Play in the City

Tobogganing!

On Saturday we turned our attention to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to seek the opinion of that wise seer-of-the-future Punxsutawney Phil, the weather forecasting groundhog. For more than 120 years, Phil has been predicting the end of winter. This year, news came swiftly to Milwaukee that Phil saw his shadow, which means another six weeks of winter for all of us.

Even though many people are probably getting sick of the ungodly amounts of snow we’ve dealt with all winter – the weatherman claims we’ve had about 72 inches amass this season – we have to remember that we live in Wisconsin and this is what winters are supposed to be like. I guess sometimes you just have to make the most of it, which is why Eric and I took advantage of the morning’s fresh coat of snow and the seemingly endless winter by going tobogganing at Whitnall Park.

The toboggan slide at Whitnall Park features two quarter-mile – 1,020 feet long – meticulously iced tracks with a total run of about 1,500 feet, described a FOX 6 reporter during a story aired on Friday.

On our way, Eric and I stopped at Stone Creek Coffee for our daily caffeine fix and we were given a special coupon in celebration of Groundhog Day. The voucher was good for either a 12-ounce white chocolate mocha if Phil sees his shadow or a 12-ounce vanilla bean Latte if Phil proclaims the coming of spring. Needless to say, we redeemed the coupons for two mochas to brace us for the snowy afternoon.

To our surprise, the day dawned the warmest temperature – 32 degrees – that we’ve experienced in the last two weeks, according to the forecast on the radio. It was actually quite beautiful as a soft snow fell throughout most of the day. And since it wasn’t freezing outside, it made for a comfortable afternoon as well; then again, I was dressed like Randy in A Christmas Story.

Once we found the Winter Sports Area hidden amid the trees in the enormous park, we put on our hats and donned our mittens and went to see what the toboggan experience was all about.

At the top of a huge sledding hill was a little shed swelling with toboggans in a variety of sizes. We paid $6.50 each for the hour and then towed our six-foot toboggan over to a line adjacent to the sledding hill where groups of snow bunnies waited anxiously for their turn down the toboggan slide.

Jump, Jive an' Wail

Last Tuesday, Milwaukee felt Mother Nature’s wrath as temperatures fell to an all-time low causing record low attendance for Swing Night at the Milwaukee Ale House. Despite the chilly weather and small crowd, the brewpub was definitely raising temperatures as we danced the winter night away.

On any given Tuesday night, whether it’s a smoldering 90 degrees or subzero outside, you’ll find the Ale House bustling with sneaker-wearing swingers ready to learn the basics in East Coast jumping and jiving.

Returning from a six month hiatus, Eric and I bundled up and raced over to the Third Ward for lessons at 8 p.m. We found parking unusually fast and scurried toward the warm glow radiating off the enormous copper vats in the Ale House lobby. Inside the brick and timber warehouse bar was a good mix of people: some young, some old; some flying solo, some with a group of friends and others as couples. They all were a welcoming bunch.

Since we didn’t recognize anyone, we grabbed a table for two, though most tables and chairs were stacked and moved off the wooden floor to make room around the small stage for dancers. Once we found a waitress, we ordered a pitcher of my favorite Ale House craft brew Louie’s Demise, and then patiently waited for the instructor to get us moving.

Maureen Majeski, Jumpin’ Jive Club Instructor, teaches weekly Swing dance lessons at several Greater Milwaukee area locations. Maureen has been teaching classes at the Ale House for about eight years and in that time has taught nearly 15,000 people at the brewpub.

Promptly at 8 p.m. we were summoned to the makeshift dance floor. We peeled off our coats and followed suit, ready to learn some new moves or at least brush up on those we remembered. At first, men and women were split up. It was like a grade school dance as the guys stood on one side and the gals stood across from them. At this time, we were taught the basic step – triple step, triple step, rock step – which can be a little tough at first, but it’s pretty easy to catch on.

Concert Preview: February '08

This month features a bunch of newbies – bands making their debut or those who’ve gone through a transition or reinvention. You will inevitably fall in love with all of them.

So, here’s a short list of my recommendations for February...

Stukenberg
TONIGHT Friday, February 1 at The Annex

Stukenberg, a five-piece conglomeration from southeastern Wisconsin, has honed in on a sound and style somewhat comparable to David Bowie, Nada Surf and Pete Yorn, but one that has evolved into their own. The local band’s sound begs instant connection and a beauty found in both simplicity and in ornate design – think Death Cab for Cutie as a reference point – while their slow-charging beats and mid-tempo pop waves reflect a certain Beatles fascination. They’ve been playing for the last few years, but have recently rounded out their band’s lineup with the addition of Steve on drums, Thea on cello and Matt on bass. After recently signing with Machine Records Inc., Stukenberg will be releasing their debut album Mountain of Pieces on April 1.

Click here to have a listen.

$5 General Admission

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Limbeck with John Ralston
Friday, February 22 at Turner Hall Ballroom

Limbeck
Limbeck may not have stunned the world with their debut, but they are no longer the guttersnipes of their youth and now they deserve every speck of attention doled out, even if it’s just in recognition of their awe-inspiring metamorphosis. The transition from high school pop-punk to airy country/rock was a slow one that began with the reshuffling of the band’s lineup. “We sucked for a long time. Now we’re decent,” admits guitarist Patrick Carrie in an interview I encourage you to read. Capitalizing on good-natured simplicity with their own take on classic rock – they blend styles from laid back Wilco to the Beach Boys to roots rock of the Stones and Tom Petty. It’s time you become smitten.

John Ralston
Soft-toned singer-songwriter John Ralston has mastered the role of a full-frontal indie icon. The Florida native’s sound is a hodgepodge of multiple vocal and instrumental overdubs, vintage synthesizers and slow-churning beats. The manner of unexpected instrumentation colors his songs with rich texture and atmospheric anthems that are imbued with brooding discontent. It’s only natural that you’ll hear something new with each repeated listen.

What makes Ralston so unique is his ability to mix modern and retro rock influences, incorporating elements of very current electronic music and subdued folk. His layered vocals produce a Beach Boys-esque vibe while his expressive, yet relatively hushed voice brings to mind the memory of the great Elliott Smith. There is nothing musically or lyrically to suggest that Ralston could somehow fill the tremendous void felt in the center of the chest of those who loved Smith like I did, but his music is of the quality and maturity to garner respect and appreciation from those same people.

These are the perfect bill-mates. Fall in love here and here.

$10 General Admission

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Sia
Wednesday, February 27 at Turner Hall Ballroom

Many would describe Sia’s music as something that falls too easily into a generic sort of melancholy, an all-too-familiar feeling that these sad, soothing songs are meant to instill. What saves Sia from this overbearing mood – at least in her live performances – is a penchant for goofiness and her complete lack of shame. She’s a burst of fun and energy as she jumps around stage, breaking into non-choreographed, impromptu dances during lulls in songs and sometimes she even gives her stuffed blue mic monkey a chance to sing. She is downright girlish and giddy, but has a voice that’s warm and strong and seductive. With brilliant songwriting, her compelling voice evokes an honest sense of vulnerability and yearning as it soars and dips and contracts to an emotive whisper.

Hear her trademark quiver here.

$20 General Admission

There are many more shows coming to Milwaukee in the next couple of months. Some honorable mentions that didn’t fit on my list are: The English Beat with RX Bandits and Daniel Johnston. For other concert information, take a look at the Rave, the Pabst, Riverside and Turner Hall, or any of the venues listed to the left under “Rock Out.”