Welcome to the second installment of "OMC Recommends," a periodic look at cool things that we like and think you should know about.
Use the Talkback feature to let us know what you think of our picks and if you'd like to add some of your own, e-mail them to omcrecommends@staff.onmilwaukee.com.
The Lakefront Brewery Tour -- I have lived in Milwaukee my entire life and for whatever reason, I had never experienced any of our brewery tours until this past August when I embarked on the $5 adventure known as the Lakefront Brewery Tour. Here is the anomaly of this activity -- the tour itself is but a mere 15-minute casual stroll through the brewery along the Milwaukee River, the entirety of which is jammed with fast-paced monologues about the history of beer and blah, blah, blah by the tour guide. The truth is, these tours are usually so packed, you can't hear most of what's being said anyway. What more than makes up for this fleeting education is the five (four at the brewery and a certificate for a free one at Wolski's and / or some other Water Street bars) free beers you receive, as well as the complimentary pint glass and afternoon buzz you leave with. - Julie Lawrence
Shag -- This new make-your-own T-shirt shop (2218 N. Farwell Ave.) brings me back to the Top Shop at Bayshore Mall circa 1980. Two-and-a-half decades later, I still love the experience of picking out a transfer, choosing between sparkly or rainbow-y letters, and watching the shirt materialize before my very eyes. Heck, I even like the smell of the heat machine that adheres the images onto the fabric. Plus, when Shag opened, I could finally fulfill my dream of owning a T-shirt that says, "Mommy needs a drink." And, boy, does she ever. - Molly Snyder Edler
Pinkisthenewblog.com - Blogger Trent Vanegas has gotten plenty of attention for his celebrity blog. It's updated daily with tasty tidbits and fun photos to keep those that want to be in the know on celebrity gossip and happenings well informed. - Heather Leszczewicz
The beer and brat counter at Whole Foods -- Less than a year ago I couldn't buy a Stella at any local bar or liquor store. But now I can take a break midway through my weekly grocery shopping and have a Stella Artois on tap for $3!! Considering that a tapper of the Belgian lager usually runs more like $5, that makes up for the fact that Whole Foods sells six-packs of it for about 50 cents more than most other retail outlets in town. - Bobby Tanzilo
Paste -- Maybe it’s my affinity for independently published magazines, but Paste is something special and very cool. It’s easy to read, online and off, and a crisp, concise and hip way to stay on top of music, culture, entertainment and more. The Web site is http://www.pastemagazine.com/ - Jeff Sherman
"The Steve Earle Show" -- The eight-time Grammy nominee does an hour-long show on Air America Radio that is available via podcast through iTunes. The format is simple: Earle invites a guest into the studio and asks him or her to bring a playlist of songs for a one-hour broadcast. Earle and his guest then discuss the music, as well as politics, books, movies, current affairs and everything else under the sun. During a recent show, Steve and the boys from Soul Asylum discussed Glen Campbell, Marvin Gaye and The Clash. - Drew Olson
ASofterWorld.com -- A true gem for any word nerd with a dark sense of humor and a need for some daytime distraction, A Softer World says everything you wish you'd thought of first. Each week the creative combination of Emily Horne and Joey Corneau culminates into three-block photo comics that are adorable as they are hilarious. Do yourself a favor and get on their mailing list immediately. - J.L.
"Ace of Cakes" and "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" on the Food Network - The network's tagline is so true -- it's more than food. The entertainment provided by these shows is amazing. Watch as Chef Duff creates cakes that our definitely not traditional and Bobby Flay tries his hardest to be the best at anything and everything food. - H.L.
Auto Integrity -- Getting bodywork done on your car is never an easy experience. There are insurance companies, quotes, estimates, loaners, deductibles, and usually more red tape than needed. Auto Integrity in Waukesha makes it easy. Trust me. Drive in, get an estimate and from there they do it all. They work with your insurance, they give you a FREE loaner, and upon completion, a full detail for your "new" car. Great service, friendly people and quality. Even for a downtown dweller like me, this Waukesha trip is worth it. The Web site is autointegrityinc.com - J.S.
Thai chicken pizza at Fresche Pizza -- While the area awaits its first California Pizza Kitchen, which will open soon at Bayshore Mall, this basement joint downtown (770 N. Jefferson St.) has been serving up delicious gourmet pizzas for awhile in a location that used to house D&J’s, Senor Frog and other businesses. Thai chicken is personal favorite, but Fresch also offers carbonara, barbecue chicken and a Creole spicy pizza that is topped with Andouille sausage, red sauce, crawfish, okra, corn, red peppers and cheese. (Oh, and the regular pepperoni is good, too). The downtown lunch crowd is discovering the daily special -- $5 for a giant slice and a soda. - D.O.
Use the Talkback feature to let us know what you think of our picks and if you'd like to add some of your own, e-mail them to omcrecommends@staff.onmilwaukee.com.
The Lakefront Brewery Tour -- I have lived in Milwaukee my entire life and for whatever reason, I had never experienced any of our brewery tours until this past August when I embarked on the $5 adventure known as the Lakefront Brewery Tour. Here is the anomaly of this activity -- the tour itself is but a mere 15-minute casual stroll through the brewery along the Milwaukee River, the entirety of which is jammed with fast-paced monologues about the history of beer and blah, blah, blah by the tour guide. The truth is, these tours are usually so packed, you can't hear most of what's being said anyway. What more than makes up for this fleeting education is the five (four at the brewery and a certificate for a free one at Wolski's and / or some other Water Street bars) free beers you receive, as well as the complimentary pint glass and afternoon buzz you leave with. - Julie Lawrence
Shag -- This new make-your-own T-shirt shop (2218 N. Farwell Ave.) brings me back to the Top Shop at Bayshore Mall circa 1980. Two-and-a-half decades later, I still love the experience of picking out a transfer, choosing between sparkly or rainbow-y letters, and watching the shirt materialize before my very eyes. Heck, I even like the smell of the heat machine that adheres the images onto the fabric. Plus, when Shag opened, I could finally fulfill my dream of owning a T-shirt that says, "Mommy needs a drink." And, boy, does she ever. - Molly Snyder Edler
Pinkisthenewblog.com - Blogger Trent Vanegas has gotten plenty of attention for his celebrity blog. It's updated daily with tasty tidbits and fun photos to keep those that want to be in the know on celebrity gossip and happenings well informed. - Heather Leszczewicz
The beer and brat counter at Whole Foods -- Less than a year ago I couldn't buy a Stella at any local bar or liquor store. But now I can take a break midway through my weekly grocery shopping and have a Stella Artois on tap for $3!! Considering that a tapper of the Belgian lager usually runs more like $5, that makes up for the fact that Whole Foods sells six-packs of it for about 50 cents more than most other retail outlets in town. - Bobby Tanzilo
Paste -- Maybe it’s my affinity for independently published magazines, but Paste is something special and very cool. It’s easy to read, online and off, and a crisp, concise and hip way to stay on top of music, culture, entertainment and more. The Web site is http://www.pastemagazine.com/ - Jeff Sherman
"The Steve Earle Show" -- The eight-time Grammy nominee does an hour-long show on Air America Radio that is available via podcast through iTunes. The format is simple: Earle invites a guest into the studio and asks him or her to bring a playlist of songs for a one-hour broadcast. Earle and his guest then discuss the music, as well as politics, books, movies, current affairs and everything else under the sun. During a recent show, Steve and the boys from Soul Asylum discussed Glen Campbell, Marvin Gaye and The Clash. - Drew Olson
ASofterWorld.com -- A true gem for any word nerd with a dark sense of humor and a need for some daytime distraction, A Softer World says everything you wish you'd thought of first. Each week the creative combination of Emily Horne and Joey Corneau culminates into three-block photo comics that are adorable as they are hilarious. Do yourself a favor and get on their mailing list immediately. - J.L.
"Ace of Cakes" and "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" on the Food Network - The network's tagline is so true -- it's more than food. The entertainment provided by these shows is amazing. Watch as Chef Duff creates cakes that our definitely not traditional and Bobby Flay tries his hardest to be the best at anything and everything food. - H.L.
Auto Integrity -- Getting bodywork done on your car is never an easy experience. There are insurance companies, quotes, estimates, loaners, deductibles, and usually more red tape than needed. Auto Integrity in Waukesha makes it easy. Trust me. Drive in, get an estimate and from there they do it all. They work with your insurance, they give you a FREE loaner, and upon completion, a full detail for your "new" car. Great service, friendly people and quality. Even for a downtown dweller like me, this Waukesha trip is worth it. The Web site is autointegrityinc.com - J.S.
Thai chicken pizza at Fresche Pizza -- While the area awaits its first California Pizza Kitchen, which will open soon at Bayshore Mall, this basement joint downtown (770 N. Jefferson St.) has been serving up delicious gourmet pizzas for awhile in a location that used to house D&J’s, Senor Frog and other businesses. Thai chicken is personal favorite, but Fresch also offers carbonara, barbecue chicken and a Creole spicy pizza that is topped with Andouille sausage, red sauce, crawfish, okra, corn, red peppers and cheese. (Oh, and the regular pepperoni is good, too). The downtown lunch crowd is discovering the daily special -- $5 for a giant slice and a soda. - D.O.
