Riverwest news briefs…Poetry & Politics – Riverwest Follies – Valentine’s Day Local Shopping – Mardi Gras Parade – Northeast Side Plan – 4th St. Forum – Community Brainstorming Breakfast – more… Want to own a Riverwest home with 100-year old charm, but ready for another century of life? The Riverwest Investment Cooperative (RIC) has completely renovated the charming house at 2518 N. Weil St. Fully rebuilt inside and out, it features an elegant and open design with plentiful natural light, fully restored hardwood floors, new bamboo flooring, modern kitchen & baths, radiant floor heating, new electrical service and plumbing, high efficiency boiler and appliances, and new insulation, roofing, and siding. Just a stone’s throw from St. Casimir’s and the Riverwest Co-op, this house is waiting for an owner to enjoy low-maintenance living. For more info, contact August Herschede at 414.276.7777. For more info about RIC go to www.riverwestinvest.org. POETRY & POLITICS – No stumping allowed! See another side of the candidates as they read their own work of poetry or an author of their choice at the monthly Redletter series at Woodland Pattern, 705 E. Locust. The program begins at 7 p.m. on Fri, Feb 15 with an open mic. Cost is $3, or $2 for open mic readers. RIVERWEST FOLLIES – We hope to see you there – either on the stage or in your seat. The bodacious Riverwest cabaret group “Eat the Mystery” will highlight this fun showcase of amazing local talent. There’s still time to get in the act! Contact Show Director Tea Krulos by Sat, Feb 16 at 414.265.7278 or teakrulos@gmail.com. Doors open at 7 p.m. on Sat, March 1 and the smoke-free show starts at 8 p.m. at Linneman’s, $6 cover. ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE – And you’ll find all you need for your Valentine right here in Riverwest with heavenly chocolates from BURKE CANDY and fresh flowers from SCARVACI FLORIST. Or select something special for your baby at MIA PUTIA, FISCHBERGER’S, or CLOSET CLASSICS. Crown your beloved with a handmade wool hat from RIVERWEST CO-OP or learn how to knit one at LOOP YARN SHOP. Present a sweet book of verse from WOODLAND PATTERN BOOKS or recycle your love at JACKPOT. Naughty and nice treats are to be found at THE TOOL SHED or you might just get lucky with a lottery ticket from SUNRISE FOODS. MARDI GRAS PARADE – Treat yourself to smokin’ Jambalaya at the Tracks until 11 p.m. and then toot your kazoo at the annual Riverwest Mardi Gras Parade on Tue, Feb 5. Meet up at the Uptowner at 7 p.m. for the Electric Voodoo Gris-Gris Band. At 8 p.m. the parade snakes over to Frank N Stein and then to Riverhorse. Top off the night at Linneman’s with hot hot Cajun music by Sigmund Snopek and Michael Woods. More info: Eric, 562.3740 or Karin, 372.8669 ONE SIDE PLAN – Residents are invited to make their final comments on the proposed Northeast Side Area Plan at an Open House on Wed, Feb 13 at Alterra Café, 2999 N. Humboldt. Two sessions will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Open to anyone who lives, works, or has a vital interest in the future of the NE Side, the plan may be viewed at: www.mkedcd.org/planning/plans/Northeast 4TH STREET FORUM – Topics include Politics, Power, and Prayer on Feb 7; Unfunded Mandates on Feb 14; Guns and Public Policy on Feb 21; and Farmers in the City on Feb 29. The forum starts at noon and is open to the public at Turner Hall, 1034 N. 4th St. Or watch these engaging public discussions on Fridays at 10 p.m. on Channel 10 or Sundays at 3 p.m. on Channel 36. More info: www.4thStreetForum.org. BRAINSTORMING CONFERENCE – “Economic Development on the North Side of Milw – Jobs, Business, and Money” is the topic for the monthly Community Brainstorming Conference on Sat, Feb 23. Open to the public, breakfast is served from 8-9 a.m. The program runs from 9-11 a.m. at St. Matthew C.M.E. Church, 2944 N. 9th St. Come and participate. More info: Hon. Russell W. Stamper, Sr. at rwstampersr@sbcglobal.net WINTERFEST – Frosty fun abounds for the whole family with sledding, hikes, and cross country skiing outdoors at the annual Winterfest from noon-4 p.m. on Sat, Feb 9. Warm up by the crackling fireplace inside with acoustic music, juggling, and crafts at Urban Ecology Center in Riverside Park, 1500 E. Park Place. More info at www.urbanecologycenter.org. PEACE FROGS – Frogwater, one of Miltown’s top Celtic/bluegrass groups, takes to the stage for the Living Activism Series on Sun, Feb 10 at 7 p.m. The $10 suggested donation benefits Peace Action Wisconsin at The Coffee House, 631 N. 19th (& Wisconsin). More info: www.peaceactionwi.org FAMILY FUN DAY – After a hiatus due to construction and renovation of the building, Family Fun Day returns to La Escuela Fratney (Fratney School) on Sat, Feb 2. The community is invited to tour the school, enjoy the student performances, workshops, and a smorgasbord lunch, all free from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more info, call 414.267.1110. FREE SWIM IS BACK – Bring the family and your friends for a refreshing free community swim at Gaenslen School pool, 1250 E. Burleigh. Take along a towel, suit & cap (or buy one there for $1.50) on the first Wednesday of the month, 6-7:30 p.m. on Feb 6, Mar 5, Apr 3, and May 8. FOR BABY & ME – Join the free Mom & Baby Play group, Monday mornings 9-11 a.m. at Pink House Studio, 601 E. Wright (& Booth). The group is a time for moms to enjoy gentle community with stretching, singing, or massage circles while taking care of the babies. More info: 414.372.3824 or sarahworks@wi.rr.com. BRADY ST BOOK – Frank Alioto’s new book about his neighborhood, “Milwaukee’s Brady Street Neighborhood” is a photographic legacy for generations to come. The images span 150 years of settlement by various ethnic groups – English, Polish, Irish, and Italian – who made their mark on the homes, shops, and civic gatherings of the famed Brady Street area. Of particular interest are photos of several historic fires – just what you would expect from Alioto, a Lieutenant with the Milwaukee Fire Dept. – which also did their work to alter the landscape. The book will be available for $20 on Mon, Feb 4 at the book release party from 5 to 7 p.m. at Regano’s Roman Coin, 1004 E. Brady St., and also at local bookstores later this month. GALLERY CLOSING – After much public dismay about the proposed bronze Fonz sculpture downtown, Mike Brenner of Hotcakes Gallery at 3379 N. Pierce St. has decided to close up shop on July 3. As he explained on his web, “I cannot see running a contemporary art gallery in a city whose “leadership” is so eager to invest its limited resources in garbage instead of fostering its burgeoning arts community.” He will focus instead on his work as Executive Director of MARN (Milwaukee Artist Resource Network) and a project with the East Side BID to build an arts incubator on Milwaukee’s east side. More info: www.hotcakesgallery.com SHORT FILM FEST – Let the camera be your palette and win a grand prize of $1,000. Short film submissions for the 10th Annual Milwaukee Short Film are due Feb 29 for the Regular deadline ($15) and March 26 for the Final deadline ($20). MSFF was named the “Best Local Festival” in the Winter 2006 issue of Moviemaker. For more info, call Ross Bigley at 414.807.4008 or rbigley@hotmail.com. ABHM FILM SERIES – America’s Black Holocaust Museum is running another film and discussion series starting with “Let the Church Say Amen” on Fri, Feb 8 at 7 p.m.; “W.E.B. DuBois: A Biography in Four Voices” on Sat, Feb 9 at 2 p.m.; “The Murder of Emmett Till” on Thu, Feb 14 at 7 p.m.; “Boycott” on Sat, Feb 16 at 2 p.m.; and “American Blackout” on Sat, Feb 23 at 2 p.m. The screenings are free, but the museum asks a donation of $5/adults and $3/students. More info: www.blackholocaustmuseum.org. MONTAL’S LOUNGE – The License Committee has voted to revoke the tavern license for troubled Montal’s Lounge at 2525 N. Holton St. Neighbors have had numerous complaints about noise, crowds, and dangerous activity stemming from Montal’s including a patron who was shot and killed outside the bar last year. Final approval is pending by the Common Council on Feb 5. HUMBOLDT BRIDGE – After a year’s delay on the start-up of the planned reconstruction of the Humboldt Avenue Bridge, preliminary work to move electrical lines will begin soon. Work by WE Energies will mean no parking in the bridge area from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon-Fri. Call Socorro Gonzales of WE Energies at 414.221.3909 with any concerns. The bridge, built in 1954, will be completely torn down and reconstructed. More details about the project, expected to take one year, will follow as they become available. NEW DOWNER AVE BID – Pending approval at the next Common Council meeting, the new Downer Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) has formed with these charter board members: Mike Eitel, Boris Gokhman, Lynn Hartwig, Joel Lee, and John Sendik. Other BIDSs on the northeast side include Brady St., East Side (North Ave), University Square (Oakland Ave), Riverworks (Capitol Drive area), and Historic King Drive. CITY PLAN COMMISSION – The Zoning, neighborhood and Development committee is slated to recommend approval of Whitney Gould as the newest member of the city’s Plan Commission at its next meeting. Gould, with her expertise as the former urban architecture critic at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, would be a welcome addition to the commission which oversees master planning, development, and zoning matters. HUMBOLDT COMMONS – A zoning change approved last month by the Common Council makes way for Humboldt Commons at 2764 N. Humboldt. Eight units with access to Gordon Park and the trail will be built in two phases by Trademark Home Properties. Phase I calls for two duplexes and one single family home with construction of the five units slated to begin in February. Phase II calls for one three-unit townhouse to be built at the rear of the property. All units will include off-street parking. The property formerly contained a duplex which was razed in preparation for the new housing. SHOREWOOD RIVER DEVELOPMENT – Sunrise, with 450 centers nationwide, has proposed a $15 million, 83-unit assisted living center at 1111 E. Capitol Drive. Upcoming meetings include the Community Development Authority review on Fri, Feb 1, 7:30 a.m. (Shorewood Village Hall, Committee Room, 2nd floor). Design Review on Thu, Feb 14, 5 p.m; Plan Commission Public Hearing on Tue, Feb 26, 7 p.m.; and Village Board Public Hearing on Mon, March 3, 7:30 p.m. CLARIFICATIONS – In last month’s cover story, the map depicting all the neighborhood groups in the Third District was provided courtesy of the Milwaukee Common Council. Contributing Editor Nik Kovak is on leave from the Riverwest Currents during his bid for the Third District Aldermanic seat. VOTE FEBRUARY 19