Play in the City

Hog Heaven

Harley-Davidson is one of Milwaukee’s iconic companies.

Since 1903, the H-D headquarters have been located in Milwaukee. It’s only natural that Milwaukee would host Harley-Davidson’s first and only comprehensive museum. Sure, this isn’t a novel idea, but it definitely is about time.

After two years in the making, the Harley-Davidson Museum finally opened its doors to the public last weekend. The two story building is chock full of 105 years of H-D history and pays homage to the extraordinary people, culture and famous products that turned the company into the icon it is today.

The Harley-Davidson Museum is built on a 20-acre reclaimed industrial site in the Menomonee Valley that up until now used to be a barren brown field. Its unique, urban design reflects Milwaukee’s industrial past and Harley-Davidson’s history of manufacturing.

Yesterday, Eric and I drove to the site and came up to three buildings that, because of their architecture with cross-bracing girders, columns and frames composed of galvanized steel, resembled the layout of a small group of factories. Along with the tons of steel, there was a lot of black and orange paint (the Harley colors) and plenty of brick. Still, the place isn’t too themed or too contrived – it’s genuine and distinctively Harley-Davidson.

We followed a mob of motorcyclists along the broad, orange asphalt roads leading us closer and closer to this extraordinary neighborhood within the city. We were then directed by a man waving an orange flag toward rows of free parking at the back of the museum that’s sectioned off just for cars. We parked near one of the giant orange hoppers that are original to the site and were coincidentally previously painted orange.

We headed to the building with the enormous solid steel, four-sided Harley-Davidson logo suspended in its open tower. Nearly one month ago, I purchased advanced tickets online to check out the new museum on Saturday – I figured there would be a high demand to see it on opening weekend. We arrived at the museum only five minutes before our scheduled time at noon. Even though they only let a select amount of people in every 15 minutes, it was still quite crowded.

On our way toward the entrance, Eric stopped to ogle the assortment of motorcycles parked “Sturgis style” (one motorcycle on each curb and two parked in the center) in the thousands of spots lining the crossroads of Fifth and Canal Streets. Although the museum obviously targets motorcyclists, it still resonates well with Harley fans, riders and those new to the H-D brand and culture.

Denis Sullivan Homecoming Gala

Under a sunny sky filled with fluffy, regal clouds, they sailed along the Gulf Stream near Florida. It was the same course as last year so the scent of fresh salt water and the warm tropical breeze evoked a familiarity among most of the crew. As the schooner cut through the rough Gulf waters, waves hammered against the gangway of the ship and rolled over the deck, tossing mist into the humid air, which generally acted as a better air conditioner than the ones the crew left back home in Milwaukee.

It was a glorious day, one that reminded them of why they truly love the open sea and sailing upon it. By midnight, though, the weather turned ferocious, kicking up eight-foot waves that engulfed the schooner and began to submerge its wooden deck. It’s hard to believe that only a few hours before, the deck provided a place for students to relax or study the ocean, or learn how to help set the sails, coil the lines and steer the ship.

At that moment, however, no one was relaxing – the ship was sinking! Without hesitation, the schooner’s brave crew worked with conviction, hand pumping the six feet of water on deck as other shipmates successfully rescued three men whose boat had been swallowed by waves and dark waters. Later, this night went down in history as the vessel’s most exciting journey.

This was an actual account from Captain Hugh Covert of the S/V Denis Sullivan that I read at ExpressMilwaukee.com. Sure, I dramatized it a bit, but clearly sailing the open sea isn’t a walk in the park – it definitely is an adventure! That’s why after hearing a thrilling story like that, I was even more eager to see the Great Lakes schooner up close and in person at Discovery World.

A few Saturdays ago, on a day reminiscent of that winter voyage along the Gulf Stream, I joined thousands of excited people at Discovery World to celebrate the Denis Sullivan’s official arrival at its summer port at Pier Wisconsin. The homecoming had the prospect of being a grandiose gala; unfortunately, it was forced to end abruptly due to inclement weather.

Eric and I arrived exactly at 3 p.m., parked in Discovery World’s underground garage and signed in at a long table centered on the lengthy promenade. Here we were given a wrist band for access to all of Discovery World, along with a food voucher, and then we aimlessly wandered around not really knowing what was in store for us.

A World to Discover

A week ago, I made my first trip to Discovery World.

Yes, I know it’s a little pathetic that the museum has been open for almost two years now and, while I only live about 5 minutes away, I still had yet to check it out. Needless to say, my trip was extremely overdue.

It was a gloomy spring afternoon and I wasn’t in the mood to do anything outdoors, so Eric suggested that we check out Discovery World. He knew that I had been itching to go for a while now. Rather than walk to Pier Wisconsin like I’d normally consider, we opted to drive and found parking at a meter along the road, and then headed toward the building.

We entered into a gleaming white, open-air promenade and we strolled along its expansive windows. After coughing up $16.95 for admission, we took some time to peer out over Lake Michigan and we admired the near 450 feet of public docks that stretched around the museum – the entire view was absolutely breathtaking!

Discovery World was born from a diverse marriage between the old Discovery World that used to be adjacent to the Milwaukee Public Museum, and the newly developed Pier Wisconsin. The offspring is an unexpected combination of high-tech, user-friendly programming, ecology and history all in one.

The museum itself is made up of several distinct units – the Aquariums, the Challenge, the Techno Jungle, and the Great Lakes Future – that are filled with many interesting and interactive displays. The gift shop and café were both open for business when we were there and families occupied several tables along the walls of the corridor and seemed to be enjoying their lunch.

As we continued in the direction of the lake, we watched a little boy make waves in a wave machine that’s located in the middle of the hallway as his parents looked on. Once we reached the end of the building, we entered into an unusually circular building that reminded me of a pilot house on a schooner. This was the Helen Bader Foundation's Great Lakes Future exhibit.

In Honor of Memorial Day...

What does Memorial Day stand for? A day off? The start of summer? Parades and picnics? The opening of public swimming pools? The day you can start to wear white again?

Some think that the “Memorial” in Memorial Day has been ignored. It seems that many of us don’t observe the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given their life to fight for our freedom.

As many people prepare to go to the beach or have a picnic or just spend a day at the mall, Memorial Day gets lost amid the hubbub of a long weekend and the unofficial maker of summer. While I admit that I sometimes lose sight of how lucky we are to live in a free country and to have people willingly fight for our democracy, I’ve also learned that Memorial Day’s meaning goes far beyond the three-day weekend we anticipate each year.

When I was young my parents would take us kids to the local Memorial Day parade to honor our veterans or fallen soldiers and to actively acknowledge the fact that my two grandfathers served in WWII. When I got a little older, we’d watch war movies like Gettysburg or Saving Private Ryan every Memorial Day to learn as best we could about the conflicts of war and the suffering that ensued. For the last few years, however, I haven’t made much of an effort to partake in real Memorial Day events.

That’s why this year I decided to bring the solemn meaning back to Memorial Day and turn my mind and heart to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice – not to honor war, but to honor those who died in such conflicts or war. I feel by taking an hour or so out of my extended weekend to reflect on this meaning, I’m doing what little justice I can to the day.

On Sunday, Eric and I spent nearly an hour at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center. Located along the shore of Lake Michigan, the War Memorial Center is Wisconsin’s most visible memorial that’s dedicated to the men and women who gave their lives to preserve the freedom of the United States and the world.

The Center was conceived by a group of Milwaukee women in the late years of WWII to honor everyone who served in the United States Armed Forces. According to the website, the Center’s mission is “to honor the dead by serving the living through arts and diverse cultural activities.” People who were moved by this vision began fundraising and eventually pooled together enough resources to dedicate the building in 1957.

To this day, the Center is a way to keep the veteran community’s legacies alive, ensuring that future generations remember the sacrifices that were made to afford each of us the freedoms we enjoy every day. It’s also a great way to get back to the original spirit of Memorial Day, or to just spend a few hours to reflect on any given day.

Harley Museum Revs Its Engine

Sure, when people think of Milwaukee, they often think of Miller Beer or Usingers Sausage, and maybe even Brewers Baseball, but many also think of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, another Milwaukee icon.

Just in time for Harley’s 105 Anniversary Celebration, the Harley-Davidson Museum nears completion.

For a few years, I heard buzz about the prospect of creating a Harley Museum in Milwaukee and was beginning to get curious as to when this alleged museum would open. Well folks, it’s official. The Harley-Davidson Museum will open to the public on Saturday, July 12, 2008. And really, that’s not very far away!

Grand opening festivities will kick off with one big Harley-style ceremony at 10 a.m. and the party will continue throughout the weekend with rockin’ live music, a custom bike build and on-site tattoo trailers, you know, if you want to get fresh ink to show off during the anniversary. No?

After work last night I finally saw the 20-acre site. Having been interested for awhile, I decided to take a few minutes to explore the location. Boy, does it look cool!

Located in the Menomonee Valley at the intersection of 6th and Canal Streets, stands the massive, 13,000-square-foot Museum. According to local news sources, the site’s three buildings will feature a retail store, a restaurant, a café and a multitude of exhibits that’ll pay homage to the people, product, history and culture that has fashioned Harley-Davidson into the icon it is today.

Last night I noticed one of the coolest parts of this Museum, the bright orange cement along 5th Street that’s for motorcycle parking access. Do you think you’ll be able to see the orange strip from an airplane flying en route for Mitchell International?

Additionally, I think many people will seize the opportunity to stroll around the site, enjoy the river walk or just sit back and enjoy Milwaukee’s skyline because the site is open 24-hour a day. Such aspects will add a whole new dimension to the H-D experience.

The Eisner Blurs the Line Between Art & Advertising

Can you imagine living in a world devoid of advertisements?

They are EVERYWHERE! (Just thought I'd state the obvious here) But because advertisements are all over the place, many people deem them as nothing more than an interruption or annoyance on TV or on the radio, in magazines or along roadways. I, on the other hand, have always been fascinated by them, hence the reason why I chose to study advertising in college. For four years, I learned more about the medium and why it’s so fundamental to society and how much painstaking thought, craftsmanship and creativity goes into each magazine ad, TV commercial and billboard.

Because advertisements are such an integral part of our lives, we’re fashioned to disregard them and often find them to be an irritating and intrusive gimmick to get us to waste our money.

When I brush my teeth in the morning, I rarely pay attention to the packaging or acknowledge it as an advertisement. When I pour my cereal for breakfast, seldom do I think twice about the design on the box or how it was made. And when I gear up for a run and put on an old Nirvana T-shirt and Adidas running shoes, I’m dressing for the workout, not to promote a band or brand. Ads are literally everywhere though and as I see it, they are disguised masterpieces that deserve a second glance every now and again.

Fortunately, The Eisner Museum of Advertising and Design is able to shed light on an industry that often doesn’t get enough credit for its craftsmanship.

The Eisner is dedicated to the memory of William F. Eisner, a prolific 20th century designer and advertising entrepreneur. This one of a kind museum was conceived by his wife Elaine after William’s sudden death as a way to honor the contributions William made to the advertising and design professions. Therefore, it's a very special venue to have here in Milwaukee.

I don’t think many Milwaukeeans realize that this kind of museum exists here simply because it’s right in their backyard. I found out about it a few years ago, but just recently made my first visit when Eric and I finally went last weekend.

When Eric and I entered through the glass doors, we were greeted by a near life-size, glossy Big Boy statue complete with brown "swoosh" hair and red and white checkered overalls, with a flawlessly crafted cheeseburger hoisted on his left hand. The Big Boy sculpture was just one of the countless examples of American advertising on display at The Eisner and we were excited to explore it further.

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!

The Buzz About Body Worlds

I often wonder what’s going on inside my body and how the systems relate to one another and work in concert to help my daily function. If you’re like me, you’ll find Body Worlds absolutely fascinating!

Body Worlds provides visitors with an unprecedented opportunity for understanding how the body works and how lifestyle choices can have an enormous impact on your body’s health.

I assume that by now most of you have heard of the Body Worlds exhibit that’s currently on display at the Milwaukee Public Museum. Body Worlds is a first-of-its-kind exhibition that showcases real human corpses that were donated to science and injected with a special plastic-like polymer, which preserves all of the tissues of the human body, explains the MPM website. Body Worlds is the only anatomical exhibition that uses donated bodies, willed by donors for the purpose of serving Body Worlds’ mission to educate the public about health and anatomy. According to the website, more than 8,000 people have already agreed to donate their bodies for Plastination – which is shocking to me. I don’t think I’d do it.

I was initially a little nervous about seeing this exhibit. A few weeks ago, I purchased advanced tickets online to check out Body Worlds on Friday – I figured there would be a high demand to see it on the weekend. We got to the museum and exchanged our confirmation number for official tickets and waited to be let into the exhibit at our scheduled time. Even though they only let a select amount of people in every 15 minutes, it was still quite crowded. Upon entry we were told that cell phones and cameras were prohibited and I didn’t argue because the thought of snapping photos of real dead bodies seemed really disrespectful.

I’ve heard the exhibit described as feeling like a funeral and when we walked into the dim room, it felt just like one. Everyone moved through the exhibit cautiously while using hushed voices. There were no shrieks or freak-out’s to break the reverential environment, just an occasional “yuck” whispered.

TIME Magazine 2001

Biedermeier exhibit at the MAM

On Saturday afternoon, Dave and I paid a return visit to the crown jewel of our city, the Milwaukee Art Museum. 

We were there to check out the Biedermeier: The Invention of Simplicity exhibit. We’d seen the signs for several months, and since the exhibit is only going to be in town (and in the country) until January 1, we decided to not waste any more time.

I will admit that I don’t quite have the same appreciation for art as some others do. I enjoy walking through a museum several times a year and briefly taking in each piece, but I certainly can’t mull over a painting for 10 minutes at a time the way some folks can.

I do, however, have a huge appreciation for the art museum, an appreciation that many locals perhaps lack. Of course, we all appreciate the beautiful Calatrava-designed wings that have come to be the calling card of our city, and we marvel at it as we drive by, but many have not set foot inside, and I have to wonder why.

I know several people in my own life – I won’t name names – who think museums are a bit high-brow and hoity-toity, and that they wouldn’t enjoy it or necessarily fit in well. But that's just silly! People from all walks of life go to the museum - I know because I've seen them on every visit.

On a freezing, dreary Saturday afternoon, we weren’t surprised to find the museum brimming with people.

We paid our admission and went directly into the exhibit. It was quiet and crowded, with many guests walking around with headphones, listening to the guided tour.

The multi-room exhibit was a treat for the eyes, full of bright colors and funky designs. As I walked through, I felt like I was getting a peek into a world and lifestyle very unlike my own, a lifestyle that was more elegant and regal than ours today.

I found out afterward, though, that the term “Biedermeier” was at first given in a joking spirit and that it once carried with it negative connotations. (Bieder means 'simple' or 'unpretentious' in German) I wasn’t looking at the furniture and china of the upper class but of the middle class who were “attempting to emulate the nobility.” The Biedermeier period spanned 1815-1848, was prevalent in Germany and Austria, and was marked by simple design and inexpensive materials.

Writing about and describing art is most definitely not my forte, so you’ll have to forgive me for speaking in layman’s terms. But the exhibit was truly more interesting than I’d anticipated, and now I wish I’d ponied up the $4 for the guided audio tour.

The painted bowls and glasses boasted vivid, dramatic colors, and looked like something you could buy today. The silver hairbrushes and toothbrushes, however, have definitely been improved upon over the years! There were several “party dresses” displayed, and I was surprised at how dowdy and conservative they were. My, how times have changed!

My favorite part was the furniture – the tea table whose top flipped up to look like “a flower on a stem," the armoires, the giant tilt mirror, the nightstands that resembled bongo drums, the chairs with intricately carved backs – no two were alike – and the couches that I just fell in love with. One was orange and stacked and is pictured here and the other – my favorite – was yellow with several thin black stripes with a wooden base and arm rests that slanted outward. It was so chic and looked so comfortable and retro – I was dying to take its picture! But alas, I followed the rules.

We spent maybe a half hour in the exhibit and then roamed the museum's main collection a little while longer before leaving.

The Biedermeier exhibit was really fascinating and fun, and we're lucky to have it in our city! It's the first North American Biedermeier exhibit, and when it leaves on January 1, it's bound for the Albertina in Vienna, Deutsches Historisches Museum in Berlin, and the Musee du Louvre in Paris.

If you've never set foot inside the Milwaukee Art Museum, please put it on your list! It's a complete treasure. Every time I step inside I have to remind myself that I'm still in Milwaukee, still in the city I live in.

Milwaukee holds a nationally recognized museum that attracts internationally acclaimed shows like the Biedermeier show. Even if you're not particularly into art, that's pretty remarkable.