With our people on the streets and our collective noses to the Milwaukee ground, OMC brings you a monthly look at the stuff, tid-bits, rumors and buzz that shape our wonderful city.
TA TA TUESDAY BUZZ
OnMilwaukee.com broke the "Ta Ta Tuesdays" story that everyone else picked up on. On Tues., Aug. 12, Erica Grabczyk taped a segment for The Sharon Osbourne Show. She was on the show with Kathy Griffin ("Suddenly Susan"), Little Richard and Taryn Manning ("Crazy/Beautiful," "8 Mile," and "White Oleander") and Manning's brother's band Boom Cat. Grabczyk tells us it was some "very funny shit." We'll keep you updated on the progress and let you know when the show will air. Read the original article here,
http://www.onmilwaukee.com/market/articles/tatatuesday.html
TULA'S BUZZ
Tula's, 117 E. Wells St., not only has a new enclosed River Walk deck, new lighted sign but a new general manager. Warren Daigle, of Boulevard Inn fame, has taken over as the GM. The restaurant's west side also got a nice new paint job recently and the food has been getting rave reviews.
REP BUZZ
Across from Tula's, The Milwaukee Rep got a new sign on Fri., Aug. 15, too. Looks great.
NEW YORK TIMES LOVES PABST CITY
The New York Times ran a huge, glowing article on Milwaukee's Pabst City development on Wed., Aug. 13. Read it here, http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/13/business/13PABS.html
MORE NEW CONDOS COMING
Terry Aveni is moving ahead with a project to reconfigure his Van Buren Street Italian specialties food shop, which includes building four condo units above the store. The shop will get a new facade and makeover, including an Italian-style espresso bar serving smooth Illy coffee.
DOWNTOWN HOUSING EXPO SET
Speaking of new condos, the Second Annual Downtown Housing Expo is set for Sat., Sept. 20 at Pere Marquette Park. It will showcase a number of downtown condominium and apartment complexes. Various properties will open their doors for potential buyers to walk through and ask questions to developers, realtors as well as downtown residents. Call (414) 220-4700.
226 E. MASON
There's a new bar, restaurant and condos coming to a downtown strip that needs new life on Mason Street between Milwaukee and Wisconsin. Build out has begun at 226 E. Mason St.
REALITY TV WINNER FROM MILWAUKEE
Milwaukee native Greg Matzek and his "Team Exodus" on ESPN's "Beg, Borrow & Deal 2" are the big winners. It was a great series and two recent episodes featured segments shot in Milwaukee on the Marquette campus, at the Bucks training facility and in and around Water Street. Watch these pages for another exclusive interview with Matzek coming soon.
WINE BAR TO WATER
A new wine bar is rumored to be opening just south of the new Jimmy John's on Water Street.
THE WICKED HOP
The Wicked Hop, a new restaurant, is coming to the corner of Broadway and St. Paul in the Historic Third Ward in early 2004. More details as we get them.
KELLY MCGILLIS COMING TO TOWN
"Top Gun" fans, your girl is coming to Milwaukee. Read about it here,
http://www.onmilwaukee.com/ent/articles/graduate.html
IF YOU SHOW IT, THEY WILL COME
The Milwaukee Brewers will turn Miller Park into a huge movie theater on Sun., Aug. 24 to show the baseball classic, "Field of Dreams," courtesy of Universal Studios Home Video, immediately after the conclusion of the team's game with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In a first at Miller Park, the popular Universal Pictures film from 1989 starring Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones and Amy Madigan, will be shown on the color replay board in centerfield.
BALLET GETS NEW MASTER
The Milwaukee Ballet has hired internationally acclaimed dance artist and Moscow native Denis Malinkine to serve as its ballet master.
HYATT TO PLAY HOST
This fall, scholars and community leaders from coast to coast will travel to Milwaukee to celebrate and reflect on a century of African history in America. From September 23 to 28, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) will hold its 88th annual convention here in Milwaukee, and hundreds are expected to attend this milestone event. ASALH annual conventions draw the largest gathering of scholars and laypersons interested in African American history.
COME SAIL AWAY
The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, 1450 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr., is embarking upon a huge redevelopment plan that will not only expand the facility but make it the premier sailing center in the United States.
GUITAR BAR
The Guitar Bar is coming to Water Street (1139 N. Water St.). The current tenant, Water Street Station (a hair salon), will move upstairs.
POPS
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra has announced the addition of three, one-night special Pops concerts to be performed at Milwaukee's newest venue, the Milwaukee Theatre. The first concert is Fri., Nov. 7 and will feature song stylist Michael Feinstein. On Sun., April 4 the always-entertaining writer, humorist and narrator Garrison Keillor comes to town as a part of the Symphony's Pops series.
BEAN HEAD NOW DELIVERS
Bean Head Café has rolled out a new coffee and continental breakfast program. They will deliver to your business and/or business events.
DONALD DRIVES FOR GOODWILL
Goodwill Industries has new TV spots featuring Green Bay Packers player Donald Driver.
DOWTOWN KOHL'S TO CLOSE AT END OF MONTH
The downtown Kohl's Food Store is set to close on Sat., Aug. 30. The shelves are bare and neighbors are wondering what's next for the space.
STUB'S PUB
The OnMilwaukee.com Buzz first told you about this in February, now it's official. The former Lukas' on State/The Daily Planet/The Tamarack is now open as Stub's Pub at 322 W. State St. Owners include Milwaukee business people Jim Lombardo of Bell Ambulance, Gary Grunau, Bryce Edwards and others. Usinger's will serve sausage and brats at Stub's.
CITY HALL MOVES PICNIC
The Common Council Picnic, usually hosted near the Summerfest grounds, will be Thurs., Sept. 4 at the Helfaer Field outside of Miller Park.
GOV AND WIFE
Governor Jim Doyle and First Lady Jessica Doyle will lead the 14th annual AIDS Walk Wisconsin on Sun., Sept. 28 as honorary co-chairs.
MKE TO BELGIUM
Dean Robert Bucker of the Peck School of the Arts at UWM announced that Peter Doroshenko, director of the Institute of Visual Arts, will be leaving his position to become the director of the Stedelijk Museum voot Actuele Kunst in Ghent, Belgium. Doroshenko will take up his new post in December.
TRAVELERS TO TRAVEL TO MILWAUKEE
The Society of American Travel Writers will host their 2005 Chapter meeting in Milwaukee. The conference is in Philadelphia this year, New Orleans in 2004 and here in Milwaukee from June 1 to 5, 2005.
SPIAGGIA COMING TO TOWN
The Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum is taking a trip to Tuscany for this year's gala, "La Sera Toscana: A Tuscan Evening." This harvest celebration with fine foods and wines begins at 6 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 13 in the Villa Terrace Renaissance Garden. Chef Tony Mantuano, a 2002 and 2003 nominee of the coveted James Beard Award and executive chef of Spiaggia in Chicago and Mangia in Kenosha, will prepare five delicious courses with accompanying carefully selected wines. As part of a spectacular evening, guests will enjoy their lavish meal amidst the dazzling ambience of the Villa Terrace Renaissance Garden. Call (414) 270-3000, ext. 230.
COUNTY CLARE EXPANDING IN GREEN BAY
The County Clare is building a second location in Green Bay. Guinness for everyone in the Frozen Tundra!
TWISTED FORK OPENS, HELPS KIDS
Help the staff of the new Twisted Fork on the East Side get practice as they help Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee. Dates for the special lunches and diners are August 18-20. Click here, http://www.twisted-fork.com/.
THE BUZZ WONDERS
Why don't Harley-Davidson and Allen Edmunds have retail locations in downtown Milwaukee? Just wondering?
JIDO TOO
The owners of Jido Café, 224 W. Wells St., are looking around for a site for a possible second location.
