Play in the City

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.

An Outsider’s Take on Milwaukee

If you had a friend come into town, where would you bring him/her? The Milwaukee Art Museum? Brady Street? Miller Park? Lakefront Brewery?

Previously, I mentioned Eric’s friend Kevin coming to Milwaukee a few weeks ago. While I probably would have taken my friends to a couple of other places, I think Eric did a good job at showing Kevin aspects of our city and making him feel at home. Maybe Kevin will even revisit...

Kevin and Eric have known each other since their pubescent years in Singapore. Before Kevin's recent visit, it had been nearly three years since they were in the same town and it was my first time meeting Eric’s best bud, which was a little nerve-racking.

Kevin is an interesting guy. He’s a salesman in North Carolina and a wannabe comedian. From the sound of it, he “enjoyed the cheese” here and based on what I witnesses, he definitely had some stories to bring home to his southern friends. We had a lot of fun!

While in town, Kevin offered to write a guest blog about his visit to Milwaukee. After some editing – I try to maintain a PG rating here at PITC – and correcting some of Kevin’s “fact checking errors” and adding links, I thought it was ready to share with all of you. I’m pretty pleased with what he had to say and was even more surprised that he actually followed through with it. Thanks Kevin!

If you think reading a "guest" blogger's perspective is an interesting addition to the site, I might ask every friend to recap their trip to Milwaukee, well, if I can get my buds to visit, that is.

Cough.

Cough.

Come on, ladies!

Until then, say "hi" to Kevin and feel free to comment on his thoughts or share what you like/dislike about the places he went. Also, do you think Milwaukee was well represented? If not, what would you do to show “the real Milwaukee?”

Let me know what you think!

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!

TGIF!

I'm always looking forward to the weekend, but I haven’t been this excited for it in a really, really long time.

See, the last two weeks have been very grueling, mostly due to several unforeseen events. In particular, many changes have taken place at my day job – my boss quit; we were bought out, and so on. Thus, I’m the only person left to do marketing duties around the place, so I’ve been working my butt off to get things organized and planned for our HUGE convention in Los Angeles in about a week. Needless to say, I’ve been burning the midnight oil every night this week to keep up-to-date on work, blogging and extracurricular activities, but all I really want to do is take a nap.

Like I said, ALL I WANT IS SLEEP. But, this weekend doesn’t really allow much time to catch up on my Zs. I have plenty of work to keep me up late again tonight and on Saturday morning I’m walking for the Lupus Foundation, and then trucking out to the very swampy Wisconsin Dells for my good friend Rose’s bachelorette party – it’s the first bachelorette party I’ve attended, so I’m very excited. Then, I’m obviously spending Sunday with my pops for Father’s Day up in West Bend and I play volleyball that night in Mequon, and once I’m home, I will be back to the grind until I conk out.

Luckily, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. L.A., baby! That’s where I will be by the end of next week. Working, yes, but it will be easy work – minimal mental and physical exertion – mixed with carefree evenings spent experiencing the city’s nightlife. What's most exciting, though, is that Eric is coming along! That’s the icing on the cake. So, after the three-day convention, he and I will be able to hit the beach and run amok around Universal Studios, and do all of the Hollywood touristy things for a couple of paid vacation days. THAT’s what keeps me going.

Well, that’s where I’m at. TGIF! I hope you have a great weekend. Make it relaxing...!

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!

Fratellos Waterfront Restaurant

During Downtown Dining Week in Milwaukee, select restaurants put together special menus where patrons get to sample meals that embody the restaurant at a discounted price.

It’s a fantastic way for restaurants to attract new customers and a great way for people to try new foods without spending too much money. Last week marked the third annual Downtown Dining Week and this year I was determined to finally partake.

Thirty of downtown’s hottest eateries created a three course meal with several options for lunch ($10) and dinner ($20). Last Monday, I decided to check out the new Fratellos Waterfront Restaurant located in the historic Third Ward district right along the Milwaukee River. Fratellos is owned by an Oshkosh-based restaurant group, Supple Restaurant Group, which also owns eight other restaurants – Fox River Brewing Company, Golden Corral Buffet and Grill franchises and The Melting Pot, in addition to three other Fratellos in Appleton, Oshkosh and Ashwaubenon.

Because Fratellos is a chain restaurant, I wasn’t expecting anything too elaborate or extraordinary, but upon entering I was pleasantly surprised. The fresh, urban feel of the Third Ward carries over into the restaurants’ décor, which at a glance makes the place seems much more upscale although the menu is definitely more casual and simple.

Eric, Kevin (Kevin is Eric’s Singapore high school friend who was visiting from North Carolina for the week) and I sat at the large bar for about a half hour, unwinding and sampling some of the Fox River Brewing Company craft brews on tap like the Caber Tossing Scottish Ale and the Buzzin’ Honey Ale, which are brewed at this Fratellos’ sister hubs in Appleton and Oshkosh and are excellent.

Due to the unappetizing fish smell wafting off the river, we decided to take a seat inside the chic dining room. Besides, no matter which table you’re sitting at, you have a good view of the river. Regardless of the stench, there were several couples taking advantage of the bowing riverfront patio that allows more than 100 patrons to dine outside within mere feet of the Milwaukee River. The vast amount of frontage that overlooks the water is amazing as it provides probably one of the best patios in Milwaukee, which is at least one reason to revisit.

We slid into our seats at a table for four near one of the many large windows. All of the tables were pre-set with wine glasses, which subtly coaxed us into a bottle to split between the three of us. The wine list is better than what I had expected – far superior than what you’d normally find at a chain restaurant like this at least. So, we ordered up a Pinot noir that was quickly brought to our table and formally presented to us.

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.

'Sex and the City' at the Oriental

In 1927, the majestic Landmark Oriental Theater opened for business in the heart of Milwaukee’s East Side. During the Oriental’s beginning era, going to the movies was more of an all-day experience or, at the very least, an evening escapade requiring gowns and feather boas, or tuxedos and top hats.

In some ways, opening night of Sex and the City was reminiscent of this historic time.

A crowd congregated outside of the Oriental Theater hours before the doors even opened for the 7 p.m. showing of Sex and the City. By the look of it, any passersby probably would have assumed that it was a gathering for a wedding reception or graduation party or something of the like based on the pink nail polish, updos, stilettos and sundresses that almost every woman wore that evening.

While the throngs of women weren’t sporting frilly evening dresses, the fancy attire was still quite atypical for modern moviegoers. By no means is this a dramatic exaggeration, either. I think I was the only person who didn’t get the memo about the dress code for the night’s flick. Evidently, Sex and the City on the silver screen was more than just a Friday night movie with the girls, it was an enormous event that corralled the largest bunch of women I’ve ever seen in one enclosed location.

Sex and the City was highly anticipated by many women, including myself. I was a little nervous after reading several reviews that gave Sex and the City a mere satisfactory rating, only three stars. I really didn’t want to be disappointed or leave unsatisfied. But after seeing the movie and falling in love with the characters and story all over again, clearly those critics weren’t fans of the HBO series in the first place. On a whole, the movie was better than I could have envisioned. It was witty and sharp, sensitive and endearing, raunchy and lively, and perfect. I loved it!

I also adore the Oriental Theater, which is why I chose to see my favorite TV show’s big screen debut there. The Oriental has been showing movies for about 75 years and still is able to attract audiences. It first began showing short runs of Hollywood classics and cult double features, and then expanded its repertoire to foreign, specialty and indie films, in addition to a mix of first-run movies and blockbusters in order to keep up with the Joneses.

Eventually, the owners decided to turn the single-screen theater into three smaller theaters because such one-screen cinemas were turning into somewhat of a white elephant in modern times, I read. Currently, the Oriental features one main auditorium that seats about 1,000 people and two 250-seat theaters, says the website.

On my jog to the Oriental from my apartment, I could see the theater’s distinctive minaret towers breaking the East Side’s skyline. My sister and I bought tickets earlier in the week, but rumors surfaced that the show was sold out, so despite having tickets, I was frantic to get there to secure two superb spots for the day’s main feature: Sex and the City.

Please Forgive Me.

I feel like I need to apologize.

For the entire week I’ve been behind on posting – I still haven't written about Sex and the City at the Oriental and that was over a week ago! See, things at my "day job" have been a tad hectic, correction, EXTREMELY hectic! But, all of that craziness should begin to pan out soon, and then I’ll get Play in the City back up-to-date.

With that, I have a lot to tell you about this week.

For instance, the last day of Downtown Dining Week was Thursday. Did you make it to any of the restaurants? I was fortunate to finally indulge in this spectacular event and found that it truly is a great way to try out some of the new restaurants in Milwaukee. So, for all of you Foodies, I'll be sure to share some yummy reviews of the new Fratellos Waterfront Restaurant and Swig very soon.

Furthermore, I'll post about the much overdue SATC movie and the Oriental Theater, as well as, the S/V Denis Sullivan Homecoming Celebration that was almost completely marred by inclement weather.

Until then, stay tuned and thanks for checkin' in!

Miller Lite Ride For the Arts

I did it!

Sunday morning, I woke up at 6:30 a.m. – more remarkably, I got Eric out of bed 15 minutes later – to bike the 50-mile route for the Ride for the Arts!

The 28th annual Miller Lite Ride for the Arts, benefiting the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), kicked off at 7:15 a.m. Unfortunately though, Eric and I weren’t there at this point due to our lack of preparation the night before and a slue of unanticipated events:

1. We didn’t have our helmets ready since we bought them the night before.
2. My pocket knife wasn’t cutting the helmet’s plastic packaging, not even making a dent in it – why the heck do manufacturers feel the need to make this process such a chore? Or better question: Why did I buy a $1 pocket knife?
3. I needed caffeine. NEEDED it! Or else I turn into Mr. Hyde.
4. Eric’s spicy Indian curry dinner the night before wasn’t sitting well.
5. I lost my sunglasses.

Nevertheless, we made it to the course around 7:30 a.m. with minimal squabbling – okay, a little more bickering than usual, which I blame on the early morning and my detestation for being late to things with prompt start times. But the smell of gear grease and scent of sunscreen and the bright sun and calm morning energized me and I was revved up for the ride.

There were over 12,000 riders divided by courses and waiting in front of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts for their start time. Since we preregistered for the ride a few weeks in advance, all we had to do was wait for the start of the next wave. We started in waves so that the ride wouldn’t be overly congested – those riding the longest courses (75 and 50-mile) started first. Finally, it was our turn. After Eric and I crossed the starting line, our full speed, 50-mile adventure began!

Most of Water Street, Michigan Street and the Lincoln Memorial Drive were blocked off for the beginning of the ride. Despite the alternated start times, there were many riders packed tightly together for several miles. Actually, there were so many of us that all you could hear were the sounds of chains rotating, wheels spinning, brakes squeaking and shoes clipping in and out of pedals. But because the pace was quite fast, the crowd began to spread out and span many miles.

The first 25 miles were cake! After we left Milwaukee, we headed north through the suburbs. While cycling through the scenic towns of Shorewood and Bayside we admired the gorgeous brick and stone houses and magnificent views of Lake Michigan.