1. Enjoy Some Mozzarella Sticks at O’Lydia’s
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
My life is governed by two overriding principles. One: pursue meaning and purpose in everything you do. Two: eat as much cheese as you possibly can.
The second principle is the most important one, obviously. And in my efforts to live by that dictum, I eat a lot of fried mozzarella sticks. Arguably too many, at least according to my doctor. (Just because he “went to medical school” and “is an expert,” he thinks he can boss me around. Ridiculous.) Last weekend, I was hanging out at O’Lydia’s in Walker’s Point, when my stomach began to rumble. I sought out a snack, expecting nothing special from the bar’s mozz sticks – but boy was I wrong. Those things were delicious. And also super filling! I am by no means a guy who shrinks from overeating, and they were a lot for me. If you’re similarly inclined to the cheesy delights, I would recommend a stop.
2. Try a Workshop at the Bay View Printing Co.
AMRITA THAKKAR, DIGITAL EDITOR
The letterpress workshop at the Bay View Printing Co. gave me a healthy respect for the newspapers of eras bygone that spent hours printing a single page. However, since I wasn’t racing against a print deadline, I actually enjoyed the process. After a quick dive into the history of letterpresses, we got to pick our ink colors and search for type – a process that gave me flashbacks to looking for blocks in kindergarten – before setting it and rolling our paper into the letterpress. I got to walk away with three prints and three hours of knowledge on the letterpress – a pretty good result for $35. As grateful as I am to live in the age of digital publication, there’s something particularly gratifying about making your own prints – though I still don’t know if I’d want to be rummaging around in the drawers of tiny newspaper type on a daily basis.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Watch Rip-Roaring Hockey and Intermission Hijinks at an Admirals Game
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
Hockey is such an underrated sport. It’s fast-paced and physical – players gliding across the ice, slamming into one another, slap shooting pucks and scoring goals quicker than your brain can process how the game just flipped on its head. It’s the only sport I know of that treats fights as routine and sends errant players to time-out. And the Milwaukee Admirals are a legit-good team. My girlfriend and I went to our first game earlier this month thanks to her co-worker, and the Ads won 5-3 in exciting fashion. The atmosphere was contagious with bell-ringing and chanting. And I can’t imagine better intermission entertainment than dumping 50 or so kids on the ice for a chaotic hockey game. Well, a human slingshot that sends people wiping out into pins comes close. The next home game is Wednesday against the Iowa Wild – a worthwhile family-friendly prelude to Thanksgiving.
4. See the Godfather Saga at the Oriental
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
If you’re overloaded on Wicked hype like me, the Oriental Theatre is making you an offer you can’t refuse this weekend. Milwaukee Film is screening The Godfather on Friday, with the two sequels following on Saturday and Sunday. It’s been years since I’ve watched these movies – er, films, respect to Coppola – and can you imagine a better place to watch this epic masterpiece than on a big screen in the opulent Oriental? (If you’re down for Wicked: For Good, the Oriental is showing that, too.) The Godfather, 6 p.m. Friday (tickets are running low); The Godfather Part II, 6 p.m. Saturday; The Godfather Part III, 6 p.m. Sunday; 2230 N. Farwell Ave.
5. Grab Some Snacks from Paradise Roastery
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
Located at 814 E. Layton Ave, Paradise Roastery is a sort of paradise – if you love roasted snack mixes, Turkish delight and a shopping experience that almost feels old-timey. This small store is a one-room treasure with counters that almost fill the store with jars of nuts (roasted on-site), nut mixes and plump dried fruits. There isn’t just one kind of Turkish delight but many – marshmallow-hazelnut, tiramisu, and pistachio-pomegranate, to name a few. Ask about a certain mix and you will likely be handed a sample of it. They also roast coffee, here, and sell bonbon-size candies, including luscious little Dubai chocolates.
