World Naked Bike Ride Coming!

World Naked Bike Ride 2009 – London. Photo by flickr user carlosofpardo.

Milwaukee has hosted group bicycle rides that cover a wide spectrum of fun and fancy, from the Santa Rampage to the monthly MKE BKE underwear ride. But how about without underwear? Next year Milwaukee will join a growing list of over 70 cities in more than 20 countries, including Chicago, Boston, New York, and even Houston in hosting a World Naked Bike Ride. On July 12th, 2014 the save the planet, freedom of expression, positive body image event, that purports to “stop indecent exposure to vehicle emissions,” is coming to Milwaukee. The website goes so far to encourage riders to “Paint your body, kustomize your bike!”

So shield your eyes and hide the children, or put on your birthday suit because on July 12th, 2014 riders will strip down and clip in for what is guaranteed to be an indecently good time.

Development Updates

Site preparation at the Reed Street Yards. Photo by Mariiana Tzotcheva

In November 2012 Anodyne Coffee announced it was opening a roastery in Walker’s Point, at 224 W. Bruce Street.  The facility is now under construction and new windows have installed. Just north of this site at the Global Water Center, 247 Freshwater Way, a grand opening will be held on  September 12.  Just to the west of the Water Center the conversion of the former Reed Street Yards into a water research park has begun. New roads, an extension of the Hank Aaron State Trail, and a new riverwalk segment are all part of the project. Over at the future site of Opus Group’s six-story mixed-use building, known as IVY on Fourteenth, 1400 W. Wells St., Sweeney’s College Books has moved from the site to 1100 W. Wells St., the first floor of Catholic Financial Life building, and the construction fence is up. Over on Jackson St., on the Lower East Side, Elan Peltz says in email to Urban Milwaukee that the East Terrace Apartments are currently being leased with a approximate November 1st open date. The building is 40 percent leased and is under roof, sealed, and framed.  Mechanicals will be installed shortly. (Updated)

ZipCar Expands in Downtown Milwaukee

Three new ZipCar parking spots, located in the parking lot at the corner of Broadway and Michigan St. Photo by Mariiana Tzotcheva.

Three new ZipCar parking spots were recently installed in the parking lot at the corner of Broadway and Clybourn St.  As of today, however, the cars haven’t arrived.  This is the most recent expansion of ZipCar, which allows for easy car-sharing/short term rental, in Milwaukee, following up on last May’s expansion on the East Side.  Are more locations on the way?

Quick Hits

• The don’t-miss event of the year is back for 2013. Barktoberfest returns to Eastabrook Park Beer Garden on Saturday September 28 from 1pm to 6pm. Could it get any better than fido and a beer?
• Two bits of news from Milwaukee County Clerk Joe Czarnezki. If you’re getting hitched, need a domestic partnership declaration, bus tickets, Wisconsin DNR licenses, or even a passport you can now charge it. You can even put your antlerless deer carcass tags on the card as they are now available for purchase, $12 for Wisconsin residents and $20 for nonresidents, at the county clerk’s office, Room 105 of the Milwaukee County Courthouse, 901 N. 9th Street, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. So pickup your antlerless deer carcass tags today!

Correction: We reported that Elan Peltz was marketing the East Terrace Apartments with leasing availability in September / October.  Units will be available sometime in November.