August 24-30
Monday, August 24
Florentine on the Patio
7PM * FREE
Alterra Humboldt
2999 N. Humboldt Ave.
Don’t miss one of the Florentine’s last free outdoor performances of the summer. Cozy up to Alterra’s newest cafe in the vibrant Riverwest neighborhood and enjoy an evening of beautiful music on the patio. This evening also celebrates the opening of the Wayne and Kristine Lueders Florentine Opera Center in Riverwest!
Tuesday, August 25
Rope Bondage Workshop
8PM * $25
The Tool Shed
2427 N.Murray Ave.
Lee Harrington is an internationally renowned author, artist and erotic educator. An expert in the art of Japanese rope bondage, Lee shares his knowledge by teaching simple restraints to help you spice up your love life. Classes fill up quickly, so pre-registration is recommended.
Wednesday, August 26
Brew City Bruisers Appreciation Night
4PM-9PM *FREE
Washington Park
1859 N. 4oth St.
Don’t be fooled by their steely exterior- the Brew City Bruisers are actually a bunch of softies with hearts of gold (but don’t tell them I said that). The Bruisers want to show their gratitude to all the volunteers, sponsors and fans that support them throughout the season with an evening of fun and food in Washington Park, featuring a local market, canoe rides, fishing, a picnic and roller skating (naturally). Stick around after the cookout and rock out to a free concert with three of Milwaukee’s all-female bands : The Addy Janes, The Barrettes and The Lillies.
Friday, August 28
Bicycle Film Festival
August 28-29 * $8
Times Cinema
5906 W. Vliet
In 2001, the Bicycle Film Festival was created after its founder was hit by a bus while riding his bike in New York City. Instead of being defeated by this experience, BFF Director Brendt Barbur decided to form a festival that celebrates the bicycle through art, music and film. In it’s 9th year, the BFF is held in 39 cities worldwide and has featured the work of established artists like Michel Gondry and Blonde Redhead among many others. The Milwaukee festival kicks off tonight with a double feature at the Times and after party at Stonefly. Check the website to buy advance tickets and get the full line-up.
The Legend of En
6PM-10PM * FREE
The Borg Ward Collective
823 W. National Ave.
Milwaukee-based art collective Studio Sunday teams up with the creative minds at the Borg Ward for an interactive exhibit that re-imagines the age-old oral tradition of storytelling. The Legend of En is an original work of fiction created by Studio Sunday that uses the art of sequential storytelling to transform the story into an interactive art gallery, allowing the viewer to become immersed in the story itself and explore the role of the listener/viewer in the storytelling dynamic. The exhibit is on display from August 28-September 19, 2009.
MAM After Dark & Handmade Nation
6:30PM & 9:30PM * $5 advance/ $10 door
Milwaukee Art Museum
700 N. Art Museum Dr.
This installation of MAM After Dark highlights Milwaukee’s DIY communities with a double screening of local craft maven Faythe Levine’s documentary Handmade Nation, chronicling the rise of craft and DIY culture and politics in the U.S. In the film, Levine travels cross-country to explore burgeoning communities of artists, crafters and designers who have chosen to eschew mass consumer culture using sustainable and recycled materials to create one-of-a-kind collections.
Saturday, August 29
Motorhead
8PM * $27
The Rave
2401 W. Wisconsin Ave.
I know that there’s a whole slew of Milwaukeeans who wouldn’t miss a Motorhead show for the world, but if you had any doubts put em’ behind you. Even though Lemmy totally qualifies for AARP now, it doesn’t mean he’s slowed down one bit or that you should expect anything less than a loud, sweaty, head-banging free for all. Sure, the show might be filled with obnoxious budding metal heads who only know “Ace of Spades,” but then again, most of us (present company excluded, I was never tough enough) used to be those same obnoxious youngsters blocking the view of older, more seasoned metal heads…so deal with it!
Sunday, August 30
Brazil
7PM * FREE
UWM Union Theater
2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.
One of my favorite things about living close to the university is the ability to watch all the free movies I want at UWM’s Union Theater. Between the plethora of film festivals, regular programming and student films, you can have a well-rounded social calendar and get a nice dose of culture all semester long, and all it costs is a few hours of your night. Start the season right with a free screening of Terry Gilliam’s dystopian sci-fi masterpiece Brazil.
