Milwaukee hosts a few events that mix bars and biking and there's a new one on tap on Saturday, July 12 in Riverwest.
The first annual Pedal Pusher Prom takes place at Stonefly Brewery on Center Street starting at 9 p.m. It's organized by the Pedal Pusher Society, the self-proclaimed "premier women and trans bike gang" in the city.
The Pedal Pusher Society was formed by four friends in 2005.
"We founded the group in 2005 to encourage more ladies and trans folks to get out and ride their bikes," says co-founder Susie Seidelman.
"Since then, we've kind of evolved into a riding club that also throws events and makes music videos. We debuted our first video, set to the tune of ‘Eye of The Tiger,' last summer. It has been accepted into the international bike film fest, with screenings taking place -- or scheduled to take place -- all around the world. It's also had over 8,500 hits on youtube. We're gearing up to shoot our next video in late July."
At the prom, there will be a photo booth, music by DJs Ooh La La and JDL, awards for the best-dressed bike, for prom king and queen and more.
"It's going to be a lot of fun," promises Seidelman, "and we think it's a really creative way to encourage the community to celebrate cycling while having an awesome time."
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.
