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July 11, 2009

Decisions, Decisions.

Milwaukee comes to life every summer, offering a wealth of things to do. In fact, there’s so much going on this weekend that I'm finding it difficult to pick and choose.

With Milwaukee's summer festival season still moving in full force, this weekend brings Bastille Days, Gathering on the Green and South Shore Frolics – all great events. Additionally, after a long and anticipated wait, The Great Circus Parade makes its return to Milwaukee while the Brewers head into the All-Star break with a three-game series against the Dodgers. Plus, there are a number of farmers markets that I’d like to check out this weekend, as well.

Oh man, what’s a blogger to do? I’ll let you know what I decide.

Have a fun weekend!

July 08, 2009

Fireworks Light Up the Lakefront

One of the highlights of summer for me is Fourth of July weekend.

Yep, it’s great to have an extended weekend, but what makes the holiday extra special are the blazing fireworks that light up the pitch-black sky on July 3.

Each year Milwaukeeans are dazzled by a spectacular Independence Day celebration that’s performed one day early by Bartolotta Fireworks Company and hosted by US Bank.

Milwaukee’s US Bank fireworks show was an honored tradition for my family and I until my parents moved north to West Bend. But this year, after a four-year hiatus, I decided to relive one of my favorite pastimes.

I took the day off of work to head to Lake Michigan’s lakefront. Eric met at my place and we gathered up some last odds and ends. We figured that since we were the only two who could get out of work, we’d secure a spot early in Veterans Park and hold down the fort until the rest of our friends could get there.

See, you’d be crazy to assume that you can show up at 6 p.m. and score a place to watch the show. Already by 3 p.m. Veterans Park was brimming with thousands of families and friends, locals and visitors who were grilling out, picnicking or just relaxing as they anticipated the night’s spectacular.

From McKinley Marina to the Milwaukee Art Museum, the entire lakefront looked like one enormous camp ground as hundreds of tents and campers scattered the once bare terrain. Many of these people camped out over night and declared their seats by roping off a large plot with police tape – that got a little ridiculous, if you ask me.

Eric and I made a quick run to the grocery store to get a couple of snacks to munch on – fruits, veggies, chips – and some beer, and then picked up two #4 sandwiches at Jimmy John's on Brady Street. We filled a couple of coolers and found several blankets, and then we made the short hike to Lake Michigan to stake out our spot.

Believe it or not, there’s a lot of preparation that goes into a day of waiting in the park – seasoned spectators know what I mean! You need to pack food, a cooler and something to sit on, and then navigate the city to find parking and later devise a plan for departure and a fast route home. Of course, all of that seems pretty painless when considering the meticulous planning involved in US Bank’s firework extravaganza.

Eric introduced me to SciFi's blog DVICE, which featured a post last year about Milwaukee's lakefront fireworks, which explained how it all works. To get this 50-minute show and each shooter synchronized, it takes a heck of a lot of time, patience and skill, I’m sure.

According to the site, originator Jeff Bartolotta uses a software package mainly created for pyrotechnics and to choreograph the explosive spectacle. By means of this computer program, each and every sky explosion is laid out on a time line and graphically simulated in 3D. Bartolotta doesn’t use computerized ignition though; instead, fuses are hand-lit by an impressively efficient seasonal team of about two dozen pro-pyrotechnics and volunteers equipped with flares. You can read more about the technical stuff by heading over here.

Continue reading "Fireworks Light Up the Lakefront" »

July 07, 2009

No Summerfest, Bummer.

I didn’t go to Summerfest.

Truth be told, this is the first year I haven’t attended, and for some reason I feel badly about it.

I mean, not going to Summerfest is sacrilegious in the minds of some locals, and since I consider myself to be a "Milwaukee blogger", well, I probably should've made more of an effort to get to the "World's Largest Music Festival," especially when it's right in my backyard.

You see, I was out of town and on business for the entire first week of the lakefront music fest. Still, I intended on squeezing in a few visits – one Thursday night and then again on Sunday afternoon. Well, Thursday night summoned torrential rain and, really, it wasn’t worth getting soaked, so I chalked that night up to a rainout and planned to make it up on Sunday. Then, Sunday rolled around and it was so gorgeous outside that I was forced to spend the entire afternoon poolside. I swam and got some sun... Man, it was terrible.

Obviously, I feel really, really awful about missing the "Big Gig" this year. Now I have nothing interesting to post other than sarcasm-laden mumbo jumbo. (That's not true, well, not 100% true, at least.)

Did you have a chance to go? If so, feel free to share your adventures with all of us wayward readers in the comments section. I’d love to hear what you faithful Summerfest-goers did.

As for me, there’s always next year.

July 04, 2009

Happy Independence Day!

Fireworks

I love July 4th!

Sure, I enjoy having the day off of work and I adore a fantastic display of well orchestrated pyrotechnics, but I also try to keep in mind that July 4 is more than a fun holiday centered on fireworks, food and family and friends.

Of course, the Fourth of July is a commemoration of the founding of our nation and the struggles and achievements that came along with it.

So, let’s take a moment today to remember the events that shaped this annual celebration and the importance of Independence Day to our history and future as a nation.

With that, have a fun filled and eventful Fourth of July!

June 25, 2009

Summerfest 101

Summerfest main

For many locals, Summerfest kick-starts summer in Milwaukee.

Well, in that case, summer is here! Summerfest opens at noon today and with it comes an eclectic music lineup, a variety of free activities, and 45 food vendors all in a pleasant setting right on Lake Michigan's shoreline.

Milwaukee's annual music festival, now in its 42nd year, has evolved into a gargantuan event. Organizers expect this year's fest to draw somewhere between 830,000 and 930,000 fans over the course of its 11-day run. This is actually smaller than it was at the beginning of this decade, when attendance topped 1 million.

There are 10 stages on the main Summerfest grounds. The roster of more than 700 musical acts includes the Airborne Toxic Event (June 28), Lupe Fiasco (June 29), Spoon (June 29), Buddy Guy (June 30), Femi Kuti (July 2), the Roots (July 3), the English Beat (July 5) and Elvis Costello (July 5).

Concerts held at the outdoor Marcus Amphitheater require a separate ticket purchase, which you can buy and print instantly, with no extra fees, at Summerfest.com. Marcus concert ticket holders also have access to all of the stages on the main Summerfest grounds. So, get there early, see a free show, and then head into the Marcus for the night's headliner.

Among the marquee acts playing the Marcus this year are Bon Jovi (tonight), KiSS (June 27), Stevie Wonder (June 28), Bob Dylan (July 1), No Doubt (July 2) and Kid Rock (July 5).

As you can tell, there's so much to see and do! So much, in fact, that I've compiled a list of new and exciting things to check out for those of you planning to go more than once. I've also added some tips for all of you Summerfest newbies out there.

Summerfest continues until July 5, so you'll have plenty of time to experience the "World's Largest Music Festival" – an official designation that was bestowed upon Summerfest by Guinness World Records – once, twice or even 11 times!

  1. Learn how to get in for free by clicking here.
  2. Print your Summerfest tickets from home with NO fees. Just click here
  3. Listen to the Emerging Artists Series every day from 3 to 8 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Connections Stage, and then vote for your favorite band.
  4. Take a shuttle from any of the park and ride locations. 
  5. Don't miss the Big Bang Fireworks opening night at 9:30 p.m. 
  6. Get in for FREE on July 5 from noon until 3 p.m. during We Energies Free Day.
  7. People watch – Summerfest brings out EVERYONE.
  8. B.Y.O.T.P. (Bring your own toilet paper, of course).
  9. Be a VIP on the Captain’s Deck.
  10. Score a wristband for free lawn seats at the Marcus Amphitheater.
  11. Ride the Skyglider.
  12. Sample the local beers from Lakefront and Water Street Breweries.
  13. Support local music every day at the Cascio Interstate Music Groove Garage.  
  14. Watch a live newscast.
  15. If you live less than two miles away, walk to the gates. No, seriously. 
  16. Bring ear plugs.
  17. Learn how Summerfest has gone green.
  18. Party with The Vega Star Monday, June 29 at 5:30 p.m. atthe Cascio Music Garage. 
  19. See sports demonstrations from the Milwaukee Bucks, Admirals, Wave and other pro-athletes at the Sentry SportsZone. 
  20. Try gator on a stick at Crawdaddy’s.
  21. When it's ridiculously crowded, stroll the lake path.
  22. Find good parking in greater Downtown by heading over here.
  23. Have a martini at Jo Jo's Martini Lounge.
  24. Sample everything from Thai beef jerky to shish-ke-bob and sauerbraten sandwiches to tamales at the Ethnic Village.
  25. Wear really comfortable shoes that aren't open toe.
  26. Text a friend so that everyone can see your message on the Text-2-Screen at the U.S. Cellular Connections Stage.
  27. Buy a Summerfest T.
  28. Please, leave the really young babies at home. Oh, and the enormous strollers. Thank you.
  29. Chuckle at ComedySportz.
  30. See your favorite radio DJ broadcast live.
  31. Relax in the larger-than-life Legendary Leinenkugel’s Lounger.
  32. Be responsible.
  33. Tip the street performers.
  34. Swing by the MLB Road Show and test your skills in the pitching and batting cages.
  35. Ride your Hog and park for FREE.
  36. For a sugar high or head freeze eat a giant Hawaiian Shave Ice.
  37. Play hooky from work and get in for only $8 before 4 p.m.
  38. Enter the Subaru Hole-In-One Contest and tee up three balls for $6 to win great prizes.
  39. Watch the water ski show.
  40. Dance on a picnic table.
  41. Pedal to the grounds, but remember to lock up your bicycle.
  42. Chase the kiddies on the jungle gyms and slides at the Children’s PlayZone.
  43. Learn about fascinating sea creatures and actually touch them at Discovery Wold's Touch Tank.
  44. Gobble up Saz’s mozzarella marinara.
  45. Dress in layers. It might be hot during the day, but the lakefront gets quite chilly at night.
  46. Wear deodorant – For everybody’s sake!
  47. Cool off at the Columbia St. Mary’s Cool Down Lounge.
  48. Kick back in a real leather seat found on one of Midwest Airlines Boeing 717s.
  49. Get lucky by playing free bingo at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage and Pavilion.
  50. Wear a big red smile – you know what I'm talkin' about.

Feel free to share your tips or suggestions below and, perhaps, I'll add them to my list. Let's try to come up with 100 things!

June 23, 2009

About That Ad in The Onion...

A number of you have seen it. And really, it’s OK, you don’t have to say anything...

Many people have been congratulating me for having my photo in the MAM After Dark advertisement that's plastered across a full page in The Onion. Congrats? For what, exactly, looking hideous? In that case, yeah, go me! (I'm just kidding.)

But, really, by no means do I deserve any congratulations. After all, it’s not like I did anything remarkable. I didn't have to audition or take a test or jump through hoops to land the spot. It seems our photo was blindly selected from a collection of hundreds of other photos taken that night. Actually, I’m certain of this because there’s absolutely no way they would've chosen it, especially since it doesn't really scream "fun at the museum". But, who am I to judge?

See, Eric, my sister, a friend and I went to MAM After Dark in May– Awesome time, by the way – and in the midst of carousing, we decided to have a free group shot taken at the makeshift photo booth inside the museum. Later in the night, we saw our photos projected on the walls of Windhover Hall, but little did we know this photo could also potentially be used in the new ad campaign.

Just the other morning, I was drinking coffee and paging through The Onion when – BAM! – there it was. I nearly fell off my chair! "Holy crap," I thought, "We're celebrities or something." And then I called Eric, Terry and Lara. And then people started calling, texting and emailing ME.

So, there you have it. Like I said, there’s no need to congratulate me. If you want instant stardom, just head to the next MAM After Dark and stop by the free photo booth. Maybe I'll see YOU in the next Onion!

June 21, 2009

Summer is Upon Us

S'mores

It’s here. It’s finally here!

How I’ve yearned for longer days, the scents of cut grass and sunscreen, a body quenching dip in the pool, and a gooey s'more constructed over a campfire.

Summers in Milwaukee are especially treasured. Surviving nine months of harsh winter weather really makes locals appreciate the summer thaw much more, yes, even the humidity!

Thus, it’s no surprise that Milwaukee knows how to celebrate summertime. In fact, a multitude of festivals and seasonal events abound Milwaukee, making these three months some of my favorite times spent here.

This summer I have a plethora of activities on the agenda that include:

Plus, there are many events to partake in like the Lakefront Festival of the Arts (June 19-21), Cedarburg’s 24th Annual Strawberry Festival (June 27-28), the July 3rd Fireworks on the lakefront, VISIT Milwaukee's Air & Water Show (July 25-26), numerous ethnic festivals and, of course, the long-awaited Summerfest (June 25-July 5) and Wisconsin State Fair (August 6-16).

Additionally, I have a handful of weddings to attend and mini trips to take. I’ll be heading to the Dells to race down water slides, Iowa for my friend Sarah’s bridal shower, San Diego for a three-day business convention, and then to Minnesota to visit the newlyweds, Derek and Ana.

Do you have any big plans for the summer? If so, please feel free to share them in the comments section.

Whatever you have planned, whether it’s swimming, camping, fishing or traveling, make sure you cherish the summer because before you know it, the leaves will be falling and we’ll be back to wearing sweaters...

June 20, 2009

Shooting Disrupts an Otherwise Fun Festival

Over the last three decades, the Locust Street Festival of Music and Art has grown with the Riverwest neighborhood, blossoming from a modest, bohemian-style block party into one of Milwaukee’s most popular outdoor gatherings.

Voted numerous times as “Best Neighborhood Festival” by Shepherd Express readers, the Locust Street Festival, now in its 33rd year, has a reputation as a safe, controlled, family-friendly event. That’s why the shooting that interrupted the festival on Sunday evening came as a shock to many who said that this event would be the last place they’d expect violence.

For years, I've felt safe at the Locust Street Festival, which is why I had no qualms about heading there on Sunday afternoon, hours before the shooting. Around noon, my sister Terry and I made our way to the festival’s central location along a multi-block district that features popular restaurants and bars.

We started by taking a full lap around the grounds, ducking in and out of bars and restaurants, checking out the festival’s offerings, and simply taking in the scene and the people who live there. Drawing more than 15,000 revelers from around the county, the streets were so packed with people that it took us almost an hour to walk just two blocks, but we enjoyed being forced to move at a leisurely pace.

Scattering the streets were an abundance of beer vendors, as well as stands serving up typical festival fare like hot dogs, brats and burgers. Besides the street carts, most of the restaurants along Locust Street were offering tastes from their menus, including dishes ranging from popular barbecue and unique vegan food to novel snacks.

At the corner of Locust and Bremen, we found the Milwaukee Public Theatre’s Drum Circle. Here I took a minute to teach my musically-challenged self how to make those cool African-style rhythms on one of the djembes. Apparently, Terry wasn’t amused and quickly encouraged me to step aside and let a real musician take over or she’d break my wrists. Sisterly love, you gotta like that.

Moving on, Terry and I passed by a couple of youngsters who were striving to become the next Van Gogh at the nearby family arts and crafts area. We also stopped at Woodland Patterns to catch the end of a poetry reading by a Riverwest author. I was extremely impressed by the cornucopia of activities here. There’s really something for everyone.

Crowds on Locust Drum circle LocalsMarket place Vendors Locust street fest

Later on, we found ourselves winding through a cluster of stands that formed a little marketplace. The profusion of temporary stands offered an eclectic assortment of specialty jewelry, contemporary paintings, unique clothing, unusual pottery and many other one-of-a-kind trinkets. Although I never want to pony up the cash to buy anything, I always like admiring the handmade work.

But the Festival’s biggest draw is undoubtedly the music. There are five outdoor stages presented by The Tracks, Linneman’s, Klingers East, Saylece’s, and Lakefront Brewery scattered throughout the local streets that feature music from about 20 bands, including The Championship, Southbound, The Candeliers and Heidi Spence. As we strolled up and down Locust Street, a smorgasbord of music – rock, blues, folk, reggae – rattled the neighboring buildings.

Continue reading "Shooting Disrupts an Otherwise Fun Festival " »

June 17, 2009

Organ Piper Pizza Palace

Five years into his life as a Milwaukeean, Eric made his debut at the Organ Piper Pizza Palace. Having heard all of my stories from my big nights out there back when I was a kid, it seemed Eric still only vaguely understood this strange yet glorious place.

On Saturday, I decided it was time for Eric to learn what the Organ Piper is all about over some pizza and organ, er, piping. Eric and I drove out to Greenfield around 7:30 that night and entered into the oddball pizza parlor, which is built around a stunning 1920's Wurlitzer theater organ.

Although it has been almost ten years since my last visit, everything was just as I remembered it. Long community-style tables filled the large room, with a few four-person booths around the perimeter. At the front is the restaurant’s main attraction, The Mighty Wurlitzer, with its exposed pipes in full view, behind Plexiglas.

The gigantic organ is rigged to not only handle all of its brassy accompaniments, but also a variety of other sound making devices, including a quirky assortment of automated percussion instruments that are secured to shelves above the stage, as well as wacky lights that border the ceiling, lighting up at sporadic intervals. All of this makes for a truly unique dining experience – to say the least.

As it seems, people either love or hate the atmosphere here, but based on the packed house on Saturday, everyone must realize that the Organ Piper is an experience that’s beyond compare.

The place was chaotic with kids running amok, moving from their table, upstairs to the game room and back for a bite of cheesy pizza. Considering the room was filled with almost all big groups and families there to entertain the kiddies and/or celebrate a special occasion, in hindsight, we probably stood out a bit as the only twenty-something couple there on our own.

A sign in the entryway indicated that we seat ourselves, so we grabbed one of the open booths along the back wall. Immediately, a woman donning a baseball cap and apron greeted us. She explained that we were to order our drinks and food at the counter, that the Organ Piper doesn’t have a waitstaff. Then, we’d get a number which would light up on a big Bingo-looking board on the wall when our food was up.

Organ piper Bingo board AppPizza The organ man The wurlitzer

Without much delay, went up to the counter to scan the menu. Of course, pizza is the typical fare with build your own options or specialty pizzas like The Milwaukee Special, sausage, mushrooms and onions. But, this old haunt also features your standard appetizers, including mozzarella sticks, buffalo wings, chicken strips, onion rings and French fries. Additionally, the kitchen serves up a variety of Italian dishes such as spaghetti and lasagna that come with buttery garlic bread, along with American eats like a jumbo ¼ pound hot dog or corn dog, chicken dinner or daily fish fry. With several beverage options, you're able to wash your grub down with a pitcher of soda or beer – micro or domestic – or glass of house wine.

To start, we ordered a pitcher of Diet Coke, zucchini fries and then a medium pepperoni and pineapple pizza. The pitcher was filled to the brim immediately after we paid at the register. We picked up plates, forks and napkins from the counter and then headed back to our table and settled in with our soda.

Continue reading "Organ Piper Pizza Palace" »

June 12, 2009

Miller Lite Ride for the Arts

Sunday morning, I woke up at 6:30 a.m. – more remarkably, I got Eric out of bed 15 minutes later – to bike the 50-mile route for the Ride for the Arts!

The 29th annual Miller Lite Ride for the Arts, benefiting the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), kicked off at 7 a.m. on a brisk 40 degree Sunday morning and Eric and I were set to begin shortly thereafter at 7:15.

Groggy and cold, we arrived at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts where hundreds of people were already lined up in the middle of Water Street, eager to get going. The smell of gear grease and fresh coffee and the calm morning actually energized me and I quickly got revved up for the ride.

There were over 12,000 riders divided by courses and waiting in front of the Marcus Center for their start time. Since we preregistered for the ride a few weeks in advance, all we had to do was wait for the start of the next wave. We started in waves so that the ride wouldn’t be overly congested – those riding the longest courses (75 and 50-mile) started first. Finally, it was our turn and we filed into a pack of helmet-clad bicyclists and soon enough the ride began and the masses took off. After Eric and I crossed the starting line, our full speed – OK, maybe not “full” speed – 50-mile adventure began.

Most of Water Street, Michigan Street and the Lincoln Memorial Drive were blocked off for the beginning of the ride as we veered around city construction, working our way toward the lake. Despite the alternated start times, there were many riders packed tightly together for several miles. Actually, there were so many of us that all you could hear were the sounds of chains rotating, wheels spinning, brakes squeaking and shoes clipping in and out of pedals. It’s extremely fun riding with that many people, and something I’m not really used to. But because the pace was quite fast, the crowd began to spread out and span many miles.

The first 25 miles were cake! After we left Milwaukee, we gradually worked our way north through the suburbs. While cycling through the scenic towns of Shorewood and Bayside I tried to take my mind off of the bitter winds coming off the lake and my frozen hands by focusing on the gorgeous brick and stone houses and the magnificent views of Lake Michigan. At this point, we were going rather strong, bypassing groups of cyclists and maintaining a consistent speed.

As we passed through several subdivisions, we were welcomed by families sitting on folding chairs in their driveways, watching the swarms of bicyclists zip past and doling out high fives. Their cheers and greetings were definitely encouraging. Some kids even hopped onto their mountain bikes to challenge us to a race down the road, but they were eventually called back by their parents.

We kept on going, stopping at rest stops along the way to relax and replenish our exhausted bodies. Fresh water, Gatorade, and nutritional snacks like apples and bananas were provided by Whole Foods. Apparently, PowerBar was also a sponsor, but I never saw one of those. After stopping for a couple minutes to grab a much needed granola bar and a piece of fruit we ventured on. This time, it wasn’t so easy, though.

Gradually, city properties and the expansive lake gave way to verdant rolling rural land and hilly terrain. This is when I realized how worn-out my legs were, or more specifically, how horrible my arthritic knees felt. We went past farmland and countrified parks, up and down some trails that were literally in the middle of nowhere and along some back roads that were atrocious – they were composed of dusty gravel and bumpy parkways.

I’ll admit that I was having a difficult time at this point. The unbelievably frigid weather was definitely taking its toll on my body, but I was making a valiant effort! Many of the high-speed travelers began to pass me now, which was a little discouraging. I’m an enthusiastic bicyclist, but not quiet as avid as the clip shoe, Spandex-wearing semi-pros who were whipping past me on their street bikes.

In time, I got my head back on and we made our way back toward the city. By now, the wind had moved to our backs, which lifted our spirits, well, until the clouds rolled in and briefly unloaded on us with large pellets of rain. It rained about four more times along the final stretch, nothing terribly torrential or even long-lasting, but it still put a damper on the ride.

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