We saw "The Band of the Irish Guards featuring The Royal Regiment of Scotland" on Thursday,…read moreFebruary 4, 2010. That was really good I have never seen anything like this as to compare with but I would have to say I would go again. That was my first time in this Auditorium and it was nice, clean and big not to big but big enough. We were third row right.

Mel Trotter Ministries: A Resident's Reality This place…read morewakes you up around 6:50 AM, then forces you to stay until 9:00 AM if you want to access your belongings from storage and get back in. You can leave as soon as you get up, but then you won't have the stuff that you need. Their heat only seems to be at the proper temperature on certain floors; the main lobby, where we are forced to be if we aren't leaving, is not one of those areas. They give you a small blanket and sheet and expect you to be warm enough. Their food quality and quantity are not enough--restrictive meal times, no lunch, and small portions. Wifi is available, but you're not allowed to use it. The TV is on only for a limited time and only plays the news. There is no real sign of the advertised "enrichment" programs. Instead, the programs that do exist favor select people, creating a tiered or hierarchical system. The south side is for employed residents and comes with more privileges, while the north side is "in the trenches," where residents are exposed to unpredictable and sometimes chaotic situations, including illness and bodily harm. The Night-Shift Problem perfectly illustrates this divide. For a resident working a shift like 10 PM - 7 AM, the standard 7 PM curfew can be waived with "documentation of reason." Once approved, a flag is put in the system to allow re-entry. However, the shelter typically forces these residents to stay on specific "program floors" so they won't be disturbed by the general population's 6:30 AM wake-up call. If you aren't in that specific program or don't have that flag, you're not getting back in. If you want a place to stay, you need to arrive around 9:00 AM. Regulars wake up first and reserve their beds for the day, and then everyone else reserves theirs. Rooms are shared (usually 2 per bunk bed) with a shared bathroom that can be locked from the outside. The shelter's operations are often inefficient. For example, severely intoxicated guests are technically not allowed under the MTM Code of Conduct, yet I've seen them admitted anyway, only to have to be picked up by an ambulance later. This slows down service for everyone else and creates unnecessary risk. Despite the decent rooms, free laundry, and security, the system is designed in a way that makes survival harder than it needs to be.

Mel Trotter Ministries is a beacon of hope and compassion in the heart of Grand Rapids. Their…read morecommitment to serving individuals experiencing homelessness goes far beyond providing shelter -- they offer dignity, support, and a path toward lasting transformation. Grateful for all they do to bring healing and restoration to so many lives.

We actually went to Fallasburg to drive over the Fallasburg covered bridge (no faster than a walk)…read more Erected in 1871 on the Flat River, located in the Fallasburg Historic District. 5 miles from Lowell, Michigan, USA

The FHS exists for the purpose of preservation of the 1850s historical Fallasburg village located…read morenortheast of Lowell in Kent County. The flagship museum is the one-room schoolhouse. The museum is open on Sundays from 2 to 4 pm, May through October. What makes this museum unique is that it is an entire historical village with the Fallasburg Covered Bridge leading into it. When you visit, you step back in time in a simple era before phones and computers.

This is one of several softball fields at the Byron Center. They have adult fields and junior…read morefields and seem to be very busy throughout the softball season. They also have soccer fields.