1. Get Your Friday Fish Fry at Kegel’s
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
When I was a young Catholic kid who hated fish, I had a master strategy for the Lenten season. No meat on Fridays? No problem. I’ll just eat cheese! Little me loved that fromage, let me tell ya. I cleaned my parents out, despite their best efforts to save me from myself. Kraft singles, string mozzerella, block cheddar, straight-up parmesan out of the can – I was a monster!
Well … I came to learn a cheese-exclusive diet is not great for a person’s health, and being an “adult” now, I’ve also developed a more mature palate, one that no longer detests the taste of fish. In fact, I actually enjoy it on these meatless Lenten Fridays – and I especially enjoy the offerings at Kegel’s Friday fish fry. I’m partial to the classic cod over the walleye, bluegill and lake perch, but the important thing is pairing the fish with Kegel’s potato pancakes. Those buttery suckers are phenomenal!
2. Grab a Hamantaschen at Allie Boy’s
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
The Jewish holiday Purim begins tonight (March 2) at sundown. During this time, it’s customary to eat Hamantaschen, a pastry/cookie with a characteristically triangular shape and a jammy fruit filling. The roots of the holiday are in a story from the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible. In the story, Haman was an evil prime minister who tried to manipulate the emperor of Persia and Medea to eradicate the Jews. His plot was thwarted and the Jews were saved.
Purim lasts until nightfall on Tuesday, March 3 – plenty of time to eat as many of these treats as you like. I bought my apricot, rose and pistachio Hamantaschen at Allie Boys’ Bagelry and Luncheonette on the East Side. Fox Point’s Friendship Circle also makes them – with various fillings (strawberry, poppyseed, chocolate, apricot).
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3. Swing By for a Dance with Cream City Swing
AMRITA THAKKAR, DIGITAL EDITOR
I’ve rediscovered my love for swing dancing in the last few months after a two year break, and if, like me, you find yourself lacking the sensuality demanded by a dance form like salsa, then swing is the place to be (or dance to do, I suppose). While it definitely requires a little more hand-eye coordination than I have, swing is, for lack of a better word, fun. There’s a joy to swing outs and triple steps that I have yet to find in any other form of dance.
Cream City Swing hosts lessons every Monday at Falcon Bowl in Riverwest, Lindy Hop 200 (for experienced dancers) starting at 7:00 p.m., the 100 series following shortly after at 8:15 p.m. and a social hour from 9:15 p.m to around 10:15 p.m. Lindy Hop 101 starts back up in April, so if you have no experience at all, make your way down to dance your way into spring.
4. Toast Lion’s Tooth for Five Years in Bay View
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
This weekend, Shelly McClone-Carriere and Cris Siqueira’s little clearinghouse for quirky uses of the printed word is celebrating the wood anniversary of its opening in Bay View. (Yes, I had to look that up, and yes, I was hoping it was the paper anniversary.) Beyond your needs for books, zines, comics, etc., this weekend is a Lion’s Tooth party, with DJ sets plus live music including performances by the owners’ bands, Middle Reader, Spidora and Mostly. The celebration moves to Cactus Club for an afterparty at 8 p.m. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, 2421 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
5. See Tosa West’s Hello, Dolly!
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
Last November, on a whim, my partner and I bought tickets to a musical at Tosa West High School. It’s a good thing we did – the rest of the run was sold out not long after. The show was Dear Evan Hansen: High School Edition, the first time it had ever been performed. The creators, including the original writers and composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, asked the school’s theater program if they’d like to pilot it. Once we sat down in the packed house and the lights went down, it became clear to me why they approached Tosa West. The acting was unwaveringly top-notch, the singing impressive, the production value akin to a professional show.
I got the opportunity to speak to program director Adam Steffan for the March issue about what makes this program click. (That story should be on our site soon!) But you can get a sense for yourself at their next production, the classic musical Hello, Dolly! from March 6-8 and 12-14. If it’s not necessarily the future of theater you’re watching, it’s heartening to see a hungry young generation of Wisconsinites giving something their all. And more often than not, that means a great show.
