Need a good book? Car repairs? Comfortable shoes? As always, we've got you covered with this week's installment of "OnMilwaukee.com Recommends."
Against the Wind: African Americans & the Schools in Milwaukee, 1963-2002 by Bill Dahlk (Marquette University Press) -- This weekend, my interview with veteran Milwaukee teacher and author Bill Dahlk will appear on OnMilwaukee.com, but I wanted to also take this opportunity to recommend Dalhk's exhaustive -- but engaging and extremely readable -- tome on the often stormy relationship between African Americans and Milwaukee schools. He covers intact busing, desegregation, voucher and choice programs, and the battles to build a new North Division and, later, to keep it open, among other things. The 600-page book is a chronicle of parental struggles -- not always successful, but sometimes amazingly so -- to change the system and to improve the schools and parents' willingness to go toe to toe with what has been dubbed "the iceberg on Vliet Street." It is also a testament to what families can do when they remember THEY are the client and customer and organize and fight for their children. -- Bobby Tanzilo
Low Price Auto Glass -- All was well in my world until I got a phone call at 1 a.m. Thursday telling me my car had been broken in to. The brilliant crooks got away with very little, about $5 worth of cheap, knock-off iPhone cables and chargers, some coupons from my Entertainment Coupon Book (really?) and my damn snow brush, leaving me with a big mess and the hassle of trying to find a replacement that wouldn't charge me an arm and a leg. After some searching and studying some other recommendations, I called Low Price Auto Glass and was stunned to get a quote $200 cheaper than my next-closest estimate. A little while later, another shop offered to do the job slightly cheaper and Low Price offered to beat it. I made the windowless treck out to the shop on Hwy. 100 (later learning they would have come to me for an extra $8) and was very pleased with the quick and excellent job. Matt Nazari's family has been in the business for nearly 30 years and his staff knows what they are doing. College kids, pay attention -- if your car window gets knocked out and you need mom and dad to foot the bill, no problem. You can make an appointment and your folks can handle payment right online. Next time you wake up to find yourself missing some glass, give Low Price a call; you'll be incredibly pleased. -- Andrew Wagner
App Killer -- Last month I graduated from my old school cell phone to a brand new Android smart phone (So I was a little late to the party, sue me). The connectedness it affords me is a beautiful thing, but it sucks when the battery only lasts a few hours. Between web browsing, social media and even checking my email, the charge was only lasting a few hours. I was directed to a downloadable app called App Killer, which, appropriately enough, kills any running services that would otherwise be leeching on your phone's battery life. It's even programmable to ignore apps, so you can keep favorites open and still wipe out others. It won't keep your phone running off a single charge for a week, but it's already increased the gap between recharges in a big way on mine. -- Renee Lorenz
Serum -- Looking for something a bit different, but not too out of the ordinary? Serum, 785 N. Jefferson St., is that place. Comfortable and edgy at the same time, the former Meze Lounge and before that Brio, has a cool feel and almost shoots out "let us mix you a new cocktail." Check it out on your next Downtown bar tour. -- Jeff Sherman
Clark's Desert Boots -- I first bought a pair of Clarks desert boots when I was 18. A decade later the classic soft leather boots from the British shoemaker still look like they did the day I bought them. Unfortunately after finally wearing down the soles, I decided to retire the old pair for a new one. Ten years later I discovered you can actually find them for less than I originally paid with a simple Internet search. When it comes to style and durability I can't think of another pair of shoes that will last you longer. -- Bob Purvis
Oscar Volvo Motorcar -- If you’ve owned a Volvo for any length of time, you know how pricey repair bills can be. Oscar Motorcar is different. The owner, Oscar Moncada, has over 17 years experience as a factory-trained Volvo mechanic. Plus, he’s friendly, honest and does excellent work for much less. Now in his new Bayside location at 310 E Brown Deer Rd., Oscar Motorcar is conveniently located. And although he specializes in Volvos, Oscar will work on other makes, too, as I found out recently when the brakes went out on my Cadillac while shopping on the North Side and Oscar was able replace the line while I waited. Check him out online or call him at (414) 352-9958 or (262) 617-2174. -- Molly Snyder
