This week, we enjoy one of Milwaukee's most spectacular places -- both in person and online, grab an inexpensive bite, take a look inside minor league baseball and much, much more in our weekly installment of recommendations and suggestions.
alabe.com -- For a free, comprehensive birth astrological chart, check out this Web site. You'll need to know your place and exact time of birth to receive information about your sun sign, rising sign, moon sign and more. This Gemini found it entertaining and insightful. Certainly not words to inspire major life choices, but interesting all the same. -- Molly Snyder Edler
Hinterland's $5 pho -- Mondays are annoying enough without having to figure out what to cook for dinner when you get home from work. And that is exactly why Hinterland's new happy hour specials are perfect. From 4 to 7 p.m. on Mondays the special is pho, Vietnam's signature noodle soup topped with various herbs, vegetables and meats. Hinterland serves up a huge, delicious bowl of the stuff (available only at the bar or in the back lounge) for $5 and you can choose between beef, pork or vegetarian (which features fantastic homemade seitan). Topped with a pile of fresh chili threads, it's a tad on the spicy side, so if you fear heat, you might want to ask for it without (or less). Otherwise, it's a fantastic flavor experience and a great reason not to cook at home on a Monday night. -- Julie Lawrence
"The Bullpen Gospels: Major League Dreams of a Minor League Veteran" -- Believe the hype. This book is an updated version of Jim Bouton's classic "Ball Four." It's a modern-day look at baseball through the eyes of a thoughtful, introspective pitcher. Dirk Hayhurst, who came up with the Padres, takes you into the buses, bullpens, hotels and clubhouses of the minor leagues. (He is currently on the 60-day DL for Toronto and is expected to miss most of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery before spring training.) -- Drew Olson
Lake Park -- There are so many reasons why the Milwaukee County Parks Department won the National Recreation and Park Association's Gold Medal Award. Just one of these reasons is Lake Park. This park, 3233 E. Kenwood Blvd., has it all. Tennis, golf, trails, a ton of open space, playgrounds, lawn bowling, bridges, the North Point Lighthouse and more. Take a few hours one of these days to visit Lake Park. It's a true jewel in our parks system. -- Jeff Sherman
"Jammys From the Roots, 1977-1985" (Greensleeves/VP Records) -- Until the death of King Tubby in 1989, Lloyd James was dubbed Prince Jammy. But when Tubbs shook off this mortal coil, Jammy was undeniably next in line for the throne thanks to his ability not only to slake the thirst of the roots crowd but to also move the crowd in Jamaican dancehalls at home and across the diaspora. Find out why on this two-disc retrospective. Some of the tunes here are perennials on Jammy compilations, like the Black Uhuru tracks and Half Pint's "Mr. Landlord" and Lacksley Castell's "What a Great Day." But others, like Noel Phillips' brilliant "Youth Man" and Natural Vibes' "Life Hard a Yard" are less heard. But there are 32 tracks here to sink your teeth into, plus a nice package with good liner notes, too. Can't beat it. Find out how the prince became king. -- Bobby Tanzilo
Just Mobile Lounge iPhone stand -- I'm currently on my third iPhone dashboard holder. When I first downloaded the impressive Navigon GPS app, I bought a $5 cheapie suction cup holder on eBay from China, and guess what, it broke after a few months. The second, coincidentally about $5, wiggles and squeaks when the car is in motion. But the Just Mobile Lounge desktop/dashboard stand is no piece of junk. Designed in Denmark, it's incredibly solid aluminum, like my iMac, itself. It can position the iPhone or iPod Touch horizontally or vertically without removing a case, and comes with a sticky disc for mounting on the dash. It's not cheap at about $50, but the Lounge is a sturdy, heavy, high-end stand for a high-end smart phone. You can buy it online at xtand.net. -- Andy Tarnoff
MilwaukeeDailyPhoto.com -- I love this city. When I talk to friends either planning a visit or longing for their hometown, I always try to send them over to this terrific blog which, quite simply, features a daily photo from Milwaukee. Karl, the photographer, has some truly great shots capturing everything from parks, to landmarks and all the little, often-overlooked parts of Milwaukee that fall in between. Check it out online, or follow along on Twitter. -- Andrew Wagner
