House on the Rock makes the cut in new Atlas Obscura
The thrill of travel is about discovering the unexpected, be it one town over or an ocean away. If you relish the unusual, beyond perfunctory […]
Books
Ultimate Eats: Savoring food as culture
Food is an easy, on-target introduction to a location’s cultural roots, and a new book latches onto must-try dishes when traveling the world. “Ultimate Eats: […]
New books: Great Lakes biking, Chicago fun, Iowa food
On my desk is a growing stack of recently released books, and I crave time to delve into them. The arrival of summer should make […]
‘Holy Rover’ finds value in spiritual pilgrimage, near and far away
With the new year comes motivation to begin anew, perhaps with hope for significant change that starts with a public resolution or private vow. Maybe […]
Two cookbooks that tantalize beyond their recipes
Someone occasionally approaches me about writing an endorsement for a new book, and it’s an invitation that I don’t take lightly. I politely decline unless […]
New in books: Ice Age hike, girl drinks, Mighty Miss, ode to rain
What constitutes a full day of hiking for many of us is just a warm-up for Melanie Radzicki McManus of Sun Prairie. The longtime traveler […]
“Roughneck Grace” book excerpt from Michael Perry
It is rare for me to track down an author to his home, but that happened 14 years ago, to interview a guy in New […]
Take Ten: supper club nibbles
Ask who is responsible for the revival of interest in Wisconsin supper clubs, and I’ll point a finger toward Ron Faiola, a multimedia entrepreneur in […]
Best new books: Wisconsin farming, Lake Superior loop, Madison food, beer
Confucius says: You cannot open a book without learning something. Remember that while holiday shopping or treating yourself. Many books cross my desk; count these […]
“1,000 Places” author: thankful, curious, loves long-haul flights
Patricia Schultz was raised in Beacon, N.Y., a Hudson River town with some of our nation’s earliest settlements and the late folkster Pete Seeger as […]
Where the locals go in Madison during winter
Dreams of a white Christmas usually come true for us in Wisconsin, but there’s a quick skid of difference between picturesque wintry weather and an […]
New Midwest cookbooks with wassail, apple, locavore recipes
With colder weather comes the inclination to cook more, if for no other reason than to add warmth to the kitchen. This new trio of […]
Sheboygan’s Bookworm Gardens inspires reading in children
Gardens are about planting and growing, but most fruits of harvest on a 2-acre plot in Sheboygan are not edible. What visitors reap are the […]
Two new books pay homage to supper club sizzle
Unusual ingredients, recipes, meals and food traditions are at the core of what defines culture all around the globe. That includes what we take for […]
Much to cluck about in, near tiny Paoli
Tis the season to talk turkey and shop for everything, but the conversation, décor and merchandise are all about chickens just nine miles south of […]
New Karpeles manuscript museum at Rock Island, Ill.
Is “fool” or “numskull” the best way to describe a poor card player? After learning a lesson, he never “tasted a drop” or “drank a […]
New food book also works as guide for hungry travelers
Cooking with nutritious and locally grown ingredients is easy at this bountiful time of year, and a new book offers a glimpse about which Wisconsin […]
Hemingway haunts: Michigan to Florida, Cuba to Spain
Sixty years ago, “The Old Man and the Sea” was published in Life magazine, and author Ernest Hemingway won a Pulitzer Prize for the work […]
‘Discover Wisconsin’ longest-running tourism show
Question: What television show (with about twice as many episodes as “Seinfeld”) is the nation’s longest-running for its genre? Answer: “Discover Wisconsin,” which aired its […]
New Jerry Apps book, events, trips for gardeners
One of my treats on Sundays is reading the latest blog entry by prolific Wisconsin writer Jerry Apps, whose keen observations about life always seem […]