Welcome to #WeWant, a weekly selection of the stuff OnMilwaukee.com editors and staffers love.
Scare them: The Waspinator
I know they probably serve some purpose in the food chain, but wasps are definitely the a-holes of the animal kingdom. I hate them, and they hate me. Last summer, at the cottage, those aggressive little jerks stung me on the neck and the eye, and I declared war. Problem with wasp-killing spray, though, is that it’s not a permanent solution. They just regroup and come back angrier. In a last ditch attempt to make the wasps leave my yard, I bought the cheap, eco-friendly Waspinator on Amazon, and you know what? It kinda works. Basically, it looks like a bigger, scarier wasp nest, and the actual wasps get the hint quickly and set up shop somewhere else. Not completely, but noticeably, and that’s a start. The Waspinator is somewhat weatherproof, but mine started to fall apart after a year in the elements (yes, you could probably take it inside over the winter and prolong its life, but keep in mind, this solution costs less than $10). If you’ve got a prickly wasp situation on your hands, it’s worth a shot. Maybe even buy two. –Andy Tarnoff
Read it: "City By City: Dispatches from the American Metropolis" (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)
This thick paperback edited by Keith Gessen – a founding editor of n+1, a thrice-annual emag covering literature, culture, and politics – and writer Stephen Squibb, collects 37 essays on urban America, from the relationship between cities and highways, to school reform in Philadelphia, to neighborhoods in Cincinnati to dispatches from just about everywhere: Atlanta, Boise, Cleveland, Dallas, Las Vegas, San Diego and beyond. Former Wauwatosan Greg Afinogenov – now a Ph.D. candidate in Russian at Harvard – contributes "Milwaukee's Gilded Age and Aftermath," which traces the political push for cutting spending, from the frugality of the Sewer Socialists to the tax-slashing rhetoric of the Tea Party. Interesting discussions about all facets of America's cities, in bite-size nuggets perfect for snacking and ruminating. –Bobby Tanzilo
Use it: Rubik's Cube tissue holder
My 11-year-old kid is obsessed with the Rubik's Cube. Actually, he's obsessed with a version of the Rubik's Cube – a speed cube that's easier to turn. No matter how much I mix up the thing, he can solve it in under 30 seconds, and I told him if he can get it under 20 seconds we're going to Japan to enter tournaments. But before international travel for the love of a three-dimensional square puzzle, I want to get this tissue holder – yes, as seen on "Big Bang Theory" – and place it in our bathroom without saying anything. He would find that hilarious. –Molly Snyder
Relax in them: Caravan Canopy chairs
I've been looking for comfy chairs for my brand new backyard patio, and these Caravan Canopy zero gravity models are currently on my wishlist. They're not exactly LaFuma quality, but they're roomy, they look comfy, and they seem like they'd be the perfect spot to cozy up with a glass of wine and a good book on a mild summer day. Of course, while I was looking for chairs, I also happened upon this awesome fence/divider made out of bottles, and I fell immediately in love. It would look perfect in my yard! So, after I buy the comfy chairs, it looks like I'll be wishing for a few cases of wine so I can get a bottle collection going for that DIY project! –Lori Fredrich
Use it: Cafe Press "Keep calm" bag
I'm a huge fan of reusable – and recyclable bags. I tote them to the farmers markets, Jazz in the Park and more! This one is sure to get compliments and is handy to boot. Who can disagree that we all should just "Keep calm and drink Prosecco." Makes complete sense to me – and probably you too. –Carolynn Buser
Read it: "The Fixer," by Joseph Finder (Dutton; 1st edition)
