Exploring Grand Rapids, Michigan
The company I work for, Walther Trowal, was gracious enough to give our team the day off work Friday to get an early start to the Memorial Day weekend. I decided I would spend the day in downtown Grand Rapids. The goal was to get some personal work done at a coffee shop then explore the city a little bit.
I set up home base at the center of Grand Rapids, Michigan in a Bigby Coffee then went straight to work. Four hours of working, a few friendly interruptions and a hot 20 oz “Teddy Bear” then I was ready to explore.
My first stop was Rosa Parks Circle which is an outside event space for all seasons. It homes an ice skating rink in the Winter and music/food/culture festivals in the summer. Next, I went down Monroe Center Street to window shop the popular local shops such as Madcap Coffee, Kilwins, Grand Rapids Drive, NOMAD Gallery, Old World Olive Company and more. It was quiet and peaceful. People were laying in the grass with their books in hand or chatting with friends over lunch. |
As I was crossing the street, I noticed a woman with an eye-seeing dog and what seemed to be a “lost” look on her face. I immediately asked her if she was lost and she confirmed my suspicion. We chatted for a few moments and then we were off to her destination, the Grand Rapids Public Library. Dianna was not only blind but she was also from out of town. I was in awe of her courage and when I told her this, she simply stated “everyone is courageous when then go off on their own to explore”. Her humble attitude made me like her even more than the fact that she was a fellow Michigan State Spartan fan. In what felt like seconds, we made it to the library, shook hands and went our separate ways..
Being a sneaker fan, Reynold and Sons was my next stop. The employees were inviting and funny. We chatted about workout music and shoes then I was off see the new statue of Roger B. Chaffee on the corner of the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. It is brilliantly sculpted and placed to grab the attention of anyone in the area. Mr. Chaffee was born in Grand Rapids and died in a pre-launch test for the Apollo 1. Even though his life was cut short, it was not wasted. The statue represents progress, pride and dedication. My next stop was the Veterans Memorial Park to see my favorite sign in the city that says “When the power of LOVE overcomes the love for power there will be PEACE”.
Being a sneaker fan, Reynold and Sons was my next stop. The employees were inviting and funny. We chatted about workout music and shoes then I was off see the new statue of Roger B. Chaffee on the corner of the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. It is brilliantly sculpted and placed to grab the attention of anyone in the area. Mr. Chaffee was born in Grand Rapids and died in a pre-launch test for the Apollo 1. Even though his life was cut short, it was not wasted. The statue represents progress, pride and dedication. My next stop was the Veterans Memorial Park to see my favorite sign in the city that says “When the power of LOVE overcomes the love for power there will be PEACE”.
At this point, the 80+ degree weather and my well planned choice of jeans and a long sleeve shirt were starting to make me sweat. I decided it was time to head back to the coffee shop. After a few more hours of working and "sweat-drying", it was time to explore again. This time I headed towards Calder Plaza. Grand Rapids is growing and when you’re downtown its evident. There are cranes and sectioned off areas where businesses are being built. It’s great to see the city I call home growing and striving. However, It’s bad for parking and getting around. With all the detours, It took much longer to reach Calder Plaza than expected. |
Calder Plaza is a beautiful area no matter what season it is. My favorite time of the year to be at the plaza is during the Summer. The Summer kicks off with the Festival of the Arts festival which is one of the biggest events in Grand Rapids. Most locals will make a stop out to the Art festival throughout the three day event in June to enjoy art, culture, food and community.
After exploring Calder Plaza for a while, I began to get hungry and decided to call it a day. One last view of the “La Grande Vitesse” art sculpture and the iconic “Motu Viget” tire swing and then I was off. On my way home, I stopped by one of my favorite restaurants in Grand Rapids, Sundance Bar & Grill, for bite to eat and a mimosa to wash it down. Until Next time, Grand Rapids... |