Play in the City

A Much Overdue Shout Out

If you aren’t reading Taste of the Town, what’s wrong with you? Just kidding! But really, you should make it a habit.

I met Taste of the Town’s food blogger, Audra Shalles, for the first time at Maxie’s last Thursday evening for drinks and appetizers. I must admit that this delayed recap has been in the back of my mind for a week now. My intention was to share my enjoyable evening with all of you immediately, but due to my business travels last weekend/early this week, I was a bit held up. 

Actually, it was my first “official” business trip. I now carry a black leather briefcase and feel about 10 years older, which isn’t a bad thing considering I’m told I look about five years under my actual age.

I digress.

At our happy hour meeting, Audra and I gobbled up delicious fried green tomatoes and sipped cocktails as we admired the vermillion walls and hip décor at Maxie’s. This is a restaurant you’d expect to find downtown, but it’s off of 68th Street. Crazy. I’m planning to try the crab cake platter on my next visit. I had a fantastic time discussing food, cooking, the elderly, and Milwaukee’s music scene (i.e. Summerfest) with Audra until our stomachs were full and we called it a night.

Again, if you haven’t checked out Taste of the Town, I suggest you do! Audra has written some cool blogs, my favorite being her visit to Sprecher. Also, if you haven’t gone to Maxie’s you can read more about our visit and the food we sampled at Taste of the Town. What are you waiting for?

It's not just the beer, but perhaps the kielbasa

Many outside of Milwaukee view the city as a society of beer guzzling, brat binging cheese heads. While beer is what made Milwaukee famous and quite frankly the brats are fantastic (with grilled onion, ketchup, and sauerkraut), I'll tell you that the essence of Milwaukee isn’t just about tailgating and breweries. It’s the diversity of everyday people and their cultures that makes Milwaukee unique.

Milwaukeeans are so diverse that we unite our different customs and heritage at ethnic festivals held summer-long. Whether Irish or Italian, Hispanic or Polish, African-American or German, the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan becomes packed with people looking to learn about a different heritage or celebrate their own by sampling food, dance, music and experiencing part of what makes Milwaukee great, its diverse culture.

I’m from the Polish-Italian heritage, which is why I love the festivals that celebrate my background. Polish Fest is an event I attend annually (with a last name like Cinpinski, it’s a sin to miss it!). There you’re cultured in the art of Polka, sounds of the accordion, sites of babushka wearing women, and tastes or smells of traditional pierogi and kielbasa. (Polish Fest vendors have pierogi recipes comparable to Grandma Cinpinski’s, which are the best hands down, but I'm a bit biased!)

You don’t have to be Polish, you don’t even have to like Polka music. It’s not about that. It’s a gathering of teens looking for nightlife, families spending a fun afternoon together, and adults experiencing the sights and sounds with friends. On the other hand, maybe you desire to binge on multiple Polish sausages or learn Wisconsin’s state dance to keep pace with the seasoned dancers stomping along to the oompahs of the brass bands. Either way, you’re sure to leave with Polkas ringing in your ear and a full belly whether you like it or not!
 
While no single event can demonstrate the full Milwaukee experience, by learning the customs of Milwaukeeans, you’ll begin to understand what Milwaukee is truly about. Milwaukee’s ethnic festivals have begun and will continue all summer-long, so grab your grandpa’s lederhosen, your ma’s babushka, some luck of the Irish or your Salsa dancing shoes and head to the fest that celebrates your favorite heritage.

Remember, it’s our different cultures that make Milwaukee great, not just the beer.

Sweep

The series ends with a 7-5 victory for the Brew Crew. I won’t give all of the credit to   my  man, Bill Hall, but #2 hit a grand slam in the first inning and an RBI in the third to help the Brewers sweep the San Francisco Giants yesterday afternoon. But, I’d encourage Bill to stick to his day job. We don’t want anymore cameos on Young and the Restless, or any other soap opera for that matter.

Root, Root for the Brewers

Many have recently jumped on the Brewers bandwagon, but I don’t blame them. Still, I will point out that I’ve been a fan since I left my mother’s womb. Heck, I was born during the “golden years” practically at the World Series against St. Louis in ’82.

I was around for the era of Rollie Fingers and his creepy handlebar mustache. I was (and still am) a huge fan of shortstop, Robin Yount, who spent his entire career in Milwaukee where I saw his final game on October 3, 1993 and his jersey retired soon after. Furthermore, I was heartbroken when my idol, Paul Molitor, signed with the Toronto Blue Jays following the 1992 season and left my team. 

Besides that, I attended the last baseball game at County Stadium and one of the first at Miller Park. Yes, I was the little girl rooting in the stands with the large foam finger, and to this day, I’m buying season tickets and scarfing down ballpark franks while wearing vintage Brewers gear. 

Monday was a day that would make any Milwaukee Brewers fan proud. Not only was it a huge National League game against the San Francisco Giants (who aren’t very good, so I’m kind of hyping it up right now) and arch-rival Barry Bonds. Even so, Rickie Weeks returned to play a stellar game and the rookie, Yovani Gallardo, made his debut as pitcher. 

Even though our seats were in the nosebleeds, we were definitely part of the action. I haven’t been to a sold-out game where 41,000 some fans in attendance where on their feet for the majority of the game cheering, chanting, and of course, booing Bonds.

Inspiration at the Lakefront

You may be familiar with the names Van Gogh, Degas, Renoir, Seurat and Picasso, but do you know Honeysett, Sullivan, Keefe, Plummer and Holwerda? You should. These five are just some of the many artists featured at the Lakefront Festival of Arts worth knowing. 

As a freelance artist, M.C. Escher wannabe, and art history junkie, I couldn’t wait to visit the Lakefront Festival for my first time. I’ve been anxious to see many of the world’s most talented and creative artists come to Milwaukee.
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Background Info
Beginning as a county fair in the mid-50s where local artists came to showcase their work, the Lakefront Festival of Arts has since flourished into a renowned annual festival where thousands of patrons gather to view masterful exhibits by world-class artists. 

Beyond artwork, the festival offers many additional attractions, so I advice you to allow yourself a full day to take in its entirety. The Wine Garden on the shore of Lake Michigan, Children’s Area where kids can make free crafts or Father’s Day gifts, and silent auctions to bid on your favorite art and help raise money for the Milwaukee Art Museum; these are a couple things you shouldn’t ignore.

   
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My Experience
While my mom and neighbor met painter, Gordan France, at the Artist Demo Stage, 14- year-old Rachael crafted a jellyfish sculpture from Styrofoam bowls, cups, and pink ribbon to match her bedroom. Also in the Children’s Area was a performance stage featuring “Chicken Pond.” During this mini-performance, the trained ballerinas from the Ballet Center Performance Company chasséd in circles to bluegrass music and made me wish that I still danced and wore a pink tutu as well.

Meanwhile, my boyfriend, Eric, and I wandered through the large tents lined with rows of exhibit booths ranging from black and white photography to modern impressionism. I was overwhelmed by the massive crowd that kept traffic at a slow pace, and at times, at a standstill as guests stopped to take snapshots of artwork.              

Some of my favorite artists included print maker, Chris Plummer, who works in woodcut  prints, and Bruce Holwerda, who (in my opinion) paints figures that represent Cirque du Soleil performers, which is great because who doesn’t love the circus? Still, I was most fascinated by Stephen Sebastian, a modern impressionist who captures life sailing on the rough seas, in jazz clubs, or behind the scenes of a dance recital.  If only I didn’t spend my last paycheck on rent, steak, and Tool tickets…

Celebrations in the Third Ward

On Saturday night in the Historic Third Ward, my friends and I met on the riverfront patio of the Milwaukee Ale House to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Our seating near the Milwaukee River spotlighted downtown and local boat docks. As I admired the sailboats floating along, I enjoyed the humid night while tasting the various handcrafted Ale House specialty beers. We sampled the crisp tasting Downtown Lites Honey Ale (city lights in a glass they say, yet I’m not sure what the really means) and the rich, malty amber ale, Louie’s Demise, which is my favorite. This unique experience is one that brings Milwaukeeans back to their roots and visitors closer to the rich life of the city that made brewing famous.

After kicking back, making random conversation, and tasting the fantastic appetizers for an hour or so (I highly recommend the macaroni and cheese bites. They’re fried triangles stuffed with real Mac n’ Cheese goodness!), we moved the party to another unique bar, The Irish Pub.

This pub is new to the corner of Erie and Water Street. It’s a classic Irish owned and fully functional bar that is reminiscent of pubs found in Ireland, so I’m told. I ordered up a Harp and Guinness, which were ridiculously expensive (or I’m just a cheapskate) and ventured outside. Fortunately, the ambience of the outdoor patio made me forget about the arm and leg I left at the oak top bar inside. 

The patio was something I’ve never seen before. It wasn’t that the outdoor set-up was  architecturally magnificent, it was simple; and it certainly wasn’t swanky, but humble and comfortable. The patio was built next to a large parking garage that normally would be an ambient blemish, but on this summer night it was magnificent. The entire wall was covered with lush vines that crept and covered every concrete wall and metal brace making the parking structure resemble a fortress that blocked the patio from the bustling nightlife.

As our large group of friends sat at the black iron tables on the wooden deck, I felt like we were in the backyard of an Irish lad’s home. This guy really enjoyed his Gaelic Storm albums and kept “Bring Yer Wellies” on repeat all night. I willingly clapped along to its traditional Irish melody and acoustic instrumentals. You can’t help it, or at least I can’t, but that’s because I think I have ADHD. 

After two Irish car bombs for the birthday boy, we were out of money  and liveliness. The time was up for playing catch-up with long lost friends and discovering the unique bar and restaurant scene in the Third Ward. Still, this night wasn’t just a Birthday celebration; it was a celebration of a perfect summer evening spent in Milwaukee. Like a good beer, we savor these nights for as long as we can. 

Strange Sighting

One of the reasons why I wanted to write for Play in the City was to discover Milwaukee, i.e. the places, people, culture, etc. in greater depth. 
 
While hopping around the many eateries and bars in the Historic Third Ward, I was surprised to see the Daily Bugle’s freelance photo journalist, Peter Parker, in full Spidey garb. He was perched on top of a newspaper dispenser waiting to either cross the intersection or eject webbing from his wrist to swing from building to building. 

If this wasn’t in fact Manhattan’s own superhero, Spider-Man, on vacation in Milwaukee, (which is the only explanation for the jean shorts worn over the red and blue costume) people might start questioning the normalcy of us Milwaukeeans. Are we a bit out of our gourds or simply out to have a good time?

Either way, Milwaukeeans are one of a kind. Although most of us don’t parade around the city in costume until Halloween weekend, we certainly know how to have a good time. Whether we’re impersonating a Marvel hero or simply spending a night out on the town with friends, Brew City is the place to be.

Weekend Happenings

A couple of you asked me to share my upcoming plans. Well, friends, there’s a lot going on this weekend, so much that it will be tough to squeeze everything into three days!

It’s the perfect night for a FREE concert and movie. Starting at 6:30 p.m. at Wilson Park, I can enjoy a concert by David Drake followed by the movie “Open Season," you know the one with the grizzly bears? I can’t think of a better way to unwind from a long work week than spending Friday evening outdoors relaxing, and perhaps, eating a picnic dinner as I enjoying free entertainment. 

If I don’t make it to the concert at Wilson Park, there’s a FREE alternative rock show at the Northern Lights Theater in Potawatomi Bingo Casino. Beginning with Nine Days at 8 p.m. and followed by headliner, Stroke 9. Just in case you’ve forgotten these bands, I’ll jog your memory. No alternative rock fan would forget "Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” by Nine Days; and you must remember the lyrics “don't expect to get your bloody black backpack back” from Stroke 9’s 1999 hit, “Little Black Backpack.” I’m always looking for live music, especially when it’s FREE!

Saturday is a day for the arts. First, I’m attending the 45th annual Lake Front Festival of the Arts to checkout featured work by artists from around the world. It’s my first time going to this art show, needless to say, I’ve been anticipating this for years! As I’m told, artists will exhibit and sell their work along Art Museum Drive, directly in front of the Milwaukee Art Museum. The Festival of the Arts began today at noon and runs until Sunday evening. I won’t miss this opportunity to be inspired!

Meanwhile, in the East Town Market at Cathedral Square, four of Milwaukee’s finest chefs will be battling for the title “The Best Chef in East Town.” My mouth is already watering! I’m assuming this event is almost like a live viewing of BRAVO’s Top Chef (one of my obsessions). In which case, it’s amazing to see what skilled chefs can create on a budget and with limited time, especially because it takes me decades just to make spaghetti. 

Finally, Sunday is Father’s Day. I’ll be spending the early afternoon with my dad fishing on Green Lake in West Bend. I hope you make Sunday a special time for your father as well.

As you can see, there’s a lot going on this weekend to choose from. Hopefully you’ll get to experience some of these events for yourself. If you do, please feel free to share with me! Until then, have a great weekend!

A World Record Attempt, Kinda.

Folks, this is your chance to witness a Guinness World Record attempt here in Milwaukee! No joke. Okay, it’s kind of funny, but it’s actually a serious matter. Yesterday, at 7 p.m. in Future Green (2352 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.), Michael Bootz began his attempt to stay awake while continuously speaking in an effort to raise awareness for the Wisconsin Campaign for Burma. 

Why on Earth would someone do this?
Bootz wants to educate the public about the happenings in Burma and how people can help. Bootz and his crew are trying to increase publicity by giving out buttons and stickers, yard signs, and banners for public display. Have you seen any of these? I haven’t, but I’d certainly take a sticker. 

Apparently the current world record stands at just over five days, but according to On Milwaukee, the Guinness Book of World Records no longer accepts or publishes records related to sleep deprivation due to possible health risks. Therefore, Bootz cannot win the world record, but will hopefully gain satisfaction in creating awareness. 

Does anyone else find this really strange?

Um, anybody?

A Festival of Music, Art & Beer

Speaking of walking for a cause, last Sunday was the Locust Street Festival, which began with a run/walk. The 31st Annual Beer Run/Walk was not for a serious cause (if you couldn’t tell from its title), but one that promoted morning inebriation and serious liver conditioning. 

Although I’ve been trained in beer consumption for a number of years, I didn’t have the courage to test my iron stomach. Those who actually raced from the starting line at Locust and Booth continued on a 1.8-mile course complete with mandatory beer stops (as if vendors were twisting contestants’ arms to down booze, yeah, right.). I witnessed walkers/runners throw down their first shot of Miller, stagger to the second, stumble to the third, and crawl across the finish-line to claim their prizes. 

The beer and fun didn’t stop at the finish-line. In fact, the afternoon continued with music, art, and family entertainment. The mix of song and dance was non-stop as I, along with hundreds of other festival goers, boogied to Fat Bottom Special, a band who belted out the best of The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and AC/DC on The Tracks Miller Lite Main Stage. In the distance I heard the bongo and steel drum pulse of Reggae Fire singing freedom love songs to the rhythms of bands like Bob Marley or Steel Pulse; and the acoustic lullabies of local singer/songwriter Heidi Spencer and her ensemble.