The Buzz never stops in a city that never (well, sometimes) sleeps. Here is our monthly bunch of buzz. New stuff, rumor, tidbits and some exclusive items you'll only find in this magazine.
YOU'RE THE BIGGEST PART OF ME
Did you know that Joe Puerta, one of the founding members of the '70s supergroup Ambrosia lives in Milwaukee? Well, he does and he's actively working with members of the local music community. He's also toured with the likes of Bruce Hornsby & The Range. The band is booked for a reunion concert July 16 at River Rhythms in Pere Marquette Park downtown.
BORIS & DORIS
"Boris on Doris on the town" is the new gossip column in the Shepherd Express, replacing Michael Horne's column. The husband-wife team of Pam Percy (Hotel Milwaukee) and Martin Hintz (Irish American Post) are the authors. The Buzz (compiled with OMC writers Bobby Tanzilo, Andy Tarnoff and Molly Snyder) finds some humor in the fact that the first two "Boris and Doris" columns have promoted Percy's new book and Hotel Milwaukee, both worthwhile causes. While OMC is a promotional and marketing partner with Hotel Milwaukee and has also reviewed Percy's book "The Complete Chicken," we find Boris and Doris' anonymous promotion of their own projects a little curious.
FIVE YEARS
The Velvet Room, 730 N. Old World Third St., celebrated five years of big city cool this month.
CHARGE
The "Victorious Charge" sculpture on west Wisconsin Ave. was removed on Fri., Dec. 6 and transported to Chicago to undergo a 6-month restoration. The conservator will work from his Chicago studio. He has restored other renowned public art pieces including the Buckingham Fountain in Chicago's Grant Park.
HEAT AT THE WAC
Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley worked out at the downtown Wisconsin Athletic Club (WAC) on November 18 -- the night before his team crushed the Bucks.
NEW WOK TO WALK TO
China Wok has signed a lease to open in the vacant spot in the "Blockbuster Strip Center" on Farwell Avenue. For the record, we still miss Pasta Basta. As The Buzz first reported, Soup Brothers has also opened a location in the small space at Prospect and North that was home to Ciao pizza. They are also considering opening in one of the vacant spaces next to The Safehouse downtown.
BURRITOS, TOO!
Q-Doba has leased the old Smithkin the Printer building in the Prospect Mall parking lot. Look for an opening early next year.
DOLCE VITA DONE, FOR NOW
The former Beccofino, now called Dolce Vita, in The Shorecrest Hotel is closed until further notice.
NO SKATING FOR YOU
Unfortunately, there will be no ice skating this season downtown at Red Arrow Park, 920 N. Water St. Blame it on a busted cooling system (again?! -ed.). The warming house will host Oak Leaf Café & Marketplace until the end of the year, and Starbucks moves into the space in spring 2003. The rink is scheduled to be repaired in time for next season.
SHOULD WE CALL WEIGHT WATCHERS FOR YOU?
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts opens its newest location at 19165 W. Bluemound Rd. on December 10. The first walk-up and the first drive-through customers will win a year's supply of the goodies.
CITY TO CELEBRATE
A date and time has been nailed down for the annual City Birthday Party. It'll take place on Thurs., Jan. 30, in the banquet hall at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. The Milwaukee Press Club coordinates this yearly gig.
SUE WHO?
SUE, the world's largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex -- and one of only a handful of T. Rex skeletons ever discovered -- will be displayed in the Milwaukee Public Museum's second floor Steigleder Special Exhibits Gallery, Feb. 15-June 1.
PARK THIS!
You can now, finally, pay all those parking tickets online at www.mpw.net/Pages/parkingops.html. The site also tries to sort out all the crazy night parking regulations. It's rather comprehensive and a one-stop source for parking information in Brew City.
SMOKE OUT
A new bar, called The Zodiac, will open in mid-winter on 2nd and Mitchell Streets, in the old Raquel's. It will be completely non-smoking. Stay tuned for an exclusive OMC interview with the owners.
CLOSED CORNER?
The Corner, 1247 N. Water St., has paper in its windows and seems to be closed until further notice. We'll see what owner, Joe Sorge, has to say and get back to you.
NEW ISLAND
Work has begun on the "Compass" sculpture created by Gail Simpson of Stoughton at the traffic island at East North and North Cambridge Avenues. It's right outside the OMC office, so we'll watch it grow and keep you updated. It's sure to be another welcome addition to Milwaukee's public art mix.
MORE GUMBO
Those guys at Bunny Gumbo are at it again with their seventh installment of Combat Theatre for a New Millennium. Eight plays, all written, directed and acted within 24 hours; and that's just the first day! The writers then get right back at it and write eight new plays for the next morning. The latest installment of Combat will take place January 10-11, at UWM's Peck School of the Arts in the Studio Theater, 2400 E. Kenwood Blvd. Show time is 8 p.m. and tickets are $15, available at the door only.
{INSERT_RELATED}AU BON NO NO
Au Bon Appetit appears to have ditched plans for a Bay View location on Kinnickinnic Avenue. A "for lease" sign has replaced the "opening soon" placard.
A FAST, GAY DATE
Since Fastdater started, they have had hundreds of requests for a Gay Fastdater. After months of planning the best way and place to have a Gay Fasdater, they tell us that the first Gay Faster-Milwaukee is scheduled for Tues., Jan. 21 at La Cage on 2nd and National.
FOOD NETWORK FINDS FRAUCHIGER'S, SUZY'S AND WATERFRONT DELI
More national exposure for Milwaukee! The Food Network's new show "Top Five" with former Milwaukee guy and host Bobby Rivers recently featured "Cheesy Indulgences" (it's episode TP1A10 for those of you keeping score at home). The show featured interviews with Suzy's Cheesecakes, Frauchiger's Tavern and Cheese Store and Milwaukee Waterfront Deli.
RENT COMING BACK
The Broadway musical "Rent" is coming back to town in April. Watch for it at The Riverside Theater.
SWEENY'S
Sweeny's is the name of the former New Millennium on Water Street just north of Clybourn at 518 N. Water St.
BELLY-ICIOUS?
Rumor has Pottbelly Sandwich Works scouting a downtown location. Keep your fingers crossed, because their sandwiches are amazing. The Chicago-area joint started in 1977 with a young couple and an antique shop. When the antiques didn't move as quickly as hoped, the young couple began selling sandwiches on the side. Today they make made-to-order, toasty sandwiches; extra-thick, hand-dipped shakes and malts; yogurt smoothies; and homemade desserts, all served in a very comfortable and cool setting. Trust us, you'll love this place. Try their location at Midway Airport if you are ever in the area.
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
Nonprofitmilwaukee.org is a new easy-to-use site from the Helen Bader Institute for Non-profit Management at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. If you're looking to give or just need more information about area non-profit organizations, check it out.
MARCUS CENTER BUZZ
The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts is said to be considering ripping down its parking garage and replacing it with a 22-story office tower that would include new offices, retail, housing and parking.
SING A NEW SONG
THe National Association of Pastoral Musicians have selected Milwaukee for their 78th Annual Convention June 26, 26-July 1, 2005. More than 4,500 musicians, muscian-liturgists, clergy and other leaders in prayer will particpate. Archbishop Dolan helped the GMCVB secure the convention.
GRAND AND
As The Shops of Grand Avenue continue to evolve Pottery Barn, J. Jill, Coldwater Creek, and others are on their hit list. Some have also mentioned Virgin Records. We'd like a Crate and Barrel, too, please.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
