Free cocktails, mussels and more make up this edition of OnMilwaukee.com Recommends. Read on and enjoy.

Mussels from Barnacle Bud's – I have had great mussels in this town – both Triskele's and Cafe Benelux come to mind – and recently, I tried 'em at Barnacle Bud's and was pleasantly surprised by the quality. Flavorful and not overly rubbery, this plentiful pile of mussels were the right price (under $10) and came with slices of perfectly steamed-and-seasoned veggies mixed in. My favorite part? Definitely the in-the-pail presentation. – Molly Snyder 

"Turning Two: My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets" by Bud Harrelson with Phil Pepe (Thomas Dunne Books) – Unlike a recent Tom Seaver bio, retired Mets shortstop, coach and manager Buddy Harrelson's autobiography is breezy, fun reading, and was just what I needed as I prepped for a visit to watch the Brewers play the Mets in NYC. Growing up, I pretty much assumed Harrelson was a synonym for shortstop and his hustle was on display every day – especially on the most famous day of his career when the tiny Bud went toe-to-toe the the fireplug called Pete Rose. Of course, Harrelson talks about that at length here, stressing that he and Rose have long since buried the hatchet. For me the most interesting parts were Harrelson's memories of the Mets' transformation from bums to World Champions and, four years later, NL champs again, and then back down in the dumps before shooting back to the top in the mid-'80s. It's a rollercoaster ride I remember and it's fun to read about how the ride felt from up in the driver's seat. – Bobby Tanzilo 

Even more Bar Louie freebies – It doesn't take much convincing to get me intrigued when free things are involved, but it helps when there are good drinks in the mix. This is certainly the case at Milwaukee's two Bar Louie locations (on Water Street and inside Bayshore Mall in Glendale). They're revamping their already flavorful cocktail menu, and once again they're letting their customers reap the rewards. Both locations are hosting a free drink promotion event to unveil their eight new cocktails and 15 new wines by the glass. Anyone and everyone (21 and over, of course) can stop by Monday, May 21 and sample any and all of them absolutely free of charge from 6 to 9 p.m. – no fine print, no special rules. Not a bad way to start your week, if you ask me. – Renee Lorenz