Need a drink? Some Jamaican jams? Just need to know more "stuff"? Don't worry, we have you covered yet again with this week's OnMilwaukee.com Recommends.
Cafe Hollander's beer tasting palettes – Grabbing a beer at either of the Cafe Hollander locations is no small order. This Belgium-style restaurant takes its suds seriously, and has a literal book of options to prove it. Luckily, patrons can sample four of their 20+ beers on tap with a tasting palette. There are even three "recommended palettes" arranged by type for the especially overwhelmed. Great for beer rookies, they're also perfect for the experienced beer connoisseur who can't drink just one. – Renee Lorenz
Various Artists – Java Java Java Java (17 North Parade) – Way back in 1972, a young keyboardist named Augustus Pablo ripped up the Jamaican scene with his tune "Java," which featured the melodica, a small, wind-blown keyboard instrument that had been written off previously as a toy. But in Pablo's hand it became as alluring as Pan's pipes. This 10-song CD reissues the eponymous instrumental LP released that same year and often called one of the first dub records. Of course, "Java" is here, but so are gritty instrumentals – complete with the chicken scratch rhythm guitars, heartbeat bass and metallic drums of the era – of great tracks like Lloyd Parks' "Ordinary Man" and The Heptones' "Guiding Star." A++ – Bobby Tanzilo
Elgato HDHomeRun wireless HDTV tuner – If your TV can be a computer monitor, why can't your computer be a TV? Good question, right? The Elgato HDHomeRun solves the problem, elegantly, and nearly flawlessly. Here's how it works: You connect this little box to an antenna or cable TV outlet, and also to your router via Ethernet. Then, you can watch live HDTV (and record it like a DVR) on your PC, laptop or iPad. Oddly, it doesn't work with a cable box, so you can only receive the HD content from over the air signals or from the "Clear QAM" cable channels offered from Time Warner, but the technology is undeniably cool. It's also a very nice compliment to the Time Warner iPad app, which offers plenty of cable channels but no local TV. On my new MacBook Air, the video is mostly smooth; on the iPad (with the $5 EyeTV app), it's quite choppy, and I've yet to make it work on the iPhone at all. But over time, I'm sure I'll figure it out. It's definitely plug-and-play out of the box; though you'll need a splitter if you intend to use the tuner in conjunction with your regular cable TV. At $180, it's a pricey toy, but if you like the idea of watching and recording HD quality right on your laptop (and to a lesser extent, on your iPad), it could be money well-spent. – Andy Tarnoff
"Stuff You Should Know" podcast – Hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant pump out about three podcasts per week and cover a bevy of topics under the HowStuffWorks flag. Subjects range from the scientific and complicated, "How Astroid Mining Could Work," to the abstract and sometimes silly, "How SPAM Works." Having three years of podcasts behind them already, there's plenty of material to learn about as you catch up. Each podcast checks in between 30 minutes and an hour, making them perfect for almost any occasion from a workout to pre-sleep listening. My favorites include "How To Control a Riot" and the unfortunately personal "How Migraines Work." – Alex Wendland
Organic Male OM4 – Made specifically for men, OM 4 Men's organic, paraben-free, sulfate-free products are formulated with food grade, natural, organic and biodynamic botanicals and are available in four varieties to address specific skin conditions: oily, dry/mature, normal/combination and sensitive. Each category has four steps to "skin fitness" that take four minutes total to complete. Mix and match products or stay within a collection to address your skin’s specific needs. I was sent the Green Clay Cleanser and Purifying ph Balancer to try. Yes, I’m a chick, but as an esthetician, skin care interests me no matter who it’s created for. I totally dug the creamy texture of the cleanser and the option to keep it on for a minute as a "mini mask" treatment. The cleanser did not "strip" my skin or leave an uncomfortable, "tight" feeling, signaling the skin pro in me that the skin’s precious barrier function is not being compromised. The Purifying ph Balancer, a gentle "toner" containing oil-balancing and acne fighting ingredients has a pleasant aroma and leaves behind subtle moisture and clean skin. I may want to grab my man’s products in the shower now ... – Lindsay Garric
Adidas Climacool Rides – OK, I admit, I don't do a lot of running so I don't often feel compelled to spend a lot of money on a pair of sneakers, which I pretty much wear to run errands, hit the festivals, etc. But when looking for a comfortable pair of shoes to get me through two weeks of State Fair, I decided to do my homework and treat my feet and gave these ultra-lightweight running shoes from Adidas a shot. My feet are quite pleased. I could feel the cushioning in every step, the lightweight material has just enough shape and support and the fabric was breathable, allowing me to go without socks when needed and not offending everybody within a 20-foot radius. What especially impressed me was the comfort I felt, despite having incredibly flat feet; support has long been a problem for me but these handled the situation with flying colors. Whether you need a good shoe for running or just something comfortable to get you through festival season, I think you'll very much enjoy the CC Rides. – Andrew Wagner
