1. Order a Pie From Lisa’s Pizza
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
It’s been a year since Lisa’s Pizza (2961 N. Oakland Ave.) changed ownership. Good news #1: The new owners were bequeathed the original recipes. Good news #2: The pizza is still really good! The foundation is a crisp-cracker-like Milwaukee thin crust. I went for pesto, this time, instead of tomato sauce, and topped with artichoke hearts, mushrooms and mozzarella. I got my pie to-go and ate it straight out of the box because, why bother with a plate?
2. Check Out the Claustrophobic Sci-Fi of ‘Silo’
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDTIOR
Yes, like Archer, I’m watching “Severance” – and have a theory about Helly R.! In the run-up to its release last month, I rewatched the first season, and in doing so spent more time with Apple TV+ than I had in a long time. The voluminous teasers for “Silo” intrigued me, and ultimately I ended up bingeing the entire two-season, 20-episode show. The premise is a mashup of the familiar – think of the grimy, subterranean human cities from the Matrix sequels, combined with the internal politics and “Why are we here?” mystery of last year’s “Fallout,” with a prestige TV sheen of good writing and solid acting. The notions of governmental or administrative control and how or whether to resist it seem particularly salient right now. There are some leaps of logic, but the mysterious, underlying origin story and exploration of the culture of life in the silo unfold at a “click the Next Episode button” pace.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
3. Read the Spring Arts Guide in our February Issue!
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
Can I do some self-promotion here? For our annual spring arts guide, a few fine MilMag contributors and I asked ourselves what exactly it is that we love about Milwaukee’s art scene. As you can imagine, there was a lot to think about – stellar performances, invigorating exhibitions, valued institutions, festivals, educational programs, and all the people that make our creative engine hum. We quickly learned it was impossible to cover it all. Naturally, the feature took the form of a love letter to our arts community – a guide to not only reveling in our city’s cultural offerings but showing appreciation for them. I encourage you to pick up a copy of the February issue – along with our musings, you’ll find must-do events throughout the season, such as Present Music’s performance of Moby Dick; or, The Whale (Feb. 14, The Oriental Theatre) or Danceworks MKE and Milwaukee Opera Theatre’s Rusalka (Feb. 14-23, Danceworks Studio Theatre).
4. Sip an Espresso Martini at Vendetta
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Does the darkness ever gnaw at your soul? Does the terror ever grip your insides? Does the dread ever grab you by the hand and tango the night away? Same. And I recently found one way to feel just a little bit better – the espresso martini at Vendetta. I’ve been going to the Walker’s Point coffee shop during the daylight hours for quite some time, but only a week ago made my first trip on a Thursday night, when it doubles as a bar. And let me tell that place is quite, quite cozy during the winter. The cold was absolutely banished in that place. I sipped an espresso martini on the small second-floor mezzanine, and it was delicious, soul-nourishing and life-giving, an experience I would heartily recommend.
5. Buy Cute Paper Goods at the Snail Mail Market
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, DIGITAL EDITOR
I added this to my calendar months ago; there’s a stationary market coming to Anodyne Coffee (224 W. Bruce St.) this Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and lots of great local illustrators and artists are going to be selling paper goods, prints, bookmarks, calendars, stationary and more. I recognize a few of the vendors: Aly Miller Designs, who we wrote about in 2023, and Persika Design Co. – I’m currently in her Artist’s Way Workshop (and loving it!). But there are also several other vendors I don’t recognize, and I can’t wait to check them out, including Chandler Hougan, the organizer of the event!
