While the country's best cagers are aiming basketballs toward the net, two 10-member teams representing the East Town and Westown Associations go toe-to-toe in a "Fish, Cheese and Brat Throwdown" Friday along the Riverwalk outside the new Kincaid's Restaurant on Old World 3rd Street at Highland Avenue.
"Downtown businesses on both sides of the river respect Milwaukee tradition and also enjoy trying exciting new things," said Stacie Callies, Westown Association executive director.
"Both of our business associations are looking forward to this competition ... It's a nice way to welcome Kincaid's Restaurant to Milwaukee and get our business members together to help raise money for our neighborhood improvement activities."
The event -- a promotion to announce the arrival of Seattle-based Kincaid's, a seafood restaurant and chop house -- kicks off at 12:15 p.m. at Kincaid's at 1110 N. Old World 3rd St. -- a location that formerly housed Third Street Pier - and the teams battle for $5,000 to be donated to their non-profit organizations.
"Our members are really gearing up for this and we expect a good crowd. It will likely get a little messy when the fish and other items start flying, but it's all part of the fun," said Kate Borders, East Town Association executive director. "Westown may have a little home court advantage in our Milwaukee version of ‘March Madness' since Kincaid's is located on its side of the river, but we'll come to play and are already tossing smelt and walleye in preparation."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
