Go Southern in Cleveland, go Cleveland in New York

EVERYONE LOVES CLEVELAND — Hey, Tim Pitoniak, Ted Mosby (and any other Ohioan at heart who lives in real or fictional New York), I have just the place for you: check out Tremont a new 45-person restaurant in New York City’s West Village. According to the owners’ Web site, “It was the trees, the beautiful brick and stone buildings and warmth of the passers-by that in the end made the name connect our hometown with this treasured corner in the West Village.” It’s great to see some Cleveland love in the big city. Thanks to Janean for sharing this stellar find! (Photo: Tremont’s Web site).

DOWNTOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS — Ryan and I had the best night a few weeks ago. We went downtown for the 60-degree lighting ceremony, which was packed with holiday-lovin’ Clevelanders, and we stopped on 4th Street on the way back for what turned out to be a decent locally-run replacement for the long-defunct Higbees and May Company.  Dredger’s Union is decked out for the holidays, there was a guy slicing up giant cubes of ice out front, a crew of 20-somethings playing violins in the streets, and CLE Clothing has a shop open on the corner of Euclid. Packed with people, it was completely and entirely merry.

CLEVELAND LOCAL GIFT LINKS: Dredger’s Union, CLE Clothing, Room Service, Banyan Tree

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY — After we left downtown, we stopped at the newly open SOHO (short for Southern Hospitality) on W. 25th street to meet up with Pete and Erin. Between the honey lemonade, fried green tomato sandwich, and cheese grits, this place might have at least temporarily suppressed my desire to drive to Memphis for grits alone. Check out their Facebook page for upcoming events and super sweet happy hour specials (like a $7 pulled pork sandwich with Carolina slaw). I’m a sucker for anything with Carolina in the name.