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A Piece of Music History
If you ever find yourself at Madison’s Essen Haus for German beer consumed from a glass boot, you’d do well to wander to the empty lot next door. There you can pay homage to a piece of music history. There’s nothing but a sign left, but 504 East Wilson Street was once the site of O’Cayz Corral–a bar and music venue that’s been called the CBGB of the Midwest. Nirvana and Soundgarden played there. So did Smashing Pumpkins. And the White Stripes, before they were big. O’Cayz came to an end when the club burned down on January 1, 2001, but its love affair with music lives on at the…
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Mad Men in Madison
This year, my birthday happens to coincide with the premiere of Season 4 of Mad Men. Happy birthday to me. I am more than a little obsessed with the AMC series. I’m not sure if it’s because of the multi-layered plot or all the fantastic 60’s fashion and interior design. I think it might be the latter. Anyway, I’m having a premiere party to celebrate the occasion. There will be martinis and cheese straws, deviled eggs and pigs in a blanket. My husband and I haven’t picked our our attire yet, but you can be sure we’ll be inspired by these photos. All photos from AMCTV.com.
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Yard Sale Steals
I love yard sales for two reasons. First, there’s something voyeuristic about people inviting you onto their lawns or into their garages to rifle through their stuff. The second reason I love yard sales is because you just never know when you’re going to hit the junkyard jackpot. This past weekend, a friend and I went to a few sales in my neighborhood. At side-by-side houses on Williamson Street, I scored some fantastic finds. I paid less than $20, total, for this vintage American Tourister carry-on bag, silk Chanel scarf, and–the pièce de résistance–a sparkling, vintage Dior evening bag complete with the original tags. Since I don’t have many occasions…
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Pairing Chocolate and Beer
I first discovered that chocolate and beer taste good together at a Notre Dame football tailgate. I was a college student, and happened to pop a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup into my mouth, followed by a sip of Milwaukee’s Best Light. I’m happy to report that I’ve moved up in the world. Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a chocolate and beer tasting led by chocolatier extraordinaire Gail Ambrosius. We tasted single-origin chocolate from different parts of Central and South America, paired with microbrews from Ale Asylum, Lake Louie, Furthermore, and New Holland Brewery. Midwestern craft beer and chocolate from the tropics may seem like an unlikely combination,…
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Get Yelled at While You’re Shopping
I generally don’t like getting yelled at while I’m shopping, but I’ll put up with it if it means I can buy 4 shirts for $15 at Maxwell Street Days, State Street’s annual sidewalk sale. Even if you have no patience to paw through racks of bargain-priced goods, at least go for the entertainment. At Urban Outfitters, for example, people shout at you with megaphones while you elbow past hipsters to find Silence+Noise tank tops for $5. My favorite moment? While I perused the housewares, a college girl in leggings screamed from her ladder, “You KNOW you’ve always wanted that pizza cutter in the shape of a saw! BUY IT.”…
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World’s Best Farmers’ Markets
Saveur magazine has named the Dane County Farmers’ Market (DCFM) as one of the World’s 30 Best Farmers’ Markets. The market that takes place on Madison’s capitol square every Saturday is right up there with Paris’ Rungis Wholesale Market and Kyoto’s Nishiki Market. So here’s a big, bright bouquet of sunflowers (from, of course, the DCFM) in celebration of such an honor.
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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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La Furia Roja:
on the Plate & on the FieldIn honor of Spain’s world cup win, I’m posting a Spanish recipe today that uses fresh ingredients in season right now (or just around the corner). And, like La Furia Roja (the “red fury”), as the Spanish national soccer team is nicknamed, the dish also happens to be red. I varied the recipe a little bit from the traditional version, based on trial and error. And I added vodka. Spanish Pisto Lots and lots of olive oil 1 medium white onion, chopped 1 cup chopped, seeded tomatoes (or 1 can diced tomatoes if you don’t have fresh) 3 cloves garlic, diced (you can toss in some garlic scapes, too, if…
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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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