It’s getting to be ice cream eating season again (though really, is it ever not?) and lately, I’ve been discovering delicious new local ice cream at unexpected places in my neighborhood. Gates & Brovi has a freezer at the entrance to its dining room filled with pints of G&B brand ice cream. The owners have been making it themselves for about 10 months, experimenting with inventive and tempting flavors such as "Coffee date?" and strawberry fudge ripple, as well as more extravagant combinations like coconut cream chocolate macadamia nut pineapple swirl. Less than a mile down Monroe Street at Alimentari, you can continue to indulge your ice cream fantasies with Sheboygan-based Baron’s Gelato, which also has its share of tantalizing and sometimes exotic flavors. My fave so far is orange fig but next on my list to try are m mint stracciatella or maybe espresso burnt sugar.
– Renie Schapiro, Isthmus contributor
S P O N S O R E D C O NT E N T
Bakers Place Now Leasing at 849 E. Washington Ave. in Madison
From studios to spacious two- and three-bedroom apartments — Bakers Place offers a range of homes designed for well-being and comfort. Enjoy shared amenities that support healthy living: fitness area, on-site primary care physician, convenient workspaces and a library, communal garden and a roof terrace with views of Lake Monona, and a café by Copa Vida. Learn more and schedule a tour at livebakersplace.com.
What we're reading
I've been watching movies in Madison since the mid-1990s. Local cinephiles know the scene has changed dramatically — there aren't nearly as many screens for indie and arthouse fare as there used to be. Still, Madison loves the movies. I've enjoyed reading reviews from three local critics’ Substack newsletters: Moving Image Madison, Not that Rob Thomas, and The Horizon Line Madison, which are constant sources of inspiration. Streaming isn't the same as the big screen, but a community is emerging in these newsletters, giving me hope for a new era of local cinephilia. Check them out.
– Andy Adams, curator + director, FlakPhoto Projects
S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T
Fresh Mart: Your Local Grocery Haven
Discover Fresh Mart Madison for all your grocery needs. We offer a wide selection of organic produce, quality meats, international and local specialties. Conveniently located in the heart of Madison, Fresh Mart is dedicated to offering fresh and affordable options to our community. Visit us today and experience the difference! Learn more and explore our weekly specials.
Where we're eating
I had a chance to visit the Owamni restaurant in downtown Minneapolis.The vision of this restaurant is to showcase modern Indigenous foods. The menu omits beef, pork, chicken, dairy, wheat flour, and cane sugar in favor of corns, beans, squashes, wild game, fish and native plants. We had the wild turkey and squash dishes and a trout bean dip as an appetizer with ample servings to share. The wait staff was welcoming, knowledgeable and made the whole experience enjoyable.
– Oscar Mireles, Isthmus contributor
What we're drinking
Second Place in a Shovel Fight is the name of Young Blood Brewing Company’s recent hazy pale ale. The nonsensical name seems to foreshadow a battle for your palate with a tropical hop bill loaded with Sabro, Citra Lupo and Riwaka. The winner is the Sabro with its citrus and coconut flavors that make it distinctive, with a touch of pina colada character. It should still be available at the brewery’s Northstreet location.
– Robin Shepard,Isthmus contributor
Do you have a find to share via Word of Mouth? Contact Isthmus associate editor Linda Falkenstein at lindaf@isthmus.com.
