How to Halloween

Freakfest is in a week.

Halloween is a week and one half.

Do you have your costume yet?

Ive been busy collecting a supply of newspaper, packaging tape, and a two-ton roll of silver mylar. Can you guess what my costume is? .... Leftovers in a Tinfoil Swan. I've got a solid start, but I ran out of tape about an hour ago. Construction will resume tomorrow.

I give credit to my friend Shelby for thinking up the Tinfoil Swan. But if you don't have a Shelby in your social circle, I would suggest you head over to Saint Vincent De Paul. Plan on digging if you go to Willy Street. The one in Stoughton is an untapped resource. We went on Saturday to put together an 80's outfit. My roomate and her boyfriend, along with another couple, went as the "Dick in a Box" skit from SNL.


Katie bought a dress, earrings, and a silk rose as a prop for $16. We spent over $10 so we got a free hat. She chose a sombrero.

Mallat Pharmacy on Monroe St. is a local favorite. I drive past it on my way to work on the west side, and usually there is some character jiving on the sidewalk.

I recommend shopping goodwill as well. At least with St. Vinny's and Goodwill, your purchase will help the community.

Saturday, October 20th Will go down in Infamy (womp, womp, wooooooomp)

I am afraid to say it folks, but a beloved gift store that featured the fun, funky and fabulous will be closing it's doors forever this Saturday due to "personal reasons".

Their window displays- genious. The baby section- adorable. Gifts galore, period.


A little off topic, but Gratitude's Floral and Gift, which was located on Mineral Point Rd closed earlier this month. Fleurishes, another flower and gift shop on University, closed this month as well. What is going on here? Corporate grocery stores and Big Box retailers takin all the business? I'm going to do a little research on this. In the meantime...RIP TICKLED PINK

Cool Front

I am not talking about the latest wave of cold, actually seasonable October temperatures.

Thursday night I made it over to the Brink Lounge on East Washington to see a show by Cool Front, my friend's dad's band. They are usually listed as "Cool Front featuring Jon French." Jon French, the drummer who is second to none, was rumored to be once approached by John Lennon to pound his drums for a recording. Wether or not the rumors are true, a night of Cool Front accompanied by a lime spiked gin and tonic was truly a treat.

They are a blues/ funk/ soul cover band who peppers in a few originals to their sets. I recognized the covers, and couldn't help but jive a little in my seat. They put their own spin on the songs. Shelby (my friend and the lead singer's daughter) unexpecedtly sang for a set. I've seen the play once before, and each time is a little different. Influences are Albert King, Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Meters, Jack Bruce.

The lead singer and guitar is Randy Kisling. Jeff Helmuth, bass and backing vocals. Jon French, drums, percussion, lead and backing vocals. Three guys, big sound. Visit their myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/coolfrontband

Tomorrow can't come soon enough....or Wendesday...

Thank goodness I survived the last busy, busy wedding weekend at Beauty Blossoms. Not to mention it was homecoming for Madison Memorial (corsage city)...or that I had to get up at 6 every morning to tend to the horses I was pony sitting...

No more excuses, I will be updating a few times this week to make up for my non-posting.

Oktober is here! And so is Beer Week

In honor of Oktoberfest and the Madison area's local breweries, I am kicking off Beer Week.

I realize it is historically incorrect for me to link Oktoberfest with only beer. Even more incorrect is the fact that I went to New Glarus, a Swiss town (rather than German), to kick off Beer Week.

The New Glarus Brewing Company has one of those feel good sucess stories behind it. Husband and wife own the business together. It's been named one of the World's Ten Best Breweries at the World Brewing Championships among other awards for the individual beers. NGBC was also just ranked number 1735 on Inc. 5000 that ranks the fastest growing private companies in America.

The drive to the New Glarus Brewing Company took roughly....say..hmmm a half an hour. On our way there, we stopped in Paoli to get cheese curds. We heard word from a local that the bridge was out on our originally planned route. The detour was minor. We heard word from the same source that if we are going to New Glarus, we had better stop to eat some Ruesti at one of the local ethnic eateries.

The brewery was easy to find. We signed up for a brewery tour in the gift shop. It is self guided tour that uses large communication devices that resemble cell-phone models from the early 90's (think zack morris from saved by the bell.) I think my favorite part of the tour were the big copper vats that brew the beer. The second favorite part was the microbiology room. One of the food scientists was playing with test tubes, probably working on some new flavor of brew.

I will admit, I skipped a few...or five...stations to get to the tasting room. For $3.50 we sampled four 3 oz. glasses of beer, and we were able to keep the souviner glass, AND we got a certificate for a free tap beer at some restraunts in town.

The graphics and packaging are genius too.

Refreshing. We first sampled Totally Naked. Then we sampled Yokel (horay!). Then Hometown Blonde. And finished with the Wisconsin Belgian Red, which was a highly carbonated, intensely flavored cherry fruit beer. All were my favorites.

We ended the day at the Glarner Stube, an authentic Swedish restraunt. I had a cheese burger and cottage cheese while the rest of my group savored the flavors of the Swedes. We all shared and order of Ruesti, a giant, crispy hashbrown pattie with aged swiss cheese melted throughout. Delicious. I used my free beer coupon from the brewery on a Spotted Cow.

It was sad to say good-bye to New Glarus at the end of the day.

If you are planning a visit, be sure to look for the new brewery being built just up the road. It is expected to be done this fall (2007). For more information check out the website: http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/

And if you want to stay and play in New Glarus, plan your day with www.swisstown.com