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We love to try new places to eat, especially for lunch. But Marie
Catrib’s in the East Hills neighborhood of Grand Rapids is an old
favorite. We have friends, John & Betsy who live in Heritage Hill
and Marie’s is a great place to meet.
The atmosphere is cozy and warm. The restaurant is always busy.
And the food is unusual and delicious. I prefer the vegetarian,
local products, my spouse prefers traditional fare. At Marie’s,
both of us are happy with the selections.
On our recent visit, I ordered the veggie Sweet Potato and
Quinoa burger [heavenly and huge] while my pard ordered the
Turkey Rueben [messy but delish].
Marie Catrib’s From the Street
East Hills is the center of the universe.
A take-out case is loaded with great offerings.
Marie Catrib’s is located at 1001 Lake Dr SE Grand Rapids MI
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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
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
Autumn is a picturesque time of year here in West Michigan. We
have lots of rivers, lakes, fall color, and lots of wildlife. This series
of photos lets you see a few residents of the Thornapple River at
their daily routine. The Thornapple River flows into the Grand River,
the longest in the state at Ada Michigan. Needless to say, a haven for wildlife year round. This gaggle of geese was just off the
Thornapple Pointe Golf Club in southeastern Kent County a few
weekends ago.
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.
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West Michigan has 4 seasons and fall or autumn is one of our favorites.
The foliage on the trees is yellow, red, orange, shades of green, and
brown. It all combines to paint lovely colors all over our landscape.
We captured a few photos of the fall season here in Ada Michigan
on the Thornapple River this last weekend. All were take from
Thornapple Pointe Golf Club near the Gerald R Ford International
Airport, just southeast of Grand Rapids.
In fact, we joke that it is the TCPB course here…….trains, cars,
planes, and boats can all be seen and heard from the course.
We had an airboat travel down the river while we were playing
but I didn’t get my camera out in time to catch it in a photo.
Technorati Tags: west michigan golf course,thornapple river,ada mi 49301,grand rapids mi autumn color
Westbrook Realty ~ Grand Rapids Real Estate
Copyright 2009 all rights reserved
Call 1-616-292-7263 or email me: terry@terrywestbrook.com
This was captured yesterday playing golf at Thornapple Pointe Golf Course
on the Thornapple River in Grand Rapids Michigan.
My friend, Paul, and I got in a quick 18 holes in the afternoon.
The golf course was pretty open which left me time to snap a few shots
of our local scenery. This little maple is putting on quite a show!
Westbrook Realty ~ Grand Rapids Real Estate
Copyright 2009 all rights reserved
Call 1-616-292-7263 or email me: terry@terrywestbrook.com
This charming two story Tudor home in Ottawa Hills will be coming on the
market soon. With 3 bedrooms up, 1 1/2 baths, hardwood floors, and
2 stall garage attached, this home has a very livable floor plan.
Built in 1931 with quality materials, it has lots of built in character
with a fireplace and bay window in the living room. A sun room, formal
dining room, kitchen with new laminate flooring, new roof in 2008,
and 2009 painted wood exterior.
Ready for new owners to move in and enjoy the neighborhood.
The new Grand Rapids Christian Elementary School being built on
the site of the old Ottawa Hills High School, recently Iroquois Middle
School, is expected to be completed in fall 2010.
This sharp little bungalow on Grand Rapids Michigan NE side has a surprising
amount of room. The finished recreation room down and the large bedroom
up with a full bath make it a plus. Many improvements, new carpeting,
tile floors, fenced yard and a quiet neighborhood.
Come on over and take a look. We will be there Sunday from 12-2 pm.
Front of Home
Large Fenced Back Yard
Living Room with new carpeting
Kitchen has been updated with new cabinets, tile
floor, all appliances are included.
Listed at $99,900 MLS # 767050
Call me at 616-292-7263 for a private showing or email me at
Westbrook Realty ~ 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
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
