Posted August 9, 200915 yr 2009 ColDay Series: Part 1: East Coast + Detroit Part 2: Cincinnati Part 3: Toronto Part 4: Cincinnati & Washington DC Part 5: Louisville Part 6: Grand Rapids & Lansing Part 7: Lima & Windsor Part 8: Dayton & Cincinnati Part 9: Baltidelphia Part 10: Chicago Part 11: Pittsburgh Part 12: 2ronto Part 13: The Chicago Bengals Part 14: Dallas & Austin Part 15: Atlanta Grand Rapids Lansing Goodbye, from Detroit "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 9, 200915 yr Grand Rapids looks great. There are some funky, but nicely scaled buildings there.
August 12, 200915 yr How dare you put Grand Rapids and Lansing in the same thread. Way to end on a bad note ColDayMan! Although the last shot of Ditroit was nice.
August 12, 200915 yr I mean the parking lot behind the state capitol....right on the mall! It's got to go. I wonder what space belongs to Jenny from the block.
October 30, 200915 yr Man I am becoming more and more impressed every time a see a thread on Lansing. Even the neighborhoods seem to be in good shape..
October 30, 200915 yr Man I am becoming more and more impressed every time a see a thread on Lansing. Even the neighborhoods seem to be in good shape.. You mean Grand Rapids?
November 2, 200915 yr that last shot of downtown Detroit looks pretty good...you can imagine Detroit as a little Chicago there, with that recreational water traffic in front. If Grand Rapids had that Lansing art deco skyscraper with the clock it would be perfect. As it is those pix make GR look near perfect. Nice to see some neighborghood shots, too.
November 3, 200915 yr The GR is hopping. I could have gone there many times but it was just out of the way from where I was going or leaving from.
November 5, 200915 yr Man I am becoming more and more impressed every time a see a thread on Lansing. Even the neighborhoods seem to be in good shape.. No I mean Lansing...! jk yea I mean Grand Rapids You mean Grand Rapids?
January 28, 201015 yr It is easy to forget how interesting ones own city can be as we tend to always be looking at the "greener" grass. It does seem, comparing to many a cities with a similar population (close to 200,000) my home town of GR does tend to have a lot of great buildings, river front parks, night life, concerts and shows, and very walkable. (With all four downtown museums just blocks from each other) It's no Cincy, but for now it will have to suffice. (Though I am a little envious of the people mover in the big D (motor city) but that's another story.) Definitely some great shots. (East Grand Rapids, East town, Heartside, East hills, Wealthy st., and Downtown -- it doesn't get much better of a thread than that)
January 28, 201015 yr Looks good, and GR has come a long ways in recent years, but the downtown streets are often void of much in terms of pedestrian life, and these photos bear that out. I remember when that Starbuck's in EGR (first photo) was a men's store, right? Wasn't it the Bagpiper?
January 28, 201015 yr Anyone think we can drag Grand Rapids into the Buckeye State? It would look great where Sandusky is now ;)
January 30, 201015 yr Looks good, and GR has come a long ways in recent years, but the downtown streets are often void of much in terms of pedestrian life, and these photos bear that out. I remember when that Starbuck's in EGR (first photo) was a men's store, right? Wasn't it the Bagpiper? Retail downtown is almost obsolete except for specialty stores and such, and most people living downtown (or area of) are not rich. Infact, the twin towers you see tried to sue would be tenants as they have backed out of the condo purchase, and so now they have resorted to leasing. There is, however, many new condos that have spring up (Seward ave., N. Monroe ave., and several in the Heartside) Of course, there is some exceptions to this, but the majority of money lies in East Grand Rapids and eastward. I cannot help you with the Bagpiper question. Back in my day it was all about East town. Back in that day (10 years or so ago) downtown was dead except for a few skaters and sellers of a different kind, with the exception of the small but wild Reptile house on S. Division. Now days all of the clubs from East town seem to have shifted to downtown, mainly on Ionia ave. (including the BOB (Big Old Building - ha)) and Monroe Center/Pearl st. Downtown does get packed on event nights at the Arena and Conventional Center, but outside of that, and Saturday nights, there is certainly room on the sidewalks. In the day between 9-5 of course, it can be active, but most stores and restaurants (excluding night clubs) close by around 5 pm. Some of this could change a little as the UICA finishes their new complex with art and alternative movies, and a store by next year. In saying that, downtown has come a long, long way in a short amount of time. It wasn't all that long ago that the Grand Plaza was the only real tower we had (outside of the 10 story McKay tower). Really, if I have to stay in MI for now, I would have to live in GR or Detroit because no where else really compares in MI. Anyone think we can drag Grand Rapids into the Buckeye State? It would look great where Sandusky is now ;) I'm game!! I see I am not the only poster with GR ties If it is not to personell, what ties do you have in the smaller river city? (PS It's nice to finally be talking with ya all that I have been reading from so long, as even before I became a member, I have been looking at this sight since around the year 2000.)
January 30, 201015 yr franciskelsey, Despite being Ohio-born I spent my all of my formative years, age 6 to 23, growing up in Jenison (I know) and attending Grand Valley State University. I now live in Ohio again but all of my closest friends still live in West Michigan. I loved my time there but since the majority of my extended family all lived in Ohio, it just always felt like my true home. I always knew I would end up moving back. I was no stranger to the downtown bar scene from the time I turned 21 until the time I moved. Thankyou Johio for sharing. I got news for ya though, I would have been happy growing up in Jenison. I grew up just north of town, Sparta. A big town of 4,000 people. I remember when our town reached it's climax at that time with the opening of a Mc Donalds! Yeeha! It was not until after graduation when we moved to the west side. My grandma used to live in Chauncey, OH (just north of Athens) and so we used to frequent the Hocking hills allot. I have always felt at home in Ohio. Infact, both sides of my family was from that region but one side moved to MI to find work when the auto industry was kicking. Grand Rapids is definitely the place for the bar scene, and it helps to have the river right next door for scenery. That's why you went down there, right? (ha) I have yet to visit Sandusky apart from Cedar Point, but maybe I will in the future. What I want to do is go island hopping. Now that would be fun.
January 31, 201015 yr Sparta produces some mighty fine apples. So true, but for some reason they still never kept the doctor away! Very dense and nice! Agreed, for that size of city, few can compare on density with similar populations. Now let's not talk about for lease signs. But at least their not a parking lot. When (if) MI economy picks back up, Grand Rapids will be a forerunner, as of even now, slow growth is still occurring.
January 31, 201015 yr franciskelsey, Despite being Ohio-born I spent my all of my formative years, age 6 to 23, growing up in Jenison (I know) and attending Grand Valley State University. I now live in Ohio again but all of my closest friends still live in West Michigan. I loved my time there but since the majority of my extended family all lived in Ohio, it just always felt like my true home. I always knew I would end up moving back. I was no stranger to the downtown bar scene from the time I turned 21 until the time I moved. Thankyou Johio for sharing. I got news for ya though, I would have been happy growing up in Jenison. I grew up just north of town, Sparta. A big town of 4,000 people. I remember when our town reached it's climax at that time with the opening of a Mc Donalds! Yeeha! It was not until after graduation when we moved to the west side. My grandma used to live in Chauncey, OH (just north of Athens) and so we used to frequent the Hocking hills allot. I have always felt at home in Ohio. Infact, both sides of my family was from that region but one side moved to MI to find work when the auto industry was kicking. Grand Rapids is definitely the place for the bar scene, and it helps to have the river right next door for scenery. That's why you went down there, right? (ha) I have yet to visit Sandusky apart from Cedar Point, but maybe I will in the future. What I want to do is go island hopping. Now that would be fun. just chiming in.....grew up on Spring Lake (near Lake Michigan). Still a lot of friends in the region. Spent many a wild night at both the Reptile House as well as the Intersection.
January 31, 201015 yr just chiming in.....grew up on Spring Lake (near Lake Michigan). Still a lot of friends in the region. Spent many a wild night at both the Reptile House as well as the Intersection The old Reptile House; I remember when Anthrax got cancelled in INDY and came to the house for a surprise to a crowded 200 people maximen club. Memories. I can say, even with all the ragging I sometimes do to Grand Rapids, I would not want to live anywhere in MI (maybe DT.) Enough said about that for now I guess. Your home town (Spring Lake) had quite the Christmas display this last Christmas. thx for commenting.
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