Artworks for Milwaukee unveils the completed art work of our Apprentice Artists created in the two Fall 2010 programs: “Positive Influence Project” and “Safe Place Mural”.

Under the guidance of Lead Artist Kasia Drake-Hames, the “Positive Influence Project” give accolades to Milwaukee residents who make a difference in our communities.

The “Safe Place Mural” Program with Lead Artist Katie Van Velzer, creates powerful anti-gun/gang/drug messages by youth, for youth through stunning arrays of color and mixed media.

Artworks for Milwaukee is a 501(c)3 nonprofit which prepares underserved teens to enter Milwaukee’s workforce by utilizing the arts as a method to teach employability skills.

Support our youth, meet the artists and view their work on January 21, 2011 from 5-8pm at Artworks for Milwaukee (706 S. 5th Street).

For more information visit www.artworksformilwaukee.org or contact Meghan Koven at (414)708-9996.

Art will be available for auction and sale. All proceeds will support future programs and operations.

The event is free and open to the public.

Location:

706 S. 5th Street
Milwaukee, W

Mark your calendars for the Bike Fed’s 3rd Annual Milwaukee Bike Swap on December 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the UW-Milwaukee Union in the 2nd Floor Ballroom. Come to buy and sell parts, accessories, complete bicycles, clothing and bike-themed crafts. The event attracts people from as far north as Green Bay, as far west as Madison and as far south as Chicago. (With the lake right there, about as far east as they’ll be coming from is Lincoln Memorial Drive.)

Want to sell your stuff? Through November 29, retailers can reserve two display tables for $150 ($50 each for additional tables), and individuals and non-profits pay $40 per table. After that, the fees go up to $175 for two retailer tables and $50 for one individual/non-profit table. There are only 70 tables, so reserve yours now.

The swap is a fundraiser for the Milwaukee Junior Cycling Team and the UW-Milwaukee Cycling Club. The Junior Cycling Team gets Milwaukee middle and high school kids involved in bicycle racing first for fun and then for health, recreation and enjoyment to last a lifetime.

Location:

UW-Milwaukee Union
2200 E Kenwood Blvd
Milwaukee, WI, 53211

The Public Safety Committee is concerned with issues brought forth from the fire, police, health and neighborhood services departments as well as traffic control, emergency medical services and parking. It also licenses alarm businesses and public passenger vehicles and drivers.

Agenda

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

S. 2nd Street Bike Lane

S. 2nd Street New Intersection

S. 2nd Street Grass Border

S. 2nd Street Wide Sidewalk

Freshly Painted S. 2nd Street Bike Lane Markings

100-unit Apartment Building

The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) announced today that Mandel Group Inc. will receive $24.1 million in financing to support the development of the second phase of The North End in Milwaukee’s Park East Corridor.   This phase will include two five-story apartment buildings with a total of 155 units, 31 of which will be dedicated workforce housing.

The building along the Milwaukee River will have 100 units, while the Pleasant St. building will include 55 units and approximately 2,300 square feet of retail fronting the corner plaza. Individual apartments will include features similar to those found in the first phase of The North End, such as patios, in unit washer and dryer, green space, a media room, and underground parking.  Additionally, the project will finish off the first block of The North End development, by completing Milwaukee St., building a new street along the riverfront, and the construction of a new Riverwalk section.

Mandel Group is continuing to work with the City of Milwaukee to obtain an $8 million loan to complete the financing of the $38 million project. If able to obtain the appropriate approvals the plan is for a March 2011 ground breaking, and construction would take from 14 to 16 months.

Inspired by the success of Green Drinks Milwaukee. The idea is to get folks together to talk about sustainability, to network and build momentum for the sea change in sustainable consciousness that is on its way!

Buy your own lunch and/or beverages, and get in there and meet people! No RSVP necessary and feel free to pass this around.

Every fourth Tuesday at NOON held at the Milwaukee Public Market, 400 N. Water Street. Meet in the 2nd floor common area. For more information, contact Mike Mangan at ebikemike@yahoo.com

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.

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

The Great Good Place

The Great Good Place, by Ray Oldenburg, discusses a part of community life that is fading in the U.S., the Third Place.  Your First Place is your home, a Second Place is your place of work, and a Third Place is where you will be found when you’re not at the other two places.  For many it might be a corner bar, the coffee shop, a community center, historically it could of been a soda fountain, or a corner store.  As Oldenburg says these are people’s “homes away from home”.  But most importantly it was a place where people got together for conversation, to make social connections, and interact across social lines.

Oldenburg argues that these places are important to a civil society and vital to community because of there ability to act as informal gathering places where conversation is the focus and gatherings aren’t scheduled.  This informality is vital as it facilitates the ability of these places to act as levelers, where status, class, and race are leveled and people are simply people.  He further contends that the decline of the Third Place has played a role in the loss of community and civility, and an increase in isolation and divisiveness in American society.

By itself this book is well worth the read, but additionally, as this is UrbanMilwaukee.com, we contend that urbanism is more than streets, public art, placemaking, walkability, and transit. It includes community.  So give this book a chance, and more importantly find a Third Place, become a regular, and get to know your community.