Jay Walia

Indian Restaurant Planned for Northwest Side

Indian Bistro 86 part of owner's plan to revitalize neighborhood.

The Bellagio Is Coming To Milwaukee

Soul food restaurant and event space opening on far Northwest side.

A Northwest Side Hub for Minority Entrepreneurs

Plus: A recap of the week's real estate news.

Contribution to Nikiya Dodd of $250

Contribution to Vincent Bobot of $300

Youth Correctional Center Planned for North Side

State facility at 6600 N. Teutonia would replace troubled Lincoln Hills center.

Vantage on the Park

Hotel-to-apartments conversion moving right along.

Contribution to Chantia Lewis of $700

From Hotel to Home in East Town

Park East Hotel becoming Vantage on the Park apartments.

Contribution to Tony Zielinski of $400

Park East Hotel to Close

60-year-old hotel in E. State St. sold; future uncertain.

Contribution to Cavalier Johnson of $100

Contribution to Robert Bauman of $772

Contribution to José G. Pérez of $150

Contribution to Cavalier Johnson of $100

New Thai, Sushi & Burger Restaurants

Plus new Tiki and Northwoods-themed bars opening.

Contribution to Tom Barrett of $1,000

Contribution to Ashanti Hamilton of $350

Contribution to Chantia Lewis of $100

Mayor Barret, Ald. Bauman attend grand opening of new $3M BP gas station at 27th Street & St. Paul

Statement from Keith Stanley, Executive Director of Near West Side Partners, Inc.

Contribution to José G. Pérez of $200

Contribution to Robert Bauman of $80

Lautenschlager’s Mess

Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager’s drunk driving arrest last week removes her from behind the wheel of her state-owned vehicle for a year, and puts Governor Jim Doyle in the driver’s seat. The two had squabbled, privately, over terms of the Governor’s jobs bill, with Lautenschlager threatening to use her authority to see that the law comply with the state’s environmental regulations, which she intimated it did not. This sort of independent action by an attorney general is not new in Wisconsin. Doyle was the chief practitioner of it, but then again, he was a Democrat, and the Governor at the time was a Republican. The press has made note that Doyle suggests Lautenschlager forgo some of her pay as a sort of penance for her indiscretion, a matter that remains unresolved at this time. Doyle also suggested that Lautenschlager consider entering a program to treat problem drinkers. He said that he had a number of friends who had been in a similar situation and that the treatment had helped them. In fact, the public admission of guilt and responsibility (which Lautenschlager made) is usually accompanied these days with a prompt acknowledgement that a problem exists. The subject then usually promptly enters a treatment program and completes it, after which the matter is forgotten. Lautenschlager has not made that admission thus far, which leaves her in the position of either not having a “problem” or being “in denial” of it. It does leave Doyle high and dry, however, and much less likely to face interference in his plans from that peskiest of all politicians – an ambitious Attorney General. Walker at the War Memorial County Executive Scott Walker welcomed about 100 well-clad guests to a fundraiser February 26th at the War Memorial Center. The strictly upper-crust affair was a Republican-type fundraiser, which meant that hard liquor was consumed (in moderation) and beer, for the most part, was ignored. For those fans of the frothy stuff, Walker offered Miller products and Heineken. Food was by Ellen’s Prestige Catering, and included strolling waiters, another classy touch. Menu items included spinach somethings, meat and melted cheese on sandwich rounds, wrapped up little salmon tidbits, an entirely unsuccessful raspberry-brie tart, platters of some kind of 21st century sandwich product along with perfectly delicious fruit. The event was unmarred by public oratory, but was enhanced by an A-list of locals practicing up for the next time Bush is in town. Among the exalted: George Dalton, Dennis Kuester (on crutches), Michael Cudahy, mourning the recent death of Daniel Urban Kiley, creator of the $4 million Cudahy garden outside the adjacent Milwaukee Art Museum, Fred Luber, Tim Hoeksma, Carol Skornicka, John Finerty, Jim Weichmann, Joe Rice, Mary Buestrin, Corey Hoze and developer Mark Irgens. Hoze has secured speaker Dennis Hastert to appear at a $2000 fundraiser on his hopeless behalf in his upcoming congressional campaign. That’s rich. Marvin Pratt popped in and worked the crowd for about 20 minutes before his cop told him it was time to […]