Blog archives
Traditions stories in our blog
Swim with dolphins? Film 'The Cove' shows them killed
July 22, 2011
Flipper dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry and an Oceanic Preservation Society team secretly film the annual killing of 23,000 dolphins at Taiji, Japan.
The Krampus and St. Nicholas in Austria
December 5, 2010
See videos of the Krampus with old Saint Nick on December 6. Plus a Krampus Christmas song, Stephen Colbert on Krampus.
Advent calendar repurposed: Wisconsin Lottery's Holiday Countdown
November 28, 2010
The Wisconsin Lottery has themed its new instant ticket to take $15 a pop from gamblers during the holiday season.
About Halloween: History book traces Halloween ideas, customs
October 14, 2010
Reading this history of Halloween — Death Makes a Holiday — makes me get up and Google things every few minutes.
How to brine turkey, carve turkey: Thanksgiving recipes from Alton Brown
November 10, 2009
See how to carve a turkey with a electric knife, how to brine a turkey, and other Thanksgiving videos from Alton Brown of Good Eats.
Pancake Day / Lakefront Artist Fair in Racine
April 28, 2009
This all-you-can-eat event has been kicking off Racine’s warmer season for 55 years now.
'King of Kings' theme: My Easter movie earworm
April 5, 2009
The 1961 film starring Jeffrey Hunter has always been my personal cheesy Jesus movie.
New Orleans, Louisiana music: Playlist of Mardi Gras songs
February 19, 2009
Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana inspires this music playlist of second line songs, new orleans piano, party music, cajun and zydeco.
Auld Lang Syne lyrics: Burns poem, Dougie MacLean song
December 31, 2008
Auld Lang Syne is an old song. Its Scottish lyrics are taken from a 1788 Robert Burns poem, and customarily sung on New Year’s Eve.
Traditional New Years foods for good luck
December 28, 2008
A look at a few of the events and the foods that have become New Year’s traditions.
Apple orchard near Burlington, Wisconsin: Brightonwoods Orchard
September 26, 2008
Brightonwoods Orchard near Burlington, Wisconsin offers a wide variety of unusual heirloom or heritage apples.
Milwaukee seafood shop: Empire Fish Company
December 27, 2007
Fine fish and seafood in Milwaukee: Empire Fish is one of the Top 10 seafood markets in the United States.
Pierogi recipes: Cheese filling, cabbage filling, mashed potato filling
December 15, 2007
Pierogi recipes — for pierogi dough and several different fillings — as handed down by my mother.
A history of Christmas in America: 'The Battle for Christmas'
November 24, 2007
Why Christmas is commercial: All about Christmas in the USA and the rich men who made it that way.
French recipes, bistro cuisine fill Thomas Keller cookbook 'Bouchon'
April 26, 2007
What is a bistro? Thomas Keller’s cookbook bundles French recipes, cooking techniques, and bistro style details.
Joseph Campbell on mythology, religion, and art
March 26, 2007
Mythological stories of the hero journey fill the history of religion. Joseph Campbell taught the power of myths.
St. Patrick's Day with Irish breakfast, Racine parade, and Irish stew recipe
March 19, 2007
Since it fell on a Saturday this year, we could celebrate all day — from an Irish breakfast to the Racine parade to a homemade Irish stew.
New Orleans cooking: Alton Brown gumbo recipe
February 19, 2007
Gumbo, that icon of the cuisine of New Orleans, begins with a roux. Alton Brown shares the secret.
'Misquoting Jesus': The Bible and Bart Ehrman
January 25, 2007
Ehrman does an outstanding job of summarizing the history of Biblical texts in simple language.
Happy New Year with Emeril's Hoppin' John recipe
January 1, 2007
This dish of black-eyed peas and pork meat is considered good luck on New Year’s Day in the southern U.S.
Northbrook restaurant: Charlie Beinlich's Food & Tap
March 31, 2006
Great hamburgers in a great room since 1950.
2005 Tour de France
June 29, 2005
My anticipation is strong as the main event in cycling is about to begin again.
