1. Marvel at the Hogs at the Harley-Davidson Museum
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
This may shock you, but I’ve never ridden a motorcycle. They’ve never caught my interest, so I hadn’t made it to the Harley-Davidson Museum. But when your partner’s co-worker invites you both with free tickets, you go. (Thanks, Lauri!) And you know what, it was pretty neat! My favorite aspect was the long rows of historical bikes dating to the early 1900s and moving up to the present day. The history of the advent of motorcycles and their proliferation in everyday life was fascinating, although I wish there were more cohesive details about how Harley’s distinct biker culture came to be. There were quite a few international visitors when we went, which underscored to me that a significant number of people view America through the lens of H-D.
2. Watch the Brewers in Game 3 of the NLDS at the Official Watch Party
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
How ’bout them Brewers, y’all! When was the last time a sporting event made you feel as good as Saturday’s 9-3 curb-stomping of the Cubs did? (The Packers season opener against the Lions? OK, maybe.) The best way to watch big games is in the company of other fans, and the Brewers are hosting an interesting (and free) watch party for Wednesday’s Game 3 at Wrigley Field. It’s at Davidson Park on Harley-Davidson’s Miller Valley campus. The event features a 135-foot screen, food trucks and a DJ plus all the Brewers bells and whistles – Bernie Brewer, the Racing Sausages, the 4-1-Force spirit squad – on what’s forecast to be a picture-perfect, finally fall-like evening. Party opens at 3 p.m.; first pitch at 4:08 p.m., Davidson Park, 3725 W. Juneau Ave.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Cook Recipes From Heartland Masala: An Indian Cookbook From an American Kitchen
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
Many years ago, an Indian American friend and I drove down to Devon Street in Chicago, which is where you go to explore Asian-Indian culture. I remember coming home with tight pants and a bag packed with spices from Patel Brothers market. I just wanted to recreate at home some of the magic I was experiencing in these restaurants. I think about Devon Street while I’m paging through Heartland Masala: An Indian Cookbook From an American Kitchen, released Sept. 9. I want to make everything I see here – channa masala (chickpea curry), mushroom-cardamom biryani, paratha (potato-stuffed flatbread), dry chicken curry with garlic and black pepper. Of that last recipe, co-author Jyoti Mukharji wrote, “Don’t be put off by what looks like an enormous amount of garlic and black pepper in the ingredient list.” No – not put off at all. On the contrary, those 40 cloves of garlic and ¼ cup of whole black peppercorns, crushed, are the reason I want to make it! But before I tackle that recipe, I make something I could eat a couple times a week – gobhi aloo, which is cauliflower with ginger, turmeric and potato. I used my largest skillet because you don’t want to crowd the florets and hunks of potato. The soft, almost creamy texture of those spuds is essential.
There’s a lot more I could say about Heartland Masala, but the authors could say it best. Mukharji and co-author Auyon Mukharji are going to be in Milwaukee the evening of Oct. 13 (6:30 p.m.) to talk about the book with their collaborator/Milwaukee-based photographer Kevin J. Miyazaki at Discourse Coffee (158 S. Barclay). You can register for the free event here.
4. Raise a Pint at the Red Lion Pub
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Last week, I was up to some nefarious business, per usual, and needed to meet a few associates to discuss matters of import. We decided on a public, crowded place – just in case things went south, you know. That led us to Red Lion Pub (1850 N. Water St.), a spot on the East Side that I’ve never patronized before. As soon as I walked in the door, I was mad at myself for that oversight. The bar/restaurant is styled like an old English pub: very wooden, dark, perfect for a vampiric man such as myself. The beer menu leaned similarly English … although I ordered a Guiness in tribute to my Irish ancestors. All in all, I have to say Red Lion Pub is a winner if you’re looking for an atmospheric to throw back a few.
