Play in the City

The Blue Ribbon of Mansions

A few Sundays ago I decided to explore the Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion.

It was an ideal day for it since the temperatures outside only reached the single digits and we were forced to postpone any outdoor activities in fear of frostbite. Plus, I've already endured numerous ungodly Wisconsin winters over the last 20 years or so, but I had not yet experienced the Pabst Mansion tour. With that being said, we hardly even had to chew on the idea before venturing out on that cold afternoon to discover the history of the Pabst Mansion and learn what we'd been missing.

I know that Pabst Blue Ribbon beer is a city icon, but I also know that the Pabst empire wasn’t built over night. Therefore, I was eager to be schooled in the history of Captain Frederick Pabst, the founder of the world famous beer, by touring his restored home, which showcases the beer baron's lifestyle in a very personal way.

About a century ago there were some 80 majestic estates that lined Wisconsin Avenue, which actually used to be known as Grand Avenue. And even though the Pabst Brewery headquarters and the factory have relocated years ago, the Captain’s house still prominently stands in Milwaukee as a reminder of the city's past.

Originally Wisconsin Avenue was called Spring Street, but was renamed Grand Avenue in homage to a swelling population of city pioneers who selected the properties along the road for their mansions, explains Chicago Tribune writer Helen Anderson on the history of Milwaukee.

The Pabst Mansion is nestled in between commercial buildings on the edge of Marquette University campus, a somewhat seedy part of town. I have driven past the place many times, but never realized the significance of the oddly placed, gray stone residence.

Built for Captain Frederick Pabst in 1892 on brewery-owned land – a custom popular with 19th century industrialists – the Pabst Mansion cost $250,000 at the time of its construction and now marks one of the most significant residential landmarks in Milwaukee today.

We arrived at 2 p.m. after finding parking on the street. Then, we followed a sign that directed us to the glass-domed building attached to the side of the estate where we met a friendly woman who sold us our tickets. Normally adults pay $8 for general admission, but Eric and I splurged and opted for the Magnificent Three Pass that includes not only the Pabst Mansion, but the Villa Terrace and Charles Allis Museums for only $10. (I'll visit the other two sometime during this spring or summer.) We were then informed that tours run on the hour and that we’d have to wait a few minutes until the other group was finished. To kill time we decided to browse the Victorian gift shop that boasts everything for beer lovers including ceramic steins, PBR glassware and T-shirts, and plenty of Victorian knickknacks and even 19th century jewelry for collectors.

Finally, we were summoned to enter the mansion through a door that opened into the dining room and I’m positive my jaw dropped. The room was a splendid wash of gold, gold, GOLD and an elegant setting graced the fancy table in the middle of the banquet hall. The golden walls were enhanced by the panoramic landscape paintings hanging above each doorway and the clamshell moldings along the ceiling. The room and the rest of the estate were incredible and unlike anything I had ever seen before. Its sheer size was daunting!

A Fun Polar Workout

After all of the snow we’ve had this winter, I think almost everyone is sick of it. But winter isn’t going anywhere, not yet at least. So you have a choice: you can either hide underneath your covers and wait for the snow to melt or you can accept Midwestern winters, after all you live in Wisconsin and maybe should learn to like it, right?

Last Saturday, Eric and I embraced the winter by going cross-country skiing despite our aggravation with the snow. It was one of those times when you have to take the “bad” with the good – not that snow is bad or anything. Whatever. You know what I mean...

On Saturday morning, we woke up to mild temperatures and the prospect of a day to capitalize on the massive amounts of snow outside. When we considered how this winter has been, we knew that we probably wouldn’t get a better weekend to traverse through such a winter wonderland. So, we seized the occasion and found that not only did our afternoon of skiing remind us of why we enjoy winter, but it was surprisingly a great workout!

I believe in the theory that if you can walk, you can ski – it’s like extended walking, but it’s much more taxing. In fact, even though it was only about 20 degrees outside, I couldn’t feel the cold – body heat from a grueling exercise is much more powerful than a blasting furnace, let me tell you. That’s why cross-country skiing is, in the opinion of many exercise physiologists and researches, the world’s best aerobic fitness activity – and by the way my legs feel today, I completely agree.

After a filling breakfast at the Original Pancake House, we gathered our hats, mittens, heavy coats and snow pants, and then drove to Les Moise in Whitefish Bay to rent the basic equipment: skis, poles, boots and bindings. All of the gear only cost us $12 each for two full days! I was surprised at how affordable it was. Once we filled out some short paperwork, a young man went to get our gear. Our skis were sized to us based on our weight – you get a longer ski if you’re heavier so that the weight is evenly distributed – and the poles were fit to our height by measuring them to our armpits.

Next, we paid and clumsily carried the equipment out to my car, and then made our way to Brown Deer Park. Finally, we were ready to hit the trails! Brown Deer Park and all of the Milwaukee County Parks allow free cross-country skiing whenever Mother Nature cooperates, so you are able to get a great workout whenever you want. Oh, and it’s incredibly fun too!

Your Vote Counts!

Polls opened across Wisconsin at 7 a.m. this morning for the Presidential Primary and will close at 8 p.m.

The candidates have been campaigning hard in Wisconsin for about a week, sending the message that Wisconsin matters. So, the Primary here may go a long way toward determining who will be nominated for president.

The decision is in YOUR hands, the hands of voters.

State election officials expect a higher than usual voter turnout today. They anticipate 35% of Wisconsin voters to cast a ballot for this election, which is the highest voter turnout in 20 years.

You might want to take note that the busiest times for voting are expected to be before work from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and then after work from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

If you aren’t sure who you want to vote for, check out this site to help you decide on a candidate that’s perfect for you, and then get out there and vote!

If you don’t know where your polling location is, click here. And if you’re not registered, it’s not a problem. You can register at your polling place if you bring a drivers license or something else to prove who you are (a utility bill or pay stub). It’s extremely easy!

To make it even easier, my friend Mark broke it down for everyone on MySpace. Here's the scoop:

The bottom line is you can register at the polls if you bring proof of residence and your ID and you are a U.S. citizen and at least 18-years-old.

You must provide your Wisconsin driver's license or identification card, or if you have neither, you must have the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number.

You'll also need to prove that you've lived at your current residence for at least ten days before the election. The following documents will get you your ticket to vote, so long as they include your full name and your current, complete residential address. (Many of these items don't usually have all of those things, so you might have to bring more than one.)

• Wisconsin driver's license
• Wisconsin ID card
• Any other official identification card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or an employer ID card. (Business cards don't count though.)
• Credit card
• Library card
• Check-cashing or courtesy card
• Real estate tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the date of the election.
• Residential lease that is effective for a period that includes election day.
• University, college or technical institute fee card
• University, college or technical institute identification card
• Airplane pilot's license
• Gas, electric or telephone service statement or bill that starts no earlier than 90 days before the election

He says that if you've recently moved, your best bet is to bring a gas, electric, or phone bill, or your lease if you're a renter. (Thanks Mark!)

If voting isn't enough and you want to get in more of the action, tonight Democratic followers will be rallied in Milwaukee. Clinton’s party will be held at Rock Bottom Brewery while Obama supporters will be down the road at Bar Louie as results are divulged.

This is only the beginning. Stay in the know about other important dates; primaries, caucuses, straw polls and general elections. If you have any questions about voting, how to register, becoming a pollworker or getting involved in the campaigns, take a look here.

Romance at Balzac

I caved.

Eric made reservations at the fabulous Balzac Wine Bar for a late Valentine’s Day dinner and of course I went – not even kicking or screaming – because I was pleasantly surprised by his gesture. We ate a ton and didn’t pay a ridiculous amount for such a divine meal, nor did we shower each other with over-the-top gifts, just candy and a couple quirky things like the Stuff on My Cat book, which I find hilarious, and the exact same card (how often does that happen?).

I’ll admit it. I had fun.

We held hands, shared food – Balzac’s entire menu is meant to be shared, which is pretty romantic – and I even smiled (naturally). But! I still wore black, so I haven’t completely kicked my Valentine’s Day protest to the curb, although I feel a little hypocritical. But I guess there’s nothing wrong with celebrating love after all.

Eric came over around 7:30 and we exchanged our cheesy gifts – we weren’t going for expensive or glitzy, just simple and thoughtful – and then we drove to Brady Street, found parking right away and were immediately seated in a booth for two.

The single-room eatery was intimate and dimly lit with glowing chandeliers and dancing candles all around. It was the perfect Valentine’s Day spot, which was no secret considering the entire restaurant was brimming with hand-holding couples who were whispering sweet nothings to each other.

At times the underground hip-hop/funk music got a little loud, but it never hindered our conversations; it actually made the scene hip and fun as I'd occasionally pause from dinner to groove to the funky beats. Really, the young couple sitting next to us was more of a distraction – they couldn’t keep their paws off each other!

But before I lost my appetite, we selected two glasses of red Zinfandel from the three-page, staple-bound wine list that our waitress guided us through. A bartender hopped onto a chair and grabbed the bottle from a wine bin that was jutting out from the dark chocolate walls above me, and then served our wine in stem-less crystal glasses.

While we sipped our tart wine, we began to scan the menu and tried to pace ourselves, but the wealth of small plate options kept taunting our taste buds. What’s cool is that you can gradually order more and more plates at your own speed, so if you’ve already had one entrée and a dessert, but you still really want to try the scallops, you can! It's very unconventional, and I like that.

We ordered the Balzac cheese flight to start. Three types of cheeses came with different fruits, nuts, bread and crackers for pairing. We got generous helpings and many bites, so it was rather filling. Then, we ordered a delicate vegetarian strudel followed by savory lamb chops over a bed of grilled veggies, and finally a Guinness cake to round out our feast. The presentation was remarkable and because each plate was served with such artistry, I almost felt guilty about eating them.

Even though the portions weren’t Milwaukee-sized – it seems that most people rate food based on quantity and not quality – it ended up being a substantial meal for the two of us. Just because the menu boasts tapas and small plate fare, it doesn’t mean you get half the food and twice the price. Our dinner was very upscale, but affordable, which was perfect.

We spent two hours at Balzac and were thoroughly entertained through food and drink and great company.

Maybe this Valentine’s Day hoopla is something that can grow on me…

The Beer Drinker's Pizza

Beer and pizza are tastes that, for many of us, just seem to go together. But what about beer that tastes like pizza?

Pizza and beer have been combined and bottled and now mass-produced as the first culinary beer in Milwaukee! I found out about this strange enterprise last week and needed to share it with all of you beer nuts.

According to the story I saw on Fox 6, two suburban Illinois hobbyists Tom and Athena Seefurth came up with the idea of brewing a pizza beer just last year. With their home brewing kit and a garden filled with too many tomatoes and plenty of garlic, oregano and basil, Pizza Beer was created.

Take a look here and see how the Chicagoland couple made this odd blend – there are actually real pieces of pizza stirred into the mix.

Okay, does the idea of pizza-flavored beer appeal to anyone out there?

Anybody?

Believe it or not, the popularity of their home-brew grew so quickly that Tom and Athena needed a local brewery to help them churn out hefty amounts of their concoction in order to meet the demand. Finally, Sprecher Brewery gave them the green light and now cases of Mama Mia’s Pizza Beer are flying off the shelves at Sprecher’s store.

Maybe I'm the odd one out, but I think it seems kind of on par with Bloody Marys. I’m a bit skeptical, but I’m definitely going to try it. In fact, I’m planning to take the Sprecher Brewery tour in the next few weeks just so I can taste the new beer myself. (Bottles are sold for $2 at the store.)

Those who've already had a sample claim it smells and tastes just like pizza, which would be any pizza and beer lover’s dream come true, right? Apparently, it has the same sudsy and hoppy flavor of beer with a hint of spice that will give you the illusion that you downed a couple slices of pizza at Zaffiro’s.

It can't be too bad.

Side note: I bought Eric a beer brewing kit for Christmas and we have finished our first brew – 43 bottles of IPA. We had so much fun brewing that we are thinking about our next venture. Tom and Athena's Pizza Beer has inspired us to experiment with bratwurst beer; after all, beer brats are a Milwaukee favorite!

Karma Attracts Opposites

Located in the past home of Vivo Urban Grill is Karma Bar and Grill, the new high-end sports bar/martini lounge replacement that proves that opposites DO indeed attract.

I drove past Karma on my way to Pick ‘n Save a few months ago and wanted to take a look. So, instead of staying in and watching reruns on TV, which seems to be the only thing I feel like doing after an exhausting day of work and a cold drive home, Eric came over and we decided to check out Karma.

Eric and I enjoy trying new places and don’t have to negotiate on where to go since we both like the same type of atmosphere – casual and comfortable and sometimes sporty – and Karma seemed to fit the bill. But if you and your date have a hard time compromising on sports bars versus clubs or bar food against fine dining, Karma blends the two concepts into one sleek and sporty venue that’s perfect for everyone – even the most unlikely pair.

Upon entering the upstairs bar, I immediately thought of Zim’s on Milwaukee Street, only Karma has an actual menu and a cozier atmosphere, but fewer TVs – it’s more of a casual, upscale establishment that doubles as a great place to catch the game.

But don’t get me wrong, glowing TV screens abound in Karma. There are 17 plasma TVs featuring all of the available sporting events – NFL, NCAA, MLB, NBA, NHL, even soccer, rugby championships and international sports – along with the best sources for game coverage – CNBC, MSNBC, Fox Sports and ESPN.

The entire place is modern and fresh, but still preserves a bit of history. Long before it was the former Vivo, it was John Ernst Café, which, at the time of its closing in 2001, was the oldest restaurant in Milwaukee, explains OnMilwaukee. Still present is the original 1878 John Ernst fireplace and the solid wood door, which currently hangs as decoration above.

Eric and I were allowed to seat ourselves since there were less than a dozen patrons occupying the stools at the bar and at the high-top tables. We chose one of the six large cushy booths that allowed us to actually listen to the game of our choosing. Just by simply adjusting the station dial on the side of the booth, I was able to switch it to the hockey game playing on the TV across from us. I felt very comfortable and at home with the exception of the guy occasionally screaming at the basketball game on TV and the cigar smoke from the older gentleman sitting alone at one of the tables in the center of the room. It's a bar though, so it really wasn't a big deal to me.

After opening last year on September 27, right around Fanatic’s debut, the new high-class sports haven got some bad press before ironing out the first-month-kinks that most new businesses endure. But based on my experience a few weeks ago, it seems as though Karma has done some necessary tweaking and is close to mastering its service.

A Sign of Spring

The Brewers are on their way to Spring Training!

While the rest of us are braving bitter cold temperatures and are continuing to dig out of the snow from last week, the Brewers are thinking of spring.

According to the official site of the Brewers, players will begin trickling into Maryvale Baseball Park today for early workouts. Pitchers and catchers must be in Phoenix by February 16, and their first workout is scheduled for the next day. Position players must report by February 23, and the Brewers' first full-squad workout will be February 24.

Not only am I itching for a ballpark frank and a winning home team, my partial-season tickets are burning a hole in my pocket as I anticipate Opening Day.

There are still ways to guarantee seats for the April 4 opener against the Giants. As the Brewers' Ticket Info Center explains, through February 14, fans can register through an online lottery for the opportunity to purchase up to four tickets to Opening Day. There will also be a limited number of Opening Day tickets (including standing room only) available at the Brewers Arctic Tailgate at Miller Park on Saturday, February 23 when individual game tickets go on sale.

And be ready to tune into the three Spring Training telecasts scheduled for March 14 against the Padres, March 16 against the Mariners and March 24 against the Rockies.

Ahhhh! I can smell the faint aroma of spring in the air and hear the "crack" of the bat and the umpire’s call and the applause of the crowd... and I'm reminded that it's almost upon us.

Public Opinion About Downtown

What do YOU think of Milwaukee?

Do you live downtown and love it? Do you wish there were more jobs? Do you think that Milwaukee needs something else for entertainment? Do you want to move downtown but wish there were more affordable condos? Do you think parking is a pain but public transportation inadequate?

If any of these sound like you, then SPEAK UP!

You have a chance to voice your opinion about downtown Milwaukee in hopes that your suggestions stimulate ideas for a new plan that will guide future downtown development. Seldom do we get this kind of opportunity, folks.

A Play in the City reader clued me in on this survey and its significance prompted me to enlighten all of you. Thanks Todd!

According to Milwaukee’s Department of City Development, the City and its Community Partners are preparing area plans for the entire city as they begin the process of reviewing and updating the 1999 Downtown Plan, which helped to guide development over the past eight years. The planning process will build on the momentum of the '99 Plan and will eventually provide a document that will offer guidance for the future.

Go here to take the Downtown Plan Community Survey! You have until March 31, 2008.

The clock is ticking.

It only took me about five minutes to complete – you can do it on your lunch break or in between loads of laundry.

I love Milwaukee, but some aspects can definitely use improvements. That's why this survey is important – it focuses on several issues I have strong opinions on such as economic development and job opportunities, crime, and public transit and parking availability. Other important topics include land use, preservation of iconic buildings, destinations and attractions, retail, and sustainability and revitalization of sub-areas within the Downtown. Some of these matters I never thought about until a few minutes ago but realize that they are all vital to Milwaukee's growth and prosperity.

So, what did you think? Is the Community Survey beneficial?

The City and Partners believe that the survey will help them learn why you live, work and/or play Downtown, or why you do not. Having members of the community invest their time and energy in the planning process makes the final product meaningful and the success of implementation even greater.

When you're done with the survey, take a look at the Downtown Plan Update Report, it’s pretty insightful. There's also information on proposed schedules for focus groups, committee meetings and public hearings if you're interested in participating.

Snowed Out

I was looking out the window at the heaping mounds of snow that are well over my head and I thought to myself, we could use a little more.

And what do you know? It's snowing.

Again.

The Mother of All Snowstorms

The snowstorm yesterday dumped nearly 20 inches of windblown snow on southeastern Wisconsin and left hundreds of motorists caught in massive traffic backups while bringing schools, buses and airports across the region to a standstill.

On Wednesday morning, many Milwaukeeans woke to find the wind blowing, snow falling and even some lightning flashing, which wasn’t much of a surprise because we had been under a “Winter Storm Advisory” since Tuesday afternoon.

The weathermen were calling for 12 to 18 inches of snow along the lakefront and 10 to 14 inches in south central Wisconsin. Just like I used to when I was in school, I hoped with all my might that the blizzard would bury us in the middle of the night so that maybe it’d be far too dangerous to venture out to work in the morning. All night I had dreams of the snow piling up so high that my sister and I were stuck inside our apartment for an unexpected, lazy week off of work.

However, to my dismay we only had about three inches of snow when I sprang out of bed at 6 a.m. and it looked as if it was already letting up. I was crushed. I was looking forward to a day off – a day to relax and play board games and watch a ton of daytime TV and maybe even bake cookies (because that's what you do on snow days, people). With just a small inkling of hope left, I called our employee hotline only to find that conditions weren’t bad enough to call off work, so I was forced to shower and then commute to Franklin.

As I reluctantly got ready, I clicked on the news and watched lists of closures scroll below the broadcast. For most of Milwaukee County, schools, stores and offices were already closed and the National Weather Service advised people to stay inside because as we'd later find out, it was only going to get worse – and by worse I mean we were about to meet the mother of all snowstorms!