by Katlin Oberlin

You can’t judge a book by its cover, and you can’t judge a restaurant by its building. The Wealthy St. Station is a mechanic’s shop turned deli.

When you walk into the Wealthy St. Station you may feel like it’s a mechanic’s shop. You order from the counter, and the menu is either on a poster board on the left, or in paper form on the counter for you to take home.

A very friendly waiter/server/cashier takes your order and lets you know when your food is ready. There are only about three tables for customers to sit at inside, so it seems that more people order their food by phone and pick it up.

Sophomore Abby Stoner and I decided to eat outside at one of the four patio furniture tables. It was fairly windy, but the sun was shining and the air was warm. When our food was ready, the friendly man at the counter who took our order let us know that our food was ready by banging on the garage door, and we went inside to get our food.

We sat and rocked out to 97 LAV-FM which just happens to be West Michigan’s “home” for classic rock — the typical music you hear when you go to have your car fixed, oil changed or tires repaired. We truly felt like mechanics taking a lunch break outside the shop, enjoying a hefty meal. There was also a mural painted on a wall next to the diner which provided something to look at while we ate.

I ordered the veggie sandwich with fries, which was hot and delicious. Abby ordered the chicken sandwich with fries. Our food came in fry baskets, and they gave us a bottle of ketchup to share. The fries had some sort of seasoning and were nice and thick, not crunchy or mushy, but just right. We also ordered drinks. The Wealthy St. Station offers a beverage choice in an abnormal fashion. Instead of the typical fountain pop, you order a drink by the can. They have Coke and Pepsi products. I ordered the delicious Black Cherry Cream Soda and Abby got a can of Coca-Cola. When you have finished eating, you take your basket, can, and ketchup bottle back to the counter and they take care of the rest.

From the counter, where you order your food, you can see everything. They have large glass coolers with the beverages, and you can watch the chefs grill and prepare your food. The menu of the Wealthy St. Station is very diverse. They have a mix of starters and sides, dinner baskets, an American menu, Polish menu, Mexican menu, and a kids menu. They also have substitutes for vegetarians on almost all of their sandwiches. This diner has a soup of the day, ice cream and two slushy machines.

People who love restoring old cars will especially love the Wealthy St. Station. Signs and pictures of vintage cars and auto-mechanic product brands covered the walls, creating a true mechanic’s atmosphere.

It takes about seven minutes to get to the Wealthy St. Station from Cornerstone and it is located on the corner of Wealthy and Fuller. They are open Monday through Saturday at 11 a.m. for lunch and dinner. They are closed on Sunday. This diner may not look so appealing on the outside, but the food inside is delicious! The Wealthy St. Station creates the auto-mechanic atmosphere, so Get Out!, put on your collared shirt with your name stitched in the corner, and feel like a mechanic when you try their delectable food.

One word fits this non-traditional coffee shop: simple. Melissa Kersjes and I headed straight through the heart of Grand Rapids, and found ourselves at the corner of Monroe Center and Ottawa.

This coffee shop called Madcap has large windows with bench seating that overlooks the “big” tourist sections of Grand Rapids such as Van Andel Arena, the Grand Rapids Art Museum and Rosa Parks Circle.

This place doesn’t really cater to the typical coffee shop ollege crowd. You will only find real coffee.

They don’t have any artificial flavors like peppermint or strawberry syrup, only honey and cinnamon.

The menu is quite small as they have limited choices on espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, steamers and slow brewed coffee.

You do not typically see teens or even young adults drinking plain coffee, so Madcap is geared towards hardcore coffee drinkers/adults.

Madcap coffee would be the perfect place to have a business meeting or for two old friends to catch up.

You definitely wouldn’t want to walk in with your sweats and do homework for hours on end. Instead it’s the perfect place to bring your boss, and talk about professional things, in a professional setting.

However, the easy environment creates a place where you will not be distracted and where you could focus to get some work done.

The stone tables, contemporary seating, and acoustic guitar music provide a different feeling of relaxation than your typical coffee shop. It also was fairly bright at Madcap, and they even use CFL light bulbs, to help the environment.

Beautiful pictures of waterfalls from faraway lands hung on the wall, creating the desire to fly south for the winter, just like the birds.

This high class coffee shop does have the typical high ceilings, wood floors and a chalk board menu sign; it’s more sophisticated. It is very spacious which made it really quiet, and Melissa and I felt as though we had to whisper.

For Monroe Center, this building is definitely one of the classiest coffee shops, or even stores, on the block.

The employees helped us decide what we wanted to drink, and if they didn’t have what we wanted, they had alternatives.

So we ordered lattes with cinnamon and honey.

Madcap coffee truly knows how to make beautiful art out of a drink.

Melissa’s foam looked like a leaf, and mine resembled a heart.

We didn’t want to drink our coffee for fear of destroying the beautiful design. I personally do not like the taste of the foam on top, but the liquid was delicious.

Madcap coffee employees are Mac lovers, as even the cash register is hooked up to a Mac computer.

Bringing in your Dell computer might not be ideal. You also cannot expect to be able to go to Madcap in the evening.

They are only open until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, so going after a night class is not really an option, but it might encourage you to not wait to do homework until late at night, like most college students do.

However, on Friday and Saturday’s they are open till 11 p.m., so on the weekend you could go and get homework done.

Melissa and I left Madcap feeling trendy and sophisticated. This coffee shop could be for you, so Get Out!, take your boss out for coffee, and enjoy the ride downtown.

The organic soothing aroma of brewing tea filled our lungs and immensely brought comfort to our minds. Global Infusion offers this relaxation through their 50 different choices of tea.

This little coffee and tea bar is bursting with color.

Trinkets and decorations cover the walls. We also saw beautiful paintings of some faraway destination which makes one want to be there instead of in this cold Michigan weather.

When you first walk into this small shop, you think it contains merely gifts and accessories that were imported from Africa. One word describes Global Infusion perfectly: eclectic.

After walking through and looking at all of the bags, tea kettles, plates and jewelry, we noticed that one of the walls was covered in book shelves that contained teas of all kinds.

Jars with white lids and little labels consumed our eyes as we read through the assortment of teas.

I couldn’t even begin to list all of the teas that Global Infusion has, it would take up this entire column.

We saw a man filling a bag with tea leaves and wondered how we went about getting something to drink.

After browsing through the store, we were greeted by a friendly employee, and we asked her to lead us to the most popular teas.

Global Infusion has teas of basically every flavor, as well as decaf teas.

Global Infusion supports Fair Trade, and they offer many such goods.

They have baskets, stone pieces, cookbooks and foods, jewelry and bags, hats and scarves, CDs, coffee, tea and chocolate, which they paid for at the fair trade price.

As we were browsing the store, we heard a woman ask for their shampoos and conditioners.

Who would have thought that this tea store would have organic shampoos and conditioners? Those must be good for your hair.

There were five tables in the front portion of the store so one can sit, have a good laugh with a friend, reflect on a hard day’s work, or simply enjoy a warm cup of tea.

My friend and I ordered the Jasmine green tea which tasted like gingerbread, and gave us an interesting little sting down our throats.

The next time I go, I want to try their Rainforest Chocolate Tea, which is a favorite among many customers.

Global Infusion is a tea & coffee bar, but in reality, it is so much more.

They have coffee, tea, lattes, chai, which is homemade and even baked goods from Marie Catribs, which is just down the road.

They also have a monthly drink feature. Global Infusion has an interesting policy called BYOB (bring your own bottle).

They do not have bottled water any more but will gladly fill your water bottle or give you a take-out cup of water for free.

They have a new reverse osmosis water filter, and judging by the name alone, it must be healthy.

They also give away moving boxes, which you can pick up at the back of their store for free. In the summer, they have patio seating on their nice wooden deck, in the front of the shop.

The drive to Global Infusion is not far; it only takes seven minutes from Cornerstone—just a little over four miles.

So grab a friend, and Get Out! to this nice coffee and tea bar that will make all your stress float away.

“We love you, pass it on” was the first sign I saw as I walked into this contemporary deli shop. I was shocked that this hand painted sign hung from the ceiling, and honestly, I ended up smiling. I thought to myself, “We need more love in this world, particularly showing Jesus’s love, the perfect example.

On this particular Saturday, the place was packed, which gave me the impression that it must be delicious, but I did not let that persuade me. I wanted to taste the food for myself.

A good friend of mine came with me, and we discovered that the best way to enter Marie Catribs is through the back door, by where you park.

Our wait was about an hour, but it could be drastically reduced if we sat at the counter, so we agreed. We liked sitting at the counter because we got to watch the chefs prepare our food.

If you come during their busiest hours, do not fret. There is plenty to do within walking distance, while you wait for a table at Marie Catribs.

Right across the street is Global Infusion where you can get tea for two, and there are plenty of little clothing, accessory and gifts shops for browsing.

Our waiter was very personable and even gave us advice about what to eat. I ordered the Handyman sandwich, and my friend ordered the Russian [their most famous sandwich].

There was a wide bread selection and they were open to substitution if you did not like something on your sandwich.

The thick bread was matched by the ingredients inside, creating a healthy and delicious lunch. Yes, a rare occurrence; I just combined the words healthy and delicious. Marie Catribs needs the HD certification, (healthy and delicious) which I just made up, but it is so true.

The freshly baked goods did not weigh down our stomachs and left us feeling full, energized and healthy.

Our sandwiches also came with a cucumber pickle, which was a unique contrast compared to the typical dill pickle that is served with most deli sandwiches.

The atmosphere was casual and positive as the young, friendly servers joked with the customers.

I noticed that the ambiance was not typical, and the employees were a large contributor to this.

They did not wear the typical ugly, big uniforms. Instead they expressed their individual style which made me feel like a neighbor having a casual meal instead of a customer.

We even saw Marie herself. She smiled at us and chatted with numerous customers, making sure everyone was satisfied.

Here are a list of things you must check out when you go: the cucumber pickle, the sugar from Hawaii, the organic fresh food, the wonderful employees, the art and graffiti on the walls, the nice wood tables, and the other baked goods in the deli store!

My one suggestion when you eat at Marie Catribs and have to go to the bathroom is to lock the door behind you. The one stall bathroom doors make it seem like there is more than one stall. Unfortunately, I saw numerous people walk in on others before I used their facilities, so I made sure to lock the door behind me.

I also noticed that Marie Catribs is environmentally and neighborhood friendly. They have the half/full flush toilets that save water, numerous recycling bins, and they even sell some of their cookies and muffins at Global Infusion, just down the road.

The impression I got when I first walked into Marie Catribs was right on target. Many people love Marie’s deli, and even though it was packed, people were willing to wait. I have so many wonderful things I want to write about, but space is tight, so you definitely have to Get Out! for yourself! This restaurant gets my highest rating: a definite 5 out of 5.

This small coffee shop provided me and Tessa a friendly, clean, relaxing, off-campus experience and the completion of some homework, unlike our dorm rooms.

Tessa and I headed to downtown Grand Rapids to one of my favorite streets: Ionia, a nice brick road which takes you right through the city.

This street provides many authentic restaurants, and Tessa and I decided to check out Go Java, a coffee shop.

When we entered the building that holds Go Java, we were surprisingly confused.

It was about 7 p.m. on a Wednesday night, and every other coffee shop downtown was closed.

Go Java stays open until 9 p.m. on the weekdays.

This coffee shop had the typical high ceilings, wooded floors, soft classical music playing in the background, the refreshing smell of freshly made coffee, assorted seating, free WiFi, and the list goes on.

However this coffee shop was about the size of a Pickett dorm room – bigger than the rooms in Cook and VO, but not by much.

When we walked, in we were surprised that they were still open because the place was bare.

There were only 17 seats in this small coffee shop, and every seat was available to us.

Four seats overlooked the street which gave us different scenery.

Two employees with the typical apron and hats stamped with the Go Java logo greeted us almost immediately.

They asked us what they could get for us and waited patiently as we browsed the small menu.

A lot of things that Go Java offers its customers are not on their menu.

They are in the cooler and glass shelves below the counter.

Go Java offers Jones Sodas, orange Juice, apple juice, Arizona drinks, kettle corn, sun chips, yogurt, salads, muffins, cookies and Coca-Cola (YUM!), which are not on the menu.

So basically it is a mini gas station … or not.

However, on the menu you will read that they also offer lattes and cappuccino, hot chocolate, iced tea drinks, iced chai tea, smoothies and mochaccinos.

They even had parfaits like one you would find at McDonald’s.

Go Java makes the promise that they have the “real” cappuccino, unlike the fake ones you find at any Starbucks or Biggby’s.

Right? Maybe. I am not a fan of foamy milk and neither is Tessa, so all true cappuccino lovers will have to find out if this cappuccino promise is valid.

Go Java is right next to Hopcat, a Grand Rapids authentic restaurant and bar, which happened to be very busy on Wednesday nights. Go Java has a Web site (www.gojavacoffee.com) which provides directions, their menu and a description of the experience you will have.

The employees at this small coffee shop chatted with us about the different drink options, their hours and the customers that come in.

They even swept, mopped and wiped down the counters and bathroom when we were there.

We noticed that it was very clean when we walked in, and we also found a free map of Grand Rapids.

Tessa and I were tempted to put down our homework when we saw the board game Sorry, and they have the perfect high round tables for playing.

We did our homework and headed back to Cornerstone, to finish off a fairly productive night.

So Get Out! and have a productive night at this dorm-sized coffee shop, perfect for studying.

LOCATION: 15 IONIA SW, Grand Rapids

TIME: Mon-Fri: 6 am to 9 pm, Sat: 8 am to 10 pm

WEB: www.gojava.com

GET OUT FACTOR (out of 5 !): !!!!

Katlin’s top three

3.  Non-coffee choices

2.  Friendly employees

1.  Private atmosphere

Many college students usually come around 9 p.m. and stay until 2 a.m.

They have nice tables for two people to study with soft lighting and coat hanger hooks on the wall.

The one inconvenience about this popular coffee shop is that it can get crowded.

This small coffee shop offers a large variety of drink options.

Their drink menu ranges from espresso, brewed coffee lattes, signature lattes, smoothies, frozen coffee beverages, ice cream mochas, coffee alternatives, teas and steamers.

This authentic Grand Rapids coffee shop has the most choices when it comes to drinks, and may have even more choices than Starbucks.

The most expensive drink was $5.25 and is called Panama, rich with orange juice, vanilla, milk, pineapple and coconut blended with ice and drizzled with pomegranate, in other words: delicious.

Torani syrups line the wall and provide many drink options, and you can choose to create your own drink. Also, they only sell fair trade coffee.

I ordered the peppermint patty latte and ordered it as a cold drink. My friend Layne Comegys, CU junior, ordered the mango smoothie which was light and fluffy.

La Raye Dykstra, CU sophomore, ordered the immortal raspberry, which was a mixture of raspberries and creamy caramel, and she said it was “smooth and rich.”

The Bitter End is like most coffee shops with pictures on the wall, but the art displayed on the walls seemed different.

Unique art pieces by various famous artists hung over every wooden wall and could have kept me staring for hours.

As well as looking at the art, they have plenty of games and magazines to read.

They also have a book swap where you can take a book, but you have to leave one, which creates a continuum of new books and a unique exchange.

Wherever life takes me, I will be sure to stop by The Bitter End to read a book and drink some delicious coffee.

This coffee shop is next to Frank’s market which is known for its Kielbasa, and past Grand Valley State University.

The Bitter End has an incredible authentic high copper ceiling and nice wood flooring. Smooth classical or jazz music plays quietly, creating a relaxing and perfect atmosphere for studying.

Clocks hang on the wall displaying time from Washington D.C., New York, Grand Rapids and Atlanta, which appears deceiving at first, but they happen to be all in the eastern time zone.

For those who like to contribute to environmental awareness, they not only have Dixie cups, but you can ask for coffee mugs, creating a chance to help save the environment, one coffee cup at a time.

They have Mondays where you can get a double hole punch for your coffee card, which you can keep in an index container next to the register, creating more space in your wallet.

They have another branch in Grandville called Noshbille which provides the 24/7 cafe and a similar menu.

So GetOut! and be productive in this authentic coffee shop, which gets my highest rating.

I finally found a restaurant perfect for a business meeting lunch or dinner. A restaurant located on a brick road and coincidentally called Brick Road Pizza.

We did not have to wait to be seated. When we walked through the door we were warmly greeted by a hostess, who also was our waitress. She asked us if we had ever been to Brick Road Pizza before, and after we replied, “No” she said, “Well finally, you’re here,” and we laughed. She was very warm in spirit and always made sure to check on us. She helped us understand the menu and discussed with us how we did not like tofu. Our waters were refilled, and she even brought us our check because she knew we were running out of time to head to our concert. As well as taking care of their customers, we noticed the hint smell of cleaner, and we knew that the employees take care of this restaurant.

Mindy and I first ordered the Brick Road Sticks which ended up being a large appetizer for only $3.95. We devoured the soft twisted bread sticks and the marinara sauce that came with it. Our pizzas came just in time; we did not wait longer than ten minutes. Mindy and I wanted to experience all that Brick Road Pizza has to offer. We ordered the 7-inch Hula Dance, Mindy’s favorite choice of pizza, which came with ham, pineapple and bacon. We also ordered the Vegan Cheeseburger Pizza, yes vegan. The pizza was unique, as it was topped with a Veganaise (mayonnaise) base, pickles, onion, seasoned tofu, ketchup and mustard. You are probably thinking that this sounds gross, but honestly it was quite good. I am not a fan of tofu, so I picked it off and enjoyed the warm soft dough and hamburger toppings. Brick Road Pizza offers five different vegan pizza choices, as well as the “Build it yourself” vegan choice. This restaurant also has thin crust and whole wheat crust. They have 7-inch to 16-inch pizzas, as well as salads, sandwiches, pasta, a kids menu and a few desserts.

Brick Road Pizza has a musician’s theme to the interior decorations. A beautifully drawn musician mural is painted on the wall and visible by all customers who dine in. The mural was the first thing I noticed and the depth and detail of the mural kept me staring. We also found numerous pictures of old musicians such as Chet Baker and Milles Davis. Someone even painted stunning pictures on some of the tables. It seemed as though the building had been somewhat remolded and it carried a contemporary yet old style welcoming atmosphere. The seat cushions on the booth we sat in were very colorful and very spongy. We noticed that old wooden doors separated the booths, creating a very private ambiance. If you are a person who avoids going to certain restaurants because of the open seating, or if you need to have dinner and a serious conversation, then try Brick Road Pizza.

This restaurant offers dining in, taking out and delivery. They have gourmet, traditional and vegan pizzas and their menu can be accessed from their Web site. We did not have a hard time finding Brick Road Pizza, and we even parallel parked in the numerous free parking spots in front of the building.

This restaurant claims that great things come for those who wait, as they offer a deep dish pizza that takes about 35 minutes to cook. So GETOUT! and check out the great alternatives to a regular pizza at Brick Road Pizza Co.

Quick Facts

LOCATION:  1017 Wealthy Street

HOURS: Mon-Thu: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Fri-Sat: 11 a.m. - Midnight

Sunday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

WEB: www.brickroadpizza.com

PHONE:  (616) 719-2409

GET OUT! FACTOR (OUT OF 5): !!!!!

Oberlin’s Top 3

3. People-Friendly atmosphere

2. Musician decorations

1. Hot food

Tessa and Katlin became reacquainted with old salt and pepper shakers and their lives.

Tessa Vitt and I headed to one of Grand Rapids oldest red brick road, commonly known as Cherry Street. As we drove down this fairly smooth pathway we were astounded at the history that makes up East Hills. We passed through Heritage Hill and were amused by all the old mansions and houses.

We found ourselves standing outside admiring the Cherry Deli. It looked like an old two story yellow house with a green patio and a red door. When we walked inside we noticed the hardwood floors and the contemporary furniture and lights. Local artist sell their artwork which is displayed on the walls. To add to our friendly dining experience the Cherry Deli is a smoke-free restaurant, which is quite rare in Michigan.

You will not smell coffee when you walk into the Cherry Deli, but you will be embraced with a relaxing and friendly environment that coffee shops portray. The display menus were even more impressive than your average coffee shop because someone drew a beautiful mural of the Calder Plaza downtown. I wish I had that menu display to hang in my apartment; it was strikingly impressive. Tessa and I were greeted with a, “Hello, how are you ladies today?” which made us feel like we were never strangers to this side of Grand Rapids.

As I stood at the counter I noticed that the options were endless. Even as a vegetarian I could not make up my mind. It is unusual for a vegetarian to have the 15 different sandwich options that the Cherry Deli offers. Tessa had over 40 meat sandwich choices which consisted of: turkey, ham, fish, beef, pastrami and corned beef, and chicken. We also had to choose whether we wanted a whole sandwich or just half. Tessa choose#35 called Charles (Street) and I got the #19 called Atlas (Avenue). We grabbed our chips from a rack, and filled our cups with fountain pop which reminded us of Subway. We sat down at one of the light green square tables and in less than 5 minutes one of the employees lay before us our paper wrapped (like Jimmy Johns) sandwiches.

Although we were reminded of Subway and Jimmy Johns this authentic Grand Rapids Deli is quite the opposite. I noticed a door with numerous pictures of the employees, some were goofy and others had smiles across everyone’s face, giving me the impression that everyone here is one big family. The Cherry Deli seems very family oriented and even has high chairs for the little ones. We noticed that someone was always cleaning, which made us not afraid to pop a squat on the wood furniture, especially because of the typical winter cold that is infectious. One of the employees of the Cherry Deli looked at us and said “take care of each other” which seemed to fit Tessa and I quite well. I have known Tessa since fifth grade and after two years of not staying in touch, we finally were reconnected and catching up on life because Tessa transferred this semester to Cornerstone. So I smiled at Tessa and she smiled back like two friends who know each other’s past and will always know of each other’s future. So I want to encourage you to Get Out!, take an old friend and enjoy this welcoming deli shop where everyone is family.

Quick Facts

LOCATION:  834 Cherry St SE-Grand Rapids

HOURS: Monday-Friday: 10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

COST: Under $10.50 for a whole sandwich

WEB: www.cherrydeli.com

PHONE: (616) 459-6182

GET OUT! FACTOR (OUT OF 5): !!!!!

Oberlin’s Top 3

3. Grand Rapids authenticity

2. People Friend

1. Vegetarian friendly

After walking into this small oddly colored building we were greeted by a sign that read: “College students discount, all GVSU, GRCC, and Aquinas students with ID get a discount.” So we thought there might be hope for low-cost dining. This restaurant is small and only has 10 booths and seven tables. We parked behind the building in one of the roughly eight parking spots. Brandywine is not your typical old-time restaurant. It may seem like that from the food, seating and basic atmosphere, but the art is exquisite. We seated ourselves in a booth and marveled at the artwork which surrounded us. A lively mural wrapped along the wall and oodles of pictures containing smiley customers and employees hung from another wall. We were greeted by a friendly waitress who handed us the classic plastic, glossy menus.

After looking at the breakfast menu which is served at all hours, I ordered the parmesan cusabi wrap which came with chips and a pickle, and Alyson ordered the southwestern Quesada. Our hot food came fast on big white plates. Not only does Brandywine have breakfast, wraps, and Quesadas, they also have burritos, chicken, salads and sandwiches. Our food was so beautifully presented that we felt like we were two food critics and the cooks were trying to impress us. My wrap was precisely cut in half and strategically placed on the clean white plate, leaving plenty of room for the chips and dill pickle. Alyson’s Quesada was made so that none of the cheese or meat on the inside was hanging out the sides, with lettuce placed in the center, and sour crème and salsa in little cups on the outside. It was so beautiful that we couldn’t wait to dig in.

This restaurant has a very casual ambiance and could be the very place you stop to get a bottomless cup of coffee. They are family oriented with booster seats and play music for everyone’s preference. The lighting comes from stained glass lamp shades, casting colored rays of light throughout the room. There is also another Brandy Wine on the Beltline near 3 Mile Road only six minutes away. The Brandywine on Lake Drive is actually seven minutes away.

Alyson and I talked, ate and even played the game MASH (which stands for: Mansion, Apartment, Shack, or House) – the game you probably played in middle school. To refresh your memory, MASH is a game that determines your future: residency, spouse, number of kids, vehicle, pet or anything you choose. When we finally determined our future and were completely stuffed, we packed up our leftovers and headed to the register to pay. Our total came to $17. Sadly, we did not get a discount, but maybe that’s because they aren’t use to seeing Cornerstone students. So Get Out and show your face at Brandywine, and maybe your future will look less expensive than ours.

Quick Facts

LOCATION:  In Eastown on Lake, next to Domino’s pizza

ADDRESS: 1345 Lake Dr SE or 2844 E Beltline Ave NE

HOURS:  Monday-Saturday 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

PHONE: 616-774-8641

Oberlin’s Top 3

3. The friendly atmosphere

2. The authentic mural

1.  Beautifully presented food

Check out the local library. Kent District Libraries have more resources than Miller Library. One library card gives you access to 18 libraries that have come together to form the Kent District Library.

Ten convenient locations to Cornerstone are in Cascade, Caledonia, East Grand Rapids, Walker, Alto, Grand Rapids Main (Downtown), Yankee Clipper (Leonard), Kentwood, Grandville and Wyoming.

After becoming aware of our resources, Jocelyn and I headed
to the Cascade branch in search of free Internet and a good book to read. We were surprised at how much more we ended up
finding. So we walked through the front doors and into the strong smell of new books. Wow. It was wonderful. I wanted to stand there longer to enjoy the smell, but Jocelyn dragged me to the information desk. When I got my first library card, I was about 6 years old, and I spelled
my name wrong on the card! So, this time I got a (free) new library card with an elephant on it, and we headed to some comfortable chairs for free Internet.

After finding great movies and CDs, I decided to check the catalog online at kdl.org for some of my textbooks. I ended up finding two books that I needed for my world literature class. Amazing! One book was at the Grandville library and another was at the Kentwood library. So I placed a hold on those two books.

I also was able to find magazines, books on tape and books from every genre imaginable. You can even checkout the Bible in every version. Jocelyn and I headed to the
children’s book section and found some rather large bean
bags, which would be great for sleeping on. We then found a room full of games that you would find at the doctor’s office such as a 3-D maze and a large puzzle. We also found a computer with games such as Dora the Explorer and Thomas the Train.

After acting like a kid again, we went to check out our books. Instead of giving the books we were going to checkout to a person at the front desk, we went up to a computer and scanned the books ourselves. The computer even gave us a receipt, which reminded us that our
books are due Sept. 20. It was surprising, fast and convenient, like the self checkout at Meijer.

When we finally walked out of the Cascade library, we found a little garden and a bench, which would be perfect for reading on a nice sunny day. So instead of just finding free Internet and a good book to read, we ended up with two DVDs, two books for my class and an elephant library card.

Honestly, you need to check out the Kent District Libraries. You never know what you might end up with!

These four friends left with full stomachs and leftovers for later.

In 1920 the world’s largest furniture factory was on Monroe Ave. and was called Berkey and Gay. This furniture business fizzled out and the building is now Boardwalk Condominiums. This building has always been famous for something, and today it has the most amenities in one condo project in the state of Michigan. This condominium is the home of J.D. Reardon’s, a restaurant and bar.

Sarah, Monika, Tommy and I headed downtown for some excellent dining, on Valentine’s Day. We didn’t make reservations to J.D. Reardon’s ahead of time, but surprisingly they had quite a few tables available. We seated ourselves in a richly dark wooden booth. After awhile our waiter came and got us some drinks and took our order.

We struggled for some time deciding what to order. This small restaurant and bar has quite the choices. They have appetizers, 12-inch Bistro Pizzas, soups, salads, chicken and Philly steak sandwiches, entrees, desserts and on Saturdays they have fifty cent hot dogs, so therefore our stomachs and minds could not decide. We ended up ordering two 12-inch bistro pizzas. One was called Mufalatta, which was loaded with toppings, and another pizza labeled “Think you can do better” and we chose to get one side plain cheese and the other side with pepperoni and sausage.

Our pizzas came relatively fast on tall pizza stands and were golden brown and steamy. When we took our first bite into these hot pizzas, the cheese was nice and stringy. The pepperoni was surprisingly spicy, and the Mufalatta was loaded with toppings such as olives, tomatoes, onions and five cheeses. Two 12-inch pizzas for four people were just enough. We looked at the dessert menu and debated getting the Sunday dessert which feeds two, but decided to stay slim.

You can do more than just eat dinner and drink at this restaurant and bar. They have a pool table, arcade golf game, a dart board, lotto tickets, seven televisions, a juke box, a countdown to St. Patrick’s Day and in the summer they have nice outdoor seating.

This restaurant has a very open atmosphere, which creates a place for the college age and up to shoot pool and have a drink with the gang. From Cornerstone it takes about eight minutes to get to J.D. Reardon’s and is quite easy to find. This restaurant is right across the street and overlooks the Grand River, which could provide a nice “after dinner” walk by the water.

This restaurant bar is a comfortable place for many adults to hang out. So GetOut! and check out the day, hour, minute, and even seconds countdown to St. Patrick’s Day.

Oberlin’s Top 3

3. The St. Patty’s Day Countdown

2.The hot food

1. Hanging out with Friends in a relaxing environment

Quick Facts

LOCATION:  940 Monroe Ave. in Boardwalk Condos Building

HOURS: 11am-2am

WEB: www.jdreardons.com

PHONE:  616-454-8590

GET OUT! FACTOR (OUT OF 5): !!!