While having a lovely lunch at Bistro Bella Vita with a foodie-focused cast of new and old faces, our conversation quickly turned from food to the changing face of our region.
For most of us around the table, it appeared that residents and outsiders alike have assigned a "face" to this region that frankly doesn't fit anymore. It's almost like digging through your wallet and discovering a photo of yourself from 20 years ago with spiked hair and studded bracelets.
And like some embarrassing outdated snapshot, most of us simply laugh as we say "Oh, that was the old version of Grand Rapids," as if the new much improve visage is one crafted by the skilled hands a doctor at Plastic Surgery Associates.
But unlike a professional facelift, we amateurs have all had a hand in changing the image of the metro area over time.
Every time we board that plane, jump on the train or drive along one of the many arteries that feed in and out of this region, we take along a piece of the new city to share with others.
So whether we travel beyond the borders, send a burlesque troop like Super Happy Funtime Burlesque on tour via Kickstarter or simply export a locally crafted service that shows how much talent this region has to offer, we are all in image business of representing our community.
Wear your heart for the city on your sleeve as you move about this week.
The Future Needs All of Us (to represent.)
Tommy Allen, Lifestyle Editor
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TommyGSyncClick here to continue to this week's G-Sync events.Photo: A few of Grand Rapids' photographers who capture images of our city every week. Josh Tyron, Tommy Allen, Terry Johnston, Sandi Gunnett, Tim Motley and Brian Kelly @TheKissingBooth / ArtPrize 2009
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