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I guess I am still a kid at heart. What a thrill to wake up and see the
white crystals of snow coating everything in sight! Needless to say,
with the amount of snow we received, it is a “Snow Day” for most
of the kids in Grand Rapids area. While it is not inconvenient for me,
it is for most people. Roads are slippery, traffic is slow and commute
times are much longer than our normal speedy travel.
I took a few photos so you can see what we woke up to in GR this
morning.
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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
Where Something Good is Always Cooking
Breakfast ~ Lunch~ Take-Out ~ Bakery
The Real Food Cafe is THE REAL DEAL! We probably go there for lunch at
least once a week. They only serve breakfast and lunch but it is better than
my Mom made. Their breakfasts are almost legendary. They serve
breakfast anytime and what a breakfast…..the home fries are just too
delicious to describe.
The pancakes are made with real buttermilk, fresh eggs and served with real
butter. Below is the picture of my two eggs scrambled and home fries.
The home made soups are always delicious. The burgers are 1/3 lb. of
Angus beef. The sandwiches are huge and definitely satisfying.
The omelets are mouth-watering.
The baked goods such as cookies, cakes and pies are all home made on site
and worth sacrificing the diet for. The crew and wait staff are all friendly and
genuinely happy at work. It just makes you feel good to be there. It is
always full of people eating “real food” and enjoying themselves.
One of our favorite people at Real Food is “Rosie.” She has known
the chef, Frank, since he was a little boy and is always busy seating
people, getting drinks, and generally bustling around with a friendly
word and smile to all.
They have recently expanded and added an additional location:
Real Food Cafe
at 5430 Northland Dr. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525
(616)361-1808
If you like “real food made with real ingredients by real people,”
this is the place to go.
We are there often, so we hope to see you , too.
The Real Food Cafe 2419 Eastern Ave.
Grand Rapids MI 49507 (616)241-4080
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Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate
Contact Terry 616-292-7263
Grand Rapids Michigan is a diverse metropolitan area comprised of
many local cities and communities that surround the city of
Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids metro area is the second largest
“city” in Michigan with a population around 1 million.
West Michigan is a beautiful 4 season area of Michigan that has lots
of hardwood forests, rolling hills, Lake Michigan shoreline, hundreds
of lakes and rivers, and a thriving, diverse work environment with
educated workers. We have 25 colleges and universities in our
area, including the new Michigan State Medical School on the
“Medical Mile” in downtown Grand Rapids.
Getting To Know Grand Rapids:
Since pictures speak louder than words, we have links to photos
& videos of some of our local communities:
Ada Michigan is a small community southeast of Grand Rapids with
an excellent school system and lots of suburban homes.
Caledonia Michigan is a small suburban community that has farms
and a rural setting.
East Grand Rapids is a city bordering on Grand Rapids that has lovely older
homes, an excellent school system, and excellent city services, including
community events,leaf pick-up in fall, and over 100 miles of plowed city
sidewalks in the winter.
Kentwood Michigan is a suburban community southeast of Grand
Rapids with businesses, such as Steelcase, one of the nation’s largest
office furniture manufacturers and lots of suburban housing subdivisions,
both new and established, plus rental communities.
Lowell Michigan is a small community east of Grand Rapids with a
vibrant business community, excellent school system, and a mixture of
older homes and newer subdivisions, all centered around the Flat River.
Rockford Michigan is a small community north of Grand Rapids on the
Rogue River. It is home to the global shoe manufacturer, Wolverine
Worldwide, but has a small town feeling with unique boutiques, shops,
and wonderful restaurants. Many newer homes, established subdivisions
and older homes populate the Rockford area.
Quality of Life in Grand Rapids:
Grand Rapids Michigan Rated 5th Most Affordable Housing in US -
Aug 21, 2009 – CNN Money has rated the top cities in affordable housing.
Top Schools in West Michigan – 6-15-2009 – Six West Michigan public
Schools were rated in the top 1500 schools in the nation by Newsweek.
Spectrum Hospital Ranks in Nation’s Top 100
Restaurants in the Grand Rapids Area:
Good Eats – Marie Catrib’s in the East Hills Neighborhood of Grand Rapids offers
unusual fare in a friendly atmosphere.
The Thornapple Daily Grill in Ada, Michigan – March 9, 2008 –Nestled in
heart of downtown Ada near the Thornapple River, this Gilmore
Restaurant is a favorite with local patrons for lunch or dinner.
More than Tacos at Taquitos Mexican Grill – Aug 1, 20009 – Located in
the old Herkimer Hotel, no dark and dingy digs here.
First Choice for Chinese in Forest Hills = First Wok - Dec 4, 2009 – Located in
the heart of Cascade, this Chinese Restaurant is one of our favorites.
The Grille Restaurant at Watermark Country Club – March 9, 2008 -
Serving fresh local foods when possible, this restaurant is always
busy. Whether you stop in for a business lunch or have a quick
meal after you play nine holes, you can’t go wrong here.
The Monterey Grille in Caledonia – March 9,2009 – A great local place
for breakfast or an after work get-together at the sports bar.
Recreation in Grand Rapids:
Art Prize – Sept 24, 2009 – Planned to be an annual event in Grand Rapids,
Art Prize took the city by storm this year with over $250K in prizes,
artists from all over the world bringing their art creations to GR.
Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey – May 11, 2009 – A Night at a Griffins
Play-off Game
White Caps Baseball Signals Spring – March 15, 2009 – Opening day
for the local AA Team is much anticipated in Grand Rapids.
Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park – The Sculptures;
The Conservatory ; The Children’s Garden ; Butterfly Exhibit
Meijer Gardens Summer Concert Series 2009 – April 20, 2009 – 12 concerts
held at the Outdoor Amphitheater.
Grand Haven – Aug 24, 2009 – Coast Guard City is a great destination for
tourists and Michigan day trippers, like ourselves.
Golf in West Michigan -
Roselle Park – Nov 6, 2009 – Natural Habitat Refuge on the Grand River
with an observation tower, viewing deck, canoe/kayak launch, miles of
walking trails.
Grand Rapids Golf – With over 900 courses in West Michigan, it could
take a few months to play them all. A few local golf course articles &
photos.
Real Estate Information for Buyers & Sellers:
Which Mortgage Do I Choose? – Key questions to ask yourself and
lenders before you finalize your mortgage.
$ Benefits of 2009-2010 Tax Credit for Home Buyers – Feb. 18, 2009 -
Some of the ways the tax credit can be used to purchase a home
for a first time buyer, or an existing buyer who meets requirements.
First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit – Sept 16, 2009 – Fun Video pointing
out the advantages of owning your own home rather than renting.
Buying Foreclosed Homes is NOT FUN! – May 6, 2008 – A few buying tips
on foreclosed properties. Be Aware. Be Prepared. Use a Seasoned
Buyer’s Agent.
Are you Looking for your Grand Rapids Dream Home? – May 13, 2008 –Lots
of internet searches for the perfect home are being done right now.
Sellers Beware! Avoid 11 Mistakes That Could Cost You Hundreds, even
Thousands of Dollars!
The difference between a profitable, seamless
transaction and a break even, miserable experience is often a fine line.
Top Ten Questions You Should Ask Before You List Your Home – Crucial
areas of expertise your Realtor should possess.
Homes in Greater Grand Rapids Area:
Grand Rapids Michigan- Homes for Sale
East Grand Rapids Michigan – Homes for Sale
Caledonia Michigan – Homes for Sale
Cascade Michigan – Homes for Sale
Kentwood Michigan – Homes for Sale
Lowell Michigan – Homes for Sale
Rockford Michigan – Homes for Sale
Wyoming Michigan – Homes for Sale
Would your kindergartener come home and ask for a bowl of cereal
in Mandarin Chinese? If you live in the Forest Hills School System
in Grand Rapids Michigan, this isn’t as far fetched as it sounds.
The Meadowbrook Elementary School is home to the Forest Hills
Chinese Immersion Program. This program is the first of its kind in
West Michigan. The program just received a Federal Grant of $238,000
for the first year. If all program objectives are met, it will receive
additional funds for the next 2 years.
Leaders in Forest Hills educational community decided to add Mandarin
Chinese Immersion to their bilingual offerings with the assistance
of Michigan State University’s Confucius Institute. Currently 2
Chinese teachers are on the school faculty to give students in
the program an early start in bilingual education.
The Forest Hills District is continuing to expand Mandarin language
courses at middle and high school levels. With 55 percent of the
world’s population speculated to be from Asia in the year 2025 and
5 percent from North America, being fluent in Chinese will be a real
asset in the future business world.
Forest Hills also has a Spanish Immersion Program running at the
Ada Vista Elementary School.
Additional Forest Hills Schools Articles:
Forest Hills Schools Get Face-Lifts This Summer
Forest Hills Schools Update 2009
Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate
Contact Terry 616-292-7263
No one wants to get ill and end up in the hospital. But life happens.
We get sick, we get in accidents, we fall off ladders and break bones,
we have babies. When this happens it is very comforting to know
you have an excellent hospital in your local area that will be able to
care for you until you recover.
Here in Grand Rapids, Michigan we are very fortunate to have one of the
nation’s best hospitals to care for our citizens in need of health care.
Spectrum Health has 7 Hospitals and more than 140 service sites.
Spectrum Health’s 14,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members
and 2,000 volunteers are a major part of our community and our economy,
providing $98.6 million in community benefit during its 2007 fiscal year.
Spectrum Health has earned more than 50 national awards during the
past 10 years. A recent study recognized Spectrum Health as one of
the best hospitals in the country for the sixth time in 10 years.
Spectrum Health was included on the list of Thomson Healthcare’s
100 Top Hospitals for 2007.
The winners were announced in the March 17, 2008 issue of
Modern Healthcare magazine.
The 100 Top Hospitals have higher survival rates, keep more patients complication-free, and have lower expenses-all while maintaining financial stability. Thomson Healthcare estimates that if all Medicare inpatients received the same level of care as those in the 100 Top Hospitals winners:
- more than 120,000 additional patients would survive each year
- nore than 138,000 patient complications would be avoided annually
- expenses would decline by an aggregate $6.2 billion a year
- the average patient stay would decrease by more than half a day
If you are planning on relocating to Grand Rapids Michigan, you can rest assured your medical needs will be in good hands.
Spectrum Health facts taken from Spectrum Health website – press releases
Roselle Park in Ada Michigan along the Grand River is 247 acre park that is
a dedicated Natural Habitat Refuge. On a rainy Saturday a few weeks
ago, we stopped and took a few photos. It was cold and windy but
the fall colors were great. We walked on one of the trails along the Grand
River. A very peaceful place to visit. Dogs on leashes are welcome.
These silos were left from the previous owner of the property. The one with
the stars on top has been made into a 9 story observation tower.
View from the observation tower toward the Grand River
On the walking trail along the river.
The Grand River, the longest river in Michigan. It starts near Hillsdale MI and
winds it’s way north then west, eventually emptying into Lake Michigan.
This spot is just north of the confluence of the Thornapple River at Ada MI.
Additional information on Roselle Park:
Roselle Park Nature Preserve on the Grand River
Roselle Park Flood Stage Spring 2009 Video
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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 assisted Grand Rapids buy & sell homes 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
Scheduled to open in the fall of 2010, construction has started on the new
elementary school at the old Ottawa Hills High School plot, formerly Iroquois
Middle School. The Grand Rapids Public School system sold the land and
buildings and the old Ottawa High School building was torn down this summer.
Major construction is now underway for the new school by Grand
Rapids Christian Schools. This is what the site looks like now:
And a site map of the future facility:
Home for Sale 1 block from this new GR Christian School
Westbrook Realty ~ Search Grand Rapids Real Estate
Copyright 2009 all rights reserved
Call 1-616-292-7263 or email me: terry@terrywestbrook.com
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
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
It looks like the most affordable homes in the United States are in the
Midwest, according to CNNMoney.com’s latest posting about the Most
& the Least affordable cities to buy a home. New York and the California
dominate the least affordable cities to buy a home today.
Grand Rapids Michigan comes in 5th Most Affordable with an affordability
score of 92.9%.
CNNMoney’s lineup is as follows:
MOST AFFORDABLE
- Indianapolis, IN median home price – $107,000
- Youngstown, OH median home price – $ 73,000
- Detroit, MI median home price – $ 86,000
- Dayton, OH median home price – $105,000
- Grand Rapids, MI median home price – $100,000
LEAST AFFORDABLE
- New York City, NY median home price – $419,000
- San Francisco, CA median home price – $580,000
- Honolulu, HA median home price – $395,000
- Los Angeles, CA median home price – $294,000
- Santa Ana, CA median home price – $391,000
The foreclosure crisis that has hit the Midwest hard has influenced the
prices of homes in a downward trend for the past few years. The
auto industry is a big factor, although many of these Midwest cities, like
Grand Rapids are diversifying their economic base and will come out of
this much stronger and with many more people as homeowners.
If you are looking for a home in Grand Rapids Michigan, you are much
more likely to find a home you can afford than many other cities, which
is great news for the average home buyer today.
Grand Rapids Ada Real Estate – Westbrook Realty
Copyright 2009 All rights reserved
