Neighborhood Guide: Eastown

Within the great city of Grand Rapids lies the favored neighborhood Eastown. Located along Wealthy Street, Eastown is home to many hidden gems. Also named “Greenwich Village”, this commuter suburb has come a long way. Rather than tearing down meaningful and historic buildings, the decaying establishments were refurbished and made new. One significant thing that remains is the stretch of brick road that extends from Eureka Avenue to Lake Drive. In recent years, and with much investment, Eastown now features new businesses including excellent restaurants and local independent shops.

Restaurants

Eastown is well known for its extensive and trendy food options. One featured restaurant is Terra GR which prides itself on its

farm-to-table seasonal menus and an enticing happy hour. With brunch options that go unmatched, a popular entree that many enjoy is their Breakfast pizza which includes a lengthy array of toppings such as bacon, sausage, potatoes, scrambled egg, kale, hand-pulled mozzarella, tomato sauce, parmesan, brown butter hollandaise, and cracked black pepper. This restaurant also provides many diet-friendly fixes as well as gluten-free options. If Terra is the place for you, consider Terra Bagels as well. Right around the corner from its origins, Terra Bagels is a one-stop shop for a quick bite. Alongside their handmade bagels that are baked fresh daily, this establishment also serves specialty coffee and tea. All in all, these two restaurants come together to make a complimentary pair.

If Terra isn’t your taste, another exceptional option is Basalt. Founded by Taquero and native Texan Steven Martinez-Thiel, this restaurant strives to bring Tex-Mex to Grand Rapids. Focusing on locally drawn ingredients, Basalt features breakfast and brunch options for those that prefer savory dishes like tacos and tortas while also offering sweet desserts like their famous frozen quatro leches cake. In 2020, Basalt started off selling at the Fulton Street Farmers Market. Even now, with a permanent home in Eastown, the business continues to make its presence known at recent local farmers' fests.

Natural inclinations

Wilcox Park

When the weather allows it, time outdoors is a must. Classified as a neighborhood park by the city of Grand Rapids, Wilcox Park is a welcoming piece of land that has something for everyone free of cost. Featuring four tennis courts, a basketball court, a full playground, and an open field space, this park is a great place to take the family for a day out. Wilcox Park neighbors Aquinas College which also offers a trail throughout the woodsy area and allows you to view the beautiful campus. The park also offers community yoga classes.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

For those who enjoy and appreciate art, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is the place for you. With modern sculptures set in a magnificent garden, this park captures agricultural landscapes in a beautiful light. The art and sculpture attractions hold compelling pieces of contemporary and modern art. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture park holds indoor and outdoor gardens and sculpture galleries allowing family-friendly fun. The main campus, being 158 acres, can take up to eight hours to experience the large variety of art and plants. Created specifically for kids, The Children’s Garden offers lively sculptures, a playground, water play, storytime, hiking paths, and multiple interactive stations that allow kids to fully immerse into the world of art. For a more mature audience, a fan favorite is The American Horse sculpture by Nina Akamu. This 24-foot monument, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s plans for a sculpture for the duke of Milan, leaves most in awe, it is a must-see. Tickets for the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park can be bought at .

Shopping

As a way of giving back to its people, Eastown host a variety of shops, most owners being local natives of Grand Rapids.

A popular stop is Spirit Dreams. More than just a store, Spirit Dream specializes in one-of-a-kind gifts such as gems, jewelry, candles, books, music, cards, incense, and art. This shop holds works from individual artists and goods from ethical companies locally as well as globally. This establishment prides itself on supporting artists around the world, importing its goods from Co-ops or Fair Trade groups. It also strives to ensure that its body products, incense, and candles are handmade with natural ingredients. With the positive energy flowing throughout the space Spirit Dreams welcomes any and all. You can even stop by and schedule a psychic reading.

If you are a visual shopper Gallery 154 is the place for you. Displaying over 70 artists from throughout the country this

gallery has been in business for over 45 years offering original art, a variety of prints, and chic pieces of art such as pottery, glass jewelry paintings, and even handmade dolls. During the winter months of November and December, the gallery turns into a north pole extravaganza. The shelves are filled with a display of Christmas ornaments from around the world. Gallery 154 is home for any unpredictable gift.

Activities

For a more enveloping experience, head down to the Wax Poetic candle bar, with more than 60 clean-burning fragrance oils ready for use that you can choose from to mix together and

create your own customized extraordinary hand-poured candle. These candles are made with soy wax, organic cotton wicks, and clean-burning fragrances. Aside from candles, Wax Poetic also offers reed diffusers, wax melts, room sprays, lotions, hand sanitizers, and body fragrance polish that can feature your unique scent.

Eastown has become a well-established neighborhood in Grand Rapids. With bustling businesses and riveting restaurants, this neighborhood has become a hotspot for innovation. Whether it be a day trip or an afternoon, Greenwich Village is sure to leave you captivated. For those who come from out of town, check out the Hotel district not too far away that holds notable hotels like the Canopy by Hilton and the Residence Inn by Marriott. Stay up to date with current Eastown activities and events at .