Play in the City

Krav Maga in the Journal Sentinel

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An evening at the Pabst Theater

Following a significant promotion and raise at work, a celebration is most definitely in order.

(Yes, this promotion came mere weeks ago, but this past week, I made another jump to Account Executive, and this time, more money came with it. Halleluiah!)

Add to that a Bartolotta gift certificate from Christmas burning a hole in my purse plus the observance of our three-month wedding anniversary, and there was no question about it: it was prime time for a night on the town.

Recalling Mark's suggestion that we finally see a show at the historic Pabst Theater, I went online Friday to see what was showing there this weekend. The performance was Defending the Caveman, "Broadway's longest running solo play in history."

I'd heard good things from a couple of people I know, and online searching produced scores of rave reviews. Ignoring my instinctive hesitation to see a show with the word "caveman" in the title, I made a snap decision to purchase two tickets and our night was set: dinner at Lake Park Bistro followed by Defending the Caveman at the Pabst.

We walked into the Bistro around 5:45 p.m. last night and, having not made a reservation, we were prepared to dine at the bar if they couldn't get us a table. Sure enough, the place was already packed, so we grabbed two seats at the bar facing in toward the restaurant, and I surveyed this place that I'd spent countless hours in as an employee for two years.

I often miss the camaraderie and the cash that came with working at the Bistro, along with the pleasant customers and the fantastic food, but it's nice to come back as a guest now, especially when I'm still so warmly welcomed by my former coworkers and managers.

Between conversations with old friends, Dave and I had a couple of drinks, warm bread and butter, and escargot, and then I had my favorite entrée, the trout, with a side of truffle mushrooms, and he had the hanger steak with Roquefort butter and pomme frites with a side of garlic aioli for dipping. For dessert, we shared the decadent Yves mousse cake with coconut sorbet and the crème brulee.

I've said it before and I'll say it again – the Lake Park Bistro is the best restaurant in Milwaukee. From the romantic ambiance and the view of Lake Michigan to the impeccable service and the four-star French food, it just doesn't get better.

After saying good byes and paying our (generously discounted) bill, we were back in the car and headed downtown for our show. We found parking in a garage just a block from the theater for only $3 – three bucks on a Saturday night!

The night was bitingly cold (hence Dave refusing to smile for our pre-show picture on the street) and we scurried in the doors by will-call to pick up our tickets. We walked into the lobby of the Pabst and immediately saw why it's such a revered and well-loved venue.

Chandeliers cast a warm glow over the spacious lobby and the same round bulbs that characterize the outside of the Pabst lined the ceiling between levels inside. A grand staircase led us to where we needed to be to find our seats on the second level of the theater, and we passed several full bars along the way that featured mixed drink and beer specials. I noticed that folks were taking their drinks inside the theater with them – a nice change of pace from most theaters where you have to suck down your drink before the show or at intermission.

We were escorted to our seats and sat down with five minutes to spare before show time. The theater was absolutely gorgeous. A chandelier straight out of Phantom of the Opera (which weighs over two tons!) hung high above, and three separate levels were filled with plush red seats. The stage was surrounded by intricate gold carvings and an elegant orange tassled curtain.

I took photos inside the theater, but they didn't turn out too well since I couldn't use a flash …

The Pabst Theater was built in 1895 by Captain Frederick Pabst and was designed by architect Otto Strack in the tradition of the great European opera houses.

It was renovated in 1928 and then restored to its original style in 1976, making it "one of the most beautiful theaters in the United States." In 1989, it was connected to Milwaukee Center, which includes the Milwaukee Center office tower, the Wyndham Hotel (now the new InterContinental), and the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Dave and I checked it out following the performance.

Everything about the Milwaukee Center is grand, from the shining floors, high ceilings and unique lighting to the grand piano and the trees that line the walkways. While the main room was relatively empty when we were there after our show, the nearby InterContinental Hotel was abuzz with activity, the sounds of voices and clanking silverware echoing above us. 

Anyway, the Pabst Theater, "the centerpiece of Milwaukee's downtown theater district" was spectacular. It's a City of Milwaukee landmark, a State of Wisconsin Historical Site, and a National Historic Landmark. Read the rest of the fascinating history of the theater here.



Now that we've been there, we're going to stay up on what shows are coming through and hopefully make our visits something of a regular occurrence. We already have plans to see The Decemberists there on April 16.

As for Defending the Caveman …

Breakfast at Cafe Hollander

Nothing says weekend to me quite like eating out for breakfast.

Lunch out, dinner out – those can be done any day of the week. But breakfast out just doesn't happen during the workweek. Breakfast during the week is rushed, eaten in the car, or skipped altogether.

Lingering over coffee and feasting on eggs or pancakes and toast with jelly – now that says weekend.

Usually I like to stay at home all day on Sunday if I can manage it, especially during the cold winter months, but something about the falling snow outside my window this morning made me feel energized and ready to get up and go.

When we walked outside around 11 a.m., the snow that fell around us was fluffy and soft and coming down hard. The world was quiet as we brushed off my car and drove slowly up Downer Avenue to Cafe Hollander, a restaurant we'd visited numerous times in the past when it was Gil's Café.

We parked about two blocks away and an impromptu snowball fight helped us get over the spat we'd somehow found ourselves in on the short five-minute drive from our house.

Once inside, we were seated at a table for two next to the window near the front of the restaurant. I faced the window and Dave faced out, and as I took in the scene – snow falling outside, rosy-faced patrons chatting all around us, the flowers on our table, the dark wood and cozy feel of the café - I realized we'd gotten over our tiff just in time, for this charming setting left no room for bickering. 

Since I'd already drunk two cups of coffee with the morning paper before we left the house, I opted instead to start with a mug of hot chocolate after I saw the man at the table next to us enjoying one. Dave ordered an orange juice, barely looking up as he pored over the extensive beer list that'd been placed before him. Needless to say, our decision to come back to Café Hollander very soon was made before we even took a bite of food.

Making a meal choice was difficult since just about everything sounded enticing, but also very different, and since we planned to spend the afternoon at Discovery World immediately following our meal, neither of us wanted to try anything that might upset our stomachs. After some debating, Dave chose the blackberry turkey sandwich and I went with the Benelux omelet and a side of bacon.

Our meals were out within 10 minutes, and both were excellent choices. Dave's sandwich was odd, but it worked well and he loved it. Roasted turkey, gruyere cheese, red onions, peppers, and blackberry jam all served on a crusty baguette. My omelet was filled with fresh mushrooms, diced tomatoes and gruyere cheese, and both of our meals were served with a side of Hollander potatoes, which were some of the best hash browns we'd ever had.

My wheat toast felt like it'd been baked about five minutes ago, and my bacon was perfectly crisp. I couldn't quite finish my whole omelet, but I polished off everything else, including that mug of delicious hot chocolate.

The owners of Café Hollander bought the store next door so the restaurant is now bigger than Gil's used to be. The bar wraps around into the far room, which is where the smoking section is located and, from the cheers we heard several times throughout our meal, TVs too. The front end of the bar doubles as a coffee counter, with a large chalkboard outlining the many offerings: lattes, espresso, cappuccinos, etc.

I'd wanted to ask our waitress about the second level of the building, but she seemed busy and then it was time to go and I hadn't asked. When we had breakfast at Gil's last year, we were seated upstairs, but in the time we were there today, a steady stream of guests came through the doors but none were led that way. I wonder if they'll just use the upstairs room for musical performances and private parties now? It's a great space up there – we actually looked into it for our rehearsal dinner, but obviously our timing was bad!

We'll find out about the upper level soon enough, though. With its warm, casual atmosphere, its interesting menu, and its impressive beer selection – not to mention its outdoor patio in the summertime and its close proximity to our house – Café Hollander will see us again, and soon.

On Deck

Finally finished the fourth and final list for my sidebar!

So often I hear of a place or an activity and think "I need to check that out" - but then it promptly slips my mind. Now I have a place to keep a running tally of things I'm hoping to do in Milwaukee in the coming months.

And as I said a few weeks ago, if you have suggestions for me, please post in the comments section or shoot me an email - thanks!

Play in the City: Wish List

*List is always under construction
*Suggestions are welcome!

Activities/Places:

Board Game Barrister
Brew City Bruisers

Charles Allis Museum/Villa Terrace

Historic Milwaukee tour

Jetskiing on the lakefront (McKinley Arena)

Lake Express Ferry to MI

Mexican Fiesta

Miller Brewery Tour
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Organ Piper Pizza

Paint Ball Dave's

Pettit National Ice Center

River Flicks

Sausage 5K at Miller Park

Sprecher Brewery Tour

The Times Cinema

Restaurants:

Bacchus

Hotel Metro

County Clare

Carnevor

Mason Street Grill

Milwaukee Chop House

Moceans

Nanakusa

Osteria del Mondo

Roots

Sabor

Tess

Birthday Girl

I turned 25 yesterday. As far as birthdays go, 25 is a big one – a quarter of a century old, a full-on adult.

It was the first birthday in my life on which I had to work, and while I know it's a part of growing up, it was still a big old bummer. I'm a big fan of birthdays, and no matter how old I get, I don't think I'll ever outgrow that.

Reflecting back on past birthdays – a rollerskating party at seven, a sleepover at 10, 13, 16 and probably a few others, skiing at 11, a tattoo at 20, the Bistro at 22 and 24, Sanford at 23 – somehow sitting at a desk all day just didn't quite compare.

My day was made brighter from the many birthday greetings I received throughout the day, and it was made just about perfect when I returned home to a husband who was determined that, even though we had cancelled our reservations at Sabor due to lack of funds, my birthday was going to be special and memorable.



A lovely bouquet of flowers and a card sat on the table when I walked in the door. I opened up the card and – yes! – John Mayer tickets for Valentine's Day! Dinner was almost ready and it smelled fabulous.

Dave had prepared a garden salad with blue cheese, walnuts and a raspberry vinaigrette, filet mignon, roasted sweet potatoes with brown sugar and walnuts, grilled asparagus and portabella mushrooms. Dessert was carrot cake, complete with candles and Dave singing Happy Birthday.

I had a few ideas about how I wanted to spend the rest of the evening, but alas, we were both feeling a little sleepy after our rich meal and instead settled in to watch the Golden Globe Awards.

A tame birthday, yes, but a good one, too.

We'll have plenty of birthdays that we can spend wining and dining and hitting the town. I'll always remember this one as the birthday that my husband took such care to make special for me. I'm a lucky lady.

Ya know, life just gets better and better every year … here's hoping that trend continues throughout my 25th!

Pizza Man

When it comes to pizza in Milwaukee, it doesn't get any better than Pizza Man.

Since moving to Milwaukee several years ago, I think I've eaten at Pizza Man at least a half a dozen times, and that's not including the times Dave and I have carried out one of their hot, mouth-watering pizzas on a Friday night to enjoy at home.

There was date night back when he came to stay with me for the weekend and we first experienced Pizza Man; there was lunch with Dad when I was still in college; there was Brewers Opening Day two years ago; and there were several times when the Lake Park Bistro crew would head over after a late shift for an end-of-the-night wine and pizza fix.

The latest visit was last night with Mom and Dale. We'd told them numerous times how utterly fantastic this pizza was, but they never quite got around to paying a visit. So Dave and I took matters into our own hands and got them a gift certificate for Christmas. They generously offered to share the love and take us with them when they used it – and we happily agreed.

Located at the corner of Oakland Avenue and North Avenue on the East Side, Pizza Man is a hugely popular restaurant that first opened in 1970 and boasts one of the most extensive wine lists in the city. The place is small, dark and cozy, with a small bar that seats about eight in the main room and wine bottles stored from the floor to the ceiling behind it. Servers and hosts work speedily, scooting between the 20 or so tables that fill the two rooms, and the smells of tomato sauce, fresh veggies, fish, garlic and bread all mix in the air.

Pizza Man offers entrees such as lasagna, orange roughy, ribs, and steaks, but I wouldn't be able to tell you how they are since I can never pass up the pizza when I'm there. The pizza, I can say with confidence, is hands down the best pizza I've ever had. And I've had a lot of pizza in my day!

The crust is thin and perfectly crispy, the sauce is fresh and tangy, and the toppings choices are nearly endless. We usually go for the safe but delicious pepperoni and mushroom combo, but some of the more interesting toppings include cream cheese, crab, scallops, BBQ pork, and pineapple.

Deep-dish pizza is another option, and the menu states that guests can expect to wait about 30 minutes while it bakes. Dave and I tried it one time and weren't too impressed – the thin crust is definitely the way to go.

Pizza Man also makes the best garlic bread I've ever eaten. Long, crisp, buttery, garlic bread topped with a generous amount of parmesan cheese and – if you decide to go all out – melted mozzarella cheese. Seriously, I'm salivating just thinking about it.

The restaurant offers a pretty wide selection of appetizers, and from experience I can say that the brie plate, escargot, mushrooms, and breaded eggplant are all very tasty.

Last night we all shared the cheese bread and a 16-inch pizza and, while I had every intention of photographing our pizza before we dove in, my stomach temporarily blocked my brain and I didn't remember until one lone piece remained. Pizza Man pizza looks like pizza, though, so you're probably not missing much by not seeing a photo of our pie.

You are, however, missing A LOT if you've never tasted it!

Pizza Man doesn't take reservations, so be prepared to wait for a table, especially if dining on a weekend. We waited about an hour last night around 8:00 p.m., but the hostess took my cell phone number so that we could leave and have a drink elsewhere while we waited. We walked down to Twisted Fork, but of course, being right on the East Side, folks have plenty of options within a block or two – BBC, Von Trier, Vittuchi's, etc.

Once we made it back and were digging into our dinner, we all definitely agreed: this was pizza we'd wait for ANY day.

Come out, come out wherever you are ...

Whew, I nearly missed it.

But I'm coming in here right at the tail end of National Delurking Week (Jan. 8-14, 2007), a big week in the blogosphere during which lurkers on blogs are supposed to make themselves known.

Here and there in the comments section I get something like "long-time reader, first-time commenter." And while I'm getting 300-500 hits per day these days, the number of comments definitely doesn't show that!

So hey folks, in honor of National Delurking Week, if you read Play in the City but have never commented, tell me hello!

The Chili Bowl

Global warming, my rear end. It’s freezing!

It’s so freezing that I couldn’t sleep last night. That’s right, the heat was cranked to 70 degrees like it always is, but since we live in such an old house, the windows are paper thin and since my bed is right under a window, I was an icicle all night!

Project for the weekend: finally biting the bullet and sealing our windows with plastic. We are wasting so much energy, it’s terrible. So we’re going to do something about it.

You know what would really warm me up right about now? Chili.

Since this weekend’s forecast calls for sleet and snow and more cold temps, it’s the perfect time to check out The Chili Bowl, Milwaukee’s largest chili cook-off.

The Chili Bowl takes place this Saturday from 3-9 p.m. at American Serb Hall. For $10 in advance or $12 at the door, guests can sample eight of the varieties of chili being offered. More than 50 Milwaukee area restaurants are participating, and guests get to vote on their favorites. The event will benefit Camp Heartland and you can learn more here.

I can’t attend as it’s my birthday weekend and I have plans. Well, my birthday isn’t actually until Monday but hey, I say I get a whole weekend.

Therefore, if I have nothing fun to report after the weekend, I have two good reasons. It’s my birthday WEEKEND and I’m sealing my windows.

Oh Christmas Tree: The Sequel

It was a mere 42 days ago that I wrote this.

And now, to my great sadness, that very tree that I was so excited about and that brought Dave and me such warmth and happiness for Christmas this year is now lying outside on the curb, in the dark and in the cold, within plain view of the very window it was illuminated in just days ago.

I suppose I knew what we'd do with the tree once Christmas was over, but taking the ornaments and lights off of it and carrying it downstairs and outside this past weekend really made me feel bad. And what's worse is that nearly every house I pass by while walking through the neighborhood or while driving to work features the same pathetic sight: a bulging green corpse at the foot of the driveway, its needles falling off and its stump in the air.

While driving down those same streets just a couple of weeks ago, the trees in those homes' windows made me feel all fuzzy inside. Now, I just feel like we're all a bunch of slimeballs, having our way with something and then (literally) casting it to the curb.

I understand that I'm being a bit melodramatic here.

Call me sappy – no pun intended – but it just seems like an extremely dismal end to something that brought us such joy.

Cutting down my own Christmas tree was a fun excursion – an excursion that I thought we'd make into a yearly tradition – but after seeing the scores of sad, dead trees over the past few days, I do believe I've had a change of heart.

Next year, I'm going artificial.