Dairy Treat

Dairy Treat

Detroit, Michigan

Vintage neon sign at the now-closed Dairy Treat on Mack Ave.

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Easy Street

Everyone wants to live on Easy Street !

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Better Made

Home of Better Made

Gratiot Ave., Detroit. 

(I have no idea what "Guest Quality" means.)
____________________

On August 1, 1930 Cross Moceri and Peter Cipriano started the the Cross and Peters Co. Their goal was to make a better potato chip, hence the name Better Made.


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Awrey gone awry

Awrey Bakery

Livonia, Michigan

The Awrey Bakery and outlet store in Livonia, Michigan are still operating, but this landmark sign has been sadly neglected. Much of the neon is out and the windmill vanes no longer turn.

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Awrey Bakeries got its start in 1910 when Fletcher and Elizabeth Awrey left Canada and moved to Detroit looking for work in the auto industry.

To help make ends meet, Elizabeth Awrey began baking breads and pies in her wood-fired oven and selling them to neighbors, which her three sons — Elton, Wilbur and Thomas — would deliver. As business boomed, the Awreys opened a retail outlet in 1914 on Tireman and Epworth near West Grand Blvd. in Detroit, where the firm's first "volume baking" began.

The next four decades saw Awrey expand from a home-based business into a large enterprise with commercial bakery facilities, home delivery, and 91 stores by 1940. After WW II Awrey's growth resumed aided by the increasing popularity of supermarkets. By 1950 the company had 120 locations, including both individual stores and supermarket concessions, and its home delivery service. Increased success required increased capacity, and a new bakery and headquarters was built in Livonia in 1967. In 1969 the entire operation was moved there and the Tireman plant was closed.

By 1990 Awrey's food service business accounted for 70% of total revenues, with retail sales contributing one-quarter and contract baking making up the remainder. The company had 700 food service distributors and a national network of brokers that distributed its products to institutional accounts such as hospitals, schools, and restaurants. The retail line was distributed in southeastern Michigan to stores that ranged from major supermarket chains to small independent grocers.

Unfortunate changes in management and strategies led to a decline in business which resulted in Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2005. The sale out of bankruptcy in 2008, enabled Awrey to repay its creditors at 98 cents on the dollar from proceeds.

Awrey survived the turmoil and continued operations. The brand celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010.


UPDATE:  Financial trouble again threatened Awrey's existence in late 2012, but a last-minute purchase by Minnie Marie Bakers saved the 103-year-old brand from oblivion in February, 2013. Read more here.



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Kern's Clock

Kern's Dept. Store Clock

Detroit, Michigan

When Kern's department store was built on Woodward Ave. in 1929 its famous clock was installed above the store's main entrance at the corner of Woodward and Gratiot. In the early 1940s the clock was mounted on a pole on the sidewalk near the entrance as can be seen in this 1945 photo by Detroit Free Press photographer, Tony Spina.

The store closed on December 23, 1959 and sat derelict for several years. In preparation for the building's demolition in 1966 the clock was removed and put in storage. In the 1970s  it was returned to the corner of Woodward and Gratiot near the J. L. Hudson Co. store. It was again removed and put in storage for safekeeping before the Hudson's building on the next block was demolished in 1998.

In 2003 Compuware, which now occupies the Kern's site, had the historic clock restored and mounted on this granite sidewalk pedestal near its original location on the corner of Woodward and Gratiot Avenues.



Read more about the Ernst Kern Co.

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8-Wood Motel

8-Wood Motel

Ferndale, Michigan

On the north side of Eight Mile Rd. (yep, the one in the movie of the same name) at Woodward across the border from Detroit. In this joint I wouldn't be surprised if they have an unpublished hourly rate, but doubt there's much  demand for HBO.

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New Arrival

William Piers Ritchie
First grandson (second grandchild)
October 6, 2010
6 lbs 6 oz, 19"

Five Hours Old

October 7, 2010
First Day Home

Could he be a Guiness Book candidate for the youngest child to visit a barber?

With Mom & big sister Sylvie who is now 2 yrs, 7 mos.


B&W photos by proud daddy, Roy.

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FOX 2 Detroit Features Art-is-in Market

As you may know, my work is available at both Art-is-in Market stores.  Today they were showcased in FOX-2 Morning's Made In Michigan feature.

Watch the video here:



Locations:
Laurel Park Place Mall
W. Six Mile Rd. between I-275 and Newburgh Rd.
Livonia, Michigan
734-432-9177

Twelve Oaks Mall
On the 2nd Level of the Macy's concourse
between Talbot's and Ann Taylor.

Novi Rd. at I-96
Novi, Michigan
248-380-4992 Pin It Now!

Orchard Lake Fine Art Show

The 8th Annual Orchard Lake Fine Art Show is a high quality juried fine art and fine craft event with 250 artists from around the globe. It opens with the Caesar's Windsor Artist Preview Party on Friday, July 30, from 6pm-9pm. This ticketed outdoor, casual gala,  is a benefit for the Institute for the Arts & Education, a 501c3 non - profit organization which focuses on artistry and community enrichment. All the artists will be open and patrons have first choice to purchase the art work.  This event has been voted in the top 100 art shows in the country the last three years in a row and won five awards from 2009 Michigan Festivals and Events!

 Visit me in

Booth 188

On the west side of Daly Rd., behind the Beaumont Medical Center

Click here to view the artist list and layout map (.pdf)

  

Friday, July 30     6pm - 9pm 
Caesar’s Windsor Artist Preview Party
(Purchase Tickets here)

Saturday, July 31    10am - 7pm
Sunday, August 1   10am - 5pm

FOX 2 News Zip Trip

The Orchard Lake Fine Art Show will be the destination of a FOX 2 News Zip Trip on Friday morning, July 30. Tune in for a preview of several artist's work between 7am and 10am. (Past Zip Trips have also been replayed on news broadcasts later in the day and during the weekend.)

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 Art Fair Layout

(Click to Enlarge)

.

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Now showing at Twelve Oaks Mall

Many of you know that my work has been available for several years at Art-is-in Market in Laurel Park Place Mall in Livonia, Michigan.

You can now find my work at Art-is-in Market's brand new, 6.000 square foot store at Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi. It is conveniently located on the upper level of the Macy's concourse between Talbot's and Ann Taylor.

Art-is-in Market

Est. 2005

The Original Made-in-Michigan Art Gallery

Twelve Oaks Mall

On the 2nd Level of the Macy's concourse 

between Talbot's and Ann Taylor.

Novi Rd. at I-96

Novi, Michigan

248-380-4992

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Laurel Park Place Mall

 At the end of the Coldwater Creek Concourse next to Bath & Body Works

W. Six Mile Rd. between I-275 and Newburgh Rd.

Livonia, Michigan

 734-432-9177

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Northville Art in the Sun

This year Northville's Art in the Sun has been expanded 

from two days to three, with extended hours.

Friday, June 25,   1pm - 7pm

Saturday, June 26,  10am - 7pm 

Sunday, June 27,  11am - 5pm

Visit me in BOOTH 61
on the west side of N. Center Street 

near the Starting Gate Saloon.



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Art on the Grand - June 5-6

This year Art on the Grand in Farmington, Michigan has been separated from the Founders Festival (which is in July) and will be a stand-alone event located on Grand River Ave. east of Farmington Rd. to Grove St.

Visit me in Booth 44 

 Saturday, June 5, 10a - 7p

Sunday June 6, 11a - 6p

 


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COLOR Magazine Gold Award

 

Silent Player - Bodie, California

I'm very proud - and humbled - to announce that this photo was selected for a Gold Award in the Still Life/Objects category in the 2010 COLOR Magazine Single Image Contest.

Proud, because COLOR Magazine is distributed world-wide and each issue contains articles about recognized / established photographers, and features new work by upcoming photographers who are less known.

Humbled, because only 15 Gold Award winners were selected (one Gold, Silver & Bronze) for each category) out of 324 entries comprising 2,030 images.

My photo appears on page 71 in the May, 2010 special issue (#7), which is on newsstands now.

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Dropping the Ball

As the Ball Drops in Times Square I'll be . . .

Wishing You a Safe, Prosperous, and
Happy New Year

James C. Ritchie

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Art for the Holidays at Detroit Artists Market

November 6 - December 23, 2009

Look for my new series "Rolling Power - Homage to Charles Sheeler" at this year's Holiday Show at Detroit Artists Market.

Rolling Power No. 1


Rolling Power No. 3


Rolling Power No. 4


This DAM annual favorite offers original art from more than 100 local artists in a fun and festive market setting. With hundreds of artworks at every price point, Art For The Holidays helps you shop local, shop smart, and shop with style! DAM Members ("Individual" member level and up) get a 10% discount on purchases during Art For The Holidays.

DAM members receive a 10% discount during the Holiday Show.

Members' Preview is November 6, 2009, 5 – 6 p.m. with the Public Opening from 6 – 9 p.m. on the same day. Also join us for Noel Night on Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Detroit Artists Market is in the Detroit Cultural Center 3 blocks south of the Detroit Institute of Art at 4719 Woodward Ave. at Forest.

DAM is open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

NEW THIS YEAR - Sunday Hours in December!
December 6th, 13th, 20th - Noon-5pm

All shows and exhibitions are free and open to the public. Visit DAM online at http://www.detroitartistsmarket.org/

For information please call Detroit Artists Market at 313.832.8540 or via e-mail at info@detroitartistsmarket.org. Pin It Now!