1. Get a Cake From Whisk Chick
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR
I stumbled across Whisk Chick on Instagram a few months ago, and I had been drooling over her page, filled with beautifully decorated cakes and cookies, ever since. I really fell in love when I saw this cake that went viral on her TikTok. And I immediately jumped at the opportunity to buy one when I saw she was selling a Valentine’s Day version of that cake, decked out in pink and red, with intricate piping. It’s adorable. And delicious. And while it’s too late to get one of these beauties for the holiday tomorrow, you can order a heart cake any time. I think it’d be perfect for a birthday or anniversary – but honestly you could make up any occasion just to order the cake.
2. Try a Girl Scouts Raspberry Rally Cookie
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
This new cookie in the Girl Scouts portfolio this spring is cut from a familiar cloth. They took the chocolate-coated Thin Mint cookie (the 1-seed in any Girl Scout Cookie tournament) and gave it the raspberry treatment. And this is no subtle “impression of raspberry” situation. It’s a rich, jammy expression that I really liked with the crispy pink cookie under that familiar chocolate shell. As with Thin Mints, let the cookie soften and melt a little in your mouth to really unlock the full sweetness. Raspberry Rallys are available only online, though, so do your local troop or scout a solid by getting a link from them that’s associated with their sales efforts. For me this year, it’ll be one box each of Rallys, Thin Mints and Peanut Butter Patties, please and thank you.
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3. Enjoy an Alcohol-Free Cocktail From Honeybee Sage Wellness
ANN CHRISTENSON, SENIOR DINING EDITOR
My friend Tarik says he can’t resist the urge to pound an alcohol-free cocktail – because there’s no alcohol buzz giving him the signal to slow down. I’m just the opposite. I want it to last as long as possible so I nurse it. It’s what I did one snowy afternoon at HoneyBee Sage Wellness & Apothecary (1819 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr.), a Bronzeville storefront with exposed brick, shelves of wellness products and a bar for no-octane drinking. Owner Angela Mallett carefully mixed my sour-sweet, shrub-based drink between helping folks pick out loose-leaf herbal teas. The massage therapist/reiki master operates another location on 91st and Lisbon. The refreshing thing about this place is they don’t make a huge deal out of not drinking. You’re just there, soaking up the vibe and sipping – not guzzling – some tasty bevs that happen to not contain booze.
4. Check Out In Retrospect: The Life and Times of Kendrick Lamar
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Last week, I wrote an article about Milwaukee Film’s lineup of Black History Month events, and this talk stuck out to me as particularly interesting. Marshall Lewis, a music journalist and the author of Promise That You Will Sing About Me: The Power and Poetry of Kendrick Lamar is coming to Company Brewing on Friday to talk about the massively influential artist’s music and legacy. Lamar, fresh off his latest Grammy win for Mr. Morale and & the Big Steppers, is one of the most fascinating and impactful artists alive with a lineup of near-unparalleled albums behind him. Lewis’ talk promises to be an interesting look at his remarkable work.
5. Shop Local Authors at Boswell Books
ALLI WATTERS, DIGITAL & CULTURE EDITOR
One of my New Year’s resolutions this year was to source all my books locally, or from the library. So when I was looking for my next read, Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, I made my way to the East Side to pick up a copy at Boswell Books (2559 N. Downer Ave.). When I got there, I was instantly distracted by the well curated and stocked shelves, which sometimes even include hand-written recommendations from staffers on why they loved a book. I spent the most time perusing a shelf in the front section of the bookstore though. It was stacked with books that have local connections or are written by Milwaukee authors. Shady Hollo, one of my recent binged series from Juneau Black, was featured alongside books that I instantly added to my TBR (to be read) list. I’d encourage any local reader to peruse these shelves and do the same.
