You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'Grand Rapids Events' category.
Grand Rapids Association of Realtors had their 50th Annual Awards
and Installation Breakfast this morning. We braved a cold, snowy
morning drive to arrive at Frederick Meijer Gardens Banquet Room.
Our new President, John Postma was sworn in along with the new
Board of Directors by Jeff Schreur. Thanks to the old outgoing President,
Greg Carlson, and the Board of Directors that served in 2009.
Representative Dave Hildebrand received the Pinnacle Award for embracing
Realtor issues in Lansing.
My peers voted for a new Pinnacle award this year, Professional Congeniality
Award, which I humbly accepted.
2009 has been one of the most challenging years in the real estate business
in the last 50 years. 2010 will likely be filled with similar changes and
opportunities for those willing to embrace new avenues and ways to
connect with consumers.
_
Share this post :
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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
Ada Michigan – Ada Village Trick or Treat at Ada Village Shops &
Fire Hall Open House Sat. Oct 31st 5-6pm
Cascade Michigan – Halloween Open House at 2865 Thornhills Ave
Fire Station: Oct 31st 6-8pm
East Grand Rapids MI – Halloween Saturday Oct 31st 6-8 pm
Grand Rapids MI – Halloween Event Activities in GR from Jack the Ripper to
corn mazes, something for everyone.
Kentwood MI – Kentwood Halloween Hoopla – Oct 31st Woodland Mall
4-6pm Free Event – must pre-register by Oct 27th
Lowell MI – Oct 31st – Halloween – 6-8pm
Rockford MI – Trick or Treating City of Rockford Sat October 31st. Sirens will sound to start and finish or recommended hours 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Keep your porch light on if participating. Drive slowly to protect our children!
____________________________________________________________________________
If you are looking for a home in the Grand Rapids Area, we service the following areas: Metro Grand Rapids, Ada-Cascade, East Grand Rapids, Caledonia, Kentwood, Lowell, and Rockford. We have moved people in and out of their homes here for the last 35+ years. Call 1-616-292-7263 to talk with Terry or email him at: terry@terrywestbrook.com.
For MLS access to the homes for sale in the West Michigan Area,visit: Westbrook Realty ~ Grand Rapids Real Estate for a free search. Your search can be saved and modified as you view homes, with no obligation.
Thinking of selling your home? We offer one of the most extensive marketing campaigns in Grand Rapids with a major online presence for your home. With over 85% of buyers looking for homes online, this is where we concentrate our efforts. Click here to view Terry’s Realtor profile.
Subscribe to our Grand Rapids Michigan Real Estate Blog
Westbrook Realty – Giving You Our Personal Best
The Grand Rapids Art Prize 2009 Finalists have Been Announced…. drumroll…
The winners are as follows:
Numero Uno: $250,000 Art Prize goes to: Ran Ortner for OPEN WATER #24
This painting will be on display at The Grand Rapids Art Museum through
Jan 2010 if you missed it during Art Prize. Saw a mention online that it
has been sold! Sure hope it stays in our community.
This painting is over 18 feet long…as Michigan is surrounded by water
and going through rough water economically right now, a fitting winner.
Number Two: $100,000 Art Prize goes to: Tracy Van Duinen for Imagine That!
This large outdoor mosaic mural by Tracy Van Duinen covers a portion of the
Grand Rapids Children’s Museum on the front. It is a permanent installation
and a wonderful, whimsical touch to one of our area’s attractions. Interactive
in many ways, this mural will teach, enchant, and educate all of us about
art for years to come.
Number Three: $50,000 Art Prize goes to: Eric Daigh for Portraits
These portraits are 4 x 6 feet and made of plastic push pins on boards.
Eric uses about 50,000 push pins for each portrait. You have to admire
the creativity and unusual medium of this artist!
Number Four: $ 7000 Art Prize goes to: David Lubbers for The Grand Dance
Sculpture. A stunning sight in the middle of the Grand River with lights
and motion.
Number Five: $ 7000 Art Prize goes to: Bill Segunda for The Moose
We haven’t seen this yet but would like to. Bill constructs his life size animals
using up to 60,000 nails welded on metal frame as fur. Hard to see in this picture
but it makes you appreciate the work, vision and creativity that went into this
entry.
Number Six: $ 7000 Art Prize goes to:Thomas Birks for The Nessie Project
This is just such a fun entry, who doesn’t love Nessie on the Grand River?
Number Seven: $7000 Art Prize goes to: John Douglas Powers for Field of Reeds
This is a kinetic sculpture that measures 14 x 10 x 4.5 feet high. The 1001 reeds
sway back and forth to create a rhythmic motion & sound.
Number Eight: $7000 Art Prize goes to: Sarah Grant for The Furniture
This oversize table and chairs placed on the pedestrian Blue Bridge in
Grand Rapids was a favorite of many. With Grand Rapids’ Furniture City
past, it hit many people as not only fun, but indicative of GR’s past, as
evidenced by its full title: Furniture City Sets the Table for the
World of Art.
Number Nine: $7000 Art Prize goes to: Jason Hackenworth for
Ecstasy of The Scarlet Empress
This fantasy sea creature made up entirely of balloons was stunning
and unexpectedly realistic. There were also people interacting with
the crowds wearing balloon costumes created by Jason.
Number Ten: $7000 Art Prize goes to:Michael Westra for Winddancer 2
This welded kinetic sculpture moves with the slightest breeze.
It certainly charmed the voters who saw it.
That is the Art Prize Finalist line up for this year, 2009. We were all
excited and pleased with the community reaction and participation in
viewing and voting for their favorite pieces of art work.
Grand Rapids is looking forward to next year!
All pictures except Nessie, Furniture, and Scarlet Empress are courtesy of the Art Prize web site
With the Grand Rapids Art Prize voting finally totaled last night, we know that most of 1262 entries didn’t win, any money, that is. The Top Ten will now compete for:
- 1st Place – $250K
- 2nd Place – $100K
- 3rd Place – $ 50K
- 4th-10th - $ 7K
Not exactly small change when it comes to art. I imagine most of us don’t have anything close to a $7000 piece of artwork in our homes.
The Top Ten Entries are all worthy and I will have to check them all out before I cast my final vote for the winner. I really enjoyed the thumbs up, thumbs down voting for all the artists. It was really great to be included in something this big and this important to our community.
But I digress, I want to talk about one of the Art Prize entries that didn’t win:
The Red Ball Project:Grand Rapids. We have friends in Heritage Hill who have served as hosts for 2 artists in this event. They provide housing and a home base while the artist puts up, installs, paints, or whatever they have to do to enter their art work. We were fortunate enough to meet the young artist of the Red Ball Project, Kurt Perschke and his wife Kate, while we were touring Art Prize.
This Art Prize entry is a large (15 ft diameter) red inflatable ball that is placed in strategic and well known places to tickle the senses and make you look again. Did I just see a large red ball there? Kids love to punch it and jump into it…..have fun with it. The Red Ball has been all over the world since 2001, Sydney Australia, Portland OR, Chicago IL, Korea, Rome Italy and Barcelona Spain, just to name a few of the spots it has visited.
Kurt and Kate are newlyweds and they are experiencing the Grand Rapids Art Prize together. They have been in Grand Rapids for at least 12 days and yet I doubt they have had time to see much beyond the venues of their Red Ball placement in major downtown venues.
They noted that the citizens of Grand Rapids seemed to take their voting responsibilities quite seriously, carrying notebooks and colored markers to note their reactions to different Art Prize entries.
So even though Red Ball didn’t win the art prize Grand Rapids was a winner. We got exposure to art work that never would have found our city without sponsors or a paid venue. So, thanks Kurt and Kate. It was a fun experience for all of us in Grand Rapids!
Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids Real Estate
Copyright 2009 All rights reserved
We took a few hours to browse the Art Prize venues yesterday, Thursday, Sept 24th, 2009 in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. We saw some fabulous pieces of artwork and we also some we just didn’t get. I am sure it is the same for everyone, as we all see the world through our own private filter.
We took a few photos to share with those who won’t get a chance to see this art extravaganza in person. Some of the artworks have to be seen in person to appreciate the scale and subtleties. some are in-your-face, some are really, really out there, and others are really just for fun.
We registered to vote, toured the Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts, the Blue Bridge, Cathedral Square, Rosa Parks Circle and the Waters Building. We had a wonderful lunch at the Grand Rapids Art Museum’s Terrace Restaurant overlooking Rosa Parks Circle. What a great spot to people watch and even had a few art prize entries stroll past.
We hope to get back to see a lot more artwork. With 159 venues and over 1200 artists, it is quite a task to see them all. Hope you enjoy our tour!
Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids Real Estate
Copyright 2009 All rights reserved
Unless you have hiding under a rock, or chained to your computer, The
Art Prize is the BIG NEWS in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Art Prize was
announced earlier this year as a top prize of $250,000 for the top
art work selected by a public vote. Highly controversial, as those in
the art community doubt that the average person is qualified to
judge art work. It is sure to create a buzz around art and that is
the point.
The Art Prize exhibits opened yesterday and we went for our first
tour today. With 1262 artists entered in over 159 venues, it is no
small task to try to see them all. We took some time to tour the
large sculptures and the Waters Building today. The others will
have to wait until another day.
The voting will take place over a 2 week period, with just a thumbs up
vote to keep an entry in the running. The top 25, top 50, and top 100
are posted on the web site so we can all keep track of who is ahead.
Here are a few photos of the large installations at the Blue Bridge,
so you can get an idea of what Grand Rapids is up to:
The Nessie Project
Sarah Grant Table and Chairs
Our sources tell us the Nessie Project was supposed to go farther out
in the Grand River, so there would be more movement but the cranes
could not get it installed any farther from the shore.
The giant Table and Chairs is a very apt piece for Grand Rapids as we
were known as “Furniture City” in the first half of the 20th century.
Come on out and see the art work for yourself and don’t forget to
register to vote for your favorite pieces.
Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids Michigan
Copyright 2009 All rights reserved
Photos by Bonnie Westbrook
We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful entertainment venue in our Forest Hills Area. The fabulous Fine Arts Centers Shows this winter season have something for everyone.
The entertainment this season starts out with a bang!
Saturday, October 17, 2009 – The Tap Dogs
The Tap Dogs are making waves with their unprecedented show that combines strength and the power of workmen with the precision and talent of tap dancing.
Friday November 6, 2009 – Poco, Firefall, and Pure Prairie League – 3 American folk/rock bands that continue the iconic sounds of the 70s, remaining true to its founding vision.
Thursday, December 3, 2009 – Kool & The Gang –The famous & successful band with the sound of jazz, R&B, funk and pop has produced a string of hits including “Jungle Boogie, Lady’s Night, Celebration, and Get Down on It.”
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 – Band of the Irish Guards/
Thursday, April 29, 2010 – Whose Live Anyway
Season Tickets on sale, August 10th – Oct 16th, 2009
Single tickets for Tap Dogs on sale Sept 14th, 2009
Single tickets for Poco, PPl, & Firefall on sale Oct 12, 2009
All remaining single tickets on sale Oct. 26, 2009 at FAC or any Ticketmaster outlet.
Special Event – Matt Giraud – Friday, January 29, 2010
American Idol’s Matt Giraud, Kalamazoo’s own who made it to the top 5 on
the hit show, American Idol. Ticketed Separate event
Taste of Downtown, Family Festival (w kids activities), & Fireworks
Labor Day weekend has a lot in store for families here in Grand Rapids.
Celebration on the Grand is hosting free outdoor concerts, Sept 10-12.
Free Performances by:
Thursday, September 10th, 2009 – Rosa Parks Circle
- Emerson Drive
- Union Guns
- Bill Kirchen of Commander Cody
- Love & Theft
Friday, September 11, 2009 – Rosa Parks Circle
- Spencer Mulder
- Hank Mowry
- R.B. & Company
- Esparza Blues Experience
- Lynn Thompson Band
- 9:30 Fireworks
- 10:00 PM Jimmie Stagger
Ah-Nab-Awen Park
- 5 pm Ralston Bowls
- 5:45-6:30 Nomad Willy
- 6:45 – 7:45 pm Glean Infusion (Jason Wheeler)
- 8:00-9:30 pm – Organissimo
Saturday September 12, 2009
Monroe Center – Grand Valley Corvette Club Car Show
Rosa Parks Circle
- Taste of Downtown
- School of Rock
- Left Hand Daisy
- Rockit King
- Midlife Crisis
- Concussions
- Edgar Winter
- KC & The Sunshine Band
Ah-Nab-Awen Park
3pm – Family Festival includes Face Painting,
Temporary Tattoos, Crafts Games
Dusk – Feature Film on an outdoor big screen ( weather permitting)
Movie-making has been going strong in Grand Rapids,
Michigan this summer. We have been on a movie set
as extras in a major motion picture filming here in
Grand Rapids and Lowell.
The generous tax incentives that Michigan has offered the
film industry to make their films here is starting to pay off.
Local caterers, local actors, and local crew are being hired
for the filming of The Genesis Code, a hockey themed
movie starring Academy Award winners, Ernest Borgnine
& Louise Fletcher ( Nurse Ratched fame), and former
Presidential candidate, Fred Thompson.
The production company needed a hundred + extras for
a scene in a church. We are in the pews, singing (actually
miming the words only) and listening to the sermon.
Not tough work, for sure, although it was a warm summer
day, no air-conditioning, a church full of people & lights,
and we were dressed in winter clothes for a Christmas scene.
The magic of movies. We noted fake snow around the
small pond, too, when we walked out for lunch.
The whole production was fascinating to observe. We were
made comfortable in a nearby lounge at Calvin College,
until we were lined up and put in the chapel pews. The art
of film was evident at close inspection. Stained glass windows
were in the front to the chapel. The art dept had made paper
to fit the side windows that matched the stained glass up front,
mainly to control the amount of light coming in.
The crew and production staff were always busy and
bustling around. Everyone seemed to have a walkie-talkie
and an ear-bud to keep connected and keep the production
flowing smoothly. They all seemed to possess the talent of
listening and talking to more than 1 person at a time.
About an hour of filming the same scene each time, from
different angles, and 10 hours later, we were done! Our
scene will probably be about 3-4 minutes in length. I have
a whole new appreciation for a film crew and what it takes
to make a full length feature.
We were given a box lunch and treats in between. No pay
but we might just make it through editing and be in a major
motion picture.
Here are a few pictures from our seat in the ”extra” spot.
I don’t imagine the film crew gets their picture taken very often.
We might be going to one of the hockey arena shoots this
weekend. It is nearby but they are filming from 5pm to 5am.
Not sure we can make it through that time frame – even if
we sleep in our seats!!
Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids Real Estate
Copyright 2009 all rights reserved
Wearing o’ the green would be appropriate for attending the
Great Lakes Irish Music Festival held at Fifth Third Ball Park,
this Saturday August 22, 2009 11:00 am – 9:20 pm.
Gates open at 11:00 am and the first entertainment hits the
stage at noon.
Of course there will be Irish food available for purchase, bangers
and beer, for starters, plus other delectable Irish delights.
The musical entertainment will be performed by international acts:
Quinn’s School of Irish Dance, Stephen’s Green, The Elders,
Brendan Nolan and the Screaming Orphans. Michigan’s Fenian’s
Players will once again take the stage to regale the crowd with
ballads and the spoken word.
There will also be Irish markets and workshops devoted to Irish music,
history and it’s language that will be available for participants. A
Children’s Area will be provided by the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
from 12:00pm-4pm for the wee ones entertainment.
An added attraction at Fifth Third Ballpark this year is Art in the Park,
an non-juried art fair running from noon until 6 pm, where you can buy
artwork to take home.
Admission for this one day event is $12 for adults, children 3-12 $1, and
those babes under 3 get free admission. Parking is $5 per car, $10 for
buses and RVs.
Grand Rapids Ada Real Estate – Westbrook Realty
Copyright 2009 All rights reserved
