Timize

Wolfgang Puck farm-to-table restaurant planned to replace Bentham's at Amway. Cornucopia is also being replaced by a Wolfgang Puck express. http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2014/12/wolfgang_puck_grand_rapids.html#incart_2box

A Canadian-based restaurant chain is moving into McKay tower soon: http://www.wzzm13.com/news/article/272392/14/Canadian-restaurant-chain-to-open-in-downtown-GR Here's the GRBJ article on Freshii: http://www.grbj.com/articles/78195-health-casual-restaurant-chain-picks-downtown

Huntington Bank signed an agreement with Meijer to put in over 90+ in-store branch locations in Michigan. Steelcase is designing the branches and providing the furniture. They are also kicking out all the Chase, Flagstar, and US Banks, so Huntington will be the only bank inside any Meijer store... at least in Michigan. Not sure if this has anything to do with that space at the Alpine Meijer, though... haven't visited that store in a while. http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/05/huntington_bank_plans_to_open.html and http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/05/can_a_furniture_company_get_us.html

All tables, chairs, equipment, etc. inside that Quiznos are gone. Pretty sure it's closed.

Rachel Maddow explains it a bit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUpO1QFMDtM

Was biking around downtown yesterday and came across one of the pianos for the ArtPrize entry "Play Me, I'm Yours" by Luke Jerram. I sat down and started playing. A couple people gathered around and watched me play. The owner of El Sombrero came up and offered me free chips and pop. It was a wonderful experience playing a piano on a sidewalk with people watching and cars zooming by.

I read somewhere online a while ago that it was coming to the Village of Orchard Hills. Not sure what the status on that is, though. I love H&M and hope they do open a store here soon.

GR is ranked #12 in the top 15 most underrated cities by HuffPo. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/18/10-most-underrated-us-cit_n_683872.html#s128338

Yep. They posted on their Facebook page that the family had a wedding and closed the store for the weekend. It's back open, now. They've also said that they're switching to glass plates instead of serving on the plastic containers. It's really great to hear that the restaurant is doing well.

I thought this was a cool mention. Meijer is #5 on the list of best supermarkets. http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/06/14/best-and-worst-grocery-stores-2010/

I've had three souvlakis this year... one yesterday and two today. I could eat it everyday. I should probably stay away from Festival tomorrow...

Shogun has been sold to new owners and is closing April 11th. The new owners plan to remodel the place and reopen with a new menu later this year, still offering sushi.

The posts on Mlive are ridiculous. I just can't believe there's such resentment towards public transportation.

Went downtown last night. I loved the crowds this guy attracted all over the place (though it doesn't seem evident in this picture, there were many groups of people following it, trying to get a glimpse of the man controlling it). I could tell many drivers were upset that this was randomly walking in the middle of the road. At moments, he would stop and and parallel park. It was quite entertaining.

I went to my first swing dancing event at Rosa Parks Circle today. Having been to the ones during the winter at the museum, I felt that they played WAY too much pop music and a lot less swing music than when they were hosting the events at the museum. Throughout the night, there were at least 5 instances where they gathered people up to line dance. And then they played music that was not in any way, shape or form, swing dancing music. I was very disappointed.