Not heading to Summerfest just yet and need something to take your mind off the fun and frivolity down on the Lakefront?
Take a glance at these suggestions, tips and ideas from the OnMilwaukee.com editorial staff.
Calamari appetizer at Ryan Braun's Waterfront -- I've been disappointed at enough celebrity/jock restaurants over the years to lower the bar of expectations upon arrival. Braun's new place, 102 N. Water St., proved a pleasant surprise earlier this week. Entrees were solid, but the calamari was terrific. Many places toss out some rubbery bits that taste like the debris from the bottom of a fryer. This version was warm and tasty. Have some on the riverfront patio and you may be able to trick yourself into thinking you're oceanside. -- Drew Olson
The upper level at The Pabst Theater -- There are truly no bad seats among the approximately 1,345 posts at The Pabst Theater. And, as the fourth-oldest continuously operating theater in the United States its drenched with history and its walls are full of musical memories. Next time you hit a show here, sit in the upper most level. It's amazing and provides a great bird's eye view while truly showcasing the house's acoustics. It's also rather tranquil up there. Sit back, have a beverage, admire the theater's beauty and enjoy the show. -- Jeff Sherman
Jimmy Smith -- Respect/Livin' It Up (Verve) -- When CDs first emerged, some savvy labels -- notably Motown -- paired up a number of vintage vinyl LPs on a single CD, making use of the lengthier format to offer a bargain to those replacing LPs with the new format. Soon, most got greedy, however, and these two-fers proved more and more elusive over time. Verve revisits the idea by matching the 1967 "Respect" with "Livin' It Up," from the following year and tacking on a bonus single-only track from the "Respect" sessions. These are the years when Smith was pulling out all the stops in attempts to grab chart placement and sales. That means there's lots of familiar material here: "Respect," "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," "Funky Broadway," "Mission: Impossible," "Go Away, Little Girl." And the usual slate of jazz cats is augmented by the likes of bassist Carol Kaye on the later and funk drummer Bernard Purdie on the former. But, these are still high-energy soul jazz workouts and if not as weighty as a lot of jazz records, they're still a whole lot of fun. -- Bobby Tanzilo
Malt Salt -- From the guys who brought the world Bacon Salt, which has become among my favorite seasonings anywhere -- a new product called Malt Salt has hit the shelves. Basically, it's malt vinegar flavored salt, which, and as you can imagine, it works perfectly on fish and chips. Ever since the days of Arthur Treacher's (remember that place?), I've enjoyed putting malt vinegar on my fries, and I tried out Malt Salt out every potato-inspired dish I could find. (Hint: try it on tater tots). It's quite good and strong, though not as life changing as Bacon Salt. A shaker of the stuff costs $4.99 at BaconSalt.com. -- Andy Tarnoff
Buying your meat from the farm -- Over the last few years, I've been lucky enough to learn a thing or two about American agriculture. Working with producers has also made me fortunate to know a number of area beef farmers, who often allow me to purchase my beef directly. Do some homework, ask around and you can probably find somebody in Wisconsin more than happy to sell you a side at a fraction of the cost found at your local grocer. You'll know what you're getting, too. Add in the processing fee and you're still getting one heck of a bargain. -- Andrew Wagner
