For the fifth straight year, October is Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com, presented by Concordia University. All month, we're stuffed with restaurant reviews, delectable features, chef profiles and unique articles on everything food, as well as the winners of our "Best of Dining 2011."
It makes sense. Being located across the street from the Broadway Theatre Center and only a few blocks from Next Act Theatre's new performance venue, Verduras Tea House & Cafe has extended its hours to accommodate show audiences.
The restaurant, which has been serving breakfast and lunch, is staying open until 7:30 on Thursdays and 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The all-vegetarian menu contains sandwiches, soups and salads, including some that are vegan. More than 40 teas are also available.
Verduras has started booking bachelorette parties, and owner Jennifer Nowicki is seeking acoustic musicians to play for tips on Sunday afternoons. Interested musicians should email Nowicki.
The work of artist Julia Bennker will be on display at the cafe on Gallery Night, Oct. 21. Verduras will have special Gallery Night hours, staying open until 10 p.m., and guitarist Anthony Hanratty will play from 6:30 to 8:30.
Damien has been around so long, he was at Summerfest the night George Carlin was arrested for speaking the seven dirty words you can't say on TV. He was also at the Uptown Theatre the night Bruce Springsteen's first Milwaukee concert was interrupted for three hours by a bomb scare. Damien was reviewing the concert for the Milwaukee Journal. He wrote for the Journal and Journal Sentinel for 37 years, the last 29 as theater critic.
During those years, Damien served two terms on the board of the American Theatre Critics Association, a term on the board of the association's foundation, and he studied the Latinization of American culture in a University of Southern California fellowship program. Damien also hosted his own arts radio program, "Milwaukee Presents with Damien Jaques," on WHAD for eight years.
Travel, books and, not surprisingly, theater top the list of Damien's interests. A news junkie, he is particularly plugged into politics and international affairs, but he also closely follows the Brewers, Packers and Marquette baskeball. Damien lives downtown, within easy walking distance of most of the theaters he attends.
