We've got a typically eclectic batch of recommendations emanating from the editorial office today, beginning with a hot band (Cage the Elephant, pictured), a swashbuckling kid's game, a do-it-yourself dessert kit, a compelling motion picture about a strange time in American history, a delicious and meatless burger, some funky fizzy water and a favorite watering hole/lounge. Enjoy.
These are a few of our favorite things this week:
Cage the Elephant -- When my friend, Josh, returned from the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival last week, I asked him "Which band blew you away?" He didn't hesitate to name Cage the Elephant, a group from Bowling Green, Ky., that produces sounds that drip with a British vibe. (Small wonder that the band is a huge hit in the U.K.) Imagine a slowed-down version of the Arctic Monkeys, crossed with a little White Stripes, some Jane's Addiction and maybe even a little Rolling Stones swagger and you'll get a pretty good idea of what this group is about. Better still, sample their wares on iTunes. Josh confirmed the buzz that these fellas, who played Chicago last week, are a tour de force in concert. Check out the album and don't be surprised to hear "Ain't No Rest For the Wicked" blaring from car stereos this summer. --Drew Olson
Stuffed ‘shroom burger at AJ Bombers -- As a vegetarian, I've tried just about every non-meat concoction between buns on the planet. Some are better than others, but very rarely do I stop and say, "This is amazing." Well, today's lunch was one of those days. I treated myself to the new AJ Bombers' stuffed mushroom burger and it was unlike any "veggie burger" I've ever eaten. For starters, it's not exactly for calorie counters. It's a full portobello mushroom cap stuffed with a mix of Wisconsin cheddar and muenster cheese, then battered and fried to perfection. It's topped off with lettuce, tomato and Bomber sauce, which is orange and tangy. Pair it up with an order of sweet potato fries and I don't care if you're a strict carnivore, you're going to be impressed by this hearty "hamburger." Bobby Tanzilo can vouch for the classic beefy bomber (and especially the sweet potato chips). ajbombers.com--Julie Lawrence
Rival Gel Canister Ice Cream Maker -- I must say, as someone who's been eating ice cream for his whole life, I didn't realize how easy it was to make. I've always wanted an ice cream maker, really, but I finally broke down, went to Target and dropped a whopping $29 for a one-quart Rival Gel Canister electric model. Now that I've seen it in action, I'm amazed at how simple the process is. Basically, you freeze the container for a long time (12 hours or more). When you're ready, you dump in the ingredients, hit "on," and in about 40 minutes you have ice cream, sorbet or frozen yogurt. The technology is simple: the stirring paddle rubs your ingredients against the frozen wall of the bucket and gently aerates it into ice cream. It doesn't require any rock salt or other voodoo, just a properly frozen canister and a little bit of patience. I've only made a few batches so far, but I was most impressed with my mango-lime sorbet. This is way too cheap and easy, and I'm looking forward to trying new and exotic flavors. --Andy Tarnoff
Pirate-opoly -- This game is a similar to Monopoly, but -- as you may have guessed -- with a pirate theme. (No, not those AKM-toting Somalis, rather the peg-legged dudes with a patches over the eye). Pirate-opoly is somewhere between skill and luck, making it ideal for kids between 5 and 8. It's extremely interactive, requiring players to jump around, give each other "high hooks" and squawk like a parrot. My mom bought the game for us at The Funky Frog, 6241 S. 27th St., Greenfield. Finally, my kids found a board game that tossed Candyland overboard. --Molly Snyder Edler
"Frost/Nixon" -- Ron Howard created a solid film and a good history lesson. It not only re-creates the famous on-air interview between the former President and British celebrity journalist David Frost, but it takes you through weeks of around-the-world, behind-the-scenes maneuvering. At only 2 hours, it's a speedy journey and a very entertaining view. I was way too young to know what Nixon did or didn't do, but Frank Langella plays the President very well and Michael Sheen does Frost to a tee, too. --Jeff Sherman
Pamplemousse LaCroix sparkling water -- I would have tried this flavor sooner, but I only recently learned "pamplemousse" means "grapefruit" in French. (In my defense, I took Spanish and Latin, but never the language of love.) This is by far the best flavor of fizzy water, with just a hint of grapefruit to give it an extremely refreshing finish. Best of all, the flavoring is all natural. I think this might be my new zero-calorie bevy of choice. Au revoir, Diet Pepsi. --Molly Snyder Edler
OnMilwaukee.com's "Milwaukee" Twitter feed --We've incorporated local Twitter feeds into the interface of OnMilwaukee.com's homepage, and (warning: self-serving recommendation coming) I must say that I really enjoy it. Located in the left column above a skyscraper ad, the innovative application checks Twitter every 15 minutes for new tweets. It lets you see the last 10 "tweets" regarding Milwaukee issues. In the coming weeks, OnMilwaukee.com will aggregate tweets by keyword into individual articles and sections. Want to know what more Miwaukeeans are talking about? Check out our Twitter integration. --J.S.
Bryant's Cocktail Lounge -- We've written about this legendary South Side establishment many times. And if you haven't been there lately -- yes, it's still open -- you're missing out. Bryant's is a scene right out of "Mad Men." It's small, it's dark, it's lively and the drink menu is beyond any reasonable description. Break out your skinny tie, grab a pack of Lucky Strikes and take your little lady for a night on the town while stepping back in time. If you're planning a party, think about renting the Velvet Room for an unforgettable evening. --A.W.
