Further Down Stream September 2009

IN:SITE ART – As the September issue of the Currents goes to press, a week of events celebrating the temporary art project in the

Park East Corridor is running from Aug 23-30. This unique and creative use of public art is open for public viewing at 11 IN:SITE art

installations covering a 16 block area. The project was created to foster temporary publi cart in Milwaukee and make use of the Park East space. Project chair Pegi Christiansen said, “Thanks to the support of the Milwaukee Arts Board, stakeholders have provided thirteen local artists the opportunity to create installations that invite people to explore the Park East.” The Arts Board unanimously voted to award artist stipends for the work and a number of special events held throughout August have helped to showcase the project.

 

 RAINED OUT, NOT WASHED UP – The

plucky All-City People’s Parade and Pageant,

rained out on Aug 8, will resurrect to perform

as part of Laborfest on Mon, Sep 7. Beginning

at Zeidler Union Square behind the Shops

at Grand Avenue at 11AM, the All-City

People’s parade will march, dance, and sing

their way down Wisconsin Avenue, featuring

giant, hand-crafted masks, puppets, wacky

costumes, offbeat marching bands, peoplepowered

floats, and regular citizens celebrating

Milwaukee’s hopes, fears, and ultimate sense

of community. At 1PM a narrated Pageant

will explain the story behind the Parade in

front of the Miller Stage. The theme “Making

a New Way—Together” emerged from a series

of brainstorming sessions and focuses on the

economy, ecology, and neighborhood peace.

The Parade has sections entitled “Prosperity

is Just Around the Corner,” “Toward an

Economy of Lasting Value,” “Toward

Harmony in Our Neighborhoods,” “Our

Choices Grow the World,” and “Yes, We Can

Can-Can!” Volunteers of all ages and abilities

are still needed to actually be in the parade-

–to carry puppets, push floats, and wear

masks. Interested people and groups may call

Milwaukee Public Theatre at 414.347.1685 or

email mptheatre2@milwaukeepublictheatre.

org.

 

MOVIE BUFFS – The MILWAUKEE FILM

FESTIVAL returns with more than 100 films

from around the world. It runs from Sep 24 –

Oct 4 at Landmark Theatres Oriental Theatre

and Marcus Theaters North Shore Cinema.

Visit MilwaukeeFilm.org for tickets, film

festival selections, and special events. UWM

UNION THEATRE has free movies starting

with “The Garden” from Sep 8-10, about

the social and political battle for the largest

community garden in the U.S in south central

Los Angeles. More info at UnionTheatre.uwm.

edu

DIY BIKE FILM FEST – Make your own

bike-themed film, documentary, or music

video and screen it at the D.I.Y. Bike Film

Fest! The 4th Annual event wows viewers on

Fri, Sep 11 at 8PM at the Marsupial Bridge

Media Garden (where Water and Brady Street

split). The Media Garden is covered, so plan

on coming rain or shine. Submissions must

be bicycle related, less than 10 minutes, and

in DVD format. Submit beforehand or bring

the night of. For more info: shea@bfw.org

or 414.431.1761. Afterwards, wheel over to

Stonefly Brewery at 735 E. Center St. for the

after party.

 

BIKE RACKS ON BUSES – Not sure how to

negotiate those new bike racks on our city

buses? Bring your bicycle or borrow one from

the Urban Ecology Center to practice using

the new racks. Discover for yourself how easy

it is to combine a bicycle ride with a bus trip.

Sep 24-29, 1500 E. Park Place, free. More info:

414.964.8505 or UrbanEcologyCenter.org.

POLISH FALCONS – The Polish Falcons is

one of Riverwest’s best kept secrets for lowcost

physical fitness and gymnastics classes

for adults and kids (ages 5-18). Register on

Tue, Sep 8, 6-8PM at 801 E. Clarke St. for

classes that begin Tue, Sep 15. For more info:

414.562.5640 or www.pfanest725.org

STREET JAM & BBQ – Bring your appetite

and the whole family for the 2009 MLK Street

Jam and BBQ on Sat, Sep 5, 10AM-11PM,

at King Drive and Walnut Street. The fest

features Brew City’s Best BBQ Competition,

a family-fun area, motorcycle-themed

entertainment, BBQ and motorcycle-themed

vendors, and a music stage with local favorites

In Black & White, the Terry Sims Band, and

The Tempters. Sponsored by the Historic King

Drive BID, there’s more info at: MLKbbq.com,

414.265.5809, or bbq@kingdrivebid.com

 

CENTER ST DAZE – Ah, the thrill is back!

Bring your cameras & sunglasses and join the

crowd lining the street to watch the famous

Art Cart Race at noon on Sat, Sep 12. Adding

to the glee is MC Frank Chandek whose

running commentary enhances the general

mayhem of the competition. Open to anyone,

carts must be human powered. For more info,

contact Sparky at 414.264.4797. NEW THIS

YEAR: A raffle for a Veken Hybrid Scooter

from Planet Scooter! Get tickets now at Planet

Scooter, The Uptowner & Jackpot Gallery.

Also see ad on page 16 for all the details.

 

TOMATO ROMP – For even more thrills,

head over to North Avenue for Tomato Romp,

also on Sat, Sep 12, 11AM-4PM. One Drum

keeps the beat at the Green Market at 12:30.

Pick up an official ballot for the Bloody Mary

Competition at various bars – the winner will

be announced at 3PM. And top it off with the

messiest Tomato Fight at 3PM (for ages 16

& over); proceeds will go to Second Harvest.

More info at TomatoRomp.com.

FALL FESTIVAL – Crunch in the leaves at

Riverside Park during the Fall Festival on Sat,

Sep 26, NOON-4PM. Spend the afternoon

enjoying music by the Milwaukee Mandolin

Orchestra, carriage rides, nature walks, rock

climbing, crafts, caramel apples and baked

potatoes, and a very friendly pony, pigs,

ducks, and geese. More info at: 414.964.8505

or UrbanEcologyCenter.org

 

COAST TO COAST – Alisha Howard has

been named the new UWM Community

Outreach and Assistance to Student Tenants

(COAST) Leader for Riverwest. COAST

Leaders are students hired, trained, supported,

and supervised by the Neighborhood Housing

Office to serve as a peer educator and resource

for identified student neighborhoods. COAST

Leaders are not in a position to set rules or

guidelines for their street’s residents or enforce

local or community laws. COAST Leaders do,

however, have the opportunity to program,

network, and communicate with their

surrounding neighbors to create a stronger

sense of community for all. The purpose of

the program is to increase communication

between students, landlords, long-term

residents, and others in the communities

surrounding UW-Milwaukee. There will be

a COAST Leader Kick-off Event on Wed,

Sep 16, 6-8PM at the UW-Milwaukee

Student Union – Fireside Lounge, 2200 E.

Kenwood Blvd. Come and show your support

for continuing strong community building

and enjoy free food, games, music, and raffle

prizes.

 

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL – Red Arrow Park’s Slice of

Ice rink, 920 N. Water, is introducing three

new in-line and roller skating activities at

the park. “Red Arrow Park will be turned

into an outdoor roller skating rink for three

nights only this fall, and we’re proud to have

come up with this creative and unique idea for

downtown Milwaukee. Hats off to Milwaukee

County Parks for working with us. Bring the

family on Saturday for a great night,” said

OnMilwaukee.com President, Jeff Sherman.

Opening night was Sat, Aug 22 and will be

repeated Sep 19 and Oct 10 from 6-10PM.

Skate rentals are only $2 or bring your own

roller/inline skates. DJs will provide music

and refreshments are also available. For

more info: Milwaukee County Parks Office at

414.257.6100.

 

FAREWELL CAFÉ BRUECKE – Riverwesters

Christine Lorch and Jerry Patzwald have

announced “with heavy hearts” that they are

placing their beloved Café Brucke, 2101 N.

Prospect, for sale due to the need to spend

more time with ailing family members. In a

press release, the owners commented that,

“The business is strong and we are forever

grateful for the loyal patronage and newfound

friendship of many. However the

calling to spend more quality time with

family has become a greater priority at this

time. As we search for a buyer to keep the

spirit of the “Stammtisch” alive on this little

corner, we look forward to continuing to

serve you great ambience accompanied by

delightful beverages and tasty repast. Prosit

to Gemuetlichkeit!” In addition to the café’s

regular hours, please stop by this autumn for

these events: Sep 15-19 – Milwaukee Beer

Week & Café Bruecke’s display of Munich

Oktoberfest posters from 1984-2004, and Sat,

Oct 3 for Oktoberfest.

 

Date/Time: Saturday,

September 26th,

9:00am to 12:00pm

Activities: Short Hike and

Native Tree Planting

For more info: Vince Bushell

414-588-7281

vbushell@gmail.com

Gordon Park

Humboldt @

Locust St.