1. Party at Village Days
ALLI WATTERS, DIGITAL & CULTURE EDITOR
Greendale knows how to throw a party. All summer they host farmers’ markets, movie nights and live music. But Village Days is different. It’s the Greendale party. I’m a relatively new resident to the vil, and I have to say I was shocked at my first Village Days. Our small Downtown gets flooded with people every night of the bash. There’s tons of great bands, good food and even fireworks! I recommend stopping by, whether you have any association with Greendale or not. It’s free and the event is running Thursday-Saturday.
2. Stop By the Shorewood Nature Preserve
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
An early August day with a note of pumpkin spice latte in the air. I’ve never had a PSL and plan to keep that streak of avoidance going. But what it means is fall is coming, sooner rather than later. But what made that particular August day different for me was the detour I took on my walk. Lately I’ve been doing a route that skirts Lake Michigan and clocks in around five miles. As I headed home, I passed Atwater Park in Shorewood and considered footing it down to the lake but then it hit me: Shorewood Nature Preserve (3600 N. Lake Dr.) is also on my route and likely quieter. The entrance to this wood chip-lined path is marked by a sign and a bike rack. The route, surrounded by a mini forest of trees and private property on both sides, leads straight down to the lake. Once you’re at the base, you can access the beach, but it’s a steep leap down to get to the water – sturdy shoes are a must! The hike back up is a nice little cardio workout, too. Note: no dogs allowed.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
3. Giddee-on-Over to Third Space for Square Dancin’
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR
This Friday, Third Space Brewing is bringing Do-Si-Do To Go to host a pop-up square dancing evening. No experience is preferred. They’re gonna play modern music. Western-wear is encouraged. So, you know I’ll be there. Oh yeah, and the dances will be called by an expert named Big Mike, so that’s perfect. And Kate Sweeeeet Corn will be a special guest. Yeehaw! 🤠
4. Read Generations by Jean Twenge
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Generational differences fascinate me – Baby Boomers doing all the drugs, Millennials abandoning religion in droves, Gen Z being abjectly miserable by just about every statistical measure. It’s all fun stuff. And Jean Twenge is the queen of generational studies, having authored over 180 scientific publications and several bestselling books about the matter. Her latest, Generations, takes a sweeping view of five generations – Silent (born 1925-1945), Boomer (1946-1964), Gen X (1965-1979), Millennials (1980-1994), and my very own Gen Z (1995-2012) – and unfurls the mountains of data surrounding the perceptions, behaviors and experiences that characterize the groups. Her central thesis rest on the importance of technology over world events. Yes, wars and pandemics shape people, but not to the extent that growing up with or without a cell phone does, or a car, or even air conditioning. It’s a fascinating deep dive into the sizable differences between generations and the potential reasons for them, filled with fascinating weird little stats. Like, did you know Gen Z dudes are dramatically less likely to have ever dated anyone than generations before? See, Uncle Jerry, I’m not a loser – it’s my generation!
5. Buy Tickets for Mastodon
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
I’ve never been to a metal show, and this ear-shredder later this month is going to be my first. I’ve listened to a fair amount of Mastodon – a legend in the genre, I’m told – and I’ve enjoyed a lot of it. If this seems like an underwhelming case I’m making, well, you don’t know my dudes and metal sherpas Brad and Dale. A pandemic-era holiday project to share musical tastes and interests has blossomed into full-bore three-way influencing, and it’s been wonderful to be exposed to new things. One of those things, for me, was Mastodon’s cover of Metallica’s “Orion.” But this is the fullest manifestation of this musical adventuring yet – going, on faith, to a band I’ve only dabbled in. If you’re unmoved, Brad and Dale also insist Gojira, the opener (or maybe co-headliner?), is every bit as sick as Mastodon. (And if you see me, say hello – I’ll be the old guy in the button-down shirt.) The concert’s not until next week, but we recommend getting tickets now. Aug. 23, BMO Harris Paviolion
