Play in the City

Last Call.

Over time I've learned that all good things come to an end.

I was informed last week that VISIT Milwaukee has decided to stop all blogging and direct that energy toward a video blog. The goal of the vblog is to demonstrate the things that Milwaukee can offer meeting attendees while representing the free spirit and unconventional attitude of Milwaukee’s culture.

As this is the case, this will be my final post for Play in the City.

A lot went on behind the scenes and I’m extremely thankful for the personal relationships I’ve established with outsiders, locals, fellow bloggers and city businesses via email and comments within this short year.

It has been an exciting experience and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to write for VISIT Milwaukee and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished with the site. In only a little over one year after taking the helm, readership has increased by over half, escalating hits from an average of about 200 to nearly 500 clicks per day!

I really love Milwaukee, I feel it’s still an underrated and unacknowledged city and I’m not quite ready to stop telling people about it. While I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to see where the next few years will take PITC, I’ve decided to try to keep the momentum going by starting a new blog, Between the Bars.

So, to all of my loyal readers and friends, thank you. It has been a great journey – albeit far too short. Please remember to stop by my new blog and say hello.

Thanks again, Milwaukee!

A Photographer. Me?

Several months ago I was contacted via email by several people that were part of the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, a.k.a. Friends of the Domes, and those who were working to build a new and improved website for the Milwaukee gem, its members and potential visitors.

Apparently, they read my post about my trip to the Domes back in November and were impressed with the way I photographed the exotic plants and vibrant flowers found in each Dome (YAY!). Thus, they asked if I would allow them to use several of my images for their future website. Naturally, I was thrilled and without hesitation, I hooked them up!

The site is now finished and as it turns out, all of my photos were used! Just head over here to check out the new website and have a look at my photos!

About 99 to 95 percent of the pictures found in the Show Dome, Arid Dome, Tropical Dome and Outdoor galleries online were from my camera! I must say, it's pretty cool to see my work on display somewhere other than Play in the City. I hope they keep them up for a long time!

You Say Tomato, I Say Farmers Market!

I love farmers markets.

From perusing the vast selection of fresh fruits and organic veggies to taking in the incredible aroma of the various seasonal flowers and pungent herbs, farmers markets are a great alternative to supermarket shopping.

Actually, beginning last summer, I started taking full advantage of the East Town Market and The East Side Open Market almost every Saturday. They are close to my apartment and offer a great variety of produce.

While I’m usually an avid market shopper anyway, there’s another reason to shop there right now: for salmonella-free tomatoes. I’m serious!

Seventeen states including Wisconsin, Illinois, Virginia, Texas, California, and so on, have experienced salmonella outbreaks linked to three types of raw tomatoes – red plum, red Roma and round red tomatoes – and the list of supermarkets and restaurants yanking those varieties off the shelves and menus keeps growing.

Come to think of it, I went to Qdoba the other day and was shocked that they didn’t have any salsa for my nachos. It later donned on me that it was due to the tomato scare.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said to news sources that since mid-April, 167 people have been infected with salmonella of the same “genetic fingerprint” and at least 23 of those people have been hospitalized, and one person has died.

To be safe, the FDA suggests avoiding tomatoes unless they were grown in unaffected states. Additionally, cherry tomatoes and grapes tomatoes, homegrown tomatoes or those sold with the vine still attached are likely not the source of the salmonella outbreak. So, besides those tomatoes grown in your backyard, another place to get some red and raw tomatoes that aren't tainted is at your neighborhood’s farmers market.

Now everyone should be more inclined to visit their local farmers market, no? Not only will you find a fresh, organic and appetizing assortment of fruits and vegetables, you’ll be able to pick up tomatoes of the non-salmonella variety.

Open for the summer and always close to home, the markets give local farmers the chance to display their goods, while giving residents the chance to socialize and browse the homegrown produce lining the aisles in an open-air and inviting setting.

I did a little research online and found a list of Wisconsin farmers markets. I encourage you to take the time to find one in your vicinity. Let’s not fear the tomato anymore!

When it Rains...

Think back to when you were a kid. Do you remember those dinosaurs, animals, and so forth that were in capsules and when you’d put them in warm water, they’d miraculously expand?

So, with all of the rain we had dumped on us last night/over the week I began to think: What if a huge truck chock-full of those capsules spilled out all over Milwaukee...would Milwaukee be one step closer to Jurassic Park?

Of course, I don’t mean to make light of a situation that for many isn't very funny. Truth be told it has been kind of scary around these parts lately.

As of last night, we’ve broken the record for rainfall in June. Consequently, rivers, ponds and lakes have overflowed causing thousands of homes, businesses and roadways to flood. Dams are on the verge of rupturing, thus forcing evacuations while dozens of other people are still without electricity. Maybe we’re actually one step closer to Water World. Now, that makes more sense!

I sincerely hope everyone is okay, that the flooding will subside, and that if you were hit hard, that you’re able to overcome these rainy misfortunes.

Watch out for those raptors and stay dry, folks!

Stargazing

It’s time to bust out those binoculars, telescopes and cameras, ladies!

Johnny Depp and Christian Bale are finally in Milwaukee to film scenes for Public Enemies! I know you’ve been waiting...

According to the news last night, crews will be filming from Tuesday until Friday (or Saturday). They will be shooting at the Milwaukee County Historical Society building and in some neighborhoods in the vicinity.

Locals are already staking out areas to try to catch a glimpse of one of the movie stars.

Crews started filming in Wisconsin back in March and have also filmed in Indiana and Illinois and are hoping to be done and back in Hollywood by the end of this month.

It's kind of cool to have tinseltown here in Milwaukee for the time being. I'm hoping to run into Christian Bale so that I can profess my undying love to him... I’ll keep you posted.

Fun Riversplash Turns Chaotic

Riversplash is a three-day event that is the official opening of the long-awaited summer season.

At its core, Riversplash is simply a beer fest, period. It helps provide Water Street bars with the needed revenue as they head into the slower months of summer. Frankly, I have no problem with this. There’s no need to sugarcoat this aspect of Riversplash because, all in all, Riversplash indeed offers more than just Miller Lite. What I have an issue with is that during the three-day festival the Water Street and Old World Third Street areas have become mini-Bourbon Street parties, at least after dark.

According to the website, Riversplash was originally launched in Pere Marquette Park as a development tool to bring people downtown. Since then, it has grown in size and popularity, which was, perhaps, the festival’s downfall last Saturday night.

The unofficial launch of Milwaukee’s summer festival season was spoiled over the weekend by what was said to be the first-ever shooting at Riversplash. In fact, this incident was the first in all of Riversplash’s 19 years, says news sources.

I normally feel safe at Riversplash, which is why I had no qualms about heading there last Saturday night. But because of the high volume of people combined with flowing alcohol and the lack of security on hand, a drastically overblown melee ensued.

Now, I might reconsider attending the downtown festival next year.

My sister Terry and I decided to meet up with a couple of friends at Riversplash to eat and drink and to listen to music and to people watch. Around 7 p.m. we made our way to the festival’s primo location along a 10-block district that features popular restaurants and bars, in addition to the picturesque Milwaukee River front and Pere Marquette Park.

Despite Riversplash primarily being an extension of Water Street bars – a scene I normally try to avoid – I’ve always enjoyed myself. Perhaps this is due to the free admission or that Riversplash is the first festival of the summer, but what I think I like most is that Riversplash is central to downtown Milwaukee. It’s a real city festival that’s steeped in Milwaukee’s culture. Plus, it’s always amusing to parade around the normally traffic-filled urban streets, ducking in and out of bars and restaurants with food and drink in hand, and just taking in the cityscape and the people who live there.

Bradford Beach Makes a Comeback

It’s about time!

I always wondered what was up with our beaches, why few people hung out there.

I’ve been to the popular sandy patches in Chicago and was always amazed by how packed they were on the weekends – beachside decks had live music and offered happy hour specials while providing a fun atmosphere for the entire family. Milwaukee's beaches, on the other hand, had filthy sand and a rank smell. What gives?

Finally, Milwaukee might have come up with a novel idea to revamp Bradford Beach, giving the community a reason to hit the sand.

Last weekend, Hi-Hat Group, one of the city’s leading restaurant groups, assumed control of the Bradford Beach House and programming at Milwaukee’s sandy pad.

According to OnMilwaukee, Hi-Hat Group has teamed up with G1, Inc. and X-Ray Marketing to begin restoring nearly every aspect of the deserted Beach House. I think this is wonderful news for a part of Milwaukee that has been dying a slow death.

After hearing reports, Eric and I decided to check out the progress ourselves. So that Saturday, we attended the revived Bradford Beach House’s kick-off party.

The spot wasn’t teeming with beach-goers by any means, but it did welcome a larger crowd than what I recall seeing on most days prior. There were rows of top-notch volleyball nets where teams of three played in the Cuervo Gold Beach Volleyball Tour while amateur athletes bumped the ball around on the other open courts.

Around the Beach House, spectators took in the gorgeous lakeshore panorama and watched some intense volleyball games while soaking up the sun. At the same time, kids built sand castles and dug through the dry sand looking for shells. It was really great to see a vivacious crowd breathing life into a once desolate beach.

Dining Week is Back for Thirds!

The third serving of Downtown Dining Week begins TOMORROW, May 29 and runs until Thursday, June 5.

For an affordable prix fixe lunch and dinner, no passes, coupons or cards are needed. All week long, simply dine at one of the 30 participating downtown restaurants and select from a special three-course menu.

At just $10 for lunch and $20 for dinner, Downtown Dining Week offers a unique opportunity to sample some of downtown’s best cuisine without breaking the bank. Note: the cost doesn’t include beverages, tax or tip. So, the online lunch and dinner menus list the meal’s regular price to encourage patrons to appropriately tip their server.

I’m taking advantage of this deal to experience some of the new places in the Downtown neighborhood or perhaps to revisit some of the places I really enjoyed, but haven’t been to in a while. I’m eager to check out Swig and the new Fratello’s Waterfront Restaurant.

Other eateries on the list this year are Zarletti, Osteria del Mondo, Bayou and Benihana. For a complete list, head over here. I highly recommend Butch’s Clock Steak House for a good cut of meat and Yanni’s for scrumptious seafood, plus they offer the most food for your buck.

Happy dining!

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.

Shake it Up, Baby

There was no twisting or shouting though, well, maybe shouting, but mostly just a lot of shaking when a 5.2 magnitude earthquake, centered 350 miles from Milwaukee in southeast Illinois, rattled many local and surrounding communities early this morning.

According to the news, calls were pouring into the National Weather Service from as far north as Peshtigo, claiming that they felt the ground shaking. This is pretty amazing considering the quake’s core was about six miles from West Salem, Illinois.

I’m sure you’ve already heard the breaking news, but if you missed it, you can read more about it here.

This event is so extraordinary that I wish I could chime in and tell a story about my bookshelf vibrating or something, but instead I'll share a couple accounts from other locals.

A friend of mine who lives in an apartment complex downtown near the lakefront said she woke up roughly around 4:30 a.m. when she felt a tremor that caused her bed to shake. Local news reports state that the quake happened just before 4:37 a.m. and seismic activity lasted for about 20 seconds.

“I woke up, but I didn’t know what woke me up,” said my co-worker, Melinda, as we talked about the recent news. Melinda lives in Racine and said she noticed her paintings hanging crooked on her walls this morning. I thought that was funny.

Did you feel it? If so, tell me about it.

While many people, even Milwaukee residents, were startled by the shaking, I was sleeping like a rock. This was the first sizable earthquake in the Midwest and I slept through it! Dang. I’m an extremely light sleeper too... a fly could land on my windowpane and I'd probably hear it. Seriously.

Interestingly, I vaguely remember my cat waking up early and sitting on the windowsill yelling at me, though. She usually sleeps throughout the night and only wakes up to beg for food once my alarm buzzes. Animal lovers claim that house pets are psychic when it comes to sensing unusual occurrences like earthquakes. “They can feel it,” my sister contends. I don’t know if Lucy can predict or feel the phenomena of nature, but sure, why not? After all, she actually noticed it.

This news is fascinating to me because Midwestern residents aren’t really accustomed to such a large temblor. We often hear about the faults under California and out West, but we rarely get word of potential quakes around here.

Local reports and the U.S. Geological Survey says that the earthquake rocked the Illinois-Ozark dome region, which covers parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas, and stretches from Indianapolis and St. Louis to Memphis.

The U.S. Geological Survey’s website also insists that earthquakes occur irregularly in this area. In fact, the largest historical earthquake in the region – a level of 5.4 on the Rector Scale – caused damage in southern Illinois in 1968, but that’s the last notable quake around that fault line.

Interesting? I think so.

This morning’s quake also shook skyscrapers in Chicago’s Loop, 240 miles north of the epicenter, and 450 miles northwest in Des Moines; as well as, in downtown Indianapolis, about 160 miles northeast of it. Fortunately, out this way there were no reports of injuries or significant damage besides fallen soup cans and picture frames and an early morning stir.

How crazy is that?