A local cup of joe, a hometown read, a reason to watch this weekend's Miller Park homestand and more – check out what we've got for you in this week's OnMilwaukee.com Recommends.

"Poles in Wisconsin" by Susan Gibson Mikos (Wisconsin Historical Society Press, $9.95) – Part of the ongoing "People of Wisconsin" series, this slim paperback – with an introduction by John Gurda – outlines the Polish roots of Wisconsinites and explains how immigrants from Poland set up house and shop across the state. There is, of course, a good-sized section on Milwaukee, which, in 1920, had by far the largest population of Polish-born residents in the state. There are also pages of great historical photos that help bring these stories of immigration and family to life. – Bobby Tanzilo

Brewers vs. Phillies series – OK, so there isn't much to cheer for at this point if you're Brewers fan. The team is out of it, Ryan Braun won't win the MVP again even if he produces near Triple Crown numbers ... so why go to Miller Park? Because tonight you can see Philadelphia Phillies lefty Cole Hamels take on Brewers rookie sensation Michael Fiers. Both pitchers have an ERA under 3.00, and in Fiers' case he has been the best pitcher in all of Major League Baseball since his call up to Milwaukee in May. Plus, both teams rate near the top of the game in walk-off losses, so chances are you're going to see an exciting finish as well. – Jim Owczarski

8-Twelve's Old School – I wanted to try 8-Twelve MVP Bar & Grill since it opened, and this week I finally got the chance to stop in. Lucky for me it was a game day, so the bar had a handful of $5 cocktail specials. The Old School caught my eye right away. Made with brandy, muddled cherries and oranges, sugar, simple syrup, bitters and seltzer, it ended up being a great choice for the breezy summer evening. It was drier than I had expected, but its light fruit flavor was just what I was looking for. – Renee Lorenz

Buying pounds of coffee from Stone Creek – I am a huge fan of Stone Creek's Green Bike Espresso and I drink it almost every morning. I love the oily beans and the rich taste that reminds me of when I made my morning fix in a percolator. (I don't do this anymore because percolators get so hot and I'm paranoid a kid will get scalded by it, but man, I look forward to using it again someday). However, what I love the most about this espresso is when I buy a fresh bag, I always get a free latte. Nice perk, Stone Creek. Truly appreciated. – Molly Snyder