1. Follow the Admirals in the Calder Cup Playoffs
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Spring is playoff time for the winter sports, and while the Milwaukee Bucks have, ahem, not graced us with playoff action, the Admirals are still in the mix for the Calder Cup. The Ads finished the season 32-33-4-3, good for a 5 seed and a first-round best-of-three playoff series against the Manitoba Moose (35-29-5-3). Unfortunately, the games are all up in Winnipeg, but fans can tune in on WOKY (920 AM) and stream on TV with FloHockey. The puck drops on Game 1 at 7 p.m. Wednesday; Game 2 is at 7 p.m. Friday and if-necessary Game 3 is 2 p.m. Sunday.
2. Indulge in International Cuisine with Tables Across Borders
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
Tables Across Borders, the pop-up dinner series featuring chefs from refugee communities, is back, with four culinary experiences scheduled between now and the end of May. The first dinner (April 28, 6 p.m.) is “Burmese Cuisine with Chef Point.” The second in the series (May 5, 6 p.m.) is titled “Syrian Cuisine with Chef Tahani.” Both dinners are held at Amilinda (315 E. Wisconsin Ave.). The final two dinners of the spring series are May 21 (Ethiopian Cuisine with Chef Elfenesh) and May 28 (Eritrean Cuisine with Chef Hailat and Daughters) – both start at 6 p.m. and will be held at Tricklebee Café. Tickets are $85 per person, with proceeds directly supporting the chefs and their families. Reserve a pre-paid table here under the “Experiences” section.
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3. Check Out Haraz Coffee House
AMRITA THAKKAR, DIGITAL EDITOR
Yemeni coffee chain Haraz has been opening up stores across Wisconsin, and unfortunately, it’s taken me a while to get to one. It was well worth the wait, though – the kadak chai is as good as any I had growing up, though maybe with less sugar than I expected. No worries, though – you can quickly make up for that by indulging in one of their mango mousse cakes, a fluffy delight encased in a white chocolate shell with a jammy middle.
By far one of the most appealing things about Haraz, though, is that like many Arab coffee shops, it tends to stay open late, making it a great alternative for people who might want to be out and about until midnight without having to deal with alcohol or loud music.
4. Celebrate Spring with a Maibock at Bockbierfest
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Every spring – or sometimes late winter, depending on when I have my first of the season – I’m reminded how good bock beers are. And while there are several iterations of this hearty German lager, Hofbrau’s venerated maibock is featured at this Saturday’s Bockbierfest, which finds a new home at Kegel’s Inn this year. There’ll be live traditional German music and dancing, a blessing of the bock (5 p.m.), and, if you prefer volume over appreciation, even a beer chugging contest. The ticketed admission ($6 in advance, $10 at the door) benefits the Spielmannszug Milwaukee Drum & Bugle Corp. 4-10 p.m. Saturday, 5901 W. National Ave., West Allis
5. See Oklou at the Pabst
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
French pop artist Oklou’s songs are awash in soft white light. On her album choke enough – which is how my partner introduced me to her – she achieves this digital glow with whispery vocals and percolating Y2K synths drenched in reverb and buoyed by muted up-tempo beats. But I think what truly makes her sound ethereal are her melodies, which are medieval-esque at times. (“thank you for recording” is the clearest example of this.) So, what happens when you take the celestial out of the portable CD player and onto the stage? I’m excited to find out when she comes to the Pabst Theater on Saturday, April 25.
