Arts & Entertainment - May 22, 2013
Krause's pamphlet considers the junction of comedy and politics
It seems, at the outset, like an unexpected marriage: "The acts of thinking comedically and behaving democratically share enough analogous elements that an extended comparison between the two makes each much clearer." But, Milwaukee writer and musician Adam Krause sat down at the intersection of Comedy and Politics to have a think and the result is "The Revolution Will Be Hilarious," which in a mere 41 pages makes a cogent and, in the end, startlingly simple point.

Kids & Family - May 21, 2013
Getting to the bottom of Bay View
A group of students from MPS' Bay View and Bradley Tech High Schools is working in concert with Discovery World to excavate a lost block of homes in Bay View this weekend.

Dining - May 21, 2013
Scouting the Sherbrooke fish fry
After a big renovation and a quiet relaunch, Shepherd's on North in Wauwatosa has now been officially re-christened "The Sherbrooke," and I stopped in recently on a Friday to scout the fish fry.

Travel & Visitors Guide - May 20, 2013
Pabst's enduring pavilion faces extinction
Thanks to Erik Larson's 2003 bestseller, "The Devil in the White City," yet another generation is fascinated by the 1893 Chicago World's Fair: Columbian Exposition. Despite its enduring - in itself somewhat surprising - popularity, little remains of this by all accounts stunning little temporary city. One survivor serves as the entrance and gift shop to The Pabst Mansion, 2000 W. Wisconsin Ave., and it is in increasingly desperate condition.

Music - May 20, 2013
The coolest record of the '60s folk revival was made in Milwaukee
As part of "The Avant Garde Coffee House Project" exhibit currently on view, there's a glass-topped case with some posters and a record. It's a pretty nondescript thing, frankly, with a black and white photo and some not especially artful text. But that little record - "Blues, Rags and Hollers," by folk blues trio Koerner, Ray & Glover - made a big bang when it was released in June 1963. And it was made in Milwaukee.

Music - May 19, 2013
Former Color Truth frontman Steinbach finds the road back
It's been a long time since we've heard from Zach Steinbach. Nearly five years ago Steinbach fronted The Color Truth, a Milwaukee band that seemed poised to take the next step with its big, melodic, poppy rock and roll. The band fizzled out a couple years back, leaving Steinbach a bit lost. But now, he's back. He's got a band, and he's got a new solo record. More, than anything, he says, he's got a new lease on a musical life.

Milwaukee Buzz - May 16, 2013
Let's put the "front" back in Front Street
For a variety of reasons, I've been thinking about Front Street, which now seems so ironically named, fronting as it does onto nothing and serving as the ultimate definition of a Milwaukee "backstreet." In my mind, I see something much different that can be seen on the block today.

Music - May 15, 2013
New Eric & Magill song debuts
Milwaukee's Eric & Magill, who released an EP called "Two Travelers" in February, will follow it up with a second full-length record this summer. Ryan Weber and Eric Osterman release "Night Singers" on July 23. You can hear the song, "Baggage and Clothes" now.

Movies & TV - May 15, 2013
Brush up on your McCartney this week, Milwaukee
With a return by Paul McCartney on tap this summer at Miller Park, the arrival of "Rockshow," is well-timed. The film, which screens at the Bayshore iPic at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, was filmed on the same 1975-76 U.S. tour that led to Paul McCartney & Wings' triple-live album, "Wings Over America."

Music - May 14, 2013
Enemy Star goes supernova
Local hard rock outfit Enemy Star has called it quits, according to guitarist and founder Paris Ortiz, who wrote in today to say the band will play two final gigs this weekend, including one at Club Anything with a special surprise guest.

Kids & Family - May 13, 2013
Biden to Milwaukee student: People love chocolate
This morning, Jenny Aicher, a teacher at Downtown Montessori in Bay View, wrote to share some big news on campus. A student in her class received a handwritten note from Vice President Joe Biden.

Dining - May 13, 2013
Fish fry: Double Eagle Pub
"One of Milwaukee's best kept secrets ... if you can find the Double Eagle Pub, you will enjoy the Double Eagle Pub!"

Music - May 13, 2013
Vinyl resurgence breathes life into record shop business
We asked Ken Chrisien at Acme and Dan DuChaine at Rushmor - both in Bay View - and Luke Lavin at Bull's Eye, on the East Side, about how the recession affected the business, about Record Store Day and more. Their answers might surprise you.

Milwaukee Buzz - May 10, 2013
Urban Spelunking: Prospect Mall renovation
A plan emerged last year to bring new life to the Prospect Mall on the East Side. Developer Robert Joseph is tearing the building - erected in 1912 as a Pierce-Arrow automobile dealership - down to the bones to create first floor retail and parking, with a four-story residential tower perched diagonally on the roof. We got a peek inside yesterday.

Dining - May 9, 2013
First look: The revamped Horse & Plow
The bowling alleys are long gone, but the loss has never affected the popularity of The Horse & Plow pub in The American Club at Kohler. The subterranean pub and grille was especially bustling during a recent Tuesday visit as the lunch service drew a mix of locals, resort guests and - because the weather was good - golfers to the eatery, which recently got a bit of a facelift.

Kids & Family - May 8, 2013
The further greening of Milwaukee schoolyards
Today, Tippecanoe-Dover parent Erin Dentice shared plans for greening some of the space at the Bay View school's playground.

Kids & Family - May 6, 2013
A tiny photo of a big man
This weekend, I found a tiny square photograph at my mom's house. It shows me and Mr. Pepper, my third and fourth grade teacher, in the auditorium of my grade school. The photo is small, but Mr. Pepper's influence on my life wasn't. In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, I'm offering up an encore of this 2011 blog posting.

Arts & Entertainment - May 6, 2013
Malig's work is all around us
We often celebrate the work of famous architects. We know the names of Santiago Calatrava and Daniel Burnham, for example. But what of the folks who work in relative obscurity, designing the city around us from their desks at City Hall or the Municipal Building? Lately, I keep bumping into the name of Charles E. Malig, who - though he designed a couple public schools while in private practice - built many public buildings during his 38 years as a staff architect with the city's Bureau of Bridges and Public Buildings.

Living - May 2, 2013
More Zipcars boost Milwauk-ability
As we speak, on the tip of the triangle at North Avenue and Ivanhoe Place, in front of Hooligan's, Mayor Tom Barrett, Ald. Nik Kovac and Jim Plaisted, of the East Side Business Improvement District, are announcing a new partnership with Zipcar that will put a Zipcar station in the parking lot behind the U.S. Bank on Farwell and North.

Music - May 2, 2013
Breiwick's "Spirits" conjures a broad blend of composers
Trumpeter Jamie Breiwick is a tireless promoter of jazz in Milwaukee. He is also a prolific performer, too. On top of that, he releases recordings - as a leader, as a sideman and with his group Choirfight - at a pace that recalls the golden age of jazz record labels. His latest disc is called "Spirits" and was recorded, like many of his works, at the Jazz Estate on Murray Avenue, back in November.