With our nose to the Milwaukee grindstone, OMC brings you our monthly look at the stuff, tid-bits, rumors and buzz that shapes our wonderful city.

PHOTOS TO FOOD
Rumor is that a restaurant will replace the soon-to-close downtown Helix Photo, 840 N. Plankinton Ave.

TESS
Tess, 2499 N. Bartlett Ave., and its contemporary world cuisine now occupies the site of the former Corner Grill on the East Side.

MILWAUKEE IS IMPORTANT
The Milwaukee Art Museum's Santiago Calatrava-designed expansion was named one of "The 5 Most Important Building's of the 21st Century" by the Sunday newspaper magazine USA Weekend. The magazine asked five top architectural experts to select the best constructions of this new century, those completed recently that will inspire for generations. Besides the Milwaukee Art Museum addition, the Rose Center of New York City's American Museum of Natural History, Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Courthouse in Phoenix, 3com Midwest Headquarters in Rolling Meadows Illinois and the Westside Light Rail Corridor in Portland Oregon were also cited. USA Weekend magazine is carried by more than 580 newspapers and delivered to 48 million readers each weekend.

PHARMACY TO NEW APARTMENTS AND MORE
Expect a big-name developer to purchase the former Oriental Pharmacy location soon. Renovated apartments and retail are on his (or her) mind.

WALGREEN'S CLOSING
In a country that seemingly wants a Walgreen's on every corner, it's rare when one closes. But, the Walgreen's on East Wisconsin Avenue has failed to change with the times and has recently closed. The space is up for lease and hopefully a developer will open something more pleasing to the street side activity along Wisconsin Avenue.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH
The Aug. 24 edition of The Rocky Mountain News featured museums and MAM on its cover page! The paper's circulation is 675,000 and it used the headline, "Showoffs" to pump the great article on the Milwaukee Art Museum.

WHAT'S UP IN THE WARD?
La Boulangerie has closed its Third Ward location, and as we've already reported The Palms will open in October in the space formerly known as The Broadway Bar & Grill. Owner and operated by the fine folks from the City Market, The Palms will feature California style pizzas, lunch, dinner and breakfast on the weekends.

MORE WARD BUZZ
Jerry Mitchell is trying to sell or lease his building or at least some of its floors. His leather business is still a Milwaukee treasure. Luckily, he doesn't plan on closing it. Read more on Mitchell here.

HOT HOUSING IN MILWAUKEE
According to a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors Milwaukee is the fastest appreciating housing market of midrange metro areas (median price $135,001-180,000) with a 11.9 percent price change in 2002. Orlando, Philadelphia and Phoenix were right behind us. New York City had the biggest jump at 22.3 percent.

VACANCY AT HOTEL MILWAUKEE
The Hotel Milwaukee radio program begins its 8th season on Mon., Sept. 23 with a taping at The Pabst Theater. The show is now heard on the Ideas Network of Wisconsin Public Radio, many select stations in North America, on the NPR Satellite, on the A&E Channel of Sirius Satellite Radio and of course on www.hotelmilwaukee.com. Call (414) 270-0111.

GOOD BYE LONDON
The owner of 1225 Water has purchased the former London Bridge Pub and is currently renovating the space for its soon to open Corner Bar: An American Tap.

BEAN HEAD
Bean Head Café is coming soon to 1835 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.

BYE, BYE THICK BREAD
The Greater Milwaukee Bread Company, next to Einstein's at East Pointe Marketplace (544 E. Ogden), has closed. Makers of some of the city's best sandwiches, the owner has called it quits. National chain, Panera, opens across the way soon.

FAKING IT
Speaking of spreading the Milwaukee love, The Learning Channel called us last week to research an episode of its new "Faking It" show. They were in route to Milwaukee to see "cool Milwaukee beer bars." We set them up at several area watering holes including Frauchiger's, The Nomad, John Hawks Pub and The Brown Bottle. The format for the show is simple. Take an unlikely candidate, give them four weeks' training in a new discipline, then set up a competition where experts try and spot the imposter. Watch OMC for more details on the Milwaukee episode.

A NEW MANTRA
Mike Vitucci, owner of the Marquette-area bars Caffrey's Pub and Murphy's Pub and Grill, and of course the institution that is Vitucci's Cocktail Lounge, has leased the space formerly occupied by micro.bar and Eso. He's working on Mantra, a lounge with an Asian motif, at 1905 E. North Ave. Watch OMC for an in depth feature on this new place in the coming weeks.

WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT
Construction on the new Milwaukee Rowing Club boathouse is expected to start soon.

NEW SUB ON WATER
The old Subway on Water Street, just south of Wisconsin Avenue, will become a Erbert & Gerbert sub store.

Tutu TO MU
Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu is planning a visit to Marquette in early 2003.

MSO RAISES $100,000
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's August 28 concert honoring long-time board members raised more than $100,000 to benefit the MSO.

NEW BREWS FOR YOU
For the first time in its history, Lakefront Brewery has created an Oktoberfest Lager. Lakefront's Oktoberfest is available in bottles or on draught through Thanksgiving. Lakefront Brewery is also releasing its Pumpkin Lager between late summer and Thanksgiving.

FIRST FRIDAYS RETURNS IN OCTOBER
MAM's "First Fridays" returns October 4 in Windhover Hall at the beautiful Milwaukee Art Museum.

HIGH FASHION AT PABST
The 45th annual Ebony Fashion Fair comes to the Pabst Theater Fri., Sept. 13 at 8 p.m.

BREWMASTER KARL
George Karl will once again lend his name and mug shot to a specialty brew in October. It will be called Klosch Karl and will be available only at Rock Bottom Brewery.

NICE CURVES
Curves, the all-women health club phase, is rumored to be seeking space on West Wells Street, next to Tula's.

BUGGIN'
New metal bugs, from artist Bill Reid and the Brady Street folks, have popped up on and around the pumping station across from Trocadero at the corner of Water & Pearson.

LOUISE'S GROWS
Louise's Trattoria, 801 N. Jefferson St., is expanding as it builds an addition to its space just to the west of its East Town location.

MAGIC COMING TO MILWAUKEE
Ervin "Magic" Johnson will be the keynote speaker at The Business Council's Fourth Annual Strategic Partnership Luncheon, Thurs., Oct. 3 at the ICC. Call (414) 270-1874 for tickets. Tickets are $65 each.

LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN
The Promise Ring pop up on Conan on Mon., Sept. 9 and Violent Femmes performed Tues., Sept. 3. Eve and Denis Leary were the other guest on the night of the Femmes' performance.

WHO PISSED OFF AUSTIN?
A recent article by a former Milwaukeean (and Journal Sentinel reporter) in the Austin Statesman was more than critical of our city. You may read it and make your own conclusions here.