With Atomic Records preparing to close, the movie "High Fidelity" takes on an even more poignant note. We're recommending the John Cusack-Jack Black flick this week, along with a delicious home hobby, a cool video, a promising British band, some holiday adornments, an old-school workout and a great way to keep Fido from barking at the neighbors.
"High Fidelity" -- The recent announcement about the closing of Atomic Records reminded me of this 2000 movie starring John Cusack. Adapted from a terrific novel by Nick Hornby, the flick centers on Rob Gordon (Cusack), who owns a record store (Championship Vinyl) and the lovable dweebs that he works with. Cusack gives a terrific study of relationships / commitment-phobia, the soundtrack is outstanding and Jack Black practically bursts off the screen. Check this movie out as a tribute to all the independent record and bookstores and the people fighting to keep them open. --Drew Olson
Ignoring the snow hype -- It snows in Wisconsin. Some days, it snows a lot. I don't care about the details, so I ignore them and instead focus on my new Michelin X-Ice Xi2 tires that get my little car through about any size or type of storm. Let the TV news people stand out in the cold and snow and scare you. I don't watch, I don't listen, I just enjoy the snow. Ignore the snow hype, embrace it and enjoy. --Jeff Sherman
Homebrewing -- I've blogged it, I've Facebooked it, I've verbally yammered about it and now I'm recommending it. After an entire year of homebrewing beer -- four batches, averaging about one per season -- I can honestly say although it's my newest hobby, brewing beer is already one of my very favorites.
This year, my husband and I brewed a "Leap Year Beer" on Feb. 29, a "Long Winter's Stout" in April, "Booth Street Berry Wheat" this summer and a "Pagan Porter" in late fall / winter. Homebrewing, in my opinion, is two parts science and one part art, but surprisingly, it's the science part I really enjoy the most.
As a person usually slaloming on the right side of my brain, it's refreshing to do something so left-brained and orderly. (Yet there is still a creative aspect to the craft, as well.) I checked out a variety of home brewing shops and found Homebrewing Depot, 8008 W. National Ave., to be my favorite. The owner, Brad Lowry, is down-to-earth, knowledgeable and full of mellow reassurance for newbies certain they did something to screw up their batch.
Aside from the process, I really appreciate the affordability of brewing (about $35 for two cases) and the sharing. I always have a quick gift to give or a beer on hand to uncap when a friend stops by. I look forward to lots more homebrewing in 2009. --Molly Snyder Edler
Gentle Leader SpraySense Anti-Bark Collar -- The family pooch loves people and other dogs. In most cases, this is a good thing. The downside, however, is that the dog likes to say "Hi!" to every creature walking down the street. The barking was becoming onerous, so we bought the citronella spray collar (available online for between $30 and $75) and hoped for the best. Let's cut to the chase: the thing works. You fill a small reservoir on the battery-operated collar with a citronella spray. It smells clean and nice to me, but dogs don't like it. You flip the "on" switch and wait. When the dog barks, a microphone picks up the signal and a puff of citronella wafts toward the dog's nose. It doesn't harm the dog in any way, but it definitely makes things a lot quieter. --D.O.
The Lake Express video -- Check out this cool new video from the Lake Express. It's a tour of sorts, taken from the deck of the Lake Express high-speed ferry as the ship is put away for the winter in the Menomonee Valley. Lake Express's marketing guy, Aaron Schultz, assembled 1,500-plus still photos into a time-lapse movie that takes a trip up the Milwaukee River from the Lake Express terminal, through the Third Ward and past the Harley-Davidson Museum before passing under the high rise and stopping in the valley. Shots were taken two seconds apart over the course of roughly 53 minutes. Very cool stuff. --J.S.
Passenger -- If you like the Swell Season (the music from the film "Once") and the band The Waterboys -- particularly the voice and musings of frontman Mike Scott -- you'll really appreciate Passenger. The British alternative folkies have a dozen love stories to tell in their latest offering, "Wicked Man's Rest." While driving to work, I heard "Things You've Never Done" on 88.9, and downloaded the song -- and then the entire album -- the same day. Yes, it has been an aural obsession ever since. --M.E.
Christmas and holiday coffee cups and jackets -- One of the little things that I always appreciate during this festive time of the year is the Christmas coffee cup and holiday "java jacket." The Starbucks red cups are festive, Stone Creek's christmascardcoffee.com promotion on its jacket is cool and others like Whole Foods Market and Alterra find ways to add something different to the season. I like it. Ah, the little things. --J.S.
Medicine balls, foam rollers and other "old school" training devices -- You don't need a $3,000 elliptical machine to get a great workout. An 8- or 10-pound medicine ball, a foam roller and one of those big stabilization balls will do the trick. Check out this medicine ball workout from Men's Health if you really want to sweat off those Christmas cookies. The foam roller is like having a massage therapist on call. The next thing you know, ankle weights will be back in vogue. --D.O.
