Bars & Clubs - April 22, 2009
Council red lights Rouge Lounge
A long-time club on Water Street that's been vacant for years will remain so for the near future at least. The space at 530 N. Water St. Has not been without its troubles in the past, featuring shootings, parking problems and other external and internal strife. Downtown Ald. Bob Bauman is concerned that would happen there again and opposed a plan by Heide Beste to reopen the joint as a club / lounge called Rouge Lounge.
Tags: Rouge Lounge, Ald. Bob Bauman, Heide Beste, Leslie Montemurro, Scott Johnson, Annona, Liquid Johnny's, Asian Moon, Ald. Bob Donovan

Dining - April 22, 2009
Oh, Honeypie
After months of working hard to rehab the former Annona Bistro space at 2643 S. Kinnickinic Ave., restaurateur Scott Johnson (Fuel Café, Comet Café, Balzac, Palomino, Hi Hat Garage) says he and his business partners -- Leslie Montemurro, and Adam and Val Lucks of Comet -- are almost ready to unveil the goods.
Tags: honeypie, comet cafe, scott johnson, comfort food, pie

Bars & Clubs - Jan. 19, 2009
Are bars recession-proof?
With Atomic shutting down and now the news that after 82 years, Schwartz Bookshops will close in the Milwaukee area, I wondered if the old adage that says bars (and perhaps bar / restaurants) are recession-proof is true. So, I asked someone who oughta know.
Tags: Scott Johnson, Atomic, Schwartz, Palomino, Balzac, Hi-Hat, Comet, Fuel, Palomino, Annona, Hi-Hat Garage

Dining - Dec. 23, 2008
Johnson, Montemurro plan cafe in Annona space
If you were bummed out when Annona Bistro closed in October, take solace in knowing that a new restaurant will soon take its place. Though the new restaurant doesn't have a name yet, chances are it'll be good -- because it's set to become the latest venture from Scott Johnson and Leslie Montemurro.
Tags: scott johnson, Leslie Montemurro, annona bistro, Fuel Café, Come Café, Balzac, Palomino, Hi-Hat, Garage, comfort food

Bars & Clubs - Sept. 27, 2008
Totally organic bars: realistic or ridiculous?
As organic food seeps further into the mainstream, the focus is starting to shift to our other purchases. While some products' popularity -- the environmentally-friendly shampoos, the kitty treats, the laundry detergent -- remains marginal, other industries, like beer, wine and spirits, are finding an all-natural niche at bars that place an organic label above all others.
Tags: organic bars, organic, butterfly social club, funky buddha lounge, elixir, scott johnson, greg landig, the bomb shelter