And I am telling you: Go see this show!
As a musical lover, I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I've never seen Dreamgirls the movie. But that's about to change because I must have those sweet, sweet sounds pumped into my ear drums once again — though I doubt even Jennifer Hudson and her Oscar can top the magic that's on stage now through November 1st at the Milwaukee Rep.
On Friday night, my mom and I (and a packed house) sat in awe of the remarkable talent gracing the Milwaukee theater scene for the next month. A mix of Milwaukee natives, Rep veterans, and Helen Hayes Award Winners, the cast of Dreamgirls will have you utterly mesmerized from the opening number to the final bow. Particularly stand-out performances come from Nova Y. Payton as Effie White and Cedric Neal as James "Thunder" Early — both members of the Helen Hayes Award Winners club for the very parts they're playing now.
During Effie's iconic power ballad "And I Am Telling You" (performed by Nova Y. Payton), I recall hearing three things from the audience: that kind of hold-your-breath silence, intermittent whoops, and sniffling. At the end, the crowd got on its feet — whistling, hollering, and furiously applauding. The women next to me were openly crying, and I would have been a puddle myself had I not choked back tears in an attempt to stay cool in front of Mom (as if she cares).
The costumes and creative direction were perfectly crafted to reflect the caliber of talent on stage. Scene and costume changes were fluid and dynamic, energizing the entire production. And the sequins — oh the sequins! There's a whole lotta fierce fabulosity on display in this Rep production, and it's delicious to behold.
I will say that, in general, the plot of Dreamgirls might seem predictable: A rags-to-riches story about the roller coaster that is show biz. It's easy to compare Dreamgirls to Motown as they fall in the same time period and musical genre — but Dreamgirls definitely has a stronger narrative. A narrative that feels familiar, but a narrative nonetheless. And if the storytellers are as talented as the cast and creative of the Rep's Dreamgirls, familiar quickly becomes phenomenal.
Catch Dreamgirls at the Milwaukee Rep now through November 1st! For ticket information, visit milwaukeerep.com.
Asian slaw + chips & blue cheese FTW
I’ve been to Cafe Lulu in Bay View a few times, and one thing remains constant: The Asian slaw is always a winner. Like, the highlight of the meal. How often does that happen where the side dish steals the show? Oh wait, it happens in yet another way at Lulu: House-made potato chips with blue cheese sauce for dipping. Gimme gimme!
But I will tell you right now: Don’t gimme that pita with chicken in Indian spices. Its defining feature is a pile of onions, and nobody wants that — especially not with the taste lingering 24 hours and two thorough teeth-brushings later. That’s some potent stuff! So proceed with caution. I know people love Lulu for more than just the slaw and chips — but I'm still on the hunt for a go-to entree.
I've heard yummy things about the falafel and Smokehouse Chicken Sandwich, and the good news is that with any sandwich you can get a split-side of both the slaw and the chips. So despite mouthfuls of onions, I will continue my search for the perfect entree at Cafe Lulu — and until I find it, I will happily fill up on scrumptious sides.
Pop culture you can put a stamp on
The hand-made cards at Seas and Peas are a little bit niche and a whole lotta awesome. Check out these bad boys — you'll get the idea.
To top it off, the customer service at Seas and Peas is top notch. They sent me a personal message to let me know that my cards were on their way. The cards arrived quickly, and the quality is great — not super-heavy stock, but certainly solid enough to be approved by this greeting card snob. Return customer? You better believe it!
Enjoy a good peanut sauce? This one's for you!
This has to be one of the prettiest salads. Check out that rainbow! Don't you just want to dive right in? Well this salad is as yummy as it is pretty — especially if you have a thing for peanut sauce.
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WHAT YOU'LL NEED
SALAD STUFF
1 cup uncooked quinoa
2 cups shredded cabbage (or less, to taste)
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
1 cup matchstick carrots, roughly chopped
handful of cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup diced green onions
1/2 cup cashews or peanuts
1 cup cooked edamame (found in freezer section)
1 lime, juiced
DRESSING
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
2 tsp freshly grated ginger
2 TBS soy sauce
1 TBS honey
2 TBS olive oil (or 1 TBS olive, 1 TBS sesame)
1 TBS water, to thin (more/less to taste)
Extra soy sauce to taste
WHAT YOU'LL DO
1. Cook quinoa according to package directions. Cook frozen edamame according to package directions. Chop up the choppables. Combine all choppables in a large bowl.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine peanut butter and honey. Microwave for 20 seconds, remove, and whisk to combine. Whisk in remaining dressing ingredients. Pour dressing over the quinoa, adding slowly to taste, and mix to combine.
3. Add dressed quinoa to the bowl of choppables, mixing until everything is coated with dressing. Add lime juice and extra soy sauce to taste. Chill in the fridge until serving.
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Truth time: I thought I liked peanut sauce. But I ended up diluting the dressing with extra tablespoons of soy sauce, and even then it was a little too too peanut-y for me. Next time, I might combine the same salad stuff and hunt down a different dressing, or cheat and use Newman's Own Sesame Ginger (it's delish!). That's not to say I didn't wolf down this salad – it's just that I discovered my own personal preference when it comes to Asian-inspired sauces.
That said, I took this salad to a party where all the true lovers of peanut sauce were all about it — especially the dressing. So peanut people, you do you! And whatever dressing you choose, do this salad.
P.S. Add chicken to take this from side dish to main meal!
A fresh spin on diner eats
When you walk into John's Sandwich Shop, you'll notice an updated diner vibe. There's a long counter with stools, a malt machine, and the fry cooks are visible from the very front of the one-room restaurant. But John's isn't a greasy spoon. The walls are always freshly painted, the décor is cute, there's outdoor seating, and one look at the menu reveals you're not dealing with typical diner fare.
I grew up with John's — and partially at John's. For my fish job ever, I was a bus girl there. Back then it was just as delicious, but decidedly more greasy. Famous for their breakfast, the post-church crowd always left me with sticky syrup spattered on my ill-fitting khaki pants. I shudder. But since those days of young me, John's has undergone a health-crazed transformation. Don't get me wrong, you can still find malts and egg-topped burgers on the menu, but you'll find them alongside The Grainiac (a chopped salad of toasted quinoa, cucumber, onion, tomato, and avocado with agave nectar, greens, and black beans) and other healthy eats.
I love the balance John's shows in their menu. Whether you go greasy or green, there's something for everyone. I usually go for the quesadillas – they're served with these seriously yummy cinnamon-sugar crisps that are like automatic admittance to the Clean Plate Club. My mom (who is my go-to John's date) likes to switch it up. She sometimes gets a burger and sometimes indulges in the all-day breakfast.
I can't think of when I had a bad meal at John's. My mom and I go every six weeks, like clockwork (whenever the family dog Pippin is at the groomer's). See? John's keeps 'em coming back! Some things of note: John's is an early-to-bed, early-to-rise kind of place with hours from 6:30 to 8:00. They're also cash-only. Kind of annoying, but also right in line with their quaint, family-owned and operated vibe.
