Home » Blog

Quirky New Years Traditions Around The World

by Benchmark

Some cultures, religions, and countries have some quirky New Year’s celebrations, with some stranger than others. Here’s a list of some of the quirkier around the world.

Spain – Grapes and Suitcases

When the clock strikes midnight in Spain, some people eat a grape each time the clock strikes a chime. The grapes correspond to each month of the upcoming year, and the sweeter the grape, the better the month is supposed to be. (Feel bad for the soul that gets 12 sour grapes.)

The tradition started in 1895 as a way to sell the leftover supplies grape growers had and it’s stuck around ever since.

Other Spanish speaking countries celebrate by walking a block with a suitcase in hand. It’s supposed to some good chances of travel in the upcoming year. This mostly happens in Colombia, though.

Denmark – Dish Throwing and Furniture Jumping

Usually, broken dishes are a sign of clumsiness or too much wine throughout the night. (Perhaps the grapes had something to do with it?) But in Denmark, the tradition is to throw dishes at family’s, friends’, and neighbors’ doorsteps. The more of a mess there is to clean up in the morning, supposedly the more blessed you are with friends.

This is also from the same country that believes jumping from a chair at midnight will rid you of bad luck for the upcoming year. No word on whether breaking a mirror on someone’s doorstep is counterintuitive to that, or not.

Belarus – Roosters

Single? Female? Have a stash of extra hay or corn, and a rooster near by? Then stack up the hay or corn in front of you and release the rooster. Supposedly, whichever women the rooster goes to first will be the first to get married during the New Year.

Ecuador – Death to Scarecrows

People in this South American country ring in the New Year by burning scarecrows. The reasoning behind it is that scarecrows scare bad luck away and that by burning them gets rid of whatever’s left, leaving the next twelve months available for everything good.

Puerto Rico – Water Works

Northeast of Ecuador, people in the island country of Puerto Rico fill up a bucket of water and hurl it out the window, door, or other opening of the house. This is supposed to wash away everything bad while bringing good. Some families also use that water before hand to clean a belongings before tossing it out, which seems a lot less fun than just tossing the water.

South Africa – Almost like Puerto Rico

Instead of water, South Africans throw old appliances out the window.

Russia – Swimming Around the Christmas Tree

Home to Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest and oldest lake, Russia has it’s own unique twist on New Year’s – throw a tree into the lake and have people swim around it. Think it’s made up? Check out Youtube.com for video!

Germany and Finland – Molten Metal

Some people hold out their palms for fortunes. Germans and Fins melt tin into a molten form and then drip it into water. The hardened shapes formed are then interpreted, with bubbly surfaces meaning financial wealth, hearts meaning love, and broken shapes meaning nothing good.

Mexico, Central America, and South America – Special Underwear

Quick: Choose between yellow or red underwear? That’s what people do in these parts of the world. Supposedly yellow will bring wealth and red will bring love. No idea if it’s possible to wear underwear with both colors.

 

 

5 Tips To Help Grand Rapids Homeowners Find The Right Listing Agent

by Benchmark

If you are looking to sell your house in Grand Rapids, whether you own a starter home near Garfield Park or a home in Ottawa Hills that is now too big since your children have moved out, you need to find a great listing agent. The agent that you work with can help you sell your home quickly and for the price that you want, and he or she can make the whole process easier than trying to do it on your own. Use these tips to find a terrific agent who will get your house on the market and then sold right away.

1. Find someone who is familiar with the area. 
The agent needs to know the area so that he understands what homes have gone for in that area in the past and what the trends look like for prices and sales. Grand Rapids is a city with many vastly different neighborhoods – from Eastown’s college vibe to the luxury homes near East Grand Rapids and Reed’s Lake to the charm of the mansions in Heritage Hill. However, many of them are very close together. The agent must understand where your home is situated and what that means for market demand and buyers’ desires.

2. Go to the agent’s open houses. 
After you find a prospective agent, go to an open house that he or she has for another property. This way, you can see the agent in their element before they know that you want to use them. You can make a better judgement call since you will witness what potential buyers are going to see when they look at your home.

3. Watch out for homes that sell quickly. 
No one wants their home to sit on the market for a long time. Look at the “For Sale” signs in your part of the city and see which ones sell the fastest. That agent knows how to turn a deal.

4. Check the company’s history. 
You want to hire an agent who has some experience in Grand Rapids, and specifically in your neighborhood.

5. Talk to people who have used the agent before.
This is the single best way to find a good listing agent. If you have a friend or a family member who worked with him or her in the past, you can learn a lot from their experience and then make an educated decision.

Quantitative Easing (QE) Explained and What It Really Means to Homeownership

by Benchmark

Lately, our US economy has needed stimulation to return closer to the equilibrium point of enough money via taxation to enjoy full employment, limited inflation, and adequate tax revenues to run the government. The Federal Reserve Bankers (“The Fed”) buy/hold US treasury bonds/securities when they desire to stimulate the economy, and sell those same treasuries/bonds […]

Read more

Grandmother Power: A Global Phenomenon On Display In Grand Rapids

by Benchmark

   With a 1928 Spillman Carousel spinning right over the Grand River, a 76-foot fin whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling, and dozens of exhibit rooms to explore, the Grand Rapids Public Museum is an ideal place to spend a chilly winter day—or any other day! A short walk from the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, the beloved Blue Bridge, and the city’s beautiful river walk, the Public Museum is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.

The museum hosts several permanent exhibits, but also works in collaboration to design traveling exhibits. The most recent exhibit designed for travel is the Grandmother Power: A Global Phenomenon exhibit, based on Paola Gianturco’s book by the same name. Gianturco has long been involved with women’s issues, and has published 4 other books. Her most recent work features 120 grandmothers, spanning 15 countries and 5 continents. Through stunning photographs, Gianturco tells the stories of these grandmothers working against the odds to build better lives for their grandchildren.

The book has won numerous awards, and the exhibit was inspired by the interviews and photographs captured by Gianturco. The exhibit displays larger-than-life photographs printed on linen panels and suspended between tall columns. It also includes specially designed graphic-printed rocking chairs nestled into a reading nook, where guests are invited to read more Grandmother Power stories. Like NPR’s Story Corp project, there is an interactive station, allowing guests to share their own grandmother stories. These stories will become part of the traveling exhibit and later be archived at the Public Museum.

The exhibit features the stories of grandmothers from 8 countries: India, Argentina, Senegal, Philippines, South Africa, Swaziland, Canada, and Thailand. It also tells the stories of Indigenous Grandmothers from various places. Paola Gianturco narrates each story via a guided cell phone tour.

In conjunction with the exhibit, the Public Museum has planned numerous themed events, including:
• Grandmother Power lunches,
• Guest lectures,
• Community service day—an opportunity for grandchildren to shadow grandmothers in their volunteer positions,
• Special lecture featuring CNN’s Jackson Kaguri, and,
• A multi-cultural festival providing space for grandmothers to share stories, music, recipes, and dances.

The museum store offers Grandmother Power souvenirs, such as aprons, t-shirts, hats, and other gifts. The exhibit is on display at the Public Museum from September 6, 2013 through February 2, 2014. Later in 2014, the Museum will travel the exhibit throughout the US, Canada, and Europe.

Grand Rapids Downtown Market Offers All Types Of Local Flavor

by Benchmark

The $30 million Grand Rapids Downtown Market is definitely the place to go for the best in Michigan when it comes to fresh local fruits and vegetables, flowers, delicious baked goods, jams and jellies, beef, fish and so much more. Dozens of farmers and artisans are in the outdoor farmer’s market. The vendors are happy to answer any questions, tell you how long it will be until produce ripens and how to prepare it in a new or traditional way. Education in healthy eating and living is also given.

When you support local businesses, it cuts down on the distance food has to travel and thus makes it fresher and taste better, and you make the community a better place.

The 138,000 square foot indoor 24-vendor Market Hall is culinary heaven with bakers, butchers, fishmongers and others. Everything is so fresh that it may have been just made that hour or morning.

You can also enjoy local entertainers including singers, dancers, jugglers, hula hoopers and musicians. See the local arts and crafts. Other activities, especially for holidays, round out the fun at the Market.

It is the goal of the Downtown Market to be the first LEED-certified market in the United States. From the ground to the top of the roof, it has been made into an environmentally friendly facility. There are 5,000 square feet of green roofs and 1,400 square feet of live wall as well as geotherm wells that bring a $20,000 per year savings in energy costs, rain gardens, Energy Star rated kitchen equipment, and LED lighting that saves $18,000 a year in energy costs.

Are you looking for a place for an important private event such as a wedding reception, special birthday or anniversary party, holiday celebration or corporate meeting? Contact their Event Coordinator to arrange for a specific date in the rooftop Greenhouse with a view of downtown Grand Rapids or make use of the outdoor terrace and kitchen or the nation’s first demonstration kitchen for kids. There will soon be two full-service restaurants, one of which will be a micro-brewery.

Bring In The New Year With Style At Grand Rapids Amway Grand Plaza

by Benchmark

If you’re in the Grand Rapids area, you might want to bring in the New Year with style at the Grand Rapids Amway Grand Plaza. This year’s “New Year’s at the Plaza” offers an Overnight Celebration Package and the Cygnus 27 New Year’s Eve Celebration.

The Overnight Celebration

The Overnight Celebration will feature parties in two of the Plaza’s classic ballrooms. The Imperial Ballroom will feature a Top-40 Party with a DJ spinning music hits from the Top 40 list from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. The Pantlind Ballroom’s Entertainment will be a Big Band Experience, featuring live music from 8:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Guests will also have complimentary access after 10:00 p.m. to the JW Marriot’s Retro 80’s Party in their International Ballroom.

Guests can grab some food from the Amway Grand Food Court in the East Concourse. Party favors will be available as well as a cash bar from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Overnight Celebration includes accommodations for two in one of the Amway Grand Plaza’s Classic Guest Room with complimentary valet or self-parking. The package starts at $279 per couple and includes two bracelets to access the parties. Additional bracelets can be purchased for $40 per person.

To make reservations for the Overnight Celebration, call 800-253-3590 or go to the Amway Grand Plaza website at amwaygrand.com to book reservations online.

If you’re not able to secure a reservation or you live in the area and only want to attend the celebration, you can purchase bracelets while supplies last on New Year’s Eve only for $40 per person.

The Cygnus 27 New Year’s Celebration

The Cygnus 27 New Year’s Celebration takes place atop the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel on the 27th floor at Cygnus 27. This celebration includes complimentary valet parking, party favors, a cash bar, and a DJ spinning music from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Occasional seating is offered by reservation only. To make reservations for the Cygnus 27 Celebration, call Cygnus 27 at 616-776-6425.

If you live in Grand Rapids or will be visiting the area, the “New Year’s at the Plaza” will be an unforgettable way to bring in the new year. Call and make your reservations before it’s too late.

Top Tips To Help Grand Rapids Residents Get Organized In 2014

by Benchmark

We can all be better organized in the new year. How many times in the past year have we been furious with ourselves because something we needed was missing or impossible to find? Some of us need a light touch-up in our organizing skills and some need a complete makeover. Whatever your organizing needs, here are some suggestions to help you do better in 2014.

Make a list

The old-fashioned “to-do” list never goes out of style. Keep your list in one place. Add to it promptly when you think of something that needs to be done. Check off items when they are complete. It is really that simple. It may take practice and concentration, but after a while more will get done with less anxiety.

Update your address book

The new year is in ideal time to revise and update this essential list. Add new names, account for births and deaths and delete unneeded contacts.

Reduce your inventory

Face it – most homes have too much stuff. This is especially true after the holidays. Some time going through your home room by room will reveal items you can easily do without. A good rule of thumb is, if it hasn’t been used in the past year, it can go. Many household items can be donated, others recycled. A yard sale is another idea. Give your unwanted stuff a new home and you will have more of the precious gift of open space.

Label your paperwork

Paperwork is a fact of modern life. Keeping a clearly labeled container for each specific type of document will pay big dividends. For example, keep separate files for utilities, tax records, automotive records or whatever expenses you need to track accurately. Office supply stores have a variety of products and advice to help you put something together that fits your style. Just like with household items, outdated paperwork can be sorted and tossed (or recycled).

Get help

Enlist family or friends to encourage you. New habits take time and there are bound to be slips along the way. Stay positive and focus on how your life will work better when you are more organized. If you get overwhelmed and are not making any progress, consider using a professional organizer. These people have seen it all and will work with you without judgment.

Good luck and happy organizing.