Three More Reasons to Love Downtown Grand Rapids

Beautifully framed downtown skyline from 38

The news of the economic downturn must have bypassed downtown Grand Rapids as another mix-use building project and two eclectic restaurant/bar open up. And the city's residents are not complaining one bit. The city's aspiration of becoming a mini Chicago is well underway.

38 hosted it's opening party last week; giving the city dwellers a taste of cool city living within a block of the arena. The owners of one of the best beers pubs in the US, Hopcat,  (okay, I am still waiting for the pub to offer San Miguel beer and more Asian beers - hint, hint) launched the retro 80's bar, Stella's Lounge and the 30's inspired, Viceroy, in the past month. And there are more great openings in the next few months.

The Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts (UICA) is finally taking shape and I could hardly wait. A very swanky wine bar is going to be opening between the Amway Grand Plaza and DeVos Performance Hall, I believe by late summer.  And I've heard of rumors of another Asian restaurant downtown. Add to that the news of the year-round farmer's market complex - GR is no longer the sleepy downtown it once was. 

38 living area

Condo deck

Apartment dining and kitchen at 38

Dining vignette

Downtown views

The city skyline from 38

Local artists performed their works at 38 launch party

Ladder

DJ Todd Ernst, along with DJ Shannon and DJ Jenny Disko, 

provided the soundscape at the 38 opening

Ice bar

Beer Macchiato compliments of Founders Brewery and Madcap

Exterior of 38

Line outside of Stella's Lounge

A lone scooter in the alleyway of Stella's Lounge

Stella's Lounge retro bar offering "cheap beer and stiff drinks"

Stella's Lounge bar offerings

Inside the Viceroy

It's been several months, but the patio at Tavern on the Square

 is another welcome addition to the downtown scene

Nothing Beats This Classic American Summer Sandwich

Laura in her charming studio in the Boardwalk

Foodie

Laura Velasquez

Foodie Crib

Downtown Grand Rapids

Gig

Meteorologist for WOOD TV

Member of Heart of West Michigan United Way MI Superfriendz

Foodie Morsles

I walked into Laura's studio condo in the Boardwalk on Monroe Avenue and I was suddenly transported back to my single days living in my first apartment in Chicago. Oh, the freedom of enjoying one's abode without any children's
shoes to trip on and a bazillion pieces of "stuff"to clean up. It's just you and you only. Laura told me that she always wanted to have black cupboards and appliances, and upon viewing this condo, she knew she was destined to occupy it. The previous owner built a wooden loft above the kitchen which instantly added a cabin-like charm to the place.

Behind the celebrity persona associated with her career is a well grounded person with deep roots in West Michigan. Her mother presented her with a binder with all of her favorite recipes. What a fantastic present, I thought. Laura is an avid cook with a host of Italian favorites. Given her passion for home cooked meals, her magnetic smile and drop dead resemblance to Giada De Laurentiis, I can see her pursuing a career switch from the weather green screen to tossing micro greens for Food Network. 

On the day of our dinner, the weather was sunny and in the high 80's. Laura couldn't resist the calling for pulled pork sandwiches, a classic American summer sandwich. Laura's friends, Bri and Marie, completed our foursome barbecue dinner. We shared glasses of malbec and riesling's. We traded war stories on phobias, cooking, travel, and of course, we had to talk about the weather.  

Laura's Pulled Pork BBQ

*Pork Shoulder (3-4 lbs)
*1/2 cup BBQ Sauce
*1/2 cup Mustard
*1/2 cup Red Wine Vinegar
*1/2 cup Brown Sugar
*1 1/2 t. Worcestershire sauce
*1 1/4 t. Pepper
*1/2 t. Salt
*1/2 t. Hot Sauce
Combine (except pork) and heat in a saucepan until thickened...about 20 minutes.

Cook pork shoulder in a slow cooker for about 6 to 8 hours on high. Allow to cool for 10 minutes and drain fat. Pull pork into pieces and add back to slow cooker (on low). Then add sauce. Heat in slow cooker for 10 to 20 minutes and serve. Serve on whole wheat buns for a great BBQ sandwich.

Laura's pulled pork bbq sandwich. It was so delicious I couldn't 

resist a second serving.

A priceless gift

What's with all these red Radio Flyers in Grand Rapids?

People around the Eastown area this past Saturday were probably wondering what all these Radio Flyers were doing galavanting around Cherry St. and in front of the ICCP building between the Rich App Gallery and The Green Well restaurant. Here's the scoop: The Heart of West Michigan's United Way's street team, MI Superfriendz, received the most generous gift of a dozen red Radio Flyers from the makers of this iconic American wagon. Thanks to Rich App and his never ending quest to help organizations he truly believes in. No strings attached.

After reading My Hotel Life's blog entry about the Rich App gallery, Rich passed on the link to his brother who happened to notice the Radio Flyer on the blog. He then passed it on to a friend who worked at Radio Flyer in Chicago. Rich suggested that I write a proposal describing how the MI Superfriendz were to use these wagons as a symbol of our mission to collect new and gently used books for the Schools of Hope program - a literacy program which helps students from 1st through 3rd grades in the Grand Rapids public schools. The Schools of Hope program tutors kids with reading and also provide ESL classes for families. 

Within days of sending the proposal to Radio Flyer, Rich called me and said that Radio Flyer was in and a dozen Radio Flyers were on its way to Grand Rapids. Just like that. No strings attached.

So we rounded the MI Superfriendz, at least those who were in town, to Rich's gallery for an assembly party and potluck luncheon on Saturday. Our kids were invited to join us too, and let me tell you, the kids were as enthusiastic about the work as our handy Superfriendz. I couldn't think of a better way (and better company) to spend a perfect Saturday afternoon in West Michigan.

Special thanks go to Rich App for making IT happen! And yes, he is not even officially part of the MI Superfriendz. And to our friends at Radio Flyer, especially Ashley Howell, we salute you for your generosity and for believing in our mission.

Be on the lookout for the official launch of our Radio Flyer Campaign for Schools of Hope in June. Do you have suggestions for possible locations and businesses who could host our Radio Flyers? Everyone is encouraged to drop off some new and gently used books to help those children and families in our community who are in need of our assistance.

Here's how you could help:

1. Schools of Hope needs more tutors who could volunteer 30 minutes a week during the school year. The program has about 1,200 tutors but could easily use 800 more.

2. Everyone is encouraged to drop off some new and gently used books to help those children and families in our community who are in need of our assistance.

3. Encourage your company, especially small businesses, to initiate a United Way workplace campaign.

4. Donate. 

Go to Heart of West Michigan United Way's website for more information about volunteering and starting a workplace campaign.

The street team: Jimmy Le, Michael De Meyer, Ryan Slusarzyk, Margaux Aquino,
George Aquino, Pete Brand, Super Dre, Laura Caprara, Don MacKenzie. Not pictured:
Laura Velasquez, Julie Regan, Rob Bliss, Paul Jendrasiak, Josh Depenbrok & Todd Ernst.

Home for Children - A perfect backdrop for the wagons

MI Superfriendz' "Abbey Road"

Yes, the wagons came unassembled.

Michael, Jimmy and Don assembling a wagon as Jimmy's nephew, Kendrick, looks on.

The jLe Wagon

Laura and Oscar

Super Dre "mixing" her salad

Don and Ryan share a smile during the assembly process

Big Oscar got into the action

Margaux and Kendrick

Michael takes in the warm conversation

Super Dre cracks up at our suggestion to place her DJ equipment on a Radio Flyer wagon

Jimmy, Ryan and Pete

Anthony studies Taylor's craftsmanship

Brody shows off his "Live United" cap

Dune Bashing in Dubai

The desert safari is probably the most popular among all the tourist activities in Dubai, UAE.  (Actually, it was the highlight of my one-week stay in the country.)  The safari features a high speed 4x4 ride on the desert which will surely pump one's adrenaline.

My family and I took the safari in the late afternoon.  We met up with our tour guide-driver at a designated pick-up point near the apartment where we were staying.  Upon reaching the desert, our driver gunned the engine, drove straight at a sand dune and hurdled it  ---  just a preview of what to expect on this safari.

All the safari drivers converged on the desert for a last-minute check on their engines, giving tourists the chance to get a fascinating view of the desert.  Then off the convoy of SUVs went for almost an hour of dune bashing.  It was like a rollercoaster ride as we went up and down the dunes, sand flying everywhere.  There were times when we crossed the dunes at 45 degrees sideways, a scary but exciting experience.  What really impressed me was the way the drivers skillfully handled the dunes with their vehicles just inches away from each other.  

Since I wanted to document the wild ride on my camera, I stayed on the front and tried my best to get good shots.  It was definitely a challenge.

Other activities included in the safari were sand skiing, camel riding, photo shoots in traditional Arab attire, a barbecue dinner, and belly dancing at the desert camp. At the camp, I had the opportunity to shoot some photos of the magnificent desert sunset.

About the guest blogger:

Veni Oliveros is a childhood classmate of mine at the Ateneo De Manila in the Philippines. He is based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. 

Are you interested in sharing your travel experiences, food specialties and photographs on My Hotel Life? Send me an email at georgeaquino@mac.com.

Guest blogger, Veni Oliveros, and his wife Belle at the safari camp

Around 30 SUV's made up the desert convoy

Bashing the dunes

Kids effortlessly skiing down the dunes

Scaling the slopes

Bashing dunes until sundown 

Veni and Belle at the start of the race

Zooming past a herd of camels

Belly dancing performance to cap off the safari