Good books, healthy snacks and a healthy burger, a movie and a new ride ... those are just a few of the things the OnMilwaukee.com editorial gang is raving about this week.
Benefiber Powder Fiber Supplement Stick Pack -- In a simultaneous effort to increase my fiber intake while reducing my diet soda habit, I stumbled upon these little packets. The idea is simple, slip one into a bottle of water -- shake it up -- and consume. The flavors I've tried (kiwi strawberry and cherry pomegranate) taste pretty good. There is no aftertaste like some other flavor packets. Maybe that's because they clock in at 15 calories instead of zero. There are three grams of fiber per serving, which is short of the 25-38 recommended for adults. But, it's better than nothing, right? Though I'm not thrilled with the food coloring and artificial sweetener (phenylalanine), the fiber content and 16 ounces of water can help stave off afternoon hunger pangs, and that has to be a good thing. It has to be better than soda, right? -- Drew Olson
"Fantastic Mr. Fox" -- Directed by Wes Anderson and starring George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Jason Schwartzman "Fantastic Mr. Fox" is the most enjoyable movie I've seen in the past 12 months. I loved it. It's funny, quirky and full of this child-like charm that's just captivating. It's also short. At only 87 minutes it clips along quickly and honestly. I'm not even going to touch on the plot. Just download it or rent it. I guarantee you'll enjoy it. -- Jeff Sherman
"60 Years of Fender: Six Decades of the Greatest Electric Guitars" by Tony Bacon (Backbeat Books) -- Veteran guitar book author Tony Bacon takes a stroll through the history of Fender, offering up a two-page spread for each year between 1950 (featuring a 1950 Broadcaster guitar) and 2009. Along the way we see fabulous guitars (check out the candy apple red Electric XII 12-string in 1965!) and scary ones, too (the Performer, made in '86). Bacon hits all the highlights of the storied history of Fender, perhaps the world's most recognizable and favored electric guitar, and shares information on the players, too. There are great photos and the text is thoroughly readable, never dry or overly tech-y. -- Bobby Tanzilo
Texthook stroller phone mount -- As if pushing a jogging stroller over bumpy sidewalks isn't hard enough, finding a convenient place to stick your mobile phone is even trickier. The Texthook is a phone holder that straps on to strollers, exercise equipment, shopping carts or bikes. It accepts just about any smartphone and attaches with a Velcro fastener. In rugged applications like hooking it onto my jogging stroller, I found that the texthook moves around a little too much for my liking, since the sliding cradle doesn't lock on extremely tightly -- but my phone never fell to the ground and allowed me to keep track of time and distance without using an arm band. In less intense situations like attaching to a shopping cart, the Texthook is very convenient, indeed, and it can rotate 180 degrees so you can use your phone in portrait and landscape mode. At only $26, it's a great buy for connected parents on the go. Available at thetexthook.com. -- Andy Tarnoff
Chevrolet HHR -- Not owning a car (I let mine die about a year and a half ago and haven't bothered to replace it), I find myself renting vehicles for long-distance trips, or even for a long day of errands. I once needed a car just for a day and got a bargain basement deal from my favorite rental car company. When I went to pick up the vehicle, they were completely out of the economy model I reserved and gave me an HHR. Though I was a little put off by its design at first (it's like a glorified station wagon), it didn't take me long to be completely impressed with the spacious headroom, excellent ergonomics and especially its stellar gas mileage. (On separate trips, I made it to both Cleveland and Detroit on one tank). I'm still not ready to jump in and buy a new ride but when I do, there's a good chance that the HHR is going to be the choice. -- Andrew Wagner
The National -- I'm talking about the cafe at 839 W. National Ave., not the band. (Although, have you heard "High Violet" yet? It's fantastic.) Anyway, the quaint eatery and coffee shop in Walker's Point is artful, friendly and comfortable, and uses local and organic foods to create an amazing brunch, lunch and dinner menu. Personally, I'm a big fan of its build-our-own grilled cheese option. You begin with two slices of Old World Vienna bread, adding to it your choice of any Beechwood cheese: Chipotle cheddar, garden jack, mango peño, chicken noodle soup, or regular cheddar, Swiss or provolone. You can add a bunch of veggies to it for just $.50. The rest of the menu is available online for your perusal, or you can become a fan on Facebook to get daily updates of specials. And now that the weather has warmed, the back patio is ready for you. -- Julie Lawrence
The ostrich burger at Hooligan's -- I'm a creature of habit when dining at Hooligan's, 2017 E. North Ave. Ninety percent of my meals involve the lean, "healthy" ostrich burger. I really like it. It's profile is similar bison, which I also enjoy. A 100-gram cooked portion of lean ostrich meat has about the same protein content as beef but ostrich has one-third fewer calories, less cholesterol and just enough of an added fun factor to make it worth eating. Order it medium and top with lettuce and tomato. -- Jeff Sherman
