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Canning: How Not to Poison Your Family
Have you always wanted to learn how to can vegetables, but you’re afraid of killing your family with botulism? (Fun fact: the word “botulism” comes from the Latin word “botulus,” which means “sausage.” Um, gross.) Fear no more! If you don’t have a cool mother-in-law, grandma, or farmer friend to teach you, the Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition (MACSAC) has got you covered. They are offering classes on food preservation for $25 (check out MACSAC’s website). They will also offer classes on freezing and dehydrating for $10. And for those of you who don’t know your turnips from your rutabaga (which includes me), there will be a “Cooking with…
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Come to the Hobo Cabaret
Tonight I will be rubbing elbows with sword swallowers, dancing dolls, fire eaters, burlesque dancers, and hobo poets. An average evening at home? Nope, the Fireball Masquerade at the Majestic Theater, put on by the traveling Yard Dogs Road Show. Described on their website as patchwork crew of “vaudeville and rock and roll,” the Yard Dogs promise to lead the “modern hobohemian on a visual and sonic journey through part of history that may or may not have existed – followed by an ambitious return to the emotional challenges of our punch-drunk contemporary world.” All of this for only ten dollars. What are you doing tonight? Photo by Hilary Hulteen.
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Focus on the Farmer: Mushroom Magic
Since farmers’ market season is now in full swing, I’ve decided to start featuring local farmers from time to time on my blog. On Tuesday evening, I ventured to the East Side Farmers’ Market and, while I was there, picked up half a pound of the best shiitake mushrooms I’ve ever had, from Herb’n’Oyster farm in McFarland. What struck me about these mushrooms was not only their rich, woodsy taste, but also how gorgeous and clean they were. I don’t usually think of mushrooms as being pretty, but the displays of oyster and lion’s mane mushrooms reminded me of roses or coral. Kari and Joe, who run Herb’n’Oyster, can be…
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A Country Drive and a Cheese Shop
When life gets hectic, which is most of the time, my husband and I like to go for a country drive. (Yes, I know that makes us sound decades older than we are, but I also like Scrabble and gardening, so I think I’m really a grandma at heart, anyway.) On the Fourth of July, we loaded up our dog in the car and drove to Blue Mound State Park for some hiking. On the way home, rather than taking the interstate, we meandered back toward Madison on county highways. We stopped at our CSA farm, Vermont Valley Community Farm, which was not only lush with vegetables, but also fields…
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Puppies and Microbrews
I’m doing it. The puppy post. But it will tie in with food (the people kind). And beer. I promise. One thing I miss about Chicago is all of the dog-friendly bars. It’s not uncommon to walk by the outdoor patio of a pub and see dogs leashed to their owners’ tables. So when the bar Woofs opened in Madison, I walked right in and naively asked the bartender if it was a place I could bring my dog. He laughed at me and set me straight. Literally. Woofs is a gay bar (something we also have too few of in Madison). Oops. While it turns out Woofs is not…
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Oh Sweet Pea
Vermont Valley, the CSA farm I belong to, has its annual pea pick this Sunday, where all the members are invited to the farm to pick as many sweet peas as they can carry. I have to miss it because I’ll be in Iowa City for a workshop on–what else?–food writing, but I always love a trip to the farm. Peas are one of my favorite late spring/early summer treats. They are delicious raw, but I also like to cook them as a side dish, using this simple recipe. It allows me to get rid of some of the mint that’s growing like crazy in my potted herb garden, but…
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Star-Studded Fall Concerts
I recently did a post whining about how many bands were skipping over Madison this summer. I am happy to declare that things are already looking up for fall. The Stars just announced their fall tour and the Barrymore is once again on their list, with a show scheduled for October 8. Presale tickets are on sale today on their website (got ’em!) and the general release tickets go on sale Friday. Oh, and their new album, The Five Ghosts, was released today, too. I’m listening to my freshly-downloaded copy as I type. If you want to sample before buying, the album is streaming free on NPR’s website. It will…
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Cinched Dresses and Flippy Floppies
I am loving loose-fitting, cinched dresses for summer, either dressed up with wedges or dressed down with flip flops (popularly referred to in my circle of friends as “flippy floppies” a la The Lonely Island). These three dresses (left to right) are by Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, Tibi, and Rag & Bone. All are available at Twigs at 1925 Monroe Street, which I can’t believe I only recently discovered. It’s like a Lincoln Park boutique dropped in the middle of Madison, only with easier parking.
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Dance Your Troubles Away
I love these posters around town, but I don’t know what they are for. I find them both uplifting and creepy at the same time. Does anyone know who made them?
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Fashion? In Wisconsin? You Betcha
Last night I attended the “Rags and Drag” Fashion Show at the High Noon Saloon. Everyone, from drag queens to models to members of the audience, stepped up their usual Madison uniforms of Chacos and t-shirts and put on their most flamboyant and fashion-forward attire. Proceeds went to the Respite Center, which is a great cause, but I would have gone even if the proceeds went to Satan. It’s rare to see so much so much creativity and all-out fashion ballsy-ness right here in Madison. Kudos to Rethreads and all of the other sponsors, as well as the fabulous bands, Screaming Cyn Cyn and the Pons, The Hemlines, and The…
a blog on fiction, fashion, food + family