*GRAND RAPIDS - Michigan West*

[Michi]

To all my Grand Rapids friends, my visit Saturday was spur of the moment. I look forward to the day when I can get an in-depth tour from you. Forgive any narration that isn't entirely correct.

I fall in love with this city every time I visti. Grand Rapids is a funky town and there is a lot to explore there.

Michigan's "City By The River"

Grand Rapids is becoming a major center for healthcare.

Typical view from Belknap Hill. The new architecture will have a "step-down" effect as it is constructed within the slope.

Bridgewater Place. The city's new tallest, Riverhouse, will rise attached on the left.

The Grand Valley north of downtown.

The Creston District

[Michi]

Forgive my ignorance, but I'm not sure how many photos I am allowed to post as a set, so I'll add more later...

Grand Rapids' 3 skyline-defining towers...one more is on the rise.

The West Leonard District. Grand Rapids has an abundance of active inner-city commercial strips.

It's gritty!

Downtown from the Ann Street Bridge (looking south).

Union Square, school-to-condos, on the northwest edge of downtown.

How "Chicago"!

Yours truely tries to get crafty with the bridges.

A lot of my photos came out tipsy that day. I was mad. This is from Sunset Street Lookout on the west side..

Owp! New tower being built.

It's a dense, urbane little burgh.

That area in the distance with the radio tower is where I photographed the first set above ^.

Sunset Street (neighborhood with the lookout).

Back downtown on "Medical Hill".

The GRAM - Grand Rapids Art Museum.

[Michi]

I love the Rapid signs.

I about pulled out my kazoo.

Here's the site of the new hotel.

...and rendering...

GVSU Downtown is called the Pew Campus, but not because it stinks.

The elevated freeway that slices through downtown is affectionately called, "The S-Curve". This is because it is in the shape of an S.

Site of the new Grand Rapids Art Museum in the heart of downtown.

Historic loft conversions are taking over Monroe Mall.

Odd diversity on Rosa Parks Circle.

Popular photograph of Monroe Mall.

Best name of an ice cream store evar!

Lushish. I'm a sucker for good landscaping.

Retail seems to be blossoming on Monroe Mall.

As evidenced by downtown's primary grocery store.

Well, shoot. I was fooled again.

The "bookend" to Monroe Mall. I don't recall what its name is.

...but it's where the Children's Museum is...

I'm not done yet. More from this great city to come!

[Mith242]

Nice shots, looks like a pretty nice city.

[GRDadof3]

Fantastic photo tour Michi! I REALLY could not have done it better myself. More, more!!

[Michi]

[Thanks, dadof3!]

South Division. This funky district on the south side of downtown appears to be under some major redevelopment! I would have to say it is my favorite among the commercial strips.

The TLC is coming!

I made friends along the way.

St. Andrew's Cathedral

:tup:

[Michi]

Old warehouses are plentiful in the center city.

Bends in the S-Curve. Call me crazy, but the sweeping traffic from many vantage points really gives the city an interesting pulse. Maybe that's just me though.

The new transit terminal.

Nicely done.

Plaza Towers dominates the Grand Rapids skyline. The whole building is a combination of a hotel, apartments, and condos (hence the 3 sections).

Dee-lish!

Ionia Street

The city's downtown arena.

Parking garages are good for some things.

Powered by indigestion.

Envisioning the future.

Lots of weddings that day.

Wayfinding signage among the best I've come across!

[torgo]

Fantastic!!

[GRDadof3]

Another nice set Michi! South Division, and the entire Heartside Historic District (Ionia, Commerce), is going through a massive rebirth lately.

I don't know if it's your camera or what, but the different colored bricks are striking.

[dtown]

way cool man!!!!

[ZachariahDaMan]

Incredible collection of GR pics. It's number 2 on my list of cities I still have to visit in my home state.

[Mith242]

Once again nice pics and some interesting architecture too.

[GRCentro]

It's always interesting to see the city through another's lens. Michi, you make the city shine (even on cloudy day!)

I give full credit to the photographer, not the camera, but I do have to ask...what are you shooting with?

[DigitalSky]

Looks like an awesomely dynamic city! great job

[grrwymg]

Very nice set of photos, Michi.

Great capturing of sights downtown. One of the first sets of photos I've seen on UP that have got upto the Creston neighborhood. Nice! I like that shot of DT from Plainfield by the Choo Choo Grill.

[wolverine]

Mich, these are awesome! Very well done!

BTW, does any G-Rap forumers know when some sort of downtown event occurs where there is food and activities. I went on a random trip I think around last June and there were thousands of people downtown and all these food stands. I want to go back when that happens.

[GRDadof3]

Wolverine:

Most likely it was Festival of the Arts. It's the largest all-volunteer festival in the country, and there's always a lot of food booths, multiple outdoor concert stages, and activities.

This year's poster created by artist Mic Carlson

[GaryP]

Mich, these are awesome! Very well done!

BTW, does any G-Rap forumers know when some sort of downtown event occurs where there is food and activities. I went on a random trip I think around last June and there were thousands of people downtown and all these food stands. I want to go back when that happens.

That is a lot of fun. I wish we did it more often.

[Michi]

Thank you all very kindly for the replies. If you're the explorer type like me, there's never a dull moment in Grand Rapids as there is something around every corner. I had to have walked close to 10 miles, and with hills involved, I was pooped by the end of the day.

Even though it was cloudy, I was glad it didn't rain. I had to smile on my way home when I passed the South Beltline interchange and the first sprinkles started falling.

GRCentro, I don't have anything fancy for a camera. It's a Fugi FinePix S5100 Digital. I'm still practicing with it and learning new things.

Here's a link:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S5100/S51A.HTM

[richyb83]

Thanks for the nice pics. It may be the closest thing to actually visiting !

[GRDadof3]

Hope it's OK that I piggyback on this thread Michi?

Of course, May in GR means Attack of the Umbrellas

[Michi]

Of course, it's ok! You know, I have never been to Grand Rapids on a weekday. I always tell myself the next time I go is going to be during the week. It never happens. D'oh! Looks greate.

[craig d]

Nice pictures from everyone.

The fishing in GR is under-appreciated. There are always a ton of people out there hooking fish.

[GRDadof3]

The nighttime version

After a long night of partying, DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE

[BarGal]

...After a long night of partying, DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE

There are 3 that look almost identical...are you sure you've sobered up yet?