Daglas Does Dallas

After a little more than a year as editor at Milwaukee Magazine, 29-year old Cristina Daglas, a Chicago native, is off to Dallas, Texas to edit “D” Magazine, its Frontburner website announced on Wednesday, with a chatty column that apparently passes for journalism in that city.

Daglas joined Milwaukee Magazine in 2009 as an assistant editor, and it was her first full-time job in journalism. She became Managing Editor in 2011 before assuming the top job there in February 2012 after the abrupt departure of Bruce Murphy, who is now the editor of Urban Milwaukee.

I had been a regular contributor to the magazine at the time, and was the first to report Murphy’s departure, which I did without realizing that Daglas had been named his replacement. I found out when she called me up and chewed me out. Her appointment as editor surprised me more than did Murphy’s departure, which itself was a considerable shock.

Perhaps in response to questions that arose about her limited experience, Daglas rather amusingly listed herself as having ten years experience in journalism, which took her all the way back to her high school years and encompassed the six years getting her college and master’s degrees.

During the Daglas era the magazine lightened up its coverage with more features on fashion, style, and trends. Milwaukee’s cupcake renaissance was not overlooked. A substantial amount of the magazine’s on-line archives likewise disappeared, including all of my stuff.

Milwaukee Magazine was once a personal project of Betty Quadracci, whose late husband Harry Quadracci built Quad Graphics into an international printer. Under their guidance, the magazine became known for doing hard-hitting journalism. Betty’s involvement with the magazine has declined over the years, especially since Quad became a publicly-traded company.

Update 1 p.m. August 1: Milwaukee Magazine has announced that its former senior editor, Kurt Chandler, has been appointed as the new editor.

Also Going to Dallas

Monta Ellis is now a former Milwaukee Buck, and is headed to Dallas, where “D” Magazine can do a story about his Milwaukee stay at the Moderne, where his apartment was one floor below teammate Brandon Jennings, once profiled in House Confidential, who is likewise out the door and headed to Detroit.

Also out is Metro Market wine shopper Samuel Dalembert and University Club Tower resident Mike Dunleavy, Jr.

No word yet if new Bucks backcourt mates Brandon Knight and O.J. Mayo will take up residence in the tallest building west of the river. It does seem likely that Luke Ridnour, who is back with the Bucks for the second time, will resume his regular appearances at East Town hotspots such as Metro Market and Mykonos.

Sheriff Sale Aug 12 for Demuth Buildings

The Sheriff will sell three properties in the 53202 zip code Monday August 12, 2013, belonging to companies controlled by Thomas P. DeMuth, a local attorney and developer, to satisfy a judgement of foreclosure in case 2012cv6338 in Milwaukee County.

They include 815 E. Brady Street, 624 E. Ogden Ave. and 2140 N. Prospect Ave. The latter building is the lovely Art Deco structure on the northeast corner of E. Windsor Pl. that is the home of Izumi’s Japanese Restaurant. The building also includes an upper level of 8,000 sq. ft. office space, which is listed for rent at $13.50 per square foot per year. It is also the address of Lighthouse Development, DeMuth’s business that he runs with partner Brett S. Grasse. Lighthouse developed the South Water Works at E. Pittsburgh Ave. Its residents overwhelmingly voted against renaming the street “Freshwater Way,” as requested by the mayor.

The 815 E. Brady St. building is also home to a prominent restaurant, Bosley on Brady, which was jam-packed Saturday during the annual Brady Street Festival that brought thousands to the street. The 601 E. Ogden Ave. building, on the northwest corner of N. Van Buren St., is an apartment building with commercial space on the first floor rented to a real estate company and a communications company. The judgments against DeMuth et al total nearly $8 million. It is unlikely the buildings to be sold will realize that sum.

Pleasant Street Bridge to Open

August 1st 2013 will be recorded as that day in history that the Pleasant Street Bridge spanning the Milwaukee River at the north end of Downtown got rededicated for at least the third time in a little over a century. Bronze plaques on the bridge house commemorate earlier rebuildings in the Hoan and Norquist eras, and now comes Tom Barrett ready to get his name on yet another span. The most recent project is a “restoration,” which is what a good public works department does when time, traffic — and especially salt — eat away at the decks, walks and railings of a bridge. While they were at it, the contractors from Zenith Tech also replaced the mechanical, hydraulic and electrical works of the bridge.

On a recent inspection, it appears that part of the electrical works — what looks like an old-school light socket — was not adequately secured. Time to call out the barges for a re-do!

Schlitz Park, the Gary Grunau real-estate development on the southeast end of the bridge, will host a reopening party Thursday, August 1st, beginning at 4 p.m. The mayor will cut a ribbon, accompanied by appropriate remarks.

A complimentary backyard barbecue with live music by the Alex Wilson Band will be served at 4:30 p.m. in the lower level of the nearby Wolf Peach Restaurant, 1818 N. Hubbard St. “Celebratory taps” of Wisconsinite Summer Weiss will be provided courtesy of Lakefront Brewery, just upstream. Wisconsinite is the first beer brewed with all-Wisconsin ingredients. Its success and that of other brands has impelled owner Russ Klisch to secure an option on a 9-acre site on W. Canal St. for a brewery expansion.

Water Tower Neighborhood Featured by UWM Students

Milwaukee’s historic Water Tower Neighborhood was the feature of an exhibit by UWM School of Architecture and Urban Studies students. The work of their survey of the east side neighborhood was featured on Friday, July 26th,  quite appropriately, at the UWM Hefter Center, 3271 N. Lake Drive, just south of the mansion of County Executive Chris Abele. The Hefter Center was originally the Schlesinger Mansion, and like the buildings featured in the student survey, it represents the zenith of Milwaukee’s urban domestic upper-class architecture. Students went behind the scenes looking at cellars, attics, servant quarters and mechanical systems of these grand homes, including that of House Confidential honoree Andy Nunemaker.

Correction: The original story stated Brandon Jennings was heading to Denver.  It has been corrected to Detroit.