After living in Grand Rapids for roughly 2 decades you would think I would know the ins and outs by now! Granted, Grand Rapids has evolved a lot since I was born here 'way back in the eighties' and I really didn't spend a whole lot of time downtown until I moved back after college. At some point in high-school we did discover Blues on the Mall but other than that the only time we would go downtown was for concerts at Van Andel Arena, which didn't open until 1996. Former Mayor Logie is famed for saying that before the Arena District was built you could 'shoot a cannonball down any Grand Rapids sidewalk after 5 o'clock and never worry about hitting anyone'. So now I'm back, and embracing Grand Rapids as my home. Kevin (my boss here at the Center for Community Leadership) gave me the go-ahead to participate in this falls "Inside Grand Rapids" program even though I am a native Rapidian. Generally the 2 1/2 day program is (wait, let me get my cheat sheet) 'designed for professionals new to Grand Rapids or serving in a new leadership role. IGR provides an "insider perspective" into key issues.' So there you go, I fit into the 'new leadership' role.
So, I got to join the class. There were 30 of us who participated and I learned a TON about Grand Rapids. Here is the condensed version of my new Grand Rapids knowledge...
- Celebration on the Grand originated as a celebration to dedicate the Ford Museum.
- Celebration of the Arts (also known as 'Festival') originated as a dedication to what is commonly known as 'the Calder' - but really it is Alexander Calder's sculpture called La Grande Vitesse.
- In Grand Rapids all the STREETS run East to West and all the AVENUES run North to South.
- The County Building has a giant painting of La Grande Vitesse on the roof.
- Grand Rapids has 78 arts organizations (at least that are part of the Arts Council)!
- Grand Rapids ranked #6 in best Urban Fly Fishing locations in America.
- Bridge Street is NOT named that because it just happened to begin at the first bridge crossing the river (for those who don't know - Michigan St - changes names to Bridge St at...duh... a bridge) - but it was ACTUALLY named after Henry P. Bridge, one of Grand Rapids founding fathers (along w. Louis Campau).
- Often people think we have TWO houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright but actually we just have one, the Meyer May House. The other house exemplifies his prairie style architecture however it was designed by his students while he was off in Europe with his mistress. Scandelous!
- There are attempts being made to put the rapids BACK into Grand Rapids! Oh, and there is an 18 foot drop in the river!
- Louis Campau paid the federal government $90 for the 72 acres that is the entire downtown business district.
- Jack Clifford, founder of the Food Network went to Ottawa Hills High School (actually I learned that a few weeks ago, but thought I'd throw it in here).
- The average age in Kent County decreased from 34 to 32 since last year! (Thanks Alexis!)
I have a lot more Grand Rapids trivia, but I will space it out. I don't want everyone to flock here immediately (although now would be a good time considering we have a 20% vacancy rate downtown GR)! You'd almost think that would give me motivation to move out of my parents house. Almost.
There is my shameless plug for my beautiful city. :)
-Lizzie