OnMilwaukee.com is everywhere. This month we have some hot scoops, cool tidbits and even a few exclusives that you will find nowhere else. Here it is, the Milwaukee Buzz, September 2001 style.
BYE BYE BANANA
Here's an OMC exclusive. Banana Joe's, 1044 N. Old World Third St., is out, and Have a Nice Day Cafe is in. In an OMC exclusive story, we have learned that the owners of Have a Nice Day Café have purchased the remains of Banana Joe's and plan to open a new joint called Bar Milwaukee in the space. We are working on a bigger feature story. So watch OMC for more details.
BIG NAME ON THE RIVER
A big-name, local upscale restaurateur was spotted trolling around the ASQ Center (old Marshall Field's Building) earlier this month. There's a 12,000-sq.-ft. portion of the building just ready and waiting for a nice Riverfront restaurant. Details to come.
THE MAYOR IS EVERYWHERE
The Mayor and his family were tourists in their own town on Fri.-Sat., Sept. 7-8. The Norquist-Mudds dined with friends Friday at Il Mito and strolled along the Lakefront Saturday en route to the Kite Festival.
POWERADE FILMS IN MILWAUKEE
Reactor Films from California was in town Sat.-Sun., Sept. 8-9 shooting a new television commercial for Powerade, Coca-Cola's sports beverage. The spot, which used locals as stand-ins, will feature a traffic jam along Kilbourn and a woman jogger who uses here "Powerade powers" to leap over the Kilbourn St. bridge as it begins to open. Low-flying helicopters were used to film the action. Milwaukee ousted Chicago to win the rights to host to the film crew and get a ton of great public relations out of the national spot. Watch OMC for more details, including information on when the spot will hit the airwaves.
HARPO'S NOW CLUB BRADY
Harpo's is gone. It is now called Club Brady. A dance club on Brady Street? Just doesn't seem right.
A&E NETWORK VISITS ONMILWAUKEE.COM
The award winning producers of A&E's "City Confidential" stopped by the OnMilwaukee.com office on Fri., Sept. 7 to chat with us about an episode they are doing on Milwaukee. If you have never seen it, the show uses off-beat stories, lush, atmospheric cinematography, insightful interviews and re-creations, to explore a city's bizarre, interesting, funny and tragic elements. They'll be talking about Milwaukee and our 1980's obsession with Bambi. Stay tuned for more details.
NEW NIGHTLIFE ON THE AVENUE
The old McDonald's restaurant on West Wisconsin Avenue is being re-born as an upscale night club. The owners don't have a liquor license yet, but work on the building has begun. Let's hope the rehab is done in a classy manner that helps complement the exciting revitalization work currently happening at The Shops at Grand Avenue. More tinted glass on Wisconsin Avenue is not encouraged. After all, what is there to hide?
THIRD WARD MARKET
Kelly Quigley at The Business Journal reported on Fri., Sept. 7 that plans to build a public market in the Historic Third World are advancing. Seems like a team comprised of C.G. Schmidt Construction and Kubala Washatko Architects will get the nod to create the market. This is great news!
THIRD YPM
Milwaukee's YPM (Young Professionals Milwaukee) has woken up the entire city. Finally, the "older generation" is realizing that hark, young people live and work in Milwaukee too. Here's the scoop on YPM's third event. The Nov. 8 YPM event will feature the amazing IMAX film, "The Shackleton Antarctic Adventure." The group will then use the film to begin a conversation at our Knowledge Network Cafe. Afterwards you can take in the Museum's Old Streets of Milwaukee and Butterfly exhibits while networking, munching on finger food and enjoying a refreshment at the bar. Call (414) 287-4158.
SPEAKING OF THE IMAX
For the first time in the history of the downtown's only movie theater, the Humprey IMAX Dome Theater at the Milwaukee Public Museum is raising its prices. Prices are now $6.75 for adults, $5.75 for seniors and $5.25 children. Still a bargain considering General Cinema at Mayfair is up to more than $7 for some shows. The folks at the museum are heading to the national IMAX conference later this month, too. So watch for several great new films later this year and next. "The Grand Canyon" opens on Fri., Sept. 28.
BLISS TO MOVE
Bliss Studio and Gallery is moving to 2676 N. Holton St. Call them at (414) 562-9288.
PARK THIS!
Many of the parking meters in downtown are free on the weekends (which is a good thing), except Saturdays in areas of the Historic Third Ward. So guess where officers and meter maids go?! That's right! Straight to the Third Ward to ticket folks shopping at Rubin's, dining at The Ale House and taking in all the other amenities of the area. An officer admitted to us recently that they are supposed to "focus on dense areas and ticket." Sorry to be negative here, but this is no way to create a vibrant and user-friendly downtown. Parking tickets can be effective tools, but they seem to be pure revenue items. For you and me, they are pure headaches. Maybe it's time to reform the parking meter system!
JOURNEY TO JAVALAND
Javaland, 2479 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., is now open in the Avalon Theatre building in Bay View. The small, but warm and inviting cafe serves a full range of beverages -- including Chicago's Intelligentsia Coffee -- muffins, salads, crepes, sandwiches made with imported European deli meats and special items like Bulgarian Baritsa, a filo dough and feta cheese treat that comes in spinach, meat or sweet pumpkin.
NOW OPEN EARLY
Bay View's Hi Fi has responded to new neighborhood competition by opening earlier. They now unlock the doors at 7 a.m.
NEW STEAK
A sign outside the former Belle Fiori flower shop on Astor St. (next to Christopher's on Astor, 1228 N. Astor St. ) says "New Steakhouse coming soon." We can only assume, there's a new steakhouse coming soon. Sharp, aren't we?
ROSE COLORED CAFE
Rose Garden Cafe has opened on Howell Avenue in Bay View, in a space that has hosted a string of restaurants.
BUTLER BUZZ
LeRoy Butler, that is. Sure this is a Milwaukee column, but it's Packers season and we felt the need to pass this along. Did you know that heading into this NFL season, LeRoy Butler needs a half sack and two interceptions to become the FIRST player in league history with 20 sacks and 40 interceptions?
