world AIDS day: keep your mocha local

Unless you've been living under a rock, you're probably aware that today is World AIDS Day.

Red ribbons are donned, celebrities are hopping off Twitter, and Starbucks is donating a whopping 5 cents to the global fight against AIDS. Yes, I may have a sardonic tone, but I do recognize the importance of these activities to raise awareness and funds to fight a horrible and preventable disease.

However, I have a something I'd to point out.

While it's undeniable that in developing nations, especially in Africa, AIDS is a terrifying issue, I guess I always have on my live local, think global hat and fear that people forget about those in their own community who are suffering from HIV/AIDS.

Maybe it's the impact of seeing pieces of the AIDS Quilt at the Milwaukee Art Museum last summer or having participated in AIDS Walk Wisconsin in the past, but I think its critical for folks to be aware that AIDS isn't a foreign disease, nor a gay disease, but something that can happen to anyone, in their own communities.

That's why today I kept my "mocha" money local and decided to donate $5 to a local organization contributing to the fight against AIDS. While I gave to AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, here is a list of a few Milwaukee-based organizations doing work with HIV/AIDS, considering donating what you would've spent on coffee today to them...instead of just 5 cents, your whole $5 will make an impact.

• AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin
• One Heartland
• Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin
• BESTD Clinic
• Milwaukee LGBT Community Center

Know of others? Please leave them in the comments section. Will you keep your mocha local today?

monday munchies: tastes of spring!

I could not be more thrilled that Farmers Market Season is slowly beginning. Following the Rock N' Run on Saturday, our gang headed over to to the West Allis Farmer's Market to see what we could dig up.  

I picked up spinach, mushrooms, bread from a little old lady that looked like my late Aunt Mary, rhubarb, a red onion, and some asparagus (I am allergic to grocery store asparagus, but all natural stuff is just fine and SO FREAKING TASTY). I also bought some flowers and herbs to plant on my balcony garden.

Celery cutting, German Chamomile, Russian Tarragon from the market and my chives that survived the winter indoors.

 Alyssum and Impatiens. I bought them from the CUTEST little old man. He sang to the customers, showed me pictures of his garden and had a sweatshirt that said "Man plants...God grants." 

Gardening aside, you and I both know that no trip to the market would be complete without me getting busy in my kitchen. The recipes I made were relatively healthy too.

Low-fat quiche using local eggs, spinach, mushroom, asparagus, Parmesan, and Saxon Creamery Green fields cheese.

Strawberry-Rhubarb Muffins - using fresh local rhubarb and frozen local strawberries from summer 2009.

 It's going to be one tasty summer!

 

music madness: spring concerts

Completely diverging from last night's melancholy topic (thank you all who gave advice/support), let's talk about something more cheerful tonight...upcoming concerts!

Once again, the folks over at the Pabst Theater Group have outdone themselves by getting a crapload of ridiculously national acts.

Here's what I already have tickets for:

• March 6: The Avett Brothers with The Low Anthem
• March 19: The Big Pink & A Place to Bury Strangers (This is a $10 show that everyone should go to. I think this was the best album that nobody heard of last year.)
• April 3: Passion Pit
• April 11: Girls with Dum Dum Girls
• April 21: FLAMING LIPS (oohhhhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhhhh)
• May 9: Frightened Rabbit
• May 22: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
  

Here's what I'll probably end up going to as well:

• March 3: The English Beat & Fishbone
• March 22: Temper Trap
• April 4: David Bazan
• May 3: Apples in Stereo
• May 24: Midlake
  

And there's so many other great acts coming that I had to rule out due to price points/ non GA seating / etc.

On the concert festival front, I can only make it to Pitchfork this year and that's just fine with me! Why? Because for my $98 three-day pass I will be seeing:

• Modest Mouse (for the first time since December 2000)
• LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
• PAVEMENT

I breathed such a sigh of relief and yelped for joy when I saw that last one. I'd feared they'd be at Lollapalooza, which takes place while I'm in Europe. Yes, I'll likely miss Arcade Fire and the Strokes, and even Lady Gaga, but with the exception of the latter, I've seen the other two several times, so I'm not too bummed out.

Of course, don't forget my #mkemusic challenge. Though I've hit my February slot by catching Conrad Plymouth last weekend at the MuzzleOfBees.com 5th Anniversary Show at Cactus Club, I am definitely not going to miss seeing a bunch of local acts at the RadioMilwaukee Music Awards Party this Thursday at Whiskey Bar (it's a block from my house, I can't miss out).

And speaking of local radio stations, don't forget to mark your calendars for WMSE's Rockabilly Chili Contest on March 7. It's one of my most favorite days of the year!

What musical goodness is coming up on your calendar?