Penny for your candy

Cedar Creek Trading Post in Cedarburg is well known for its black popcorn, grown in the central part of the state.

"This particular grower has the best flavor of any I’ve tried," says owner Robin Parsons, who also sells baby white rice and calico popcorn — as well as a host of gourmet food items like teas and coffees. "I sell fresh fudge. It is all-natural old-fashioned fudge. It is shipped fresh to me every week."

But what is lesser known about the shop is the old-fashioned penny candies and toys that Parsons says appeal to her young and retro customers. Her two children, Angela, 14, and Daniel, 12, are her "advisers and testers."

Also unknown about the shop is its back-door view of the mill pond, through which she spotted the pair of eagles reported in the Northshore last fall. "It’s just beautiful. In the summer, I leave the door open."

A shoe-in 

When Abe Hecker opened Hecker’s Shoes in Whitefish Bay in 1957, "he stressed fit and service and width," says his daughter, Marcia Hecker, who runs the store today. "I remember my dad used to go to people’s houses. He’d bring the shoes to their house."

The house calls are a thing of the past, and the store no longer sells men’s and women’s shoes, specializing instead in infant to preteen footwear. "We thought there’s a real niche for that."

But the commitment to service, fit and width remains, and the store carries shoes in narrow to extra wide. "Not everyone is a medium," she says, explaining that without a proper fit early on, kids can have problem feet later in life.

And the store’s manager, Mark Bernhagen, has been trained specifically to fit children’s footwear. He has been with Hecker’s for 29 years, and is a real plus for the store. "We draw from Port Washington, Green Bay, Manitowoc, Illinois — all over," Hecker says.

Grown-up decadence

Jennifer Goldbeck does it all: She’s bookkeeper and baker for Cedarburg’s Delicately Delicious, which she purchased just a year ago.

And Delicately Delicious does it all too: Wedding cakes, birthday cakes, mini cream puffs, brownies and petit fours. All decadent, but what Delicately Delicious may not be as well known for is its layer cakes. "It’s four layers of cake and three layers of frosting," Goldbeck says. "The filling we make from scratch. It’s a European butter cream."

It’s not the gritty-feeling, super sugary-tasting frosting on your more commercial cakes. "It’s more of a grown-up frosting."

Popular cake flavors include carrot, lemon poppy seed, banana and red velvet. Popular fillings are chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, raspberry, mocha or buttered almond. Bailey’s Irish Cream and lavender have been requested too. "Everything we do is made to order. Usually on the outside we do vanilla, because it’s the prettiest."

The layer cakes start at $25 — an 8-inch cake that serves 12 to 16.

Feet don’t fail me now

When you think of wicked winter weather, you might think wool.

But wool’s got nothing on alpaca. "Alpaca’s softer than wool, alpaca’s stronger than wool, and alpaca’s lighter than wool yet warmer," says Ann Wirtz, owner of the Alpaca Attic in Cedarburg’s Cedar Creek Settlement. "Alpaca’s very soft but more durable."

And you don’t have to go to the Andes to find it. Wirtz’s shop carries a wide variety of alpaca products, but the socks are the most popular — she’s even got a couple planning a trip to Alaska looking for them.

"The socks are probably my biggest hit," she says.

Wirtz says they’re popular because alpaca fiber is a "natural wick product," which means it pulls sweat from your feet, so even though they’ll stay warm, they won’t get wet. For obvious reasons, the socks have long been sought after by winter sports enthusiasts, but they’re finding their way into the mainstream market. "Everybody’s buying them."

Her store carries a wide variety of colors and styles — heavier, outdoor socks for hikers and the like, for $18 a pair; a lighter weight trouser sock, two pairs for $26; and an athletic style, for $13.50.

Cheesehead’s dream

Steve Ehlers doesn’t care if people think he’s cheesy. He is.

As owner of Larry’s Brown Deer Market — Steve is Larry’s son and the owner with wife, Cindy — he’s proud of the wide variety of cheeses the store carries.

Certainly Larry’s is a specialty food store, known for its deli items, catering services, gift baskets. But not all know about the cheese, the 100-plus variety of cheeses the store carries. "We’ve got a big selection of American and Wisconsin artisan cheeses," Ehlers says. "I think the uniqueness about us is we cut to order.

"We also work with local Wisconsin producers to promote their cheese."

Plus, "You can taste pretty much anything."

And the most exotic cheese in store now? A sheep’s milk cheese with black truffle. "That’s a pretty unusual one," he says.

Making a splash

The Jewish Community Center is certainly no secret to residents of the Northshore and beyond.

Yet not all are familiar with the Hy and Richard Smith Family JCC Water Park in Bayside, which opened in June, says JCC Associate Executive Director Mark Shapiro.

"It’s a 7-acre outdoor aquatic play land," he says.

Beautifully landscaped, the water park has something for all ages.

For younger swimmers, there are two cushioned splash pads and a zero-depth entry pool with lily pads that children can walk on.

The park also has a six-lane outdoor swimming pool with lap lanes and built-in water basketball hoops.

"We have an outdoor aqua climbing wall," Shapiro adds. Climbers who reach the top of the 12-foot wall ring a bell and can drop safely into the water below.

Additionally, the park has a fully kosher snack bar and a party room, and locker rooms that are handicap-accessible.

Beyond the new water park, Shapiro says the JCC in Whitefish Bay has a chlorine-free indoor swimming pool that is worth the price of membership itself. "A significant portion of our membership is here for that swimming pool," he says. "The overall aquatic program of the JCC is a hidden gem."

Unearthing precious gems

Dorothy Gallun of Dorothy Gallun and Associates, Cedarburg, has been in the vintage jewelry business since 1950.

"We specialize in estate and designer jewelry," says Patty Gallun-Hansen, Dorothy’s daughter. "Most of our antique jewelry is from the Victorian era," Gallun says.

Meanwhile, not far away in Fox Point, Franziska Hart runs Forget-Me-Nots Jewelry … Pieces with a Past. She’s been running that business — mainly through her home — since 2002. "I’ve always had a passion for accessories," she says. "Some of the pieces I sell are truly what you’d call estate jewelry, in that they were previously owned. The majority of the items I have are one-of-a-kind pieces.

"Sometimes I’ll find parts of pieces and re-create an item. Every so often, I’ll come across designers whose work I like and I’ll buy a new piece," Hart says.

Both jewelry entrepreneurs do a lot of the research on the pieces before they purchase, and both have a following, so they know their customers’ tastes. "In some cases, mom’s working with a third generation of customers," Gallun-Hansen says.

"I try to pry into their lives," Gallun says. "It gives me a clue."

And Hart says the opposite is true too — the jewelry people wear reflects their personality. "It tells you about the individual," she says.

Samples of their jewelry collections can be seen at www.gallunjewelry.com and www.fmn-jewelry.com.

From the Met to the Marcus

It is 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. The magnificent gold curtain swings back and opera lovers swoon in their seats listening to the beautiful music and watching the splendid stage craft. Where might you be? You are sitting at the Marcus North Shore Cinema enjoying popcorn with your Puccini, of course. Tickets range from $20 to $22 for adults and $15 for children. At that rate you just saved enough money to make a monthly house payment when you factor in airfare, hotel and $250 orchestra seats at the Met. During the Met’s season, the operas are broadcast live in high definition to a select group of theaters around the country. An encore taped performance is broadcast on Sunday. Theater-goers get some bonuses that Met attendees don’t get, such as backstage views and close-ups of the diva’s gown. Don’t forget your white hanky. When the tenor leans into "Nessun dorma" from "Turandot," you’re going to need it. Check out dates and times at www.marcustheaters.com.

Cookie monster mash

Many a Northshore mom has dropped off the kids at school, then pretended to drive home and get the laundry done. Instead, she heads for 8 ounces of sweet pleasure. As if in a trance, she walks into Regina’s Bay Bakery on Silver Spring Drive, her arms stretched out like a zombie, saying, "Give me a chocolate, peanut butter cookie, now!" What that mom (dad or grandma) has just ordered is a hefty half-pound of pure heaven. Freshly ground nuts are baked into the dough, and the cookie is iced with a layer of smooth peanut butter, then generously topped with a layer of creamy milk chocolate. Not too crunchy and not too soft, such a delight can be procured for a mere $1.95. Best part? There are zero calories — at least while you are still in the trance-like state.

Well-planned binge

Forget frozen. If you feel the cheesecake urge, make a call to Sweetheart Cakes in Port Washington for a freshly baked, made from scratch alternative. "We make more than 30 different flavors of cheesecake," says owner Sarah Runkel. "They’re baked to order, and we need about four days advance notice.

Runkel says that her company’s cheesecakes, available in 8-inch and 10-inch rounds, are deeper than a typical cheesecake. They’re also iced and finished with a thin layer of Sweetheart Cake’s homemade butter cream icing and other delicious additions.

While customers never quite lose their taste for the bakery’s traditional New York-style cheesecake, the demand increases for fruit-flavored cheesecakes in the summer. In the winter? Chocolate reins supreme, though all flavors are available year-round, as well as decorated cakes, donuts and other sweet treats.

Answering the call

Looking for a good old-fashioned game of bingo? Consider the Saukville American Legion Post’s monthly bingo game, generally held on the third Sunday of each month.

"It’s a good event — old-time fun with new-time friends," says Tim Hillebrand, a member of the Landt-Thiel American Legion Post and bingo coordinator.

A minimum $1 investment gets you a hard bingo card; additional hard cards and special paper cards can be bought for a nominal fee. Each month, $1,000 is won through 17 nightly games. Additional raffles are held throughout the evening and if you attend in November, 10 frozen turkeys are also given away throughout the night.

Proceeds from the monthly bingo night are returned to the community and help support the activities of the post. It’s also a perfect opportunity to thank a veteran, as the bingo night is run by post members and their wives.

Food, snacks and desserts are available for purchase, and the bar is open should you like to quaff a beer during bingo. The entire hall is smoke free and doors open at 5 p.m. Children can participate when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Discriminating rummage 

Need a set of tires? A kitchen sink? How about a set of Louis Vuitton luggage? Or a Fendi handbag, owned but never used? You never know what treasures you will find at the annual University School of Milwaukee rummage sale.

"Many customers come back year after year looking for designer clothing and other items that would normally go for much more money at a resale shop, but when they come to the sale, they can get it for a fraction of the cost," says Amy Baumle, one of this year’s rummage sale co-chairs. "There is always a line of customers waiting for more than an hour before the sale opens each year, including a mother-daughter team looking for antique toys and unique items and a book dealer who brings a dolly and typically buys more than 100 books at a time."

Donated items from University School families fill the school’s hockey rink each year, and proceeds from the annual sale are used to purchase items and improvements to the school via USM’s Parent Association allocations.

This year, the USM rummage sale begins at 8 a.m. on May 3 and continues May 4, concluding with a special "bag" sale for bargain shoppers.

And yes, the kitchen sink has been donated — more than once.

Weed-be-gone

Lots of folks love a good sale, but Amy Joyce is downright passionate about hers. Yet you won’t see it advertised on TV or billboards, but that doesn’t mean her product is less important. In fact, Joyce believes her product can save lives.

What is it? Corn gluten, a natural weed killer.

Joyce learned about corn gluten through her involvement with the Healthy Community Project, and she’s been using it on her lawn ever since. "What I saw was a huge difference in the health of my lawn, the look of my lawn. The weeds just weren’t there."

Joyce explained that the corn gluten releases a protein that acts as a suppressant on weeds, and through its use, she aims to reduce the use of pesticides, which are linked to cancer and other diseases.

Hence the sale, which she has held in April for three years now, to mainly neighbors and others on her mailing list who have gotten wind of her endeavors.

She’s worked with different distributors, most recently with Happy Grass out of Lake Mills, so she could support a local business.

The sale price is 50 pounds for $35, well below market value. "I’m not in this to make a fortune," she says.

Cure for the munchies

The Haus of Prime Meats in Thiensville is, not surprisingly, known for its prime meats. But what some may not know about the butcher shop is that it has a following for its homemade Chex mix, potato chips and accompanying dips.

One of the owners, Sandy Conrady, says the Chex mix and chip recipes have been in the family for 25 years. The Chex mix is a favorite during Packers season and around Christmas time. "It’s a good, healthier snack," she says.

The chips come in three flavors — Parmesan, ranch, and salt and pepper. And they’re old-fashioned chips. "They are a little thicker. They are addicting," Conrady says.

The dips come in four flavors — spinach and artichoke, crab, dill and chipped beef, which consists of finely sliced and chopped smoked beef, onion, cream cheese and a "secret ingredient."

The Chex mix and chips sell for $6.99 a pound, while the dips sell for $3.99 or $5.99 a pound, depending on the variety.

Kreme of the crop

That you can get gas at the Glendale Mobil is no secret.

That it stocks one of the best selections of Krispy Kreme donuts, notwithstanding the stand-alone stores, is something that isn’t necessarily widely known.

Cashier James Schroeder says when the remodeled Glendale Mobil at Good Hope and Green Bay roads reopened its doors a year ago, it also opened up a white plastic case full of Krispy Kremes. "We have about eight different flavors," Schroeder says.

Those include the original glazed, custard filled, raspberry filled and glazed blueberry. They also include the new Sheboygan mud pie, a chocolate-iced cinnamon doughnut.

"Oh yeah," he says. "They’re pretty good."

The doughnuts sell for 75 cents each or $6.99 a dozen. "We usually sell a pretty decent amount of them," Schroeder says. "They’re very popular."

Come for the food,stay for the wine

Everyone on the Northshore’s heard of Pandl’s in Bayside.

And though the respected restaurant’s known for its food, what fewer people know is that you can buy fine wine at finer prices.

"We have guests who come in for dinner because of the wine," says Debra Hornik, general manager and wine handler.

Then there’s the gentleman who comes in specifically for the Miner’s merlot. "There’s a little group of women who come in Monday nights for the big red," she says.

Hornik has 70 to 90 wines on her list, and at least a dozen are priced under $20 a bottle. It’s a list that can change as frequently as twice a month, depending on what sells.

Hornik has been with Pandl’s for 18 years. She chooses her wines through reading — there are several boutique wineries in California of which she’s a fan — wine tastings and a few wine history classes along the way.