1. Taste the Spice of Pumpkins at Harvest Fair
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
The State Fair’s annual celebration of all things fall always reminds me of this one story we did at MilMag. Back in 2020, when the State Fair first unveiled pumpkin spice cream puffs, it was quite the unexpected twist. How would this newfangled take on the beloved State Fair treat stack up? Would it bring the autumnal vibe pumpkin spice strives so mightily to achieve? So we gathered our staff for a taste test. (Well, gathered in Zoom because of all that COVID stuff you may remember.) And what followed was a fun, entertaining review of that pumpkin spice cream puff that my youthful self, not event a year into this job, very much enjoyed writing. So I’d just like to take this opportunity to share that review with you here. And jeez, it’s now five years old. Time just keeps marching, man. What a terrifying thing. Anyways – Harvest Fair is happening again this weekend Sept. 26-28. If that old review sparks a hankering to sample the pumpkin spice puff, stop by to pick them up. There’s also plenty of other autumnal fun to be had.
2. See “Birds and Blooms” at Grove Gallery
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
Not all fine art is fit to hang in a home. (And that’s a good thing! But that’s a separate conversation.) Ben Tyjeski’s faience tiles are made to be in a home, installed in the walls. He carves natural scenes from Milwaukee’s waterways and greenery – a merganser on a lake, the needles of a tamarack tree. The small squares, surrounded by a symmetrical pattern of tiles with earthy tones and uneven textures, are serene and charming – and homey. That sensation is palpable, even on a gallery wall. In Tyjeski’s first exhibition, “Birds and Blooms” at Grove Gallery, the tile arrangements are framed in simple wood, reminiscent of a home’s exposed beam. See them through Oct. 18.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
3. Cook a Dutch Baby Pancake
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
Here’s what self-care looks like: a dutch baby. Oven pancake and German pancake are other names for this popover-like breakfast creation that puffs up while it bakes. This recipe calls for 2% milk, but I’ve had success with plant-based milk. If you’ve got a cast-iron skillet, this is a perfect use for it. But you really only need a skillet that’s oven-safe. As for serving it, a sprinkle of powdered sugar is enough. But maple syrup is never a bad move. Neither is a good-quality fruit jam. Try it.
4. Watch “Alien: Earth”
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Alien series has been all over the place in terms of quality, but the FX miniseries that wraps up this week on Hulu just might be its best entry since Aliens in (googles … oh my God…) 1987. (Sigh.) You may have heard about the premise: One of those deep space research ships like Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley once served on crash-lands on Earth. What ensues is a fascinating study of the corporation-dominated society alluded to in previous installations, the timely interaction of human consciousness and technology and the ethics of … well, almost all of it. We get to spend time again with the terrifying xenomorphs of canon, but also a ton of other weird creatures, none more delightful to watch than the goofily pompous corporate magnate Boy Kavalier and a scene-stealing, parasitic, octopus-like eyeball. Fans of showrunner Noah Hawley will recognize some of his favorite themes, particularly young outcasts with special talents that dominated the short-lived “Legion.” The finale streams Tuesday on Hulu, but a binge awaits any day.
