Tuesday, November 23, 2010

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.

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