Lifestyle

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has long printed a weekly publication called The Union, and it was this name that would inspire the satirical newspaper, The Onion.

Life is like a box of chocolates — you never know what you’re going to get — unless, that is, you visit Indulgence Chocolatiers. Guests are greeted with a variety of handcrafted, delicious and beautiful chocolate confections.

It’s hard to imagine a family gathering or football potluck without them. In 1932, a man by the name of Baptiste established a family-owned and operated corner bakery on Milwaukee’s south side.

Sugar, spice and myriad savory blends are on display at America’s largest independent spice retailer, Penzeys Spices, headquartered in Wauwatosa. Whether you’re on the hunt for the perfect pumpkin pie spice or Italian herb mix, Penzeys has been supplying a variety of ingredients to cooks across America for over 60 years.

Located in Milwaukee’s Third Ward on Chicago Street, Sweet Diner rewards early-morning customers and late-morning brunch-goers alike with an expansive menu of sweet and savory breakfast fare.

“I think on early shifts, it’s all about learning to function in a perpetual state of physical and mental fatigue,” said Vince Vitrano, WTMJ-TV news anchor and reporter.

Paul Henschel is a confirmed night owl. A machinist for Milwaukee Forge, he works third shift, clocking in from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Thursday.

When the snow flies, Wisconsin residents still expect a smooth and safe morning commute. They rely on people like Tyler Steffen, a Waukesha public works employee who has been clearing snowy roads for 20 years.

TEMPO Milwaukee President and CEO Jennifer Dirks typically starts her workday with 7 a.m. coffee meetings.

As an English teacher at Hartford Union High School, Jennifer Rodig is accustomed to rising early. Her day starts with lesson planning even before students arrive, but getting students’ attention when class starts at 7:25 a.m. proves to be challenging.

Farming is a family tradition for dairy farmer Rick Roden of Roden Echo Valley, LLC.

Studies show that working out first thing in the morning increases your productivity throughout the day. If that’s the case, Kerri Schanowski is as productive as they come.

Wisconsin owes many of its culinary staples to traditional European recipes, including Alpine-style cheese, bratwurst and, as of 2013, the official state pastry: kringle.

With one of the largest trauma surgeon teams in the state, the Medical College of Wisconsin is prepared to save lives day and night. Working around the clock sometimes means shifts of 35 hours or more.

An iced Americano aficionado with a knack for perfecting the craft of coffee making, Chris Johnston, barista trainer at Valentine Coffee Co., wakes up around 4 a.m. daily. After a comedy sketch and a bowl of oatmeal, he’s on his way to foster the talent of Valentine’s employees and provide quality assurance to wholesale clients.

Morning routines among Branigan staffers vary by personality:

Crunchy, creamy, chocolaty, nougaty or even sour – what’s your favorite Halloween candy? We want to know.

Some people like haunted houses. Others relish an exploration into uncharted areas of the brain’s most inexplicable fears. If that’s more your speed, add these hair-raising haunts to your October bucket list.

Just passing through or seeking thrills, here’s the map explained:

“We do everything possible to make the haunted house feel genuinely unique,” said Jacob Eugster, founder of Screamin’ Acres Haunted Houses Inc. and a UW-Madison business student.

Outside of leaves changing, Milwaukee will see vibrant color this October during Day of the Dead celebrations.

What has green fur, the head of a frog, the face of an elephant, stubby legs and jagged spikes along its backside? Wisconsin’s infamous, 200-pound monster, the hodag.

If the crisp fall air and cozy sweater-weather attire (cue the flannels) aren’t enough to brighten your mornings, then fall breakfast foods will certainly do the trick. Call it basic, but with treats like pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin muffins and decadent bourbon pumpkin cinnamon rolls to start the day, it’s no wonder fall is my favorite season.

Picking a Halloween costume takes effort and creativity and most of us end up leaving it until the very last minute. This means each year there are a dozens of women in cat ears or men in Superman shirts at any given Halloween party.

You’ve got the carving knife, a stencil (that you’ll never tell the neighbors you used) and a trash bag for all the seeds. Now, you just need the pumpkin to turn into a jack-o’-lantern.

Cities from Seattle to St. Petersburg are banning single-use plastics like plastic straws, utensils and stirrers to limit the amount of plastic waste in the oceans.

Dining in Wisconsin means experiencing the intersection of timeless comfort and experimental flavor. As the state’s culinary landscape evolves, our beloved cheese curds become dearer to us while James Beard Award nominated chefs continue to put Wisconsin on the map.

Alice Choi’s Hip Foodie Mom has a substantial following on Instagram, serving a curated feed of tasteful recipes and photographs of perfectly plated meals. Food blogging isn’t new, but it’s changing how people dine.

Culinary trends come and go. Some have more influence than others (e.g. kale), and some are Instagram-born trends (e.g. smoothie bowls).

Located in Milwaukee’s fifth ward is Snack Boys, a funky snack bar that lives up to its motto, “Pure Chaos with some food and booze.”