Stupor Bowl
As I begin to write this, my inaugural blog as Vital Source’s Heartless Bastard, it is less than 24 hours after the latest Super Bowl, in which a bunch of physically overdeveloped, mentally underdeveloped men representing Pittsburgh narrowly defeated a bunch of physically overdeveloped, mentally underdeveloped men representing Arizona. That’s about as much as I can tell you about the game itself, the 43rd (or, in NFL parlance, the XLIIIrd) in an annual series of Sunday time-wasters. Clearly, the idea of this tedious, grunting spectacle as an Important Event came into the head of an advertising executive who wondered, “Is there some way we can sell more tasteless beer to people who are already drinking it?” Our media—as ever, focusing on important issues—have given the television commercials a lot of coverage, ensuring not only that Budweiser can get some free advertising on top of its expensive advertising, but also that viewers can enjoy these clever/funny/pointless ads without sitting through endless replays of large, dim men running into each other in flagrant suppression of homoerotic urges. At least there was the halftime show. After the infamous Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction of several years past—up until that fateful moment, no one was really sure Ms. Jackson had breasts, or so I would’ve thought from the “shocked, shocked” response—the Super Bowl organizers have taken great care not to inflame the FCC. Tom Petty, the Rolling Stones, Prince: sure, they all have nipples, but not attractive ones. This year, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band put on a pretty fine, if standard, show. Springsteen himself was in predictably good form—perhaps even better than usual, as he knew he had to run around for less than 15 minutes—and the only potential for trouble came when the Boss slid on his knees until his pelvis bumped into a camera. Fortunately, his pants withstood the impact with nary a popped button: surely a tribute to the strength of American-made trousers. Springsteen could be said to be one of the few people at the Super Bowl who attempted to earn his fee (by various estimates, two to nine million dollars), although his upbeat attitude didn’t quite match the rather less upbeat mood of the United States. A football game might not be the place to break out downtrodden anthems like “Atlantic City” or his recent title track for the movie The Wrestler, but the 90 million people watching from their decreasingly valuable homes might have appreciated a note of the blue-collar sincerity Springsteen is supposed to represent. But this was The Boss, and these days that’s not a nickname likely to arouse positive passion in the hearts of the downsized, the laid off, or the evicted. I was reminded of shows I’ve attended at which I found myself disconnected from the crowd, asking basic questions of relevance: Why guitars? Why drums? Why microphones? Why music? I felt something similar watching Springsteen at the Super Bowl, although of course disconnection was easier and less eerie: it was a […]
Feb 28th, 2009 by Jon Gilbertson
Friday Photos Friday, 27. February 2009
Marquette University: Zilber Hall Marquette University: Zilber Hall Marquette University: Zilber Hall Marquette University: Eckstein Hall Marquette University: Eckstein Hall
Feb 27th, 2009 by Dave Reid
Historic Milwaukee, Inc
SPONSORED POST: Tomorrow is the second of HMI’s events, Public Involvement in the Planning Process PANELISTS: Jim Draeger – Architectural Historian for the Wisconsin Historical Society Michael D’Amato – Former Alderman of Milwaukee’s 3rd District Daina Penkiunas – National Register Coordinator for the Wisconsin Historical Society The relationship between Developers and Preservationists has never been an easy one. City development is on the rise, how can the process of community input more effectively aid and improve planning and development in Milwaukee? The following sponsored post comes from Historic Milwaukee, Inc. Registration for the event is available on Urban Milwaukee. For more information on advertising with Urban Milwaukee please visit our advertising page. Historic Milwaukee Inc. invites you to join us for A View of Our City in Four Acts: HMI’S 2009 Panel Discussion Series. This series brings together Milwaukee’s most tuned-in and interesting thinkers in an intimate setting. Listen and react to thoughtful discussions on Milwaukee’s built environment as influenced by history, law, design, art and politics. Creative genius behind the project is Attorney Bruce Block, who will be acting as Moderator for each discussion. Visit www.reinhartlaw.com to learn more about Bruce. We are also holding a Cocktail Hour prior to each discussion. Speak one-on-one with the evening’s panelists and fellow attendees interested in our built environment while enjoying cocktails and substantial hors d’ouevres. Reservations for the Cocktail Hour are an additional $20.00 per person and limited to 20 people per evening. We are lining-up a stellar group of speakers. You will not want to miss this. 1. Milwaukee’s Comprehensive Plan, January 29, 2009 2. Public Involvement in the Planning Process, February 26, 2009 3. Joseph Zilber’s Neighborhood Initiative and Chicago’s New Communities Program, March 26, 2009 4. African American Settlement in Milwaukee Thursday, April 23, 2009 Location: Penthouse, 1000 N. Water St. Time: 7:00PM-9:00PM Parking: Attendees may use the public parking lot at 1000 N. Water St. The entrance ramp is located on the East side of the building, on Market Street. Volunteers will be stationed at the building’s street entrance and parking garage entrance to guide guests to the penthouse. Ticket Price:* Members of Historic Milwaukee $15.00 per discussion / $45.00 for series Non-Members $20.00 per discussion / $65.00 for series University and College Students $7.00 per discussion Cocktail Hour: 6:00PM-7:00PM, $20.00 each or $50.00 for series. Reservations limited to 20 people per night I hope you will be able to join us in exploring Milwaukee’s past, present and future. *All Historic Milwaukee 2009 Guide Training Students can attend our Panel Discussions at no charge. To find out more about this in-depth course on Milwaukee’s history and architecture, please visit www.historicmilwaukee.org.
Feb 25th, 2009 by Jeramey Jannene
City Continues Environmental Cleanup Efforts
Even during this economic downturn the City of Milwaukee continues its efforts to cleanup environmentally contaminated sites within the city and prepare them for redevelopment. Superficially, this file would give blight designation to six city owned lots, in the Riverworks area, which will allow the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee to obtain EPA funds to conduct remediation efforts. Once completed it would be the goal to put these lots out for possible redevelopment. This file was approved and will now go before the full Common Council. File number 081419 proposed that the often delayed and long awaited missing link in the Beerline section of Riverwalk to be funded through the Department of Public Works and reimbursed by the property owner. The construction of this link, that abuts the Brewers Point Apartments, would be carried out by Titan Builders for $250,000 and should begin construction this spring with the intent of being completed within the year. This file was approved and will now go before the full Common Council.
Feb 24th, 2009 by Dave Reid
Committee Approves Plan to Improve Riverwalk
File number 081431 would allow the library to apply for a Public Library Innovation Grant which would be used to extend the summer reading program in to a year round program. Alderman Joe Davis pointed out that he brought the grant to the library staff’s attention and said “they have a great success rate, that if we leading them to water, they know how to drink”. This file was approved and will now go before the full Common Council. What evidently has been a long an ongoing process to comply with a 2003 Department of Justice ruling in response to an American with Disabilities Act complaint will be going through another iteration. The 14th Amendment to the Riverwalk Development Agreement for Business Improvement District 15 would increase the budget for accessibility to $4.8 million. The original judgment included ten lifts, whereas the current plan will include six ramps and four lifts which should last better in Milwaukee’s climate. Progress has been made toward complying with the ruling in that the first of the new ramps has been completed and the Mason St. ramp will be completed shortly. This file was approved and will now go before the full Common Council.
Feb 24th, 2009 by Dave Reid
Weekly Bookmarks – Monday, 23. February 2009
Great Lakes scourge infects West – JSOnline Solar power gets turned on – JSOnline Barrett says Midwest high-speed rail could be stimulus priority – BizTimes Milwaukee Talkie: A transportation finance concept with widespread appeal? Columbia nears deal to sell hospital – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: OnMilwaukee.com Marketplace: What retail and restaurants do you want at The Brewery? Brewer’s Point Apartments finally gets riverwalk – JSOnline Street repairs will be Milwaukee stimulus priority – BizTimes Why transit options help – JSOnline Kenosha News | County officials cast eye on transit City wants Riverwest development ideas – JSOnline Aldermen want future UWM dorms downtown – JSOnline State Fair Park to install solar panels – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: Web site unveils more details about stimulus bill’s impact on Wisconsin – BizTimes Invest in UWM – JSOnline Transit authorities gain momentum Doyle is open to tolls to help fund roads – JSOnline Milwaukee Alderman approve $920,750 in grants for Housing Trust Fund – BizTimes Walker proposes selling county’s Park East land to city – BizTimes State awaits energy money – JSOnline Doyle’s budget proposal supports transportation City needs ‘skin’ in the MPS game – BizTimes Marcus Hotels moves ahead with $30M in upgrade projects – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: Community leaders don’t favor mayoral control of schools – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: MassTransitMag.com » Article » Wisconsin Budget May Back Transit Marcus moves forward on $30 million hotel renovations – JSOnline Citiwire.net » Bike Boulevards: Social, Healthy, Economic Why transit options help – JSOnline OnMilwaukee.com Marketplace: Taqueria wish lives, but El Rey is leaving Public Market New Tosa restaurant to offer bridge dining – JSOnline Brewer’s Point Apartments finally gets riverwalk – JSOnline CTA takes accordion-style buses off the streets over safety issues — chicagotribune.com Transportation chief eyes taxing miles driven – White House- msnbc.com Doyle is open to tolls to help fund roads – JSOnline Rediscovering our Blue Ribbon past – BizTimes
Feb 23rd, 2009 by Dave Reid
Milwaukee Snow Videos
Just about everyone in Milwaukee is ready for spring, right? Well in the event that you're not, we have two pretty impressive videos to share with you that have a lot of snow (and Milwaukee) in them.
Feb 22nd, 2009 by Jeramey Jannene
Committee Approves Plan to Allow Plants
In some cities residents have been allowed to plant a variety of plants and flowers in the area between the curb and the sidewalk in an effort to beautify the neighborhood. This practice has generally been illegal within the City of Milwaukee but this may soon changes as file number 081117 intends to implement a planting policy that would allow planting within this strip of land. The file originally intended to allow this new policy within the 13th District but Alderman Robert Bauman recommended the 4th district to be included as well. After some discussion the file was amended to allow this planting practice throughout the City of Milwaukee. It was approved and will now go before the full Common Council. After being held at the January 28th, 2009 meeting of the Public Works Committee, the file which would allow the City of Milwaukee to apply for a 2009 Stormwater Best Management Practices Partnership grant from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District that will be used in part for the construction of a green roof on the central library was brought back before the committee. It appears the confusion over the value of moving forward with this file was cleared up as it was quickly approved this time with no discussion and will now go before the full Common Council.
Feb 22nd, 2009 by Dave Reid
Neighborhood Group Pushes Chapter 17
Although only a few development projects were on this commission meeting’s agenda the most insightful item was the presentation of the UWM Neighborhood Plan by the Universities Neighborhoods Association (UNA). Jeffrey Jordan presented the groups findings and laid out a few neighborhood issues. The group wants UWM to acknowledge that the “sudden growth of the university” has lead to problems such as overcrowding of the neighborhood. He also stated their desire to see the implementation of Chapter 17 which would penalizes students at UWM for off campus problems. Additionally, UNA wants future dorms to be planned with the neighbors and clearly doesn’t want to see dorms built at the Columbia Hospital site. Alderman Nik Kovac spoke about UWM”s master planning program and stated that UWM’s plan to expand in Wauwatosa was a “terrible idea”. This update showed the ongoing difficulty of relations on the East Side between UWM and the neighborhood and also highlighted the City of Milwaukee’s efforts to encourage UWM to expand in downtown Milwaukee.
Feb 20th, 2009 by Dave Reid
Friday Photos Friday, 20. February 2009
234 W. Florida St. Eckstein Hall The Brewery Aloft Aloft
Feb 20th, 2009 by Dave Reid
More “Great” Reasons for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to Expand in Wauwatosa
I recently gave up and said, "fine, let the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee expand in Wauwatosa."
Feb 19th, 2009 by Dave Reid
RTA Likely To Be Included in Governor’s Budget
When Governor Jim Doyle unveils his budget proposal later today, one thing that is likely to be included in it is the recommendations of the Southeastern Wisconsin RTA. While this certainly doesn't mean the RTA is a done deal, it's a large step forward towards fixing transit funding issues in the Milwaukee region.
Feb 17th, 2009 by Jeramey Jannene
