RIVERWEST SHOPS

Take the occupy challenge! Make like Santa and fill your pack with books, art, coffee, sugarplums, toys, and baubles from every shop! Reindeer on bicycle sleighs are standing by to carry all your packages.

Beginning Dreams Forever  Black Sheep Studio  Bliffert’s Hardware  Burke Candy  Burleigh Glass

Clarke Foods Dominion Gallery Fischberger’s Variety Store Jazz Art Gallery  Jewel of India

Media Nexxus Peace Action  Pueblo Foods Rauen Guitar   ReThreads Riverwest Co-op  Riverwest Film & Video  

Scarvaci Florist  Smash Wireless  Sunny Days Foodmart  Sunrise Foods Top Star   Truly Spoken Cycle  Woodland Pattern Book Center

HOT DEALS   (in alphabetical order)

These shops welcome you with Holiday Sales and activities, coupons and discounts to help stretch your holiday dollars. Let them know you saw it in the Riverwest Currents!

BLACK SHEEP STUDIO Every Saturday in December from 5-9PM, folks can mug it up with Bad Santa at Black Sheep! Photos are only $10 (see ad Page 13).

Photos with Bad Santa!801 E Center Stblacksheep-photography.com 

GARDEN ROOM A variety of holiday activities are planned for adults and children, with a surprise visit from Santa, along with yoga and chair massage from Invivo Wellness. Shop specials include 10% off holiday ornaments.

Stop, Shop & Restore Sat, Dec 3 2107 E Capitol Dr gardenroomonline.com

JAZZ GALLERY Is it the beginning of the end? Will the year 2012 be chaos or calm?  Artists reflect on and predict the coming of the end in this new exhibit, The End of the World. The show goes out with a bang on New Year’s Eve with a party and live music by the Revenge Society, 6-10:30PM.

Art Show: The End of the World Dec 10-31  926 E Center St riverwestart.org

 

JEWEL OF INDIA Riverwest’s best import shop offers handmade crafts from India and beautiful jewelry, pashmina wraps, scarves, clothing, rugs, gifts, and holiday ornaments. Get an extra 10% off with their ad (see ad Page 11).

Holiday Sale & Open House Fri-Sun, Dec 9-11, NOON to 5PM 826 E Center St jewelofindiaimports.com

KWAFF Give the gift of great hair with Joico Holiday Gift sets and Gift Certificates in any amount!  (see ad Page 13)

904 E Center St 414.374.8505

MEDIA NEXXUS 2670 & 2672 N Holton Stmedianuxxus.com Media Nexxus just opened and is comprised of Custom Processing Unlimited (computer repair & more) at 2672 N Holton  and Ronin Revolution Comics & Imports at 2670 N Holton (see ad on Page 17). Stop in and welcome them to the neighborhood!

OUTPOST NATURAL FOODS Holiday Sampler DaySat, Dec 10, 11AM-2PM 100 E Capitol Dr outpostnaturalfoods.coop Stop by and sample holiday sweets, appetizers, specialty cheeses, wine & more! (see ad on back page).

PEOPLE’S BOOKS 2122 E Locust St peoplesbookscoop.org People’s Books Co-operative has a wide selection of books on world change, ecology, food politics, women’s studies, and local authors. PBC offers 10% off with their ad (see ad Page 13).

REGANO’S ROMAN COIN Cookbook Release Party Thu, Dec 8, 5-9PM 1004 E Brady St

For the foodie on your list, stop by the book release party for the Milwaukee Empty Bowls Cookbook. The cookbook features recipes from restaurants that have contributed their soups over the last 13 years. The cost is $20 and proceeds go to food pantries that MEB donates to.

RE-THREADS 2943 N Humboldt Blvd rethreadsclothing.com ReThreads boutique features the best of vintage, modern, and chic fashions for men and women. Buy $50 in Holiday Gift Cards and get an extra $10 for yourself (see ad Page 9).

RIVERWEST DINING Riverwest is home to 15 warm and unique eateries ranging from Vietnamese, Middle Eastern, African, and Mexican to Fish Fries, Weekend Brunch, and Vegan fare. Try them all with friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors! Many have a hall or space for parties. A Gift Certificate makes for a merry meal! 

Alterra Coffee (Extensive café menu) Art Bar (Pizza) Bremen Café (Sandwiches & salads)

Café Corazon (Mexican & Weekend Brunch) Centro Café (Italian & Weekend Breakfast)

Club Timbuktu (African) Fuel Café (Sandwiches & Mexican) Klinger’s East (Pub & Fish Fry)

Nessun Dorma (Italian) Nina’s Restaurant (Puerto Rican & Deli) Rio West Cantina (Mexican)

Riverwest Co-op & Café (Vegan & Breakfast) Stonefly (Pub & Weekend Brunch)

Tracks (Pub & Fish Fry) West Bank Café (Vietnamese)

BODY, MIND & SPIRITYoga, beauty, healing, and massage services are all to be found in Riverwest. Make an appointment for yourself or surprise someone special with a Gift Certificate for some post-holiday bliss.

Bikram Yoga Great Lake Zen Center Invivo Fitness J S Cable Music KRS Hair Studio 

Kwaff Salon Maedke Chiropractic Milwaukee School of Massage Pink House Studio

Riverwest Yogashala Tai Chi Ch’uan Center Shalem Healing Vision Eye Art

DECK THE HALLS Deck the Halls with trees, wreaths, garlands, and flowers from local greeneries. At season’s end, place trees at your regular collection point – either the alley or street curb. Or take them to the Self-Help Center at 6660 N. Industrial Rd or 3879 W. Lincoln Ave. for recycling.

BLIFFERT’S  1014 E Chambers  414.264.5700 bliffertlumber.com Fresh trees, led lights, skate sharpening, and snowblower tune-up.

FERRANTE’S CHRISTMAS TREES Water & Brady St. Wreaths, garlands, and Wisconsin grown trees cut fresh every week. Delivery & set-up also available. Daily until Christmas, 11AM-8PM

SCARVACI FLORIST 2663 N Holton 414.562.3214 Fresh seasonal flowers and lush plants. Delivery to anywhere in the city. See ad on Page 15.

WEBER’S GREENHOUSE 4215 N Green Bay Ave 414.264.6280   webersgreenhouses.com Fresh trees, wreaths, and poinsettia plants. Open daily 11AM-7PM, thru Dec 24.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS EAST SIDE, RIVERWEST & HARAMBEE  (arranged by date)

Riverwest, Harambee & The East Side are merry and bright with festivities for the Season! Make time for Holiday Craft Fairs, Street Fairs, a Candlelight Walk in the Park, and Caroling. You will find many unique and hand crafted gifts to please everyone from youngster to oldster, and from left to right. 

FESTIVE FRIDAY Fri, Dec 2, 5-8PM Downer Avenue historicdowneravenue.com

Downer Avenue merchants warm up the street with holiday festivities, Santa, crafts for kids, store specials, and carols sung by the choir.

INTERNATIONAL GIFT SHOP Fri, Dec 2, 4:30-9PM Sat, Dec 3, 9AM-4PM Milw Friends Meeting (Quakers) 3224 N Gordon Place milwaukeequakers.org

This popular fair, now in its 45th Year, features hand-crafted gifts from Wisconsin and around the world with dozens of artisans offering jewelry, clothing, hats & scarves, holiday decorations, music, jams & preserves, books & more! Lunch in the Friends Café with hearty soups, breads, bakery & hot beverages. Free parking in the school lot to the south (see ad Page 10).

TAMARACK HOLIDAY FAIR Sat, Dec 3, 10AM-5PM  Tamarack Waldorf School 1150 E Brady St.

tamarackwaldorf.orgAnother favorite fair, the 16th Annual Tamarack Fair has several floors of handmade gifts, natural crafts, music, food & children’s activities. School tours are also available for interested families (see ad Page 11).

FESTIVUS ON BRADY ST Sat, DEC 3, 8:30PM-1:30AM bradystreet.org

The Festivus for the rest of us is the place to air grievances at Brady Street Bars and win Festivus poles in the Feats of Strength. Starts at Nomad at 8:30PM, then Hosed on Brady at 9:30PM, Jo-Cats at 10:30PM, Regano’s Roman Coin at 11:30PM, and Club Brady at 12:30AM.

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR & BAKE SALE Sun, Dec 4, 9AM-2PM Our Lady of Divine Providence at St. Casimir site, Weil & Clarke 414.264.0049

Bring the little ones for breakfast and a picture with Santa ($5 children, $7 adults). The Christmas Bazaar features a variety of craft booths and sweet treats for the holidays. Fun for all ages! (see ad Page 15).

BUY LOCAL FAIR Sun, Dec 4, NOON-4PM Lakefront Brewery 1872 N Commerce St localfirstmilwaukee.com

Make your holiday gifts do some good! The Buy Local Fair features about 40 independent businesses and Milwaukee charities all wrapped up with live music, food, and free brewery tours. Cheers!

POLISH FALCONS CHRISTMAS Sun, Dec 4, 1PM 801 E Clarke St pfanest725.org

Come celebrate the founding of the Polish Falcons 95 years ago on December 10, 1916. The Christmas Program features a demo by the Childrens Gym Class, pictures with Santa and a gift for children. It’s free for Falcon members and $4 for non-member child/adult. There will also be a special history and family tree display of the Orlikowski Family dating back to 1916. Boleslaus (Bill) Orlikowskiwas was one of the original founders, and guests will include many descendants. A reception and buffet follows at 6:30PM. For more info or reservations, call Marian Hansen at 414.562.5640.

OPEN HOUSE & FILM Sun, Dec 11, 2PM, free Woodland Pattern Book Center 720 E Locust St

woodlandpattern.orgEveryone’s welcome to the annual holiday open house at Woodland Pattern where you’ll enjoy cookies and a screening of Fully Awake: Black Mountain College at 2PM followed by a Cultural Society poetry reading with Zach Barocas, Chris Glomski, and Peter O’Leary at 4PM.

CANDLELIGHT WALK Fri, Dec 16, 7-9PM Urban Ecology Center 1500 E Park Place (Riverside Park)

urbanecologycenter.orgCelebrate Winter Solstice in the glow of a candlelight walk with seasonal readings. Afterwards, warm up by the crackling fireplace with hot cider, snacks, and music by Regina Gallero. Walks leave every 15 minutes, starting at 7PM. All ages, free, donations appreciated.

WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION Fri, Dec 16, 7PM-until Dominion Gallery

804 E Wright St Welcome winter with music, food, and works by featured artists Joan Holland, Sukey Pett & Ed Pociecha. More info: 414.581.0978 (see story on Page 13).

RIVERWEST RANDOM RECYCLABLES & GIFTS FAIR Sun, Dec 18, 2-6PM Falcon Bowl

801 E Clarke StFor last minute shoppers, The Riverwest Gift Fair (RRAGS) is ideal. A big success last year, this year’s fair will again feature loads of handmade crafts, homemade preserves, hats, jewelry, botanicals & more. Admission of $3/$1 students & seniors, includes a raffle.

Proceeds go to a neighborhood school for art supplies (see ad Page 10).

WINTER SOLSTICE & NIGHT SKY Wed, Dec 21, 7-8PM, $2 UWM Planetarium

Physics Building, 1900 E Kenwood (& Cramer)View the winter night sky on Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, at the UWM Manfred Olson Planetarium. More info at: planetarium.uwm.edu.

CONCERTS (arranged by date)Music of the season to save your soul and sanity. Glory in the highest!

GLORIA! MUSIC OF BACH, HANDEL & VIVALDI Sat, Dec 3, Talk at 7PM, Concert 8PM

Ensemble Musical OfferingAll Saints Cathedral 818 E Juneau Ave

Experience the glorious music of the Baroque with works by Bach, Handel & Vivaldi. The concert features Jennifer Gettel, Soprano, Rick Murrell, Baroque Trumpet, and Ensemble Musical Offering on original instruments. More info: ensemblemusicaloffering.org

CAROLS AT ALTERRA Alterra Coffee alterracoffee.com

Hark! The Florentine Opera sings songs of the season on Sat, Dec 3, 1PM at Alterra on the Lake and again on Sat, Dec 10, 11AM at Alterra Humboldt.  Lil Rev & Frogwater rock the holidays on Sat, Dec 17 at 11AM at Alterra Humboldt and 3PM at Alterra Prospect. 

LESSONS & CAROLS Sun, Dec 4, 3:30PM All Saints Cathedral 818 E Juneau Ave

Carol Service with the Cathedral Choir begins with an Organ Prelude at 3:30PM. A reception follows with a mini Holiday Hunger Book Sale (see ad Page 15).

RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR Sun, Dec 4, 5PM Ebenezer Church of God In Christ

3132 N Martin Luther King DrThe Choir performs for the 2nd Annual Winter Praise Extravaganza, directed by Dionte Harris.

PLYMOUTH CHORALE Sun, Dec 11, 7PM Plymouth Church UCC 2117 E Hampshire

The Plymouth Chorale performs a concert of Magnificats and other seasonal music featuring sacred minimalist composers with soprano Leigh Akin and baritone Erico Oritz. The Plymouth Chorale is directed by Donna Kummer and accompanied by Elna Hickson. Tickets at the door are $5-$15. More info: 414.964.1513.

ORGAN CONCERT Sun, Dec 18, 4PM St. Casimir Church (OLDP) 2600 N Bremen 

Part of an ongoing series, December’s concert features works for Advent with organist Gary Wood playing the historic 1901 Felgemaker organ within beautiful and uplifting St Casimir’s Church. Ample parking in the church lot on Bremen St, with  handicapped ramp entrance on Clarke St. Free, donations appreciated (see ad Page 15).