Kathleen Witman has made Oshkosh her Bailiwick. She set out to showcase the places and people who make this community an amazing place to live, one small workshop at a time.

A few weeks back Kathleen invited me to observe, and take a couple tastes, a workshop on how to make fajitas and salsa at La Avenida Mexican Store & Deli. As I had learned in a previous post, owner Dora Fabian has an infectious joy in her store and I knew this would translate exceptionally well to a hands on demonstration.

When I arrived a couple participants were already there peppering Dora with pre-workshop sneaks. Kathleen was able to maintain some classroom decorum and keep the snacking at bay. The aroma was already getting hard to ignore and at 5:30 my stomach was letting everyone in the room know my minutes of observation only were drawing down quickly.

The rest of the group arrived and thankfully the cooking began. In a Bailiwick workshop each participant is expected to jump in, chop, blend, slice and dice. Some took their responsibilities to a repressed place in their psyche. It didn’t take long before the classmates were all clamoring for the recipe and a list of products used. Dora and her store would make a tidy profit this night. I know I bought food to go and everything on her ingredient sheet.

That is the really neat thing about a Bailiwick Workshop, everyone walks away enriched. Kathleen’s workshops will show you wine making, how to fix a leaky faucet, hardscaping your yard, how to put a flourish into that plain cake and even the techniques involved in tossing pizza dough in the sky without it landing back on your face.

Check out the Bailiwick Workshop’s website to get a current list of scheduled workshops, but also sign up for the email list so you can find out early what is coming in the months ahead. These learning sessions are kept small and fill up quickly. The cost is amazingly low and often allows a “friend” discount if you sign up for two.

Perhaps after one or two of Kathleen’s courses, you will finally find your Bailiwick.

On my way downtown I thought, “Where can I grab a quick bite and still get back to work within 45 minutes.” And then I passed Rhapsodies Gourmet Frozen Custard. “We’re Open,” stated the sign. “Yeah! Lunch and dessert!”

Rhapsodies (we’re on a first name basis) is that cute café on the corner of South Park and Oregon. It opened in June 2010. Around Thanksgiving the owners Lance and Dan Geffers closed it for a brief winter siesta. But now it’s open!

Inside, the café is a comfortable, colorful place with a couple of booths and tables. Lime green walls sport musical instruments and lyrics from famous songs or composers. Music dominates hence the name Rhapsodies.

Back in the summer and fall, I often stopped at Rhapsodies for a frozen custard sundae to satisfy a sweet craving or have a sandwich. BBQ pulled pork, classic hot beef, and the herb chicken breast are my favorites, always with a side of tomato salad. All homemade.

Another specialty is soup. My favorite is the homemade chicken dumpling. I ordered it so fast I missed the tomato florentine. Next time. And while the frozen custard special was Tin Roof Rusted, I passed on it in favor of my old standby…a hot fudge chocolate frozen custard sundae with pecans.

I ate the sundae first…duh…while my soup cooled. They hit the spot! While I indulged a woman came in and exclaimed, “Welcome back!” to Lance behind the counter. She ordered a pint of vanilla frozen custard for her mom and said how much they missed the place. Then an older father and daughter came in and order dogs…one with the works and one with light mustard and onions. By then I was happy and full and went back to work with 5 minutes to spare.

Rhapsodies is open from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 pm. In case you need the GPS to get there, the address is 1226 Oregon Street in Oshkosh and the phone number is 920-230-2112.

Take advantage of these above average temps to take in some artistry tonight at Gallery Walk. This month 24 stops are highlighting unique shows. 1st National Bank Building is opening the lobby for a wildlife photography exhibit, Planet Perk has “Eighteen Chairs,” and of course the Fathers/Mothers of Gallery Walk, ArtSpace Collective, has a new exhibit from Gail Panske, “Mirage.”

Four stops offer the opportunity to grab a bite, a drink and enlightenment. Have a nosh at Becket’s, move on to a candy fix from Carmel Crisp. Join that with a fresh brew at Planet Perk and then a night cap at Gardina’s.

So many artists in such a short time. So plan to get started when the shebang starts at 6 p.m. and wear comfy shoes, as you will be going until things shut down at 9 p.m.

It won’t take more than a minute and will bring you a triple payoff! Subscribe to Oshkosh365 and you won’t miss a single post on all the great things to do in Oshkosh WI! Just look in the right hand column and scroll down to Oshkosh365 Subscribe, fill in your email, hit the button and you will now be in the know of the 365 Things to do in Oshkosh WI.

As the winner of last year’s Triennial Exhibition, a juried art show held annually by Art Space Collective at the Wagner Opera House, Ms. Tobia was awarded this one woman show to display her 3-D ceramic pieces. The exhibit “investigates the ideas of psychological escape, privacy and protection,” Ms. Tobias said in an article in The Advanced Titan.

The former professor at Oshkosh returned to town this week for the show opening and reception last Wednesday, the day classes were canceled. Several students and faculty braved the rapidly dropping temperatures for a chance to talk with the artist who now lives in Pennsylvania.

Ms. Tobia was an Assistant Professor for four years and now is a studio artist in Doylestown, PA.

The show runs until February 25th at the Steinhilber gallery.