1. Relish in Raging Ramen at Modern Maki
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Zócalo Food Park is one of my favorite places in Milwaukee. I’ve written about the dining destination in these editor picks more than once, I know, but they just have so much stuff worth recommending. Last week, in a state of unrelenting misery, I headed to Zócalo for a lunch that I hoped would yank me from the pit in which I found myself. I made for the truck lodged the farthest back of all of them – Modern Maki – and I ordered the sushi spot’s tonkotsu ramen. You know, Zócalo always has more people in the summer, but I kind of enjoy hanging around during the quiet of winter—just sitting alone on a bench with my hands shoved deep in my jacket pockets, breathing out clouds of foggy air while I wait for my food. It was actually pretty pleasant. And then my food was ready, and that was really pleasant. A balanced, tasty ramen in a succulent broth – when I was done there was nothing left.
2. Sing at Amped MKE
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
As part of our Valentine’s Day celebration, my girlfriend and I booked a private karaoke suite at Amped MKE in the Brewery District. We’ve always wanted to sing karaoke together, but not enough to take the stage in front of strangers. So, for two hours, we got a small room lit with kaleidoscopic party lights and equipped with speakers, TVs, two microphones and a tablet filled with belt-worthy songs. It took a few tunes to get comfortable and warm up our vocal cords, but once we got rolling, we had a blast. (We nailed a duet rendition of “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”) If you want your spotlight pop-star moment, but only want to share it with friends and loved ones, this is the way to go. And Amped MKE has a bar, if you still need a little more encouragement.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
3. Read Good Material by Dolly Alderton
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR
I recently finished Dolly Alderton’s novel Good Material, and it was great! It’s about a comedian who’s girlfriend just broke up with him and how he goes through that process, often struggling to open up to his friends and trying to navigate who he is in the world now that he’s single again. It was funny, reflective and entertaining, and I love how Alderton’s writing makes you think about love and life. Definitely recommend!
4. Listen to When we were that what wept for the sea by Colin Stetson
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Ok so I know this album probably isn’t going to be for all of you, but I’ve been loving it lately. The genre is … I’m not sure? Like sad saxophone soundscapes? Is that a genre? Colin Stetson is a phenomenal composer and saxophonist (he did the mind-bogglingly terrifying soundtrack for Hereditary), and he made this album last year, shortly after his father’s unexcepted death. It’s almost entirely instrumental, with droning saxophones, eerie backgrounds, hopeful melodies, and plenty of heartbreaking compositions. I wish I was better at music writing so I could describe this to you all flowery and whatnot, but all I can really say is that it’s a remarkable album to listen to straight through – obviously, there are no banger hit songs on here, but it’s a beautiful listen.
5. Beer Shots at Lion’s Tail Brewing
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
There is a stigma over the speed with consuming beer too quickly, perhaps rightly. But beer should be fun, and just when I thought I knew all of the ways to drink it, I learned beer shots at Lion’s Tail Brewing (8520 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa). It works like this: They take their 5-ounce taster glasses and fill them with a cocktail of two (or presumably more, if you’re feeling frisky) of their largely excellent beers. (Ours were a delicious mash-up of a double IPA and heavily fruited sour, both “big” beers that add to the shot experience.) A round of these wee beers is poured for whatever your group is, and they’re drunk/slammed/chugged in unison; in true Wisconsin fashion, the bartender may join you depending on parameters of their shift. If someone tut-tuts this, it’s because they haven’t had that communal imbibing experience and smacked the empty glass down on the bar or table ahead of their slower-drinking loved ones. Prost!
