Cliffs Riffs - Stuph n Nonsense

One of the consistent subjects that come up when discussing a campground in Lowell is the desire for a Community Pool. I agree 100% - a community pool would be fantastic. It would expand what the YMCA could offer, it would allow swim teams from our schools to have a home base, great family fun, etc. etc. It just so happens that I was involved in some meetings a few years ago when the possibility of a community pool, or pools, was being explored as a co-operative effort between the YMCA, Lowell Schools and the Peter Wege Foundation. The Foundation had some property and funding, the schools wanted a pool as did the YMCA and the population in general. I cannot find my notes, but I remember almost falling out of my chair when the annual costs of community pools were put on the table. I say "pools" because the proposal included a 6 or 8 lane Olympic style 50 meter pool, a diving pool (diving boards), and a heated, therapy kind of pool. I do not like to throw around dollar amou...

There is a contingent of people in the Lowell area who are proponents of putting a sports complex in the space currently occupied by the Kent County Youth Fair. I strongly disagree. Many would like to see a sports complex replace the KCYF - not me!! Before I present my reasons for favoring a campground head and shoulders above a sports complex at the Fairgrounds, let me first mention that I have a lot of respect for those who want to see such a complex in Lowell. I also want to mention that I recently watched an excellent segment on HBO's "Real Sports" in which they detailed how much money parents and athletes spend at such complexes, so I am not ignorant of their economic potential for an area. However, Lowell is NOT such an area. The reason I can say that with such conviction is simply because we do not have any place for the families who might be attracted to such a complex to spend the night. Imagine a family from Traverse City or Toledo who might travel to L...

It is my intention to put forth a strong economic case for putting a campground in Lowell when the KCYF (Kent County Youth Fair) moves to their new location. The King building has restrooms and showers. 1. Minimal start-up investment will be required. On our facebook page we have a photo album of many of the existing features on the property that would make it possible to "create" a campground with a minimal investment. We have bathroom and shower facilities in the King building.  We have graded roadways in and around the area.  We have a building in which food can be prepared and served - which also has a restroom. There is an existing boat launch on the Grand River. There is an existing kayak launch and boat launch on the Flat River. There is electricity running to many of the areas of the proposed campground. Rustic campers camp on grass - we have that! The horse barns could be easily converted to become sheltered campsites and offer the ability for peop...

My mission here is three fold - a concert report, a fun look at two responses, and a big WTF to the process of buying concert tickets these days. Julie and I have been fans of Todd Rundgren since 1972 or so. We have seen him many times together and on our own. The day, nay - the very minute - tickets went on sale for his visit to Grand Rapids with some members of Utopia in 2018, I was at my keyboard to buy tickets. FWIW, I prefer to go to the venue for ticket buys in order to avoid paying TicketMaster their silly ass fees, but that is another story. So I bought two front row seats right away. They were very much stage right - all the stuff in the middle had been snatched up, but we were excited anyway. Front row! I bought these seats on  FEBRUARY 20th - just shy of THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE SHOW.  . Fast forward to May 15th - Utopia is here. Julie and I closed our store early and went to the venue. Imagine our colossal disappointment when we were led to our seats ($118 ...

Lefties use 'em. Righties do, too. Russian bots use 'em - as do me n you. NOT ANY MORE FROM THIS BOY. Memes can kiss off. Imagine, if you will, an internet with no memes. Close your eyes - inhale for 4 seconds - hold that breath for 4 seconds - exhale for 6 seconds. Repeat. Now imagine your daily internet-social media experience sans memes. One of the driving forces behind the internet was to foster communication. It was supposed to open a world of possibilities - broaden our horizons - instead it is narrowing our scope to the point that we express ourselves in tweet size bites of sarcasm. We sum up hugely complex issues with one or two short sentences juxtaposed on a picture(s) that PROVES OUR POINT. Touche. Game. Set. Match. For MY side. I won - we won - we won. Who can dispute the irrefutable, solid as a rock, uber-genius line of shizzle our side just laid down on that issue with that bad ass, rockin' meme? My meme is better than your meme - my meme i...

Here is the link to  SAVE 10% ON YOUR ORDER . 9.29.19 Update - I now have and wear four pair of Dearborn Denim jeans. I just recently ordered a pair of their black jeans, the first pair of black ones I bought I transformed into these with a spray bottle and some bleach: Had some fun with these black jeans from Dearborn Denim and some bleach in a spray bottle. Anyway I now have blue, tan, and two pair of black jeans from Chicago. Could not be happier with them. I like to buy things made in the US when ever it is possible. Is it going to change the world? Nah. Is it going to save American jobs - well, it sure can't hurt. Like just about everyone else on Facebook, I had seen tons of ads for Dearborn Denim , a jean company in Chicago. One day I figured I might as well try a pair. Clicked on the link, read about the company , bought a pair of the Tailored Fit Dark Wash - they look like this: They arrived a few days later and at first I was a bit put off because they ...

I was very pleasantly treated by my first live listen to a great sounding, tight GRapids area band last night. Gotta admit, the main reason I went to their show at Lowell Arts! was to show my support for one Ryne Clarke, the opener for the evening. Ryne is a neighbor and a member of my FAVORITE local band, The Preservers , of whom I have written more than once. He is a tireless musician AND a great promoter of other musical talents through his efforts at Ryneshyne.club. Two side notes: First, if you have never seen the new home of Lowell Arts! , you need to visit. The gallery space is fantastic and the place was purpose built to host intimate musical events like an evening with Lipstick Jodi. Hearing music created in the midst of kick ass local and regional art is dessert without the calories.  Secondly, one more contributing factor to Lipstick Jodi fun was the fact that my wife has become friends with Jamie, keyboards and backing vocals, over the last few months because ...