Word of Mouth: Aug 6

From your friends at Isthmus, Madison's alt-weekly.

What we're listening to

Cat Capellaro, Isthmus arts & culture editor:

Vulfpeck! If you want to feel happy and groovy, with sounds of the 1960s and 1970s but squarely in the now, set your dial to Vulfpeck. Our band, VO5, is covering the impossibly adorable and catchy song "Back Pocket," but you can also find satisfaction in "Conscious Club" and "Funky Duck." The harmonies, bass playing and drumming are all sublime (I've got a new crush). The band also protested Spotify's shitty payment for artists by creating a silent album.

Who we're following
on social media

Stephen Coss, Isthmus advertising assistant:

The @nprmusic Instagram account is my go-to for discovering new artists. NPR Music uploads their intimate live Tiny Desk Concerts performances to the account, which features both upcoming and prominent artists. Recently, I discovered the "TrapHouseJazz" (his words) sound of Jamaican artist Masego, and a wonderful set by cultural powerhouse Lizzo. Definitely my favorite place for new music and easy listening.

Where we're shopping

Chelsey Dequaine, Isthmus social media director:

As a girl from Green Bay, you know I shopped the Packers event at St. Vinny's on Willy Street. The store does this every year. There is always a great selection of green and gold items just in time for the season to begin. I found a rad Packers Levi's denim jacket for only $18. Thrifting at St. Vinny's is a great way to shop sustainably and help those in need in Dane County. Lucky for you, the sale is still going on!

Where we're grabbing
a quick lunch

What we're watching

Jenny Peek, Isthmus contributor:

In an attempt to fill the Game of Thrones void, I (like many others) flocked to HBO's vexing new mini-series Chernobyl. Yes, I kept my subscription thanks to all of the teasers –– damn you HBO. It's equal parts terrifying and illuminating. The show's eerie, other-worldly portrayal of one of the world's worst nuclear disasters to date is almost as unbelievable as dragon, queens and white walkers.

What we're eating

Michael Muckian, Isthmus contributor:

Ever since my wife, Jean, read A Thousand Days in Tuscany by chef/food writer Marlena de Blasi, she has been madly searching for squash blossoms to make one of the recipes in the book (it’s on pages 28-29). We finally found some at an unnamed stand at the Dane County Farmers' Market. She whipped up de Blasi’s beer batter and lightly fried them, careful to retain the freshness and supple texture. They were delicious and like nothing I had ever eaten before.

What we're reading

Rachel Werner, content marketing specialist at Taliesin Preservation:

Living a veg-centric lifestyle is a bit more complex than animal rights crop tops and pretty salad pics on Instagram. Which is why I'm getting addicted to Tenderly, a vegan lifestyle magazine which releases new content every day via the blogging site Medium. Just launched this summer, Tenderly serves up straight talk on what it means to be vegan on a road trip, tight budget and in countries where Whole Foods doesn't exist. Plus the writers' humor dispensed regularly with a dash of humility is a much needed balm on those days I am eating avocado toast — again.