1. Knit Yourself a Shawl
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
You’re used to food content from me, and 99.9% of the time that’s what you’re going to get. But I have other interests so please allow me to indulge one of them here. It’s knitting, which has been my friend for a very long time. It’s come in handy during times I’ve needed to quiet my mind. I’ve also made some cool things. But every project can present challenges and the one I’ve been working on – for well over a year – has been unexpectedly problematic. The pattern twists that make The Lone Skein Shawl so interesting to me has also tested my skills at fixing mistakes – and I’ve made plenty of those. But with a commitment made long ago to finish one project before beginning another, I have soldiered on – though not without putting this shawl aside for stretches of time. I picked it back up recently and I just may have pushed through the section that was giving me the most grief. There’s still another small section to go, but I can see the finish line and that means – yay, a new project is coming for me.
2. Take in the View at Blu
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
I’ve always enjoyed standing by windows, gazing out and whispering profound things, such as “This world is like a fruit cake. Bad.” Sort of like Don Draper but a foot shorter and with a face like a ferret. Anyhow, I had the perfect opportunity to do just that this weekend at Blu, the cocktail longue on the Pfister Hotel’s 23rd floor. The place was packed, which is a drawback for a socially averse, awkward fellow like me, but I understood why – the view of Milwaukee from up there is phenomenal. The drinks were indeed expensive, but the ambiance took the sting out of that.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Buy a Little Treat at GoodLand Home
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR
Sometimes, you just need a bit of retail therapy. Such was the case for me this past weekend, so my fiancé and I went on a little local shopping extravaganza. One of the shops we stopped by was GoodLand Home (2565 N. Downer Ave.). I’ve been to this store a number of times since it opened and picked up lots of fun goodies over the past year – favorites including the cutest black cat salt and pepper shakers and some breath mints in a reusable tin that was designed by an artist. On my most recent trip, I picked up a fun pair of blue striped socks and a quirky print of a kitchen table… and a sheet of cat stickers. Treat yourself and stop in!
4. Check Out the New Ruth Arts Exhibition Space in Walker’s Point
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
In 2022, the Ruth Foundation for the Arts made quite a splash when it surprise-awarded over $1 million in grants, fresh out of formation. At a time when arts philanthropy across the country is declining, here comes a new player – a big one at that – that happens to be based in Milwaukee. And keeping with the local legacy of namesake Ruth DeYoung Kohler II, the foundation opened a gallery space in Walker’s Point in September. The inaugural exhibition shows Benny Andrews’ figurative paintings paired with materials from his archive, and it arose from research funded by one of Ruth Arts’ several programs. It’s a good week to explore the Fifth Ward’s newest gallery – a tour of the works is happening this Thursday at 4 p.m., as well as a conversation between acclaimed curators Lowery Stokes Sims and Lauren Haynes on Friday.
5. Deep-Dive on Malört at Bryant’s with Author Josh Noel
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
In the past year or so, I’ve become a fan of Malört, such as anyone is a fan of Malört. Choking down a shot of this intensely bitter booze is a staple of the Chicago tavern scene (a segment of it, at least), and its offbeat appeal has been making inroads in Milwaukee’s drinking culture recently as well. It’s enough of a thing that Josh Noel, a longtime chronicler of Chicago’s scene, went deep on the phenomenon with his latest book, Malort: The Redemption of a Revered & Reviled Spirit. He’ll talk Malört this Thursday (Nov. 14) at Bryant’s (1579 S. Ninth St.), of all places. The $18 ticket to the intimate event includes a special Malört cocktail.
