FROLIC AT THE FOLLIES! Be amused and amazed by your neighbors at the Riverwest Follies – in celebration of six years of chewy news from the Riverwest Currents. See it all on Linneman’s vast stage: circus acts with a man eating chicken, belly dancers, Insurgent Theater, Eat the Mystery, and more on Sat, March 1. Only six bucks; doors open at 7PM; show at 8PM. See you on the stage or in your seat! Ciao Meow! RIC OPEN HOUSE – Tour this charming and totally renovated Riverwest cottage at 2518 N. Weil on Fri, Feb 29, 6-9:00 pm. Meet Riverwest Investment Cooperative (RIC) members, munch on snacks, and make an offer. More info at www.riverwestinvest.com GINSBERG TRIBUTE – Free music, poetry, and a light show all pay fitting tribute to the immortal spirit of Allen Ginsberg on Sat, March 8, 8:00 pm. The evening hums with readings by Martin Jack Rosenblum, Antler, Jeff Poniewaz, James Liddy, Susan Firer, John Jeske, and Bob Watt, and music by The Blackholes. Swim in the magic of the Paka Paka Light Show. UWM Union Ballroom, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd. More info: 414.229.3111 POTHOLE KLUNKERS – Yikes! Potholes are calving all over the city. Program this number for DPW into your cell phone: 414.286.8282. Or handle it in a jiffy online at www.mpw.net. Click on Service Requests to report potholes, street lights out, get night parking permission, etc. UWM SAFETY – Students and neighbors are invited to a public hearing at 7:00 pm on Wed, March 5 on how to improve university neighborhood safety. Hosted by the UWMilw Campus Safety Task Force, the meeting will be held in the cafeteria of the new RiverView dorm, 2340 N. Commerce St. Attendees are encouraged to park on Commerce St, south of North Ave. More info: Tom Luljak at tluljak@uwm.edu. Campus safety info at www.campussafety. uwm.edu. SPRING CRAFT FAIR – Freshen up your home sanctuary with spring floral arrangements, Easter crafts, gift baskets, candles, and more at the Spring Craft Fair & Bake Sale on Sat, March 15. Sponsored by Three Holy Women Parish, it runs from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at St. Hedwig School Hall, 1702 N. Humboldt (Brady St. entrance), $1 admission. SLOW FOOD – The popular CSA Open House returns to the Urban Ecology Center on Sat, March 15. This is where the community gets to meet local farmers and sign up for a weekly share of farm fresh produce and eggs. The day runs from noon to 4:00 pm and includes samples, children’s activities, and a $300 door prize towards a CSA share. Co-sponsored by Milwaukee CSA Initiative & Slow Foods WISE. More info: 414.964.8505. GOURMENT @ MATC – Enjoy sublime food and support gourmet students at MATC on Mon, March 10, 5:00-8:00 pm. Sample Italian, Latin American, Asian, Seafood, Carvery, Chocolate Dipping, and French Country Buffet selections prepared by students and faculty of the Culinary Arts Program. Graduates of this exceptional program have gone on to open innovative new restaurants like Café Lulu and Tess. Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door (includes 4 wine/beer tickets). More info: John Reiss, Chef-Instructor, 414.297.6861. RW CO-OP BENEFIT – Get your green on with music and fun at the St. Patrick’s Fundraiser Extravaganza for the Riverwest Co-op on Sat, March 15, from 7:00 pm to close. The .357 String Band, Dr. Chow’s Love Medicine, Highlonesome & David Towle take over the stage at Linneman’s on Locust & Weil. ALL CITY GATHERING – The brightest night of the year, the St. Patrick’s Day All City Gathering returns to Club Timbuktu on Mon, March 17. Activists and visionaries from all corners of the city begin arriving at 5:00 pm for a moment on the soapbox. Come hear what folks are doing to unleash massive change in M-Town. Includes musical performances and poetry for $5 (smoke-free). More info: Godsil@milwaukeerenaissance.com FREE BUS RIDES – Miller Brewing Co. once again makes St. Patrick’s Day worryfree with FREE bus rides on all routes from 6:00 pm until the end of regular service on Mon, March 17. More info at www.millerfreerides.com. VIA CRUCIS – At noon on Good Friday, March 21, a solemn procession of the Living Way of the Cross winds its way through Riverwest and Harambee, beginning at St. Casimir’s on Bremen & Clarke and ending at St. Francis Church on 4th & Brown. A live re-enactment of the final days of Jesus takes place at various locations, with prayers and readings in Spanish and English. Expect some traffic and parking restrictions for a few hours along Holton St. between Clarke & Brown. GREAT LAKES WATER COMPACT – State legislators are in the process of hammering out the details of the Great Lakes Water Compact. An Informational Meeting about this landmark agreement to protect our inland freshwater seas will be hosted by State Rep Jon Richards on Wed, March 19, 5:30-7:30 pm at Bay View Library, 2566 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. The public is invited to attend or contact Richards at 1-888-534-0019 or RepRichards@legis.wi.gov NE SIDE PLAN – After two years of ongoing meetings by residents and stakeholders, the Northeast Side Area Plan is ready for public hearings at the next City Plan Commission on Mon, March 3 at 1:30 pm, 809 N. Broadway, 1st floor boardroom and at the Zoning, Neighborhood & Development Committee on Tue, March 11 at 9:00 am, Room 301B, City Hall. Upon approval by the Common Council on March 18, the plan will serve as the guiding light for many years to come for development, green corridor, and quality of life issues affecting this robust patch of the city. McGEE’S NEW TEAM – Imprisoned Alderman Mike McGee has a new legal team on board. Riverwester and former Alderwoman Larraine McNamara-McGraw and Texas attorney Larry E. Jarrett took over in late January when Glenn O. Givens asked to be released from the case. Judge Dennis P. Moroney has set a trial date of May 19 that is “set in granite,” meaning no delays will be tolerated. Ald. McGee won 32% of the vote in the Feb 19 primary election. Should he win the April 1 election and be convicted, a special election would be scheduled. LOTUS LAND – After losing their inventory to burst water pipes last December and surviving a fire before that in 2006, Lotus Land has pulled the plug on their Center St. location and moved to drier ground at 832 E. Clark, in the shade of St. Casimir’s church. The Noble Brothers plan a grand opening for sometime in March. Not changed is the phone at 414.372.8371 or the hours: Tue-Sat, noon to 6 pm. More info at www.lotusland.gemm.com HOSPITAL FOR SALE – Long anticipated, the Columbia Hospital campus is finally up for sale. CB Richard Ellis has the 11-acre property listed for RFQ proposals at www.cbre.com/csm. The parcel includes seven structures with 828,000 square feet, a 788 space parking structure, and a 174 space parking lot. The property at 2025 E. Newport Ave is bounded by Newport, Hartford, Maryland, and Murray. The hospital is expected to close in 2010 upon completion of the “hospital of the future” under construction by Columbia St. Mary’s near East North Ave. Neighbors have been adamant about no more UWM dorms and would prefer to have the site transformed into single family homes. MONTAL’S LOUNGE – Troubled Montal’s at 2525 N. Holton St. closed last month after the Common Council voted unanimously to revoke their license. Neighbors had testified at the License Committee that patrons were out of control, including one who was shot and killed in 2007. It remains to be seen what happens with the building or any future use. If the neighbors have their way, it won’t be another bar. DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME – Remember to set your clock ahead one hour – and lose an hour of sleep – on Sunday, March 9 when Daylight Savings time returns until Nov 2.