Grand Rapids is an ever increasing cool place cult
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9/29/2009
I have lived in Grand Rapids for 11 years now. I always thought is was just an average city in an average state, until now. I have grown to love and appreciate and be very impressed by my city.
We have an event going on for a couple of weeks which is the coolest thing I've ever seen, and I am not even that big of an art officianado. It's called ARTPRIZE (www.artprize.org) and it is making our downtown area a thriving, bustling, exciting, fun atmosphere. It felt like we were in Manhattan but a little cleaner, safer, and a perfect temperature! (last time we were in New York we melted for days in 95 degree heat).
Grand Rapids is only going to grow, improve, and attract more people. The outlook is very bright, as compared to Detroit especially. Grand Rapids doesn not depend nearly as much on the auto industry. The "Medical Mile" has been underconstruction and is close to being ready if not all ready up and running on a new Michigan State School of Human Medicine, and the VanAndel Medical research facility.
Grand Rapids has the perfect blend of attracting new industry, great culture (museums, shows, thriving downtown, ARTPRIZE, etc), affordable housing, innovative schools, industrious and friendly people, and a perfect blend of all 4 seasons, except sometimes winter just seems a little long. But that makes us appreciate spring, summer and fall so much! And they are beautiful, green, and colorful! And we have no earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. The worst we have is an occasional blizzard which makes us shut everything down and cozy up to the fire at home. Bummer.
Maybe I shouldn't be telling you these things, it's pretty much an unknown secret haven, maybe we don't want people coming here in droves. We like it just the way it is.
Diane | Grand Rapids, MI