Zoning Committee Corrects TID #68

With the days short agenda, the item that stood out was resolution 080541.  This resolution dealt with correcting an error within Tax Incremental District (“TID”) #68 (Fifth Ward – First Place).  In 2007 the First Place on the River condominium development was assessed at $50 million which although it wasn’t challenged by property owner appears to of been set too high  In 2008 it was re-assessed at $24 million because the project was still not completed.  This change impacted the tax increment that TID #68 was to be able to collect.  The resolution removes the property and re-adds it to the TID at the correct level, resetting the baseline value of the TID allowing it to begin generating increment.  This change will still allow the TID to be repaid by 2029 which is within its legal lifetime.  This item was approved and will now go before the full Common Council.

Tantalizing belly dancers shake it

The Shape Up Shoppe has been a fixture on Kinnickinnic Street since 1980. The building features an exercise room geared toward women, a whirlpool and sauna. On the second level, there are a few spaces for classes, and even a Magaritaville-themed deck that overlooks the neighborhood. Tina Skenadore has been an instructor at the Shoppe for 17 years. She teaches many classes, including aerobics and Zumba. When I admit I don’t know what “Zumba” is, she informs me that it is an aerobic exercise combining Latin flavors including tango, salsa, merengue, reggaeton, hip hop, mambo and calypso. Skenadore also teaches belly dance classes and heads the belly dance troupe India, which has had a steady flow of festival gigs this season including at the Wisconsin State Fair, during halftime for the Brew City Bruisers and at Pridefest. They will perform outside the Shape Up Shoppe at the upcoming Bay View Bash on September 15. Belly dancing as a dance form can probably be traced to ancient Egypt; famous advocates include Alexander the Great, Thomas Edison and the Mata Hari. The art has enjoyed a popular resurgence in recent decades, and troupes can be found in most major cities, shimmying and shaking from coast to coast. I talked with Skenadore at the Shape Up Shoppe and then sat in on a class. In the large room, one wall was covered with mirrors, a giant trampoline rested against the wall and a cargo net held a dozen exercise balls. The class consisted of six women – normally there are more, but several students were on summer vacation, Skenadore explained. The group started with some stretching and warm up moves, the abdomens flexing dramatically, the arms waving and flowing. The women were wearing T-shirts, shorts, and coin-covered hip scarves. The jingling from the hip scarves sounded out in a rainy splash. They moved into a dance routine, and Skenadore counted off the moves. “Up up up up, up 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Up … and down. Up … and down. Up for two, down for two. Up up, down down.” They move into a new routine. “You’re gonna LOVE this one!” One of the students yells to me as they break into a routine heavy on the thrusting, rotating and swaying of the chest. Then they fling their arms up, spin, CLAP CLAP CLAP, shake shoulders and hips, CLAP CLAP CLAP. The next routine involves moving to the left eight steps, then to the right eight steps. “Now, without getting too crazy, let’s move a little faster!” Skenadore instructs. Skenadore says they are always looking for new students to learn this ancient art of sensual intrigue, so sign up for a class and shake it! VS The Shape Up Shoppe is located at 2697 S. Kinnickinnic Street. You can find a performance schedule for India and info on belly dance classes at bellydanceinbayview.com. More information about the Bay View Bash available at bayviewbash.org.

A call for widespread police investigation in the Twin Cities

Gripe list

I visited the Milwaukee Art Museum today, specifically to re-see Unmasked & Anonymous in the Koss Gallery. As I passed the Gilbert & George show, it was in the process of being taken down. While roaming the galleries I decided to make a mental list of the irritating stuff that is cluttering the glorious Calatrava addition. Note: The September 2, 2008 issue of the New Yorker has a big spread on Santiago Calatrava, a portion of which is devoted to interviews with Russell Bowman (former executive director) and Daniel Keegan (current executive director). The article includes great Robert Polidori photographs of Windhover Hall. In the same issue is a blurb about local filmmaker Chris Smith (American Movie) and Mark Borchardt. The AM film screened recently at the Museum of Modern Art. So anyway: THE LIST. Yes, the current desks in the reception area are dumb, but dumber still are the banners hung hither and yon, as if visitors didn’t have the good sense to figure out what was going on. Flashing television screens belong in the Sensory Overload exhibit, not in the reception hall. On the day I visited, the messy kiosk-like arrangement at the entry to the “old” museum was gone, but probably only temporarily, though I hope otherwise. A clutch of black leather chairs have been clustered at the end of the east wing, but they face a blank wall. Bring back the sculptures that once graced that area, please. Beneath the Laura Owens’ paintings in the contemporary area of the old museum, a barrier of sorts was in place, and I guess it is there to keep children from rushing forth to touch the doggies depicted in Ms. Owens’ works. The former room where Peg Bradley once entertained special guests is still lovely (except for the thick layer of dust on a buffet in her formerly “private” dining room), but as you move nearer to the east facing bank of windows (splashed with the doo-doo of gulls), you’re treated to a big flapping ugly exterior banner touting the coming of the ACT/REACT (interactive art) extravaganza opening October 4. I’ll zip my lips until it opens, but my idea of visiting a museum to view art does not include waving my arms about to “interact.” Before exiting, I passed the lone lady (with a bucket of white paint) whose job it is to forever and ever keep the paint looking spiff. In all of this stuff, there is some good news. MAM is now publishing its Insider series on a quarterly basis. The first issue’s format looks slick and has expanded to include informative articles, interviews, features, etc. Their spin is “by switching to a quarterly print schedule, we have reduced the amount of paper used to produce it.” If the museum really wants to cut costs and be environmentally responsible, they should cease heating and air-conditioning the garage below the addition. The savings would be astronomical. I’m only guessing.

Isn’t it Romantic?

The Milwakee Rep opens its 2008-2009 season at the Stackner Cabaret with a classy, romantic evening of music. The first of three openings in as many weeks for the Rep, Isn’t It Romantic? features the powerfully rich voice of singer Jimi Ray Malary leading William Knowles on piano, Don Linke on bass and Scott Napoli on Drums. The jazzy quartet swims through a selection of songs assembled by playwright and director David Hunter Koch, whose work last graced the Stackner stage in last year’s Hula Hoop Sha-Boop. Koch also put together Ellington: The Life and Music of the Duke for the Rep Cabaret’s 2005-2006 season — a show which also featured Malary, Knowles and Napoli. Isn’t it Romantic? carries a series of songs through a typical cycle of romance: Solitude “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” among others) gives way to new love (“S’Wonderful,” a particularly swinging version of “My Funny Valentine” and more), which follows through into the deepening of the relationship (“Lady is a Tramp”) and moving in together (“Love is Here to Stay’) before exploring the difficulties that come with a long-term relationship (“Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off”). After intermission, the cycle swings in the other direction, peppered with clever, poetic observations about love and relationships from David Hunter Koch – marriage, he says, is life’s way of keeping you from arguing with strangers. Scenic designer Susannah M. Barnes has put together a beautiful art deco set for the show that is stylish and rich in detail. Four paintings show the backs of four women dancing with four men. Light spills onto the stage through stained glass. The atmosphere may lack the smoky clinking of glasses and ambient chatter one might expect from a traditional romantic cabaret atmosphere, but Barnes’ set gives the impression of a jazzy little slice of virtuoso perfection. You’re not hearing the scratches or pops and imperfections that make this style of music so appealing to modern ears, but the clarity and purity of the experience here makes for some really great cabaret theatre. VS Isn’t it Romantic? runs through November 2nd at the Stackner Cabaret. 414-224-9490 or visit the Rep online.

Those Crazy Ladies in the House on the Corner

The Sunset Playhouse opens its 49th season with Those Crazy Ladies in the House on the Corner by Pat Cook. The comedy revolves around three aging sisters who’ve created an insular world for themselves in their family home. The three are proud of their independence and of their reputation. When the town doctor tricks them into taking in a boarder who happens to be a nurse, they discover more about their own capabilities and their family history. The sisters, Maggie, Dora and Lydia – played by Dolores Ivanchich, Inge Adams and Frances Klumb respectively – impress and delight from the first moments on stage. In a demonstration that proves why the town thinks they are, indeed, crazy and cranky, all three simultaneously talk, listen and respond to one another. Adams’ impeccable timing makes Dora’s sarcasm crisp and smarting, while Ivanchich radiates sweetness as the slightly memory-challenged sister; she’s especially lovely in the last scene after ‘tasting’ a bit too much egg nog. Klumb is no-nonsense as a former teacher still able to rule over her son and the town doctor. The three connect on stage with such ease that it’s almost impossible to imagine that they haven’t lived with or near each other their entire lives. As Dr. Arnold “Doc” Lomax, Pat Perkins is fresh and able to match the three feisty leads. His physical comedy is authentic – he makes getting wrapped up in a telephone cord while drunk look natural and not a choreographed venture. Less successful is Nasreen Ameri as nurse and boarder Jean Mitchell. Each line is delivered with the same faux enthusiasm no matter what is happening on stage, and she struggled to connect her character with anyone else on stage. Occasionally she even looked uncomfortable, breaking character. An entrance-and -exit comedy can sometimes look cramped if adequate space and doors are not provided, but Scenic Designer Paul Meeusen, interning under technical Director, J. Michael Desper, designed a marvelously open set that provides the room needed for a play that takes place in just one room with a nine-person cast. Meeusen and Despar utilized three levels to make answering the doorbell and going upstairs a more dynamic aspect of each scene. Artistic Director Mark Salentine should be commended for choosing a play that shows elderly women not as just grouchy or doddering, but as individuals with vigor, defiance and love. Though the writing and plot itself in Pat Cook’s play often falters, the problem of children trying to decide when their elderly parents can no longer live on their own is or will be shared by almost everyone. Salentine’s rendition will appeal to multiple generations of families. VS The Sunset Playhouse’s production of Those Crazy Ladies in the House on the Corner runs through September 17th. 262-782-4430, or visit Sunset online.

Weekly Bookmarks – Monday, 08. September 2008

JS Online: West Pointe was dead end for West End JS Online: Parking spaces are hot properties near UWM JS Online: Pabst complex owners want to create improvement district County board overrides Walker’s veto of sales tax referendum – Small Business Times Override vote places county tax referendum on November ballot – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: Feingold announces small business innovation initiative (WTN News) Apartment development swells in Third Ward – Small Business Times Downtown office space vacancies rise in second quarter – Small Business Times Area’s industrial space vacancy rate up a bit – Small Business Times JS Online: Agency violated civil rights in I-94 project, group alleges JS Online: Council vote raises vehicle taxes to $95 in Milwaukee JS Online: DPW on hot seat over potholes JS Online: Feingold introduces legislation to help water technology industry Riverwest Currents | Where Will They Sleep? New Dorms on East Side Feingold launches effort to boost small business R&D funds – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: The UWM Post News Blog » Blog Archive » Public meeting about UWM dorm proposals tonight JS Online: Feingold will propose economic development bills OnMilwaukee.com Milwaukee Buzz: Humboldt Bridge to close, Kilbourn will open by years end OnMilwaukee.com Politics: Milwaukee Talks: Mayor Tom Barrett, 2008

Goll Mansion Project Prepares to Go Before the City for Approval

This project by New Land Enterprises proposes the construction of a 27-story 35-unit condominium development that would activate the Goll Mansion by utilizing it as the development's lobby. Controversy flared up at a recent neighborhood meeting over concerns from residents of 1522 On The Lake that some of their view would be blocked and from historic preservation groups that raised concerns about insuring the preservation of the historic Goll Mansion.

Brett the Jet

Okay, so it’s not the most original headline ever. And, you may be thinking, do we really need another column about the cataclysmic events of the last few months that resulted in Brett Favre starting today as the quarterback of the New York Jets? Well bare with me because this time, it’s personal. For, you see, I grew up in Queens, practically under the shadow of Shea Stadium, where the Jets played during my formative years. I first began paying attention to sports the year of Brett’s birth (that would be 1969). That was the year Joe Namath and the Jets shocked the football world by defeating the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in what is now called Super Bowl III. It was the same year when the Amazin’ Mets came from more than ten games behind the Cubs in August to win the East division, the National League and, most incredibly of all, the World Series 4-1. (Brewer fans take note.) And then May of 1970 was when the New York Knicks of Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere and Bill Bradley took the NBA championship by beating the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers. So my allegiance to those three teams was imprinted on my psyche at a tender age and I have enjoyed the highs and agonized over the lows common to most sports fans. Since moving to Wisconsin nine years ago I have developed a strong affection for our local teams, especially the Green Bay Packers. How could you not appreciate the incredible history of this storied franchise? Besides, Vince Lombardi was also a New York transplant and Brett Favre himself and I share a birthday (October 10th, as if you didn’t know). How could any football fan not love and admire Brett Favre? Sure the records are impressive but to simply watch him on the field epitomizes the thrill of competitive sports. The guy just loves to play and seems to give 100 percent every single minute he’s on the field. I learned early on that most Wisconsin sports fans care little about the teams that play elsewhere. I was still acclimating myself to the ways of the Dairy State when the Mets and the Yankees ended up in the first Subway Series of my life in 2000. Did anyone around here give a damn? Are you kidding me, it was Packer season for Chrissakes! Honestly, I didn’t want Brett Favre to leave the Packers. I didn’t believe it would happen. Sure the guy has jerked the team and its fans around every offseason this century. Weirdly, I loved how he seemed to be mentally and physically exhausted each year and needed time to recover before shaking off doubt and once again recommitting totally and completely to the gruelling regimen the game requires. I understand that the team wanted to avoid another offseason without knowing who its quarterback would be. The press conference when Favre announced his retirement was dramatic and painful. The season had been spectacular […]

People are listening- an update on Keith’s story

Agents of Change?

Without question, the Republicans helped their cause this week. The Palin pick energized the base and McCain’s speech tried to make the case that the maverick war hero is the true agent of change. Both were smart moves to drive up enthusiasm among social conservatives and attract support from the narrow but critical minority of voters who, somehow, are still undecided. Of course, McCain’s pledge to shake things up did not match his agenda. His policies are right out of the same old Republican playbook. And McCain missed the opportunity to distance himself from any of George W. Bush flawed record (though his distaste for the guy seeps through). He paid tribute to Bush for leading the fight against terrorism then avoided mentioning his name for the rest of his speech. He said both parties were guilty of lapses in ethics and declared that he was a servant not of any party but of the American people. Talk about lofty but meaningless rhetoric! But anyone who sees McCain-Palin as agents of change is delusional. The “Drill, baby, Drill” chant, the opposition to a government role in health care, and, most scary of all, the commitment to continue, even expand, a confrontational approach to foreign policy makes it more than unlikely that these two will shake things up on any critical issue facing our nation and world. As expected, McCain’s personal story of suffering at the hands of interrogators as a POW during the Vietnam War was dramatic and compelling. But the maverick McCain should have used that story to criticize the use of torture by us as well as them. Notably he didn’t and other speakers in St. Paul tweaked the Democrats for suggesting that Gitmo prisoners had any rights. I don’t know how any independent observer could miss that odd dissonance. He vaguely referenced ethical excesses by both parties and pledged to seek common ground but failed to give a single example of an issue appropriate to compromise. His litany of priorities were lower taxes and less government, i.e. more of the same. My friends, Americans want change this year and Senator McCain realizes he needs to appeal to that zeitgeist. But Americans know what change looks like, what change feels like, what change sounds like. Sen. McCain, we know change and you ain’t it.

Farwell goes Atomic