Sure, it's freezing outside, but with the accompanying flight delays there are likely some hungry would-be travelers who can enjoy the new Northpoint custard and burgers location on the main concourse at General Mitchell International Airport.
Although it's been under discussion for quite a while now -- at least since Nonna Bartolotta's opened in April 2009 in Concourse D -- Northpoint finally opened last Friday, just in time for the Midwest snow storms to stymie many flights.
The Bartolotta-run eatery is a sister to the original Northpoint located adjacent to Bradford Beach. But this one is open year-round.
A breakfast menu is served from 4 until 10 a.m., followed by an all-day menu until midnight. However, Wise assures me that you can get a burger at 4 a.m. if you desire.
The response has been good, so far, says Wise.
"Many airport employees have eaten there three days in a row" already, he says.
The food and beverage options at Mitchell these days are a major step up from what was on offer just a couple years ago. That has come about in large part thanks to the partnerships between SSP International and Bartolotta and Alterra.
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.
