Play in the City

ZenDen

Last night Christi and I went to the grand opening event at ZenDen, the new lounge inside the Wyndham Milwaukee Center Hotel.

We met downtown around 8 p.m., parked a few blocks away, and as we approached the hotel, a bellhop held the door open for us. We wandered through the sleek lobby until we found the lounge, which was already full of people.

We were greeted by a pretty girl in a Santa outfit, and within ten seconds we were offered a glass of champagne. We happily took a glass as we surveyed the scene. The dim room was lit by glowing orange lights at the bar and tons of tea light candles, and a huge mirror on one wall gave it the effect of being much larger than it really is.

Christi's old roommate, Nikki, was working behind the bar and had let us know that the event was open bar all night. She mixed us up some pomegranate martinis that were out of this world and the one-drink limit I'd mentally given myself on the way over quickly went out the window.

We parked ourselves near the bar, attempting to stay out of the line of traffic, which proved to be pretty impossible considering the number of bodies in the room, and as we looked around, we realized that we were quite underdressed in our T-shirts and ponytails. The women around us were in dresses and slinky tops, with their hair and makeup done to perfection. I felt a bit self-conscious, but that feeling slowly slipped away as I sipped my martini.

Waitresses walked around with trays of appetizers – pistachios wrapped in bacon, shrimp with apples, and some raspberry tartlets – and we watched the DJ spin records from his booth behind the bar. He was really handsome and smiled every time he caught me watching him do his thing, and the music was good – mellow and sexy, and never overpowering.

Two hours and three martinis later, we were ready to hit the road. It's not very often that an event is open bar all night – a poor gal like me has to take advantage! – and I was having a lot of fun, but had I stayed any longer or indulged in any more of those delicious martinis, I might not have made it into work this morning.

ZenDen was very cool, and the inside of the Wyndham was just beautiful.

Milwaukee is making big strides on the entertainment scale as of late, with new restaurants debuting every month, and upscale, posh places like ZenDen raising our hipness factor big time.

Read more about the new hotspot here.

Krav Maga seminar for a great cause!

Several weeks ago, I told you about my first experience with Krav Maga, a form of martial arts that teaches self-defense and survival. It was an incredibly powerful and exhilarating hour, and Dave and I plan to sign up for classes that we’ll take three times per week come January.

If you had the slightest interest in giving Krav Maga a try, now is your chance to see what it’s like – and make a big difference in a little boy’s life in the process.

On Saturday, January 6, Krav Maga-Milwaukee will be offering two 2-hour seminars, one in street defense at 10 a.m. and one in ground defense at noon.

For $30 per person (or $40 per person if you pay that day), the seminars will teach valuable self-defense and survival techniques, and 100% of the proceeds will benefit a little boy named Gavin, who was born with congenital kidney failure and who needs a transplant to survive.

Look at this kid. You help him and you help yourself – it’s a win-win situation!

You can learn more at the Krav Maga-Milwaukee site and at SaveBabyGavin.com. Simply fill out this form to sign up.

I’ve said before how totally astounding I think the blogosphere is, and how cool it is that it brings people together who would have never met before. I'm delighted to report that I played a small role in leading Kurt to Baby Gavin.

Kurt found my blog which led him to Derek's blog, High Life Heaven, and Derek had posted about Gavin because he's the relative of a friend of his. Kurt, having recently become a father for the first time, was touched by Gavin's story and decided to hold a fundraiser.

And now here we are.

I hope you'll consider signing up!

A smorgasbord of a post ...

Forgive me if this installment is a bit all over the place, but it's nearly Wednesday already, and this past weekend didn't exactly feature a neat and tidy, cut-and-dry, highly-bloggable (is that a word?) activity.

Instead, the past few days have featured several random, somewhat bloggable (yeah, I said it again) outings. So without further ado …

Twisted Fork

Friday while I was at work, Dave and I talked on the phone and he offered to take us out to dinner that evening. It's a rare occurrence for us due to our lack of funds, so I was excited. I proceeded to spend way too much of my afternoon debating restaurants and reading Dennis Getto reviews online. I kept going back to restaurants we've been to before and loved: Sake Tumi, Swig, Pizza Man – but I knew we should try something new.

I decided on Tess, an intimate restaurant situated in an old Victorian house in a residential area of the east side, which is owned by the same people who own Holiday House and that I've heard nothing but good things about recently.

Pleased with myself for finally making a decision, I called for a reservation and … they were closed for a holiday party. Drat.

Long story short (or sort of long already, I suppose) – we decided to give Twisted Fork a try. I've lived in Milwaukee for more than three years and have never been to this well-known east side restaurant except to have a drink on several occasions.

Our dinner was very enjoyable and we had a nice time, though, as with many restaurants we try, I won't be in too big of a rush to return, considering the huge array of dining options Milwaukee has to offer.

The restaurant is cute, but loud, and the service was good. We shared crab cakes to start out, and they were tasty, but as we said that night, you can't really do a crab cake badly. Dave had a hanger steak that he thought was too charred on the outside – but the seasoned fries that accompanied it were delicious.

It was a bitter cold evening and I was in the mood for some comfort food, so I opted for pasta. On the waitress's recommendation (I always like to narrow it down to a few items and then ask the waitperson what's best – they serve it day in and day out, so they usually know what's up!), I had the chicken linguine, which was served with asparagus and tons of mozzarella cheese. It was really good, but extremely garlicky. There was going to be no making out for us after dinner!

For dessert, we shared a brownie with ice cream, which we chose because the waiter lights it on fire before it comes to the table, and it was alright, but it was drizzled with a raspberry sauce (I guess it must have been liqueur) that sort of ruined it for us. The crème brulee trio we shared was the highlight of our meal – three small dishes of the sugar-covered pudding, one vanilla, one espresso and one banana bread-flavored. YUM!

After two beers for Dave and two glasses of wine for me, plus an appetizer, two entrees and two desserts, we'd spent a hundred bucks with tip. This is why we can't go out very often – it's impossible to do it well and do it cheap!

I'd recommend the Twisted Fork for a group of friends but not necessarily a romantic date. A fun date, sure, but a romantic one, not so much. From reading Dennis Getto's review, ALL the food is supposedly quite garlicky, and as I said, the place is pretty loud. I'd go back, but probably for breakfast or lunch so I wouldn't spend so much!

BBC

Staying on the east side for a moment … BBC is right across the street from Twisted Fork, and we were there Saturday night for Dave's company Christmas party. I'm not sure what all can be said about a bar, especially since I’m not exactly a bar connoisseur. However, we had a good time there – played some foosball and pool, and had drinks and hors d'oeuvres. (And I read that it has two levels and features live music upstairs nightly.) The service was good and the place is big enough that even when it got crowded later in the night, it was still manageable and fun.

Bayshore Mall

Dave and I live in the North Shore, very close to Bayshore Mall, and yet for the past year or so, I've avoided that area completely because of the construction going on there. I knew they were working on making "Bayshore Mall" into "Bayshore Town Center" and that the addition of such establishments as California Pizza Kitchen and Trader Joe's was creating quite a buzz.

I was in need of a pair of shoes and was curious about the new additions, so Sunday afternoon Dave and I made the short drive over there. And HOLY MOLY was everything different! It was like I was in a different city!

Parking was, surprisingly, a breeze – the vast parking structure had a digital counter outside of it that continuously reported how many spots were available inside. We entered and found a spot right away and then walked along the sidewalk, marveling at all of the new stores and the pretty storefronts that faced out onto the street.

Christmas lights covered trees and lampposts along the sidewalk, and a huge Christmas tree was displayed in the center of it all.

There are tons of restaurants there – Potbelly's (whoo hoo!), Bar Louie, California Pizza Kitchen, Cheesecake Factory, and a place called Devon Seafood Grill that we definitely want to try.

We walked inside, I got my shoes, and then we stopped for a few minutes and listened to a group of kids singing Hanukah songs in the middle of the mall. The place was bustling, and I was very excited to realize that this mall is so close to where I live - and so different than the other malls in the area!

And finally … Chicago

Yesterday I spent the day down in Chicago, shopping til I (nearly) dropped. Last year we got to go to the spa, this year the boss took us down to Chicago for the day.

We took the Amtrack down bright and early yesterday morning, which took about an hour and a half. My boss gave us all spending money, which was such a treat since I hardly ever get to go shopping these days! We did a ton of walking, as is usually the case when visiting a big city like Chicago or New York, unless you want to spring for cabs.

We shopped on Michigan Avenue for several hours in the morning, had a delicious lunch at an Italian place called the Rosebud, and then shopped the rest of the afternoon until our train left at 5:08.

I came home with about 10 new tops and it was so exciting! It feels so good to have some new clothes. Despite sore arms from all the bags and blisters on my feet from walking miles in the rain in dress shoes, it was a totally fantastic day.

Now here I am, nearly halfway through the week already and looking toward the upcoming weekend once again. And it's going to be a full weekend!

Friday night we'll be seeing The Nutcracker at the Milwaukee Ballet, which I'm really looking forward to. I've never been to a ballet, and I've never seen a performance of The Nutcracker! Friday night is opening night, and the show runs through December 29.

Saturday night we're seeing Linda's cabaret at the Skylight Opera Theater, and mom and Dale are going to come along, too. And then Sunday, we're heading down to Illinois for a Christmas party at my cousin, Sarah's house.

Tis the season to be busy, busy, busy, that's for sure! Hope you're all enjoying it.

"Imagine That" - A Cabaret

When Dave and I moved into our Shorewood duplex in August of 2005, we were told by the previous renter to be prepared to hear our downstairs neighbor singing a lot. Then he added, "but don't worry, she's great, so it won't bother you."

We waited, and sure enough, the singing came. Up through the vents, through the floors – beautiful, passionate singing, and often piano music along with it. After almost a year and a half here, we've grown used to it, we've come to expect it, and something about hearing that music and her singing comforts me and makes me feel safe.

When we first lived here, sometimes I'd be home on a Saturday morning, much like today, and I'd stop in my tracks in the hallway just to have a listen. She sounded like she had come here straight from Broadway.

But wait – I came to find out that she HAD come here straight from Broadway.

Linda Stephens came to Milwaukee after living in New York for 13 years and acting in Broadway productions such as "Damn Yankees" with Jerry Lewis, "The Man Who Came to Dinner" with Nathan Lane, and Arthur Miller's "All My Sons."

She's spent her career acting and singing in productions in New York, Milwaukee, Chicago, Atlanta and – I would imagine – many other places around the country.

This past summer I watched over Linda's apartment while she was away for several months doing a show in Atlanta, and on several occasions, I walked through her home, transfixed by the awards, photos and rave reviews that adorned her wall.

This wonderful Journal Sentinel article from early this year tells of other work she's done, including TV roles and being the voice of books on tape, and it also describes how she came to settle in our city.

Dave and I saw Linda in Animal Crackers last December, and now we're getting ready to see her perform again.

Through next Saturday, December 16, Linda is starring in her own cabaret at the Skylight Opera Theater called "Imagine That" in the Skylight Bar after each Friday and Saturday performance of South Pacific. It's free and open to the public and usually starts around 10pm or a little after.

Since Dave and I can't make it until her final performance, I wanted to post about it now so readers have the chance to check her out either tonight or next Friday or Saturday.

The cabaret features Jack Forbes Wilson on the piano, and Linda sings songs and tells stories about her life in the theater, including of her experiences with composer Stephen Sondheim and playwright Tennessee Williams.

Jonathan West of MKE says on his blog:

FREE, BUT NOT CHEAP
Though my last Hot Pick of the week is a freebie, it is in no way a cheap pick. Think of this as the ultimate bargain: a perfect end to the perfect date, if you will. I'm simply gaga over actress Linda Stephens, a world-class lady and a stunning actress who has landed back in Milwaukee after several successful years in New York.

There is no question that everyone and their brother, mother, sister, father, and dog should scurry down to see her cabaret show, "Imagine That," following performances of "South Pacific" at the Skylight Opera Theatre. The lady simply opens her mouth, and the world seems to be a better place. Stephens will perform material that "conjures the power of the imagination." I for one, imagine that it will be great.

Linda is a very kind and interesting woman who, from what I can tell, has lived quite a life. It's a life that I feel lucky to have been touched by, and I'm eager to learn even more about it when we're there to see her take the stage next weekend. 

Rock the house

Time once again for a just-for-the-fun-of-it post? I think so! 

So … my little brother, Alex Leffelman, might very well be famous one day, and you can say you heard of him here first.

On Sunday afternoon, Dave and I drove to Madison where Al goes to school to hear him sing and play his guitar at Potbelly's sandwich shop on State Street. Potbelly's restaurants all over the country feature local amateur musicians and Alex recently became one of them, playing every Sunday afternoon from 5 til 7 p.m. He gets paid $30 plus a free sandwich for his two hours, plus people give him tips. It's a pretty sweet deal!



Dave's sister met us down there and the three of us watched as Al rocked the house. He played The Beatles, Death Cab for Cutie, Jack Johnson, Elton John, The Killers, Coldplay … and he was freakin good! I couldn't believe that this was the baby brother that I'd made fun of all those years. I was so proud!

I'd only ever been to a Potbelly's in Minnesota and now in Madison, but it turns out Milwaukee has two locations, too: one downtown and one in Brookfield. I'm a big sub fan, and I'd put Potbelly's delicious, warm sandwiches right at the top of my list. I'll definitely be returning – and who knows what other great local music I'll get to hear when I'm there!

And speaking of music … Dave and I bought Guitar Hero II on Saturday with a gift card we got for the wedding. It's pretty hard but REALLY fun, and from what I hear, it's currently all the rage in the game world. While I’m not the video game aficionado that my husband is, I can see this becoming a temporary addiction ...

TIME Magazine 2001

Biedermeier exhibit at the MAM

On Saturday afternoon, Dave and I paid a return visit to the crown jewel of our city, the Milwaukee Art Museum. 

We were there to check out the Biedermeier: The Invention of Simplicity exhibit. We’d seen the signs for several months, and since the exhibit is only going to be in town (and in the country) until January 1, we decided to not waste any more time.

I will admit that I don’t quite have the same appreciation for art as some others do. I enjoy walking through a museum several times a year and briefly taking in each piece, but I certainly can’t mull over a painting for 10 minutes at a time the way some folks can.

I do, however, have a huge appreciation for the art museum, an appreciation that many locals perhaps lack. Of course, we all appreciate the beautiful Calatrava-designed wings that have come to be the calling card of our city, and we marvel at it as we drive by, but many have not set foot inside, and I have to wonder why.

I know several people in my own life – I won’t name names – who think museums are a bit high-brow and hoity-toity, and that they wouldn’t enjoy it or necessarily fit in well. But that's just silly! People from all walks of life go to the museum - I know because I've seen them on every visit.

On a freezing, dreary Saturday afternoon, we weren’t surprised to find the museum brimming with people.

We paid our admission and went directly into the exhibit. It was quiet and crowded, with many guests walking around with headphones, listening to the guided tour.

The multi-room exhibit was a treat for the eyes, full of bright colors and funky designs. As I walked through, I felt like I was getting a peek into a world and lifestyle very unlike my own, a lifestyle that was more elegant and regal than ours today.

I found out afterward, though, that the term “Biedermeier” was at first given in a joking spirit and that it once carried with it negative connotations. (Bieder means 'simple' or 'unpretentious' in German) I wasn’t looking at the furniture and china of the upper class but of the middle class who were “attempting to emulate the nobility.” The Biedermeier period spanned 1815-1848, was prevalent in Germany and Austria, and was marked by simple design and inexpensive materials.

Writing about and describing art is most definitely not my forte, so you’ll have to forgive me for speaking in layman’s terms. But the exhibit was truly more interesting than I’d anticipated, and now I wish I’d ponied up the $4 for the guided audio tour.

The painted bowls and glasses boasted vivid, dramatic colors, and looked like something you could buy today. The silver hairbrushes and toothbrushes, however, have definitely been improved upon over the years! There were several “party dresses” displayed, and I was surprised at how dowdy and conservative they were. My, how times have changed!

My favorite part was the furniture – the tea table whose top flipped up to look like “a flower on a stem," the armoires, the giant tilt mirror, the nightstands that resembled bongo drums, the chairs with intricately carved backs – no two were alike – and the couches that I just fell in love with. One was orange and stacked and is pictured here and the other – my favorite – was yellow with several thin black stripes with a wooden base and arm rests that slanted outward. It was so chic and looked so comfortable and retro – I was dying to take its picture! But alas, I followed the rules.

We spent maybe a half hour in the exhibit and then roamed the museum's main collection a little while longer before leaving.

The Biedermeier exhibit was really fascinating and fun, and we're lucky to have it in our city! It's the first North American Biedermeier exhibit, and when it leaves on January 1, it's bound for the Albertina in Vienna, Deutsches Historisches Museum in Berlin, and the Musee du Louvre in Paris.

If you've never set foot inside the Milwaukee Art Museum, please put it on your list! It's a complete treasure. Every time I step inside I have to remind myself that I'm still in Milwaukee, still in the city I live in.

Milwaukee holds a nationally recognized museum that attracts internationally acclaimed shows like the Biedermeier show. Even if you're not particularly into art, that's pretty remarkable.

Snow Day!

December came in with a bang today!

Last night when I went to bed, visions of a long, cozy, unexpected day off from work danced in my head. The weathermen were calling for 4-12 inches of snow in southeastern Wisconsin and, just like I used to when I was in school, I hoped with all my might to be on the 12 inches side of things so that maybe, just maybe, it'd be too dangerous to venture out to work come morning.

When the alarm went off, I sprang out of bed to peek out the windows and - sure enough! - we were BURIED. The wind was blowing, the snow was falling, lightning was flashing and sporadic thunder was shaking the house. I turned on the TV to find that we were under "Blizzard Advisory" in Milwaukee County and, on top of all schools being closed (this is Milwaukee Public Schools' first snow day in a decade!), the National Weather Service was advising that people stay inside and off the roads if at all possible.

The phone call came shortly thereafter – my boss decided we'd be closed today. Boo-yah!!

I'd already showered and gotten ready so I didn't go back to bed. Dave kissed me good bye and headed out to try to get out of the driveway when I heard the advisory from the National Weather Service. I put my boots on with my bathrobe and ran outside to convince him to stay home. He wasn't too happy about it at first, but in the end he decided to stay put.

Now the snow has finally stopped and we're about to go outside to shovel the sidewalk and driveway. I feel like a giddy little kid being home on a Friday because of the weather, but I wish I had a better snow day companion! I want to go sledding, go for a walk, do something, but grumpy Dave hates the snow and wants to avoid it as much as possible.

My plan is to engage him in a snowball fight, and then he'll have no choice but to play with me!

Be back later probably with some photos of the winter wonderland!

***********

UPDATE, 9 pm – Here are a few photos I took while we were out shoveling today.

My fuzzy feelings toward our "winter wonderland" disintegrated pretty quickly once we got to work on that snow. The foot of it that we got was HEAVY, and it was COLD outside.

We spent an hour digging out of the sidewalk and driveway, sweating and freezing at the same time, and it would have taken even longer than that had our nice neighbor not offered us his snow blower for a while.

There was no snowball fight, and even if Dave had wanted to go sledding or for a walk, I wouldn't have been down for it. I wanted to get inside as quickly as possible to warm up and nurse my aching back!

I'm still very grateful for our day off, though. The sun came out this afternoon and we walked a few blocks to get a movie and some food and have been taking it easy the rest of the day.

You gotta love an impromptu three-day weekend!