What can you find in this week's Isthmus? Highlights from the latest issue follow:
- Maggie Ginsberg-Schutz explores the phenomenon of grandparents who raise their grandchildren.
- Judith Davidoff interviews gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke.
- Joe Tarr reports on peer specialists who help others in recovery.
- Dave Cieslewicz tells baby boomers how to clean up their mess.
- Pat Dillon explores the local house-concert scene, which brings local and national acts to nearby yards, garages and basements.
- Brent Stewart interviews WheelHouse, the Americana band that sprang from the ashes of the Mighty Short Bus and the Lucas Cates Band.
- Lanni Solochek previews Communion Madison's holiday concert at the Frequency featuring Mississippi folk rockers Rosco Bandana and local troubadour Jeremiah Nelson.
- Joshua M. Miller chats about environmental activism with folk iconoclast Bonnie "Prince" Billy, set to perform at the Majestic.
- Gwen Rice praises University Theatre's inventive interpretations of classic tales in An Evening with Poe.
- Gwen Rice enjoys the clever punch lines and elaborate costumes in StageQ's Scrooge in Rouge.
- TV critic Dean Robbins hums along with USA's Psych: The Musical.
- Scott Renshaw wishes director Peter Jackson would let The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug have its own identity apart from the Lord of the Rings films.
- Kenneth Burns says the strange images and violent stories in A Touch of Sin, screening at UW Cinematheque, are both arresting and disturbing.
- Kyle Nabilcy loves the mighty Molcajete at Taqueria El Jalapeño.
- André Darlington blind-tests 11 grocery store champagnes, with interesting results.
- Linda Falkenstein talks to Joanne Tooley of Earth Stew, a new composting service.
- Tell All comforts a man deluged by stupid tweets.
- Dan Seiter finds pain and power at the Mad Rollin' Dolls season opener.