Between the Bars

Pumpkin Pickin'

Halloween falls on Saturday, so this is your last chance to carve that one of a kind jack-o-lantern!

Over the past two weeks, I’ve gone to two pumpkin carving parties – I don’t think I even went to that many as a child. But there’s something about going to a pumpkin patch and then spending all night carving that makes me feel like a kid again, or it could be that I finally realized that my pumpkin carving technique is about as advanced as a four-year-old.

Even though we didn’t make it to a pumpkin patch before the first party and had to buy dirty, bruised pumpkins from the wooden bin in front of Pick ‘n Save (not the best place to get a good pumpkin) we did end up going to a slightly more conventional “patch” last Saturday.

 

After our feast of pumpkin pancakes at the Original Pancake House, Eric and I noticed that while we were gorging ourselves, volunteers were unloading hundreds of pumpkins from wagons and trucks and onto the grassy courtyard of St. Mark’s Church. In no time, pumpkins in every size and shape covered the lawn.

With full bellies, we crossed the street and began to poke and prod at the vast selection. Most of the pumpkins were colored bright orange, but some had bruises, scars and soft spots probably from being jostled around during shipment, so we decided to bypass those.

Not only should you check your pumpkin for holes and bruises, you should knock on each pumpkin before you buy it to see if it’s ripe. Of course, you might look like a moron while doing this, but it's worth it. A pumpkin that isn't rotten will make a hollow sound when you drum on it. For other pumpkin picking tips, check out this site.

According to a couple of websites, the very best place to purchase a pumpkin is at a pick-your-own pumpkin patch because that way you’re assured that your pumpkin is fresh from the field. St. Mark’s wasn’t quite that, but it was certainly better than grabbing a beat-up pumpkin from the nearest supermarket again. And since all of the money collected for the pumpkins goes to benefit several good causes – Eastside Senior Services, Habitat for Humanity, The Gathering, Sojourner Truth House and the Navajo Indian Reservation – we chose to get our pumpkins at the church sale and didn’t feel guilty about it.

After paying a couple dollars a piece for our pumpkins, we trudged back to my apartment. On the way, we stopped at a bake sale where two ladies sat at a folding table stacked with paper plates, plastic bags and Tupperware filled with homemade cookies, brownies, cupcakes, dessert breads and other baked goods. Even with our guts on the verge of bursting, we couldn’t resist the pumpkin bread or snicker doodles. Now that our arms were as full as our stomachs, we were ready to go home.

Later that night we lugged our pumpkins over to Tracy and John’s house and once everyone assembled in the basement, the pumpkin carving fun began.

I hadn’t carved a pumpkin since I was in elementary school and since then, it seems that pumpkin carving has evolved a bit. You wouldn’t think that an old tradition such as this could really change that much. But companies now offer computer software for making carving patterns, electric cutting tools and multicolored LED lights that are a lot safer than candles and don’t require re-lighting.

At the party several people were actually using patterns they got from a book at the grocery store while others traced stencils found online at sites like this and this, or by making their own stencil here. At the same time, several people used fancy carving knives or jigsaws to make intricate designs. Even such an elementary challenge took time, planning and a little skill. If you'd like some help, here's a site where you can find useful pumpkin carving tips.

    

(Thanks for the annual Pumpkin Carving Party photos, Tracy and John!)

While I opted for a pre-picked pumpkin this year, southeastern Wisconsin is packed full of farms that allow you to pick your own pumpkin and offer a host of other attractions and treats, as well. Although Halloween is this weekend, you still have time to carve your jack-o-lantern, but you need to hurry up!

To get you motivated and to make things easier for you, I did a quick search and found a bunch of places where you can go to pick your pumpkin. Here's the list:

Apple Barn Orchard & Winery
W6384 Sugar Creek Rd., Elkhorn
(262) 728-3266

Apple Holler
5006 S. Sylvania Ave., Sturtevant
(262) 886-8500

Barthel Fruit Farm
12246 N. Farmdale Rd., Mequon
(262) 242-2737

Basse's Country Delight
S70 W16050 Janesville Rd., Muskego
(262) 422-0315

Bear Den Zoo and Petting Farm
6831 Big Bend Rd. (Hwy. 164), Waterford
(262) 895-6430

Borzynski's Farm & Floral Market
11600 Washington Ave., Sturtevant
(262) 866-2235

Brehmer's U-pick
5805 Clover Rd., Hartford
(262) 673-6527

Cozy Nook Farm
W39780 State Hwy. 18, Waukesha
(262) 968-2573

The Elegant Farmer
1545 Main St., Mukwonago
(262) 363-6770

The Fideler Farm
2863 Ridge Road, Kewaskum
(262) 338-0494

Godsell Farm
S105 W15585 Loomis Drive, Muskego
(414) 425-2937

Homestead Animal Farm
W320 N9127 Hwy. 83, Hartland
(262) 966-3840

Jim's Pumpkin Farm
W170 N11455 Armada, Germantown
(262) 255-1766

Lange's Country Market
24840 W. Loomis Rd., Wind Lake
(262) 895-2339

Lindners Pumpkin Farm and Corn Maze
19075 W. Cleveland Ave., New Berlin
(414) 549-5364

Mayfield Orchard and Nursery
4785 Mayfield Rd, West Bend
(262) 677-3583

Meadowbrook Pumpkin Farm
2970 Mile View Rd, West Bend
(262) 338-3649

Niemann Orchards
9932 W. Pioneer Rd., Cedarburg
(262) 377-4284

Patterson Orchard and Farm Market
124th St between Beloit Rd and Layton Ave
(414) 425-0563

Prospect Hill Garden Center
19305 W. National Ave., New Berlin
(262) 679-2207

R&R Ranch
W225 S8026 Guthrie Road, Big Bend
(262) 662-4920

Schuett Farms LLC
W299 S6370 Hwy 83, Mukwonago
(262) 968-4348

Simon Farms Sunnyside Produce
6000 Racine Ave., Brookfield
(262) 796-1248

Triangle Y Ranch Pumpkin Farm
5535 S. Church St., West Bend
(262) 675-9622

Van Beck's Farm Market
2209 E. College Ave., Oak Creek
(414) 762-0003

Westown Farmers Market
Zeidler Union Square, 3rd & Michigan Streets
(414) 276-6696

Halloween falls on Saturday, so this is your last chance to carve that one of a kind jack-o-lantern!

Over the past two weeks, I’ve gone to two pumpkin carving parties – I don’t think I even went to that many as a child. But there’s something about going to a pumpkin patch and then spending all night carving that makes me feel like a kid again, or it could be that I finally realized that my pumpkin carving technique is about as advanced as a four-year-old.

Even though we didn’t make it to a pumpkin patch before the first party and had to buy dirty, bruised pumpkins from the wooden bin in front of Pick ‘n Save (not the best place to get a good pumpkin) we did end up going to a slightly more conventional “patch” last Saturday.

 

After our feast of pumpkin pancakes at the Original Pancake House, Eric and I noticed that while we were gorging ourselves, volunteers were unloading hundreds of pumpkins from wagons and trucks and onto the grassy courtyard of St. Mark’s Church. In no time, pumpkins in every size and shape covered the lawn.

With full bellies, we crossed the street and began to poke and prod at the vast selection. Most of the pumpkins were colored bright orange, but some had bruises, scars and soft spots probably from being jostled around during shipment, so we decided to bypass those.

Not only should you check your pumpkin for holes and bruises, you should knock on each pumpkin before you buy it to see if it’s ripe. Of course, you might look like a moron while doing this, but it's worth it. A pumpkin that isn't rotten will make a hollow sound when you drum on it. For other pumpkin picking tips, check out this site.

According to a couple of websites, the very best place to purchase a pumpkin is at a pick-your-own pumpkin patch because that way you’re assured that your pumpkin is fresh from the field. St. Mark’s wasn’t quite that, but it was certainly better than grabbing a beat-up pumpkin from the nearest supermarket again. And since all of the money collected for the pumpkins goes to benefit several good causes – Eastside Senior Services, Habitat for Humanity, The Gathering, Sojourner Truth House and the Navajo Indian Reservation – we chose to get our pumpkins at the church sale and didn’t feel guilty about it.

After paying a couple dollars a piece for our pumpkins, we trudged back to my apartment. On the way, we stopped at a bake sale where two ladies sat at a folding table stacked with paper plates, plastic bags and Tupperware filled with homemade cookies, brownies, cupcakes, dessert breads and other baked goods. Even with our guts on the verge of bursting, we couldn’t resist the pumpkin bread or snicker doodles. Now that our arms were as full as our stomachs, we were ready to go home.

Later that night we lugged our pumpkins over to Tracy and John’s house and once everyone assembled in the basement, the pumpkin carving fun began.

I hadn’t carved a pumpkin since I was in elementary school and since then, it seems that pumpkin carving has evolved a bit. You wouldn’t think that an old tradition such as this could really change that much. But companies now offer computer software for making carving patterns, electric cutting tools and multicolored LED lights that are a lot safer than candles and don’t require re-lighting.

At the party several people were actually using patterns they got from a book at the grocery store while others traced stencils found online at sites like this and this, or by making their own stencil here. At the same time, several people used fancy carving knives or jigsaws to make intricate designs. Even such an elementary challenge took time, planning and a little skill. If you'd like some help, here's a site where you can find useful pumpkin carving tips.

    

(Thanks for the annual Pumpkin Carving Party photos, Tracy and John!)

While I opted for a pre-picked pumpkin this year, southeastern Wisconsin is packed full of farms that allow you to pick your own pumpkin and offer a host of other attractions and treats, as well. Although Halloween is this weekend, you still have time to carve your jack-o-lantern, but you need to hurry up!

To get you motivated and to make things easier for you, I did a quick search and found a bunch of places where you can go to pick your pumpkin. Here's the list:

Apple Barn Orchard & Winery
W6384 Sugar Creek Rd., Elkhorn
(262) 728-3266

Apple Holler
5006 S. Sylvania Ave., Sturtevant
(262) 886-8500

Barthel Fruit Farm
12246 N. Farmdale Rd., Mequon
(262) 242-2737

Basse's Country Delight
S70 W16050 Janesville Rd., Muskego
(262) 422-0315

Bear Den Zoo and Petting Farm
6831 Big Bend Rd. (Hwy. 164), Waterford
(262) 895-6430

Borzynski's Farm & Floral Market
11600 Washington Ave., Sturtevant
(262) 866-2235

Brehmer's U-pick
5805 Clover Rd., Hartford
(262) 673-6527

Cozy Nook Farm
W39780 State Hwy. 18, Waukesha
(262) 968-2573

The Elegant Farmer
1545 Main St., Mukwonago
(262) 363-6770

The Fideler Farm
2863 Ridge Road, Kewaskum
(262) 338-0494

Godsell Farm
S105 W15585 Loomis Drive, Muskego
(414) 425-2937

Homestead Animal Farm
W320 N9127 Hwy. 83, Hartland
(262) 966-3840

Jim's Pumpkin Farm
W170 N11455 Armada, Germantown
(262) 255-1766

Lange's Country Market
24840 W. Loomis Rd., Wind Lake
(262) 895-2339

Lindners Pumpkin Farm and Corn Maze
19075 W. Cleveland Ave., New Berlin
(414) 549-5364

Mayfield Orchard and Nursery
4785 Mayfield Rd, West Bend
(262) 677-3583

Meadowbrook Pumpkin Farm
2970 Mile View Rd, West Bend
(262) 338-3649

Niemann Orchards
9932 W. Pioneer Rd., Cedarburg
(262) 377-4284

Patterson Orchard and Farm Market
124th St between Beloit Rd and Layton Ave
(414) 425-0563

Prospect Hill Garden Center
19305 W. National Ave., New Berlin
(262) 679-2207

R&R Ranch
W225 S8026 Guthrie Road, Big Bend
(262) 662-4920

Schuett Farms LLC
W299 S6370 Hwy 83, Mukwonago
(262) 968-4348

Simon Farms Sunnyside Produce
6000 Racine Ave., Brookfield
(262) 796-1248

Triangle Y Ranch Pumpkin Farm
5535 S. Church St., West Bend
(262) 675-9622

Van Beck's Farm Market
2209 E. College Ave., Oak Creek
(414) 762-0003

Westown Farmers Market
Zeidler Union Square, 3rd & Michigan Streets
(414) 276-6696

All Hallows Eve Parties '09

Note: The content of this guide was updated for 2009. Between the Bars continually updates the many posts available here, though it's possible some details, specials and offers may have changed. Consider calling first if you have specific questions for the businesses, events or services mentioned in the guide.

I love Halloween – Love it! As a matter of fact, it runs a close second to Christmas in terms of my favorite holidays, which is why I tend to go all out.

I already have my costume planned – I just have to put some final touches on it – and my friends and I are eager to dress up and head out to North Avenue to rub elbows with the rest of the witches, vampires, freaks and skanks – It can be quite the spectacle!

I haven’t been out in costume since I last trick-or-treated and that was probably when I was 12 years old. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to this masquerade, especially because, just like me, Milwaukee is pulling out all the stops for Halloween. Then again, bars are always looking for more reasons to sell overpriced cans of PBR to hordes of patrons...

Seriously though, if you're planning to go out on the town, you won't have any trouble finding a bar that's doing something festive in honor of All Hallows Eve. The variety of places hosting street-wide costume competitions and serving up orange labeled beers and specialty shots are seemingly endless here.

Actually, there are plenty of bars and clubs throwing parties beginning this weekend and going into the coming week. So, get that costume ready and let loose!

Apartment 720
720 N. Milwaukee Street
Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 p.m.
Dead Rock Star Party. "A night tribute to some of the awesomely dead rock stars." This party includes live DJ sets, Halloween costumes and drink specials at Milwaukee Street's newest dance lounge.

Art Bar
722 E. Burleigh Street
Saturday, Oct. 31, 4 p.m.- 12 a.m.
Monster Mash Dance Party. Best costume wins $100!

Bomb Shelter
1517 S. 2nd Street
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m.
Pumpkin Fest featuring the Suds Club pumpkin beer tasting, pumpkin cocktails, pumpkin pie and pumpkin ice cream.

Brothers Bar & Grill
1213 N. Water Street
Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31, 8-10 p.m.
Costume contest with cash prizes, drink specials.

Buckhead Saloon
1044 N Old World 3rd Street
Friday, Oct. 30, Midnight
When the clock strikes 12, Halloween Midnight Madness boasts a balloon drop at midnight, $500 cash and prizes, and $3 drinks from midnight to close.

Saturday, Oct. 31, 8 p.m.
Halloween Bash with drink specials and costume contests. $1,000 cash giveaway to best costume of the night!

Cactus Club
2496 S. Wentworth Avenue
Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 p.m.
Halloween Party with Summertime Dudes, Father Phoenix (as The Who), E-Coli Cherry (as Red Knife Lottery).

Café Lulu
2261 S. Howell Avenue
Saturday, Oct. 31, 10:30 p.m.
Halloween Ball with live music, drink specials, costumes and prizes.

Fat Daddy's
120 W. National Avenue
Wednesday, Oct. 28
Pumpkin carving contest at 7 p.m. $5 for each pumpkin with prizes for best pumpkins.

Saturday, Oct. 31
Halloween Costume Party. Drink specials and costume contest with prizes at midnight.

Frank's Power Plant
2800 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue
Saturday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m.
Rock and Roll Halloween with three rockin' bands, Eddie Clendening, The Tinhorns, and Sidecar Steph and the 7-10 Split. $5 cover, costume contest at midnight, plus tons of raffles from local boutiques and shops.

Mad Planet
533 E. Center Street
Friday, Oct. 30, 9 p.m.
Retro Night Halloween Costume Party: 1st prize is $100 cash prize, 2nd prize is a $50 bar tab, 3rd prize is a $25 bar tab. Plus, music, dancing and drink specials.

Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 p.m.
Mad Planet Halloween Party featuring live music from Uptown Savages, Bama Lamas, and DJ Bill Boy Brad.

Milwaukee Ale House
233 N. Water Street
Saturday, Oct. 31, 9:30 p.m.
Live music from Rocky Mtn. Beaver Pond and a costume contest all night.

Mo's Irish Pub
142 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 p.m.
Third annual Hellavate Halloween Party, Sponsored by Elevate, features two floors of DJ entertainment, drink specials and costume contests. Tickets on sale in advance, $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

North Avenue
Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 p.m.
The street is closed off from Farwell to Oakland Avenue for a Halloween block party.

• G-Daddy's BBC Bar & Grill, 2022 E. North Avenue
• Cans Bar & Canteen, 1815 E. Kenilworth Pl.
• Cush Lounge, 1806 E. North Avenue
• The Eastsider, 1732 E. North Avenue
• Decibel/Deep Bar, 1905 E. North Avenue
• Hooligan's, 2017 E. North Avenue
• Landmark Lanes, 2220 N. Farwell Avenue
• Live On North, 2028 E. North Avenue
• Rascals, 2311 N. Murray Avenue
• Twisted Fork, 2238 N. Farwell Avenue
• Vitucci's Cocktail Lounge, 1832 E. North Avenue
• Von Trier, 2235 N. Farwell Avenue

Shank Hall
1434 N Farwell Avenue
Friday, October 30, 8:30 p.m.
Tales From the Who featuring a night of three tribute bands: Substitute (Who tribute), Kinda Kinks (Kinks tribute), and Shattered (Rolling Stones tribute). $8 at the door.

Stonefly
735 E. Center Street
Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 p.m.
Haunted Disco with The Glamour w/Steven Hawley, Double Drop, and Straka Kahn, plus a costume contest with rad prizes and $2.50 PBR all night long. $3 cover before 11 p.m., $5 after.

Sullivan's
1223 N. Water Street
Friday, Oct. 30, 9 p.m.
Sullivan's Prom Massacre is all about the costumes. Costume contest prizes include cash – $200 first place and $100 for second place – as well as free drinks for life.

Turner Hall Ballroom
1032 N. 4 Street
Friday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m.
Second annual 88.9 Radio Halloween Bash with music (and lots of it) from Chalice In The Palace, Kid Millions, Serena Ryder, the Championship, Great Lake Swimmers, and more, plus a fashion show. You can buy tickets in advance at the Pabst or Riverside box office or at the door.

Walkers Point Halloween Pub Crawl
Saturday, Oct. 31, 6 p.m.
Free shuttle bus to Walkers Point bars. Specials include $3 Lakefront Pumpkin beer, $4 Great Lakes Nosferatu, $4 Rogue Dead Guy Ale, $4 Blavod Vodka mixers, $2 Pumpkin Pie shots.

• Bomb Shelter, 1517 S. 2nd Street
• Club Anything, 807 S. 5th Street
• Crazy Water, 839 S. 2nd Street
• Fat Daddy's, 120 W. National Avenue
• Fifth Ward Pub, 814 S. 2nd Street
• Slim's, 338 S. 1st Street
• Stack'd Bar, 170 S. 1st Street
• Steny's, 800 S. 2nd Street

No matter what you have planned or where you end up, have a fun and safe Halloween, everyone!

**If you hear of any other Halloween happenings, please spread the word in the comments section. Meanwhile, I'll continue to update this list as I find more information.

Photo comes from gettyimages.com.

Fall Gallery Night

Four times a year Milwaukee's galleries and art museums open their doors on Friday night and let throngs of art lovers unit in a synchronized effort to support local and regional art.

Presented by the East Town and Historic Third Ward Associations, Gallery Night and Day began 22 years ago as a small art event but has spent the last two decades growing into a citywide, two-day premier art affair that spans Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and takes on many shapes, forms and media.

It seemed that more people than ever were trolling Milwaukee’s arty areas to see the simple delights of superb art, even despite the cold, dreary weather. My friend Stephanie and I opted for the Friday Night experience and noticed that not only were galleries and museums holding receptions with artists on hand, they were serving free beer, wine and hors d'oeuvre, making this event a great alternative to a night that’s normally dedicated to barhopping. In all, this is one of the social highlights of the season, not just a standard art exhibition.

This October, the quarterly Gallery Night featured 64 venues throughout the downtown area to choose from and an immense and somewhat daunting collection of diverse artwork. Since there was no way we’d tackle every single gallery in one evening, we chose to stay around the Third Ward and hop from one location to the next.

As daylight waned, the two of us joined Milwaukee's art-enthused masses. While folks flocked to popular galleries and shops, squally winds whistled through the dark alleyways and whirled crisp, gold leaves into mini cyclones along the sidewalk.

Throughout the night we went to least half a dozen galleries and boutiques located in old industrial buildings within the district. Each place displayed various awe-inspiring works ranging from drawings and paintings, to sculptures and photographs. And all were flooded with art enthusiasts and amateur admirers.

We began on Buffalo Street at Lela Boutique where we paged through racks of their fall collection and perusing the photos from Lela’s 6th Anniversary Fashion Show, along with the brilliant work of Reginald Baylor, Artist in Residence at the Pfister Hotel. Of course, we didn’t turn down a complimentary cup of Spotted Cow from the keg next to the register while we were there.

A few blocks down, we also hit up Freckle Face, a specialty children’s wear boutique offering apparel, footwear, bedding, classic children's books and other unique gifts. Upon entry my eyes were drawn toward vibrant illustrations of various wild animals – zebras, lions and so on – that adorned the walls as part of the exhibit El Zoológico de Mara by recent MIAD graduate and local artist Yvonne Lopez. This exhibit explored bilingual studies for small children through colors, numbers, months and the alphabet using bright colors, fun textures and silly animals.

We stayed for a bit and looked over the store’s wares, exchanged our empty beer cup for a glass of red wine, and then ventured out into the blustery night. Next up, Stephanie and I visited a couple of the galleries – Vicki Chiger Inc Art Gallery, Gallery 218 and Grava Gallery – and stopped into some shops – Broadway Paper, Flaire, Ltd., and Fashion Ninja – since they were also open until 10 p.m.

By now, we only had an hour until most of the shops and galleries would close, so we made two final stops, first at VP Gallery of Fine Photography and then Impromptu Gallery down the road. At VP Gallery, we got a sneak preview of iconic Life Magazine black and whites taken by legendary photographer John Dominis. Such photos from his career included candid shots of Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen and the Beatles.

Impromptu Gallery hosted the most inspiring exhibit of the night, which benefited RedLine Milwaukee, an urban art incubator with multi-layered services focused on arts and educational programs for the community. Emerging and mid-career visual artists on display consisted of cartoonist/illustrator/painter Jimbot, portrait painter Jenipher Sob, and mix-media artists and printmakers Anthony Weber and Kim Weiss.

Several glasses of wine and a couple cubes of cheese later, Steph and I were ready to head out. There was way more to see and eat and drink than we could possibly fit into one evening. But whether you head to Gallery Night or Day for the free beer and wine or to admire local artwork, it’s certainly an event not to miss.

The next Gallery Night and Day is set for January 15 and 16 in 2010. Mark that on your calendar!

(Photos to come. Check back!)

Milwaukee Area Haunted Houses

You know they're not actually haunted, and that guy without a head in the corner is really just wearing an ingenious costume. But despite knowing this, there's still just something really terrifying about haunted houses. Combining room after room of horror, eerie corn mazes and spooky hikes, local business, organizations and schools set out to scare the living daylights out of you.

This list of Milwaukee area Halloween haunted houses, walks, corn mazes and tours will surely help get your blood pumping and scare on.

Note: Times, dates and details of each haunted house vary, so be sure to check individual websites for additional information.

Milwaukee Area Haunted Houses

Bear Den Zoo Haunted Woods
Where: Bear Den Zoo & Petting Farm, 6831 Big Bend Road, Waterford
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 2-31
How much: 11 years and under $10 per person, 12 years and over $12 per person

EleMents of Fear
Where: Our Lady Queen of Peace, 2733 W. Euclid Avenue, Milwaukee
When: Select evenings October 23-31
How much: $8 Wednesday and Thursday, $9 Friday through Sunday

Emslie Haunted Farm
Where: 2731 Northview Road, Waukesha
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 10-31
How much: $7 for haunted barn, $2 for nighttime hayride

Fright Hike
Where: Lapham Peak State Park, Highway C (Just south of I-94), Delafield
When: Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31
How much: $5 per person, plus $5 park admission

Ghost Walk
Where: W180S8100 Racine Avenue, Muskego
When: Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17
How much: $8 for adults, $6 for children under 12

Gilly's Haunted Circus
Where: 1559 Forest Home Avenue, Milwaukee
When: Select evenings October 2-31
How much: $12 for adults, $10 for children under 12

Hartford Jaycees Haunted House
Where: 620 Baehring Dr., Slinger
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 2 - 31, additional nights week of Halloween
How much: $12 per person

Haunted High
Where: 550 E. Forest Street, Oconomowoc
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 9-31; Thursday, October 29
How much: $12 per person

Haunted Hills
Where: 321 Riverside Drive, Pewaukee
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 23-30
How much: $5 per person; save $1 per non-perishable food item

Haunted History Tour of "Old Grand Avenue"
Where: 20th Street and Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee
When: Friday and Saturdays, October 2-31
How much: $10 per person

Hubertus House of Horror
Where: 3727 Hubertus Road, Hubertus
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 2–31
How much: $12 per person

Mars Haunted House
Where: 734 W. Historic Mitchell Street, Milwaukee
When: Weekends and most Thursdays, October 2–31
How much: $12 for adults, $10 for children under 12

Monster Mayhem
Where: 5121 W. Howard Avenue, Milwaukee
When: Friday through Sunday, October 2-31
How much: $12 per person; $1 off with a non-perishable food donation

Ozaukee 4-H Haunt
Where: Ozaukee County Fair Grounds, W67 N866 Washington Avenue, Cedarburg
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 23-31; Thursday, October 29
How much: $10 per person (Cash only!)

Spooky Stalks Haunted Cornfield
Where: 12000 W. Appleton Avenue, Milwaukee
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 9-31
How much: $10 per person

Terror on Rural Street
Where: 147 N. Rural Street, Hartford
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 2-31
How much: $12 per person

Wisconsin Feargrounds
Where: Waukesha Expo Center Grounds, 1000 Northview Road, Waukesha
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 2-31, additional nights week of Halloween
How much: $15 for Morgan Manor, $30 for all three haunted houses; Fast Pass Morgan Manor $25, Fast Pass all three haunted house's $45

Now, if that's not enough, check out this site for other frightening events in and around Milwaukee, or in your own town. Or read my reviews of some of my favorite haunted houses from last year.

Photo comes from gettyimages.com.

Trick-Or-Treat '09

Note: The content of this guide was updated for 2009. Between the Bars continually updates the many posts available here, though it's possible some details, specials and offers may have changed. Consider calling first if you have specific questions for the businesses, events or services mentioned in the guide.

When I was young, trick-or-treat was what made Halloween! What's not to love about dressing up on a Sunday afternoon and going door-to-door collecting mounds of tooth rotting candy and eating it until your stomach aches?

Trick-or-treat has been around for decades, but whether to have it at night or during the day is still a dividing point in many neighborhoods. Traditionalists and lovers of the spooky aspects of Halloween believe that trick-or-treat should be done in the dark. Others, however, find it to be safer during the day.

Despite wavering opinions, most communities set their trick-or-treat time for the Sunday, October 31, Halloween, with a few neighborhoods choosing the Sunday before, October 25, or the Sunday after, November 1, said OnMilwaukee.

Regardless of what time your community kicks off the candy-hording, it’s important to be safe. Here’s a fantastic site that offers a Halloween Safety Guide to ensure your children have a fun, yet safe time trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.

Without further ado, here's a list of the 2009 trick-or-treat times for Milwaukee County and much of the surrounding area.

Bay View: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-8 p.m.

Bayside: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2:30-5:30 p.m.

Big Bend: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Brookfield: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7:30 p.m.

Town of Brookfield: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Brown Deer: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-4 p.m.

Caledonia: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-8 p.m.

Cedarburg: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-8 p.m.

Town of Cedarburg: Friday, Oct. 31, 6-9 p.m.

Cudahy: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-3 p.m.

Delafield: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Town of Delafield: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-8 p.m.

Town of East Troy: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Village of East Troy: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Elm Grove: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7:30 p.m.

Fox Point: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-4 p.m.

Franklin: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Germantown: Friday, Oct. 31, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Village of Germantown: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Glendale: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-4 p.m.

Greendale: Sunday, Oct. 25 1-4 p.m.

Greenfield: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Hales Corners: Sunday, Oct. 25, 4-7 p.m.

Hartford: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-6 p.m.

Hartland: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Menomonee Falls: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-8:30 p.m.

Merton: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Mequon: Sunday, Oct. 25, 4-7 p.m.

Milwaukee: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-4 p.m.

Town of Mukwonago: Saturday, Oct. 31. 4-7 p.m.

Village of Mukwonago: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-6 p.m.

Muskego: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Nashotah: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

New Berlin: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

North Prairie: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Oak Creek: Sunday, Oct. 25, 4-6 p.m.

Oconomowoc: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Pewaukee: Saturday, Oct. 31, 3-6 p.m.

Village of Pewaukee: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-8 p.m.

Port Washington: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Racine: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

River Hills: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-4 p.m.

Saukville: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Shorewood: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2-4 p.m.

Slinger: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m.

South Milwaukee: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2-4 p.m.

St. Francis: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-6 p.m.

Sturtevant: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m.

Sussex: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Thiensville: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Union Grove: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Wales: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Waterford: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7:30 p.m.

Waukesha: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7:30 p.m.

Town of Waukesha: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7:30 p.m.

Wauwatosa: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-4 p.m.

West Allis: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-3 p.m.

West Bend: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-6 p.m.

Town of West Bend: Sunday, Oct. 26, 4-6 p.m.

West Milwaukee: Sunday, Oct. 26, 1-3 p.m.

Whitefish Bay: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-6 p.m.

Wind Lake: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m.

Sorry if I've missed anyone, I'm sure I did. For other southeastern Wisconsin counties, head over here to find your community's trick-or-treat times.

Happy trick-or-treating! Be safe.

Trick-or-treat times were found on WISN.com; photo comes from gettyimages.com.

Costume Shopping '09

Creating a clever and unique Halloween costume can be quite the task, so the sooner you start brainstorming, the better. But with only two weeks left until October 31, days are dwindling for creative sparks to fly.

Fortunately there are a number of costume shops dedicated to Halloween, which have sprung up all over southeastern Wisconsin as early as September 1.

Even with all of its costume-selling counterparts, Bartz’s the Party Stores, a family-owned chain, still lives up to its slogan, “We are Halloween.” Bartz's Stores have been the Milwaukee area leader for party supplies for over 60 years, and as a kid it was where my dad took my siblings and I to pick out a costume for Sunday afternoon trick-or-treating.

After work, I stopped into the Bartz’s Party Store on North Avenue in Wauwatosa to round up a couple odds and ends as I put the finishing touches on my costume. When I was five years old I remember being overwhelmed by this store; much of the apparel, masks and accessories looked like they came out of my worst nightmares and the masses of people in a mad rush to purchase such horrifying costumes caused mayhem throughout the place.

  

Tonight the costume shop looked the same, although the costumes had been updated with this year’s pop trends. Additionally, it contained just about every Halloween costume from Ghosts and Princesses to Clowns and Action Heroes, plus any trinket, decoration or gory accessory desired. And because there are still a couple days until Halloween, I wasn’t shoulder to shoulder with any crazy customers.

 

Even though there are still many of the same costumes that I wore as a child – Snow White and M&Ms Candy – it’s interesting to see how costumes have evolved. I read somewhere that 10 years ago, pimps, fairies, Renaissance and Goth costumes didn’t even exist whereas nowadays you can find them almost everywhere. I also wonder if costumes were as revealing 10 years ago as they are today.

I heard a woman approach a young Bartz’s employee asking, “Where are the sexy costumes?” When you go out on Water Street to celebrate Halloween in a couple of weekends, you are guaranteed to see at least five "Sexy Little Red Riding Hoods" and at least a handful of Play Boy Bunnies. It seems they’ve become standard here, as well.

A man who knows all about such trends is my friend Justin, who you’ve read about in several of my previous posts. He is the Wauwatosa Bartz's manager. Conveniently, he was in the shop tonight, so I decided it’d be fun to play “interview” and ask him a couple questions pertaining to the store and its wares.

Me: What are the popular getups this year?

Justin: Well, it always seems that Hollywood sets the trend for Halloween costumes just like it does for Christmas toys. Just like last year, the summer blockbusters again dictate what’s hot for Halloween.

For both adults and kids we’ve sold a lot of Heath Ledger-inspired Joker costumes, as well as the Dark Knight. Speaking of Ledger, one of the spookiest aspects of Halloween 2009 is its heavy reliance on recent obituaries, most notably the passing of the King of Pop. When you go to a party there will be a person dressed as Michael Jackson, no doubt. Other popular dead celebrity costumes include Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon and infomercial pitchman Billy Mays. Meanwhile, diehard Twilight and True Blood fans have breathed new life into classic vampire attire, and of course, High School Musical is a big one for the kids.

Creating a clever and unique Halloween costume can be quite the task, so the sooner you start brainstorming, the better. But with only two weeks left until October 31, days are dwindling for creative sparks to fly.

Fortunately there are a number of costume shops dedicated to Halloween, which have sprung up all over southeastern Wisconsin as early as September 1.

Even with all of its costume-selling counterparts, Bartz’s the Party Stores, a family-owned chain, still lives up to its slogan, “We are Halloween.” Bartz's Stores have been the Milwaukee area leader for party supplies for over 60 years, and as a kid it was where my dad took my siblings and I to pick out a costume for Sunday afternoon trick-or-treating.

After work, I stopped into the Bartz’s Party Store on North Avenue in Wauwatosa to round up a couple odds and ends as I put the finishing touches on my costume. When I was five years old I remember being overwhelmed by this store; much of the apparel, masks and accessories looked like they came out of my worst nightmares and the masses of people in a mad rush to purchase such horrifying costumes caused mayhem throughout the place.

  

Tonight the costume shop looked the same, although the costumes had been updated with this year’s pop trends. Additionally, it contained just about every Halloween costume from Ghosts and Princesses to Clowns and Action Heroes, plus any trinket, decoration or gory accessory desired. And because there are still a couple days until Halloween, I wasn’t shoulder to shoulder with any crazy customers.

 

Even though there are still many of the same costumes that I wore as a child – Snow White and M&Ms Candy – it’s interesting to see how costumes have evolved. I read somewhere that 10 years ago, pimps, fairies, Renaissance and Goth costumes didn’t even exist whereas nowadays you can find them almost everywhere. I also wonder if costumes were as revealing 10 years ago as they are today.

I heard a woman approach a young Bartz’s employee asking, “Where are the sexy costumes?” When you go out on Water Street to celebrate Halloween in a couple of weekends, you are guaranteed to see at least five "Sexy Little Red Riding Hoods" and at least a handful of Play Boy Bunnies. It seems they’ve become standard here, as well.

A man who knows all about such trends is my friend Justin, who you’ve read about in several of my previous posts. He is the Wauwatosa Bartz's manager. Conveniently, he was in the shop tonight, so I decided it’d be fun to play “interview” and ask him a couple questions pertaining to the store and its wares.

Me: What are the popular getups this year?

Justin: Well, it always seems that Hollywood sets the trend for Halloween costumes just like it does for Christmas toys. Just like last year, the summer blockbusters again dictate what’s hot for Halloween.

For both adults and kids we’ve sold a lot of Heath Ledger-inspired Joker costumes, as well as the Dark Knight. Speaking of Ledger, one of the spookiest aspects of Halloween 2009 is its heavy reliance on recent obituaries, most notably the passing of the King of Pop. When you go to a party there will be a person dressed as Michael Jackson, no doubt. Other popular dead celebrity costumes include Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon and infomercial pitchman Billy Mays. Meanwhile, diehard Twilight and True Blood fans have breathed new life into classic vampire attire, and of course, High School Musical is a big one for the kids.

Welcoming Fall, Well, Sorta.

I'm going with the flow. I’m savoring my coffee a little longer in the morning. I'm staying calm about wearing a sweater today. I’m not stressing over putting the comforter back on the bed and I’m taking it easy while reading old blog posts from this time last year.

I’m just trying to get my mind on track. It’s not summer anymore, Karen.

This year, the transition between summer and autumn has been extra difficult. I have recently developed a rather agonizing love-hate relationship with fall. It doesn't help that I wasn't mentally prepared for these chilly days and the falling leaves as I'm still waiting for summer to actually happen.

While working on my attitude toward the rapid change in weather (and lack of summer), I’ve also been trying to slow down, do a little less, enjoy the season more – but it’s been hard. It seems like there is always more that needs to be done, obligations that need to be met, and not enough time for it all. The summer was a whirlwind of activity and I don’t want autumn to zip by, as well.

With that said, I have a rather doable list of things to tackle within the next month or so to help savor the new season.

My list includes:

• Pumpkin picking (also carving them).
• Visiting a corn maze and several haunted houses.
• Going on a hayride.
• Taking a few leisurely bike rides and long hikes to admire the changing leaves.
• Visiting the East Side Green Market.
• Taking the Lakefront Brewery tour on a Friday night and staying for the fish fry.
• Dressing up for Halloween. I’ve already have my costume!
• Going to Fright Fest at Six Flags.

What are some things you’re hoping to do this autumn?

If you aren’t sure, I have some suggestions and I'll do my best to continue posting about new places and events as I become aware of them. Your suggestions are always welcomed, too!

First of all, autumn brings fun and spooky things like haunted houses, which are found all over the Milwaukee area. Each year I check this site to find the scariest haunted houses in the area (many are rated). Since I don’t need to be coaxed into going, I probably have been to almost every single one and can offer recommendations, if you'd like.

As for apple orchards and pumpkin patches, I've already made my annual visit to Apple Holler in Sturtevant and returned to Milwaukee with nearly 40 juicy apples to eat and to cook with.

This year, I'm looking forward to making my first trip to The Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago for the Autumn Harvest Festival. I hear their famed apple pies baked in a paper bag are delicious!

For other apple orchards and pumpkin patches in the area I’ve found that the Milwaukee Moms site compiles an excellent list each year. Check it out!

For families, I suggest going to Milwaukee Recreation's Halloween Glen and the Milwaukee County Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo, which I went to many years ago as a kid. The Zoo also throws the Trick-or-Treat Spooktacular, which would also be fun for the youngsters as they collect candy and see Halloween-themed animals such as vampire bats.

Sure, I love all of the harvest themed events taking place around here, and I definitely love the smells of burning leaves and hot apple cider. I'm still just a little torn up that summer is over, but I keep telling myself that hoodies and the big down comforter aren't so bad.

Photo comes from gettyimages.com.

Cedarburg's Wine & Harvest Festival

Last weekend summer began to give way to what I hope will be another luscious Wisconsin autumn.

The change in season also brings thousands to the quaint town of Cedarburg (20 miles north of Milwaukee) for the annual Wine and Harvest Festival. Eric and I were among the many that couldn't have picked a better afternoon to go.

Cedarburg’s festivals are a celebration of arts and crafts, music, food and family fun all packed into the center of its charming historic downtown district. And the Wine and Harvest Festival certainly boasts the same flair.

The 37th year of this festival features local award-winning wines and foods such as brats and burgers, as well as seasonal favorites like apple cider, kettle corn and candy-covered caramel apples. Of course, there are numerous arts and crafts on display throughout the afternoon, along with daily kids' activities and live music that pulsates the streets in the evening.

Upon entering into Cedarburg’s historic district, I was awe-struck by the surprising number of festival-goers flooding the entire stretch of Washington Avenue. We had expected this to be a rather quiet venue, but it was more reminiscent of the crowds at Summerfest, though much more tolerable, thank goodness.

    

After weaving through the residential streets for a while, we finally found parking only a couple blocks away from the festival and on one of the side roads. We attempted to take the hayride shuttle, which continuously takes visitors to various stations throughout the downtown area, but it was already packed with eager families and other visitors. Since we didn’t know the area very well we followed the parade of strollers and booming music to where the tents and stands scattered the streets.

As we neared the festival, we walked alongside Cedar Creek Park where we had to skip over the sidewalk so not to ruin the chalk art done by participants in the “Chalk It Up” art contest. Mermaids, pumpkins and sailboats covered nearly a mile-long stretch of pavement. Chalk artist Kitty Dyble Thompson did several demonstrations for adults and children who were interested in entering the competition, as well.

The park also held plenty of activities for the kids that weren’t making chalk masterpieces. Parents could relax on benches overlooking the river as their children painted pumpkins, rode ponies, or bounced around in the inflatable pirate ship; some even had a goofy ghost or giant spider painted on their face to celebrate the approaching holiday, Halloween.

Wisconsin State Fair: The Food!

The 158th Wisconsin State Fair just came to a close, yet I’m still suffering from a food hangover.

Promising over 30 different foods on a stick, the Wisconsin State Fair, for many, means one thing: food. It’s one of the major reasons why folks attend the Fair. It's part of the experience. After all, it’s food you don't eat any other time because if you did, you’d probably keel over.

The tradition of gorging on junk food at the Fair is something that never really appealed to me. But, this year while making my annual trip with Justin, I decided to go all out. We ditch our diets and relished a deep-fried food fest that left us literally stuffed for days.

Upon entering through the main gates late in the afternoon, the blend of grilled and fried food smells – oh, the wonderful smells – permeated my nostrils and swirled in my lungs, making my stomach flip in excitement. It was time to see what all of the non-calorie counters were flocking to the Fair for.

Basically, there’s lots and lots of food, often deep fried, on a stick, or deep fried and on a stick. There are bratwurst and pork chops and corn on the cob and cream puffs and mammoth pickles. Then there’s the food on a stick – I’m always surprised by what new calorie-laden meal is put on a stick – running the gamut from caramel apples to cheddar cheese to corn dogs. And, of course, there’s the more obscure sticked foods like deep-fried Snickers bars and cheesecakes, cherry pies and cookie dough, fried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and macaroni and cheese. Oh, and don't forget about this year’s hype, chocolate-covered bacon on a stick!

Justin and I got to taste an assortment of Fair favorites, but when you're from Wisconsin, you've got to start things off right – with a frosty brew. We ordered up two Milwaukee Ale House Louie’s Demise and made our rounds, perusing the many food options while doing a little people watching and peeking in at some of the animals inside the various Ag pavilions. But, like I said, the smells are wonderful – I’m talkin’ food here, folks. Please. – so you get pretty hungry walking around.

Once our first beer was gone, our bellies were ready to tackle the rest of the Fair.

The food at the Fair is supposed to put you in touch with the agricultural history of the state, and it helps that it often tastes good. Each year the State Fair honors our dairy industry and the best place to taste some of Wisconsin’s fine produce is inside the Wisconsin Products Pavilion. Here we found cheese curds, string cheese, grilled cheese, and other cheese-smothered foods. Yes, we tried it all. It was just too difficult to resist the deep-fried cheese curds and a grilled cheese sammy oozing with Swiss.

While our minds – and stomachs – were focused on great Wisconsin produce, the two of us ventured across the park to Herb Kohl’s Milkhouse where about 160,000 glasses brimming with milk are sold each year. For only 25 cents per 8 oz glass, milk lovers stood in line to sample a variety of unique flavors – banana, vanilla cherry and root beer – and not so unusual flavors like chocolate and strawberry. I guzzled an ice cold cup of thick and creamy root beer-flavored milk and another of banana. I’m pretty sure that just about covered my dairy intake for the next couple of days.

Although we were getting quite full, we weren’t about to call it quits.

Hydrobikes at Juneau Park Lagoon

I found myself in awe of the juxtaposition of nature and city life found in Milwaukee when I moved to the lower East Side. I love how I can wake up in the morning and bike along the Oak Leaf Trail, spend the afternoon playing volleyball on Bradford Beach, and then relax by catching the game at a nearby tavern – all while never straying far from home.

Downtown Milwaukee has definitely been shaped by the industries that built the city – from the steel and iron mills to meat packing plants and breweries. But the construction of the lakefront has a different history. In the 1920's, the city had the novel idea to unite people and nature. This is why today trails and roadways, not factories, skirt Lake Michigan, making the lakefront the perfect spot to partake in peaceful outdoor activities.

Sure, we may not have Navy Pier or flourishing green precincts like the Chicago Park District, or the white sand and turquoise waters of the Caribbean, but it doesn't matter. Our lakefront has a lot to offer as it provides Milwaukee citizens and visitors alike with plenty of activities that make for a great escape without traveling hours away from the city.

As a matter of fact, just north of Veterans Park near the lakefront, the Juneau Park Paddleboats Company offers three perfect ways – hydrobikes, paddleboats, or radio-controlled sailboats – for Milwaukeeans to get away from bustling city life and unwind.

The hydrobikes, and other activities, are located in the Juneau Park Lagoon at Veterans Park, which is just off the shore of Lake Michigan and along North Lincoln Memorial Drive. Until this time, I hadn’t actually seen a hydrobike, and even though I didn’t know what to expect, I wanted to take one for a spin.

According to the rules of Juneau Park Paddleboats, Inc. either a valid driver's license or a state I.D. is required as a deposit, life jackets are provided and must be worn by all passengers, parental consent is needed for anyone under age 16, and children must be at least one year of age in order to ride a hydrobike.

Eric and I chained our bikes to the nearby bike rack and strolled up to the stand where we were warmly greeted by the Paddleboats staff who then had us sign a waiver as they collected our $10 fee. I was thrilled to learn that both single and double passenger hydrobikes were available. I really wanted to get a tandem bike with Eric so that we could tour the lagoon together, or better yet, to coax him into doing most of the pedaling. Had I know of his desire to chase the ducks in the pond, I would have probably chosen to go solo, though.

We secured our snug, orange life jackets and then shuffled onto the wooden dock that jutted out into the picturesque Juneau Park Lagoon. At this time, final modifications were made to the height of our seats so our 30 minute ride would be comfortable. Then, we were briefed on how to operate the bikes.

Interestingly, the hydrobikes didn’t look the way I imagined. I envisioned a Big Wheel, like the one I road as a toddler, but they were actually built around a sturdy aluminum bicycle frame mounted on a pair of 10-foot catamaran-style pontoons.

   

As Eric and I began pedaling forward, a steel chain drive began to spin a propeller down below. I felt surprisingly stable on the water as we moved from the dock to the middle of the tree-lined lagoon.

I read earlier that couples find hydrobikes to be great “relationship builders”, especially on the tandem bikes. Even though I thought that statement was a bit ridiculous, I eventually understood. Eric and I had to work as a team to pedal at an agreeable speed and to simultaneously steer with our handle bars. Thankfully, both of us are pretty even-tempered because feuding couples would be going in circles.