Tortilla chicken soup at Water Buffalo -- I wasn't blown away by my veggie sandwich, but the tortilla chicken soup on the menu at uber-popular Water Buffalo, 249 N. Water St., just about knocked my knee-highs right off. The soup is thick, creamy and speckled with small pieces of tender chicken meat. Best of all, it's garnished with curly-Q shavings of spicy tortilla chips. A bowl will set ya back $4.50 and a cup costs $3. -- Molly Snyder Edler
Palermo's Rustico Supreme pizzas -- This relatively new line of Rising Crust pizzas is very, very good. In fact, they might be some of the best frozen pizzas on the market today and they are made right in the Menomonee River Valley! -- Jeff Sherman
"Can I Keep My Jersey? 11 Teams, 5 Countries, and 4 Years in My Life as a Basketball Vagabond" by Paul Shirley -- Paul Shirley didn't make much of a mark as a pro basketball player, but he shows potential as a writer / blogger. This is a great behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to be one of the best in the world at something but still be labeled "not good enough." -- Drew Olson
The Digital Video Recorder -- We waited a long time before getting one of these doo-dads. Now, it's as indispensable as the washer-dryer, dishwasher and microwave. You wonder how people lived without it. -- D.O.
Quaker Essentials Oat Bran cereal -- Want a truly delicious cereal? Quaker Essentials Oat Bran is wonderful. Low in fat and saturated fats, this stuff is full of fiber and taste. It has a hint of sweetness and is perfect with blueberries. I add a little sugar and just love this stuff. Try it. -- J.S.
"Don't Bite The Hook" by Pema Chodron -- Somehow, Buddhist nun Pema Chodron lives in a monastery in rural Nova Scotia and spends much of her time meditating, yet she sounds like she just got back from Starbucks. The woman is completely in touch with what's going on, and she has a strong, lovely voice to boot. In her latest 3-CD collection, Chodron illuminates how we quickly react to situations -- AKA "bite the hook" -- only to feel terrible. She reveals how to stay centered in the midst of crisis, improve stressful relationships, step out of the downward spiral of self-hatred and stop reflecting with negative thoughts about past experiences. -- M.E.
"The Last Waltz" -- Regarded as the best concert film movie of all time, this DVD chronicles the farewell performance of The Band. Filmed by Martin Scorsese on Thanksgiving Night in 1976, the movie features guest spots by Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr, Muddy Waters and Neil Young. If you've never heard of The Band, heck, even if you don't like The Band, check out this movie. It's the music equivalent of reading one of the classics. -- D.O.
"The Venture Bros." Season 2 on DVD -- I don't have any more than the basic cable channels, so I have to catch up with Adult Swim on DVD. The Venture Bros. Season 1 was good, but Season 2 is excellent. This season, the characters stop being parodies and come into their own...while at the same time recognizing that they're parodies. The Monarch and Dr. Ex-Girlfriend return to work on their relationship, and the finale brings the most unlikely team of rock icon villains. -- Jason McDowell
