The Rapidian Home

Opinion

 

In Anticipation of Tina Brown's GR Vacay...

Submitted 01-31-2011 under OPINION

All the heated responses to Newsweek last week got me thinking: what would Tina Brown see if she picked up the gauntlet we as a city threw down last week and actually visited Grand Rapids?  I tend more toward cynicism than blind optimism, so I...

[read more]

Ghost Heart releases debut LP at Founders this Saturday

Submitted 01-26-2011 under OPINION

I have a preferred context for listening to most albums. It's not a set-in-stone thing but, for example, Metallica's Kill 'Em All is best listened to while driving on the highway. It just is. Jens Lekman's Night Falls Over Kortedala is a walking...

[read more]

Dear Newsweek - An open letter from Mayor George K. Heartwell

Submitted 01-25-2011 under OPINION

Dear Ms. Brown: The citizens of Grand Rapids were astounded when you declared our city, Grand Rapids, to be a "dying city" in the January 21, 2011 issue of Newsweek. Dying city? Surely Newsweek must be joking! Would a major medical school...

[read more]

Let me introduce myself: Holly Bechiri joins The Rapidian team

Submitted 01-25-2011 under OPINION

This week in 1984, Apple Computers Inc unveiled its first MacIntosh personal computer. And, as I remember, immediately started pouring those Mac PCs into schools for free (smart company, that Apple).  In fact, I remember using those PCs to...

[read more]

Looking Ahead: Rapidian staff discuss priorities for 2011

Submitted 01-20-2011 under OPINION

On New Year’s eve Roberta King, superstar citizen journalist and our champion at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, published an inspirational call to action encouraging us all to "be The Rapidian” in 2011. As part of the team that puts The...

[read more]

[REVIEW] Opening night of "Beacons" at UICA

Submitted 01-15-2011 under OPINION

After days and nights of monotonous snow and slush, West Michiganders are ushered to the light that is “Beacons: An Exhibition of Luminous Art,” now showing at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts. The show is full of beauty and stillness with...

[read more]

The Fainting Generals; Employee of the Month for Life

Submitted 01-08-2011 under OPINION

 Employee of the Month for Life is the new cd release from The Fainting Generals. Featuring 8 tracks recorded by Matt Ten Clay in Grand Rapids, the disc is the followup to the Fainting Generals debut Everybody...

[read more]

Being The Rapidian in 2011

Submitted 12-31-2010 under OPINION

There is something about the end of a year and the start of a new one that energizes me. I don't make resolutions; but write goals for things I want to accomplish. I also find the end of the year a time where I reflect (usually fondly) on what I've...

[read more]

Winter photos: Someone must know which street this is

Submitted 12-30-2010 under OPINION

A couple of weeks ago, The Rapidian and The Grand Rapids Press launched their respective winter photo projects. On our part, we asked Rapidians to share what there is to love about West Michigan winters. The Press opted for a caption...

[read more]

Creating Myths in Uptown

Submitted 12-30-2010 under OPINION

I keep hearing people talk about the effects of gentrification in Uptown but can find no substantive evidence of it. This idea of gentrification has recently caused some silly people to do some dumb things in my neighborhood. From the evidence that...

[read more]

Browse