Coffee Table book

[joeDowntown]

I'm going to be traveling abroad in the next month to Tokyo and Sydney, and I'd like to give each of our offices a gift that shows what Grand Rapids is all about. What is the best book that represents the Grand Rapids region as a whole?

Of course, people don't exactly understand where Grand Rapids is, how big it is, or the fact that you can't see the other side of Lake Michigan. I'd like to represent GR abroad, but the books I find in the store don't really show the latest development in an around GR.

Any ideas?

Joe

[Rhino6885]

I love my Heart & Soul book, though it doesn't get into much detail with stuff that's happened recently and focuses on the city only. I haven't seen any books that cover the developments in the last few years.

Above West Michigan is another one that I've seen. Not much with GR, but a lot of beautiful shots of the region in all seasons.

Steelcase HQ had some cool coffee table books in their waiting area. I specifically remember one about Alexander Calder. Perhaps there are some books about artists and architects that would give a favorable image or two of GR.

There are also a ton of books on Michigan's lighthouses. Maybe a little different than what you're looking for, but a good gift nonetheless.

I'm also interested to see if anybody knows of a more modern GR coffee table book. Maybe there's a coffee table book about GR coffee tables

[Allison Slater]

I've got a book I found at a garage sale for $5 (Suggested Retail price on the inside suggested.. $40 I think?) titled "Grand Rapids Visions." I believe it's published by DeVos.. Hardcover, many pages, plenty of information and photos. Being published by such a big name, I imagine he uses it for promoting the city.

[mpchicago]

You could get both offices a subscription to Grand Rapids Magazine. However, considering my copy doesn

[wingbert]

Get them each a Grand Rapids visitors guide from the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

http://www.visitgrandrapids.org/guide-request.php

[GRDadof3]

I'd have to go with Rhino's suggestion of "Above West Michigan" by Marge Beaver. There really isn't anything out lately that is high quality enough to qualify as a coffee table book about GR, AFAIK.

[FilmMaker]

I've got a book I found at a garage sale for $5 (Suggested Retail price on the inside suggested.. $40 I think?) titled "Grand Rapids Visions." I believe it's published by DeVos.. Hardcover, many pages, plenty of information and photos. Being published by such a big name, I imagine he uses it for promoting the city.

[Allison Slater]

Has a night-time Amway & JW Shot right on the front. And I found this just this spring, I remember now. At a garage sale down in Wayland. I was truly surprised to find it at a garage sale so quickly. ~grabs book off shelf~

$55.95 Suggested retail price. O_O

Written by: Rich De Vos

Published by Pagoda Group, 2007

Despite being called "Grand Rapids: Visions" it also highlights Western Michigan as a whole.

http://cityscapesbooks.com/Book-Orders.html

Looks like it can only be ordered in groups of 10 or more.

[houseofdon]

+1 for Grand Rapids: Visions. I thumbed through it at someone's office and it was great.

[fotoman311]

+1 for Grand Rapids: Visions. I thumbed through it at someone's office and it was great.

[joeDowntown]

I'd love to get a couple of copies of the Grand Vision book. Somebody here must have a hookup.

I don't want to bring any book with the Calder on it. While GR seems to think our Calder is the best thing in the world, the place I go to in Sydney has a Calder sitting right across the street, tucked nicely in a park-like setting. It doesn't seem to get the same fanfare, yet it's every bit as nice as La Grande Vitesse.

Joe

[Allison Slater]

Add to that a google search for Calder Plaza or Calder generates almost all results for the Calder sculpture in Chicago, not Grand Rapids. It's more of a local icon than anything else.

[fotoman311]

Add to that a google search for Calder Plaza or Calder generates almost all results for the Calder sculpture in Chicago, not Grand Rapids. It's more of a local icon than anything else.

[Allison Slater]

Huh. Maybe it was something different. I coul've sworn that was what I typed.