The pennant race is making us thirsty in the editorial office. We're talking about tasty tea, delicious beer, a good wine at a reasonable price -- and we're drinking our beverages while watching Season One of "Lost" on DVD. Oh, and we're talking about music and an iPod accessory, too.
Season One of "Lost" -- I'm way behind on "Lost." In fact, my wife and I just finished watching the first six episodes on DVD. We were huge "Alias" fans, so we are loving this J.J. Abrams creation. The show is creative, built with solid characters, spiritual in its own way and full of suspense. If you're not on board the "Lost" plane, so to speak, try renting or buying season one. It is solid entertainment. But, man, I have some serious catching up to do. --Jeff Sherman
"Is It Any Wonder?" by Keane -- Some fans didn't like this British band's sophomore effort "Under the Iron Sea" when the disc came out a few years back. This track, though, is guaranteed to get you through the last five minutes on the treadmill. --Drew Olson
Master Lock iCage iPod Locking Skins -- These skins are just big enough to fit around your iPod ($20) or Nano ($15) and come with a combination lock, clip and cable, allowing you to lock up your iPod and use it, too.
If you leave your iPod in your office or some other high traffic area or live in a situation where a lot of folks come through (I'm thinking of multi-student college housing, for example) this is a great and inexpensive way to lock it up. It could be good in a car, too, although I still wouldn't leave my iPod out in the open for potential crooks to see. If you lead an 007-type lifestyle, maybe you want to lock your iPod to yourself. Although Master Lock is a Milwaukee company, these silver finish cages are manufactured in Taiwan (to Master Lock's specifications). --Bobby Tanzilo
Autumnal Fire Beer -- Capital Brewery's dopplebock is not one to chug-a-lug in large quantities like it's the first warm night of Summerfest. Instead, it's a good one to sip after an afternoon of leaf raking or while watching your latest Netflix film. The color, not surprisingly, is reddish brown, with a rich, hoppy, sweet taste. One consumer called it a "malt bomb" and I couldn't agree more. Capital Brewery is in Middleton, so drinkers can feel good about supporting a Sconnie cerveza. --Molly Snyder Edler
Green tea latte -- Green tea and steamed milk. Good stuff. So far, Starbucks seems to make the best one, but probably just because it's a menu item there. It is made just like a regular latte -- with freshly steamed milk and flavored with matcha, a powdered green tea, and a splash of melon-flavored syrup. Not an everyday drink for me, but a few times a week for sure. These things are good. Try one. --J.S.
"Cloud Nine" by George Harrison -- Pandora Radio sent me to a deep cut from this 1987 comeback piece, which sadly was the last solo studio project of the former Beatle's lifetime. You probably remember the humorous video for the hit "Got My Mind Set on You," a cover of an obscure 1960s song by Rudy Clark. The production on that song, and the rest of the album, is crisp and clean. Harrison, who clearly had chops, surrounded himself with talented producer Jeff Lynne (of Electric Light Orchestra), legendary drummer Jim Keltner (and Ringo Starr, too), Eric Clapton and Elton John and Gary Wright on piano. The tracks sound fresh and optimistic. It could almost be considered a prequel to Harrison's collaboration with Messrs. Dylan, Petty, Lynne and Orbison in the Traveling Wilburys. If you ever are burned out listening to the Beatles (and how could you be, really), give this disc a spin. --Drew Olson
Eating at lunch counters -- I ate hundreds of meals at the Oriental Pharmacy lunch counter, from the time I was knee-high to the hump-backed waitress until I was a freshman in college, when the pharmacy closed. Since then, I rarely belly-up to a lunch counter, but recently, my son reintroduced me to the concept. A few weeks ago, we ate at Real Chili and, more recently, at Comet. Both times, I tried to grab a table, only to have my kid remind me that "sitting on a stool is more fun." Know what? He's right. --M.E.
Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon -- If you can't find a good bottle of wine for $5 to $7, you aren't looking very hard. We sampled the Barefoot Cab and it was juicy, with hints of cherry and blackberry. You'll see it displayed in most wine shops. Quantity does not always lead to quality, but his this brand gives you bang for the bottle. --D.O.
