The Recommends bag is deep and varied today, as we endorse a safe way to enjoy St. Patrick's Day, a promising podcast by a funny, bawdy fired radio host, a creative, Irish twist on a margarita and the power of positive thinking. As for the cover photo, well, sometimes you just crave a little steak with dinner and the 5 O'Clock Club is a great place to get it, particularly if you've never visited.
The 5 O'Clock Steakhouse -- It's Sex Week, so it seems like the perfect time to talk meat. I off-handedly told a friend that I never ordered a steak in a restaurant, and before I could say "moo," she was on her cell phone making a reservation for us at the 5 O'Clock Steakhouse, formerly called Coerper's, 2416 W. State St.
The classic steak joint is both upscale and kitschy, with retro light fixtures, a black-and-white-dressed staff and lots of mirrors. "It's like David Lynch meets Up North," I quipped at one point in the evening. I found the food to be extremely expensive at first -- my a la carte rib eye was a whopping $38 -- but the portions and quality made up for the cost.
The steak was so huge that it fed me, and both my kids, for another meal. I ordered it medium rare, and the meat came blackened on the outside with a deep pink color on the inside. (I think next time I will order it even rarer. The waitress tipped us off to the lesser-known choice of a "rare plus.") It was certainly a splurge, but a fun, slightly surreal experience to get dressed up and go out to a fancy supper club for steaks and cocktails with my very best girlfriend. --Molly Snyder Edler
The Adam Carolla Podcast -- It's not yet on my "must-listen" list, but I am enjoying Adam Carolla's new podcast. And, since it's "Sex Week," what better person to promote than "The Man Show" and "Dr. Drew" dude, Carolla. He's funny, real, crass, but not too crass. Great guests, too. And, since he's now free of his CBS radio gig, it's unfiltered and free flowing fun straight from his basement. --Jeff Sherman
The Mo-garita -- I ventured out to Mo's Irish Pub in Wauwatosa the other day and a poster advertising the new Mo-garita caught my attention. The bartenders take the original margarita concept, but make it vaguely Irish by substituting the tequila with a healthy dose of Jameson Irish Whiskey. The results are, well, wonderful. As a tequila lover, I was skeptical at first but the pint glass that arrived in front of me proved me wrong. The drink is cold and slushy, just like a margarita and even comes in a salt-rimmed glass with a lime. Overall, it was very refreshing and is going to kill once the weather turns warm and customers can sip them out of Mo's patio. And that leads me to the best part: while you're free to order them up while you're there on St. Patrick's Day next week, there's no rush. Mo's plans to serve them all year. Cheers! --Julie Lawrence
A trip to the local library -- It's always a good idea to encourage youngsters to read. But, it's an even better idea to visit the library when the economy is in the dumper and you need a way to entertain the kids for an hour or two. Read to them. Have them read to you. Check out some DVDs and CDs. And grab a few magazines while they play in the kid's area. You already pay for this fun with your tax dollars, but it's a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. --D.O.
D: All Things Digital -- WSJ.com is a daily read, and probably one of my favorite daily publications. It's recently added a new section called "D: All Things Digital." It's a great one-stop-shop for "news, analysis and opinion on the digital revolution." Check it out here. --J.S.
Watching the "E.R." finale -- I haven't seen a new episode in years, but I liked it during the height of its popularity, so I just may pop into the two-hour finale April 2 on ABC. George Clooney's return is the worst-kept secret in Hollywood, but it might be cool to see how they close things out. --D.O.
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale -- I've started my days, for the past 15 years or so, by reading a simple thought from Dr. Norman Vincent Peale's classic book, "The Power of Positive Thinking." Published in 1952, it's his most widely read work but just one of many by this master of the values of optimism and service. "Never talk defeat. Use words like hope, belief, faith, victory." Every day, I get simple and inspirational messages that help fuel my hours of work and play. I highly recommend Dr. Peale's work. --J.S.
Riding the bus on St. Patrick's Day -- If you're going to get crazy, plan ahead. MillerCoors and Milwaukee County Transit are offering free bus rides beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday. There is no sense risking a ticket, an accident or worse. Plan ahead. Designated a driver, take a cab or ride the bus. --D.O.
