Life & Leisure
Shampoo. Rinse. Recite.
A few years back, I found this great illustration. It was tasteful, whimsical line art of a young woman in the shower. Drops of water fell from the showerhead onto her mop of squiggly blonde hair. I think it was in the back of Real Simple magazine or something. And all it said was “God grant me the power to get out of this shower.” It became my mantra. I posted the illustration near the shower in my own bathroom. The drawing is gone. But the sentiment remains. In fact, it’s become a bit of a mini-devotional for me each morning. And now it’s just part of the routine. Shampoo. Rinse. Recite. Lather. Rinse. Recite. Never mind the fact that I just tried to use a travel-sized bottle of conditioner to shave my legs. God grant me the power to get out of this shower, indeed. I’m sure a lot of people feel this way – like getting going each day is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest. Without safety gear, a compass, or oxygen. And little do you know, once you get to the office, an avalanche is in motion. So what can we do? Where does the power really come from? Not only to get going every day, but to actually get through the day in one piece? You have to do it in the face of small hurdles like running out of peanut butter when you really, really want some. Or having a flat tire when you really, really need to get there. Never mind large obstacles like worrying about the economy or the war. I personally believe part of the power does come from God. The other part comes from within each of us. Some people pray. Others meditate. And of course there are other worthwhile practices such as yoga, exercise – and happy hour. The thing that always trips me up is that we do all of these things in order to reset. And stay productive for our partner, family, friends, boss and the local soup kitchen. All of which we wholeheartedly believe we need to tend to every single day, hour, moment. Meanwhile, we personally suffer. We try to do too much. We use up all our energy. We believe we’re operating as a super-efficient hybrid when we’re really burning through energy like an SUV. The reality is life doesn’t have a reserve tank. You have to refuel every so often. Or you’ll miss something while you’re broken down. If you ever want to know the true value of spending your energy more wisely, ask someone who has survived cancer. Or the loved one of someone who didn’t. And that’s why I really want to learn how to slow down. I want to trade my laptop for better eye contact. I want to take in everything life has to offer. I don’t necessarily want to live like my days are numbered, but because I have no reason to believe they are.
Apr 2nd, 2009 by Michelle Sieg
Meanwhile … at the Alchemist …
When improv group Meanwhile started last November, it was a simple way for six local comedians to do what they love best: make people laugh with original, unrehearsed material. But before long, the group was selling out Bayview’s Alchemist Theater twice a month. ThirdCoast Digest sat down with Vince Figueroa, Beth Lewinski and Lee Rowley, three of Meanwhile’s six members, for a brief chat and a cup of coffee that turned out to be a bit too trying for one comedian. TCD: How would you describe Meanwhile to someone who has never seen the show before? Lee Rowley: I would describe it as an improv show that tends to be funny and is in a longer format than something like Comedy Sportz. Beth Lewinski: There are six of us. We generally have a guest host who does a monologue, and then we do improv based off of those monologues. We usually have a more open second half, but we could change the format at any time. Lee: … And Vince is in it. Vince Figueroa: … Yeah. I Show up and don’t contribute. TCD: Who are some of the guest hosts you guys have had? Lee: On Friday we had the wonderful Bo Johnson who was one of the founding members of the Dead Alewives, another sketch and improv group from the early ‘90s. I feel like they are probably the most famous group of improvisers to come out of Milwaukee Vince: Not too long ago we had Dave Bogan, who’s a pretty big deal over at Comedy Sportz and is also responsible for teaching us improv. Beth: Yeah, for most of us he was our first teacher in improv, so that was cool. Then we had Kevin Gerrity. He’s a high school student who does short and long-form improv around the area. That was really cool, to get a high school perspective on stuff Lee: In two weeks we have Stephanie Graham, who is a producer at TMJ4. She actually won an Emmy. Vince: So this is going to be beneath her. TCD: What role does crowd participation play in a Meanwhile performance? Beth: There is crowd participation, but we don’t have audience volunteers. We have the person who is doing the monologue. We try to get people who have different backgrounds, and then the subject matter we get varies from show to show. The host bases their monologue off of questions from the audience. Vince: That style of game is called an Armando Diaz, after the guy who made it. Lee: We try to get relatively deep questions. Our first show we had someone from the audience ask “boxers or briefs?” Other than that we’ve had some really good questions. Beth: On Friday it was “Why did you get into comedy?” and “What is your favorite thing about comedy?” Lee: We try to get deeper questions, because the more realistic the monologue is, the better we do. Vince: It’s a great dynamic for the audience too, because they […]
Mar 12th, 2009 by Nick Schurk
Review and results from WMSE’s 2009 Rockabilly Chili Contest
Neither rain nor sleet nor snow – all three of which came down Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee – could deter droves of hungry people from this year’s premier showcase of some of the city’s best commercial chili recipes while listening to rocking hillbilly tunes. Over 35 area restaurants brought 10 to 15 gallons (or more) each of their original spicy creations to the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Kern Center in hopes of bragging rights to title of “Best”. After running out of space at the Harbor Lights Room in 2007, the popular event was moved to the university grounds which is home to the host radio station. Organizers are now eyeballing the Field House upstairs for next year, which is big enough to host a regulation soccer game let alone a crowded chili contest. Concerns were even addressed as to the not-so-green nature of the event, which went through many barrels of 2 oz. sample cups, beer cups, and spoons – plus a ton of soda cans. MSOE has recycling containers at the event, but they were not self-evident. WMSE’s General Manager Tom Crawford says that each year the communication improves between organizers and the school on how they can make these things better and these issues were well known. As for the food, everyone brought their ‘A’ game to the contest – even the very few that seemed to show up just for the premium advertising. Many of the chefs expanded or focused previous entries by trying exotic spices or meat varieties. Others remained true to the formulas served currently at the eateries in which they worked. On a special note, it was a bit sad to see two of last year’s winners not around to defend their titles in the Champion’s Corner; both Annona Bistro (2008 Best Veggie Chili) and Great Northern BBQ Company (2008 Best Display) fell prey to economic times and have closed in the last eight months. Still, the representation remains strong from some of Milwaukee’s best restaurants, cafes, delis, and catering. Without further ado, here are the 2009 winners and runner-ups in four categories as decided through ballots turned in by public voters at the event: BEST DISPLAY Winner: McBob’s Bar and Grill Runner-Up: Brewed Café In an example of simple but elegant over epic, McBob’s display of designed welding helmets won out over Brewed’s Ed Roth-inspired racing display for a consecutive runner-up decision in two years. BEST HEAT Winner: Koppa’s Fulbeli Deli Runner-Up: Bremen Café In defense of their 2008 crown for the hottest chili, multiple award-winner Sarah Cordus of Koppa’s brought both a great meat and veggie chili. But it was no match for Bremen’s freshman entry, which boasted Naga Jolokia ghost peppers among 17 ingredients meant to scorch the mouth. Just the right amount was used to prevent real pain, but even two ounces had tasters reaching for beverages immediately. BEST VEGGIE CHILI Winner: Riverwest Co-op Runner-Up: Fuel Café Fuel Café has a beautiful standard red that’s served at the Riverwest hovel, but […]
Mar 8th, 2009 by Brian Jacobson
Watching Brett from Baghdad
New York Times Baghdad bureau chief James Glanz has filed a wonderful first-person report on watching the Jets-Bills game last Sunday from a war zone. It turns out Glanz has rooted for the Packers his entire life; his dad covered the team for a Madison television station. So, amazingly, he uses the piece to approach the question of what Brett Favre is doing playing for the Jets, not as an expert or even a sports journalist but as a fan. He compares the sensation of watching football from Iraq to what it must feel like to observe life on Earth from Mars. Glanz shares the experience of explaining football to an Iraqi soccer-loving colleague whose cell phone keeps ringing with requests for help understanding the shoe-throwing at President Bush incident. It’s a great read. And now for something completely different. By now you’ve probably heard that Caroline Kennedy is being considered for the Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton. Nobody’s asked me, but I’m all for it. Perhaps it’s appropriate that I disclose my close, personal relationship with Miss Kennedy. One of my earliest memories was seeing pictures of Caroline and John, Jr. when they were kids living in the White House. As young as we were (you see we are virtually the same age), I realized then and there that Caroline and I would be married some day. Caroline Kennedy was my first crush. Things haven’t quite worked out as I imagined back then. She ended up marrying some milquetoast named Edwin Schlossberg. Edwin Schlossberg? So our paths may have diverged but I haven’t forgotten about her. I’d notice when she’d turn up on television promoting a book or stepping up to the plate to address the challenges facing the New York City school system. (I have the greatest respect for Sr. Joel Read but she ain’t no Caroline Kennedy!) And my thoughts were with her when her brother died so tragically in that plane crash in 1999. That left her as the sole keeper of the Camelot flame and I knew we’d hear more from her in time. I know that some will protest that she hasn’t the credentials to step into such an important office. What nonsense! Like her mother and much of the rest of her family, she has been extremely active in public affairs though without the high profile normally associated with political candidates. Her books, including variations on her father’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Profiles in Courage,” show her high regard for public service and her management of the Kennedy image demonstrates the gravitas and political savvy that bode well for her ability to serve the Empire State. Fare thee well, sweet Caroline, for I harbor nothing but good wishes for you. And if you happen to tire of that Schlossberg guy, give me a holler!
Dec 17th, 2008 by Ted Bobrow
The Bruce Bowl???
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving so, of course, our thoughts naturally turn to … FOOTBALL! Understandably, most Packers fans are in a state of shock following the whupping the team took from the New Orleans Saints in the very same stadium which was the site of the team’s Super Bowl win way back in 1997. Now I really don’t want to dredge up the angst of the Brett Favre controversy of last summer. Really, I don’t. But as a lifelong fan of the New York Jets I just have to say that I am deliriously excited about that team’s prospects this year with Mr. Favre under center. Let me be clear that I root for the Packers and have been very disappointed by their performance this season. Aaron Rodgers has played very well, especially considering the enormous pressure placed on his shoulders by the team’s management. It isn’t often that a 13-3 team is turned over to an unproven young quarterback when a hall of fame caliber one is still healthy and capable of playing. In fact, as I’ve said before, how thrilling would it be for the Packers and Jets to have faced each other in this year’s Super Bowl? But that’s unlikely to happen. At 5-6, the Packers are going to struggle to even make the playoffs. Now bear with me as I raise the possibility of an extremely unlikely scenario that could only happen while I live here in Wisconsin. It now appears possible that the Giants and Jets, two New York teams who play in New Jersey, might actually meet in the Super Bowl. It couldn’t be called the Subway Bowl, unless the sandwich shop decided to pony up a whole bunch of dollars. The Turnpike Bowl, maybe or the Garden State Bowl, perhaps. Then again, Jersey purists might argue that fans in southern New Jersey are among those crazed fans of the Eagles and they might want no part of such a contest. Yet with the Great Bruce Springsteen scheduled to entertain during halftime one must admit there would be something special about a contest between the Jets and the Giants. It would amount to a rematch between Brett Favre and Eli Manning that would appeal to even the biggest Aaron Rodgers fan among the hardcore Packer Nation. So I submit to you now, for your consideration, that if the Packers fail to make a run for the Super Bowl that you might join me in rooting for such a rematch that we’ll just call The Bruce Bowl.
Nov 26th, 2008 by Ted Bobrow
Happy Birthday, Number Four
It’s a beautiful fall day, great football weather, which is only fitting since today is Brett Favre’s birthday. It still seems weird, doesn’t it, that Favre suits up Sundays in a jersey that doesn’t belong to the Green Bay Packers. Look, full disclosure here, I grew up in Queens, New York and have always been a Jets fan and I am ecstatic that he’s wearing the Green and White. But I’ve also been rooting for the Packers since moving to Wisconsin in 1999 and I wish them well too. Aaron Rodgers seems like a promising young quarterback and I hope the team shakes off these early season mistakes and roars to the playoffs (much like the Giants did last year). I don’t want to revisit the painful divorce between Favre and Packers management. But I also feel that I have a special obligation to pay tribute to the man today since I happen to share the same birthday. Here’s to you Brett. I hope you get to enjoy some quality time with your family after you’re done prepping for Sunday’s game. And I also hope you dispatch with the Bengals with ease so that you can watch the Pack take on Holmgren’s Seahawks in the late game. As for the rest of you, take a look at this article on the club of Brett’s backups from today’s New York Times. The article mentions some of the great practical jokes that Brett is known for though the Great Times is apparently too classy to mention his legendary flatulence. All in all, a good read.
Oct 10th, 2008 by Ted Bobrow
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 […]
Sep 7th, 2008 by Ted Bobrow
Spotted at Warped Tour
On August 1, I find myself heading to the Vans Warped Tour for the second year in a row. Ah, the Warped Tour, where good old fashioned rebelliousness meets capitalism at its worst: overpriced food, water, and t-shirts. I am chaperoning my 14 year old goth/emo/punk rock sister and her friends. “Just make sure they don’t get in trouble.” My Ma tells me. “You know how teenagers are.” Sure, Ma. I know. Kinda. If there is anything that makes me feel like an old, old 30 year old, it’s the Warped Tour. The median age here must be 16, and the only people older than me here must be Pennywise. I feel like someone trying to be a hip dad, or like a creepy middle aged man who’s really into Britney Spears. Wait, did I say “middle aged”?! What if I die at 60? I could be having a mid life crisis! Maybe now is the time to hang out with the youngsters and see what they’re up to . 1:24 PM My sister Marg and I arrive at the gates of the Marcus Amphitheater grounds. I immediately feel like a crotchety old man when I express my disgust for the incredible amount of flyers littering the ground. Most of them are from Turner Hall Ballroom and the Rave (with those annoying two drink minimum tickets stapled to the flyers); it looks like a semi-truck full of these flyers has exploded, blanketing the ground. The litter inside the gates is just as bad and gets worse as the day wears on. Warped Tour is all about swag, and most of it ends up on the ground. It may be the punk rock thing to make a mess, but shit, someone’s got to pick it up. I see a couple of interesting handmade t-shirts while waiting in line to buy a pair of $37 (!) tickets. Two girls wear shirts that say “I kiss emo boys” and one guy has a shirt that says “Sober Man: Protector of car keys, defender of lost memories.” 2:00 PM Marg meets up with her friends, who are on a half-crazed shopping high, toting bags stuffed with the latest thing. Marg wants to venture off with them, so I decide to go check out gothabilly band The Horrorpops at the Hurley.com stage. I end up at the Hurley stage instead of the Hurley.com stage, where The Devil Wears Prada is starting their set. The group should not be confused with the book/Meryl Streep movie of the same name. They also do not dig the dark lord as they are a Christian thrash act. They sound pretty silly to me, so I wander around another 15 minutes before I finally find the Hurley.com stage, inside the Amphitheater. I catch the last half of the Horrorpops set and it is really good. 2:30 PM I run into Marg and her friends and Marg points out two young women, dressed almost identically, each with dozens of rainbow-colored beaded […]
Aug 4th, 2008 by Tea Krulos
VITAL’s 2008 Farmer’s Market Guide
By Amy Elliott & Lindsey Huster The big city grind is tough in the summer. It’s hot, smoggy and crowded. Whole city blocks are periodically shut down for sticky parties and loud, smelly rock shows. Most of us keep our day jobs for the season and then act like we don’t have anywhere to be in the morning. It wears a person out. For a break – an idyll in the heart of the city, or a day-trip to sleepier regions – consider a trip to your friendly neighborhood farmer’s market (or some other neighborhood’s friendly farmer’s market). Replenish yourself with a stroll through the flowers, fresh herbs and handcrafts; some markets even feature cooking demonstrations, live music and – thank God – coffee. Stock up on fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables, conscionable meats and cage-free eggs, and the best cheeses, preserves and honey you’ll ever taste. Not only will you and yours be healthy, well-nourished and ready to take on the summer – you’ll enjoy connecting to your community, relaxing in the sun and refreshing your soul. Brown Deer Farmers Market 43rd St. and Bradley Road 9 am – 6 pm, Wednesdays through October. Annuals and perennials, produce and herbs. 414-354-6923. Brookfield Farmers Market City Hall, 2000 N Calhoun Rd 7:30 a.m. – noon, Saturdays through October. Annuals, perennials, fruits and vegetables, Piedmontese beef, cut flowers, maple syrup, chickens, eggs, bison meat, baked goods, dried floral, garden art and much more. Weekly entertainment and demonstrations. Monthly Market and More event featuring handcrafted items. 262-784-7804 or brookfieldfarmersmarket.com. Burlington Farmers Market Wehmoff Square, Burlington. 3 pm – 7 pm, Thursdays, June 5 – November 20. 262-210-6360 Cudahy Farmers Market 4723 S. Packard Ave., Cudahy 10 am – 4 pm, Fridays through October 31. Locally grown and produced baked goods, fresh produce, honey, flowers, plants, crafts and more. 414-769-7799 Delafield Farmers Market Fish Hatchery parking lot, 514 W. Main St. 7 am – 1 pm, Saturdays through October. This producer-only market features locally grown vegetables, fruits, herbs, honey, cider, fresh and dried flowers, annual bedding and perennial plants, ironworks, homespun woolen yarns and handcrafted items by local artisans. 262-968-4471. East Side Open Market Beans and Barley Parking lot, 1901 E. North Ave. Thursdays 3 pm – 7 pm, June 12 – October 9. Produce, agricultural products, flowers, herbs, farmers, amazing artists and weekly live entertainment. 414-226-2113 or theeastside.org East Town Farmers Market Cathedral Square Park, 520 E. Wells St. 7:30 am – 12:30 pm, Saturdays through October. Fresh produce, jellies, jams, cheeses specialty foods, arts and crafts. 414-271-1416 or easttown.com. Fondy Farmers Market 2200 W. Fond du Lac Ave. 7 am – 3 pm Saturdays; 8 am -2 pm Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays; 12 pm – 6 pm Wednesdays. June 14- November 22. Regular cooking demos, prepared food, and fresh locally grown produce. 414-933-8121 or fondymarket.org Fox Point Farmers Market Stormonth School, 7300 N. Lombardy Rd. 8 am – noon, Saturdays, June 21-October 18.Wisconsin-grown fruits and vegetables, mushrooms, native plants, flowers, honey, bakery, […]
Jun 1st, 2008 by Amy Elliott
The Clintons and the Dallas Cowboys
While most of the universe has already reached the conclusion that Barack Obama will ultimately receive this year’s Democratic nomination for president, there are a few voices reminding us that it ain’t over until it’s over. Among them is Dan Schnur, a Republican consultant originally from Wisconsin, who presents his argument in terms all fans of the Green Bay Packers can relate to. He compares the Clintons to the dreaded Dallas Cowboys who could never be counted out while there was still time left on the clock. I also recall inspired come-from-behind victories by the Cowboys though mostly from an earlier era. Back in the ‘70s, I was often amazed by the Cowboys of Tom Landry and Roger Staubach who routinely scored two or three touchdowns in the closing minutes of key games. More recently, the Jimmy Johnson-Troy Aikman teams committed similar atrocities at the expense of the “green and gold.” Schnur draws a parallel between Dallas’s mojo and the times that the Clinton clan came back from certain death, during the 1992 New Hampshire primary, following the health care reform debacle (aka Hillarygate), the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994 and the Lewinsky scandal of the late 1990s. For the most part, I don’t buy it. For Hillary Clinton to overcome Obama’s lead in delegates, she would not only have to win the remaining primaries in delegate-rich states of Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania but by extremely large margins. But it certainly is entertaining to imagine some Republicans shuddering at the thought of facing the Clinton machine. Surely, Newt Gingrich, Bob Dole and George H. W. Bush wish they had a wooden stake they could bury in the heart of this family. It is true that in politics, as in sports, momentum can shift in a New York minute. So make sure you don’t get a sandwich or take a bathroom break until either Obama or Clinton have nailed down the nomination. You don’t want to miss this finish.
Feb 29th, 2008 by Ted Bobrow
The fine art of persuasion
In fourth grade, the children at Roosevelt Elementary are taught how to write a persuasive letter. My nine-year-old, Emma, has been faithfully practicing this skill. Here’s a case in point. Recently, our cat Lucius decided to exhibit his displeasure with the humans by peeing on the floor next to where I was standing. It was a short-lived habit, occurring about two times. But in my frustration of the moment, I was overheard saying that I couldn’t keep a cat that wouldn’t use his litter box. Here is Emma’s written response to that comment. Had I been seriously inclined to drop the cat at the Humane Society I’m not sure it would have changed my mind, but in terms of sheer persuasive skills, Emma clearly found catharsis in this process of careful manipulation and has developed it into an art form. May it be a guide to all of us. You’ve got to fight for what you believe in.
Feb 1st, 2008 by Lucky Tomaszek
Blue wings and hearing loss
Without warning, he fires, and my left ear – only inches away from his gun – explodes. The ex-duck has barely hit the water before I realize something has gone very, very wrong.
Dec 1st, 2007 by Matt Wild
