An Action-Packed Weekend

This weekend promises to be one of the most exciting in recent memory for downtown Milwaukee. Five major events will result in the streets packed with Milwaukeeans, out-of-towners, runners doning pink, and the President of the United States.

The second annual Doors Open Milwaukee, hosted by Historic Milwaukee, Inc., will throw open the doors to over 120 buildings in and around downtown Milwaukee. Want to see the city from the top of the US Bank Center? See the green room at the Pabst Theater? Stand inside the Polish Moon at the Allen Bradley Clocktower? Walk around the Milwaukee Bucks locker room and other back areas of the Bradley Center? See a sneak peak of the soon-to-open Brewhouse Inn & Suites at the former Pabst Brewery? It’s all free as part of the family-friendly event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. The website has all the information you can possibly hope for and more. On a shameless self-promotion note, Urban Milwaukee: The Store will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 4 p.m. both days, with staff on hand to answer Milwaukee questions and a Doors Open photography sale.

As the first day of Doors Open Milwaukee is drawing to a close, the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge Celebration will just be getting rolling. The free party, which celebrates the reopening of our grand avenue’s bridge over the Milwaukee River, runs from 12 p.m to 10 p.m. on Saturday. Aside from offering a unique venue for a street festival, the event will include a flotilla boat parade, yoga on the bridge (sponsored by Gold’s Gym), tug of war competition, water taxi, and a number of local bands including Ethan Keller, Undercover Organism, I’m Not a Pilot, Kane Place Record Club, and De La Buena. In addition, a Riverwalk Art Walk will also run for the duration of the event. If you want a free beer, bike, bus, kayak, or boat to the event. The event is hosted by NEWaukee and ART Milwaukee (Urban Milwaukee, among many others, is an event partner).

President Barack Obama comes to town on Saturday.  A rally will be held at Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest Grounds) at 2:30 p.m. A free ticket is required for entry. In addition the President will hold two fundraisers for his re-election campaign, a $250/person general reception and a $25,000/person roundtable. No official word has been released on whether the President or his Secret Service detail will drink a beer with party goers on the Wisconsin Ave bridge or tour the City Hall bell tower. Based on polling data, the bridge beer would be a good move for Obama, with independent voters drinking beer more frequently than Republicans and Democrats.

Before Air Force One touches down at General Mitchell, roads on the southwest side of downtown Milwaukee will be temporarily closed for another reason, the Milwaukee Brewers Mini Marathon starts at 7:00 a.m. The 13.1 mile route, which begins and ends at Miller Park, makes its way as far northeast as 6th St and Michigan St. Yours truly intends to run it in 1 hour and 45 minutes, which the Paul Ryan Time Calculator pegs at a 1 hour and 16 minutes. All is conditional on not getting stuck running behind Bernie Brewer or too much pre-race tailgating.

Last, but not least, the Komen Southwest Wisconsin Race for the Cure threatens to paint the town pink Sunday morning. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure fundraiser for breast cancer research features a Komen Mile (1.4 miles) walk and a 5k run/walk centered primarily on Lincoln Memorial Drive.

Parking Day 2012

Park(ing) Day, an annual international event designed to transform metered parking spots into temporary public parks, returns this Friday. Urban Milwaukee will be participating for the third straight year. This year our setup will be located in front of Urban Milwaukee: The Store at 755 N. Milwaukee St. from 10:00 a.m. until 4 p.m. Come stop by and say hello.