1. Have Yourself a Cocktail Flight
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
I was staring at a cocktail menu on Saturday and thinking, these all sound good. I want them all, but like, just a little bit. My dining partner felt the same. Coming from a beer background, there is a thing for this, and it’s a staple of the taproom experience: the beer flight. It being my birthday, we decided to YOLO and have ourselves a cocktail flight. Four cocktails, all different, all at the same time, shared between two people. Extravagant? Yes. Totally rewarding? YES. The venue for this breakthrough in gluttonous drinking was at Heirloom MKE (2378 S. Howell Ave.), and the consensus star of the flight was Turning Grey, a lovely and refreshing gin-Earl Grey tea concoction. Bonus delish alert: Heirloom’s seasonal burrata appetizer, a big glob of buffalo-milk mozz served with a salad and buttery crostini, is currently in its transcendent peach-blueberry-lavender variant. Get there.
2. Unwind to Some Tunes at Tosa Tonight
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
Last week, I was running errands near State Street when some commotion caught my ears. I heard music! I saw people sitting in folding chairs, and tents and food trucks lining the edge of Hart Park. I sensed an air of joviality, and my FOMO began setting in. Why was I, on a clear-skied evening, doing banal chores while others were loosening up, living large? I decided that this week, I will be one of those people and go to Tosa Tonight, a summer concert series that happens every Wednesday. Take this as an invitation to enjoy your summer evenings – we only have so many left!
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
3. Conquer The Way of Kings
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
I’ve been hearing good things about Brandon Sanderson for years now – the fantasy author has a huge number of ardent fans across the interwebs. In a whimsical mood, I finally decided to tackle his 1,258-page The Way of Kings, the first in his “Stormlight Archive” series. Outside of The Lord of the Rings, I’ve never been much of a fantasy guy – I look too much like a goblin to really sympathize with most of the genre’s heroes – but this one hooked me. The vast story follows five core characters – a slave, a scholar, a general, a warrior and an assassin – in the fictional world of Roshar during a monumental war. The action moves at a pretty slow pace, and yet I never wavered over those many, many pages. I think that’s a testament to Sanderson’s vivid world-building ability and the strength of these meticulously illustrated characters. I’m eagerly looking forward to tackling the second volume in the series.
4. Get Out and Enjoy Milwaukee’s Busiest Weekend
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR
This Get Out and Enjoy Milwaukee’s Busiest Weekend – and loud – on the Lakefront and beyond. Germanfest, Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival, Milwaukee Brewfest and Waterstone Bank Air & Water Show are all happening, so it’s a great opportunity to soak in the Milwaukee festival season before summer ends.
5. Make Quick Pickled Onions
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
I’m a little late to the “quick pickle” party. Pickling, to me, had always suggested canning. Which involves processing and sealing in air-tight, sterilized jars. That’s a subject I’m definitely not talking about here. The quick pickle I am all about here takes an onion, some fresh limes, a little sugar and salt (not in the recipe but I added a pinch of each), and maybe five minutes of your time. A quick-pickled onion is a dream. Once you make it, it’ll be in your back pocket forever. I haven’t decided all the ways I’m going to use these pickled onions, but my first was to top a (quick) skillet improv-chili. Sour cream, pickled onions and avocado is a holy trinity!
