and got to spend some time around town. Anyone know the name of a late night hotdog place, where you through coins in a bucket behind the bar for some reason...


I think the place you are thinking about is YesterDogs. The movie american pie was baised on East GR where that was but they didnt want it to be assosicated with a party town becuase its where alot of multi-millionares live and its not a party town.

[Roger1]

I went to Grand Rapids for the first time in April. I took my kids to Meijer Garden for the butterfly show. I was very impressed with the place. In fact, the little bit of Grand Rapids I saw was very, very nice. It looks like a very neat and clean city.

As for Ann Arbor, I love that city. But since an 800 sq.ft. house, in slightly run down condition goes for close to 200,000, it is wayyy out of my price range.

I used to live in Brighton, and it was nice, but it has gotten a lot of congestion in the past few years (kind of like Pinckney).

BTW, I live in Stockbridge right now.

[gernb]

I think Grand Rapids rocks...but then again, I've got a wife and a kid and am fairly settled down. I know a lot of people think it's too provincial, but the truth is, you can find whatever you're looking for wherever you go.

I'm actually looking to move to GR from suburban Detroit...this place is a freaking hell hole. Anyone who grew up here and believes it's anything different is just seeing things with really clouded eyes.

If anyone knows of ad/design/marcom firms hiring in west michigan...let me know. There are a handful of cool shops there and the cost of living is great. Where else can you buy a new 4 bedroom 2 bath house for 200K?

The downside is that Amway's world headquarters is so close...but, hey, you can't have it all.

[railthinner]

I assumed the title to this thread was sarcastic before entering; and maybe it would be about some meth head from one of the many surrounding redneck "communities" the Michigan militia likes to call home going berserk. That little Michigan town is a great microcosm of much of what is wrong in America. It's a conservative stronghold with no public transportation, blatent segregation, where the wealthy elite built their empire via pyramid schemes, and half the population dresses as if they were Blockbuster store employees; where the ratio of churches per person is perhaps only outnumbered by the chain restaurants lining the strip malls in suburban sprawl. It's a good place to hide and play safe from the realities of the rest of the world. Sorry, not my kind of home.

Just in case anyone wanted a second opinion before planning a vacation.

Much of Michigan's lakeshore and Northern landscape is beautiful by the way. (I had to say at least SOMETHING positive)

[mkrishnan]

where the wealthy elite built their empire via pyramid schemes

I *was* waiting for the Amway jokes.... :rolleyes: :eek: :D

[efoto]

I *was* waiting for the Amway jokes.... :rolleyes: :eek: :D

What do you mean, it's a completely legitimate business :rolleyes:. I have NEVER (hahaha) seen anything remotely unjust or bordering on illegal come from Amway (heavy HEAVY sarcasm), never :p

Every "stronghold" must have it's weaknesses. We happen to have Amway's world headquarters....there she be. Besides, their soap isn't the best anyway :rolleyes: :p

[efoto]

GR is a great town, had a friend at GVSU and got to spend some time around town. Anyone know the name of a late night hotdog place, where you through coins in a bucket behind the bar for some reason...

Dog Pit SUCKS! *looks left, looks right* Long live the Yesterdog!

I know someone already answered, but not with the supremist tone I was conveying :D You through coins in the shute on the wall behind the bar for tips, and because its fun. When you miss, they go everywhere and depending on the 'waiter' you have (and if you are a regular or not) if you can bounce your coin back and hit your hotdog, its free :D

[efoto]

I assumed the title to this thread was sarcastic before entering; and maybe it would be about some meth head from one of the many surrounding redneck "communities" the Michigan militia likes to call home going berserk. That little Michigan town is a great microcosm of much of what is wrong in America. It's a conservative stronghold with no public transportation, blatent segregation, where the wealthy elite built their empire via pyramid schemes, and half the population dresses as if they were Blockbuster store employees; where the ratio of churches per person is perhaps only outnumbered by the chain restaurants lining the strip malls in suburban sprawl. It's a good place to hide and play safe from the realities of the rest of the world. Sorry, not my kind of home.

Just in case anyone wanted a second opinion before planning a vacation.

Much of Michigan's lakeshore and Northern landscape is beautiful by the way. (I had to say at least SOMETHING positive)

My Uncle was just telling me recently that Michigan is top (or top 5, not sure which) for states in the union of the United States of America to have the most registered militant militias. Michiganders are a crazy bunch, I'll give you that, but GR is pretty level-headed. Some of the comments you made about the rich overpowering the poor if accurate, there is a huge segregation in some parts of GR (like East-town/EGR). The thing I notice however is that it is a growing development (as a city) and that it doesn't take a millionaire to live there. My parents are fine, but by no means wealthy and we maintain a nice home, in a great neighborhood, surrounded by people of similar *status* as us financially. We have two millionaires in our neighborhood, and they are some of the nicest and most generous neighbors ever. Every Halloween, Mr. Z (named concealed to protect the rich :p) gives out KINGSIZE candybars with a sign that says "Take 3" and he has his garage (three stall) open and setup with tons of things and activities for the kids. He transforms his barn (directly behind his house) into a haunted house that older kids from the neighborhood run, and he has donuts and apple-cider for everyone. People basically make the rounds of the neighborhood and then b-line it for Mr. Z's place and hangout there until 'bedtime' (for the youth). When it gets late(r) he brings out other 'treats' for the older crowd and helpers of the haunted house and such.

GR is a conservative town, stronghold I think might be pushing it, but it is conservative surely. Now that you say it, there is little public transportation to the outskirts of town, but downtown there is GRATA (Grand Rapids Area Transit Authority) which is a highly affordable and highly efficient downtown busing system, and DASH (Downtown Area Shuttle) which is what most business wo/men take from any of the parking garages outside the immediate downtown. Granted things are not perfect, but they are much better than a lot of other places I have been. As 18thTomorrow stated some people don't like the influences of DeVos and VanAndel, however those two families have donated countless funds to the city and have helped turn it into a very nice and safe community. I appreciate their efforts.

[runninmac]

Yeah the VanAndels and Devos has contibuted so much to the city that they own about half of downtown (no lie) and its weird to think that 2 people gave Grand Rapids (the second bigest city in mich) a new start. Im not to fond of how one of the wifes likes priviate schooling and how she is trying to give them money when some of the schools around the area are closing down schools even though there population is expanding. It doesnt make any sence. But enough of my pointless rambling.

[efoto]

Yeah the VanAndels and Devos has contibuted so much to the city that they own about half of downtown (no lie) and its weird to think that 2 people gave Grand Rapids (the second bigest city in mich) a new start. Im not to fond of how one of the wifes likes priviate schooling and how she is trying to give them money when some of the schools around the area are closing down schools even though there population is expanding. It doesnt make any sence. But enough of my pointless rambling.

They have given a lot and in return have a lot of influence and power, as it always is when one person/family gives countless funds to a cause (in this case the city). I see your point on private schools however they are quite expensive and since you know all their children go there, it makes sense that she wants to give them money to help them out a little. Obviously tuition bills don't bother those families, but if she sees an upside to private schooling than perhaps she wants to help them out to make it easier for other families to send their children there.

I know that DeVos (I think) made a huge donation to the HS I went to (GRCHS) and they added that big auditorium/performance/praise hall thingy on the side of our school, and added parking lots and repaved, completely upgraded the place. Of course the project finished the summer (or two :confused: ) after I graduated there, but whatever.

[Bibulous]

My Uncle was just telling me recently that Michigan is top (or top 5, not sure which) for states in the union of the United States of America to have the most registered militant militias. Michiganders are a crazy bunch, I'll give you that, but GR is pretty level-headed. Some of the comments you made about the rich overpowering the poor if accurate, there is a huge segregation in some parts of GR (like East-town/EGR). The thing I notice however is that it is a growing development (as a city) and that it doesn't take a millionaire to live there. My parents are fine, but by no means wealthy and we maintain a nice home, in a great neighborhood, surrounded by people of similar *status* as us financially. We have two millionaires in our neighborhood, and they are some of the nicest and most generous neighbors ever. Every Halloween, Mr. Z (named concealed to protect the rich :p) gives out KINGSIZE candybars with a sign that says "Take 3" and he has his garage (three stall) open and setup with tons of things and activities for the kids. He transforms his barn (directly behind his house) into a haunted house that older kids from the neighborhood run, and he has donuts and apple-cider for everyone. People basically make the rounds of the neighborhood and then b-line it for Mr. Z's place and hangout there until 'bedtime' (for the youth). When it gets late(r) he brings out other 'treats' for the older crowd and helpers of the haunted house and such.

GR is a conservative town, stronghold I think might be pushing it, but it is conservative surely. Now that you say it, there is little public transportation to the outskirts of town, but downtown there is GRATA (Grand Rapids Area Transit Authority) which is a highly affordable and highly efficient downtown busing system, and DASH (Downtown Area Shuttle) which is what most business wo/men take from any of the parking garages outside the immediate downtown. Granted things are not perfect, but they are much better than a lot of other places I have been. As 18thTomorrow stated some people don't like the influences of DeVos and VanAndel, however those two families have donated countless funds to the city and have helped turn it into a very nice and safe community. I appreciate their efforts.

Great reply to railthinner's post.

Michigan and GR in particular know what they have. To say that the social or political leadership "hide and play safe from the realities" of the rest of the world is ridiculous.

Long live the Yesterdog

[besler3035]

I attend Aquinas College in Grand Rapids...

[railthinner]

Great reply to railthinner's post.

efotos response is great. I disagree with some things but that's fine. You, on the other hand, are mis-representing what I said and apparently didn't understand it. There's nothing in my previous post that was ridiculous. There is an unusually large percentage of the population there who live amongst the suburban sprawl and have little recognition of human life outside of their work, chain restaurants, church and Sam's Club. This is America at it's most sedated. I'm not down on everyone and everything there though. I happen to love Yesterdog.

[runninmac]

I attend Aquinas College in Grand Rapids...

So can I excpect that your going to the opening of the applestore saterday? The doors for people to get in line will open at 7.

[nuclearwinter]

My mom went to Calvin, everyone at my church either is going, or has gone to Calvin, and my Uncle is a senior dean at Calvin. So I've been to Grand Rapids many times.

Kind of gets boring after a while though, doesn't it?

Calih

I am actually a Calvin graduate. I never really thought of GR as a place for twenty somethings more than a place for peeps to raise a fam. It's alright, but I prefer the west coast (Holland, that is) to GR. Can't really stand the city to long, but then again it doesn't take to long to get out of it.

[besler3035]

So can I excpect that your going to the opening of the applestore saterday? The doors for people to get in line will open at 7.

Had no clue this was going on! That's great though! Too bad right now I'm in Traverse City, back at home...

[efoto]

So can I excpect that your going to the opening of the applestore saterday? The doors for people to get in line will open at 7.

The place I call home, because it is :p, finally gets an Apple Store and I cannot be there to go the opening, shibbers. Damn you Jobs (even though I doubt he even knows what a Grand Rapids is :)

I get home a week later, I hope they still have stock of some things, I want to pick up some accessories and Tiger.

[efoto]

I am actually a Calvin graduate. I never really thought of GR as a place for twenty somethings more than a place for peeps to raise a fam. It's alright, but I prefer the west coast (Holland, that is) to GR. Can't really stand the city to long, but then again it doesn't take to long to get out of it.

It isn't really a place for 20 somethings, it is most definitely a place for young-to-middle aged couples, especially once they have kids. It has proven to be a great location to raise children and have a nice little existance.

Holland, HOLLAND! :eek: Are you serious? You must be joking....I hope you are joking.





You are joking right?
Oh god, heart murmur....HOLLAND!? :eek:

Long live Grand Haven baby, that is where all the to-young-for-me-now highschool-hotties and wish-i-had-money-but-riced-out-my-car people go, I love that place :D There are so many subjects for some great people watching studies, not to mention take a camera with a half-way decent zoom lens on a summer day....and well, you have an imagination, wake it up and you know what I am getting it :cool:

[efoto]

efotos response is great. I disagree with some things but that's fine. You, on the other hand, are mis-representing what I said and apparently didn't understand it. There's nothing in my previous post that was ridiculous. There is an unusually large percentage of the population there who live amongst the suburban sprawl and have little recognition of human life outside of their work, chain restaurants, church and Sam's Club. This is America at it's most sedated. I'm not down on everyone and everything there though. I happen to love Yesterdog.

Yeah, I made a "great" post, go me! *makes a tick on the tick-wall for great posts, "tick one"*. I'm glad you liked it.

Sure everything is not going to have you agreeing, it is admittedly bias to a degree, afterall I do live there and enjoy it :)

I recognize no-one outside of my work, I love chain restaurants, not such a big church fan, and we just got a Costco thank you very much....but I have yet to enter it (don't shop at Sam's either though). I think calling GR "America at its most sedated" is a little over the top, but there are a lot of residence in the greater GR area that do sit on their comfy sums of money and do nothing all day, week, month, and year. I know, I work to be one :p (not really)

[railthinner]

Costco's a really good place as far as warehouse shopping is concerned. If every company were run like that the world would be a better place.

[efoto]

Costco's a really good place as far as warehouse shopping is concerned. If every company were run like that the world would be a better place.

Were run like what? I thought other than some differences in price structure it was essentially a different brand of Sam's Club, non-Walmart derived (which is a good thing since The Walmart is taking over).

What makes it different/better?

[railthinner]

Wow. I was about to reply with some of the many good things I had heard about Costco's business practices then I looked here:

http://www.responsibleshopper.org/basic.cfm?cusip=22160K

and I'm feeling like I've been misled.

Yikes, I'm giving up. corporate america is evil. :(
What's Next? I'll probably read about seal clubbings in the backroom of Whole Foods.

editsssss:
I know there's already a Walmart thread somewhere on MR so with out adding too much razamataz in the GR thread on this issue there are actually some pluses to Costco over The Walmart boys in my opinion. Here's more:
http://www.newshounds.us/2005/05/07/distorted_defense_of_wal_mart_on_beltway_boys.php

I had heard a lot about Costcos good treatment of employees and their CEO taking a low, reasonable salary, responsible purchasing, etc. ??

[runninmac]

Had no clue this was going on! That's great though! Too bad right now I'm in Traverse City, back at home...

When I was younger (not that im old) my family and I had a cottage out there It was a lot of fun and a ton of stuff to do. To bad we never go back anymore were all to busy.

[efoto]

Wow. I was about to reply with some of the many good things I had heard about Costco's business practices then I looked here:

http://www.responsibleshopper.org/basic.cfm?cusip=22160K

and I'm feeling like I've been misled.

Yikes, I'm giving up. corporate america is evil. :(
What's Next? I'll probably read about seal clubbings in the backroom of Whole Foods.

editsssss:
I know there's already a Walmart thread somewhere on MR so with out adding too much razamataz in the GR thread on this issue there are actually some pluses to Costco over The Walmart boys in my opinion. Here's more:
http://www.newshounds.us/2005/05/07/distorted_defense_of_wal_mart_on_beltway_boys.php

I had heard a lot about Costcos good treatment of employees and their CEO taking a low, reasonable salary, responsible purchasing, etc. ??<bold mine>

Umm, you didn't read about those clubings yet? :(, sorry to break it to you....it isn't just Whole Foods either....

Interesting links. When I get back I'll have to get into Costco somehow and browse around and check things out. My friend was telling me that they have a long-term service warranty on products purchased there and that if he were to purchase an iPod there it would actually be covered longer by Costco than by Apple :eek: I'm not sure this is true but if so, I wouldn't care about worker competence if I could get long-term warranties included in my purchases ;)