If you happen to be interested in my recent jaunt to the northern lands of Wisconsin (specifically, Milwaukee), I've published a few photos to peruse at your leisure.

Our dinner at Hinterland was unmatched during the entire trip. This self-proclaimed gastropub has incredible food and drinks. Their scallops melt in the mouth while lightly brushing your tastebuds with blackened spices -- a notch above Longman & Eagle's back here in Chicago (which is really the only appropriate comparison). The Andouille-crusted halibut defied expectations: sitting in a bed of Spanish chorizo, potato-pepper hash, cilantro aioli, and red hot butter sauce, this was just as succulent as the scallops -- incalculably soft and palatable. I also decided to destroy my esophagus with the cocktail battering ram that is Robo's Antifogmatic, a devlish concoction of house-infused Thai chili vodka, coconut water, lime, and ginger. The waiter kept telling me that the chef just makes the stuff in the back; after two sips, "you should be accustomed to it". Yeah, well, it took a few more than that. But I did order two glasses of it, so that counts for something.

I've also begun cranking away at a uniform series of photographs tentatively called Intimidating Beverages. Wide-angled but intense -- you get the idea below. Only have one that really expounds upon the idea, but I hope to accumulate several more over the remainder of the year.

<div
    class="
      image-block-outer-wrapper
      layout-caption-below
      design-layout-inline
      
      
      
    "
    data-test="image-block-inline-outer-wrapper"
>

  

  
    <figure
        class="
          sqs-block-image-figure
          intrinsic
        "
        style="max-width:2500px;"
    >
      
    
    

    
      
        <button
            class="
              sqs-block-image-button
              lightbox
              
      
    
            "
            data-description="&lt;p&gt;Intimidation: Coffee. (Milwaukee Public Market)&lt;/p&gt;"
            data-lightbox-theme=""
        >
          <span class="v6-visually-hidden">View fullsize</span>
          
      <div
          
          
          class="image-block-wrapper"
          data-animation-role="image"

data-animation-override

      >
        <div class="sqs-image-shape-container-element
          
      
    
          
        " style="
            position: relative;
            
              padding-bottom:42.519996643066406%;
            
            overflow: hidden;-webkit-mask-image: -webkit-radial-gradient(white, black);
          "
          >
            
              <noscript><img src="https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/25423/2023/8053f58ded.jpg" alt="Intimidation: Coffee. (Milwaukee Public Market)" /></noscript><img class="thumb-image" src="https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/25423/2023/8053f58ded.jpg" data-image="https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/25423/2023/8053f58ded.jpg" data-image-dimensions="2500x1063" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" alt="Intimidation: Coffee. (Milwaukee Public Market)" data-load="false" data-image-id="505101dbe4b0b2bc7caf0afe" data-type="image" />
            
        </div>
      </div>
    
        </button>
      
    

    
      
      <figcaption class="image-caption-wrapper">
        <div class="image-caption"><p>Intimidation: Coffee. (Milwaukee Public Market)</p></div>
      </figcaption>
    
  
    </figure>
  

</div>