Memorial Day weekend means three things: 1. It’s time to show gratitude to all of the men and women serving in the armed forces and to remember those who’ve sacrificed their lives for our country. 2. We have an extra-long weekend (yay) and 3. It’s the perfect time to hit the beach.

The only problem is a lot of people have the same brilliant idea for a beach retreat for the long weekend. So it may be the perfect time to find a less-popular beach to visit. There are hundreds of lesser-known beaches out there, you just have to do your research. Here are four beaches around the country that get a relatively low amount of fanfare but still have a lot to offer. They definitely won’t disappoint!

Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolinaisa national seashore preserve that has the most extensive stretch of undeveloped seashore along the Atlantic coast. The beach has a rich history and was once known as a common shipwreck area. Beyond enjoying the barrier reefs and diverse habitats in the national park, beachgoers can surf, bird watch and go crabbing.

Oval Beach in Saugatuck, Mich., is considered one of the most beautiful shorelines in the region. The vintage, small-town feel of the surrounding shops, art galleries and restaurants adds to the relaxation factor of the beach. The sand dunes add another dimension of fun to this family-friendly beach.

Pass-a-Grille Beach in St. Petersburg, Fla., is a beautiful, tucked away beach with white sand. It’s a popular boating and fishing destination thanks to its historic fishing pier and island-excursion charter boats – including a dolphin-watching excursion. Although this beach boasts kid beach tours, it’s also touted as a romantic spot to watch sunsets.

South Padre Island is gorgeous area on the southern tip of Texas, where the city population is less than 2,000. The barrier reef is a great place to see massive sea turtles and bottlenose dolphins! The area offers ecological tours, horseback riding and kite boarding. South Padre Island also has a healthy night club circuit and great cultural restaurants to choose from.

So hopefully you’re pumped about visiting one of these fabulous beach destinations. Don’t forget your sunscreen, shades and a good book. Enjoy your holiday weekend!

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Quicken Loans diecast car. Edited with PhotoGrid for collage & Pixlr Express for effects.

May is National Photography Month and taking photos has never been easier now that nearly everyone has a device they carry around 24/7 called a cell phone. Since cameras are so accessible, people have the ability to capture anything they’re doing and share it with a huge community of people.

Did you know that the Apple App Store and Google Play Store have hundreds of photo editing apps available with a quick tap of your thumb? That sure is a lot of apps. So where do you begin? Filters? Exposure? What does all of this even mean!?

Well, it all depends on how you’re planning on using the app. If you’re looking to share your photos through social media, the front-runner is Instagram. If you’re looking to edit photos to use elsewhere, or even integrate with Instragram, you have quite a few options out there to choose from that all have different levels of features. Other apps are useful for certain purposes, such as PhotoGrid for collages or Photosynth for panoramic images.

Let’s dig a little deeper just to see what else is out there for you and how you can achieve the highest amount of satisfaction from your photography application(s)!

For Beginners

My friend Aaron, overlooking Detroit from Belle Isle. Edited with Afterlight.

If you’re looking for something simple to use that doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, give Wood Camera (iOS) a try.  This app allows users to create a ‘vintage’ look for their photos. First, you choose the filter on the camera before taking the photos. It then saves them in a queue to be further edited. Second, you can crop, add a frame and/or add a layered texture atop the photo.

Another app that is easy to use is Afterlight available for iOS & Android. There are several options to edit the color, saturation and contrast of your photos along with a variety of filters. You also have the ability to add shapes for borders, for example, a heart or hexagon.

 With these simple options, users are able to create an interesting photo that doesn’t take a lot of effort to alter.

For Intermediate Users

For moderately knowledgeable users, Pixlr Express (iOS & Android) is a great option. This app allows users to go a little further in-depth with their image editing by giving the user a wide variety of features that can be edited within themselves. For example, within the feature ‘Color Splash,’ a brush can be used to reveal color or remove color and even change the tint or the tolerance. It provides just enough options to edit a photo and make it look really neat and different.

For Experienced Users

Two “mother of all” photo apps named Snapseed (IOS & Android) and PhotoForge2 (iOS) require a fair amount of editing knowledge and tech-savvy skills. They both offer an extreme amount of detailed options.

This is my puppy, Leopold. Edited using Snapseed.

PhotoForge2 allows the changing of hues, levels of RGB and CMYK, white balance and vibrancy. Beyond that, the user can add embossment, negative or heat map effects to the photo and layers over top which can be another photo or another hue combination.

Snapseed has equivalent options to Pixlr Express, but the functionality takes some time to get used to. Instead of having bars that can be moved higher or lower to achieve the effect you want, Snapseed utilizes ‘pinches,’ right or left ‘swipes’ or tap-hold actions to change the effect.

Now that you know more about mobile photo editing apps, I encourage you to check them out for yourself and see what magic you can come up with! What is your favorite photography app? Share it with the other Zing readers!

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This year, for Memorial Day, I was struggling to find the words that would do this day – and my feelings – justice.  I don’t often have any trouble articulating my passion for honoring those who serve, but somehow this year is different. I think it’s due, in part, to the fact that I’ve become a lot more involved in supporting veterans service organizations, both on a personal level and through the efforts of our team here at Quicken Loans. I’ve had much more exposure into what it means to serve our country, to fight for something bigger than yourself, to rely on your team as if they’re family and to feel that paralyzing loss when one of your own has lost their life in the line of duty. I’ve formed deep and life-long friendships with service members who have been deployed multiple times or are currently deployed. I’ve become friends with service members who have retired or have been discharged from service. What they all have in common is that they have loved and lost many of their fellow brothers and sisters in arms. What could I possibly say that would appropriately honor their lives and countless others of their military brethren?

Then I remembered that my talented teammate, Victoria Araj, wrote an incredible article about the meaning of Memorial Day. After I finished re-reading it, I knew that this was the article that people needed to see this year. So, I am reposting her article here for you in honor of the Memorial Day holiday, and I hope that you can take some time to reflect on those service men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

–

Memorial Day is always celebrated the last Monday in May. Americans across the country often mark this national holiday with ceremonies honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country – a display of patriotism and perhaps a little backyard barbeque with loved ones. But how did Memorial Day originate?

Memorial Day used to be called Decoration Day to honor our nation’s Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868 when General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 people decorated the graves of more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.

In 1966, Waterloo, N.Y. was declared the official birthplace of Memorial Day because residents had first observed the day two years before it was commonly observed (May 5, 1866), even closing businesses for a day.

After World War I, the day was dedicated to honoring those who died in all of America’s wars, and in 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday.

Every year, Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery, where an American flag is placed on each grave. In addition, the president or vice-president gives a speech honoring the dead and lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to go to Arlington National Cemetery and watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It was a very quiet and moving event to witness. The sentinels guarding the Tomb are from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as “The Old Guard,” which is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army (serving since 1784).

The guard is actually changed every hour, on the hour, Oct. 1 to March 31 and every half hour April 1 through September 30, so if you have a chance to visit, I highly recommend it. I was impressed by the rigid structure of every movement made by the sentinel, so I checked out the Arlington National Cemetery’s website to learn more.  Here’s what I found:

“An impeccably uniformed relief commander appears on the plaza to announce the Changing of the Guard. Soon the new sentinel leaves the Quarters and unlocks the bolt of his or her M-14 rifle to signal to the relief commander to start the ceremony. The relief commander walks out to the Tomb and salutes, then faces the spectators and asks them to stand and stay silent during the ceremony.

The relief commander conducts a detailed white-glove inspection of the weapon, checking each part of the rifle once. Then, the relief commander and the relieving sentinel meet the retiring sentinel at the center of the matted path in front of the Tomb. All three salute the Unknowns who have been symbolically given the Medal of Honor. Then the relief commander orders the relieved sentinel, “Pass on your orders.” The current sentinel commands, “Post and orders, remain as directed.” The newly posted sentinel replies, “Orders acknowledged,” and steps into position on the black mat. When the relief commander passes by, the new sentinel begins walking at a cadence of 90 steps per minute.

The Tomb Guard marches 21 steps down the black mat behind the Tomb, turns, faces east for 21 seconds, turns and faces north for 21 seconds, then takes 21 steps down the mat and repeats the process. 

After the turn, the sentinel executes a sharp “shoulder-arms” movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors to signify that the sentinel stands between the Tomb and any possible threat. Twenty-one was chosen because it symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed — the 21-gun salute. 

Duty time when not “walking” is spent in the Tomb Guard Quarters below the Memorial Display Room of the Memorial Amphitheater where they study Cemetery “knowledge,” clean their weapons and help the rest of their relief prepare for the Changing of the Guard. The guards also train on their days off.

No sleet, rain or snow interferes with the guarding of the tomb, and I can’t help but feel proud to be an American and to remember those who sacrificed so that I might have the freedom I do today.  I stood there, in complete silence, thinking of those who lost their lives who were never identified, the heartache of their families and the legacy their valiant actions left behind. I’ve included a few photos of my day at Arlington National Cemetery that I hope will help you reflect on the importance of this holiday.The Tomb of the Unknowns is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and in any weather by Tomb Guard sentinels who are all volunteers.”

If you have someone you’d like to remember on Memorial Day, tell us his or her story.

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So you’ve taken your motorcycle safety class and passed with flying colors, but what’s next?

Dreams of Easy Rider-eqsue adventures may be dancing around in your head (at least they were in mine), but before you head out on to the open road you have some work to do ­– particularly if you’ve never spent much time around motorcycles prior to your class.

Not to worry though because I’ve got a few tips for new riders. Whether you’ve spent 20 years or 20 seconds around a motorcycle, check out some of the things below to make sure you get the riding season off to a great start!

Pick the Right Motorcycle

Motorcycles come in many varieties, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed: cruisers, touring bikes, sport bikes, café racers and many more. Stop by your local motorcycle dealerships and sit on a couple different ones to see which style feels most comfortable.

Keep in mind that when you sit on the motorcycle, you want to be able to firmly plant your feet on the ground and comfortably reach the handlebars. If you’re struggling, it’s time to look for a slightly smaller motorcycle.

Speaking of size, you’ll also want to consider engine size when looking at your first motorcycle. Getting a 1200cc Harley might be too much bike for many new riders. Most experts suggest that new riders start out with a motorcycle that’s between 500 and 700cc. You can always move up to a bigger bike if you get bored.

Get Familiar with Your New Motorcycle

After you buy your motorcycle, read the owners manual to learn a bit more about it. Read how to change the oil, check the brakes, change the spark plugs and perform other basic maintenance tasks suggested by the manufacturer. Being familiar with these components helps you trouble shoot when things are wrong and will help save you some money.

An oil change, for example, on most motorcycles is pretty easy and costs about $25 after you buy the oil and filter. Most dealerships will probably charge more than double that.

Buy the Right Gear

Eww… safety gear is for squares, right? Wrong. Since you’re pretty much completely exposed, you’ll want to buy a helmet, jacket, gloves and boots at the bare minimum. It can mean the difference between surviving an accident or not. Not only does your gear protect you in case of an accident, it’ll keep debris that gets kicked up from hurting you, too.

No matter your style, you’ll find some pretty awesome gear to match.

Practice in a Parking Lot

Until you get a few miles under your belt, regularly practice skills you learned in class in an empty parking lot. This keeps your skills fresh and allows you to refine them in a less hazardous environment.

Practice counter-balancing on turns, safety maneuvers and shifting so that everything becomes seamless and second nature.

Ride Within Your Limits

Many riders put themselves in danger by riding outside of their comfort zone. Don’t feel pressured to take on rush-hour freeway traffic if you don’t feel comfortable riding in it yet.

Stormy weather is another test for new riders. Riding in the rain limits your visibility and traction on the road. If you can’t handle riding in rain, pull off the road and wait for it to pass. Download one of these apps to help you track weather on the go and plan accordingly.

Bottom line: Be safe and don’t push yourself if you’re a new rider. Give yourself some time to build up experience and get comfortable on the road with your motorcycle. You’ll have plenty of time to go on that cross-country road trip.

Do you have any other tips for new riders? Share them in the comments section below!

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It’s May 20 and that means it’s Be a Millionaire Day. How’s that for some Monday motivation?

From the first time you turned on the television and watched the movie “Richie Rich,” to the day you actually had to start paying the cable bill, chances are the dream of becoming a millionaire hasn’t faded. Now the dream may or may not have come true, yet, but the fact that the guy at the gas station who prints the Mega Millions tickets knows you on a first-name basis says you’re still trying.  Now don’t worry, this is a non-judgment zone and you’re free to do whatever you want. However, there is an alternative way to join the millionaire’s club. Instead of paying the guy behind the counter every day, you should be paying yourself. Here are five ways you can save like a millionaire.

Pay Yourself First

Saving your money is one of the most cost-effective ways you could become a millionaire. Whether it’s a normal bank account or it’s the shoe box in the back of the closet, it all adds up. Before you spend a dime of the money you make, always pay yourself first, that way no matter what happens you’ll always have money for unexpected events.

Spend Less Than What You Earn

Be aware of your income at all times. Monitor what you have coming in and going out so that you’re putting yourself in the best position to be in the positive at the end of every month.  Put yourself on a budget and make sure you aren’t going over that budget. With advances in technology there are some pretty amazing applications you can download onto your cell phone that will allow you to check your finances on the go.

Change Your Mindset

In order to save like a millionaire, you have to change your mindset.  This action is obviously easier said than done but it’s a key component to being financially successful. Before anything is achieved you must believe in yourself and know that you can make it happen. You’ve got to believe it before you see it.  Meaning once you believe, you will likely realize your vision. Although it may not happen overnight, you need to be steadfast, diligent and willing to put in the work. When you apply yourself, you can achieve almost anything.

401(k)

If you’re not the kind of person who can save money on their own, then this money-saving alternate may be for you. A 401(k) is a personal retirement account that your employer gives you the option of obtaining. You deduct a percentage of your salary and hold it in this account until the day you retire. There are even some companies that will match the amount you put in up to a certain amount. So not only are you saving money, but your employer is also giving you free money to increase that investment.

Come Up With a Plan

Just like anything else in life, planning is always recommended. It’s important to know your end goal and it’s even more important to plan the steps that you think are necessary for you to take to reach that goal. Everyone’s road to success is different, find the route that works for you. Becoming a millionaire may take a while, but through planning you can see exactly what it will take to achieve our dream. Seeking a financial consultant may be an excellent option as well. A financial consultant will work to help you develop your plan and with their experience in investing and saving they could prove to be very beneficial. Most if not all millionaires and billionaires have financial consultants who help manage their finances in the best way possible.

Any soon-to-be millionaires want to share tips? Please leave your two cents in the section below.

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Have you ever considered using a life coach or career coach? I am new to the coaching arena and I recently interviewed expert Life Coach Stephan Wiedner to get the lowdown on the coaching industry and what to know before looking for a coach.

Q: What Should People Know About the Life Coaching Industry?

SW: Coaches are often compared to therapists, but coaching is different because therapy often focuses on the past and coaching is forward-thinking on the future. Coaching also is compared to consulting because coaches help people find solutions. Except with coaching, you’re coming up with the solutions that best fit your strengths and talents.

Q: What Are Some Key Reasons Why People Use Coaches?

SW: Many people can benefit from life coaching but I often find that people seek coaching in three major areas. Career is a big one because people are always looking for a different job or ways to reinvent themselves. So, if someone is a nurse but wants to change careers and become a writer, they may seek a coach for that. Another popular area is people who have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. And a third is people looking to start a business or take their business to the next level. People often seek both coaching and mentoring in all of these areas.

Q: Do You Have Tips for People Looking for a Coach?

SW: Yes, I would tell them to do a little research. Unfortunately, anybody can put a sign out and say they’re a life coach. So look for coach who is accredited and who has invested in their coaching business. Have a conversation with them and make sure they get you. Then grade them on a scale from 1 to 10.

Q: Where Can People Find a Life Coach?

SW: There are many resources out there, but we created Noomii.com specifically for this reason – so that people could have a resource with thousands of coaches with a variety of specialties in one place.

Q: Any Last Words?

SW: Yes, there’s a huge self-help industry out there. If you walk into any bookstore, there are a bunch of books on any topic. I’ve read a lot of great books as so many others have, too. Those books are filled with tons of valuable information, yet we often fail to implement these concepts. Coaching is probably the single best method out there to help people modify their current behavior.

Stephan Wiedner is COO and co-founder of Noomii.com, which was created in 2007, and is the largest online directory of life coaches.

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An important part of the business world that is rarely discussed in This Week in Financial Blunders is corporate branding. Nailing down a trustworthy, positive brand image for your company will make the public associate your company with positive thoughts, like sleek style for Apple or luxury with Ferrari. If you botch that image with bad services, products or press, then people will associate your business with terrible things, like ticket services for over charging and gas station burritos destroying your insides. Making these mistakes may not affect your business immediately, but it has the potential to ruin things in the long run. That why this week we focus on two companies who have gotten big media attention for ruining their brand image and business prospects.

Ripped Jeans & Image

As most people have heard by now, CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Mike Jeffries, is in some real hot water for making his clothing appear far too elitist. Just like obnoxiously toned and model-looking people you see on the bags from Abercrombie & Fitch, it was revealed that Jeffries said in a 2006 Slate interview that his clothing brand was “exclusionary” and not meant for “fat” or “not-so-cool” kids. He went on to say “…That’s why we hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that.”

People were upset, needless to say, and many were distressed enough to go on Facebook and spread the word about Jeffries’ comments. Needless to say, it turned into a storm of bad press, starting with this video/call to action being made in response to the situation (Offensive language in the video, not reflecting that of Quicken Loans or the Zing Blog):

On Wednesday, Yougov.com, a site that measures positive and negative feedback, showed the 18-34 year old opinion of Abercrombie & Fitch drop nearly 20% since the end of April, with competitors H&M and American Eagle seeing a slight bump in their numbers. Jefferies learned a brand lesson that every high schooler who wears their clothes knows already: if you say you’re cool, it usually means you’re not.

Half-Baked, with a Side of Anger

Not that reality shows are known for showing quality people, but a recent episode of “Kitchen Nightmares” showed the bad side of some restaurant owners. If you haven’t seen the show, Chef Gordon Ramsay goes into sub-par restaurants and does his best to turn the restaurant’s slow business around by improving the menu, adjusting management skills or anything in-between. After visiting Amy’s Baking Company in a recent episode, Ramsay discovered that the Bouzalgos, the owners, had fired more than 100 employees in the past, would pocket tips that the waiters had earned and were serving pre-packaged food as their own. It marked the first time in the history of the show that Chef Ramsay walked off and refused to help the restaurateurs after they refused to listen to any of his advice.

Then the internet got involved.

People started reviewing the restaurant on Yelp almost instantly, very negatively mind you, and Reddit users quickly began reposting the hilariously crafted responses. Then, Amy’s Bakery committed brand suicide by responding to these jabs in a belligerent rant on their Facebook page. This only added fuel to the fire as their responses led to more negative feedback, so on and so forth. You can check their page here, but Huffington Post collected the greatest hits of their responses to the negative feedback (Warning: offensive language in both of the previous links). Some of the best responses Amy’s Bakery had were “You are all little punks. Nothing. you are all nothing (sic).” And “I AM NOT STUPID ALL OF YOU ARE. YOU JUST DO NOT KNOW GOOD FOOD.” The ironic thing is the amount of press on the restaurant and Facebook attention is huge, but no one will know for sure if it’ll be a positive thing.

While poor corporate branding may not result in immediate financial losses, it can tarnish a business in unforeseen ways. If you have any other stories regarding poor business branding, please post below.

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Before you get busy with early planning for your Memorial Day weekend, don’t forget to listen in to WJR-760 AM to hear Paul W. Smith (WJR) and Stephen Luigi Piazza (Quicken Loans) hit the airwaves tonight at 7 p.m. Their guests represent a wide range of the bright and talented people who represent Detroit. Tune in to find out about all of the cool things that these folks have cookin’. Here’s a quick rundown of tonight’s show.

You’ll get the inside scoop on the wonderful world of Quizzle. Quizzle CEO Todd Albery has successfully led the development of this innovative company that is a sister company to Quicken Loans for the past five years. The company’s groundbreaking website helps clients manage their mortgages, understand their credit and use tools to improve their financial health. The company seeks to help people improve their credit scores so they can become happy homeowners. You can learn more about the company at www.quizzle.com.

You’ll learn about the cutting edge of the auto industry. Don Graundstadt is CEO of Detroit Electric – a company that is re-launching its brand and planning to produce premium-quality pure electric vehicles “that seamlessly integrate refined aesthetics, innovative technology and superior handling and performance.” The company is also opening an alternative-fuel engineering facility in the Detroit area. Listen in to learn about the company’s other plans in the near future!

You’ll hear for the owner of the oldest Italian restaurant in Michigan. Janet Sossi Belcoure is the third-generation owner of Roma Café in Detroit’s Eastern Market. The famous restaurant, which opened its doors in 1890, once closed down to serve The Rat Pack including the great Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli. The Food Network has named the restaurant one of its “Best of The Best.” Check out the tasty menu at www.romacafe.com and tune in to hear how Janet has successfully kept the family restaurant going!

You’ll get to peek into the creative mind of a home-grown Grammy winner. Allee Willis is a Grammy, Emmy, Tony and Webby award-winning and nominated songwriter, performer, visual artist, multimediaist, director, collector and social artist. Among other music hits, this Detroit native is credited for penning The Rembrandts’ “I’ll Be There For You” which is the theme of the hit show “Friends.” Currently, Willis is working on a song titled “We Sing the D,” which she hopes will become the unofficial theme of the Motor City. To learn more about Allee’s musical projects, visit www.alleewillis.com.

Don’t forget to tune in this Friday evening, May 17, at 7:00 p.m. ET for all that and more!

Take Opportunity Detroit everywhere you go – find the podcast here.

Join the conversation! Let us know what you’re thinking by tagging your tweets with #OpportunityDetroit

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Tomorrow, May 18, marks the third Saturday of the month of May. While this may seem just like an ordinary day to you or me, it’s actually Armed Forces Day – a day designated to celebrate the men and women of the Armed Forces.

Armed Forces Day was created on August 31, 1949 to honor Americans serving in all five branches of the military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. Then-Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced Armed Forces Day following the unification of the Armed Forces under the Department of Defense.

While it initially was a day created to celebrate all the  branches of military coming together under a single department of the government, it was also used as a way to educate civilians about the military while raising awareness for those who serve. According to the Department of Defense, “It was designed to expand public understanding of what type of job is performed and the role of the military in civilian life.”

It was a day for the military to show off how hard they work, the technology they use and develop and to give people a glimpse into what it’s like to live and work in the military. And most importantly, it was a day to pay tribute to the people of the Armed Forces.

Although it was created in 1949, the first Armed Forces Day was observed on May 20, 1950. It was a day full of parades, open houses, receptions and air shows. More than 10,000 troops and veterans from all branches marched in a parade in Washington D.C., while thousands more rallied across the country in celebration. Finally, in 1962, President Kennedy made it an official holiday.

“Our Servicemen and women are serving throughout the world as guardians of peace — many of them away from their homes, their friends and their families. They are visible evidence of our determination to meet any threat to the peace with measured strength and high resolve. They are also evidence of a harsh but inescapable truth — that the survival of freedom requires great cost and commitment, and great personal sacrifice.”

President John F. Kennedy – 1963

I hope that tomorrow you take some time to celebrate all that the men and women of the Armed Forces have done and continue to do for our nation. If you see a service member, shake their hand, give em’ a high five, buy em’ a drink. Whatever you do on Saturday, try to do it in honor of a veteran or active duty service member.

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With the revitalization of Detroit in full swing, it’s always interesting to see what businesses Detroit is attracting and what neighborhoods are making their comeback. With many of the success stories happening in downtown, Corktown and Midtown, Eastern Market is making some news of its own. Need proof? Well head down to the market on a Saturday and catch the sights, sounds and smells of consumerism (on a local level) at its best. On any given Saturday you can catch thousands of Detroit and non-Detroit residents as they make their way through the market, buying anything from fruits and vegetables to art and antiques. Eastern Market, one of Detroit’s many success stories, is now feeling the effects of Detroit’s revitalization as new and existing businesses are making their way back into the market. One of those businesses is the former 323 East Gallery of Royal Oak, now called Inner State. With a new look and a new name, Inner State calls a beautiful three-story building on Gratiot Avenue adjacent to the hustle and bustle of the market home. The building, built at the turn of the twentieth century, was originally used as a manufacturing and retail location for the Detroit Knitting Mills.

With the right timing and location, gallery owners Jesse Cory and Dan Armand decided it was time to leave their 1,400 square foot (500 square feet of gallery space) store front in Royal Oak and move to where the action is, Eastern Market. Closer to the action and a good comprehension of what the current market is like in Detroit, this move was a no-brainer for the two. Cory and Armand understand there’s an energy and a momentum in the downtown Detroit art community. Take for example the Red Bull House of Art, with attendance growing by leaps and bounds with every cycle. Leaving behind a small tiny office, which also houses the internationally famous online gallery, 1xRun, Inner State is almost 10,000 square feet (1,800 square feet of gallery space) of mixed used space. Perfect for the vision of Cory and Armand. The first floor will be used primarily as an exhibition space, while the second floor will be used as the offices for both 1xRun and Inner State and the third floor will act as an artist residency, where artists will be able to work and reside.

Inner State has now repositioned themselves to help renovate and hopefully anchor an entire stretch of prime Detroit real estate. The move has now cemented Inner State’s commitment to Detroit’s powerful art scene. With Slow’s BBQ serving as a template for how businesses can help resurrect neighborhoods and attract businesses, Inner State hopes that this same formula can help rejuvenate this once popular strip. Even before Inner Space’s arrival, a combination of retail and residential development has begun to emerge on this block of beautiful buildings. Trinosophes, an art gallery and performance space has opened its doors and two more restaurants are rumored to be opening their doors later this year. With the gallery opening set for this Friday, we may start to see a steady trend of new businesses and new neighbors! Since their arrival in late 2012, Inner State has managed to bring in three new employees from the neighborhood and has plans to up their 10 person staff to 14 by year’s end.

“Rooms” by legendary Detroit artist Glenn Barr will open this Friday, May 17 from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Inner State Gallery is located on 1410 Gratiot. For more information please visit www.innerstategallery.com.

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