Travel: Dream It, Build It in Grand Rapids

Before we went to Legoland in California, we had a glimpse of some Lego masterpieces at Grand Rapids Public Museum. The exhibit was titled "Dream It, Build It", and it featured famous architectural buildings. These aren't the retail ones you see sold in Lego stores. It was built by Certified Lego Professional Adam Reed Tucker.

I know this is super late and the Dream It, Build It exhibit has already come and gone, but here are some of the photos we took.

Here's Burj Khalifa (located at Dubai, UAE and designed by Skidmore, Owens and Merrill) at the entrance. See? It's sooo tall that I can't even fit the whole building in the frame.

Gateway Arch (St. Louis, MO) designed by Eero Saarinen and Haanskarl Bandel

World Trade Center North Tower (New York, NY) designed by Minory Yamasaki with Emery Roth & Sons | Empire State Building (New York, NY) designed by Shreve, Lamb and Harmon

Marina City (Chicago, IL) designed by Bertrand Goldberg

Look at the gorgeous details.

Fallingwater (Mill Run, PA) designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Transamerica Pyramid (San Francisco, CA) designed by William Perreira

They also had this area where kids can play with Lego bricks on the table and on the wall.

Another area was dedicated to little (and big) spies. You get a list of items and you have to look for them in this Lego town.

Someone was so tired, she had to sit down on the ledge.

The Next Big Food Entrepreneur

I love food-related events, and I try to always go find new stuff (food, that is) to taste and enjoy. So to you, my budding food entrepreneur readers, here is something that might interest you.

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HOW TO BECOME THE NEXT BIG FOOD ENTREPRENEUR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Aside from being the country’s premier night food market destination, Mercato Centrale has helped give birth to some of the country’s newest and most innovative food concepts.  Popular chains like Manang’s Chicken, Merry Moo Ice Cream, Mochiko, Brasas Latin American Street Food, Spring by Ha-Yuan, Kristina’s Premium Inutak, Baked by Anita, and many more started off as food stalls in Mercato Centrale before they became successful food businesses. 

But prior to their multi-million food ventures, many of these entrepreneurs started off as home-based food businesses or just passionate cooks and bakers who had a pioneering food concept, unique style of cooking, or a secret or heirloom recipe that they ‘incubated’ in the Mercato Centrale food market.

Building on its commitment to support food entrepreneurship, Mercato Centrale brings back its much-awaited “Next Big Food Entrepreneur Contest” along with www.ourawesomeplanet.com, Mastercard, Globe My Business and partners Entrepreneur Magazine, Yummy Magazine, Yummy Ph, Philippine Star, WhenInManila.com and Go Negosyo.

Now on its third year, The Next Big Food Entrepreneur contest is a culinary showdown that provides an opportunity for budding food entrepreneurs from all walks of life to turn their food business concepts into reality! The winner of the contest will get PHP 100,000 start up capital, a rent-free stall in Mercato Centrale for six months, and a feature in Entrepreneur Magazine, Yummy, The Philippine Star, WhenInManila.com, Globe My Business Digital and Our Awesome Planet.

The Next Big Food Entrepreneur is open to all aspiring food entrepreneurs, ages 18 years old and above, residing in the Philippines.  The contest is divided into three parts: a food taste test activity for all interested participants, a four-weekend open market selling event at Mercato Centrale, Bonifacio Global City for all participants who pass the taste test, and finally, the submission of a business plan.  The cut-off for all interested participants for the food taste test is October 31, 2014. 

For more information on how to join the contest, please visit Mercato Centrale on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/mercatocentrale,  or contact +639178401152 or +6329175857989.