Today I'll share pictures of some cool Art Prize exhibits, and of course I'll also include some food pictures from our meals downtown, but if you just want to skip to the health and nutrition chit chat, feel free to scroll down and hop to it. I'm all over the place today.
In case you don't know about Art Prize, first I'll add a few past links to bring you in the loop, and then I'll show you the cool shots I've taken so far this year…
- Read about the crazy unexpected success and popularity in the first year, at Art Prize 2009, and see the famous “table and chairs” on top of the bridge downtown. It was so exciting to experience the way Grand Rapids got buzzing with such energy and excitement, it felt like downtown Chicago. What's cool is that it really seems to have fired up the energy downtown all year long now. Actually our downtown has been improving for the last 20 years and Art Prize has really added to that.
- See some of my 2010 Art Prize favorites – you have to check out the face, that was my favorite. I still show people that picture.
- Here’s the post I was inspired to write after seeing an exhibit that year that had me all in a tizzy, Meet Your Meat.
- See pictures from our trip to Art Prize last week when we got to meet the artist of a cool rock & roll exhibit!
- At the main Art Prize site, you can see everything that made it to the top ten and watch some interesting videos on the artists.
There are so many exhibits spread all over GR that I don't know if anyone can see everything. Below I'll include some highlights with captions…
This is the artist. Wait until you see the next one that shows this much closer…
This is how it looks through a magnifying glass, see how small the drawings and print are?!
Here's Bob with an exhibit made out of bras…
Here's one of my favorites, don't ask me how they got these stones to stay up in the river, don't you love this shot of Grand Rapids?
The huge Mantis is in the top ten.
I'd have loved this one to make it to the top ten. It's a gigantic flag that has been to the World Cup and to the Olympics, among other places. It says “Jesus King of the Nations – Every Tongue Will Confess.”
The first time we went down with Bob & Sonia:
Kent & I
Bob & Sonia
Cuban sandwich from The Green Well
Another time my sister and I took the kids and first we went to The Green Well for lunch. She gave me a bite of her Cuban sandwich and it was the best sandwich I've ever eaten, no lie. The pork was obviously sloooow cooked and had the best flavor! They also make their own tortilla chips. I had this yummy quinoa arugula salad with goat cheese:
Quinoa, arugula and goat cheese salad, delicious!
But the really fun part of that day, besides the great lunch and seeing more of Art Prize…
Was something that had to do with this new restaurant, Grove. It's owned by the Essence Restaurant Group, the same people who own Bistro Bella Vita and The Green Well. But that story is so fun, it has to wait for its own post! (Did you read about the fundraiser that Bistro Bella Vita did with us for the local Weston Price chapter?!) Hint: you guys will NOT believe what I ate!
Jennifer says
I’ve been using Vibram Five Fingers for over a year now and LOVE LOVE LOVE them. In fact, I recommend them to everyone I know that runs. For years I’d run on and off because I had so many problems with my right knee (tore a ligament in high school) and left ankle (tore FOUR ligaments about 3 years ago and couldn’t even *walk* on it for several months). I just couldn’t run more than once or twice a week in professionally-fitted running shoes without my old injuries acting up. Then last August, my brother showed up for our little sister’s wedding “breaking in” his own pair of Vibrams and I pestered him to death with questions. I got my own pair the next week and I’ve been using them since.
Two things: First, Vibram has AMAZING customer service (just saying!). Second, yes, you have to build up to what you’d normally run because you’ll be using new/different muscles, but if you start out just training your muscles for being “barefoot” it helps immensely. I don’t wear shoes around the house (where I am 90% of the time), and as soon as I got them I started wearing them instead of shoes when I went out. Within a week I was able to use them for my regular walking and running activities without the major muscle pains my brother (who puts on shoes 1st thing every morning and wears them all day every day) had after trying to run in his the first few times – I think because my body is USED to being barefoot a good majority of the time.
Or, if it helps, here’s another way of thinking about them: I know lots of people who think “maybe I should try them, but I might not like them and they’re so pricey.” But I also know quite a few people who took the plunge and got a pair (or more), and not a SINGLE ONE of them has any regret about getting them. Hope that helps!
Diane Sperber says
Kelly, I just received an email from the Fluoride Action Group about a new Mom’s group that has been formed to fight fluoridated water. Please pass this info on to your readers. Encourage them all to go to their website, Mom’s Against Fluoridation.org. They are looking for stories of how our families and especially our children have been affected by fluoride. I know, like me, you have a story concerning your own children. Let’s all of us MOMS UNITE and fight fluoridation!
sam says
love the shoes! I’m sam..just hoping the right one 🙂
KitchenKop says
Yes, you are the right one! I got your email and will respond soon. You show up as #87 now because I added a reply to a comment above yours after choosing the winner.
Kelly
Karen Daughtrey says
Hi Kelly,
My husband and I both bought the Vibram shoes and we love them. I have been a runner since middle school and have never felt so light and free when running. My husband, who only runs for health purposes and not so much for enjoyment, now enjoys running much more when barefoot or in the Vibrams. However, you definitely have to work up to them slowly. I have learned the hard way. It’s best to start learning barefoot, and then work into the Vibrams. I was training for a half-marathon when I did too much too soon and have some severe pain on the top of my foot. So, after registering for the race, I was not able to run it. I was very bummed, but hope that soon I will be back at it. Barefoot running really is more enjoyable and easier, but it does take time. So, I would recommend alternating running in Vibrams with regular running shoes until your feet get stronger and can handle the Vibrams for longer distances.
KitchenKop says
“More enjoyable and easier”??? I’m all over that!
But what do you all think of the similar shoes that aren’t Vibrams then? Just as good or no?? (Like the Merrells or whatever.)
Kim says
One of my friends is a barefoot runner and has been trying to convince me (a non-runner) that it is the best thing. She has the 5 fingers shoes, Merrell barefoot shoes (that is who Vibram partnered with, and they are available at most sporting goods stores), and Terra Plana shoes, but prefers the Merrells unless she just runs barefoot. She has also been helping my daughter that runs cross country work on her form and has been stressing that as you’re switching over to barefoot running, you have to take it really slow because you’re rebuilding different muscles (start out w/10 minute runs, where she is doing 50 minutes now). In fact, she recommended finishing the season and then working on it afterwards to be ready for the spring. The barefoot movement is very interesting though – it seems to make sense to me, and I know my current $110 tennis shoes w/great arch support aren’t helping my plantar faciitis.
On a side note, we were seeing a pediatric orthopedic doctor for a back issue, but I asked his opinion on barefoot running just to see what a “mainstream” person would say – he said “I think mother nature probably got it right”. I was expecting a totally different answer since that’s usually how it goes w/other food related/vaccine, etc. issues and “mainstream” doctors.
Bob A. says
Kelly, I bought a pair of Vibram barefoot shoes this summer. I’ve worn them running twice…..even with lots of stretching before and after, and with much shorter runs than I’m used to, my legs were EXTREMELY sore for days afterwards, so much so that I couldn’t keep to my running schedule with my ‘normal’ shoes. I still hope to eventually transition over to the Vibrams, but for me it’s going to be a slow process. I have knee and ankle trouble running, so I’m hoping the barefoot style will help. The individual toe pockets are the only style Vibram makes, but other companies have styles without the separated toes. The Vibrams are very comfortable to wear around the house, once I got the hang of getting them on (it’s a bit tricky at first).