Dollars, Worries & Lives

By Amy Elliott + Photos by Richard Galling The Smith and Wesson Model 10 double-action revolver has been in continuous production for more than 100 years, and has been the weapon of choice for police departments everywhere for almost as long. An elegant piece with black grips and a carbon-steel barrel, it evokes suits, cocktails and spies. List price is $632; used models start at $350. The Glock .22 is a little less sexy than the revolver, but is the weapon of choice for graduates of the FBI training academy, U.S. Marshals and agents of the DEA. This heavy semi-automatic pistol, made from dense polymer and steel, will put you back at least $480. Nothing communicates quite as clearly as a well-placed Kalashnikov. Otherwise known as the AK-47, it is the world’s most widely used assault rifle, comprises a large chunk of the illicit small arms trade and is relatively cheap to acquire, starting in the $300 range for older models. If you’re the DIY type, you could consider purchasing a conversion kit to turn your semi-automatic pistol into a submachine gun. It wouldn’t run you more than $250. Of course, knock-off brands of any of these models are substantially cheaper, starting well under $200. And a 50-count box of .38 specials could cost you less than a quarter per bullet. Less than a gumball. Almost every gun on the illegal market starts out in the legal market. Somehow, through dealer negligence, criminal cunning or outright theft, these guns enter an ambiguous realm. They may stay in gray space forever, changing hands, stashed under beds. Then again, they may resurface. And they may do some damage. Ecology Some people call Riverwest the West Bank of Milwaukee. At least one man calls it the Gaza Strip – a narrow buffer zone between the city’s racial and economic zones. Don Krause has lived in the neighborhood for 17 years. He owns Art Bar on East Burleigh, a sunny, spacious corner where local artists and tipplers come to relax in the glow of collective creative energy. Drinks are cheap and the art on the walls is priced to move. In the summer of 2005, Krause was shot in the stomach by a teenager who was trying to rob a customer. For months, Krause was the poster child of gun violence in the neighborhood, and his colorful watering hole became the rallying banner of concerned citizens and community activists. “You couldn’t go anywhere without hearing ‘Art Bar’ and ‘shooting’ in the same sentence,” he says. But not all publicity is good publicity. The perception that an area is dangerous may determine its viability. A 2000 study by the National Institute of Justice found that fear of crime had a direct effect on a neighborhood’s social ecology – most commonly in the form of “spatial avoidance.” It makes sense – why spend time in a bad part of town? But it also makes it harder for businesses, and the communities they serve, to thrive. Krause’s […]

Second-Generation Tribe

I’ve been home for the holiday and am, as always, amazed at how metro Des Moines, Iowa, has grown and changed since I grew up here. Some of these changes, like shopping centers and multi-lane highways, are to be expected – such things weren’t widely required most places in the Plains region of the Midwest when I was a girl. Others are more surprising – population of my hometown of Norwalk (formerly 7 miles south of Des Moines, now not discernibly separate) was 1,300 in the 1970 Census. Today, 11,000 suburbanites enjoy three golf courses, two coffee shops, a nice library, a public swimming pool and skate park, multiple convenience stores and fast food restaurants plus much more. With my rudimentary understanding of how population, business and property ownership affect the tax base, I can safely guess that the kids in my old high school now have separate uniforms for track, basketball and softball. My Norwalk girls basketball team is ranked number one. They were on the front page of my county newspaper (circ. 8,630), along with lots of other high school sports news. I didn’t stay with my parents in Norwalk. There’s just too many of us now for their modest two-bedroom split level, so the nine attending members of the Willow/Tomaszek/Garner tribe stayed at a Best Western. Last night was our final evening in town and my parents reserved the breakfast room and trucked in a bunch of food for a swimming party. Family members, friends, their mates and all their children streamed from the buffet to the pool and back, exclaiming over the new babies, new photos and new information incepted since our last meeting. The last of us finally gave up on Totally 80s Trivial Pursuit just before midnight and finished cleaning up before stumbling to bed. It was my boyfriend’s first time to meet everyone, and in introducing him to everyone and explaining the sometimes protracted associations, it occurred to me that my tribe in Milwaukee was not an original idea. My sisters and friends made our tribe in response to a desire for the love and support of a big, extended family close by. Last night’s gathering was anchored by my parents’ friends from forever. Then there were us kids, our own friends and our kids, several of whom are already almost old enough to have their own kids. Some of us only see each other every few years or so. One of my friends has a four year-old I still haven’t met. But it doesn’t matter; we all know that if that little boy ever needed anything that one of us could provide, it would be given without question. So our tribe in Milwaukee, as it turns out, is an extension, a satellite office if you will, of a core that emanates at least in part from a small Iowa town where, 35 years ago, a group of young parents met (or re-met from childhood) and created the big, extended family they all […]

Too close to call

By Matt Wild When our country’s top film scholars inevitably get together at the neighborhood Olive Garden to discuss cinema’s greatest artistic breakthroughs, a certain achievement that’s continually – and criminally – overlooked is contained within 1977’s masterpiece, Smokey and the Bandit. Starring Jackie Gleason, Sally Field and the irrepressible moustache of Burt Reynolds, Bandit features a landmark innovation that still manages to stir the hearts and souls of audiences today: a theme song, written and performed by co-star Jerry Reed, which helpfully explains the plot. Confused as to what’s going on in this Byzantine tale of Coors bootleggers and bumbling, boorish cops? No problem; just listen to the lyrics of Reed’s feel-good ditty, “East Bound and Down,” a song that’s featured at least 178 times throughout this 96-minute movie: “The boys are thirsty in Atlanta / and there’s beer in Texarkana / We’ll bring it back no matter what it takes.” What about Smokey, you ask? Does he have his ears on, and is he indeed hot on Bandit’s trail? “Old Smokey’s got them ears on / He’s hot on your trail / and he ain’t gonna rest ‘til you’re in jail.” Therefore, to both honor this cinematic achievement as well as guide readers through the following music and poetry-filled column (sadly, there’s little-to-no bootlegging involved), a few helpful lyrics will be provided before each major section. Well these kids made a call / to good ol’ Darling Hall / to see a rock show scheduled there for 9… Decked out in Romper Room / thrift store-chic, Darling Hall (601 S. 6th St.) is one of those small and homely spaces that only seem to grow larger and warmer the more packed with bodies it becomes. It’s during the first bitterly cold night of the year that I find myself crammed inside its walls. South Side barber by day, Darling Hall regular by night, Jose the Barber (natch) starts the evening out on a classy note, singing in a strong, confident tenor (Hank Williams’ “Cold Cold Heart” is a particular standout). Milwaukee’s The Flying Party is up next, a group that harkens back to when you were 19 and every band you loved seemed to feature an adorable Asian girl playing a Moog. Though derivative to an incalculable degree, their set is pleasant enough. Plus their drummer is the goofball that posted that phony terrorist plot to bomb football stadiums online a few months back. Summing up the next two acts quickly: I’ve covered The Trusty Knife in these pages before (VITAL April 06, August 06), so I’ll only say that – once again – they’re by far one of the best rock & roll acts in town. Seriously. As for Kansas City’s Davan, I can only warn future house-party and basement-show attendees throughout the Midwest to stay far, far away from this band. Again, seriously. Flash forward now to Circa / like a whisky drinkin’ ghost / Yes, we’re gonna’ git uncomfortably close… A few days later I […]

Many Times, Many Ways

By Amy Elliott Let’s face it: the holidays can be tough. It takes stamina to make it through the six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s with one’s sensibilities intact. But even with all of the off-the-rocker relatives, the shrill children, the sugars and saturated fats and the pushy crowds everywhere from Macy’s to Ace Hardware – there’s something genuinely nice about the holidays. Something warm, peaceful and pretty. Here, then, is VITAL’s holiday events guide, your roadmap through the evergreen forest of Milwaukee’s winter festivities. From champagne brunches to basketball games to the finest of the fine arts, everyone from the preternaturally merry to the utterly contrary will find some way to greet the season. Turn your frost-bitten sneer into some holiday cheer. Kick back with some hot chocolate, put on some slippers and enjoy the time of year with us. Slice of Ice Red Arrow Park Beginning Dec. 1, weather permitting 414-257-6100 www.countyparks.com Free skating, plus skate rentals and warm refreshments. 99.1 WMYX Santa’s Mailbox Presented by East Town Association Cathedral Square Park Through Dec. 15 www.99wmyx.com www.easttown.com Drop off a letter to Santa and receive a personalized letter from the jolly old elf himself! Concord and Choirs at the Basilica for Christmas Basilica of St. Josaphat Dec. 16, 8 pm 414-628-6018 www.concordorchestra.org Te second installment of the Concord Chamber Orchestra’s concert series entitled “Les Beaux Arts,” a tribute to musical repertoire related to other art forms. Dickens in America Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Through Dec. 17 414-291-7800 www.chamber-theatre.com An evening with Charles Dickens in the Milwaukee premiere of this new play by Wisconsin playwright James DeVita. Cedarburg Festive Friday Eves Cedar Creek Settlement, Downtown Cedarburg Through Dec. 22, 5-9 pm Live holiday music, luminarias, wine tasting, a winter cookout, and free cider & cookies. A different theme each Friday! Breakfast with Santa The Pfister Hotel Saturdays through Dec. 23, 10 am 414-390-3804 www.thepfisterhotel.com A holiday breakfast with jolly old St. Nick himself. A Fireside Christmas Fireside Dinner Theatre, Fort Atkinson Through Dec. 23 1-800-477-9505 www.firesidetheatre.com Fireside Theatre’s 14th annual Christmas spectacle promises to entertain with singing, dancing and holiday stories. A Christmas Story First Stage Children’s Theater Through Dec. 24 414-273-7206 www.firststage.org The classic holiday treat tells the story of the young Ralphie Parker, whose dreams of getting an air rifle for Christmas are repeatedly deferred. Candy Cane Lane West Allis Through Dec. 28 www.maccfund.org The West Allis neighborhood bounded by Oklahoma and Montana Avenues and 92nd to 96th Street is transformed into a winter wonderland with proceeds going to the MACC Fund. Honky Tonk Holiday Revue Apple Holler, Sturtevant Through Dec. 30 1-800-238-3629 www.appleholler.com Songs by country legends like Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, and Loretta Lynn in a holiday dinner theater musical revue. A Cudahy Caroler Christmas In Tandem Theatre Through Dec. 31 414-273-7206 www.intandemtheatre.com This wildly popular holiday show returns with a hilarious tale of beer, bowling, friendship and forgiveness and the quest to reunite the beloved Cudahy choir. 11th Annual Christmas in the Country Grand […]

Early Holidaze

33 1/3 Editor Loves VITAL Review

The current issue of Vital Source, Milwaukee’s free monthly arts magazine, carries the first review (by Barry Wightman) of our series anthology. I like the way Barry has captured the spirit of the series by throwing so much of himself into the review More at: http://33third.blogspot.com/2006/11/greatest-hits-reviewed-in-milwaukee.html

30 a.m. – A Thanksgiving letter to my mother

Dear Mom, I’m already up, itching to start the turkey. But everyone here is still asleep and I know that as soon as I start banging pots around the whole house will be up. So for now I am enjoying a quiet cup of coffee in the pre-dawn stillness. I am upstairs in my office, which is my sanctuary, all my lists laying in a pile on the kitchen table. I will look at them later. In point of fact, I’ve been making Thanksgiving dinner for 21 years today, if you count the crazy potlucks my friends used to do in college the weekend before the holiday, and I don’t really need the lists. They just comfort me. This year there won’t be Kraft dinner on the side – my old school pal Ron’s annual contribution – or chips and dip guiltily slipped into the mix by Doug, Dave or Pat. By the same token, Wanda’s amazing spaetzel from her mother’s recipe are probably being boiled up somewhere in Texas as we speak and Halston’s apple pie is sitting on a window sill in rural Missouri. No, today’s dinner is higher-minded, with sage and mint-stuffed roasted turkey made with herbs from my summer garden, dried and preserved just for today. Lucky’s homemade applesauce with cinammon and my cranberries with orange zest and red wine will fill the house with sweet smells, complemented by five homemade desserts from Michelle and 10 pounds each of mashed and sweet potatoes dutifully peeled by Lena and Emma and prepared by Beth. Mehrdad will bring his famous saffron rice with Wisconsin cranberries. He’ll make the world’s best gravy from my pan drippings. And If Brian and his daughter can make it, they’ll bring real homemade southern mac and cheese, possibly the world’s best comfort food. There will be other dishes as well, laid out on my buffet for a feast of biblical proportions. We’ll all praise each other’s cooking as we sip Pinot Grigio. The kids will spill their drinks and ask how much they have to eat before they can have dessert. My two-bedroom bungalow will fill with the sounds and life of 25 or 30 close friends and family members. I know I’ll look around despairingly at least once, sure that the house will never be clean again. I know I’ll almost call my son’s name when corraling the kids for dinner, forgetting as I always do that he is never with me on this day. The day will pass in a blur, with a second meal at Michael’s mother’s in the late afternoon and a get-together in the evening for adults at Joy’s. I will fall into bed exhausted, probably late. But right now it is quiet. I am drinking coffee alone. And I wish, more than anything, that you were here. I love you, Jon Anne

Even Writing It Down Doesn’t Seem Significant

Everything Feels Just a Little Bit Older

Kramer Hates Niggers!

Exhaling

When the movie “Waiting To Exhale” first came out, I had not yet had enough life experience to understand the title. That is no longer true. I have now had many times when my life was so full, so busy, or so stressful that I felt like I hadn’t had a long exhale in a long time. I’m having that right now. As my first semester as a returning college student winds down, I am overwhelmed with last minute details and meetings. Managing my registration for next semester, preparing portfolios to turn in, and studying for finals all have me in a bit of a tailspin. To be fair, I have worked ahead as far as possible in all of my courses, earning me a well-deserved teasing from my class mates. My load isn’t as big as it could be. But it’s big enough. And sometimes I think I’m not able to hold it up much longer. Fortunately, there is a little break coming. Tomorrow I only have one meeting on campus, and then no class until Monday. Thanksgiving is upon us, and with it, four class-free days. For that, I am truly thankful. Next Monday, I will trudge back to campus and finish out my last couple of weeks of classes and finals. Then I will exhale. Aw, hell. I might just exhale twice.

Pelosi’s secret sauce

I have to concur with Matt Wild – Nancy Pelosi is hot. I, too, found myself, just last night, having fevered dreams of a vague nature that involved Ms. Pelosi’s famous smile and those burning brown eyes. Granted, these same dreams were also rife with broader symbolism – my son missing his train to Iowa today, my dog peeing all over the floor as I entertain 25 people for Thanksgiving and Newt Gingrich’s hair. Maybe these dreams are the by-product of sleeping on a heating pad. Or maybe they’re really tied to broader fears of failure and embarassment. Pelosi stands in the doorway of history. Not just in the most obvious way, as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, but also as an elected official who holds in her hand the power to influence the re-connection of a nation as severely divided as at any time in the memory of its living citizens. Her stated commitment to ethics has already been shaken by what the media is casting as personal loyalty over broad stewardship (as evidenced by her failed bid to install John Murtha as Majority leader and her backing of an impeached and convicted Federal judge for chair of the House Intelligence committee). She is seeing firsthand that her actions will be watched around the world and not just on the Hill, and conservative bloggers and Op-Ed writers are already sharpening their pitchforks for a good old-fashioned character assassination. But I believe in Nancy Pelosi, because she’s got a secret weapon that has yet to be taken into account. I know this weapon not only exists, but will come to play a major role in her ability to herd the cats of the House into the corral. To me, it’s as plain as the nose on her Romanesque face, and anyone who thinks they can take her on and win is wasting time and energy better spent falling into line and working for the bipartisanship this country so badly needs. For those of you without my crystal vision, I’ll share what some of us already know: Ms. Pelosi is Italian. When attempting to figure this woman out, it is absolutely imperative that this facet of her makeup not be ignored. I can personally tell just by looking at pictures of her that she possesses the paisano triple-threat in abundance: she’s beautiful, matriarchal and used to getting her way. Her primary goal is to be effective, and nobody can bend an exchange to their own purposes like an Italian on a mission. She will listen, flatter, cajole and compromise. She will make her associates feel valued – if that’s what works. If that doesn’t work, she will threaten, punish and call out her detractors with quiet righteousness. And if, somehow, she still finds herself in a backslide, she will resort to the most powerful weapon in the arsenal of the Italian woman. She will express her disappointment. She will roll her eyes heavenward and then down […]