HISTORIC MILWAUKEE MEET-UP! 5:00PM
Join Historic Milwaukee’s Executive Director, Anna-Marie Opgenorth, in the Lubar Auditorium for a talk for a talk on visual literacy, historical narrative, and the role each plays in understanding urban design and identity. Get a chance to voice your opinions on how Historic Milwaukee can best serve the community.

FUEL and HISTORIC MILWAUKEE SCAVENGER HUNT

Be the first to complete the hunt and win incredible prizes! Prizes include Memberships to Historic Milwaukee, Inc., FUEL Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Art Museum, Macus movie tickets, four tickets to the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center’s Spring Concert Series, and a book on Irish Milwaukee.

FUEL, Historic Milwaukee Member, and UrbanMilwaukee.com Readers Exclusive for MAM After Dark

http://www.historicmilwaukee.org/ToursAndEvents/SpecialEvents

Megabus, the no-frills intercity bus company with an intriguing pricing scheme starting at $1, has revised their service schedule between Milwaukee and Chicago.  Unfortunately two trips have been eliminated in each direction.  One can only assume it’s because of the economy and that January through March has always been a down travel period for Megabus (something they compensate for by giving away 100,000 tickets).

Megabus buses loading and unloading in Chicago

It’s hard to fault Megabus for dropping the routes if they’re losing money.  The service survives without any direct public subsidy. To that end, Megabus has always been tuning service, whether it was dropping service to Pittsburgh and Louisville, adding service to Madison and Champaign, eliminating the entire West Coast operation, or installing wifi and power outlets on every bus. Sad as it is to see service cuts, the service appears to continue to thrive because of the constant eye placed on the bottom line.

Thankfully with the more-expensive, but quicker Amtrak Hiawatha in the mix there are still are numerous options to go from the Milwaukee Intermodal Station to Chicago Union Station.  The only true lacking in service options is a real late night train to be able to come back from events such as concerts, games, and festivals in either city.  Hopefully the KRM/Metra commuter rail service is one day able to bridge that gap.

Here’s to hoping that instead of getting reduced, service continues to improve between Milwaukee and Chicago. New Talgo passenger cars are on the way for Amtrak, and Megabus has wifi and power outlets on-board now. The technology is looking up, hopefully the service offerings follow.

Milwaukee to Chicago (runs that were eliminated highlighted in red)

• 6:30 AM (arrive 8:30)
• 8:30 AM (arrive 10:25)
• 1:00 PM (arrive 3:00)
• 2:30 PM (arrive 4:25)
• 7:00 PM (arrive 8:55)
• 9:45 PM (arrive 11:45)

Chicago to Milwaukee (runs that were eliminated highlighted in red)

• 7:00 AM (arrive 8:55)
• 9:30 AM (arrive 11:05)
• 11:30 AM (arrive 1:25)
• 3:00 PM (arrive 4:55)
• 5:30 PM (arrive 7:25)
• 9:30 PM (arrive 11:25)

Effective Megabus and Amtrak Schedule – Milwaukee to Chicago (as of December 1st, 2009)

• 6:15 AM (arrive 7:57) – Amtrak – Monday through Saturday
• 8:00 AM (arrive 9:29) – Amtrak
• 8:30 AM (arrive 10:25) – Megabus
• 11:00 AM (arrive 12:29) – Amtrak
• 1:00 PM (arrive 2:29) – Amtrak
• 1:00 PM (arrive 3:00) – Megabus
• 2:30 PM (arrive 4:25) – Megabus
• 3:00 PM (arrive 4:29) – Amtrak
• 5:45 PM (arrive 7:14) – Amtrak
• 7:35 PM (arrive (9:04) – Amtrak
• 9:45 PM (arrive 11:45) – Megabus

Effective Megabus and Amtrak Schedule – Chicago to Milwaukee (as of December 1st, 2009)

• 6:00 AM (arrive 7:29) – Amtrak – Monday through Saturday
• 7:00 AM (arrive 8:55) – Megabus
• 8:25 AM (arrive 9:54) – Amtrak
• 10:20 AM (arrive 11:49) – Amtrak
• 11:30 AM (arrive 1:25) – Megabus
• 1:05 PM (arrive 2:34) – Amtrak
• 3:00 PM (arrive 4:55) – Megabus
• 3:15 PM (arrive 4:44) – Amtrak
• 5:08 PM (arrive 6:45) – Amtrak
• 5:30 PM (arrive 7:25) – Megabus
• 8:05 PM (arrive 9:34) – Amtrak

This is what 250,000 Miller Lites look like.

In what serves as the unofficial start of winter in my book, MillerCoors (still weird to say) unveiled their annual holiday lights display last week.  This year’s display features 250,000 LED lights and as in years past, the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

The holiday lights at MillerCoors are one of the small things that make Milwaukee a little brighter in the winter, and a great place to be.

If you want to stop by and see the lights yourself, the “Holiday Lites” show runs three days, each Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5 – 8 p.m., starting December 3^rd and through Saturday, Dec. 19^th. Shows run every 20 minutes and are included as part of the free Milwaukee Brewery Tours.

Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them.

- Bill Vaughan

As both Milwaukee County and UWM are driving forward with their plans to pave their way to the future, the last days for the Milwaukee County Grounds are unfortunately fast approaching.  The land sale was approved this past year, but many details regarding UWM’s commitment to preserve the Monarch Butterfly migratory land was left unfinished.  On Tuesday the Milwaukee County Committee for Parks, Energy and Environment will take action on the Restoration Plan for the NE Quadrant of the Milwaukee County Grounds, despite not holding any public hearings on the topic.

The goal of this plan is to protect this migratory land, the Monarch Trail, which seems like a nice gesture, but it’s likely the only sign of the Monarch Trail that will be visible once this project is built out, will be a road bearing its name.  I’m not saying this is the only reason that UWM’s development of the Milwaukee County Grounds shouldn’t move forward.  The impacts to students, the weakening of the region’s core, the bigger environmental picture, factor in as much, if not more significantly.

But, I do wonder when the new hotel opens, the office boxes go up, the grass is paved over, and the Monarchs are long gone, if they will in fact name the main street the Monarch Trail?  To top it off maybe they could name one of the streets, Kubala Washatko Way, in honor of a green space plan that was put together, and is now being trampled on.

Urban Milwaukee’s Upcoming Events & Meetings Calendar should help you keep up to date on important events effecting our neighborhoods, the City of Milwaukee, and our region.

December 7, 2009

Milwaukee County: Committee on Economic and Community Development Meeting

December 7, 2009 9:00 am

The Milwaukee County Economic & Community Development oversees the administration of federal, state and local housing programs in the county, including the Urban Community Development Block Grant Program. Matters pertaining to economic development of Milwaukee County, including the best disposition of county properties, are decided by this Committee. It also makes decisions on the Research [...]

December 8, 2009

Milwaukee County: Committee on Parks, Energy and Environment

December 8, 2009 9:00 am

All matters concerning county parks and parkways are the responsibility of this Committee. Members set policy for the parks department, organized recreation, cultural activities, the University Extension program, the Environmental Services Division of the Department of Public Works and Zoo park services. Members have jurisdiction over matters concerning the conservation of all uses of energy [...]

Integrating Urban Planning Into Municipal Water Quality Monitoring Programs

December 8, 2009 12:00 pm to 1:20 pm

The Department of Urban Planning, in collaboration with the School of Public Health, is pleased to announce the next lecture for its Fall 2009 Smart Growth Seminar Series. Dr. Julie Kinzelman, Director of Racine’s Health Department Laboratory, will make a presentation, entitled “Integrating Urban Planning Into Municipal Water Quality Monitoring Programs.” She will discuss the [...]

December 9, 2009

Public Works Committee Meeting

December 9, 2009 9:00 am

The Public Works Committee is responsible for physical services provided by the city such as street and alley maintenance, waste collection, disposal and recycling, sewer, water and flood control projects, assessments, public buildings, land and waterways.Public Works Committee meetings start at 9:00 a.m. and are held in the Room 301-B, City Hall, unless otherwise noted.[...]

Green Drinks

December 9, 2009 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Green Drinks is a monthly event where you can meet people, network, do a business deal, learn something new or maybe even find a job! Check out green drinks to get an idea of the scope of this movement!Join like-minded people in an informal and unstructured setting to talk about the latest sustainability happenings in [...]

December 12, 2009

Santa Cycle Rampage

December 12, 2009 10:00 am

Dress up as Santa and come barreling through the streets of Milwaukee spreading holiday cheer and discovering hole-in-the-wall taverns.Cafe Hollander
2608 N Downer Ave

For more information contact:
Shea Schachameyer
414-431-1761 x2

Green Drinks is a monthly event where you can meet people, network, do a business deal, learn something new or maybe even find a job! Check out green drinks to get an idea of the scope of this movement!

Join like-minded people in an informal and unstructured setting to talk about the latest sustainability happenings in Milwaukee and globally. Meet people in various green professions. Have a drink (alcoholic or not), order food (or not), but enjoy lively conversations and good ideas.

Anyone interested in green and sustainability is welcome.  No RSVP is necessary and feel free to pass this notice on to others who might be interested.

Location:

Club Charlies (located between Milwaukee St. and Broadway St. – across from MIAD in the third ward).
320 E. Menomonee, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

The back area of the bar will be reserved for Milwaukee Green Drinks and there is lots of street parking out front.

The Public Works Committee is responsible for physical services provided by the city such as street and alley maintenance, waste collection, disposal and recycling, sewer, water and flood control projects, assessments, public buildings, land and waterways.

Public Works Committee meetings start at 9:00 a.m. and are held in the Room 301-B, City Hall, unless otherwise noted.

Agenda

Jackson Square Apartments

Jackson Square Apartments

Jackson Square Apartments

Jackson Square Apartments

Jackson Square Apartments

All matters concerning county parks and parkways are the responsibility of this Committee. Members set policy for the parks department, organized recreation, cultural activities, the University Extension program, the Environmental Services Division of the Department of Public Works and Zoo park services. Members have jurisdiction over matters concerning the conservation of all uses of energy and make recommendations relating to conservation of air, water, energy and all other resources.

Meets at 9:00 A.M. on the 2nd Tuesday before the County Board Meeting

Agenda