Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out the cool, summery spots and more stuff we like this week in this edition of OnMilwaukee.com Recommends.
The patio at Chez Jacques – My friend and former coworker Damien Jaques told me a couple of times that Chez Jacques, 1022 S. 2nd St., had a nice patio. I finally stopped by this week mid-bike ride for a glass of wine (Jacques has a bike rack in front), and I really loved the space. It's very private, well planted, has a cool, old tree almost in the middle of it and an interesting mural painted on the entire back of the building. The mural is a combination of farm scenes and cityscapes, blending Downtown Milwaukee and the Allen-Bradley clocktower with the Eiffel Tower and what looks like a little village in The Alps. Our server was really attentive, friendly and quick to refill our water glasses. Plus, we found the wine prices within our budget: $6-$8 per glass. Jacques has a couple of fruit and cheese snack plates on the menu, too, that we will try next time. All in all, it was a really lovely summer evening. – Molly Snyder
"Louis" on FX – Without basketball in the summer and with my few favorite shows on break, I really don't watch much TV. But I do like the consistency of a favorite series. So, I searched Netflix and found the FX original comedy series, "Louis." I'm six episodes into season one and really enjoying it. Louis C.K. plays himself and provides a character-driven series that's backed by his creative, observational humor. The dude is funny, and the show is original and a hugely entertaining 23 minute watch. The new season is on air and online now. – Jeff Sherman
The RiverWalk – Last week a friend and I found ourselves with some time to kill before dinner. We didn't have any concrete plans other than a desire for some patio time, so we opted to stroll the Milwaukee RiverWalk and pick whichever one struck our fancy. Frankly, we had more fun people-watching and enjoying the scenery on the walk. It's easy to get too street-focused and forget it's back there, but it's a great peaceful and picturesque option for exploring the city. – Renee Lorenz
"Building Taliesen: Frank Lloyd Wright's Home of Love and Loss" by Ron McCrea (Wisconsin Historical Society Press, $35) – This over-sized paperback is more than just another book about FLW and Taliesen. The author – a veteran newspaper man who has appeared in more than one FLW documentary – uses letters, memoirs, contemporary documents and a bevy of great photographs (many never before published) to tell the story of, well, building Taliesen and of the characters that lived there – and died there when it burned in 1914. Especially fascinating for me as a repeat visitor to Taliesen, was reading about the building's roots in Tuscany, where Wright lived for more than a year and from where he drew much inspiration that can be seen in the "Villa Taliesen" that he built upon returning home to the Midwest. It's a phase of Wright's life I didn't know about and it's interesting to see how he could absorb diverse influences and mold them into something new and original. – Bobby Tanzilo
Catching Milwaukee sports at home – Well, it's that time Brewers fans. The Crew is back from the All-Star break and begins a six-game homestand against the first-place Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend. The Brewers are in fourth place, but this stretch can get them right back in the mix of things if they put together a winning streak. Some new faces are on the team, as well, including star youngster Tyler Thornburg, who will be in the bullpen initially. If you need to scratch the football itch one last time before Green Bay Packers training camp opens up in a few weeks, head over to the BMO Harris Bradley Center to catch the Milwaukee Mustangs' home finale against the Chicago Rush. – Jim Owczarski
