Eastown Moving Guide
Walkability is one of the catchphrases used by today’s urban dwellers. “Eastown was the first to say that walkability should be a given,” said Frances Gentile, Eastown resident and owner […]
Eastown
Located comfortably between the inner suburb of East Grand Rapids and the resurgent East Hills neighborhood, Eastown is the seat of the city's alternative, hipster scene. Some refer to the area as the 'Greenwich Village of Grand Rapids.'The district also is known as the city's gathering place. With coffee shops like Early Bird, blues bars like Billy's, and one-of-a-kind restaurants like Yesterdog, Wolfgang's, Terra, and Matchbox Eastown draws an eclectic mix people from all over the city for breakfast, lunch, and night life.
Front Seats to the City
After decades of hiding inside watching television or retreating to the backyard for barbeques and beers, more and more city dwellers are moving outside to the front porch. The movement is spurring chance face-to-face meetings, stregthening social networks, and catalyzing neighborhood revitalization.
Welcome to Green Building Capital, USA
From water-free toilets to rooftop gardens, green design has quickly emerged as the new regional standard for developing sustainable buildings. Columnist Tom Leonard explains why, more and more, developers choose to go green.
Defining ‘Sustainability,’ Grand Rapids Style
'Sustainability' is the word for the new millenium. The term is popping up everywhere. At community meetings. On corporate advertising. In political speeches. But what does it mean? Tom Leonard explains in the first of a series of regular columns exploring what the philosophy of sustainability means for the future of West Michigan.
Collecting the Homegrown Creatives
No doubt there are people of passion in the Grand Rapids art market. But it’s not just the artists.
Eastown businesses crack down on crime
The Eastown Business Association is doubling the payout to citizens who inform on criminal activity through the Silent Observer program. The move should help squash crime in a neighborhood on the change.
City schools attracting more suburban students
The county’s school choice plan is making Grand Rapids Public Schools a destination for some suburban students. Though suburb districts still outpaced the city in attracting students under the school choice rules, the city did attract 84 new suburban students. School officials credit new programs and school investment.
Patio Life Photo Essay
With many options around the city for summer outdoor dining, you'll soon discover your favorite new place to soak in the city al fresco.Photographer AJ Paschka shows us an abstract view of metropolitan patio life.
The Bookies of GR
While the major book dealers lack the vision and confidence to exand into the downtown market, a number of locally-owned specialty shops are filling the void. Together, these smaller stores offer a tremendous amount of knowledge and all welcome book mavericks.
