0_Wizard
Grand Rapids seems very interesting. It is the second largest city in  Michigan
Grand Rapids is the second-largest city in Michigan, and the largest city in West Michigan.
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Grand Rapids, Michigan
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Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is the second-largest city in Michigan, and the largest city in West Michigan. It is on the Grand River about east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 1,005,648, and the combined statistical area of Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland had a population of 1,321,557. Grand Rapids is the county seat of Kent County. A historic furniture-manufacturing center, Grand Rapids is home to five of the world's leading office furniture companies, and is nicknamed "Furniture City". Its more common modern nickname of "River City" refers to the landmark river for which it was named.
Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes and Midwestern regions of the United States. The state's name, Michigan, originates from the (Ojibwe word) "mishigamaa", meaning "large water" or "large lake". Michigan is the tenth most populous of the 50 United States, with the 11th most extensive total area, and the largest state by total area east of the Mississippi River. Michigan's capital is Lansing, and its largest city is Detroit. Michigan is the only state to consist of two peninsulas. The Lower Peninsula, to which the name Michigan was originally applied, is often noted to be shaped like a mitten.
126th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 126th Infantry Regiment ("Second Michigan") is a United States military unit of the Michigan Army National Guard. The 126th was originally an infantry regiment, then was converted into an armoured role, and then was converted to a light cavalry reconnaissance unit, with subordinate units stationed in Cadillac, Wyoming, Dowagiac, and Manistee. It was converted back to an infantry unit in 2016. The 126th Infantry existed for its first 144 years as an infantry unit. The 126th Infantry dates back as early as 12 July 1855 when the Grand Rapids Light Guard and Grand Rapids Artillery companies were organized.
U.S. Route 131
US Highway 131 (US 131) is a north–south United States Highway, of which all but 0.64 of its 269.96 miles (1.03 of 434.46 km) are within the state of Michigan. The highway starts in rural Indiana south of the state line as a state road connection to the Indiana Toll Road. As the road crosses into Michigan it becomes a state trunkline highway that connects to the metropolitan areas of Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids before continuing north to its terminus at Petoskey. US 131 runs as a freeway from south of Portage through to Manton in the north. Part of this freeway runs concurrently with Interstate 296 (I-296) as an unsigned designation through Grand Rapids.
Wyoming, Michigan
Wyoming is a city in Kent County, Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 72,125. That makes it the 3rd largest community or city in West Michigan, the 14th largest city in the state of Michigan, and the 18th largest community in the state as well as being the largest suburb of Grand Rapids. In 1832 the area was settled and organized under the Byron Township. In 1848 the township split the northern half being called Wyoming Township and then became a city in 1959 after a period of disputes surrounding annexation as well as water and sewer usage. The city has experienced population growth every census since the 1890 with some of the largest occurring after major wars.
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University (commonly referred to as GVSU, GV, or Grand Valley) is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids. Classes are also offered at the university's growing Robert C. Pew Campus in Downtown Grand Rapids, Meijer Campus in Holland, and through centers at Muskegon and Traverse City established in cooperation with local community colleges. GVSU is a comprehensive coeducational university serving more than 25,460 students as of fall 2016, from all 83 Michigan counties and dozens of other states and foreign countries.
History of Grand Rapids, Michigan
The recorded history of Grand Rapids in the U.S. state of Michigan, began with settlers in 1806. For thousands of years, succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples occupied the area. Over 2000 years ago, people associated with the Hopewell culture occupied the Grand River Valley. Later, a tribe from the Ottawa River traveled to the Grand River valley, fighting three battles with the Prairie Indians who were established in the area. The tribe later split, with the Chippewas settling in the northern lower peninsula, the Pottawatomies staying south of the Kalamazoo River and the Ottawa staying in central Michigan.
1_Apprentice
I've never been to Michigan, much less Grand Rapids. What are some cool places to visit there?
0_Wizard
I would recommend looking at some furniture while visting. It is known as "furniture city"
A historic furniture-manufacturing center, Grand Rapids is home to five of the world's leading office furniture companies, and is nicknamed "Furniture City".
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Grand Rapids, Michigan
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Pakistani furniture
Pakistan is no short of experts when it comes to furniture manufacturing. According to the World Trade Organization's statistics, Pakistan's exports of wooden furniture amounted to $51 million in 2011. The furniture industry in Pakistan has been expanding despite the political volatility of the country and other law and order woes. Many new furniture companies are now joining the furniture industry. Our handmade furniture is in high demand by high-end customers. Pakistani furniture manufacturers have expertise in this area, due to the type of wood used namely 'sheesham' (rosewood) which adds to this furniture's demand.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is the second-largest city in Michigan, and the largest city in West Michigan. It is on the Grand River about east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 1,005,648, and the combined statistical area of Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland had a population of 1,321,557. Grand Rapids is the county seat of Kent County. A historic furniture-manufacturing center, Grand Rapids is home to five of the world's leading office furniture companies, and is nicknamed "Furniture City". Its more common modern nickname of "River City" refers to the landmark river for which it was named.
Inchicore College of Further Education
Inchicore College of Further Education is part of the CDETB (City of Dublin Education and Training Board) and is located in the heart of Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland. It was formerly known as Inchicore Vocational School when established in 1957. The college provides courses in Leisure and Recreation Management, Leisure and Disability Studies, Sports Coaching, Travel and Tourism Management, Computer Applications and Business Skills, Business Studies, Childcare and Education, Pre-Nursing Studies, Pre-Paramedic Studies, Childcare Studies, Care Practice, Social Studies, Return to Education, Theatre Studies (Performance and Dance), Costume Design and Makeup, Stage Management, Sound and Lighting, Set Design and Construction, Art and Design, Creative Writing and Cultural Studies.
Shunde, China Furniture Wholesale Market
Shunde, China Furniture Wholesale Market is located at Shunde district which connects Lecong town and Longjiang town along the 10 km highway, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China. Shunde has become the largest furniture wholesale market and distribution center in China and the world. It claims to be the world's largest furniture wholesale market. It was named as the "China Furniture Business and Trading Capital" by the China National Light Industry Council and China National Furniture Association. It covers a total area of approximately 32.3 million square feet (3 million square meter) and it includes more than 200 modern furniture sales buildings, such as Sunlink Group, Lecong International Furniture Exhibition Center, Shunde Empire Group, Tuanyi International Furniture City and others.
Amish furniture
Amish furniture is furniture manufactured by the Amish, primarily of Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio. It is generally known as being made completely out of wood, usually without particle board or laminate. The styles most often used by the Amish woodworkers are generally more traditional in nature. Amish furniture first gained attention in the 1920s, when early American folk art was "discovered", and dealers and historians placed great value upon the beauty and quality of the pieces. Many different styles of Amish furniture emerged. The Jonestown School began in the late 18th century in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.
City Furniture
City Furniture is a privately-owned retailer that sells home furnishings, mattresses, and home accents. It is one of the largest home retailers in the state, with headquarters in Tamarac, Florida, and 17 showrooms located from Miami to The Villages. Additionally, it operates as an e-commerce retailer through CityFurniture.com. The brand represents all types of home styles, with price points that appeal to a wide demographic. Starting in 2004, City Furniture also began franchising Ashley Furniture, a Wisconsin-based home retailer. Currently, City Furniture operates 12 Ashley HomeStores stores throughout South Florida, including hybrid stores that combine City Furniture and Ashley Furniture.
Market Square (High Point, North Carolina)
Market Square is a furniture showroom complex in High Point, North Carolina, owned by International Market Centers which is the largest building in North Carolina on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and the sixth largest in the United States. Known also as Tomlinson Chair Manufacturing Company Complex, it was listed on the NRHP under that name. The former manufacturing complex includes the oldest factory building in the city, and its renovation has been credited with making High Point a successful furniture exhibition center. A 16-story addition in 1990 is one of the city's tallest buildings.
1_Apprentice
Do they make all of their own furniture there or do they just have a lot of furniture stores?
0_Wizard
Both! There are a lot of stores that specialize in handmade items, but there are also national chains such as Bobs Discount furniture
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Bob's Discount Furniture
Bob's Discount Furniture is an American furniture store headquartered in Manchester, Connecticut. Bob's Discount Furniture was founded in 1991 with its first store in Newington, Connecticut and is ranked 12th among United States furniture stores according to "Furniture Today"'s list of Top 100 Furniture Stores. As of November 2017, the company has 89 stores in 15 states, primarily in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest, with plans to expand to the west coast in early 2018. In 1976, future company co-founder Bob Kaufman was injured in a motorcycle accident. He discovered the benefits of a waterbed for recuperation.
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different product categories known as "departments". In modern major cities, the department store made a dramatic appearance in the middle of the 19th century, and permanently reshaped shopping habits, and the definition of service and luxury. Similar developments were under way in London (with Whiteleys), in Paris ("Le Bon Marché" in 1852) and in New York (with Stewart's). Today, departments often include the following: clothing, furniture, home appliances, toys, cosmetics, houseware, gardening, toiletries, sporting goods, do it yourself, paint, and hardware.
Edmond J. English
Edmond (Ted) J. English is an American businessman in the retail industry. English is currently the executive chairman of Bob's Discount Furniture and previously the CEO of the TJX Companies. English started his more than 40-year career in the retail industry working as a stock boy at Filene's Basement in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1983, English joined the TJX Companies as a buyer and eventually rose to serve as its president and chief executive officer from January 2000 to September 2005. Under his leadership, the TJX Companies added over 900 stores, 50,000 employees and revenue increased from $8.9 billion to $15 billion.
Etsy
Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items and supplies, as well as unique factory-manufactured items. These items cover a wide range, including art, photography, clothing, jewelry, food, bath and beauty products, quilts, knick-knacks, and toys. Many sellers also sell craft supplies such as beads, wire and jewelry-making tools. All vintage items must be at least 20 years old. The site follows in the tradition of open craft fairs, giving sellers personal storefronts where they list their goods for a fee of US$0.20 per item. As of December 31, 2014, Etsy had 54 million users registered as members, and the online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods connected 1.4 million active sellers with 19.8 million active buyers.
Retail
Retail markets and shops have a very ancient history, dating back to antiquity. Over the centuries, retail shops were transformed from little more than "rude booths" to the sophisticated shopping malls of the modern era. Retailing involves the process of selling consumer goods or Services to customers through multiple channels of distribution to earn a profit. Retailers satisfy demand identified through a supply chain. Some of the earliest retailers were itinerant peddlers. The term "retailer" is typically applied where a service provider fills the small orders of a large number of individuals, who are end-users, rather than large orders of a small number of wholesale, corporate or government clientele.
Target Corporation
Target Corporation is the second-largest discount store retailer in the United States, behind Walmart, and a component of the S&P 500 Index. Founded by George Dayton and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the company was originally named Goodfellow Dry Goods in June 1902 before being renamed the Dayton's Dry Goods Company in 1903 and later the Dayton Company in 1910. The first Target store opened in Roseville, Minnesota in 1962 while the parent company was renamed the Dayton Corporation in 1967. It became the Dayton-Hudson Corporation after merging with the J.L. Hudson Company in 1969 and held ownership of several department store chains including Dayton's, Hudson's, Marshall Field's, and Mervyn's.
Loyalty program
Loyalty programs are structured marketing strategies designed by merchants to encourage customers to continue to shop at or use the services of businesses associated with each program. These programs exist covering most types of commerce, each one having varying features and rewards-schemes. In marketing generally and in retailing more specifically, a loyalty card, rewards card, points card, advantage card, or club card is a plastic or paper card, visually similar to a credit card, debit card, or digital card that identifies the card holder as a participant in a loyalty program. Loyalty cards (both physical and digital) relate to the loyalty business-model.
1_Apprentice
Wow, that's really cool. What kind of foods are they known for? Are there any good restaurants I should know about?
0_Wizard
Grand Rapids is know for the "wet burrito" a burrito covered in enchilada sauce
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Burrito
A burrito (, ) is a dish in Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine that consists of a large wheat tortilla with various fillings. It is wrapped into a closed-ended cylinder, in contrast to a taco, where the tortilla is simply folded around the fillings. The tortilla is sometimes lightly grilled or steamed to soften it, make it more pliable, and allow it to adhere to itself when wrapped. A wet burrito is covered in sauce and therefore cannot be picked up. In Mexico, meat and refried beans are frequently the only fillings. In the United States, however, burrito fillings may include a combination of ingredients such as Mexican-style rice or plain rice, boiled beans or refried beans, lettuce, salsa, meat, guacamole, cheese, sour cream and various vegetables.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is the second-largest city in Michigan, and the largest city in West Michigan. It is on the Grand River about east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 1,005,648, and the combined statistical area of Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland had a population of 1,321,557. Grand Rapids is the county seat of Kent County. A historic furniture-manufacturing center, Grand Rapids is home to five of the world's leading office furniture companies, and is nicknamed "Furniture City". Its more common modern nickname of "River City" refers to the landmark river for which it was named.
Enchirito
Enchirito () is the trademarked name of Taco Bell's menu item of the Tex-Mex food similar to an enchilada. It is composed of a flour tortilla filled with seasoned ground beef taco meat (with options to substitute steak or chicken), beans, diced onions, cheddar cheese, and "red sauce". There is an unsubstantiated claim that the Enchirito was invented in 1967 by a high school student in Montebello, CA. However, a 2008 article published in the Long Beach Press-Telegram claimed that a Cerritos, California based franchise owner named Dan Jones had created the Enchirito. In an article published in a Corsicana Daily Sun in 1971, there is a third claim that a Taco Bell franchise owner in Texas was the actual inventor.
Mission burrito
A Mission burrito (also known as a San Francisco burrito or a Mission-style burrito) is a type of burrito that first became popular during the 1960s in the Mission District of San Francisco, California. It is distinguished from other burritos by its large size and inclusion of extra rice and other ingredients. A key method to the burritos' construction is to steam the wheat flour tortilla to increase its flexibility prior to adding the other ingredients, although that is not a requirement and burritos may be grilled instead. It has been referred to as one of three major styles of burritos in the United States, following the earlier, simple burrito consisting of beans, rice, and meat.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Flying Burrito Brothers are a seminal American country rock band, best known for their influential 1969 debut album, "The Gilded Palace of Sin". Although the group is perhaps best known for its connection to band founders Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman (formerly of the Byrds), the group underwent many personnel changes and has existed in various incarnations, currently known as "the Burrito Brothers". Ian Dunlop and Mickey Gauvin, formerly of Gram Parsons' International Submarine Band (ISB), founded the original Flying Burrito Brothers and named it after Parsons informed them of his new country focus.
Sneaky Pete Kleinow
Peter E. "Sneaky Pete" Kleinow (August 20, 1934 – January 6, 2007) was an American country-rock musician, songwriter, and a motion picture special effects artist. He is best known as a member of the band the Flying Burrito Brothers and as a session musician for such artists as Joan Baez, Jackson Browne, The Byrds, Joe Cocker, Rita Coolidge, Eagles, The Everly Brothers, George Harrison, The Steve Miller Band, Joni Mitchell, The Rolling Stones, Ringo Starr, Stevie Wonder, Spencer Davis, Linda Ronstadt and many others. Kleinow was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana; inspired by Jerry Byrd, he took up the pedal steel guitar in high school.
John Beland
John Edward Beland (born July 24, 1949) is an American songwriter, session guitarist, recording artist, producer and author. Beland's career as guitarist started out in Los Angeles in the late 1960s, playing sessions and local live gigs with Kris Kristofferson, as well as future Eagles members, Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon. Beland's first major break came in 1970, when he played lead guitar for a young Linda Ronstadt. He helped Ronstadt put together her first serious solo band, Swampwater. Along with bandmates Gib Guilbeau, Thad Maxwell and Stan Pratt, Swampwater toured the country with Ronstadt, appearing with her on many notable television shows including "The Johnny Cash Show".
1_Apprentice
That sounds pretty delicious. Are there any cool museums or historic places to visit?
0_Wizard
The Frederik Meijer Garden and sculpture park is pretty well known and beautiful
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Frederik Meijer Gardens &amp; Sculpture Park
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a botanical garden and outdoor sculpture park located in Grand Rapids Township, Michigan in Kent County. Commonly referred to as Meijer Gardens, it has quickly become one of the most significant sculpture experiences in the Midwest and an emerging worldwide cultural destination. In April 2005, "The Wall Street Journal" wrote that "There's nothing quite like Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park this side of the Kroller-Muller Museum and Sculpture Park in The Netherlands". In May 2009, it was named one of the top "30 Must-See Museums" in the world. It is Michigan's second-largest tourist attraction and is a feature venue in ArtPrize, the largest art competition decided by public vote.
Meijer
Meijer () is a regional American supercenter chain with its corporate headquarters in Walker, Michigan, in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. Founded in 1934 as a supermarket chain, Meijer is credited with pioneering the modern supercenter concept in 1962. About half of the company's 235 stores are located in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, with additional locations in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Meijer has no affiliation with Fred Meyer. The chain was ranked No. 19 on Forbes' 2015 list of "America's Largest Private Companies" and 19 in Fortune's 2008 "The 35 largest U.S. private companies".
Nina Akamu
Nina Akamu is a Japanese American artist who was born in Midwest City, Oklahoma. Nina Akamu was born in 1955 in Midwest City, Oklahoma. Her father was a career Air Force serviceman so she experienced a peripatetic lifestyle living in Hawaii and East Asia. At the age of 10 her family moved to Japan, where her passion for horseback riding was instilled (which would eventually lead to a passion for sculpting horses). In 1969 her family was transferred back to the United States, moving to Dover, Delaware, where Akamu graduated high school. She studied with American painter and anatomist Joseph Sheppard.
Joseph Antenucci Becherer
Joseph Antenucci Becherer PhD (born 1965) is an American curator, professor, writer, and arts administrator. He is a scholar of Modern and Contemporary sculpture organizing major exhibitions and installations from Auguste Rodin to Jonathan Borofsky, Henry Moore to Magdalena Abakanowicz, Jenny Holzer to Ai Weiwei. He is the Chief Curator and Vice President of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he has served since 1999. Here, he directs the departments of Sculpture and Sculpture Exhibitions, Horticulture and Annual Exhibitions, Communications and Public Relations.
Frederik Meijer
Frederik Gerhard Hendrik Meijer (December 7, 1919 – November 25, 2011) was an American businessman, the chairman of the Meijer hypermarket chain in Michigan, US. Frederik Meijer was born in Greenville, Michigan, the son of Hendrik and Gezina Meijer, both Dutch immigrants, who had married in Greenville in 1912. In 1934, at age 14, he worked with his father Hendrik Meijer to found Meijer Grocery in Greenville. In 1962, he launched Meijer Thrifty Acres with his father and pioneered one-stop shopping. He inherited the company after the death of his father in 1964. In 1990, he handed over the company to his sons, Doug and Hank, although he remained the Chairman of the Board until his death.
Mimmo Paladino
Mimmo Paladino is an Italian sculptor, painter and printmaker. 1948 Born 18 December in Paduli, near Benevento, east of Naples  1964 Visits the Venice Biennale where the work of Robert Rauschenberg in the American Pavilion makes a strong impression, revealing to him the ‘reality of art’  1968 Completes his studies at the Liceo artistico di Benevento and within a year has participated in a group show in Naples. His early work uses photo-based imagery as well as showing an awareness of conceptual art: ‘…what I was really looking for was images. The frozen art, made with such a cold medium as the camera, certainly didn’t come naturally, and above all, I couldn’t have kept on making art along such a one-way track that excluded new possibilities’  Solo exhibition at the Galleria Carolina, Portici  1969 Solo exhibition at Enzo Cannaviello’s Studio Oggetto, Caserta  1973 Begins combining images in mixed media, building up a complex iconography that takes account of ‘a terrible mixture of messages from cultures, strangely opposed and divergent, though mixed together’  1977 Paints a seminal work that marks a shift towards painting at odds with current avant-garde practice: ‘I have always thought of my work as something which is on a borderline with risk.
Leonardo's horse
Leonardo's Horse (also known as Gran Cavallo) is a sculpture that was commissioned of Leonardo da Vinci in 1482 by Duke of Milan Ludovico il Moro, but not completed. It was intended to be the largest equestrian statue in the world, a monument to the duke's father Francesco. Leonardo did extensive preparatory work for it, but produced only a clay model, which was destroyed by French soldiers when they invaded Milan in 1499, interrupting the project. About five centuries later, Leonardo's surviving design materials were used as the basis for sculptures intended to bring the project to fruition. In 1977, Charles C. Dent, an amateur artist and flying enthusiast since youth, who went on to become a pioneering United Airlines pilot by profession and an art collector, read in September issue of National Geographic magazine its feature article on the history of the statue and began work to recreate the unfinished sculpture in his home town Allentown, Pennsylvania.
1_Apprentice
Grand Rapids sounds like a pretty cool place.  