The dedication of this monument took place 19 April 2007 (on the 96th anniversary of the 1911…read moreFurniture Strike). The statues are located on Pearl St. in a recessed area near the Indian Mounds at the entrance to the Ford Museum property along the Grand River. The figures were carved and cast by Roberto Chenlo. The project was the work of the Labor Heritage Society of West Michigan. It's a rare thing to commemorate organized labour in West Michigan...

Hello Lovelies! Long time no review. Today I'm going to review a place that helps our environmental…read morecommunity as well as a place filled with beauty. This garden located at 775 Ball Ave NE is something that was made with love, time, patience, dedication, and teamwork. It's a place where a lot of people go to take photos for weddings or senior pictures, or to decompress during their lunch break, or even just to spend time with a loved one while seeing beautiful plants and flowers that one would see in a fairy tale book. I know I'm probably late to game on this one. But many of the flowers now are blooming so well and getting the support this garden needs to continue to share with everyone is very important. So come on down and have a short walk or a moment to just sit in a fairy garden in GR. As well as getting the chance to part of GR's history of the garden's growth with the community.

File this under "places I never knew existed even though I live super close"! The Kent/MSU…read moreExtension Grand Ideas Garden is tucked away behind the Kent County Jail off Ball Street. I learned about this place recently from a booth that the Kent County MSU Extension had at the Fulton Street Farmers Market. The garden is open year round and is free to everyone, so Nate and I went to check it out recently. We weren't sure what to expect, but we were happily surprised by this immaculately kept, neat garden with paved pathways, a small waterfall and pond, plenty of benches for enjoying the sights, tables for picnicking, and lots of great signage with information on different plants, including a whole pollinator garden section. There was a private group using the tables at the main entrance and several volunteers working in the garden when we visited, so we didn't stay super long, but we definitely mentioned that it would be a great place to come read or enjoy lunch. The garden serves as a place to enjoy beautiful flowers and plants and to get ideas for your own garden! It's not on the same scale as Meijer Gardens, but it's totally free and a beautiful spot that I'm excited to visit more often. This would be a great place for photos - senior pictures, engagement/wedding photos, and family photos. There is no charge to take photos here!

There are so few places in West Michigan where you can experience clear, dark skies and the wonders…read moreof the universe. The non profit Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association run this observatory. Check out their web page for public nights schedule in spring, summer and fall.

Calder Plaza is home to La Grande Vitesse, an Alexander Calder sculpture that was formally…read morededicated in 1969. The plaza is also a popular gathering place for events, art exhibits, festivals, etc. As of January 2023, there are some World of Winter exhibits at Calder Plaza, including a big house of cards that features art from local artists. It lights up at nighttime. I've attended many festivals and events at Calder Plaza throughout the years. The sculpture is impressive and makes for great photos - It's 43 feet tall! Street parking can be tough to find close to Calder Plaza, and there is no natural shade for events that take place there during the summer. The Plaza connects City Hall and the Kent County building in downtown Grand Rapids. La Grande Vitesse is one of the most recognizable icons of Grand Rapids, and is included in the city's official logo.

Calder Plaza. ⁣ ⁣ The…read moreproper name for this 42 ton red sculpture is actually La Grande Vitesse. Translated from French, it means The Grand Rapids. However, us locals refer to it as The Calder, because Alexander Calder, an American sculptor, created it. ‍⁣ ⁣ The Calder is an ode to our city that is home to so many artists and has inspired numerous new art initiatives. It hosts many events, festivals, and even summer food trucks! The Calder is an iconic spot for those of us who call this city home. ⁣

This is a very nice town and municipality that is a suburb of Grand Rapids, MI. It is mainly driven…read moreby the Amway Company and the families that own it. There is a condo complex, shopping and food district that is being built by the small Thornapple River and across from the Amway Corp Headquarters. Very clean and new with no real fast food options ( have to drive a bit find them ( closer to Grand Rapids). Not much social life in this simple, quiet community but it is very safe and rural with plenty of wildlife. A very nice mix of newer and older homes in good size lots at the more expensive end of pricing. If you are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and people, this is your place.

We stopped by this place as part of the Artprize expedition. This particular location has a few…read morehundred pieces of art on display. Best of all, and unlike most Artprize venues, the prices of the art (assuming they're for sale) are listed next to the piece. Hallelujah! Moreover, they have a gift shop that has prints, notecards, etc. of the art on display. I love being able to afford a bit of artprize! The Women's Club also served lunch for starving Artprize goers. While the menu was limited, it was homemade and tasty. Hubby and I had pulled pork sandwiches, homemade potato salad (or coleslaw or chips) and a can of soda for a glorious $7 each. The potato salad was so good, in fact, that I plunked down a whole whopping dollar for another serving. Hubby opted for cookies, which were delicious. We will certainly be checking out this place next year!

A 'must see' venue on your Artprize tour. This beautiful historic home has an impressive collection…read moreof Artprize entries. There is a gift shop set up in the lower level of the house, coffee, food available in the dining room and restrooms.

One of my favorite places to go do some reading, studying, and working even if that means having…read morethe computer and my books open all day and daydreaming. There is a rather spacious parking area right in front of the library, but is usually packed in the afternoons. Still, there's a lot of parking on the streets, near the restaurant, and if it's such a nice day with so many people all over the John Collins Park, you can always park at DSW and walk all the way here. I love the tables alongside the big open windows that look right down at reed's lake. The best moments are when you can see the breeze and just stare at the blue sky from the inside. The tables along the wall have outlets, but the table in the middle of the space might not, depending on where the tables are. There are also spaces which look like an airplane VIP seating, kind of secluded and can also make you focus a bit better. I've noticed that there are times when it gets louder, especially when there are lot of people in the computer area. (I've seen some kids come to play games for hours). Other times, it's not too bad. If you want quieter spaces you can always walk to near where the bathrooms are located inside, and you'll see 2-3 rooms with glass walls all around. It works on a first-come first-serve basis, with a 2/3 hour limit. The glass walls are surprisingly real sound-proof. Spacious circular working table with enough chargers. You can always take a study break by going out to the patio for fresh air. There are still lots of people out on the benches working and reading. If you're trying to find a study place, but tired of cafes, I recommend!

One of my absolute favorite places in Grand Rapids area. It's the perfect gem that I am afraid to…read moreshare with the world. Kent Library is honestly one of the best libraries and study places I've been to. Located in the beautiful (yet bougie) East Grand Rapids, it's accessible by car, bike, bus, etc. The library is connected to the Town Hall with spacious, aplenty parking. The bus line, 6, is also an easy route to trek from Medical Mile/Downtown GR straight to EGR. Inside, the library is two stories with the top floor being the "adult"/general floor with books, DVDs, newspapers, magazines, etc. The bottom floor is the children and teen section with...AN AQUARIUM!!! Not only is Kent Library located on Reed's Lake, they also have an indoor water wonderland! I was elated to see the fishies and turtles-- #red #eared #slider #TURTLES! I spent a solid 10 minutes being completely fascinated and engrossed with these magnificent creatures. What a treat! :) The best spot to study is the area facing towards the lake. There are about ~10 tables and a handful of comfy chairs with plenty of outlet plugs. The library hours are also good and people are generally respectful there. If you get bored, you can also literally go outside to the patio overlooking the lake or hop over to Gaslight District and grab Starbucks or a delicious bite to eat. I cannot gloat about Kent Library enough. It's one of my go-to places for studying!

Now open after renovation! The refresh and layout brighten the space. There is a sizeable…read morechildren's area that is in its own space with activity areas. So glad they kept the fish tank! This has been one of my go-to KDL locations because they always have a great selection of books out to browse and there is plenty of parking. Staff is helpful and friendly. The self-checkout stations are so easy to use. There are work spaces along the wall with power outlets, two small pods for private calls/work (have not tested the sound), sitting area by the windows and throughout. There are limited study/work rooms available. There are computers and free black and white printing available. Chapter Two Bookstore has used books available for purchase. There's a huge sale for the Cascade July 4th Independence Day celebration - fill a bag for $10! Pro Tips: * Download the KDL app! Easily access your library card, put materials on hold at any location, see due dates and easily renew! * Free audio, e-books, and movies on the Libby and Hoopla apps * Don't see what you want? Go to "My Borrowing" then to "Suggested Purchases" in the app to request KDL purchase it! They purchased my request for The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective!

Went for something for the kids to do. So many kids books, toys and a separate area for them to…read moreplay.