NYC - Smitten with the Mitten?

As I prepare to head home to Michigan for the holidays, I can't help but notice how many reminders there are of my home state here in the big city. Over the past four months I've been so surprised by the many Michigan references around town - whether on store windows, on sweatshirts zipping past me while jogging along the Hudson, or on restaurant menus themselves. Perhaps I'm looking for them more than the average person, but they're there nonetheless. Here are some of my favorite Midwest reminders --

Grey Dog Cafe (Multiple locations, http://www.thegreydog.com/) - With three quaint locations in downtown Manhattan, these spots absolutely exude a Midwest mentality. Each cafe's atmosphere mimics that of a farm house with wooden benches and chalk board menus. They are best known for their 20+ "Michigan Sandwiches" on the menu which range from the complicated Grey Dog Club to the fan favorite Grilled Cheese. The owners are University of Michigan grads and proudly display some fun paraphernalia around the cafes.

Duane Park Patisserie (179 Duane Street, http://www.duaneparkpatisserie.com/parkpatisserie.com/) - While strolling around my neighborhood this past weekend, I was thrilled to see "Go Blue" written all over the windows of this adorable neighborhood bakery. They have all of the traditional items you would expect of a bakery - croissants, scones, specialty cakes, custom cookies and fun seasonal items - and everything is made on-site and from scratch. The owner was the first woman to be hired as a cook at the Plaza Hotel - if that isn't enough of a reason to trust the goodies at DPP, I don't know what is.

The Hill (416 3rd Avenue, http://thehillny.com/) - Changing things up a bit, The Hill is an upscale sports bar and lounge on 29th and 3rd. It was started (once again) by Michigan grads living in the city who dreamt of setting up the destination spot for Wolverines to cheer their team on from the East coast. I've been a few times and can attest to the deliciousness of the tater tots and the festive Michigan fans that set up court each week. Definitely a fun stop for a Wolverine fan.

Do you know of other businesses with Michigan or Midwest roots in NYC? Let me know on the Midwestern Manhattanite Facebook page or by Tweeting @MWManhattanite.

Perfectly Patent

The search for the perfect Holiday-time shoe is no joking matter. Equally challenging? Finding such a shoe that nicely transitions from the stylish streets of New York City to that annual family holiday party in the the great Midwest. Leave it to me to beat the odds and find the perfect transitional holiday shoe. I give you the Calvin Klein "Olive" black patent pump. With its stacked, chunky heel and manageable height (3.5"), this shoe can easily take you from a day at the office to that holiday cocktail party. You simply can't go wrong with a classic black patent leather pump. Plus, absolutely nothing says "its the holiday season" like black patent leather. These are available right now at Zappos by clicking here.

In the Limelight

Those from the Midwest are used to hopping in their pre-warmed vehicles (hello automatic start) and driving comfortably to the nearest indoor shopping center. Here in New York City? We're not so lucky in the chillier months. Lucky for us, I recently discovered a unique, boutique and yes, indoor(!) shopping destination called The Limelight Marketplace (656 Avenue of the Americas, http://www.limelightmarketplace.com/). The Limelight has an interesting history. In 1844 the facility was built as an Episcopal Church, later to be turned into both a drug counseling facility and then a nightclub (whose opening night was hosted by none other than Andy Warhol). These days, the Marketplace has been reborn and remodeled (thanks to a $15M gut renovation), and features 35 upscale boutiques and restaurants. The more established brands with booths inside include Hunter Boots, Havianas and Le Sportsac, but there are equally adorable no-name brands as well with intriguing merchandise to peruse. If the shopping isn't enough to get you there, the famous Brooklyn Pizzeria, Grimaldi's, will soon be opening its doors in the "food court" area. The food options don't stop there -- in one section of the Marketplace you'll find scrumptous treats such as gelato, cupcakes and other baked goodies to sample on those long shopping days. On the Saturday that I stopped by, there was even a a grill (and grill-master) set up in the courtyard outside providing delicious eats for patrons. Definitely a must see for Manhattanites!