MGM Restaurants steal the spotlight

Tomorrow evening cannot come soon enough - along with another couple, my husband and I are finally heading over to MGM Grand casino's SaltWater restaurant for a highly anticipated dinner.

It couldn't have come at a better time, since the Detroit Free Press announced yesterday that Salt Water is the newspaper's 2008 Restaurant of the Year. MGM's three upscale restaurants -- SaltWater, Bourbon Steak and Wolfgang Puck Grille -- really impressed Free Press staff this year, because they took the top three spots in the Freep's 2007 Top Dining Newcomers list. I can't speak about Salt Water yet because I have not eaten there, but I can speak about MGM's Wolfgang Puck Grille, which came in at #3.

Although the Free Press calls the Puck Grille "the most casual of MGM Grand Detroit's three signature restaurants", this is no hole in the wall -- far from it, in fact. Personally, I thought the fresh, contemporary decor of the main dining room was quite nice, though I do agree with the newspaper that at $100+ for dinner for two, the dining room's fishbowl-feel wouldn't be my first choice for a layout. The night I was there, diners were sporting everything from jeans to suits -- it is inside a casino, after all -- but I recommend at least business-casual attire if you're planning to hit this Detroit-newcomer for supper.

A friend and I had dinner at the Wolfgang Puck Grille on Sunday, December 30. While the holidays had just ended, neither the casino nor the restaurant were empty. Thankfully, though, the number of people in the restaurant didn't detract from the food or the service, the latter of which was superb. I have been to a lot of expensive restaurants, and I'd rate Wolfgang Puck Grille in Detroit at the top for waitstaff-attentiveness.

My meal -- I had a scrumptious chef's special of scallops in an incredible sauce -- was excellent, and my friend, who ordered the lamb chops, thoroughly enjoyed her dinner, as well. Our entrees each came with a small side (no soup or salad, and the restaurant was stingy on the bread), but there was plenty to eat and I went home with lunch for the next day.

I have not eaten at Bourbon Steak, which the Freep ranked as the #2 2007 Top Dining Newcomer, but my husband loves it and two of my friends feel the same, so it is on my "restaurants to try" list. I hope to eat there soon.

Will SaltWater meet or exceed my expectations? I absolutely love seafood, so I'm looking forward to finding out. Check Girl in the D next week for my thoughts on the Michael Mina-creation that everyone is raving about.

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Talent retention in Michigan

One of my good friends, Jessica Pfeiffer, has been blogging about talent retention all week on Metro Mode.

Along with being a gourmet cook, avid volunteer and an adjunct professor at U of D Mercy School of Law, Jessica is the executive director of MORE -- Michigan Opportunities and Resources for Entrepreneurs -- an exciting new program that aims to keep recent college grads in the state.

Jessica has a lot of interesting things to say about talent retention in Michigan and what the MORE Program is doing to help keep Michigan grads in the state. If you have a minute, check out her posts -- you won't be disappointed.

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Detroit-inspired Valentine's Gift Idea #1

In the spirit of the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday that is fast approaching, Girl in the D will be doing some posts in the next few weeks on possible gifts to get your sweetie this V-Day. Each gift will be Detroit-themed, made in Detroit, or have some Detroit significance behind it.

Thanks to Elena Maria for passing along the idea for the first gift post -- a jewelry and candle party in southwest Detroit.

From 5 - 8 pm on Thursday, January 31, head over to southwest Detroit's awesome Mexicantown Mercado for a pre-Valentine's Day preview party at the mercado's The Jewelry Center, Maya's Jewelry, Mexi-Candle Gift Shop, Mexicantown CDC Store and Cafe con Leche coffee house.

Featuring unique jewelry creations, soy-oil candles, flowers and handmade Mexican terracotta, you're sure to find something for all the women in your life at this event. If you're not familiar with the stores mentioned, the Jewelry Center is known for silver and gold from Mexico, Italy and Los Angeles, while Maya's Jewelry sells silver from Mexico. The Mexi-Candle Gift Shop specializes in candles and other small gifts.

In addition to great shopping, enjoy door prizes, appetizers and beverages, and enter for a chance to win a $150 gift basket.

For more information or to RSVP for the event, please call 313.963.9999.

The Mexicantown International Welcome Center & Mercado is located at 2826 Bagley (at 21st Street) in southwest Detroit.

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Detroit Auto Show Continues

If you're like me, you've been waiting for the crowds at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) to die down a bit before venturing over to Cobo Hall to check things out.

I tend to stray from the norm sometimes (okay, a lot of the time) but I can't help that I would rather wait for the masses to flock in and out so that when I arrive, I have some breathing room.

But my lack of large-crowd-love is beside the point. The important thing is that NAIAS is coming to a close this weekend, but there's still time for you to check out Detroit's biggest event of the year.

Plan to attend? Here are the basics:

• Dates/Times: On Friday and Saturday, the show runs from 9 am - 10 pm (no admittance after 9). On Sunday, the show runs from 9 am to 7 pm (no admittance after 6).


• Tickets: Ticket prices are as follows: Adults - $12. Senior citizens and children 7 - 12: $6. Children under 6: free. Tickets may be purchased at the event, through Ticketmaster, or you may purchase e-tickets here.


• Parking: Take a cue from the helpful people at NAIAS and consider where you'll park before you even head out for the show. NAIAS recommends online parking system-Click and Park, which allows you to purchase a parking space in advance. If you don't want to do that, park near one of the 13 Detroit People Mover (DPM) stations and ride Detroit's monorail to Cobo Hall. If you're unfamiliar with the city, the covered structure right next to the Renaissance Center is a great bet. Park (or valet at the RenCen) and grab the DPM on Level 2 of Tower 200.
  


• Driving: If you'd rather leave the driving to someone else, take advantage of the luxury motor coaches traveling between Dearborn's Henry Ford Museum and the Detroit Zoo and Cobo Hall on Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 28. The trip is a mere $10 - $5 for parking and $5 for the ride. Children 12 and under travel free.

For photos, videos, top 10 lists and more of what's hot at this year's show, check out continuing auto show coverage from the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Mlive.com or MSN Autos.

Detroit held its first auto show in 1907. The 2008 show, renamed the North American International Auto Show in 1989, is the 20th international show.

The NAIAS is the only auto show in the United States to earn an annual distinguished sanction of the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles (OICA), a Paris-based alliance of automotive trade associations and manufacturers from around the world. For more on the global auto show circuit, visit OICA on the Web.

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Lafer Building Reopens

Following a $5 million renovation by Mercier Development, Detroit's Lafer Building has reopened.

Located on Broadway, the Lafer Building features 16 loft-style apartments featuring granite countertops, polished concrete floors and maple cabinets.

The two-bedroom units range from 1500 to 1800 square feet. Rent will range from $1,250 for two-bedroom/one bath units to $2,000+ for penthouse units.

Built in 1916, the building once housed Lafer Brothers Grocery.

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