Love is in the air as OnMilwaukee.com presents their latest round of recommendations, ranging from tasty drinks to sweatshirts to even more tasty drinks.
Everlane crew sweatshirt – I love that the people who decide such things have deemed that simple sweatshirts are fashionable again. What’s cool, this time around, is that the good ones don’t feel cheap and ratty; rather, they have a certain heft and structure that lets you dress them up and take them to work. Everlane’s version is made of a neoprene-inspired French Terry fabric that’s both thick and soft. At only $38, this cotton navy sweatshirt feels both retro and modern, and I like it a lot. – Andy Tarnoff
Anna de Codorníu Brut and Brut Rosé – A vivacious Valentine's Day demands an equally ebullient wine and Spain's famous sparkling winemaker serves up two options that are, this year, presented in eye-catching and stylish thematic bottles swathed in white (Brut) and pink (Brut Rosé).
The Brut – vinted from 70 percent chardonnay and 30 percent parellada from the northeastern D.O. Cava-Penedés region – is fruity with a nice citrus snap, making it a fine aperitif. After dinner, pop the cork on the Brut Rosé – 70 percent pinot noir and 30 percent chardonnay from the same zone. Here you'll get a whiff of strawberry as the bubbles waft up. In the mouth, there's a nice acidity with red berries mingled with green apple freshness and a lighter sweetness than its straw yellow consort.
A sweet duo to help you celebrate your, well, sweet duo. They retail around $15 each. – Bobby Tanzilo
Brandy Old Fashioneds – This may seem like an odd thing to recommend, especially here in Milwaukee, but one can't assume everyone reading this is from the Cream City and everyone has tried a Milwaukee staple - the brandy old fashioned. In fact, this was new to me when we did this challenge at about this time last year.
You'll see that I picked The Packing House in this challenge and I'll recommend it again, in case you haven't tried one. I'd also recommend going over to the Iron Horse Hotel and ordering one up at Branded. Ask for a "brandy old fashioned sweet" at either place - it'll become a new favorite and a staple when you go out, for sure. - Jim Owczarski
Skull-shaped egg mold – The best part about this unnecessary kitchen accessory is how well it works. Perfectly, every time! I bought one without telling anyone in my family, and then served up a surprisingly spooky Saturday morning breakfast. Their delight in this made the $10 I spent totally worth it. Don't forget the bacon. – Molly Snyder
The Federalist Zinfandel – Just in time for President's Day, Terlato Wines pours a 2011 Dry Creek Valley zin with a label that pays tribute to Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton, who was the first treasury secretary, was never actually president, but if his visage is good enough for the 10-spot, it's good enough for a wine label, right?
This red blend is aged 16 months in at least 20 percent oak and packs 15 percent alcohol. There's a bit of carignane here in an unspecified amount, and the wine has a big, dense mouth feel paired with bright acid and a cherry aroma. A dash of spice and a long finish make this a satisfying everyday wine. But it retails at just short of three Hamiltons, so you might deem it more appropriate for a special occasion, like, say, President's Day. – Bobby Tanzilo
The 2014 Oscar Nominated Animated Shorts - Have you seen "Frozen" 15 times already (and the sing-along an additional three)? Already memorized every line of "The Lego Movie"? Well, perhaps give the set of Oscar nominated animated shorts, currently showing at the Oriental Theater, a sample.
It's a diverse bunch of films, ranging from eerie and haunting ("Feral," "Possessions") to childishly cheerful ("Room on the Broom"), but each one is uniquely beautiful and imaginative. Most audiences have likely seen the delightful old-meets-new tribute "Get A Horse" in front of "Frozen," but it doesn't lose any of its charm without its feature-length follow-up. With its mix of spookiness and brightness - plus some gorgeous cel-shaded animation - "Possessions" might be my favorite of the bunch, but even the worst (the repetitive, star-studded storybook tale "Room on the Broom") has its sweet charms.
Grab the kids, check out the shorts and then impress all your friends with your animated short film knowledge come Oscar night. Or annoy, depending on how well you do in your Oscar betting pool. – Matt Mueller