When reporters are in the mood to give you extra — possibly trivial — information, we tell you things like Warren is the state’s third-largest city. We don’t fill in the blanks because we don’t want to insult you.
Detroit is obviously the state’s biggest city, even though its population continues to shrink. Detroit remains geographically huge and that’s good because once all those urban farmers set up shop they’ll need to have enough room for a “back 40” and you can’t have a back 40 unless you’ve got a front 40 to begin with.
The state’s second biggest city is Grand Rapids. It’s a largely forgotten city to those of us in southeast Michigan. If it’s not on the way to Traverse City or Mackinac Island then we don’t see it. Grand Rapids should consider making less furniture and more fudge.
But the first thing that hits you upon arriving in Grand Rapids is how clean, modern and how many presidents they have that no one ever voted for. And then you ask: Why can’t Detroit be more like this?
That’s probably unfair. Detroit is too big and unwieldy to offer what Grand Rapids does. Everything that matters is centrally located in downtown Grand Rapids. The Amway Hotel is a block away from a large, outdoor ice skating rink. You can walk to the Van Andel Arena, where artists like Tom Petty perform. The DeVos Hall (which just hosted the Michigan International Auto Show) is also a short walk away. There’s a jazz bar, a comedy club and a symphony. However, Grand Rapids’ symphony might be a touch more gimmicky than Detroit’s — next month “The Lord of the Rings” movie will be shown with Grand Rapids’ symphony performing the entire movie score. Beethoven will again roll over in his grave.
Grand Rapids has the beautiful Grand River running through its downtown. Located on its banks is the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. It’s a fascinating museum with seemingly more info on former first lady Betty Ford than on the ex-president himself. In the gift shop you can buy a replica of the couple’s annual Christmas card (priced half-off), but if you collect shotglasses you’ll have to go elsewhere.
I don’t know how Detroit can compete with a presidential museum. Obviously if Coleman Young had lived longer, or in a different era, he would’ve been our nation’s first black president. Obviously. But that’s water under the Belle Isle Bridge.
Don’t think that everything is rosy in Grand Rapids.A newspaper headline screamed, “Grand Rapids kids need help.” I guess in this state it’s all but impossible to avoid economic-related woes.
And if you want to feel better about Detroit in regard to our state’s Second City, then just think about how nice it is that Detroit is the home of the automobile and not pyramid-scheme cleaning products.

When reporters are in the mood to give you extra — possibly trivial — information, we tell you things like Warren is the state’s third-largest city. We don’t fill in the blanks because we don’t want to insult you.
Detroit is obviously the state’s biggest city, even though its population continues to shrink. Detroit remains geographically huge and that’s good because once all those urban farmers set up shop they’ll need to have enough room for a “back 40” and you can’t have a back 40 unless you’ve got a front 40 to begin with.
The state’s second biggest city is Grand Rapids. It’s a largely forgotten city to those of us in southeast Michigan. If it’s not on the way to Traverse City or Mackinac Island then we don’t see it. Grand Rapids should consider making less furniture and more fudge.
But the first thing that hits you upon arriving in Grand Rapids is how clean, modern and how many presidents they have that no one ever voted for. And then you ask: Why can’t Detroit be more like this?
That’s probably unfair. Detroit is too big and unwieldy to offer what Grand Rapids does. Everything that matters is centrally located in downtown Grand Rapids. The Amway Hotel is a block away from a large, outdoor ice skating rink. You can walk to the Van Andel Arena, where artists like Tom Petty perform. The DeVos Hall (which just hosted the Michigan International Auto Show) is also a short walk away. There’s a jazz bar, a comedy club and a symphony. However, Grand Rapids’ symphony might be a touch more gimmicky than Detroit’s — next month “The Lord of the Rings” movie will be shown with Grand Rapids’ symphony performing the entire movie score. Beethoven will again roll over in his grave.
Grand Rapids has the beautiful Grand River running through its downtown. Located on its banks is the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. It’s a fascinating museum with seemingly more info on former first lady Betty Ford than on the ex-president himself. In the gift shop you can buy a replica of the couple’s annual Christmas card (priced half-off), but if you collect shotglasses you’ll have to go elsewhere.
I don’t know how Detroit can compete with a presidential museum. Obviously if Coleman Young had lived longer, or in a different era, he would’ve been our nation’s first black president. Obviously. But that’s water under the Belle Isle Bridge.
Don’t think that everything is rosy in Grand Rapids.A newspaper headline screamed, “Grand Rapids kids need help.” I guess in this state it’s all but impossible to avoid economic-related woes.
And if you want to feel better about Detroit in regard to our state’s Second City, then just think about how nice it is that Detroit is the home of the automobile and not pyramid-scheme cleaning products.