News You Need to Know

“It was once suggested, to illustrate the chaotic and unpredictable way in which natural systems behave, that the beat of a butterfly’s wing in China can eventually trigger a hurricane in the Atlantic.” -- -The Economist, 8 September 2007.

Love Endures

Though the pace of change is unrelenting, some things never change.

Puttin’ on the grits!

Coarse grain’s delicious versatility makes it a perfect fit for your pantry.

The Sky is Falling! at Danceworks

The concept of falling —whether in love, out of love, off bridges or off a bike–creates an intriguing performance through the Danceworks, Inc. production of The Wide Sky is Falling! , which closed out the 2008-09 season at their studio theater last weekend. The program collaborated the choreography of Artistic Director Dani Kuepper together with “countless contributions” from the Danceworks Performance Company while incorporating text from their Aurora Adult Day Care Project.  Even the audience participated on that Friday night with a contribution to the medley Falling Over & Over & 0ver, with a two-line rendition of Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head that expanded on this theme. The falling theme resonated through each number with fresh inspiration in the hour plus performance. Steps of Caution reminisced about protecting the young from the worries of tricycles and skateboards set to the background music of Rock A Bye Baby. Another number, Landing is Hard, demonstrated soulfully through dance how one partner keeps another from falling apart emotionally during which Simon Eichinger and Kim Johnson-Rockafellow performed a poignant duet that imaginatively used a three-tiered step for a platform. The familiar song London Bridges also delivered an unsettling urgency later in the program through rhythmic movements in The Warning. But more humorous elements appeared throughout the program including Roller Coaster, offering a choreographic look at this frightening amusement ride as did the company finale, Fast Fall. Each DPC member dressed in tropical floral sundresses or bright polo shirts which added a note of spring’s color to these scenes, and skirts that flowed with each dance step. While perhaps slightly less compelling or cohesive than other Danceworks productions this year, the evening again appreciated the versatility of DPC and their ability to communicate ideas– including the complexities of falling–through the art of dance. It promotes excitement for their DanceLab events which begin through the summer months starting with “Screen Dance” on July 11. A summer season pass is 60 dollars for these four performances through August 8, promising to become an entertaining element to Milwaukee’s seasonal live arts scene. For more information regarding summer dance classes for children and adults, or the DanceLab season series call: 414.277.8480 or www.danceworksmke.org

Upcoming Events for the Week of April 6th, 2009

April 6, 2009 Community & Economic Development April 6, 2009 9:00 am The Community and Economic Development Committee hears matters relating to community development, block grants, job development, business improvement districts, city public relations, industrial land banks and revenue bonds, emerging business enterprises, recreation, cultural arts and the library system.The Community and Economic Development Committee meetings start at 9:00 pa.m. and are held in the Room 301-B, […] April 7, 2009 SARUP Lecture Series: Least-cost Paths to Energy Independence at a University Campus April 7, 2009 12:00 pm to 1:20 pm Speaker: Lee DeBaillie – Energy Center of WisconsinSARUP is the acronym for School of Architecture & Urban Planning lecture Series are Free and Open to the Public. All presentations will take place at the UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning (SARUP) from 12:00 – 1:20 pm in Room 345. SARUP is located […] April 8, 2009 Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development April 8, 2009 9:00 am The Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee reviews issues relating to city development, zoning, historic preservation, incremental tax financing, building codes and housing projects.The Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee meetings start at 9:00 a.m. and are held in the Room 301-B, City Hall, unless otherwise noted. […]

Milwaukee Skywalk Map

We attempted to create a map of all the skywalk connections in Milwaukee, including the longest line that runs through The Shops of Grand Avenue.

While from an urbanist's perspective we still would prefer you choose the sidewalk, here's a map for those of you looking for other connections. Next up is mapping the empty retail spaces that are on roads paralleling a skywalk route.

Milwaukee Streetcar Map

We've unveiled a Google Maps implmentation of Mayor's Tom Barrett's proposed streetcar system for downtown Milwaukee. Take a look yourself, we think it's a little more exciting than a PDF. The route is likely to change as the planning process continues, and we'll track those changes on our map.

Paul Robeson in concert

Next Act Theatre Restaging an exceptional character from last season, Next Act Theatre returns with the limited run of Paul Robeson in Concert at the Off-Broadway Theatre. This charismatic Black Columbia law school graduate, singing star, actor and activist began a career in the 1920’s, stirring American hearts through his music, political beliefs and protests against racism. Paul Mabon reprises the role of Robeson with his resonant, magnetic bass voice recreating a personality larger than life. The concert’s first half allows Mabon full access to the set through intimate cabaret staging where he interacts with the audience. His combination of spirituals and show tunes from the era resound with evocative conviction, which spans the period from the 1920’s to the 50’s. Two standouts from the fine first set include the less familiar My Curly Headed Baby and Robeson’s signature piece from Showboat, Ol’ Man River. The second set begins with Mabon introducing soprano Adrienne Danrich. Danrich previews a selection from Next Act’s upcoming season, This Little Light of Mine, which details the lives of singer Marian Anderson and Leontyne Price who were both contemporaries of Robeson. Danrich’s rich, vibrant operatic voice carries the house whenever she sings or speaks. Several outstanding moments remain the duets by Mabon and Danrich, who seamlessly exchange their presence on stage during the second act, including an encore, and enjoy an elegant collaboration. Director David Cecsarini interjects a few moments of questions for Robeson to reflect on his life, while the musical accompaniment by Ron Martinson on piano and Joe Aaron on clarinet provided masterful touches. This evening of soul-searching by Robeson, Anderson and Price through actors Mabon and Danrich asks the audience to listen and learn from other men and women mirroring similar lives to Robeson when he claims that he, “stood firm in his beliefs, and his ideals were beauty and truth.” Next Act Theatre presents “Paul Robeson in Concert” until March 1 at the Off-Broadway Theatre. The final show of the 2008/09 season will be The Pavilion, opening April 2. Subscriptions for 2009-2010 include “This Little Light of Mine” with Adrienne Danrich. www.nextact.org

Secrets of a Soccer Mom @ The Boulevard

By Jenna Raymond Soccer Mom. It’s a term that crept into the American vernacular near the end of the twentieth century. It’s a woman who drives a mini-van or an SUV, visits Starbucks everyday and has an expensive cell phone that constantly ringing with calls about the PTA. She ‘runs errands’ every day of the week and manages her ‘schedule’ around her children’s athletic and extra-curricular activities. Right? Outwardly, that’s a generic description of Soccer Moms. The Boulevard Theatre’s Secrets of a Soccer Mom shows both the typical Soccer Mommian attributes as well as the deeper mysteries and enigmas of all those blond-highlighted women driving luxury mini-vans. Written by Kathleen Clark, Secrets of a Soccer Mom begins with three women meeting to play in a Mom vs Son soccer match. They agree to play poorly in order to let their third grade sons win. While waiting on the sidelines for their turn to rotate into the game they at first talk over classic Soccer Mom topics; the PTA, pizza day at school and field trips. As the day goes on, the three veer off from the pre-approved small talk subjects and delve into their innermost beings. As a result of exploring their pasts and presents, the three decide not to hand over a victory to their sons. Even though it looks like a silly suburban soccer game it turns into a personal battle for Nancy, Lynn and Alison. Alison, played by Marion Araujo, is at first not completely on board with playing badly. It comes out that she was an athlete before she got married. Her husband didn’t like her competing or playing on any kind of team. She sees the afternoon as a chance to leave the confines of her marriage behind; figuratively and maybe even literally. Araujo’s early enthusiasm seemed a bit contrived. However, she portrays Alison’s sincere yet naïve plans to run away in a simple and frank manner. As Nancy, Kathleen Williams outwardly seems incredibly archetypal. In a fleece and capris she chats with her fellow Soccer Moms while keeping an eye on her own children as well as others. It’s discovered that she ran in college and used to be a model. While Nancy loves her children with her entire heart, it’s obvious that she gave up much of who she was before she had them. Williams especially shines while flipping through a children’s picture book, pointing out her favorite characters and scenes as though it’s the latest Zadie Smith novel. While all three women hold their own in the Boulevard’s studio theatre, it’s really Brooke Wegner playing Lynn that steals the show. Lynn is a former social worker turned PTA-school volunteer-Soccer Mom. She organizes absolutely everything and still manages to keep up on her gossip and refrain from throttling her mother-in-law during Sunday dinner. Wegner seems to live two roles on stage; Public Lynn and Inner Lynn. Public Lynn chats, jests and conspires with her fellow Soccer Moms. While Inner Lynn rarely utters a […]

Committee Approves Plan to Improve Riverwalk

File number 081431 would allow the library to apply for a Public Library Innovation Grant which would be used to extend the summer reading program in to a year round program.  Alderman Joe Davis pointed out that he brought the grant to the library staff’s attention and said “they have a great success rate, that if we leading them to water, they know how to drink”.  This file was approved and will now go before the full Common Council. What evidently has been a long an ongoing process to comply with a 2003 Department of Justice ruling in response to an American with Disabilities Act complaint will be going through another iteration.  The 14th Amendment to the Riverwalk Development Agreement for Business Improvement District 15 would increase the budget for accessibility to $4.8 million.  The original judgment included ten lifts, whereas the current plan will include six ramps and four lifts which should last better in Milwaukee’s climate.  Progress has been made toward complying with the ruling in that the first of the new ramps has been completed and the Mason St. ramp will be completed shortly.  This file was approved and will now go before the full Common Council.

Milwaukee Snow Videos

Just about everyone in Milwaukee is ready for spring, right? Well in the event that you're not, we have two pretty impressive videos to share with you that have a lot of snow (and Milwaukee) in them.

City Committee Makes Many Appointments

Soloman Chris Johnson, Welford Sanders, LaMar Franklin, Jo Spear Jr., Carla Cross, President and CEO of Cross Management Services, Inc., and Luc Monsanto, were appointed to Historic King Drive Business Improvement District.  When asked about his interest in serving on the board, Jo Spear Jr. responded saying “instead of putting all my back into the district, I want to put all my mind in to it”.  Carla Cross pointed out that the BID’s most recent accomplishments included putting up Christmas decorations and displaying of district focused flags.  She went on to say that she “would like to work more closely with the Bronzeville team”.  Luc Monsanto expressed his excited about being appointed by saying that “people always say this but I’m truly excited to be part of this board”. There were also a series of appointments and reappointments to the East North Avenue Business Improvement District that included the likes of Paul Miller, from Alterra, John Sidoff from Hooligan’s, Jeff Sherman, from OnMilwaukee.com, and Peggy Silvestrini from Beans & Barley,.  This group has long participated in the development of the East Side with their businesses and by serving the community.  When questioned regarding the new dorms on the East Side Paul Miller responded “the new dorm I think is going to be a great addition” and “I have seen no negative impact”.  Jeff Sherman expressed his belief in the East Side saying “the east side is about density, it’s about discovery, it’s about diversity”.