Between the Bars

All I’ve Got

What, I wondered, will I give my loyal readers this weekend?

A weekend during which I’ll have raced back and forth across the state for both a wedding in La Crosse and a freelance project in Madison. All during a week in which I would have rather stayed indoors instead of going from car lot to car lot during my spare hours, looking for the perfect, albeit, last minute gift.

All I know is I can’t leave you guys hangin’.

So, now that I finally have a present, which is wrapped, and my bags packed for my trip westward tonight, I’ll leave you with some ideas for how to spend your weekend.

On Saturday, salute our military during the Milwaukee Veterans Day Parade and continue with a full day of events and activities for military personnel and their families. There’s also another Family Free Day at the Zoo, which is when you and your family can – wait for it – get in for FREE.

All weekend, STOMP, The Producers, and Peace, Love and a 30-year Mortgage continue to keep local theaters bustling, and sports action from the Bucks, Marquette, UWM, and the Admirals keep arenas in town alive.

Well, it sounds like you have a lot to do. I’ll check in when I return – Have a great weekend!

Halloween Reflections

Indeed, I have some fine memories from this weekend’s festivities.

I organized an awesome costume theme – Peanuts – for me and my friends. Our costumes turned out great! I got to relive my college house party days. I witnessed the reincarnation of Billy Mays, the Oxy Clean guy. I found Waldo, several of him, in fact. And I was hit on by a used condom.

Here's to another great Halloween, Milwaukee!

Left to right and front to back: Lucy, Marcie, Charlie Brown, Linus, Peppermint Patty. Snoopy, Woodstock, Pig Pen.

Halloween Weekend

If you haven’t already, it's your last chance to pull together a costume and gear up for Halloween weekend in Milwaukee. All weekend long there’s Halloween themed fun for everyone.

For the kids there are several less scary, less wild events, including Mad Science Halloween Spooktacular in Cedarburg, The Great Halloween Scavenger Hunt at Discovery World, a sleepover at the Milwaukee Public Museum, and the Great Pumpkin Event at Bayshore Town Center. And don’t forget Trick-or-Treat, head over here to see what time it begins in your neighborhood.

If you're looking for a fun adult night on the town, check out Between the Bars’ list of Halloween parties, bar hops and events taking place this weekend. Of course, there are a ton of haunted houses to help you get your scare on, too.

And if Halloween isn’t your thing, there’s still enough going on around the city to make your weekend just as fun. Skip the costume contests and see the Bucks' home opener or the Admirals play, or any number of theater performances including a new opening from Danceworks.
 
Have a safe and fun filled weekend, Milwaukee. Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Pickin'

Halloween falls on Saturday, so this is your last chance to carve that one of a kind jack-o-lantern!

Over the past two weeks, I’ve gone to two pumpkin carving parties – I don’t think I even went to that many as a child. But there’s something about going to a pumpkin patch and then spending all night carving that makes me feel like a kid again, or it could be that I finally realized that my pumpkin carving technique is about as advanced as a four-year-old.

Even though we didn’t make it to a pumpkin patch before the first party and had to buy dirty, bruised pumpkins from the wooden bin in front of Pick ‘n Save (not the best place to get a good pumpkin) we did end up going to a slightly more conventional “patch” last Saturday.

 

After our feast of pumpkin pancakes at the Original Pancake House, Eric and I noticed that while we were gorging ourselves, volunteers were unloading hundreds of pumpkins from wagons and trucks and onto the grassy courtyard of St. Mark’s Church. In no time, pumpkins in every size and shape covered the lawn.

With full bellies, we crossed the street and began to poke and prod at the vast selection. Most of the pumpkins were colored bright orange, but some had bruises, scars and soft spots probably from being jostled around during shipment, so we decided to bypass those.

Not only should you check your pumpkin for holes and bruises, you should knock on each pumpkin before you buy it to see if it’s ripe. Of course, you might look like a moron while doing this, but it's worth it. A pumpkin that isn't rotten will make a hollow sound when you drum on it. For other pumpkin picking tips, check out this site.

According to a couple of websites, the very best place to purchase a pumpkin is at a pick-your-own pumpkin patch because that way you’re assured that your pumpkin is fresh from the field. St. Mark’s wasn’t quite that, but it was certainly better than grabbing a beat-up pumpkin from the nearest supermarket again. And since all of the money collected for the pumpkins goes to benefit several good causes – Eastside Senior Services, Habitat for Humanity, The Gathering, Sojourner Truth House and the Navajo Indian Reservation – we chose to get our pumpkins at the church sale and didn’t feel guilty about it.

After paying a couple dollars a piece for our pumpkins, we trudged back to my apartment. On the way, we stopped at a bake sale where two ladies sat at a folding table stacked with paper plates, plastic bags and Tupperware filled with homemade cookies, brownies, cupcakes, dessert breads and other baked goods. Even with our guts on the verge of bursting, we couldn’t resist the pumpkin bread or snicker doodles. Now that our arms were as full as our stomachs, we were ready to go home.

Later that night we lugged our pumpkins over to Tracy and John’s house and once everyone assembled in the basement, the pumpkin carving fun began.

I hadn’t carved a pumpkin since I was in elementary school and since then, it seems that pumpkin carving has evolved a bit. You wouldn’t think that an old tradition such as this could really change that much. But companies now offer computer software for making carving patterns, electric cutting tools and multicolored LED lights that are a lot safer than candles and don’t require re-lighting.

At the party several people were actually using patterns they got from a book at the grocery store while others traced stencils found online at sites like this and this, or by making their own stencil here. At the same time, several people used fancy carving knives or jigsaws to make intricate designs. Even such an elementary challenge took time, planning and a little skill. If you'd like some help, here's a site where you can find useful pumpkin carving tips.

    

(Thanks for the annual Pumpkin Carving Party photos, Tracy and John!)

While I opted for a pre-picked pumpkin this year, southeastern Wisconsin is packed full of farms that allow you to pick your own pumpkin and offer a host of other attractions and treats, as well. Although Halloween is this weekend, you still have time to carve your jack-o-lantern, but you need to hurry up!

To get you motivated and to make things easier for you, I did a quick search and found a bunch of places where you can go to pick your pumpkin. Here's the list:

Apple Barn Orchard & Winery
W6384 Sugar Creek Rd., Elkhorn
(262) 728-3266

Apple Holler
5006 S. Sylvania Ave., Sturtevant
(262) 886-8500

Barthel Fruit Farm
12246 N. Farmdale Rd., Mequon
(262) 242-2737

Basse's Country Delight
S70 W16050 Janesville Rd., Muskego
(262) 422-0315

Bear Den Zoo and Petting Farm
6831 Big Bend Rd. (Hwy. 164), Waterford
(262) 895-6430

Borzynski's Farm & Floral Market
11600 Washington Ave., Sturtevant
(262) 866-2235

Brehmer's U-pick
5805 Clover Rd., Hartford
(262) 673-6527

Cozy Nook Farm
W39780 State Hwy. 18, Waukesha
(262) 968-2573

The Elegant Farmer
1545 Main St., Mukwonago
(262) 363-6770

The Fideler Farm
2863 Ridge Road, Kewaskum
(262) 338-0494

Godsell Farm
S105 W15585 Loomis Drive, Muskego
(414) 425-2937

Homestead Animal Farm
W320 N9127 Hwy. 83, Hartland
(262) 966-3840

Jim's Pumpkin Farm
W170 N11455 Armada, Germantown
(262) 255-1766

Lange's Country Market
24840 W. Loomis Rd., Wind Lake
(262) 895-2339

Lindners Pumpkin Farm and Corn Maze
19075 W. Cleveland Ave., New Berlin
(414) 549-5364

Mayfield Orchard and Nursery
4785 Mayfield Rd, West Bend
(262) 677-3583

Meadowbrook Pumpkin Farm
2970 Mile View Rd, West Bend
(262) 338-3649

Niemann Orchards
9932 W. Pioneer Rd., Cedarburg
(262) 377-4284

Patterson Orchard and Farm Market
124th St between Beloit Rd and Layton Ave
(414) 425-0563

Prospect Hill Garden Center
19305 W. National Ave., New Berlin
(262) 679-2207

R&R Ranch
W225 S8026 Guthrie Road, Big Bend
(262) 662-4920

Schuett Farms LLC
W299 S6370 Hwy 83, Mukwonago
(262) 968-4348

Simon Farms Sunnyside Produce
6000 Racine Ave., Brookfield
(262) 796-1248

Triangle Y Ranch Pumpkin Farm
5535 S. Church St., West Bend
(262) 675-9622

Van Beck's Farm Market
2209 E. College Ave., Oak Creek
(414) 762-0003

Westown Farmers Market
Zeidler Union Square, 3rd & Michigan Streets
(414) 276-6696

Halloween falls on Saturday, so this is your last chance to carve that one of a kind jack-o-lantern!

Over the past two weeks, I’ve gone to two pumpkin carving parties – I don’t think I even went to that many as a child. But there’s something about going to a pumpkin patch and then spending all night carving that makes me feel like a kid again, or it could be that I finally realized that my pumpkin carving technique is about as advanced as a four-year-old.

Even though we didn’t make it to a pumpkin patch before the first party and had to buy dirty, bruised pumpkins from the wooden bin in front of Pick ‘n Save (not the best place to get a good pumpkin) we did end up going to a slightly more conventional “patch” last Saturday.

 

After our feast of pumpkin pancakes at the Original Pancake House, Eric and I noticed that while we were gorging ourselves, volunteers were unloading hundreds of pumpkins from wagons and trucks and onto the grassy courtyard of St. Mark’s Church. In no time, pumpkins in every size and shape covered the lawn.

With full bellies, we crossed the street and began to poke and prod at the vast selection. Most of the pumpkins were colored bright orange, but some had bruises, scars and soft spots probably from being jostled around during shipment, so we decided to bypass those.

Not only should you check your pumpkin for holes and bruises, you should knock on each pumpkin before you buy it to see if it’s ripe. Of course, you might look like a moron while doing this, but it's worth it. A pumpkin that isn't rotten will make a hollow sound when you drum on it. For other pumpkin picking tips, check out this site.

According to a couple of websites, the very best place to purchase a pumpkin is at a pick-your-own pumpkin patch because that way you’re assured that your pumpkin is fresh from the field. St. Mark’s wasn’t quite that, but it was certainly better than grabbing a beat-up pumpkin from the nearest supermarket again. And since all of the money collected for the pumpkins goes to benefit several good causes – Eastside Senior Services, Habitat for Humanity, The Gathering, Sojourner Truth House and the Navajo Indian Reservation – we chose to get our pumpkins at the church sale and didn’t feel guilty about it.

After paying a couple dollars a piece for our pumpkins, we trudged back to my apartment. On the way, we stopped at a bake sale where two ladies sat at a folding table stacked with paper plates, plastic bags and Tupperware filled with homemade cookies, brownies, cupcakes, dessert breads and other baked goods. Even with our guts on the verge of bursting, we couldn’t resist the pumpkin bread or snicker doodles. Now that our arms were as full as our stomachs, we were ready to go home.

Later that night we lugged our pumpkins over to Tracy and John’s house and once everyone assembled in the basement, the pumpkin carving fun began.

I hadn’t carved a pumpkin since I was in elementary school and since then, it seems that pumpkin carving has evolved a bit. You wouldn’t think that an old tradition such as this could really change that much. But companies now offer computer software for making carving patterns, electric cutting tools and multicolored LED lights that are a lot safer than candles and don’t require re-lighting.

At the party several people were actually using patterns they got from a book at the grocery store while others traced stencils found online at sites like this and this, or by making their own stencil here. At the same time, several people used fancy carving knives or jigsaws to make intricate designs. Even such an elementary challenge took time, planning and a little skill. If you'd like some help, here's a site where you can find useful pumpkin carving tips.

    

(Thanks for the annual Pumpkin Carving Party photos, Tracy and John!)

While I opted for a pre-picked pumpkin this year, southeastern Wisconsin is packed full of farms that allow you to pick your own pumpkin and offer a host of other attractions and treats, as well. Although Halloween is this weekend, you still have time to carve your jack-o-lantern, but you need to hurry up!

To get you motivated and to make things easier for you, I did a quick search and found a bunch of places where you can go to pick your pumpkin. Here's the list:

Apple Barn Orchard & Winery
W6384 Sugar Creek Rd., Elkhorn
(262) 728-3266

Apple Holler
5006 S. Sylvania Ave., Sturtevant
(262) 886-8500

Barthel Fruit Farm
12246 N. Farmdale Rd., Mequon
(262) 242-2737

Basse's Country Delight
S70 W16050 Janesville Rd., Muskego
(262) 422-0315

Bear Den Zoo and Petting Farm
6831 Big Bend Rd. (Hwy. 164), Waterford
(262) 895-6430

Borzynski's Farm & Floral Market
11600 Washington Ave., Sturtevant
(262) 866-2235

Brehmer's U-pick
5805 Clover Rd., Hartford
(262) 673-6527

Cozy Nook Farm
W39780 State Hwy. 18, Waukesha
(262) 968-2573

The Elegant Farmer
1545 Main St., Mukwonago
(262) 363-6770

The Fideler Farm
2863 Ridge Road, Kewaskum
(262) 338-0494

Godsell Farm
S105 W15585 Loomis Drive, Muskego
(414) 425-2937

Homestead Animal Farm
W320 N9127 Hwy. 83, Hartland
(262) 966-3840

Jim's Pumpkin Farm
W170 N11455 Armada, Germantown
(262) 255-1766

Lange's Country Market
24840 W. Loomis Rd., Wind Lake
(262) 895-2339

Lindners Pumpkin Farm and Corn Maze
19075 W. Cleveland Ave., New Berlin
(414) 549-5364

Mayfield Orchard and Nursery
4785 Mayfield Rd, West Bend
(262) 677-3583

Meadowbrook Pumpkin Farm
2970 Mile View Rd, West Bend
(262) 338-3649

Niemann Orchards
9932 W. Pioneer Rd., Cedarburg
(262) 377-4284

Patterson Orchard and Farm Market
124th St between Beloit Rd and Layton Ave
(414) 425-0563

Prospect Hill Garden Center
19305 W. National Ave., New Berlin
(262) 679-2207

R&R Ranch
W225 S8026 Guthrie Road, Big Bend
(262) 662-4920

Schuett Farms LLC
W299 S6370 Hwy 83, Mukwonago
(262) 968-4348

Simon Farms Sunnyside Produce
6000 Racine Ave., Brookfield
(262) 796-1248

Triangle Y Ranch Pumpkin Farm
5535 S. Church St., West Bend
(262) 675-9622

Van Beck's Farm Market
2209 E. College Ave., Oak Creek
(414) 762-0003

Westown Farmers Market
Zeidler Union Square, 3rd & Michigan Streets
(414) 276-6696

All Hallows Eve Parties '09

Note: The content of this guide was updated for 2009. Between the Bars continually updates the many posts available here, though it's possible some details, specials and offers may have changed. Consider calling first if you have specific questions for the businesses, events or services mentioned in the guide.

I love Halloween – Love it! As a matter of fact, it runs a close second to Christmas in terms of my favorite holidays, which is why I tend to go all out.

I already have my costume planned – I just have to put some final touches on it – and my friends and I are eager to dress up and head out to North Avenue to rub elbows with the rest of the witches, vampires, freaks and skanks – It can be quite the spectacle!

I haven’t been out in costume since I last trick-or-treated and that was probably when I was 12 years old. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to this masquerade, especially because, just like me, Milwaukee is pulling out all the stops for Halloween. Then again, bars are always looking for more reasons to sell overpriced cans of PBR to hordes of patrons...

Seriously though, if you're planning to go out on the town, you won't have any trouble finding a bar that's doing something festive in honor of All Hallows Eve. The variety of places hosting street-wide costume competitions and serving up orange labeled beers and specialty shots are seemingly endless here.

Actually, there are plenty of bars and clubs throwing parties beginning this weekend and going into the coming week. So, get that costume ready and let loose!

Apartment 720
720 N. Milwaukee Street
Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 p.m.
Dead Rock Star Party. "A night tribute to some of the awesomely dead rock stars." This party includes live DJ sets, Halloween costumes and drink specials at Milwaukee Street's newest dance lounge.

Art Bar
722 E. Burleigh Street
Saturday, Oct. 31, 4 p.m.- 12 a.m.
Monster Mash Dance Party. Best costume wins $100!

Bomb Shelter
1517 S. 2nd Street
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m.
Pumpkin Fest featuring the Suds Club pumpkin beer tasting, pumpkin cocktails, pumpkin pie and pumpkin ice cream.

Brothers Bar & Grill
1213 N. Water Street
Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31, 8-10 p.m.
Costume contest with cash prizes, drink specials.

Buckhead Saloon
1044 N Old World 3rd Street
Friday, Oct. 30, Midnight
When the clock strikes 12, Halloween Midnight Madness boasts a balloon drop at midnight, $500 cash and prizes, and $3 drinks from midnight to close.

Saturday, Oct. 31, 8 p.m.
Halloween Bash with drink specials and costume contests. $1,000 cash giveaway to best costume of the night!

Cactus Club
2496 S. Wentworth Avenue
Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 p.m.
Halloween Party with Summertime Dudes, Father Phoenix (as The Who), E-Coli Cherry (as Red Knife Lottery).

Café Lulu
2261 S. Howell Avenue
Saturday, Oct. 31, 10:30 p.m.
Halloween Ball with live music, drink specials, costumes and prizes.

Fat Daddy's
120 W. National Avenue
Wednesday, Oct. 28
Pumpkin carving contest at 7 p.m. $5 for each pumpkin with prizes for best pumpkins.

Saturday, Oct. 31
Halloween Costume Party. Drink specials and costume contest with prizes at midnight.

Frank's Power Plant
2800 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue
Saturday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m.
Rock and Roll Halloween with three rockin' bands, Eddie Clendening, The Tinhorns, and Sidecar Steph and the 7-10 Split. $5 cover, costume contest at midnight, plus tons of raffles from local boutiques and shops.

Mad Planet
533 E. Center Street
Friday, Oct. 30, 9 p.m.
Retro Night Halloween Costume Party: 1st prize is $100 cash prize, 2nd prize is a $50 bar tab, 3rd prize is a $25 bar tab. Plus, music, dancing and drink specials.

Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 p.m.
Mad Planet Halloween Party featuring live music from Uptown Savages, Bama Lamas, and DJ Bill Boy Brad.

Milwaukee Ale House
233 N. Water Street
Saturday, Oct. 31, 9:30 p.m.
Live music from Rocky Mtn. Beaver Pond and a costume contest all night.

Mo's Irish Pub
142 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 p.m.
Third annual Hellavate Halloween Party, Sponsored by Elevate, features two floors of DJ entertainment, drink specials and costume contests. Tickets on sale in advance, $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

North Avenue
Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 p.m.
The street is closed off from Farwell to Oakland Avenue for a Halloween block party.

• G-Daddy's BBC Bar & Grill, 2022 E. North Avenue
• Cans Bar & Canteen, 1815 E. Kenilworth Pl.
• Cush Lounge, 1806 E. North Avenue
• The Eastsider, 1732 E. North Avenue
• Decibel/Deep Bar, 1905 E. North Avenue
• Hooligan's, 2017 E. North Avenue
• Landmark Lanes, 2220 N. Farwell Avenue
• Live On North, 2028 E. North Avenue
• Rascals, 2311 N. Murray Avenue
• Twisted Fork, 2238 N. Farwell Avenue
• Vitucci's Cocktail Lounge, 1832 E. North Avenue
• Von Trier, 2235 N. Farwell Avenue

Shank Hall
1434 N Farwell Avenue
Friday, October 30, 8:30 p.m.
Tales From the Who featuring a night of three tribute bands: Substitute (Who tribute), Kinda Kinks (Kinks tribute), and Shattered (Rolling Stones tribute). $8 at the door.

Stonefly
735 E. Center Street
Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 p.m.
Haunted Disco with The Glamour w/Steven Hawley, Double Drop, and Straka Kahn, plus a costume contest with rad prizes and $2.50 PBR all night long. $3 cover before 11 p.m., $5 after.

Sullivan's
1223 N. Water Street
Friday, Oct. 30, 9 p.m.
Sullivan's Prom Massacre is all about the costumes. Costume contest prizes include cash – $200 first place and $100 for second place – as well as free drinks for life.

Turner Hall Ballroom
1032 N. 4 Street
Friday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m.
Second annual 88.9 Radio Halloween Bash with music (and lots of it) from Chalice In The Palace, Kid Millions, Serena Ryder, the Championship, Great Lake Swimmers, and more, plus a fashion show. You can buy tickets in advance at the Pabst or Riverside box office or at the door.

Walkers Point Halloween Pub Crawl
Saturday, Oct. 31, 6 p.m.
Free shuttle bus to Walkers Point bars. Specials include $3 Lakefront Pumpkin beer, $4 Great Lakes Nosferatu, $4 Rogue Dead Guy Ale, $4 Blavod Vodka mixers, $2 Pumpkin Pie shots.

• Bomb Shelter, 1517 S. 2nd Street
• Club Anything, 807 S. 5th Street
• Crazy Water, 839 S. 2nd Street
• Fat Daddy's, 120 W. National Avenue
• Fifth Ward Pub, 814 S. 2nd Street
• Slim's, 338 S. 1st Street
• Stack'd Bar, 170 S. 1st Street
• Steny's, 800 S. 2nd Street

No matter what you have planned or where you end up, have a fun and safe Halloween, everyone!

**If you hear of any other Halloween happenings, please spread the word in the comments section. Meanwhile, I'll continue to update this list as I find more information.

Photo comes from gettyimages.com.

Fall Gallery Night

Four times a year Milwaukee's galleries and art museums open their doors on Friday night and let throngs of art lovers unit in a synchronized effort to support local and regional art.

Presented by the East Town and Historic Third Ward Associations, Gallery Night and Day began 22 years ago as a small art event but has spent the last two decades growing into a citywide, two-day premier art affair that spans Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and takes on many shapes, forms and media.

It seemed that more people than ever were trolling Milwaukee’s arty areas to see the simple delights of superb art, even despite the cold, dreary weather. My friend Stephanie and I opted for the Friday Night experience and noticed that not only were galleries and museums holding receptions with artists on hand, they were serving free beer, wine and hors d'oeuvre, making this event a great alternative to a night that’s normally dedicated to barhopping. In all, this is one of the social highlights of the season, not just a standard art exhibition.

This October, the quarterly Gallery Night featured 64 venues throughout the downtown area to choose from and an immense and somewhat daunting collection of diverse artwork. Since there was no way we’d tackle every single exhibition in one evening, we chose to stay around the Third Ward and hop from one location to the next.

As daylight waned, the two of us joined Milwaukee's art-enthused masses. While folks flocked to popular galleries and shops, squally winds whistled through the dark alleyways and whirled crisp, gold leaves into mini cyclones along the sidewalk. Throughout the night we went to least half a dozen galleries and boutiques located in old industrial buildings within the district. Each place displayed various awe-inspiring works ranging from drawings and paintings, to sculptures and photographs, and was flooded with art enthusiasts and amateur admirers.

We began on Buffalo Street at Lela Boutique where we paged through racks of their fall collection and perusing the photos from Lela’s 6th Anniversary Fashion Show, along with the brilliant work of Reginald Baylor, Artist in Residence at the Pfister Hotel. Of course, we didn’t turn down a complimentary cup of Spotted Cow from the keg next to the register.

A few blocks down, we also hit up Freckle Face, a specialty children’s wear boutique offering apparel, footwear, bedding, classic children's books and other unique gifts. Upon entry my eyes were drawn toward vibrant illustrations of various wild animals – zebras, lions and so on – that adorned the walls as part of the exhibit El Zoológico de Mara by recent MIAD graduate and local artist Yvonne Lopez. This exhibit explored bilingual studies for small children through colors, numbers, months and the alphabet using bright colors, fun textures and silly animals.

We stayed for a bit and looked over the store’s wares, exchanged our empty beer cup for a glass of red wine, and then ventured out into the blustery night. Next up, Stephanie and I visited a couple of the galleries – Vicki Chiger Inc Art Gallery, Gallery 218and Grava Gallery – and stopped into some shops – Broadway Paper, Flaire, Ltd., and Fashion Ninja – since they were also open until 10 p.m.

By now, we only had an hour until most of the shops and galleries would close, so we made two final stops, first at VP Gallery of Fine Photography and then Impromptu Gallery down the road. At VP Gallery, we got a sneak preview of iconic Life Magazine black and whites taken by legendary photographer John Dominis. Such photos from his career included candid shots of Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen and the Beatles.

Impromptu Gallery hosted the most inspiring exhibit of the night, which benefited RedLine Milwaukee, an urban art incubator with multi-layered services focused on arts and educational programs for the community. Emerging and mid-career visual artists on display consisted of cartoonist/illustrator/painter Jimbot, portrait painter Jenipher Sob, and mix-media artists and printmakers Anthony Weber and Kim Weiss.

Several glasses of wine and a couple cubes of cheese later, Steph and I were ready to head out. There was way more to see and eat and drink than we could possibly fit into one evening. But whether you head to Gallery Night or Day for the free wine or to admire local artwork, it’s certainly an event not to miss.

The next Gallery Night and Day is set for January 15 and 16 in 2010. Mark that on your calendar!

(Photos to come. Check back!)

With Halloween Just One Week Away...

Milwaukee boasts plenty of pre-Halloween fun this weekend. But, that's not all.

With the timeless Halloween favorite The Rocky Horror Picture Show back at the Oriental Theater, hundreds of glowing jack-o-lanterns illuminating Bay View’s Pumpkin Pavilion, master Magician David Seebach’s 19th annual Halloween Magic Extravaganza, plus the Milwaukee County Zoo’s annual Halloween Trick-or-Treat Spooktacular, you'll be all set for Halloween.

Of course, there are a ton of haunted houses to help you get your scare on, too.

What else?

Experience the robust flavors of the second annual East Town Market Chili Cook-Off on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Cathedral Square featuring Flannery’s, Mason Street Grill, Whole Foods and Karma, among others.

Art on Murray, the East Side’s art and harvest festival, closes down Murray Avenue and promises something for everyone, including a variety of artists and fine crafters in a harvest-themed atmosphere with pumpkins and the like from Spirit Hill Farm Pumpkinland.

Besides that, check out the Admirals as they on the Manitoba Moose in their first home game of the regular season. Or head over to the Petit National Ice Center to watch top American long track speed skaters race to earn a place on the U.S. Fall World Cup Team.

With all of that, not only will you be prepped for Halloween, you'll have a weekend chock-full of fun!

Milwaukee Area Haunted Houses

You know they're not actually haunted, and that guy without a head in the corner is really just wearing an ingenious costume. But despite knowing this, there's still just something really terrifying about haunted houses. Combining room after room of horror, eerie corn mazes and spooky hikes, local business, organizations and schools set out to scare the living daylights out of you.

This list of Milwaukee area Halloween haunted houses, walks, corn mazes and tours will surely help get your blood pumping and scare on.

Note: Times, dates and details of each haunted house vary, so be sure to check individual websites for additional information.

Milwaukee Area Haunted Houses

Bear Den Zoo Haunted Woods
Where: Bear Den Zoo & Petting Farm, 6831 Big Bend Road, Waterford
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 2-31
How much: 11 years and under $10 per person, 12 years and over $12 per person

EleMents of Fear
Where: Our Lady Queen of Peace, 2733 W. Euclid Avenue, Milwaukee
When: Select evenings October 23-31
How much: $8 Wednesday and Thursday, $9 Friday through Sunday

Emslie Haunted Farm
Where: 2731 Northview Road, Waukesha
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 10-31
How much: $7 for haunted barn, $2 for nighttime hayride

Fright Hike
Where: Lapham Peak State Park, Highway C (Just south of I-94), Delafield
When: Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31
How much: $5 per person, plus $5 park admission

Ghost Walk
Where: W180S8100 Racine Avenue, Muskego
When: Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17
How much: $8 for adults, $6 for children under 12

Gilly's Haunted Circus
Where: 1559 Forest Home Avenue, Milwaukee
When: Select evenings October 2-31
How much: $12 for adults, $10 for children under 12

Hartford Jaycees Haunted House
Where: 620 Baehring Dr., Slinger
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 2 - 31, additional nights week of Halloween
How much: $12 per person

Haunted High
Where: 550 E. Forest Street, Oconomowoc
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 9-31; Thursday, October 29
How much: $12 per person

Haunted Hills
Where: 321 Riverside Drive, Pewaukee
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 23-30
How much: $5 per person; save $1 per non-perishable food item

Haunted History Tour of "Old Grand Avenue"
Where: 20th Street and Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee
When: Friday and Saturdays, October 2-31
How much: $10 per person

Hubertus House of Horror
Where: 3727 Hubertus Road, Hubertus
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 2–31
How much: $12 per person

Mars Haunted House
Where: 734 W. Historic Mitchell Street, Milwaukee
When: Weekends and most Thursdays, October 2–31
How much: $12 for adults, $10 for children under 12

Monster Mayhem
Where: 5121 W. Howard Avenue, Milwaukee
When: Friday through Sunday, October 2-31
How much: $12 per person; $1 off with a non-perishable food donation

Ozaukee 4-H Haunt
Where: Ozaukee County Fair Grounds, W67 N866 Washington Avenue, Cedarburg
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 23-31; Thursday, October 29
How much: $10 per person (Cash only!)

Spooky Stalks Haunted Cornfield
Where: 12000 W. Appleton Avenue, Milwaukee
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 9-31
How much: $10 per person

Terror on Rural Street
Where: 147 N. Rural Street, Hartford
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 2-31
How much: $12 per person

Wisconsin Feargrounds
Where: Waukesha Expo Center Grounds, 1000 Northview Road, Waukesha
When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 2-31, additional nights week of Halloween
How much: $15 for Morgan Manor, $30 for all three haunted houses; Fast Pass Morgan Manor $25, Fast Pass all three haunted house's $45

Now, if that's not enough, check out this site for other frightening events in and around Milwaukee, or in your own town. Or read my reviews of some of my favorite haunted houses from last year.

Photo comes from gettyimages.com.

Trick-Or-Treat '09

Note: The content of this guide was updated for 2009. Between the Bars continually updates the many posts available here, though it's possible some details, specials and offers may have changed. Consider calling first if you have specific questions for the businesses, events or services mentioned in the guide.

When I was young, trick-or-treat was what made Halloween! What's not to love about dressing up on a Sunday afternoon and going door-to-door collecting mounds of tooth rotting candy and eating it until your stomach aches?

Trick-or-treat has been around for decades, but whether to have it at night or during the day is still a dividing point in many neighborhoods. Traditionalists and lovers of the spooky aspects of Halloween believe that trick-or-treat should be done in the dark. Others, however, find it to be safer during the day.

Despite wavering opinions, most communities set their trick-or-treat time for the Sunday, October 31, Halloween, with a few neighborhoods choosing the Sunday before, October 25, or the Sunday after, November 1, said OnMilwaukee.

Regardless of what time your community kicks off the candy-hording, it’s important to be safe. Here’s a fantastic site that offers a Halloween Safety Guide to ensure your children have a fun, yet safe time trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.

Without further ado, here's a list of the 2009 trick-or-treat times for Milwaukee County and much of the surrounding area.

Bay View: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-8 p.m.

Bayside: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2:30-5:30 p.m.

Big Bend: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Brookfield: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7:30 p.m.

Town of Brookfield: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Brown Deer: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-4 p.m.

Caledonia: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-8 p.m.

Cedarburg: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-8 p.m.

Town of Cedarburg: Friday, Oct. 31, 6-9 p.m.

Cudahy: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-3 p.m.

Delafield: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Town of Delafield: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-8 p.m.

Town of East Troy: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Village of East Troy: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Elm Grove: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7:30 p.m.

Fox Point: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-4 p.m.

Franklin: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Germantown: Friday, Oct. 31, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Village of Germantown: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Glendale: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-4 p.m.

Greendale: Sunday, Oct. 25 1-4 p.m.

Greenfield: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Hales Corners: Sunday, Oct. 25, 4-7 p.m.

Hartford: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-6 p.m.

Hartland: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Menomonee Falls: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-8:30 p.m.

Merton: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Mequon: Sunday, Oct. 25, 4-7 p.m.

Milwaukee: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-4 p.m.

Town of Mukwonago: Saturday, Oct. 31. 4-7 p.m.

Village of Mukwonago: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-6 p.m.

Muskego: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Nashotah: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

New Berlin: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

North Prairie: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Oak Creek: Sunday, Oct. 25, 4-6 p.m.

Oconomowoc: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Pewaukee: Saturday, Oct. 31, 3-6 p.m.

Village of Pewaukee: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-8 p.m.

Port Washington: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Racine: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

River Hills: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-4 p.m.

Saukville: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Shorewood: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2-4 p.m.

Slinger: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m.

South Milwaukee: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2-4 p.m.

St. Francis: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-6 p.m.

Sturtevant: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m.

Sussex: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Thiensville: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Union Grove: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Wales: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Waterford: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7:30 p.m.

Waukesha: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7:30 p.m.

Town of Waukesha: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7:30 p.m.

Wauwatosa: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-4 p.m.

West Allis: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1-3 p.m.

West Bend: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-6 p.m.

Town of West Bend: Sunday, Oct. 26, 4-6 p.m.

West Milwaukee: Sunday, Oct. 26, 1-3 p.m.

Whitefish Bay: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-6 p.m.

Wind Lake: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m.

Sorry if I've missed anyone, I'm sure I did. For other southeastern Wisconsin counties, head over here to find your community's trick-or-treat times.

Happy trick-or-treating! Be safe.

Trick-or-treat times were found on WISN.com; photo comes from gettyimages.com.

Costume Shopping '09

Creating a clever and unique Halloween costume can be quite the task, so the sooner you start brainstorming, the better. But with only two weeks left until October 31, days are dwindling for creative sparks to fly.

Fortunately there are a number of costume shops dedicated to Halloween, which have sprung up all over southeastern Wisconsin as early as September 1.

Even with all of its costume-selling counterparts, Bartz’s the Party Stores, a family-owned chain, still lives up to its slogan, “We are Halloween.” Bartz's Stores have been the Milwaukee area leader for party supplies for over 60 years, and as a kid it was where my dad took my siblings and I to pick out a costume for Sunday afternoon trick-or-treating.

After work, I stopped into the Bartz’s Party Store on North Avenue in Wauwatosa to round up a couple odds and ends as I put the finishing touches on my costume. When I was five years old I remember being overwhelmed by this store; much of the apparel, masks and accessories looked like they came out of my worst nightmares and the masses of people in a mad rush to purchase such horrifying costumes caused mayhem throughout the place.

  

Tonight the costume shop looked the same, although the costumes had been updated with this year’s pop trends. Additionally, it contained just about every Halloween costume from Ghosts and Princesses to Clowns and Action Heroes, plus any trinket, decoration or gory accessory desired. And because there are still a couple days until Halloween, I wasn’t shoulder to shoulder with any crazy customers.

 

Even though there are still many of the same costumes that I wore as a child – Snow White and M&Ms Candy – it’s interesting to see how costumes have evolved. I read somewhere that 10 years ago, pimps, fairies, Renaissance and Goth costumes didn’t even exist whereas nowadays you can find them almost everywhere. I also wonder if costumes were as revealing 10 years ago as they are today.

I heard a woman approach a young Bartz’s employee asking, “Where are the sexy costumes?” When you go out on Water Street to celebrate Halloween in a couple of weekends, you are guaranteed to see at least five "Sexy Little Red Riding Hoods" and at least a handful of Play Boy Bunnies. It seems they’ve become standard here, as well.

A man who knows all about such trends is my friend Justin, who you’ve read about in several of my previous posts. He is the Wauwatosa Bartz's manager. Conveniently, he was in the shop tonight, so I decided it’d be fun to play “interview” and ask him a couple questions pertaining to the store and its wares.

Me: What are the popular getups this year?

Justin: Well, it always seems that Hollywood sets the trend for Halloween costumes just like it does for Christmas toys. Just like last year, the summer blockbusters again dictate what’s hot for Halloween.

For both adults and kids we’ve sold a lot of Heath Ledger-inspired Joker costumes, as well as the Dark Knight. Speaking of Ledger, one of the spookiest aspects of Halloween 2009 is its heavy reliance on recent obituaries, most notably the passing of the King of Pop. When you go to a party there will be a person dressed as Michael Jackson, no doubt. Other popular dead celebrity costumes include Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon and infomercial pitchman Billy Mays. Meanwhile, diehard Twilight and True Blood fans have breathed new life into classic vampire attire, and of course, High School Musical is a big one for the kids.

Creating a clever and unique Halloween costume can be quite the task, so the sooner you start brainstorming, the better. But with only two weeks left until October 31, days are dwindling for creative sparks to fly.

Fortunately there are a number of costume shops dedicated to Halloween, which have sprung up all over southeastern Wisconsin as early as September 1.

Even with all of its costume-selling counterparts, Bartz’s the Party Stores, a family-owned chain, still lives up to its slogan, “We are Halloween.” Bartz's Stores have been the Milwaukee area leader for party supplies for over 60 years, and as a kid it was where my dad took my siblings and I to pick out a costume for Sunday afternoon trick-or-treating.

After work, I stopped into the Bartz’s Party Store on North Avenue in Wauwatosa to round up a couple odds and ends as I put the finishing touches on my costume. When I was five years old I remember being overwhelmed by this store; much of the apparel, masks and accessories looked like they came out of my worst nightmares and the masses of people in a mad rush to purchase such horrifying costumes caused mayhem throughout the place.

  

Tonight the costume shop looked the same, although the costumes had been updated with this year’s pop trends. Additionally, it contained just about every Halloween costume from Ghosts and Princesses to Clowns and Action Heroes, plus any trinket, decoration or gory accessory desired. And because there are still a couple days until Halloween, I wasn’t shoulder to shoulder with any crazy customers.

 

Even though there are still many of the same costumes that I wore as a child – Snow White and M&Ms Candy – it’s interesting to see how costumes have evolved. I read somewhere that 10 years ago, pimps, fairies, Renaissance and Goth costumes didn’t even exist whereas nowadays you can find them almost everywhere. I also wonder if costumes were as revealing 10 years ago as they are today.

I heard a woman approach a young Bartz’s employee asking, “Where are the sexy costumes?” When you go out on Water Street to celebrate Halloween in a couple of weekends, you are guaranteed to see at least five "Sexy Little Red Riding Hoods" and at least a handful of Play Boy Bunnies. It seems they’ve become standard here, as well.

A man who knows all about such trends is my friend Justin, who you’ve read about in several of my previous posts. He is the Wauwatosa Bartz's manager. Conveniently, he was in the shop tonight, so I decided it’d be fun to play “interview” and ask him a couple questions pertaining to the store and its wares.

Me: What are the popular getups this year?

Justin: Well, it always seems that Hollywood sets the trend for Halloween costumes just like it does for Christmas toys. Just like last year, the summer blockbusters again dictate what’s hot for Halloween.

For both adults and kids we’ve sold a lot of Heath Ledger-inspired Joker costumes, as well as the Dark Knight. Speaking of Ledger, one of the spookiest aspects of Halloween 2009 is its heavy reliance on recent obituaries, most notably the passing of the King of Pop. When you go to a party there will be a person dressed as Michael Jackson, no doubt. Other popular dead celebrity costumes include Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon and infomercial pitchman Billy Mays. Meanwhile, diehard Twilight and True Blood fans have breathed new life into classic vampire attire, and of course, High School Musical is a big one for the kids.