The Grand Rapids Griffins Vs. the Hamilton Bulldogs

One of my favorite sports is hockey and one of my favorite teams is the Red Wings.  I haven't been to a Red Wings game in a while and I've never been to a Griffins game.  I think the distance from home to Grand Rapids is a fairly large factor in that.  Well a reason to go to a game presented itself in the fact that one of my co-workers has a son that plays for a team that would be facing the Griffins.  So I decided to go to a game for that.

 The Griffins play in Van Andel Arena which is named after one of the founders of Amway.  It was constructed in 1996 and has a capacity of around 10,500.  The Griffins also started in 1996 as a part of the now defunct IHL.  In 2001, parts of the IHL were folded into the AHL and in 2002, they became the Red Wings affiliate.

 Since they were playing a Canadian team, O Canada was played.  I actually like that anthem.

 They also played the Star Spangled Banner.

 Brendan Smith tries to get the puck out of the corner, he is being hassled by one of the Hamilton Bulldog players.

 Jordan Pearce clearing the puck from the net area.

 Lefebvre taking a shot at the net.  It didn't go in.

 Pearce making one of many saves.

 One of the Hamilton players chasing after the puck.

 One of the interesting parts about going to minor league games is the things they do in between periods.  This was a gatlin gun t-shirt launcher.

 One of the zambonis clearing the ice between periods.

 Tatar as he takes a shot towards the net.

 The Hamilton goalie standing tall.

 The Hamilton goalie making a save.

 Brunnstrom taking a shot at net.

 Jamie Johnson setting up on the power play.

 Brendan Smith taking a slapshot.

 The puck back in the net and the look of shock on the goalie.

 Just a general scrum around the front of the net.

 Doug Janik taking a shot at the net.

 Nyquist clearing the puck from behind the net.

 The Hamilton goalie in the process of making a save.

 During the next intermission, they had a Tae Kwon Do demonstration.  I think this guy was breaking bricks.

 The other Zamboni cleaning the ice.

 Pearce making another one of his saves.

 Pearce standing tall.

 Smith carrying the puck out from behind the net.

 The Griffins celebrating one of their five goals.

 Brunnstrom advancing on one of the Hamilton players.

 One Hamilton players carrying the puck around the net.

 Lashoff carrying the puck from out behind the net.

 One of the Hamilton players taking a shot towards the net.

The Griffins congratulating the efforts of their goalie.  They won the game 5-2.

I had fun and the seats we got were excellent.  We were right at ice level.

On the Way to Grand Rapids

One of the reasons why I didn't have a ton of time on Saturday was because my dad and I were going to the Grand Rapids Griffins game.  We met in Fowlerville and he drove over to Grand Rapids.  On the way, I was treated to this sunset over I-96.

Interstate 96 is completely enclosed within the State of Michigan.  It starts near Muskegon on the west side of the State and ends at the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit.

Construction on I-96 began in 1957 and was going to be a replacement for US-16 which was finally decommissioned in 1962.  Construction for the most part was completed in 1962 but it took another 15 years to complete the sections through Detroit.  It also known as the Jeffries or Rosa Parks in Detroit.

Some Shots Around the Aquarium

If i would have had some time on Saturday, I would have made this the continuation of my Belle Isle series but as it was, I was fairly pressed for time.  I only had time to take the shots as I was waiting in line or going back to my car.  Plus the fact that it didn't really look like Belle Isle in February helped a bit.

 I kind of liked the look of this gnarly tree.  I thought it would look better in black and white, so I shot it in black and white.

 The Nancy Brown Peace Carillon.  I was around long enough to hear the chimes playing for quite a while.  It sounds pretty peaceful.  Unfortunately, this shot was obscured by the trees a bit.

 A shot of the Peace Carillon as I was heading back to my car.

This is the stream that sort of runs between the Strand and the Conservatory.  I liked the blue color but it reminded me more of a summer day than what is supposed to be in the middle of winter.

The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory....Again

My pictures from Saturday continue.  As I said in my last post, I had a little time to wait in line for the Aquarium, so I decided to take pictures of the Conservatory as well.  I think this may be one of my favorite structures on Belle Isle.  It has that old school look to it.

 This building was also constructed in 1904 and was designed by Albert Kahn.  It was orginally intended to be a compliment to the aquarium and at one time you were able to go between both buildings.  That entrance was closed as the aquarium wanted to add a shark tank.

 Albert Kahn loosely based this design on Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.

 In 1952, it was remodeled with some of the wooden beams being replaced by aluminum.

 In 1954, it was renamed the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory after she left her rather large collection of orchids.

 This is a Marshall Fredericks sculpture.

A view of the Conservatory that I was hoping to get for a long time.  I really love how the outside gardens flow into the building.

Inside the Belle Isle Aquarium

A couple weeks ago, I saw on the Belle Aquarium Facebook group that they would be open on February 4th.  I was a little bummed because I had so much else to do yesterday but I figured out how I could make it work, so I ended up at the "Shiver on the River".

 The first thing that surprised me was the number of people that showed up for this event.  The aquarium wasn't even going to be full but there were many people there.  I guess that makes a pretty convincing argument that people will go to the aquarium.

 I've taken several pictures of the outside of the aquarium but I've taken them with people in them.  I think this possibly bodes well for things.

 After about 45 minutes of waiting in the line, I finally made it to this point.  Soon I would be inside the aquarium for the first time in about 20 years.  I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I wasn't expecting alot because I didn't want to be disappointed.

 Getting a little closer.  This aquarium may not be as large as some of the aquariums I have visited elsewhere but the building has some degree of character.  As I've pointed out before, it was designed by Albert Kahn.

 The face is Neptune, the God of the Sea.

 A shield of Detroit graces above the Aquarium sign.  On it is Detroit's motto, "Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus" which translates to "We hope for better things; it shall rise from the ashes".  I'm not sure where the first part comes from but I think the second may be a reference to the fire in 1806 that pretty much destroyed the city.  But I think the motto may be appropriate for the Aquarium as well.  Maybe some it will emerge from the ashes.

 A closeup of the face at the entrance.

 A closeup of one of the columns to the side of the entrance.

 Looking up at the seal.

 Looking up at the details above the entrance.

 When the aquarium closed in 2005, it was the oldest aquarium in continued existence in the country.  Unfortunately parts of it showed its age but I think it was pretty cool.

 Looking inside the aquarium.  The glass ceiling was deliberate.  It would be lit from skylights and was green to give the impression of being under the sea.

 I was actually surprised by the number of tanks that they had open.  I think there were about 10 or so.  I have to imagine it was a good deal of work to get it to this point.  I want to thank the people that put in the efforts to make this happen.

 One of the other fish.

 I think this is a map turtule.  I kind of wish the picture was a little clearer because I like the turtles pose.

 A tortoise.

 A small nurse shark and some fish.

A closer shot of the shark.  I think this is the fish that I was most surprised about.

 I'm not sure what kind of fish this is.

 Some of the tanks just had exhibits in them.

 Another one of the tanks.

 These are the koi from the pond that is by the conservatory.  They use the basement tanks to store them during the winter.  I am guessing that is part of the reason why the aquarium is in as good of shape as it is.

 Looking at the hallway from the other side.  I really love the look of the cieling.

A couple more fish.

From the brochure that was provided by the group, it sounds like they are planning some major renovations in the spring.  I hope that the turnout from yesterday, those renovations and some other things that are happening lead to a more permanent situation for the aquarium.  It would be a shame to let another one of Detroit's treasure fall to the wayside.

Once again, I would like to thank the group of people that put this together.  Maybe someday I might be able to see the eel tank in its full glory again.