Halloween is right around the corner, but there's nothing scary about these recommendations from your pals at OnMilwaukee.com. Well ... one of them is a little scary. A lot scary, actually. 

Moo & Oink meats – Many thought Chicago's Moo & Oink wouldn't be, ahem, herd from again after when its retail shops mooed its final oink, but, in fact, its brand of sausages and other meats still thrives and is now available in Milwaukee at Pick 'n Save. I recently cooked up 10 pounds of Moo & Oink's pork rib tips with a variety of marinades – including Moo & Oink's own tangy barbecue sauce – and found them meaty, juicy and delicious. I also tried the breakfast sausage patties, and they were a hit at home too.

Next on my to-taste list are Moo & Oink's variety of sausages: hot links and mild links available in turkey, beef or pork. I'll check back in once I've given some of them a try. And, by the way, yes, that WAS the Moo & Oink jingle that Amy Poehler and Tina Fey once sang on "SNL" as proof that they hailed from Chicago's south side. All of the products are available online too, at tastechicagosbest.com.  – Bobby Tanzilo

Aveda LipSaver – Maybe it is the cold weather I feel has come a little bit early this year, but you won't find me without my Aveda LipSaver in my purse this fall. I've tried a ton of different chapsticks and balms, and this is by far my favorite. This botanical balm clears up my parched feeling asap, and it is a feeling that lasts. You can pick one up at any Aveda store, and while there, you might want to pick up a small Aveda Hand Relief to toss in your bag as well. You won't regret it. – Carolynn Buser

The East Side Sour – I recently stopped in Jackson's Blue Ribbon Pub and Grill, the Downtown location next to the Brewhouse Inn, and ordered something crazy (well, for me). The East Side Sour caught my eye because of the Kinnickinnic whiskey – my favorite Great Lakes Distillery product – but the rest of the ingredients made me pause. Fresh lemon? Yes. Bitters? Yum. Egg white? Really? I don't know.

There is something about drinking an egg that has never appealed to me in any way, and yet, it sounded like it might actually be tasty combined with these other mixers. So I ordered one. And it was really delicious. A bit tart, very refreshing and although I could not taste the egg, I think it made the drink richer and foamier.

It was different from anything I'd drank before, and I would not be afraid to do it again. Plus, if you have not checked out Jackson's Downtown, it's worth a visit for what feels like drinking and dining inside Milwaukee history. Plus, the nachos are quite good, too. – Molly Snyder

"The Conjuring" – Halloween is coming up, but oddly enough, there aren't any horror movies out to see (way to hit your deadlines, "Paranormal Activity"). "Carrie" is the only actual horror movie in theaters, and that's already been out for a couple of weeks. So if you're looking for a spook-tacular time, it looks like you'll have to hit the Netflix account or the Redbox. Luckily, one of the best horror movies of the past few years, "The Conjuring," has just arrived on DVD.

Admittedly, the film's story won't earn a lot of awards for inventiveness. A family moves into a new isolated house and slowly discover weird things happening. Spoiler: It's ghosts. But director James Wan (who also did the two "Insidious" films, both worthwhile as well) fills the film with creepy mood, and he's a master of making the old-school scare tactics fresh and freaky again. If you missed "The Conjuring" earlier this summer, I can't imagine a better time to check it out than Halloween time. – Matt Mueller

Door Peninsula Winery Hallowine – I tried this sweet apple wine (spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg) cold and it was not good. I warmed it up in a coffee mug almost to boiling, but that was too much and it was bitter. Then I warmed it up less, and it was really good. Just like an apple cider. Great for a fall day/night. I typically prefers reds that are not sweet, so it was a little sweet for my taste. I wouldn’t drink a lot of it or regularly, but a few glasses were tasty. So I would think if you are a white or sweet wine drinker, that it would serve your palate well. – Joe Hahn