Grand Rapids

Mid 80’s.
My buddy, the Kamper, has his mother living here.

I used to live in Grand Rapids as an exchange student…
For me, this place was sooooo different than where I live, but it’s interesting to visit it. There really are a lot of churches, and I think downtown area isn’t developed enough… :)

It was a fun mini-vacation. A lot of drinking and A LOT OF CHURCHES… Holy Crap!

I used to live here for about 3 years because my dad lived there. It is a nice place to live, at least when I lived there it was. It was safe and mostly quiet, a nice place to bring up kids. Wonderful library as well downtown.

My aunt lives in Grand Rapids and when I went to visit her she showed me around town. I enjoyed myself and thought it was a cute town.

Taken on its own, Grand Rapids is a nice enough city. A lot better than it used to be. It’s pretty clean and there are some decent areas downtown to get a bite and grab a drink. Unfortunately, it’s the people who make it a place to stay away from. It is the epicenter of one of the most extremely conservative, intolerant regions north of the Mason-Dixon line. If you can’t get enough of vitriolic hate speech disguised as good old fashioned “Family Values”, this place is for you. The saddest thing is that for all its cleaned up streets and downtown redevelopment, having a reputation for intolerance doesn’t serve a city very well in its efforts to grow and prosper. It’s why it continues to lose population. Because the kids these days just don’t seem to be in the mood for a good lynching the way they used to be.

I think because I grew up near here, I just can’t think of a reason for someone to visit…except it has numerous shopping malls…and restaurants…and movie theaters. Sorry, GR!

Both unexpectedly funny and heart-breaking, 51 Birch Street is the first-person account of Block’s unpredictable journey through a whirlwind of dramatic life-changing events: the death of his mother, the uncovering of decades of family secrets, and the ensuing reconciliation with his father. What begins as his own intimate, autobiographical story soon evolves into a broader meditation on the universal themes of love, marriage, fidelity and the mystery of family.
Click here: http://www.spout.com/51BirchStreet/default.aspx to view the site and join us at the UICA on September 28th from 8-10pm for a one time only screening!

I live here in Grand Rapids Michigan for my whole life sure we can have really bad neighborhoods but they are tough to find!! And the climate here isnt to bad compared to other Michigan Places. There are lots of atractions here in GR about 3-4 malls, a performance hall, shopping galore!!, a walk way that crossses through out town and many atractions not to far out of town: for example michigan adventures just about 50min to and hour out of town and it is part amusement park part water park. Please come visit you will never regret it.

Sincerly Bridget

You must drive down 28th street. Every eatery imaginable is there!