Play in the City

A Trip to the U-Cut Tree Farm

Eric and I bought our first real Christmas tree last year and this year we thought about the advantages of owning a fake tree.

• Artificial Christmas trees last longer than real trees.
• My apartment manager doesn’t consider them to be a fire hazard.
• Most people usually keep their fake tree for about ten years.
• They are less messy since they don’t litter the floor with pine needles.

Even with these advantages in mind, the fresh scent of pine and the overall experience of finding a real tree swayed our decision. But instead of simply stopping by Steins and picking out a tree, we decided to go to a u-cut tree farm where we could get down and dirty and saw the sucker down ourselves.

Last Sunday was freezing, so by the time we hunted, examined, sawed, hauled and paid for our tree, our legs had turned into two ice blocks. Still, we gladly spent our time leisurely walking around Buffalo Bill’s Christmas Tree Farm for most of the afternoon.

Following a quick and filling breakfast at our George Webb restaurant, we drove the 25 minutes or so to the tree farm in Franklin, that is, after we stopped to get Eric some waterproof gloves at Wal-Mart. After the third or fourth snowstorm – I’ve lost track of how many – we’ve experienced since December first, we realized on our way that not only would we be braving the cold, but heaps of snow as well.

With Christmas music playing in the car, we followed the hand-painted signs that pointed us toward Buffalo Bill’s and we were eventually lead up a driveway lined with plastic soldiers, candy canes and Santas.

After parking, a girl dressed as an elf with red painted cheeks greeted us and pointed us to the bucket of saws and explained the pricing. The trees were $47 up to eight feet and $14 per foot after that. She wished us “Merry Christmas” and told us to have fun and we went on our way.

As we walked over to the rows of balsam firs, we passed by fenced-in goats and sheep and saw a blazing bonfire that had just had another log tossed onto it. The place was crowded with families and couples roaming around, even though it was very cold and gloomy outside. Despite weather, everybody was in high spirits.

A Christmas Carol

The holidays remind me of my family's traditions. From trimming the tree to the lump of coal I get each year from Santa, such traditions make up the glue that binds one generation to the next. A Christmas Carol is one such custom that brings families together and is enjoyed by young and old year after year.

I received a pair of tickets to the Milwaukee Repertory Theater's A Christmas Carol on opening night and I offered one of the tickets to Terry; I figured it’d be a good evening for some sisterly bonding. We got glitzed up – something I rarely do, except for special occasions – and headed to the historic Pabst Theater downtown.

I hadn’t seen A Christmas Carol since I was five. While I don’t remember fully understanding all of the heartwarming messages of redemption at that age, I do remember being thoroughly entertained.

Since my childhood, I’d seen various renditions of the Charles Dickens’ tale, but I had forgotten how exceptional the Rep’s production was. As a matter of fact, the Milwaukee Rep pioneered the stage adaptation of A Christmas Carol in the mid 70s. Journal Sentinel critic Damien Jaques even expressed how now virtually every major city in the country has at least one production annually, but because no one is actually collecting royalties from the story these days, and since new versions of A Christmas Carol pop up every holiday season, I, like many other reviewers, couldn’t find any statistics on how many performances are going on this or any year. And trust me, I searched!

One thing that's certain, however, the Milwaukee Rep's onstage production of A Christmas Carol, which is in its 32nd year of production, is one of the best! After years of solidifying each role and tweaking their own, original version, this year's production exceeded all of my expectations.

Snow Flurries and Scrambled Eggs

December came in like a lion on Saturday.

Local weathermen declared a winter snow advisory as snowflakes the size of cotton balls began to fall around noon. And as the day progressed, so did the storm. Locals were urged to stay home as the night beckoned freezing rain, snow and blustery winds. It was a sure sign that winter is upon us.

On Sunday, I woke up to a panorama of snow covered trees and roof tops, sidewalks and driveways, and the sounds of wind whistling and sleet pelting the windowpanes. Like a giddy school girl I jumped out of bed, threw on my winter coat, hat and gloves, and then descended upon the wintry landscape, dragging Eric along with me. After only several minutes outside, we began to crave a comforting, home cooked meal to warm us up again. So despite the weather, we decided to walk slog through the slush to Comet Café for one of the best brunches in the city.

For ten years, Comet was the smoky coffee shop serving the East Side neighborhood a strong cup of joe and the best sandwiches in town. When I was a teenager, I was a semi-regular there on nights when I was itching to get out of Brookfield. Since then, Comet has gone through quite the metamorphosis – it has blossomed from an awkward teenager to an adult as well.

These days, Comet is more like a trendy diner than a café. And after Comet’s face-lift, the building has split into two sections: a non-smoking cafeteria filled with oversized booths and an eat-at lunch counter; and around the corner, a dimly lit bar providing cocktails and ashtrays. I’ve embraced the new change and find myself frequenting at Comet for its casual food, service and atmosphere. It’s one of my favorite places to linger over a cup of coffee and indulge in a slice of Ho Ho Cake. And it has quite the breakfast selection, which is the perfect thing to warm you up on a cold winter morning.

As we hopped over puddles and dodged mounds of icy snow, we passed dozens of locals who had been forced to dust off their snow blowers and shovels for the first time this season – at that moment I was very glad to be a renter and not responsible for clearing the snow off the driveway.

Holiday Lights Kick-off TONIGHT!

It’s finally beginning to feel like November after a string of 60 degree days. And the temperature shift couldn’t have come at a better time as Milwaukee kicks off the holidays with some very merry events this week.

To signal the start of the season, last night was the official Christmas Tree Lighting at Red Arrow Park. This is the city’s oldest holiday tradition and is always the outset of a week filled with holiday celebrations.

If you couldn’t make it downtown for the tree lighting last night, make sure to get to the Holiday Lights Festival Kick-Off, Festival of Trees Lighting Ceremony or the 81st Annual Holiday Parade.

Unfortunately, I can’t make it to the first couple of events, but I’ll definitely wake bright and early to be among the crowd at the city’s Holiday Parade this Saturday.

Tonight, though, is the city’s largest holiday lights kick-off beginning at 5 p.m. at Pere Marquette Park. According to OnMilwaukee, it begins with live holiday music and a repertoire of festive acts and appearances by local celebrities (I heard that new Milwaukee Buck Yi Jianlian will help with the festivities). Plus everyone, even adults, will be anticipating the arrival of Santa Claus who will be there with bells on of course!

Then around 6:00, it will be time to flip the switch on the city’s décor and light up the downtown parks and streets. And if you thought it couldn’t get any better, the commencement is said to be topped off by a brilliant fireworks display. There will also be free hot chocolate and coffee to keep everyone toasty, as well as, cookies and special goodies for the kids.

Pumpkin Pickin'

Halloween falls on Wednesday, so this is your last chance to carve a jack-o-lantern!

Over the past two weeks, I’ve gone to two pumpkin carving parties – I don’t think I even went to that many as a child. But there’s something about going to a pumpkin patch and then spending all night carving that makes me feel like a kid again; especially as I realized that my pumpkin carving technique is about as advanced as a four-year-old.

Even though we didn’t make it to a pumpkin patch before the first party and had to buy pumpkins from the wooden bin in front of Pick ‘n Save (not the best place to get a good pumpkin) we did end up going to a slightly more conventional “patch” last Saturday.

 

After our feast of pumpkin pancakes at the Original Pancake House, Eric and I noticed that while we were gorging ourselves, volunteers were unloading hundreds of pumpkins from wagons and trucks and onto the grassy courtyard of St. Mark’s Church. In no time, pumpkins in every size and shape covered the lawn.

Costume Shopping '07

Creating a clever and unique Halloween costume can be quite the task, so the sooner you start brainstorming, the better. But with only a week left until October 31, days are dwindling for creative sparks to fly.

Fortunately there are a number of costume shops dedicated to Halloween, which have sprung up all over southeastern Wisconsin as early as September 1.

Even with all of its costume-selling counterparts, Bartz’s the Party Stores, a family-owned chain, still lives up to its slogan, “We are Halloween.” Bartz's Stores have been Milwaukee's area leader for party supplies for 60 years and as a kid it was where my dad took my siblings and I to pick out a costume for Sunday afternoon trick-or-treating.

After work, I stopped into the Bartz’s Party Store on North Avenue in Wauwatosa to round up a couple odds and ends as I put the finishing touches on my costume. When I was five I remember being overwhelmed by this store; much of the apparel, masks and accessories looked like they came out of my worst nightmares and the masses of people in a mad rush to purchase such horrifying costumes caused mayhem throughout the place.

Tonight the costume shop looked the same although the costumes had been updated with this year’s pop trends. Additionally, it contained just about every Halloween costume from Ghosts and Princesses to Clowns and Action Heroes plus any trinket, decoration or gory accessory desired. And because there are still a couple days until Halloween, I wasn’t shoulder to shoulder with any crazy customers.

Costume Shopping with the Pros

Are you still unsure of what you want to be for Halloween? Maybe you just can’t seem to find what you’re looking for. Or perhaps, you’re unwilling to cough up the $20+ for a costume you’ll only wear once.

Well, you’re in luck!

This Saturday, October 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Milwaukee Rep is having a costume sale just in time for Halloween!

This is your chance to buy some really cool, one-of-a-kind stuff that you probably saw in some of The Rep’s performances.

The costumes are priced to sell. And since they are very affordable, you won’t feel guilty about packing them in storage for a decade after wearing them for only a couple hours. I stopped by this sale last year and walked home with a gown for only 5 bucks (it made for a great dead prom queen).

Another perk is that this event will be staffed by members of the prop and costume department, so go ahead and bring your questions – you’ll get expert costume advice from trained professionals.

Note: All sales are cash or check only and must be taken at the time of purchase.

Enter through the Stiemke lobby.

_______________________

Milwaukee Repertory Theater
108 East Wells Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Just Call Me "Johnny Appleseed"

I am writing this entry as I sit on the sofa with my cat Lucy happily curled up on my lap. As I type away and edit my work I take a break every now and again to sip on my glass of apple wine and check on the homemade apple crisp I have baking in the oven.

I’ve never made an apple crisp before, but I have about 40 apples from my trip to Apple Holler sitting on my kitchen table and I figure now is as good a time as any to learn.

It was my first trip to Apple Holler and like many places, I used to drive past and think, “Gee, that looks like fun,” yet I never made much of an effort to go. But since I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews, Eric and I finally decided to make a full day of it.

We went to the orchard a few weekends ago. Eric and I woke up early that morning surprised to feel an unseasonably warm breeze sifting through my screened window. It happened to be the warmest Saturday of autumn so far.

After a quick check on the forecast – 90 degrees for the high – Eric and I walked across the street to Alterra for two much needed Americanos, and then proceeded to Apple Holler.

We made it there in about a half hour, which was pretty good since Eric has a tendency to drive like an old man. Plus, we were fortunate to get the last parking spot in the half mile stretch of cars parked along the road and in front of the orchard. Once we parked, Eric and I joined the swarms of families making their way to the entrance.

Along the way we passed the Kids Corral Play Area that contained a barnyard full of animals, a corn maze, and a number of harvest-themed activities to entertain the young ones. Some children rode gentle ponies around and around in a circle, while others boarded a wooden choo choo train.

It was then that I perceived that Apple Holler wasn’t just an orchard. Besides the Kids Area, it boasts a home-style restaurant, bakery, gift shop, musical theater, pumpkin patch and hayride, all of which drew in a multitude of eager adults and children to celebrate Apple Holler’s Apple Pickin’ and Scarecrow Family Festival.

Splatterhaus

Thrill-seekers, start your screaming! Haunted houses are open for business!

Last Saturday night I went to my first haunted house of the season, Splatterhaus. I love haunted houses, and I love (love) Halloween. It actually runs a close second to Christmas in terms of my favorite holidays.

For years I had heard about Splatterhaus – the well orchestrated sensory assaults, dark winding hallways, unexpected slides and crawl spaces, and the detailed rooms and sets – all of which make this particular attraction the “most terrifying haunted house,” according to my friends and other haunted house enthusiasts.

I’ve only gone once prior to my recent visit and this year we decided to go in celebration of Lara’s 22nd birthday. Lara is a mutual friend of my sister, Terry, and I and she is obsessed with Halloween, haunted houses and horror movies. So, this was the perfect outing for her birthday.

Splatterhaus is tucked away in the middle of nowhere, so I had to print directions from the website before we left. Fortunately, the directions were spot on, so we didn’t have any trouble finding the event – additionally there were a bazillion signs that read: “Splatterhaus this way” to help us along the way.

We arrived just before 10:30 p.m. and met an uncharacteristically small crowd. Normally on a Saturday night Haus lovers will typically wait three hours to get inside. Seriously. The crowd gets that big. Perhaps it was empty (and by empty I mean there were about fifty people waiting with us) because it was opening weekend or maybe because the 90 degree weather tends to make people want to jump in a pool rather than run through a haunted house. Of course we were the exception and had been anticipating this weekend since we caught our first whiff of autumn air a couple weeks ago.

Haunted Milwaukee

A Wisconsin folklorist named Robert Gard once stated that Wisconsin may have more ghosts per square mile than any other state in America. I have no idea if this is actually true or even if I believe in ghosts, but one thing is certain, no place is quite like the state of Wisconsin with its peaceful lakes, serene forests, miles of beautiful wilderness and an eclectic city (Milwaukee). But what lurks beneath the surface of this tranquil state are tales of colorful folklore.

With Halloween fast approaching, I thought this would be the ideal time to share such eerie legends. Of all of the ghost stories and haunted houses in Wisconsin, Milwaukee boasts a great number of ghostly spots.