by Barbara Morrow, Midwest Living editor

Shopping—finding the sorts of unique places readers will love—is part of my job. Unfortunately, buying things is not. And, thankfully, for my already stressed budget, I often am limited by airline luggage weight restrictions. Here are just a few of the temptations I found exploring unique shops in Northern Indiana.

 

1.) Shoes at Urban Soles

This shop in Michigan City’s Uptown Arts District takes shoe shopping to a whole new level. Maybe it’s more like what our mothers would have called a “shoe salon,” with stylish couches, artful displays and brands that you don’t see everywhere. I aspire to a pair of the gorgeous, funky platforms, but probably will end up with one of a number of styles of pretty comfy flats. Prices are reasonable, so I should choose from the enticing array of handbags, too!

 

2.) Cute stuff at b on the River

I showed up at this new café along Elkhart’s RiverWalk, hoping for from-scratch quiche, pastries and coffee (all wonderful). What I didn’t expect was to find half the space devoted to one virtually irresistible item after another, all displayed so nicely that they’re even more appealing—not just for myself, but as gifts. To mention just a few: totes, scarves, jewelry, a magnetic calendar, handcrafted plates and tiles, table linens….well, you get the idea. Note to self: next time bring a list of upcoming occasions.

 

3.) Yarn at Ewe-nique Knits

I would use it to make this wrap, which owner Sher King assures me would be easier than it looks. And, she promises she would help me. In fact, she offers to give me a knitting lesson on the spot, as I look longingly at the rainbow of skeins overflowing from bins and shelves in this Goshen shop. I realize that what I’m seeking isn’t just yarn, it’s peace, creativity and all the other intangibles woven into knitting. This seems like a place to get them. “Goshen is sort of a secret. We’re blessed with a lot of creativity,” Sher confirms. And, with a wink, adds, “I’m not sure I want you to write about it.” Sorry, Sher.

 

4.) A Santa at Stone Soup Emporium

Old-fashioned holiday spirit seems to shine through the Santas that artist Bonnie Barrett creates. No wonder: Her work is inspired by memories of an antique Christmas card collection that she loved as a child. Might be hard to find the right spot for this big guy, but the Santas come in all sizes. I’ll allow plenty of decision time. This shop, a renovated 1825 general store with at least two ghost stories, is the kind of place that begs for browsing.

 

5.) Books at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Visitors Center

Turn-of-the-century visionaries, a recluse, hopes dashed by the Depression, a school teacher with a dream—it’s clear from the dust jackets of books displayed in the center’s shop there are fascinating stories behind the salvation of this unique landscape. And it might take several of the books displayed in the center’s nicely arranged shop to learn even part of it.

6.) Beachy Accessories at The Cranberry Cottage in Winona Lake

I am always mentally furnishing my imaginary lake house. If I ever get that house, this shop along the canal in Winona Lake brims with exactly the kind of things I would artfully display or perhaps graciously accept from friends as hostess gifts. Or, I might just choose something that reminds me of this pretty, peaceful lake getaway.

By Barbara Morrow, Midwest Living editor

Midwest Living editor Barbara Morrow has been sizing up burgers and other foods as part of researching travel stories across the region. The Octave Grill is just one of the exceptional eateries you’ll find in Northern Indiana.

 

Full disclosure: I love hamburgers in all their incarnations, so maybe I’m not as discriminating as those who can pass a Burger King without experiencing waves of temptation. I consider this possible lack of objectivity, juices and melted blue cheese threatening to dribble down my chin, as I plow through the “Holy Trinity” in the Octave Grill in Chesterton. No, I think it makes me better qualified to pronounce this perfectly cooked beef patty dusted with Cajun seasoning, slathered with aioli and stuffed with blue cheese, peppers, celery, onions possibly the best burger in the world. The brioche bun is soft on top but lightly grilled and crisp inside. (Later, a chef told me that peppers, celery and onions are the “Holy Trinity” of Cajun cooking).

 

I am accustomed to justifying indulgences in my burger passion by cutting the sandwich firmly in two and eating only half. But this time I can’t quit until only a few bites of the six-ounce patty remain. And then I can’t let it go. Yes, I’ll take a box. I would like to come back and try the rest of the creative sounding lineup that includes a Gouda BBQ burger and the hamburguesa with guac and locally grown habaneros. Even worse, I can’t resist the sweet potato nuggets that fill the rest of the plate; tastier still dipped in the stone ground mustard provided for that purpose.

 

How about some homemade dessert, the server asks cheerily. I had been eyeing the selection on a big chalkboard on a back wall that must conceal an impossibly small kitchen. Cherry cobbler with blueberry waffle cone ice cream has to be amazing, I’ve already decided. In fact, I admit to a little stab of anxiety as the server erased the entry just above it. Oh good, still some left. It’s served in a ramekin, the dollop of purplish ice cream just starting to melt into a fluffy not-too-sweet bread-like cobbler over warm fruit in light syrup.

 

Open just a year and wedged between downtown buildings like a kid vying for a spot along a parade route, this tiny cafe is worth finding even if you’re not a burger fanatic. I happened on it as I searched for this northern Indiana town’s well-known Italian spots (Popolano’s and Lucrezia’s). I parked and started walking. Peering in windows of others businesses closed late on a Sunday afternoon, I realized that they were people staring back from the Octave. You know how you get an immediate good vibe. Instead of feeling awkward walking into this tiny space not bigger than a good-sized kitchen with about a dozen or so tables, most filled with people, I felt welcome as a server ushered me to a small table.

 

Amy Capodice, sister of owner Sylvia Petro, says all the beef comes from newscaster Bill Curtis’ Kansas farm, and they get as many as possible of the other offerings from local producers, often at Chesterton’s European Market on Summer Saturdays.

 

Another customer raves about the stuffed green pepper soup. A colorful salad is tasty, fresh and just the right size. The menu board lists appealing sounding drink creations. Area artists’ works surround the star painting on one wall, fittingly a giant burger.

 

Notes:

Link to the Octave Grill on NIN isn’t working

 

 

 

By Kim Ranegar, Midwest Living contributor

Drawing on the bounty of area fields and orchards farmers markets are weekend rituals across Northern Indiana. Midwest Living contributor Kim Ranegar visits two great ones in South Bend and Chesterton.

Though the outside of the South Bend Farmers Market looks like a simple pole barn, the inside is filled with local bounty that looks great, smells great and makes you feel great, because you’re buying local. Yet the South Bend Farmer’s Market is much more than a collection of tailgates and ice chests. Because it’s year-round and enclosed, the vendors work from established stalls, where you can purchase a variety of meats, cheeses, eggs, produce and more.

Expect some changes with the seasons. During our October visit, we found fresh flowers and bedding plants; corn- and grain-fed turkey, chicken, duck and rabbits; fresh lamb and seafood. Seasonal produce is a mainstay, as are pastries – Hungarian, traditional, diabetic and more, plus honeys, candy and roasted nuts. The nearby D’Avella Family Winery offers an assortment of local vintages. Some of the more unusual items include a complete stand dedicated to birds, with food, feeders and more. A specialty spice stand has many options, from cinnamon to fenugreek, which you can buy in small quantities (rather than grocery-store bulk). The outdoor courtyard, open in the summer, might be a good spot to find that unusual plant or posy.

Located in the center of the market, the Farmer’s Market Café serves delicious dishes prepared from seasonal produce and fresh market meats and cheeses, in a setting that looks like an old fashioned diner. Swiss steak and homemade cakes and pies are among the favorites.

The market is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday (and Friday from May to September), and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Part marketplace, part festival, Chesterton’s European Market is an outdoor affair that’s as welcome as springtime when it opens each May. The event gathers up to 150 vendors each Saturday through October, offering fresh produce and plants, artisan breads and pastries, boutique cheeses, gourmet ingredients and one-of-a-kind art plus a few surprises.

While vendors remain fairly consistent, their offerings change as the weeks go by and different crops mature. Vendors assemble early and open at 8 a.m., so we get there early for our favorites from The Cheese People of Illinois – Gouda with mustard seed, and Brie layered with apricots and sliced almonds. Regulars also line up for specialty pastries from surrounding bakeries, as well as those from a group of Catholic nuns from Chicago who bring gorgeous baguettes and tarts. We also find locally harvested honey, the brightest and freshest locally grown produce, bedding plants, specialty teas, sea salts, and selected vintages from nearby Butler Winery.

Yet it’s not all about food and drink. We find original art, rare books, handmade jewelry and other original items like frilly vintage-looking aprons, unique handbags, clothing, beads and more. More than just a collection of tents, this marketplace is mixed among a canopy of trees and set to music by a rotating cast of live musicians, from steel drums to steely guitars.

We enjoyed fresh crepes cooked on the spot and wished we’d bought our dull kitchen knives to be sharpened on site. Before we head out, we stopp for jerk chicken, which we smell from nearly a full block away. There are a number of cool Chesterton stores just steps away, too. Check out Red Cup for coffee, The Flower Cart for unusual gifts, Whimsy and Indian Summer for one-of-a-kind clothes.

 

 

We love it here. And we think you will too. We’re so proud of the diversity and quality of our attractions, events and activities. From the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to Notre Dame to the Culver’s Cape Cod of the Midwest to Amish Country to Village at Winona and Shipshewana, there are special places to see and incredible adventures to be had all across Northern Indiana.

Thanks to our new website, it’s easier than ever to start planning your next visit. Take a look around and discover all the great Things to Do, find out Where to Stay and then map it all out with our Interactive Map & Travel Tools.

We look forward to sharing our stories, thoughts and ideas with you. Keep an eye on this blog and you’ll soon discover the surprising variety that awaits you so close to home, in Northern Indiana.