Here are a few of our favorite things this week:

Kegel's fish fry -- Sure, the wait can sometimes be loooonnngg, but the atmosphere and the food make it all worthwhile. Kegel's Inn -- 5901 W. National Ave. -- is an old-style corner tavern with stunning woodwork and one of those tiny men's rooms you see in vintage Milwaukee bars. Once seated, the service is fast and the food is great. There is a range of options for the Friday fish fry, but also some German specialties and other dishes, too. This place is so good that even Saveur magazine wrote about it recently. --Bobby Tanzilo

Crayola Color Explosion -- If your kids like to draw as much as mine, they'll dig this product. It comes with 20 sheets of black paper and three clear-ink markers that reveal swirly colors beneath the black surface. For less than $8, it's worth the novelty -- and the results are pretty cool. This would also be a good to bring when dining out, especially if the excitement of restaurant-issued crayons is starting to wane. -- Molly Snyder Edler

"The Ref" -- It might not be warm and fuzzy like "It's A Wonderful Life" or "A Christmas Story," but "The Ref" still ranks among my favorite holiday movies. The premise is preposterously slap-sticky -- Denis Leary stars as a cat burglar who hides out by kidnapping a dysfunctional suburban family that hits all the stereotypes: nebbish husband (Kevin Spacey), controlling wife (Judy Davis), a delinquent son, a frigid / rigid sister-in-law (Christine Baranski) and a domineering matriarch (Glynis Johns, as Spacey's mom). Though the title doesn't really work (Leary is forced to "referee family squabbles" director Ted Demme (who died in 2002) explores family tensions in a manner that evokes memories of Oscar-winners like "Ordinary People." No matter what your family situation, you'll find enough laughs in this movie to make it worth your while. -- Drew Olson

Google's 411 service -- Why pay the fees that your mobile company charges for directory assistance? Add 1-800-GOOG-411 to you cell phone and you are hooked up with FREE directory assistance information. I love Google! Dial this from any phone, but put it in your address book now! -- Jeff Sherman

ExtraTorino.it -- Being involved in a city-focused Web site and a fairly regular visitor to Turin, I especially enjoy this great guide to Italy's coolest -- and still most underrated -- city. It has great interactive maps that allow visitors to find all the restaurants, clubs, bars, museums and more in specific neighborhoods and as of yesterday, it also has a twice-monthly printed presence on Turin newsstands (yes, there are still newsstands in Italy!). There are articles about landmarks, listings of events and more. So, if you're planning a trip to Italy, don't miss out on Turin, which is Italy's best town for modern music, nightclubs and art galleries and is also the country's epicenter for cinema and literature. -- B.T.

"In Rab's Words" -- In addition to being an assistant coach / director of basketball operations at Marquette University, Jason Rabedeaux is a hilarious dude. (Ask him to do his Rick Majerus impression some time). Rabedeux does an insider's blog at the Golden Eagle's Web site -- gomarquette.com -- and it's full of humorous, inside anecdotes. A sampling from Entry  No. 22, posted Nov. 12 and headlined "Upset Special":

"What in the world is going on in the wild and whacky world of college hoops?

Rab: I'll take the Atlantic Sun Conference for 800, Alex."

Mr. Trebek: "These three teams have already sprung upsets over USC, Cincinnati and Kentucky."

Rab: "Who are Mercer, Belmont and Gardner-Webb."

Mr. Trebek: "You are correct, Rab."

If you are not convinced parity is at an all time high in college basketball, wake up and smell the Nikes."

That's just a sampling. Check out the blog for more. -- D.O.

"The Race," by Richard North Patterson -- Thanks to Gary Grunau for this recommendation. It's a bit hasty as I just started reading "The Race." But, my gut tells me that I'm in for an entertaining and timely read. The plot is centered on a heated presidential primary with Corey Grace, a war hero turned moderate Republican senator, as the main character. That's all I know now (aside from what the book jacket says). I do know, though, that I love the art of the political war. If you do too, I'm certain you'll like this book. -- J.S.

Diet Barq's Root Beer -- Unlike it's sugar-sweetened brother, this beverage does not contain caffeine. It's not quite as tasty as Diet Dr. Pepper, but it's a nice break from the monotony of Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi. -- D.O.