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https://shepherdexpress.com/lgbtq/dear-ruthie/time-for-a-little-spring-cleaning/ | Dear Ruthie is proudly brought to you by C3 Designs — Award Winning Fine Jewelry. C3 Designs offers a variety of services performed in-house, including custom jewelry design, jewelry and watch repair, appraisal, pearl and bead stringing, engraving and flip guards. C3 Designs is the winner of the Jewelers of America 2019 CASE Award.
Step into spring! Spring has sprung! Put a spring in your step! What I’m trying to say is that it’s spring, damn it! Normally I could care less about this particular season, but with COVID on the decline, theaters up and running, venues at full capacity, and summer celebrations making a return, Milwaukee is looking more like the city we know and love. Take a look at my social calendar below for some ideas on how you might celebrate spring this week, but first let’s read an email from a reader fed up with rude roommates and a hideous home.
Dear Ruthie,
Help! I’m living with two other women (they’re a couple), and they’re driving me absolutely insane. I might be the third wheel, but they’re rude, mean, sarcastic and just not nice people. (One of them was cool when we met, but since hooking up with her girlfriend, she’s become impossible.) The house is a mess because they don’t clean or put their things away. They never clean their food out of the fridge. Don’t get me started on the bathroom.
I need to get out, but I can’t afford another place, none of my friends are taking people in, and my mom’s house isn’t an option. I feel trapped. Any thoughts of how I might move out and move on?
Thanks,
Homeless Honey
Dear Honey,
Are you sure you’re not living with my ex-husband Shlomo? Nah … sounds like you have it worse. At least there was only one of him; although sometimes he ate like he had two buttholes.
Anyway … I think you need to do a little spring cleaning regarding the troubles in your life. Pick a date you’d like to be out of this situation. Jot down the steppingstones you must hit to achieve your ultimate goal, setting deadlines for those as well. Hold yourself accountable, do the leg work and research, and save your money. You’ll be out that house and living a happy life in no time.
Ruthie’s Social Calendar
April 27—Drag Queen Bingo for Our Voice MKE at Hamburger Mary’s (730 S. Fifth St.): The city’s chorus for gay men and their allies hosts this night of music, munchies, drinks and donations. Take in the popular “Bingo Game Show,” and help out the chorus at the same time. Prizes, burgers, beer and more await when you join in on the 7:30 p.m. good times.
April 28—Opening Night “Beauty and the Beat: The Artistry of Miss Peggy Lee” at Sunset Playhouse (700 Wall St., Elm Grove): Peggy Lee …s he gives ya fever! Don’t believe me? Check out this cabaret show that salutes the sexy songstress through May 1. Look for $24 tickets, show times and more at www.sunsetplayhouse.com.
April 29—Dining with the Divas at Hamburger Mary’s (730 S. Fifth St.): Eat, drink and be Mary when I host two fantastic drag shows at the city’s pink and purple burger palace. Take in my 7 p.m. performance or attend the 9 p.m. show (for those over 21 only). See why Mary’s shows are considered tops in Milwaukee after making your reservation at www.hamburgermarys.com/mke.
April 30—M.O.B Beer Bust at Kruz (354 E. National Ave.): Who doesn’t love hugging a big, furry bear? The social club Milwaukee Organized Bears hosts this 3-7 p.m. afternoon of day-drinking, friend-making and fun. Enjoy the beer/soda bust, take a chance on raffle drawings, enter contests and more. Whether you’re a bear or a bear-lover, you’re sure to have a blast.
May 1 – “Carol Burnett: An Evening of Laughter and Reflection” at The Riverside Theater (116 W. Wisconsin Ave.): One of American’s most iconic queens of comedy returns to Cream City with this hilarious one-woman performance. Relive the hilarity of “The Carol Burnett Show” as Carol herself narrates some of her favorite clips, enjoy her quick wit during question-answer segment with the audience and simply enjoy the legendary comic in all her redheaded glory. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening an hour earlier. Nab your tickets ($55.50 to $175) at www.pabsttheatergroup.com.
Have a question for Ruthie? Want to share an event with her? Contact Ruthie at DearRuthie@ShepEx.com. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220427 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/local-music/don-linke%E2%80%99s-never-ending-passion/ | Photo courtesy Don Linke
Don Linke Trialogue
Trialogue: Don Linke, bassist Todd Richards and drummer Andy Blochowiak.
In a recent conversation jazz guitarist and educator Don Linke, we spoke for over an hour-and-a-half. And while we talked about cars, social media, vaccine booster shots, the history of Milwaukee, all roads led back to Jazz.
Linke taught for 24 years at Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and 11 years at UW-Milwaukee. But he still considers himself a student as well.
The Jazz Rocks series at Arts @ Large is the current manifestation of Linke’s three year relationship with Joy Engine shepherdexpress.com/culture/happening-now/from-public-art-to-jazz-joy-engine-expands-on-black-box-fund, formerly known as Black Box Fund, a nonprofit public art organization. That relationship began with the Jazz at Noon series in the Third Ward. A CD compiling highlights shepherdexpress.com/music/album-reviews/don-linke-and-friends-jazz-at-noon-volume-one was released. Then the pandemic hit.
Undeterred, he continued with 15 weeks of the Jazz at Noon podcast which segued to 36 episodes of Jazz at Noon Live From Linke’s Living Room on YouTube.
Episode 28 - Jazz At Noon Live From Linke's Living Room with Don Linke, drummer Victor Campbell and guest bassist Hal Miller.
Jazz Rocks and Arts @ Large
The Jazz Rocks series features all original material from Linke’s archive of compositions. His trio Trialogue (Linke, drummer Andy Blochowiak and bassist Todd Richards ) plays with different guest artists each month. Upcoming guests include Jason Goldsmith, tenor sax (April 29); Theo Merriweather, piano (May 27); Johnny Padilla, tenor sax (June 17); and Victor Campbell, drums and Ken Kosut, piano (July 15). Guests for August through December dates will be announced.
Diversity, equity and inclusion—the mission of Arts @ Large is to ensure that everyone has access to the arts. The organization believes that diversity leads to better problem solving. Through intentional conversations, active listening and hard work, they strive to create an environment where everyone feels empowered to share their voice and unique perspectives for the betterment of our community.
Dedication and Intention
Linke takes his craft seriously. It is hard work and the musicians are compensated for three rehearsals and a feature performance. Linke’s approach recalls the workshops of the great bassist/composer Charles Mingus. For three decades Linke has been conducting his version, “working on the process of improvisation as it relates to ‘Black American Art Music’ or jazz.”
His father was a jazz musician and he still has his dad’s 1948 Gibson L7 guitar. Linke’s mentors taught the importance of history, technical ability, intellectual content and above all to use one’s ears. To listen and ingest. “This is basically how I interact with students to this day. Some people get it and start on their own version of the quest. Many find it too rigorous,” he said.
Sensitive to history, when Linke needed a definition of jazz, he ran his idea past drummer/educator Sam Belton. “The Black man’s artistic response to his, generally speaking, experience in America.”—so that entails everything. Coming here. Being brought here. Then having the artistry, the genius to create something to be proud of,” Linke said. “For white people to latch onto that is impossible. You have to give in to that idea. You have to study with Black people and listen to the Black examples.”
Linke quotes his mentor Berkely Fudge, “Jazz doesn’t have a first name,” and takes it a step further saying it also doesn’t have last name. There is no such thing as acid jazz or gypsy jazz. Linke was a “fusion guy” for many years playing with Magewind. He studied classical style guitar, which led to developing a musical system called PNSD—a unique way for students to learn the guitar fingerboard. Miles Davis and Wes Montgomery are the names Linke cites when he talks about titans. He references Fudge and Manty Ellis, elders who mentored him on the local scene. He’s also played with greats Frank Morgan, and Melvin Rhyne.
Now into his seventh decade, Linke doesn’t sound keen on slowing down. The muse that tapped on his shoulder keeps tapping. In naming the group Trialogue, he has chosen to reference dialogue, in the context of a musical conversation. It suggests travelogue, as in the places that musical improvisation can go. And it also references the necessity of the stool’s three legs. Each is of equal importance and that foundation is essential. Adding guest musicians for each performance, Linke’s very name becomes a refence point in continuing links to a musical legacy. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220427 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/local-music/louie-lucchesi-is-well-and-ready-to-rock/ | Photo by Brad Rochford
Louie and The Flashbombs
Louie and The Flashbombs: Louie Lucchesi, Matt Meixner, Bo Conlon, Mike Benign, Al Hildenbrand, Paul Biemann
The rumors were bad, and the reality was worse. In September 2020, Louie Lucchesi was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer, and it was spreading rapidly. Fifteen years ago, his condition would have been fatal, but thanks to medical advances, the singer is recovering and fronting Louie and The Flashbombs, his first band in many years.
The Flashbombs began as an entirely remote collaboration—COVID concerns in mind—between Lucchesi and Mike Benign. “He just unloaded a torrent of lyrics,” Benign says. “There’s no substitute to lyrics grounded in something real and he was writing from a very real place. The fight for life was pouring out of him.”
“The first thing I wrote was ‘I’m So Glad I Didn’t Go Away,’” Lucchesi says, “I was hedging my bets! Citing Bruce Springsteen’s post-911 album The Rising as inspiration, he adds, “I didn’t want my songs to be depressing, I didn’t want them to be sappy positive—I wanted them to have a hopeful perspective, uplifting songs that deal with serious subjects. I call what we do a ‘Subgenre: Gray pop music by mature musicians for a mature audience on mature themes.’”
A strong-voiced singer and dynamic performer, Lucchesi recorded an excellent rock album early this century, Second-Hand Smoke, and a Jeff Hamilton-produced version of David Bowie’s “This is Not America” in January 2020. “And then the country shut down and we did not get a band together,” Lucchesi recalls.
Benign has been active this century with his band and prolific recording act, The Mike Benign Compulsion, finally calling quits on the group last year. He had also collaborated for 10 years with Lucchesi on the annual Pablove benefit for children’s cancer. Benign calls joining a band with Lucchesi as a “surprise. I was in no hurry to be in a band again but when Louie asked me, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. I always wanted to not be the lead singer.” It’s also the first time that Benign isn’t writing the words. He’s been known for his sophisticated school of Crowded House-Elvis Costello lyrics since the ‘80s and ‘90s with bands such as Arms & Legs & Feet and Blue in the Face.
For The Flashbombs, Lucchesi and Benign chose musicians they knew well, including drummer Bo Conlon, bassist Paul Biemann, guitarist Al Hildenbrand and keyboardist Matt Meixner. With a repertoire of two dozen new songs, the Flashbombs will perform nothing from Lucchesi or Benign’s past bands. Their sound echoes diverse sources from the British Invasion through the New York Dolls and power pop.
The science that saved Lucchesi’s life included such remarkable advances as targeted chemotherapy delivered in pill form. “I lost weight and I lost muscle tone, including my vocal cords,” he says. “I’m seeing a voice therapist and am building my voice back up from nothing.”
Louie and The Flashbombs will debut on May 6 at Linnemann’s Riverwest Inn with Liv Mueller opening the show. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220427 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/local-music/punk-vinyl-vintage-clothing-and-hanging-out-at-blast-radius/ | If it weren’t for the graffiti on the walls and the not-so-distant upbeat music growing ever louder as you ascend the stairs, you probably wouldn’t realize that you were about to step inside of a little slice of punk-rock heaven.
Blast Radius is Milwaukee’s newest independent record shop, an unassuming DIY storefront run by three local musicians out of a studio space in Walker’s Point. Located at 536 W. National Ave., there are no signs out front indicating that you’ve come to the right place—a feeling reminiscent of DIY punk basement shows, where addresses are seldomly given out on show fliers.
Instead, customers will check the shop’s Instagram page—@blastradiusmke‑for the store hours. A buzzer on the front door of the building will alert whoever happens to be working, and you’ll be let inside.
Shopping at Blast Radius feels more like checking out a friend’s cool collection than it does perusing a record store. A ragtag group of tattooed punks are hanging out at any given time. A sofa in the shop invites them to kick back, talk about upcoming shows, or just chill out and listen to some records. Cult classic films play out on two old tube TVs with built-in VCR players, and a corner dedicated to tee shirts is filled with second-hand band merchandise.
“As a kid collecting records, I just always loved the idea of running my own spot,” says co-owner Zach Moffat, who started Blast Radius with Austin Naamani and Drew Czarnik.
Putting Down Roots
The unexpected COVID-19 pandemic led Moffat to start contemplating putting down roots in Milwaukee. The idea of opening a record shop was something he and Naamani, his ex-bandmate in the now-defunct Milwaukee hardcore acts Gangstalker and Falter, had always discussed. Moffat also tossed around the idea of opening a vintage clothing shop with Czarnik, the vocalist in his current band Big Laugh. “(Czarnik) naturally joined forces with us,” Moffat says.
Blast Radius started as a pop-up, periodically setting up shop at venues like Quarters Rock N’ Roll Palace. The opportunity to open a brick-and-mortar for the pop-up was made possible by Robbie Paulie, a tattoo artist at Shock Treatment Tattoo. Paulie was renting an art studio space in the building that Blast Radius now calls home, and helped the trio pin down a spot of their own.
“He really liked what we were doing, so he helped us lock one down,” Moffat says.
The shop’s initial collection was built largely from the three owners’ personal collections, as well as personal collections purchased from friends and online. “I just want to see someone give them a new-found appreciation,” Moffat says. “And also, to turn someone onto really great music.”
The shop is always buying in records for those looking to sell, paying out via cash or Venmo or by doing trades.
And even if punk isn’t your go-to choice when the aux cord is in your hands, you’re still likely to find something that excites you at Blast Radius. It’s an inviting, inclusive space that encompasses a DIY community ethos—where you’ll see a copy of Michael Jackson’s Bad displayed proudly next to Black Flag’s Damaged. It’s a shop where you can find a U.K. pressing of The Who’s My Generation, but also network with like-minded musicians and just hang out.
And before long, Blast Radius will be hosting events. Whether that entails local shows or not hasn’t been promised, but news on that front will come via the shop’s Instagram page, so be sure to follow @blastradiusmke to stay up to date. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220427 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/community-news/daily-wisconsin-covid-19-update-1-183-new-cases-no-new-death/ | Summary:
- 1,183 new cases
- No new deaths recorded, 3 added to state system
- 12,867 total deaths;
- 202 hospitalized patients, 38 in ICU
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported an additional 1,183 new COVID-19 cases. The state has averaged 1,168 new cases per day in the last week.
On this day last year, there were 381 new cases, and a 7-day average of 657 cases per day. In 2020, 305 cases were recorded, with a 7-day average of 212 cases per day.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
There were no new deaths recorded, but three added to the Department of Health Services system, putting the total Wisconsin death toll at 12,867. A lag in death reporting statewide has affected these numbers.
In Milwaukee County, there were 255 new confirmed cases reported and have been 271,570 total cases in the county since the pandemic began. The 7-day average in the county is 247 cases per day. None of the deaths added to the state system were attributed to Milwaukee County, putting the county death toll at 2,286 since the beginning of the pandemic.
If you are looking for COVID-19 testing or vaccination, consult the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220427 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/community-news/riverwest-food-pantry-becomes-kinship-community-food-center/ | Image: Kinship Community Food Center
Kinship Community Food Center logo
More than a pantry but a community of generosity, Riverwest Food Pantry will now be known as Kinship Community Food Center.
Operating for over 40 years, the name change reflects the organization’s sense of belonging, priority for serving the whole person, and potential to engage people from all parts of greater Milwaukee.
“Think of our new identity as an invitation to people from all corners of the city to come together to help each other thrive through belonging, giving, and receiving,” said Vincent Noth, Executive Director of Kinship Community Food Center. “We are a community of generosity that shares our struggles and our joys, our lives and wisdom. That’s what kinship is all about.”
The center distributes around 300,000 pounds of food every year. During the height of the COVID pandemic they served 35,000 from the parking lot over 23 months, having recently transitioned back to regular in-person operations.
The Center hired former Tandem restaurant owner and chef Caitlin Cullen as Food Center Director in January after attracting a two-year impact grant from the Dohmen Co. Foundation to expand its food and wellness, food quality, and food stability programs. The Center’s main outreach is through their food distribution site at St. Casimir Church, 924 E. Clarke Street.
The organization recently announced its intentions to acquire a large headquarters site that will house its offices, food center operations and a commercial kitchen.
Kinship Community Food Center | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220427 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/milwaukee-history/milwaukee-the-tipping-point-in-harry-houdinis-life/ | Harry Houdini, who was famous 100+ years ago, is still talked about today. He spent four years living in Milwaukee where he delivered the Daily Journal and learned how to hold his breath in the Milwaukee River. He was born Erik Weisz in Budapest, Hungary but maintained that Appleton, WI was his birthplace. When Houdini was four years old, his family escaped (no pun intended) and moved to Appleton. His father, Mayer Samuel Weisz, was appointed Rabbi at Zion Reform Congregation. At this time, the family changed the spelling of their last name to Weiss. Erik changed his name to Erich.
The Milwaukee Connection
The family enjoyed four years living in Appleton until Houdini’s father was fired from the congregation. Mayer spoke Yiddish and many people in the congregation had a difficult time understanding him. Plus, for unknown reasons, there was tension between Mayer and one other Rabbi. The family then moved to Milwaukee in 1882 when Erich was nine years old. Mayer had difficulties finding a good job in Milwaukee. Erich dropped out of school to help his parents and siblings survive by selling and delivering newspapers and shining shoes. In 1882 he delivered papers for The Milwaukee Daily Journal and claimed to have sold the first edition of the paper when it began publishing. When asked about living in Milwaukee, Houdini was quoted as saying, “One morning my father awoke to find himself thrown upon the world, his long locks of hair having silvered in service, with seven children to feed, without a position, and without any visible means of support. We thereon moved to Milwaukee where such hardships and hunger became our lot that the less said on the subject the better.” Due to these hardships, Houdini rarely spoke of his life in Milwaukee.
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The First Escape
At age 12, Houdini ran away from home to Delavan where he stayed with family. Delavan interested him because it was a “Circus Town,” like Baraboo and Evansville. Two years later he returned to his family in Milwaukee and resided at several addresses from 1882 to 1887. None of the addresses exist today. Although life in Milwaukee was challenging for the family, Houdini learned to survive with wit, intelligence, and a strong left hook. He learned to swim with the current in the Milwaukee River and practiced holding his breath for long periods of time. Years later, when living in New York, he practiced breath control in his bathtub.
“Dime Museum Harry”
Milwaukee is where Houdini became a first-class athlete. He competed in the largest bike race in America, the Waukesha Road Race. Since he was poor at the time, chances are he borrowed his messenger boy bike (the main messenger office is believed to be where the Swingin’ Door Exchange on East Michigan Street is located today). Milwaukee was the first city in the country to use bicycle messengers. To stay in shape, he would run from his home on the Northwest Side, to Water Street to the Kirby House Hotel at the corner of Mason Street.
In the basement of the Kirby House Hotel, there was a gym and pool where he competed in swimming, track and became an unbeatable prizefighter. He started performing at Dime Museums and got a nickname of “Dime Museum Harry,” which he disliked. It was at the lower level of live entertainment.
Magical Identity and Career
The first shows he performed at were at Jacob Litt’s Dime Museum on Wisconsin Avenue, and he later performed at the Majestic Theater at 219 W. Wisconsin Avenue (now the Majestic Loft Apartments). In 1890 he took his stage name after reading the autobiography of French magician Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin. He mistakenly thought an “i” at the end of a name meant “like” in French. In 1887 Houdini and his father moved to New York to start his career in show business. He met his wife who later became his performing partner. New York City became their permanent home.
Houdini returned to Milwaukee frequently to perform between 1896 and 1923. He performed escaping from handcuffs at a police station and his milk can escape where he would be locked inside an oversize galvanized milk can filled with water. Eventually he escaped while concealed inside a curtained cabinet. Members of the audience were invited to hold their breath along with him while he was inside the can. Aside from performing, Houdini also lectured at Marquette University.
A Fatal Trick
Unfortunately, his life came to an end when he was 52 years old. He was giving a lecture on fraudulent spirit mediums at a university in Canada. While having his portrait painted in his dressing room a student by the name of Whitehead came in the room. The student was a huge follower and supporter of the spirit medium movement and Houdini was not. The spirit medium racket was a big deal back then because so many young soldiers were killed in World War I. Mediums preyed upon the grieving families, using magician methods. This disgusted Houdini.
Whitehead “had it in” for Houdini. When he asked Houdini, “I heard that you are able to absorb a powerful blow to your abdomen” (a strongman stunt Houdini been doing since he was boxer in Milwaukee), Houdini replied “Yes, I can do that” and without any warning Whitehead unleashed vicious punches. Observers had to break up the confrontation. Houdini shrugged Whitehead off as some “psycho” but didn’t realize his appendix burst.
What is left out in most history books is that Whitehead actually punched Houdini with intent. It was reported as an accident which, in fact it was not. Houdini went on to Detroit to perform and collapsed. He died several days later on Oct. 31, 1926.
The young Houdini grew up very fast while living in Milwaukee. By the time he was 15 he was a boxer, a newsboy, bicycle messenger, magician and trapeze artist. Interestingly, many of the stories and folklore about Houdini blur the real history, some of it made up by Houdini himself. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220427 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/theater/get-happy-brings-judy-garland-to-the-stackner-cabaret/ | Photo courtesy Angela Ingersoll
Get Happy: Angela Ingersoll Sings Judy Garland
Get Happy: Angela Ingersoll Sings Judy Garland
“Funny, I have hard time recalling a time without Judy Garland in my life,” says Angela Ingersoll, the star of “Get Happy,” coming to the Milwaukee Rep’s Stackner Cabaret in May. Ingersoll earned an Emmy for the PBS broadcast of her production and won acclaim—and several awards—for her performance as Garland in Peter Quilter’s musical End of the Rainbow. In “Get Happy,” she will sing a bevy of songs from Garland’s repertoire, including the melancholy “The Man that Got Away,” the jolly “Trolley Song” and—of course!—the yearningly hopeful “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
“I must have been incredibly small when I first met Dorothy in an annual television broadcast of The Wizard of Oz,” Ingersoll continues. “That’s the case for so many of us, isn't it? Nearly all of us meet Judy when we’re children, and there she is, a child herself. But soulful beyond her years.”
As a child star, complete with a pushy stage mom and careless handlers, Garland was damaged by her stint in the dream factory of 1930s and ‘40s Hollywood. She was fed pills to sleep and pills to stay awake, and as she grew, she gained an additional addiction to alcohol. She had problems with men, bills to pay and, by the end of her life in 1969, was deemed by many as a tragic figure. And yet, she remained ever young and resourceful as Dorothy, singing a lyric that insisted on a better future for those who felt misplaced in a society that didn’t understand them.
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Does Ingersoll find that for some in the audience, the tragedy of Garland’s life story gets in the way of appreciating her artistry?
“Hopefully this show combats the urge to paint Judy as purely tragic figure,” she says. “In my stories, I strive to be brave about the darkness, in order to make room for the light. I think Judy is often cast in a garish light because she was such a fascinating person. She was a sensitive artist and a multifaceted talent, so funny and quick, and I suspect sometimes the smartest person in any given room. With humor and heart, I hope to invite people to a deeper understanding, beyond the sensationalism, in which they can see a bit of themselves. No one has a monopoly on heartache, not even Judy Garland.”
Ingersoll calls “Get Happy” a “special style of storytelling concert,” with songs “contextualized by my understanding of her inner psychology” through stories and monologues. “I invite the audience to her inner world, while the music connects them to their own. My job, really, is to connect people.”
Throughout her public life, even after her career in Hollywood faltered, Garland sang songs that became part of—integral to—what’s become known as the Great American Songbook. Do the songs in themselves remain meaningful or is it the way Garland performed them?
“My goodness, what a lovely question,” she begins. “Judy Garland’s version of ‘Over the Rainbow’ must be the greatest union of singer and song ever, mustn’t it? And ‘Over the Rainbow’ is arguably the greatest song of the 20th century, though it was nearly cut from the film!
“Oh, I'll tell you more about that in the show. The song is also a perfectly marvelous existential poem. As we grow, ‘Rainbow’ grows with us. Judy shows us that in performances throughout her life. She allows herself to be just as she is and sing the song each time anew.”
That is the artistry that attracted Ingersoll to Garland’s catalogue. “So yes, to answer your question, it’s ultimately the way she performed, her truth telling. Judy taught me to be in the moment. I learn from her ability to harness her power while staying in touch with her sensitivity, like in her masterpiece ‘The Man That Got Away.’ It feels like my heart is leaping from a cliff, and I must trust the musicians to be my wings and the audience to make us soar.”
Each song in “Get Happy” had special meaning for Garland. “Judy always sang ‘Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart’ for her father, I talk about that,” Ingersoll explains. “It is utterly exhilarating how the band devours Judy's dynamite version of ‘Come Rain or Come Shine.’ And you can feel the sheer joy that erupts in the audience when we launch into ‘The Trolley Song.’ I love seeing people sing along. I hope this a musical experience that's cathartic for all of us”
As for Ingersoll’s presentation at the Stackner, it will be an intimate encounter in a space the size of a classic nightclub. “The musicians you’ll see are superb Chicago jazz players, with one exception, who is based in Milwaukee,” she says of her accompanists. “I love meeting musicians in new cities. It’s amazing how quickly we realize mutual friends. And the musical theater/jazz aficionados I’m able to play with always have great stories. They’ve been around! Maybe it’s silly, but I lovingly refer to my band as The Emerald City Orchestra.”
The Milwaukee Rep’s production of “Get Happy: Angela Ingersoll Sings Judy Garland” will run May 5-July 1 at the Stackner Cabaret, 108 E. Wells St. For tickets and more information, visit milwaukeeerep.com or call (414) 224-9490. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220427 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/food/eat-drink/april-restaurant-news/ | Photo: crossroadscollectivemke.com
Crossroads Collective
Crossroads Collective
Food halls continue to attract a diverse array of new vendors, and Shorewood says farewell to a favorite taco stop.
3rd St. Market Hall (275 W. Wisconsin Ave.) continues to add new vendors. Kawa Ramen & Sushi features chashu chicken ramen, rice and poke bowls and Japanese snacks. Middle East Side opened as part of Dairyland Old Fashioned Hamburgers and Custard’s “hawker stall” food business incubator program, with Middle Eastern culinary staples like Man’oushe (flatbread), Baklawa, Fattoush Salad, Muhammara and more. Make Waves, part of Playing in the Plants, the restaurant collective behind On the Bus and Sugar Cube Donuts, has opened a fully plant-based menu including layered boba tea, smoothies, toast, flatbread wraps and a build-your-own açaí “Wave Bowl” bar.
HotWax, serving burgers, chili dogs, Nashville-hot style fried chicken, sandwiches, sharable plates and sides, opened at Crossroads Collective, 2238 N. Farwell Ave. HotWax is led by chef Ben Crevensten and sous chef Christian Cole. HotWax took over the stall operated by Lao restaurant Thum, which vacated the hall this past December.
Chef Dwight Jackson has expanded Pepper Pot, his catering and takeout business. Pepperpot, his spacious new dine-in restaurant, opened at 2215 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Specializing in Jamaican food, Jackson brings the flavors of the Caribbean to Milwaukee with classics like jerk chicken and pork and beef patties, along with lamb chops and grilled salmon.
Dobie’s Steak House, (4136 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.) known for its supper club ambiance, coal cooking and jumbo shrimp, is under new ownership. Chef Michael Feker, owner of 2Mesa, Zesti, Il Mito and Americas, purchased the restaurant from Dale and Julie Doberstein, who plan to retire. Feker was a customer before buying the businesses and intends to keep the same menu and staff.
Discourse: A Liquid Workshop, known for creative coffee and drinks, opened a location at Cafe Calatrava (inside the Milwaukee Art Museum) as part of a five- month residency program. Discourse was first established in 2017 in Door County. They recently moved to Milwaukee and opened a stall at the Crossroads Collective food hall this past February. Discourse’s Calatrava’s location will offer creative takes on caramel or vanilla lattes and drinks inspired by artworks displayed in the Museum’s galleries.
After pandemic-related delays, Flourchild Pizza is opening April 29 at 722 N. Milwaukee St. The restaurant specializes in pizza with unique toppings that highlight iconic fast food flavors but without artificially processed ingredients. They've also got standard pizzas like cheese or pepperoni. Guests can also choose from sandwiches, mac and cheese, and drinks from a full bar.
Those heading out to Old World Wisconsin this summer can see, smell, feel and taste Wisconsin’s brewing culture and heritage at The Brewhouse, presented by the Cleary-Kumm Family. Attendees can see how beer is made, engage with beermakers and bartenders and relax with a few cold ones while enjoying a brat and live German music. The grand opening is scheduled for June 18. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/43k7t2xf.
Sharlan Edmonds will replace Kenneth Hardiman as Milwaukee Bucks vice president of hospitality. Hardiman took another position within Levy Restaurants. Levy specializes in arena and sports concessions and has been the concessionaire at Fiserv Forum since it opened in 2018.
Golden Nest Pancakes & Café’s (11250 W Burleigh St., Wauwatosa) newest employee, Servi, is quite a hit with the customers. That’s because Servi is a robotic food runner and busser. Service robots are starting to be used nationwide to assist hospitality teams during staffing shortages. The polite robots connect with guests through phrases like “excuse me” and “enjoy your meal.”
The Milwaukee Brewers have partnered with Black Shoe Hospitality and American Family Field food service provider Delaware North Sportservice to roll out a new ballpark menu of offerings inspired by recent James Beard nominee Joe Muench. Muench, who co-owns Black Shoe Hospitality with Dan Sidner, operates Maxie’s, Blue’s Egg, Story Hill BKC and Buttermint Finer Dining & Cocktails under Black Shoe Hospitality. Hungry fans at the ballpark can choose from an array of new offerings such as Specialty Sausages like the Johnsonville Tipsy Polish Sausage and others inspired by the famous racing sausages; Burgers or Topped Hot Dogs powered by Story Hill BKC; Fried Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich & Tenders powered by Maxie’s, Nachos powered by Blue’s Egg and more.
Closures
HIYA Taco (4144 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood) which featured tacos and salads, closed April 15. The restaurant opened August 2020.
Hue Vietnamese Restaurant temporarily closed as it prepares to move into a new, larger space two doors down, at 2699 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. The owners of Hue purchased the former Sven’s Café building in 2019 and constructed a new building on that lot. Andrew Swofford of Happy Dough Lucky is expected to open a doughnut and pizza restaurant in Hue’s former space at 2691 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220427 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/lgbtq/my-lgbtq-pov/m-m-club-reunion-to-be-held-may-8/ | Photo: M&M Club Alumni and Friends - Facebook
M&M Club interior
M&M Club interior
I don’t recall the first time I set foot in the M & M Club. It was sometime in the late 1980s and I became a regular for years thereafter. I vividly remember the last time I went there (along with several hundred others)—it was on Mother’s Day, May 8 2016 for the Club’s reunion on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of its closing in 2006. In fact, I can tell you the next time I’ll cross that famous threshold. Coincidently enough, it will be on Mother’s Day Sunday, May 8 of this year for the 16th anniversary reunion of that closure.
If you’re an LGBTQ boomer, chances are you have a collection of fond memories of the many hours you spent at the M & M Club. Out, closeted or curious, you probably considered Milwaukee’s favorite corner gay bar a home away from home. In its early years, you probably felt safe and sound inside surrounded by the classic ambiance of a cozy Cream City tavern, amongst peers, and sheltered by the large wooden panels that covered the club’s store front style windows.
Originally opened as a Pabst Brewing Company Saloon in 1904, its large floor to ceiling windows were intended to let the light in and allow passers-by to glance inside and perhaps be persuaded to join the revelry inside and have a pint or two. Nearly three quarters of a century later, Bob Schmidt and partners Leo Peters and Jime Moes, on the auspicious national bicentennial date of July 4,, 1976, no less, opened the M & M Club (more familiarly known as M & M’s). Given the almost clandestine nature of the gay life at the time, those welcoming windows were shuttered to keep prying eyes out and protect the identities of those inside.
Breaking Out
But then came Schmidt’s historic act when he took a crowbar and removed the plywood window covers late one night in 1984. A police patrol at the time thought he was breaking in. In fact, he was breaking out. No doubt to the consternation of some patrons yet for most an act of the pride, being LGBTQ was no longer a reason to hide.
Along with M & M’s community center-like role over the course of its three decade-long history, this symbolic and historic act of opening local gay life to the outside world prompted the Shepherd Express to honor Schmidt with its LGBTQ Progress Award in 2016.
It’s the only LGBTQ bar in Milwaukee that I’m aware of that has had a “reunion.” There’s a long list of bars that have closed over the years. Some, like the Ball Game, have had longer runs. Others, like the Factory/Inferno, the Wreck Room, 219, Boom & the Room, Triangle, the Nut Hut, the Boot Camp, Fanny’s or a litany of others, all had their heyday, some longer than others, but none, to my recollection in any case, have ever had a full-blown reunion.
It may be because those other bars had more specific clientele bases with little intersection with other segments of the community. Whether through softball teams, drag shows, strippers, a popular bartender (or bartendress) or simply for a seedy charm or up-market ambiance, each had its impact on and engagement in the LGBTQ scene as we knew it.
None, however, had either such broad appeal to the greater community as M & M’s. None could boast such a storied history that has since become the stuff of both nostalgia and local lore as M & M’s. It is almost as though Cream City’s LGBTQ life after Stonewall can be divided into the M & M Club and the post-M & M Club eras.
Although the business has changed names a couple of times since M & M’s closure in 2006 and some changes have taken place to the interior (sadly, the phone booth is gone), the current occupants, the Tied House, have maintained the old haunt and will be opening its doors to welcome M & M alums. Some are flying in for the occasion, as is Bob Schmidt himself (who just turned 83!). I understand there will also be a show featuring our divas KV, Dita Von, Shannon Dupree, maple Vaneer, Goldi Adams and Shawna Love. Of course, there will be many a memory shared and, perhaps, a rendition of that old familiar tune “For the Good Times.”
M & M Club Reunion details may be found at the “M&M Club Alumni and Friends” Facebook page. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220427 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/lifestyle/out-of-my-mind/humans-the-smartest-species-not/ | Photo: Irina Gutyryak - Getty Images
Orange cat
What’s the most advanced, intelligent species on the planet? Don’t look in the mirror. While I am, by vocation, a student of human nature, I’ve always found that the other animals have more to teach us about life than we do one another. Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time observing and interacting with cats, and, for whatever reason, these creatures and I have always possessed a certain rapport and mutual respect. I’m sure many of you experience something similar, whether with cats, dogs, horses, birds or any number of other brethren creatures.
Now, to folks who regard most other animals as lower life forms that lack true intelligence and sophistication, this probably sounds like gibberish. However, there is compelling scientific evidence that many other species are far more evolved than humans, and that they display the kinds of smarts that often elude us. Sound crazy? Well, Homo sapiens (the term means “wise man” . . . go figure) can hardly claim to be the most advanced creatures on the planet. Any species that devises the means to destroy itself and, at the same time, fouls the natural environment on which its survival utterly depends hardly deserves to be labeled “wise” let alone “highly evolved.”
The many species we look down on, disregard and abuse have been around a lot longer than people. While uncertainties regarding the evolutionary timeline remain, genomic evidence suggests modern humans emerged about 350,000 years ago. In geologic and evolutionary time, that makes our tenure a very brief blip. In contrast, the cat family emerged over 25 million years ago, with modern felines appearing five million years past. For you dog lovers, canines appeared almost 40 million years ago. Then there are “modern” trees, whose lineage is 370 million years old. You get the idea. Humans are the new kid on the block, and our neophyte stupidity is on full display in how we treat the planet, other animals and each other.
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In the Moment, In Balance
Now, getting back to cats, while they are superbly evolved at a physical level and possess sensory capacities far greater than our own, I suspect they are spiritually advanced, as well. Many, perhaps most, are Zen-like entities that live in the moment, exist in balance with their environment, and refrain from wasting emotional energy on small issues. When they display anger or fear, they don’t haul it around with them after the happenstance has passed. By remaining within the flow of the present, they transit existence without regret or worry. And when their time comes to leave this world, they suffer just as we do but, in the words of philosopher Alan Watts, “they don’t make such a fuss of it.”
Like us, cats and other domesticated animals have their moods and moments, and they are not immune from the various neuroses we impose on them. Still, overall, they spend far more time in mindful contemplation than all but the most cloistered monks and mystics among us. I suspect that cats, as well as certain other species, possess the inexplicable capacity to perceive and react to the mindsets and spirituality of the humans around them. They can sense in ways inaccessible to us and, possibly, have developed intuitive powers that we cannot grasp.
The more scientists investigate the intelligence of other species, the more impressed they become. Increasingly, we are confronted with the probability that what we call “intelligence” comes in many more forms than we imagine, and that our version is not superior to all others. Entities as varied as trees, ants, birds, whales, cephalopods, fungi and even bacteria have demonstrated remarkable capacities in such arenas as communication, problem solving, navigation, highly coordinated cooperation, and other attributes so necessary for survival. A number of these abilities appear largely absent among many humans in case you haven’t noticed.
So, if you believe Homo sapiens is the crown of creation, consider hanging out with cats for a time, or any animal or plant that is equally advanced. They have a great deal to teach us, and if we would like to survive, it is well past time we pay attention.
For more, visit philipchard.com. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220427 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/local-music/musample-helps-musicians-navigate-law-and-finances/ | MuSample is a music accelerator program that provides artists with skill sets and resources to ensure that they see a return on their financial investments. It was founded in 2019 by Aichelle White, who has been known for her work around the Milwaukee music scene with Isharai Artist Management. This year, MuSample was selected for the Black Independent Music Accelerator (BIMA) Fellowship.
White explains that she originally started MuSample to help artists with the process of sample clearance.
“As I navigated the sample clearance space, I began to understand that artists didn’t have the foundational principles of how they’d receive money, so I pivoted and now MuSample is a content and consulting-based platform that provides artists with the directions on how to properly monetize what they do.”
Her work with MuSample deviates from Isharai Artist Management but has a fundamentally similar mission. “MuSample heads into the music tech space,” White said. “We’re working on NFTs and Web3 and the Metaverse. That’s all part of the next iteration of where music is going. Isharai Artist Management was more focused on live booking. But this is focused more on every post an artist posts, every time they’re in front of a camera, and everything they do where they’re entitled to money. Artists should be aware of what goes into monetization.”
Looking for Opportunities
White is a music creative herself and contends that many emerging artists simply don’t know where to look when it comes to monetary opportunities. While their instinct may be to spend money on clout, she believes that it’s far more beneficial to start small.
“Everyone’s trying to get on the major playlists and spend money doing that. But I’m more for fan activation; if you have ten fans and they put your song on their 10 playlists, you are now on 10 playlists that people play three to six times a day. You’re getting regular streams. Fan activation is about the foundational ways of securing something lifelong; you could make a song today and then five years from now, somebody might want to sample it or put it in a movie. You own the rights to it and have everything you need.”
Think of MuSample’s work like the proverb, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
“If artists knew how valuable they were to the music industry they would walk in it differently,” White said.
When an artist signs up for MuSample, they are provided for free an e-book about the seven things they should know when they go to the studio, such as having performance tracks and clean versions of their songs. “If you want to have your music played at Bucks games, you’ve got to have clean tracks,” White gave as an example.
She explains how the pandemic and its effects on the industry caused artists to rethink their strategies. “It made music creatives take the business side of it because they weren’t able to perform or be out and mingle, so they had to find alternative ways to get themselves out there. Artists were doing Facebook and Instagram performances but then there’s also Twitch and YouTube for in-home concerts. Integrating fans into artists’ everyday lives—what are you eating, what are you cooking, what are you watching—was the main thing I suggested to artists.”
Currently, White is operating MuSample solo but is looking for industry and tech-savvy folks to join her team. To sign up, visit MuSample’s website: musample.com. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220427 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/shepherd-setlist/shepherd-setlist-april-27-2022/ | The Shepherd Setlist is a collaboration between the Shepherd Express and Milwaukee music website, Breaking And Entering.
Hurt Alwys – “Room 77”
Electronic pop artist Hurt Alwys recently released his first single of the year. With a throbbing synthpop beat and an infectious hook, this song is about wanting another chance to make a relationship work after it fell apart once. The cover art depicts a “new game” arcade screen, which is a clever vehicle for the song’s message about giving things another go. Hurt Alwys is bringing a unique touch to pop music, like this track. (Ben Slowey)
Nae&I – “Make Believe”
On their third single, Nae&I are headed straight to the club for “Make Believe.” Combining elements of pop and house music, the track is dominated by overpowering bass and pitched up synths that give everything a larger than life feel. The lyrics deal with the delusions of a relationship, desperate to try and make things work before ultimately falling apart. The beat is inescapable, though, making it a surefire success if given the right setting. “Make Believe” is a different side to Nae&I’s sound, and while things get sonically figured out, you can check out the new track. (Allen Halas)
The Move – “2 Fast 2 Serious”
The Move is back with a new single, and he’s going full throttle on “2 Fast 2 Serious.” Incorporating samples from Tokyo Drift and with engines revving, the singer makes it apparent that he’s getting to his dreams by any means necessary, and when he’s in go mode, there’s no slowing down. Despite the big sound of the beat, The Move keeps things smooth with his vocals, harmonizing about getting to the money, and demonstrating a poise and composure by doing so. The Move has had a few singles that have made some noise, including this new cut. (Allen Halas)
Cam Will – Not Playing Fair
Hip hop artist Cam Will is out with a new two-piece. On lead single “Oh Well” he’s expressing being done with fake people and looking out for those that wouldn’t do the same for him; all he can say is “oh well.” “IYKYK” finds him looking inwardly, staying calm and collected as he watches people fighting over what’s his. Cam Will is looking out for himself as he remains perplexed by how people treat others just to feel important with Not Playing Fair. (Ben Slowey)
Dres - Way II High
Hip hop artist Dres dropped a new EP this past week. Over four tracks he manages to pull off a different vibration each time; “Everyday Winning” is a flex-filled banger about hustling. The title track is a celebration of weed and its benefits, “Beat Friend” is dedicated to Dres’ wife, and “Stay Woke” is an empowerment anthem. Covering all the bases, Dres showcases his versatility with this EP, cementing that he’s a force to be reckoned with. (Ben Slowey)
Concert Announcements
April 30 – Clare McCullough, Simplified Characters, Joey and the Knives at Cactus Club
May 2 – New Candys, You Win!!! at Cactus Club
May 7 – Dre Llamo, DJ Brotha Z, Korbel Papi at The Miramar Theatre
May 12 – Dizzy Randoms, KoBe, T-Boy Dream Boy at Cactus Club
May 13 – J.E. Sunde, Chris Porterfield at Cactus Club
May 14 – RLYR, High Gallows, Zipper, Nicholas Elert at X-Ray Arcade
May 24 – Chihei Hatakeyama, Jordan Reyes at Cactus Club
June 4 – Key Glock at The Rave
June 9 – Café Racer, Cabeza De Chivo at Cactus Club
June 24 – Joshua Ray Walker, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers at Cactus Club
June 26 – Nordista Freeze, Late Nite Laundry at Cactus Club
June 29 – Sacred Skin, Pixel Grip, Choke Chain at Cactus Club
August 17 – The Toasters, Something To Do, Highball Holiday at X-Ray Arcade
August 25 – Joe Pera at The Pabst Theater
September 6 – Il Divo at Turner Hall Ballroom
September 25 – Apocalyptica, Leprous, Wheel at The Rave
October 4 – Testament, Exodus, Death Angel at The Rave
October 6 – Hippo Campus, Chai at The Riverside Theater | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220427 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/community-news/daily-wisconsin-covid-19-update-1-524-new-cases-no-deaths/ | Summary:
- 1,524 new cases
- No new deaths recorded, 1 added to state system
- 12,868 total deaths;
- 212 hospitalized patients, 36 in ICU
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
On Wednesday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported an additional 1,524 new COVID-19 cases. The state has averaged 1,159 new cases per day in the last week.
On this day last year, there were 791 new cases, and a 7-day average of 647 cases per day. In 2020, 160 cases were recorded, with a 7-day average of 224 cases per day.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
There were no new deaths recorded, but one added to the Department of Health Services system, putting the total Wisconsin death toll at 12,868. A lag in death reporting statewide has affected these numbers.
In Milwaukee County, there were 362 new confirmed cases reported and have been 271,883 total cases in the county since the pandemic began. The 7-day average in the county is 250 cases per day. None of the deaths added to the state system were attributed to Milwaukee County, putting the county death toll at 2,286 since the beginning of the pandemic.
If you are looking for COVID-19 testing or vaccination, consult the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220427 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/books/escape-from-the-ghetto-a-story-of-survival-and-resilience-in/ | Many survivors of World War II were hesitant to open up about their stories, even to those people closest to them. How much more difficult for Holocaust survivorsto recall their experiences? Chaim Herszman escaped Nazi Europe and made for Great Britain, where he renamed himself Henry Carr. In later years, his son John wrote down and taped their conversations about life in Poland before the war and the events he survived once the war began. According to the author’s introduction, he shaped the material only as much as necessary to keep the narrative flowing. Escape from the Ghetto could make a good screenplay.
The Jews of Poland were subjected to routine and sometimes aggressive discrimination during Herszman’s childhood. He had the advantages of blond hair and blue eyes. In public he easily passed for Polish, German even, and had a gift for learning languages. After the Nazis came and rounded up his family, Herszman escaped, killing a guard outside the Lodz ghetto where the city’s Jews were confined in terrible conditions. He made his way across occupied Europe and eventually to freedom. He was only 13.
Aside from the resourcefulness of the protagonist, Escape from the Ghetto is a remarkable account of the unpredictable, random violence of the Nazis in Poland. Carr makes clear that although the Jews bore the heaviest burden, the Nazis imprisoned, enslaved or killed many Poles. The generation that experienced those events has largely passed and the generation of their children is passing, too. Before long, there will be no more eyewitness accounts.
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Subscribe to our free, daily e-newsletter to get Milwaukee's latest local news, restaurants, music, arts and entertainment and events delivered right to your inbox every weekday, plus a bonus Week in Review email on Saturdays. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/books/what%E2%80%99s-what-and-what-to-do-about-it-seven-stories-press-by-w/ | Waldo Mellon is the pen name of a frustrated screenwriter with a funny idea—a fake (and funny) column offering advice to the lifelorn on sexuality, self-image, human responsibility to the world, despair … What’s What and What to do About It is a sort of Socratic dialogue for today’s world by a writer who was raised (literally) in the house of Kurt Vonnegut. The influence shows. Answering a Dear Waldo letter from a guy fearing that he’s perceived as stupid, Waldo relates that as a college student on a blind date, he was asked about Flannery O’Connor. “I like him very much,” young Waldo replied to his date. And then he relates that we are all stupid in the face of the vast complexity of reality. Here’s a brilliant response to another fretting letter for help: “Every moment in life is both prose and poetry. Prose is what you are thinking. Poetry is what you are feeling.” | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/classical-music/debussy-and-mozart-beautifully-rendered/ | Photo: Frankly Music
Frank Almond
Frank Almond
The Frankly Music series continued last week in a concert at Schwann Concert Hall at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Frank Almond was joined with pianist Victor Asuncion, violinist Yuka Kadota, violists Toby Appel and Linda Numagami, cellist Nicholas Marinscal, and flutist Sonora Slocum. Live performances still seem rather new again. I am so grateful for that. There is nothing like hearing music in person.
Asuncion was brilliant in two pieces by Claude Debussy, Feux d’Artifice (Fireworks) and L’isle Joyeuse (Island of Joy). I haven’t heard a pianist recently who was this impressive, both in technique and musicality. He was joined by Almond in three lovely pieces by Gabriel Fauré, a style that suited both players, with a singing, songlike violin part.
Slocum is one of the best recent additions to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. She played the Sonata for Flute and Piano with such graceful beauty. It was the first time I had heard Marinscal in chamber music, with Lukas Foss’s playful Capriccio, played with delicious wit.
Wolfgang Mozart was heard in his String Quintet in C Major, K. 515. What a good ensemble this was, all the musicians sensitively balancing their parts. I loved this performance. What city has a chamber series better than this one? | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/dance/danceworks-performance-mke-examines-how-we-label-self-and-ot/ | Image: Danceworks Performance MKE
Danceworks Performance MKE "Sobriquet"
Danceworks Performance MKE "Sobriquet"
Sobriquet” is the title for a collection of world premieres by members of Danceworks Performance MKE and guests, a 90-minute blend of video and live performance running May 7-8 and 13-15 in the Danceworks Studio Theatre. It closes a strong first season under Christal Wagner’s artistic directorship.
Wagner’s preferred definition of the word sobriquet, she says, is “a nickname, sometimes assumed but often given by another, that is descriptive.” She and the company have been re-evaluating “how we label ourselves and other people.”
“Coming out of the pandemic,’ she explains, “the company members all need to heal ourselves before we can be ready for the audience. It’s been important for us to do work that’s about personal investigation. And isn’t that why art exists? Often an artist, in whatever form, is making the art for themselves, then inviting people to witness it.”
The season’s opener, Fight or Flight, offered tools for anxiety management. Then Sonder asked us to respect one another as equally complex. Sobriquet, she says, “explores queerness, identity, and the divide we feel within the different parts of ourselves.”
Gaining Intimacy, Empathy
She’s embraced the Danceworks tradition of inviting company dancers to choreograph “because through that process we gain intimacy and empathy for our colleagues. As someone who practices freudenfreude (the act of taking joy in someone else’s success), it’s a joy to see what my company members create, and to be an active witness to their process.”
Her dance contribution to Sobriquet is in three movements. The first, she explains, is “on the self-confidence you neglect to give yourself, something I’m struggling with daily.” The second addresses “the side of yourself that you don’t want to acknowledge, especially in your artistry.”
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The third is on the need for diverse representations. “When we don’t allow people to be who they are in all their many, many ways, then we aren’t allowed to move into those spaces ourselves,” she says. “If you don’t know what “blue” is, can you know that the sky is blue?”
Pansexual, Polyamorous, Homoromantic is the working title for dancer/choreographer Nekea Leon’s piece. “It’s what I believe myself to be,” she explains. “I don’t believe in labels but if I have to have a label so someone can understand, these are the words I have, as of now. My piece is inspired by my journey of queerness, navigating where I was in high school when I had that idea, and where I was in college, and where I am in my adult life. I use flashbacks where you see glimpses of my experiences.”
In form, it’s mostly trios, with interludes in which the dancers face upstage to see themselves on film. The audience sees the films, too, but Leon’s point is that they’re for the dancers. The audience witnesses the artists’ work toward self-understanding.
Dance artist Cedar Becher uses “trans non-binary” for self-description. They wish they’d had those words while growing up. Becher doesn’t like the label choreographer. “I’m curating with my collaborators,” is their description of the choreographic process.
Their piece consists of structured improvisations. “I was interested in the way that queerness can mean something completely different to everyone who takes it on as a label,” they tell me. “That’s why I like it. I can say I’m queer and it relates to my sexuality but also to my gender, and I don’t have go into details if I don’t want to. I was very specific about having only queer people in the cast, so we could have a space that was specifically for us to relate and mix and work. My one priority is to take care of them while creating something together, and while building relationships between all the people in the room.”
“So the piece is about what I call ‘queer care.’ It’s how we care for each other as queer people, as we know we have to do because we don’t have all the support that other people do, or all the understanding, or the being able to be seen. And how does queer care cultivate queer joy? We have to push through the sadness, through the hardship, to get to that joy. And we have to embody that joy.”
Queer Relations
Choreographer Chancie Cole’s piece has a major film element. Non-danced scenes of intimate connections between a variety of people, some in the dance studio, others in nature, extend the live dance sections. “It’s a piece about love and queer relationships,” she says quietly. “Let me just show you.”
Jade Charon, a Milwaukee native who founded an acclaimed New York City dance company and just finished a teaching residency at Danceworks, created a piece for Sobriquet. Charon is an activist artist working to improve life for, especially, young Black women. Leon, a dancer in the piece, describes her role as entering “a dreamlike state in which I’m having a conversation with my ancestors who are trying to help me get back to place of self-confidence and belief in myself.”
Elizabeth Roskopf, an Asian American adoptee, will dance her story, choreographed in collaboration with Madison’s Li Chiao-Ping, on film shot and edited by Wagner. The Danceworks Youth Performance Company with choreographer Gabi Sustache will address labels in a live piece and a video piece. The all-ages Danceworks Intergenerational Company with choreographer Gina Laurenzi will do that live.
Danceworks Studio Theatre is at 1661 N. Water St. For times and tickets, visit danceworksmke.org or call 414-277-8480 ext. 6025 | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/happening-now/ancient-aliens-lands-at-pabst-may-22/ | Image: Ancient Aliens Live
Ancient Aliens Live
I’m not saying it was aliens … but it was aliens, as the famous meme says. The meme is of funny-haired Giorgio A. Tsoukalos, one of the frequent guests on the History Channel’s show “Ancient Aliens.” The show, which explores theories of extraterrestrials visiting Earth throughout the ages, premiered in 2010, and this year marked their 18th season.
“Ancient Aliens” has attracted millions of viewers and has featured many classic cases of UFO sightings and their latest season included an episode that explored current attempts to get the government to disclose what it knows about visitors from other planets. But the show also has more than a few critics, who dismiss the ufologist’s claims as “pseudoscience” or “pseudoarcheology.” There’s also been allegations that the show’s theories about ancient civilizations—like the Egyptians and Mayans—being “too primitive” to create pyramids and temples are just plain racist by erasing the achievements of those cultures and gives the credit to E.T.
And add to that the broader criticism that “Ancient Aliens” and similar shows have caused platforms like the History Channel to “channel drift,” a downward slide from the channel’s original premise (to present programs focused on history) into gobbledygook.
You can determine if the truth is out there or just a load of hokum for yourself when some of the stars of the show present their case live on stage in a discussion at the Pabst Theater, May 22. Yes, Tsoukalos will be there, along with author David Childress (who wrote The Time Travel Handbook) and “investigative mythologist” William Henry.
Ancient Aliens Live: Project Earth stops at the Pabst Theater Sunday, May 22, show at 7:30pm. Visit pabsttheatergroup.com for more details. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/food/lets-eat/mmm-momo-mee/ | Photo by Sandy Reitman
Momo Mee soup dumplings
Momo Mee soup dumplings
Momo Mee is always packed on Saturday nights, even when Milwaukee hits weather in the 70s for the first time. Luckily, the four of us had a reservation so we didn’t have to worry about it. Per usual, I was 10 minutes early and got a seat at the bar. I usually stick to what I know and like when ordering a drink, but I was convinced to try their lychee martini and it was perfect for a warm summer-like evening, not too sweet and not too boozy.
Once the other ladies showed up, we were promptly sat at our table and greeted by the owner Kim. She walked us around the menu offering what they’re famous for and some of her personal favorites. Between the four of us, there were some novices pan-Asian eaters and some experts. The best thing about Momo Mee’s menu is that it covers many types of Asian cuisines without veering too far from authenticity. Sure, it’s trendy, but the dishes keep to their native core.
Since this was the event of our evening, we decided to take it slow and order as we go (of course with a little planning ahead and discussion about who likes what). We started with some edamame and the Momo Mee’s Famous Xiao long bao, otherwise known as Shanghai soup dumplings. During my New York City years, soup dumplings came into the spotlight, so you had to learn how to properly eat these delicacies. You must gently pick up a dumpling from the bamboo steam box with chop sticks, quickly deliver it to the soup ladle, poke a tiny hole in the dumpling case, sip the broth from the ladle, then eat the actual dumpling in bites. Although we didn’t all get it right the first time, they were a massive hit at the table.
From there, we opted for the garlic Japanese eggplant to get a taste of some sweet sauce without going too meat-heavy for the entire meal. Next, we had the pan-fried Korean beef mandu which were meaty dumplings with a kiss of kimchi inside. Next, we went for the Korean spicy noodles with chicken (but you can choose your protein) per Kim’s recommendation—they were perfectly spiced and something you’d like to have as leftovers. We did not have any leftovers.
For our dessert, Kim brought over a flight of sake and had some with us. While we were all quite full at this point, she convinced us to order the caramelized banana lumpia with vanilla ice cream as our dessert. It was a perfectly sweet ending to a very flavorful and savory meal.
Going with a big group is always better with dim sum and pan-Asian cuisine so you can really taste the global flavors from all over the continent. If it’s hard to get a seat at the bar or a table walking in, this is some high-quality takeout food that anyone will enjoy. Momo Mee-a! | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/album-reviews/delta-bound-by-sabertooth-swing/ | Photo: Sabertooth Swing - Facebook
Sabertooth Swing
Sabertooth Swing
With Delta Bound, Sabertooth Swing sketches out a not-exactly chronological history lesson on the music and culture of Louisiana. There are spoken word tracks, including a reading of an account by Spanish explorers recalling their massacre of indigenous people, and lots of Basin Street horn playing. Some of the connections made are surprising. The reggae instrumental “Sweet Lorna” is a reminder that New Orleans R&B was formative in the development of a distinctly Jamaican sound in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. Cajun musicians invest several tracks with their distinct heritage, including vocals in French. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/album-reviews/the-lights-are-always-on-by-lynne-arriale-challenge-records-/ | Current events and social issues continue to inspire jazz musicians’ instrumental work. Pianist and Milwaukee native Lynne Arriale is on that track and comes to cautiously hopeful equanimity on her latest, The Lights Are Always On. The title number salutes frontline workers who labor(ed) throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with the kind of upliftingly melodic lilt so often characterizing her compositions.
And unlike her two previous albums heading up three-piece ensembles, this set’s exclusion of guest vocalists and pop remakes puts the musical conversation between Arriale, bassist Jasper Somsen and drummer E.J. Strickland at the forefront. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Representative John Lewis, DACA dreamers, journalists and other subjects spur tributes in which Arriale and company voice humane and adventuresome spiritedness in rigorous, but easygoing form. The calm achieved by the album's end culminates in a satisfy listening experience, but one might hope that Arriale need not glean from such tumult and melancholy next she visits the recording studio. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/local-music/bands-play-benefit-for-planned-parenthood/ | Photo by George Reed / Esoteric Films
Holly and The Nice Lions
Holly and The Nice Lions
Green Bay’s Holly and The Nice Lions and the Chicago-Milwaukee band Fake Blind Date have teamed up to organize a benefit for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin.
Fake Blind Date’s border-crossing connection comes through Molli Putz (lead vocals, guitar), a veteran of Milwaukee bands included the much-esteemed Red Ball Jets, and Milwaukee expat in Illinois Paul McComas (bass, backup vocals). Forty years ago, when both were teenagers, McComas was an avid fan of Putz's punkabilly Red Ball Jets.
“At Century Hall I made my way front-and-center so I could watch Molli’s flyin’ fingers. And just maybe get sweated or spat on,” McComas recalls. The two didn't meet till 2018, when their bands shared a bill at the High Dive as part of Milwaukee FemFest. They got to talking; FBD is the result. The Red Ball Jets were, says McComas, “right after the Oil Tasters, my favorite of the dozen-or-so notable Milwaukee punk and punk-adjacent bands. Now, I get to lock into grooves on stage with RBJs’ frontwoman! It’s a dream come true.”
Fake Blind Date is rounded out by Chicago drummer Peter Van Eck and a revolving cast of saxophonists. For the Planned Parenthood benefit, Kyle Strain will sit in on sax.
Image: Neal Katz
Fake Blind Date
Fake Blind Date
“We currently play 2/3 originals, 1/3 quirky covers ranging from from Romeo Void to Neko Case to the Cramps to Carter and Cash. I guess we're ‘alt-eclecti-pop’: punk/riot-grrrl, punkabilly, neo-Western/outlaw-cowgirl, 2-a.m.-smoky-jazz-dive, ska, alt-rock, neo-pop, funk—we play nearly as many genres as we do songs."
McComas met Holly Trasti (guitar, vocals) from Holly and The Nice Lions 10 years ago at a Cactus Club show. A schoolteacher, Trasti “was in desperate need of a new name for the band when one of my five-year-old students walked into class and proclaimed, ‘Ms. Trasti, I know the name of your band!’ I asked her what it was, and she answered, 'Holly and the Nice Lions!' We have had the name ever since. That student is a full-blown teen now and a pretty cool one at that.”
Holly and the Nice Lions have released four albums, including 2019’s Black Moon. They are working on a fifth. “Some say our sound is straight up rock 'n' roll. Some say art-punk or post-punk. We say it is loud,” Trasti says. The Nice Lions also include Steven Spoerl (bass) and Travis Pashek (drums).
Trasti is also an actor and is codirecting a film with McComas, Unplugged. shepherdexpress.com/film/reviews/milwaukee-expat-filmmaker-produces-unplugged-with-star-cast
The reason for the Planned Parenthood benefit is clear. Says Putz, “Safe, legal abortion is at serious risk in Wisconsin. Abortion could become illegal here and in 25 other states as soon as June or July, as the Supreme Court will be ruling on a case at that time which could be used to overturn Roe v. Wade. I want to get out there and play this benefit to raise awareness in my community, because I’ve heard a lot of people say, ‘No, that can’t be true.’ Unfortunately, the risk is very real.
“Abortion is a private decision about freedom and bodily autonomy. It’s been a constitutionally protected right since 1973, yet that could all change this year. I’m worried about my daughter’s generation not having the same freedoms I’ve had. I support Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin because they're working to protect abortion rights in this state and helping to elect legislators who will do so.”
Trasti adds: “The issues at hand for women's health continue to be polarized, with those ill versed in the topics making decisions. As music makers, this is the way we can support getting representation with better understanding.”
Holly and The Nice Lions and Fake Blind Date will perform starting 8 p.m. Saturday, May 7 at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 1001 E. Locust St. Admission $10 (or more) donation supports Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin. It’s a 21 and over show. COVID-vax card required. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/this-week/this-week-in-milwaukee-april-28-may-4-2022/ | The return of Big Beat MKE, The Crazy Shepherd Reunion, Good Land Records 11 Year Anniversary Party, MSO plays The Rolling Stones, the return of FemFest and more—This Week in Milwaukee!
Thursday, April 28
Big Beat MKE @ The Wicked Hop, 10 p.m.
Big Beat MKE 2022
Big Beat MKE returns for the Thursday head-to-head producer battles. A beat battle consists of three one-minute rounds, in which two producers play original beats that are either pre-recorded or performed live on stage. No vocal tracks are allowed, other than sampling music or pop culture clips.
After the three rounds, judges from the Milwaukee music scene will determine who moves on to the next round of the tournament. Producers are judged on sound quality, composition, and crowd response. Each night of the tournament features two head-to-head battles, as well as two performances from Milwaukee hip hop artists.
Through June 16.
Friday, April 29
Spoof Fest @ Club Garibaldi, 7 p.m.
Is nothing sacred? Actually, no. For 25 years Spoof Fest has slain many a sacred cow. Mixing skits, costumes, humor, and musical chops the fest has played the streets of the Bay View Bash and the stages of Summerfest. This year it returns to home base Club Garibaldi for two nights of demented performance. Friday’s lineup includes tributes to John Waite, Blondie, Bryan Adams, and KC and the Sunshine Band, while Saturday pokes The 5th Dimension, Faster Pussycat, The Cars, and Blue Öyster Cult.
Also Saturday. More info here: facebook.com/spooffest.
Midwest Gaming Classic @ Wisconsin Center, 6 p.m.
Photo: midwestgamingclassic.com
Midwest Gaming Classic - Steel Battalion LAN
Midwest Gaming Classic - Steel Battalion LAN
The Midwest Gaming Classic is a trade show featuring over 150,000 square feet of retro and modern home video game consoles, pinball machines, arcade video games, tabletop RPGs, computers, tabletop board games, crane games, collectible card games, air hockey and more.
Presentations include: Retronauts: The Games That Shaped Japan; Gamers (Who Happen to Be Women); Mortal Kombat 30th Anniversary Kelebration; Atari 50th Anniversary and identical twin harpists Camille and Kennerly Kitt.
Through Sunday, more info here midwestgamingclassic.com
Good Land Records 11 Year Anniversary Party @ The Cooperage, 7 p.m.
"Grab Your Pack" by The Figgs
The 10 Year Anniversary for Milwaukee’s Good Land Records was COVID-canceled. So, the little label that could did it one better. Friday’s celebration at the Cooperage includes sets by Limbeck, The Figgs, DIRECT HIT!, Joseph Huber and Rx Drugs.
Since 2010, co-honchos Jon Phillip and Chris Johnson have released music by over two dozen artists many with local ties. For Friday’s show (another event takes place in Madison on Saturday) the music includes the long running trio The Figgs, who are the embodiment of rock and roll; name another band who can add as footnotes, backing Graham Parker and Tommy Stinson. Limbeck’s mix of melodic punk and alt-country is anchored by none other than drummer Jon Phillip.
“Pale, Lonesome Rider” by Joseph Huber
Joseph Huber gained traction with bluegrass-centric .357 String Band. His 2015 album Tongues of Fire is one of the label’s most successful releases; Huber’s new album The Downtowner hits the streets in May. Fronted by Joe Crocket, Rx Drugs is stacked in talent with Scott Schoenbeck, Quinn Scharber, Justin Krol and Dustin Dobernig.
Saturday, April 30
Spring Fling Art Thing @ Puddler’s Hall, 1 p.m.
Support the creative community by checking outnpaintings, jewelry and photography from and Kimberly Geszvain, Jourdain LaFrombois, Jil Ortíz, Mandy Smith and Chris Tishler.
The Crazy Shepherd Reunion w/ The Swivels and Bristlehead @ Shank Hall, 7 p.m.
Crazy Shepherd 40th Anniversary Party
The roots of the Shepherd Express can be traced back to 1982 to a humble paper called the Crazy Shepherd. Initially a monthly publication, the core staff included James McCarter, Bill Lueders, Kurt Buss, Chris Deisinger, Peter Kotz, Karen Gerrity, Marty Genz and others. It stopped being crazy in 1986, when editor Lueders left to take a job in Madison. The definition of an iconoclastic publication—featuring news, culture and what the Milwaukee Sentinel once referred to as “harsh, long-winded social commentary”—it attracted a range of political types, artists, poets, musicians and social outcasts of all persuasions. It merged with the local music paper Express in 1987.
"Crooked Dream" by Mike Fredrickson of Bristlehead
Staff, artists, contributors, and readers of the Crazy Shepherd and Express magazines are invited to come together for an evening of music, dance, conversation and fellowship. Music for the evening will be handled by Bristlehead, the roots-pop combo that serves a vehicle for the songs of Mike Fredrickson and features the talents of Dave Braun, Bob Jennings and Jason Klagstad—veterans of Semi Twang, Paul Cebar and The Mosleys.
Also appearing will be The Swivels, a new group lead by Carter Hunnicutt aimed for the dance floor. The funky rock and roll quartet’s recipe includes a mix of Jamaica, Jazz, and psychedelic sounds. The band also includes bassist Paul Ryan, drummer Dan Glaser and guitarist Chris Peterson. Both Hunnicutt and Fredrickson worked with the Crazy Shepherd in a number of areas.
The Music of The Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards 1969 @ Bradley Symphony Center, 7:30 p.m.
Celebrating the Rolling Stones albums Beggars Banquet and Let it Bleed, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Martin Herman, performs “The Music of The Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards 1969.” The concert pays tribute to the era when The World Greatest Rock & Roll Band began a landmark run of albums.
Sunday, May 1
FemFest May Day @ Cactus Club, 11 a.m.
After two years of only virtual programming, FemFest returns. The 12 hour event celebrates May Day and International Workers Rights with a panel discussion on labor organizing and workers organizing with MASH (Milwaukee Area Service & Hospitality) who will share about their ongoing campaigns. Brunch from Frida's Cocina, a Maker's Market and a one-day music festival with Ruth B8r Ginsberg, Sugar Ransom, Desi, Dandy L. Frehling, Rat Bath, Fox Face, Maat Mons, Steph Lippert and PuertoWiccan.
Tuesday, May 3
Julia Blair w/Graham Hunt, Crawlspace, DJ Amos Pitsch @ Cactus Club. 7 p.m.
“Relax” by Julia Blair
Appleton’s Crutch of Memory Enterprises is a recording studio, music label and book publisher. Sonic consigliere Julia Blair steps out with her new album Better Out Than In, a collection that hints at both Americana and the Carole King. Amos Pitsch, her bandmate in Dusk, will be manning the decks and just might join her onstage.
More than a few jaws dropped at Brady St. Festival circa 2014, when a young Graham Hunt and Midnight Reruns invigorating set ended with updates on Thin Lizzy and Cheap Trick. Hunt hasn’t slowed down, releasing solo albums Leaving Silver City and Painting Over Mold.
Wednesday, May 4
Aimee Mann w/ Jonathan Coulton @ Pabst Theater, 8 p.m.
“Burn It Out” by Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann’s Queens of the Summer Hotel, inspired by the book Girl, Interrupted, might seem a stretch for some artists but Mann has long carved out a career that balances literate pop music with art. Not to be highbrow, Mann is one of those rare artists who gives the listener credit for being able to connect the dots. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/central-city-stories/kevin-newell-milwaukee-developer/ | At 37, Kevin Newell is the founder of Royal Capital Group that owns several buildings in the Downtown and inner-city areas. I met him at one of his premiere buildings, the Five Fifty Lofts, its glass skyway linked to the Bucks arena across Juneau Avenue. Before we sat down to talk, Newell showed me around,112 apartments and condos in six stories. If a building could be proud, Five Fifty Lofts would tip its hat.
Tall and fit, Keven was dressed fashionably in all black. I found him immediately engaging, a singer’s soothing voice and delivery, but a strong personality. An elastic mind on the move.
Tell me about your background, where you grew up, your parents, your neighborhood, and your schooling.
When I was two years old, my mom moved me and my two older siblings from Mississippi to Milwaukee. I went to grade school at Phillis Wheatley on North 20th and Wright. Then, I went to, Neeskara Elementary, Samuel Morris Middle School and to Custer High School. Mom moved us a lot. 21st and Meinecke, 21st and North, 31st and North, 38th and Florist—we bounced around, maybe lived in 15 different spaces by the time I went off to college.
My mom worked hard, always found us better places, made sure our needs were met. I was a social kid, didn’t mind moving, making new friends. I was working since I was six years old, shoveled snow, mowed lawns, picked up trash. Later, I worked in a pet store and a grocery store. Even did a business with my best friend. We’d go to Sam’s Club, buy a bunch of snacks, separate them into bags and give ‘em to a couple guys who sold them, and brought back half the profits for us.
How did you end up going to college?
I applied to one school, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the business school, and was accepted. I lived on campus, was a resident assistant, and in a fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. I graduated with a business degree in 2007, but I also studied psychology to learn about human behavior and social dynamics. I also did international studies, traveled to South Africa and Brazil. I was interested in how domestic environments impact social behavior and psychology. For instance in South Africa they have shantytowns, in Brazil they have favelas, and in America we have “ghettos.” These international correlations were prominent.
How did you get into construction and urban development?
In my senior year, I got into the Marquette ACRE program. That’s how I got started into the commercial real estate world.
ACRE is a minority outreach program that provides commercial real estate training, networking and mentoring opportunities.
Because I finished in the top of my class at ACRE, I was afforded a one-year placement program at WHEDA, Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority, which turned into 3.5 years, where I learned how public financing works. An example is the Bucks arena which was partially funded by TIF financing and other public subsidy. Or Northwestern Mutual and Milwaukee Tool. At WHEDA, I moved up in the ranks quickly and was commuting from Milwaukee to Madison to Whitewater where I worked on my MBA and back in the same day. This went on for two years. Very exhausting but rewarding.
How did you start the Royal Capital Group? How and when did that come about?
I had a great time at WHEDA, but in September 2010 I decided to leave to exercise my entrepreneurial spirit and found Royal Capital Group. It was based on building affordable housing and an ecosystem of businesses focused on the urban core. Royal Capital was funded through two different strategies. I had some capital of my own, had no loans, and could support personal living needs. I had established relationships with equity and debt providers due to my works with WHEDA.
I started with an 84 residential unit property in Kenosha that I wanted to rehab. I sourced the capital, and with little resume experience, I leveraged a development team around the project. That project worked out well. Then, I built another 335 units in Madison with Zilber Limited as my partner, deploying the same strategy of aggregating the capital, doing a lion share of the work, but leveraging the resume of an established development team via a joint venture structure, which is what we call the win-win. I repeated this process for my first four years in the business. Eventually, I had a strong enough balance sheet and resume where could check the experience box ourselves.
Royal Capital is one of Milwaukee’s leaders in Urban Development. Your group owns several buildings in the downtown area, including the Five Fifty Lofts across from the Fiserv Forum. From what I understand, you also have a dedicated commitment to social responsibility. How does that manifest itself in your development projects? I think you call it “color outside the box.”
Social responsibility is the bloodline for every project we do. From the vision to the strategy to the execution of the development, like the Five Fifty Lofts where we are today. As the head of my organization, annually I’m in charge of a hundred of millions of dollars. From our attorney, to our lender, to the HVAC company, and other subcontractors, we put a focus on partnering with folks from our community. This is a part of our social responsibility.
You made the following statement on your company website. “We consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to serve our communities with our comprehensive, determined approach to problem-solving in the urban core.” What exactly is the urban core?
The urban core is the highly dense area of a city. So this includes downtown and inner city, neighborhoods with very high earners and those with low wage earners. One thing, we try to focus on areas of need, neighborhoods that need affordable housing.
I’ve done a number of stories on Black inner city residents, street leaders and politicians, all with their own ideas on how to improve the troubled neighborhoods, rid them of crime and drug dealing, and uplift the lifestyle and economy. There are a lot of ideas out there, but I’ve found the number one issue always comes back to infrastructure. Are you involved with any housing or development projects in the central city?
Absolutely. On the northwest side, 77th and Good Hope, and in partnership with the public library, we built a new library and 65 units of affordable housing on top of the library. Essentially, we built an infrastructure that created jobs and safe affordable housing and also the library that improves culture.
And now you are developing the old building where you went to grade school, the Phillis Wheatley Elementary School.
Yes, we are finishing construction on that project. The school’s been vacant for many years. We bought the old school from the city. We’ve been rehabbing the building, refurbishing the gym for health and wellness, and putting in a juice bar. We also added a new building on the property. With this project, we are adding a total of 89 units of affordable housing in a distressed neighborhood in zip code 53206.
How do you define affordable housing? If you are low income, does it mean you pay $100 or $200 per month for apartment rent?
Affordable housing means affordable to the renter or buyer. If you make $100,000 a year, you probably live in a $300,000 house. If you make near-zero dollars, you might rent a place for $100 per month. We do our best work in the middle via workforce housing. We target the working class who earn between $25,000 and $70,000 who typically don’t receive much government subsidies. Let’s say you do a 40-hour work week with a yearly salary of $30,000. We will build a world class, market-rate housing development through the public/private partnership. In exchange for the government’s support with construction costs, instead of charging $2,500 per month for monthly rent, we will only charge $800.
For about year, Lafayette Crump has been the Milwaukee Commissioner of City Development, meaning he oversees the central city infrastructure. Do you work with Commissioner Crump on any projects? And do you have any development ideas for the central city?
We try to be proactive working with city government and with Commissioner Lafayette Crump. He understands the neighborhoods and the needs. On the private side, we try to present ideas to government to help improve the long-term viability of our neighborhoods.
I’ve heard lots of complaints from residents as to why the city doesn’t do anything with these abandoned buildings and houses they own.
The biggest challenge for the city is to break some of their own rules. They’ve come up with rules that are archaic in nature and they stick to them.
At some point, you have to say the plan you instituted 20 years ago is not working. City leaders have power. Why not use it. Mayor Johnson is the new leader and he has the chance to act on these problems.
Then, there is the topic of racism, the tension between whites and people of color. Racism is a subject that the mainstream press likes to hear about from politicians. But I want to hear the opinions of business leaders, too. Whether we like it or not, Americans are a vast mix of ethnic and tribal people. I find it unfortunate that a country that offers so much is littered with anger and hatred.
It’s like bad news and good news. Bad news plays well in the media, and good news has a one-day news cycle. Politicians tend to polarize opinions with rhetoric, play on emotions. “Our side is good, your side is bad.” Helps them with their political careers.
Here’s my thought. I like to differentiate between prejudice and racism. Prejudice involves emotion, personal opinions. Racism is an action. Are you actively doing something to disenfranchise another group of people because of skin color and cultural behavior? Racism is a component of our community, and it needs to be addressed through infrastructure and systematic challenges. When I’m a part of diversity, equity and inclusion discussions over a development project, I say, “I’m not here to change hearts. I’m here to change policies” because policy is tied into the action of racism. Heart is emotion. Policy is racism. If Milwaukee’s community of leaders wants to be part of racial equity and inclusion, they should do so through policy. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/features/may-day-celebrates-the-battles-fought-for-labor-and-immigran/ | Image: Voces de La Frontera
May Day march illustration
Milwaukee has a deep history of working-class immigrants etched into the walls and streets of our neighborhoods. The story of America is written with the voices and words of people that traversed dangerous paths to give their children and themselves something off limits for them because of where they were from, and this small Midwest city is brimming with that influence.
Nobody knows this better than the labor unions that have represented these workers, as well as Voces de la Frontera, a group that since its inception in 1998 has always amplified the voices of the immigrant and undocumented community.
Historically, the first May Day was celebrated in 1889 to commemorate the historic struggles made by the labor movement, including battles fought to end 12-hour workdays and implement weekends, as well as fair wages with yearly increases to reflect the cost of living.
“Everyone should view the immigrant community as the backbone, the driving force of labor in the United States,” says Primitivo Torres, deputy director at Voces de la Frontera. “We are the machine that upholds the economy and keeps everything moving and that is what the May Day march is all about.”
Truly, the immigrant community makes up a large portion of the workforce in America, yet very few are members of a union. What makes the undocumented and immigrant community so reticent to join unions, is of course, fear of reprisal by way of deportation or firings. “We can overcome this fear by constantly communicating with and educating our community. We have to let them know that we are here for them, and they have millions behind them in their same situation and express how real change comes from strength in numbers.” Torres adds. He has helped to organize every May Day march since 2006, when 30,000 people were in attendance.
2006 (“A Day Without Latinos”)
The march is one of the most successful in Milwaukee history and revolved around worker’s rights and immigration reform. Of concern at that time was an immigration bill known as the Sensenbrenner Bill, passed Dec.16, 2005, named after Wisconsin Republican Congressman Jim Sensebrenner. The bill sought the construction of a 7,000-foot fence along the southern border, immediate deportation of any immigrant caught with a DUI and—most importantly—prohibiting aid to undocumented immigrants, terming it as “aiding and abetting of criminals.”
The passage of this bill sparked national outrage, and thankfully it did not pass the senate. During this time Voces del la Frontera decided to take up the mantle of expressing outrage and fighting back through helping organize a big May Day march in Milwaukee. Says Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, “In the beginning we did not have support from radio stations and depended completely on people to people organizing. Like a beehive, people came to our office to pick up flyers and distribute them in the community at businesses, churches, schools, workpaces, and other cultural and sports events, to spread the word.
"In a small amount of time we were able to escalate boldly because of the trust that had been built up with Latinxs and immigrant workers and their families; assisting them on workplace issues, the fight for the Dream Act and instate tuition, and the fight for immigration reform. ‘Day without Latinos & Immigrants’ became a call to action—a community wide general strike of ‘no work, no school, no shopping’ to show the important economic contributions that immigrants make to our community and a day of solidarity with all workers against those trying to pit us against each other.”
Image: Voces de la Frontera
Voces de la Frontera logo
Originally, Voces de la Frontera began as a newspaper that brought immigrant workplace issues along the U.S.-Mexico border to the forefront, advocating for solidarity across borders, urging immigrant workers to organize against problems such as unpaid hours, sexual harrassment in the workplace, and overall unfair treatment. Neumann-Ortiz identifies as Chicana, the daughter of immigrant parents who always urged activism and community solidarity in her upbringing. She was inspired to start a worker’s center when she moved back to Milwaukee in 1998, having left briefly to work on the paper. “Milwaukee has always had a progressive and socialist legacy, created by German immigrants, and one that was recognized nationally. This was fertile ground to spark a conversation about immigrant rights,” she says.
2011
The marches soldiered on throughout the years, and many developments came about in the immigration reform movement. “2011 was the year that Act 10 was introduced by Scott Walker and when the labor movement became the focus of what was happening within the community,” Neumann-Ortiz says. This was also the year that Voces organized striking workers at Palermo’s, a frozen pizza manufacturer in the Menomonee Valley, holding rallies and meeting with workers.
2016
The year culminated with the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. During his campaign, he created a sense of fear about the immigrant community, famously calling them “rapists” and vowed to swiftly act against them. He imbued racists with a sense of newfound boldness.
The focus of the 2016 march was to act against those sentiments, as well as a protest against Sheriff David Clarke, who wanted to allow local law enforcement to cooperate and work with ICE to detain immigrants.
Trump and his supporters vowed to end DACA, which would repeal in-state tuition and status for immigrant students, furthering the anti-immigrant posture in the U.S. “As a DACA recipient, it was important that I got everyone involved to understand what a path to citizenship meant,” says Fernanda Jimenez, who was a member of Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES). “I organized kids in my high school, and we brought 200 people up from Racine. We reached out to businesses and made announcements at churches and stood outside of grocery stores to stress the importance of the march. We are still fighting for citizenship and to repeal 287G, and we have to continue,”, she says. Her first May Day march as in 2015 when she was 15 years old. Jimmenez plans to keep marching every year.
2021
The immigrant community breathed a collective sigh of relief when Trump was voted out of office in 2020, but they knew there was still much work to be done. The May Day march was canceled that year by the pandemic and came back in full swing in May of 2021 with the message strong and clear.
Communities of color were affected deeply by COVID-19 because many had to keep working at “essential jobs” while the virus spread. Those communities kept going, wages remained stagnant and time off was seldom granted with the same lenience as other professions. This was all too apparent when workers at the Strauss meat packing plant in Franklin rallied around workplace issues that dealt directly with the pandemic. They demanded proper PPE, time off and restrictions in place that would curb their vulnerability to the virus.
The workers’ demands were met with immediate firings, including employees who had been there as long as 12 years. This was an example for Voces del la Frontera of how the immigrant community was treated during the pandemic, and became a vehicle for expressing what “essential” really meant in the eyes of corporate America.
Karina Hinojosa Zavala, a canvas leader for Voces de la Frontera action, was heavily involved in this action, which happened in 2020. “My father and cousin were both amongst the workers that were fired, and I felt a particular calling to be part of this struggle,” she says. Prior to this effort, Hinojosa Zavala had been a manager at a big-box retail store. Her passion for immigrant’s rights coupled with her skills to manage teams led her to Voces.
“My first May Day march was 2006, when I was 6 years old!” she laughs. “I have been present at almost all of them and will continue to do so. I see my parent’s spirit in the face of all the immigrants that march. Even though I am frustrated by what is happening every year in the community, I am always overwhelmed by the collective positivity we hold. It’s emotional, it makes me tear up.”
The 2022 May Day march will carry on for the first time for two days, in Milwaukee on Sunday May 1 and in Madison on Monday, May 2. The Milwaukee march will start at the Voces office (733 W. Historic Mitchell St.) at noon. The march will go up Mitchell, swing a left on 6th Street and proceed to Wisconsin Avenue, where it will take a right and end at the Federal Building (517 E Wisconsin Ave.). | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/this-modern-world/this-modern-world-week-of-april-28-2022/ | Skip to main content
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This Modern World: Week of April 28, 2022
This Modern World: Week of April 28, 2022
Apr. 28, 2022
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The online version of our weekly Puzzles page is sponsored by WaterStreet Creative. With more than 100 years of collective experience in successfully building brands through advertising, design, digital marketing and public relations, the WaterStreet Creative team loves finding creative ways to meet the challenges that are keeping our clients up at night. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
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ARIES (March 21-April 19): I recommend you adopt a limitation that will enable you to claim more freedom. For example, you could de-emphasize your involvement with a lukewarm dream so as to liberate time and energy for a passionate dream. Or you could minimize your fascination with a certain negative emotion to make more room for invigorating emotions. Any other ideas? You're in a phase when increased discipline and discernment can be liberating.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): "Imagining anything is the first step toward creating it," wrote author and activist Gloria Steinem. "Believing in a true self is what allows a true self to be born," she added. Those are excellent meditations for you to focus on right now, Taurus. The time is ripe for you to envision in detail a specific new situation or adventure you would like to manifest in the future. It's also a perfect moment to picture a truer, deeper, more robust version of your beautiful self—an expanded version of your identity that you hope to give birth to in the coming months.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini author William Butler Yeats won a Nobel Prize for Literature, so I conclude he had considerable talent and wisdom. But he cultivated interests and ideas that were at variance with most other literary figures. For example, he believed fairies are real. He was a student of occult magic. Two of his books were dictated by spirits during séances. In the coming weeks, I invite you to draw inspiration from his versatile repertoire. Welcome knowledge in whatever unusual ways it might materialize. Be eager to accept power and inspiration wherever they are offered. For inspiration, here's a Yeats' quote: "I have observed dreams and visions very carefully, and am certain that the imagination has some way of lighting on the truth that reason has not, and that its commandments, delivered when the body is still and the reason silent, are the most binding we can ever know."
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CANCER (June 21-July 22): You know what's always good for your well-being? Helping people who are less fortunate and less privileged than you. To enhance your health, you can also fight bigotry, campaign against the abuse of animals, and remedy damage to the natural world. If you carry out tasks like these in the coming weeks, you will boost your vigor and vitality even more than usual. You may be amazed at the power of your compassion to generate selfish benefits for yourself. Working in behalf of others will uplift and nurture you. To further motivate you, here are inspirational words from designer Santiago Bautista: "I am in love with all the gifts of the world, and especially those destined for others to enjoy."
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): "There is a moment in each day that Satan cannot find," wrote author and artist William Blake. Here's how I interpret his poetic words: On a regular basis, you become relatively immune from the debilitating effects of melancholy, apathy, and fear. At those times, you are blessed with the freedom to be exactly who you want to be. You can satisfy your soul completely. In the next six weeks, I suspect there will be more of these interludes for you than usual. How do you plan to use your exalted respite from Satan's nagging?
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Poet Louis Little Coon Oliver (1904–1991) was a member of the indigenous Mvskoke people. He declared, "I do not waste what is wild." That might mean something different for him than what it would mean for you, but it's an excellent principle for you to work with in the coming weeks. You will have more access than usual to wildness, and you might be tempted to use it casually or recklessly. I hope that instead you harness all that raw mojo with precision and grace. Amazingly, being disciplined in your use of the wildness will ensure that it enriches you to the max and generates potent transformative energy.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I suspect you will have the skills of an acrobat in the coming weeks—at least metaphorically. You will be psychically nimble. Your soul will have an exceptional ability to carry out spry maneuvers that keep you sane and sound. Even more than usual, you will have the power to adjust on the fly and adapt to shifting circumstances. People you know may marvel at your lithe flexibility. They will compliment you for your classiness under pressure. But I suspect the feats you accomplish may feel surprisingly easy and breezy!
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A Tumblr blogger named Af-70 gives copious advice. From his wide selection of wise counsel, I have selected six tips that are right for your needs in the coming weeks. Please study the following counsel. 1. "Real feelings don't change fast." 2. "Connect deeply or not at all." 3. "Build a relationship in which you and your ally can be active in each other's growth." 4. "Sometimes what you get is better than what you wanted." 5. "Enjoy the space between where you are and where you are going." 6. "Keep it real with me even if it makes us tremble and shimmer."
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Consider putting a sign on your door or a message on your social media that says something like the following: "I've still got some healing to do. While I'm making progress, I'm only partway there. Am open to your suggestions, practical tips, and suggestions for cures I don't know about." Though the process is as yet incomplete, Sagittarius, I am proud of how diligent and resourceful you have been in seeking corrections and fixes. My only suggestions: 1. Be bold about seeking help and support. 2. Be aggressive about accessing your creativity. Expand your imagination about what might be therapeutic.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): "To uncover what is hidden in my soul might take me a week or two," my friend Allie told me. I told her she would be lucky if her brave and challenging exploration required such a short time. In contrast, some people I know have spent years trying to find what is buried and lost in their souls: me, for instance. There was one period of my life when I sought for over a decade to find and identify the missing treasure. According to my astrological analysis, you will soon enjoy multiple discoveries and revelations that will be more like Allie's timeline than mine: relatively rapid and complete. Get ready! Be alert!
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A Thai cook named Nattapong Kaweenuntawong has a unique method for cooking the soup served in his Bangkok restaurant. At the end of each night, he saves the broth for use the next day. He has been doing that daily for 45 years. Theoretically, there may be molecules of noodles that were originally thrown in the pot back in 1977. In accordance with current astrological omens, I urge you to dream up a new tradition that borrows from his approach. What experience could you begin soon that would benefit you for years to come?
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Pisces-born Casimir Pulaski (1745–1779) was a Polish nobleman and military commander. As a young man, he fought unsuccessfully to free Poland from Russian domination. Driven into exile, he fled to America, arriving during the Revolutionary War with Britain in 1777. General George Washington was impressed with Pulaski's skills, making the immigrant a brigadier general. He distinguished himself as a leader of American forces, exhibiting brilliance and bravery. For that excellence, he has been honored. But now, over two centuries later, his identity is in flux. DNA analyses of Pulaski's remains suggest he was an intersex person with both male and female qualities. (Read more: tinyurl.com/PulaskiSmithsonian.) I bring this to your attention, Pisces, because the coming months will be a favorable time to question and revise your understanding of your identity. May you be inspired by Pulaski's evolving distinctiveness. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/puzzles/news-of-the-weird/news-of-the-weird-week-of-april-28-2022/ | No Longer Weird
Can we all agree that any alligator walking anywhere in Florida -- on a golf course, down a street, through a parking lot, wherever -- is no longer news, let alone weird news? This moseying gator, for instance, is NOT weird: In Venice, Florida, a large alligator walked through a neighborhood on Easter morning on its way to Harrington Lake, United Press International took the time to report, for whatever reason. The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office took a video -- slow crime day. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was notified, but did not respond BECAUSE THIS IS NOT NEWS.
Anti-Social Media
The Federal Aviation Administration has revoked Trevor Jacob's pilot's license, The New York Times reported on April 20, after concluding that Jacob purposely abandoned a plane he was flying and filmed it crashing into the Los Padres National Forest in California while he parachuted to the ground. Jacob then posted the 13-minute video on YouTube, calling it "I Crashed My Plane." The FAA said Jacob acted in a "careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another." In the video, the propeller can be seen as it stops spinning, and Jacob opens the door and jumps out with a parachute and a selfie stick. The FAA noted, "During this flight, you opened the left side pilot door before you claimed the engine had failed." The agency also noted that Jacob did not contact air traffic control, try to restart the engine or look for a safe place to make an emergency landing. But he got 1.7 million views!
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Remember to Backup Your Phone
A woman in her 40s on a visit to Olympic National Forest probably won't want to go back anytime soon after a harrowing experience at the top of Mount Walker on April 19, The Olympian reported. The anonymous woman dropped her cellphone into a vault toilet (a waterless, nonflush toilet typically found at campgrounds and near hiking trails) and attempted to fish it out using her dog leash. Instead, she fell headfirst into the abyss; she tried to escape on her own but ended up calling 911 with her recovered phone. Fire crews from Brinnon, Washington, fashioned a platform she could stand on, and they pulled her out and washed her off. First responders, who said she was lucky not to have been overcome by toxic gases, encouraged her to seek medical attention because of her exposure to human waste.
Government in Action
Citizens in Cornwall, England, are fuming after the St. Blaise Town Council ordered that 1,000 daffodils in the Old Roselyon Play Area be cut down because they can be poisonous if eaten and could give children diarrhea, Metro News reported. But a spokesman for the Roselyon Play Park Committee called the move "preposterous" and "totally bonkers." He went on to explain that the land was once an orchard and was home to so many of the flowers that a part of it was called Daffodil Walk. Residents took to social media to protest the directive: "When I was in primary school, every year we were given a daffodil bulb to grow ... Funny, I don't remember trying to eat them or anyone being poisoned." Another said, "Daffodils are also poisonous to dogs, (but) even my mutt has the common sense not to eat them."
Take a Deep Breath
Tom Jozsi, a 60-year-old maintenance worker in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was in the dentist's chair when his visit turned anything but routine, WISN-TV reported on April 18. Jozsi was getting a cavity filled when he inhaled an inch-long dental drill bit. "I didn't really even feel it going down," he said, but the bit was deep in his right lung, a CT scan showed. Pulmonary expert Dr. Abdul Alraiyes and his team at the Aurora Medical Center-Kenosha decided to try a catheter that's used for the early detection of cancer, allowing them to reach the small bit and pull it out without any harm to Jozsi's lung. Today, the bit is displayed on a shelf in Jozsi's home.
Focus
One unidentified person in Dublin, Ireland, was responsible for making 90% of all noise complaints received at Dublin Airport in 2021, United Press International reported on April 19. The person averaged 34 complaints per day, totaling 12,272 for the year. They nearly doubled their number from 2020, 6,227, and are already on track for a new record in 2022, with a daily average of 59. The company that runs the airport says it responds to each complaint and works with communities on issues such as aircraft noise.
Police Report
The moral of this story: Always keep an eye on that gas gauge. Police in Memphis, Tennessee, were called about an abandoned Chevy Suburban on the I-55 bridge between Tennessee and Arkansas on April 17, WREG-TV reported. The truck, left in a southbound lane of traffic, had been struck by another car, and while police were preparing to tow it away, the Chevy's owner, Catherine Mardesich, 54, returned to the scene, saying she had run out of gas. But when police started to inventory the truck, she allegedly said, "I don't want you going through my vehicle." And here's why: Inside they found 229 pounds of marijuana and $17,800 in cash. Mardesich was charged with possession. Nearest gas station? 0.9 mile.
Suspicions Confirmed
When a load of "weird" items were delivered to a Los Angeles-area charity in February, a worker there thought the donor must have been "rich or famous or whatever," KABC-TV reported on April 21. But one item drew the attention of the Los Angeles Police Department: a large stuffed reindeer that had a hole on its underside. A staff member at the charity was inspecting the hole to see if it could be fixed when three bags of white powder fell out. Officers said the substance resembled cocaine, but they took Blitzen away for further investigation.
Oops
Henry DeHart of Chattanooga, Tennessee, stopped to fill up his gas tank on April 14 and noticed that his 12 gallons of premium fuel only cost him $5.64. He figured out that while the price of gas was averaging more than $4 a gallon, the pump was set to $0.449. DeHart told the owner, who was "on the verge of tears," since he had been undercharging for several hours. "There's no telling how much money he lost today," DeHart told KRCG-TV. DeHart said the man behind him in line was not happy that he had brought the mistake to the owner's attention, but DeHart knew it was the right thing to do. In fact, he paid the owner what he would have been charged had the pump been set correctly. Good on him.
Send your weird news items with subject line WEIRD NEWS to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com.
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The online version of our weekly Puzzles page is sponsored by WaterStreet Creative. With more than 100 years of collective experience in successfully building brands through advertising, design, digital marketing and public relations, the WaterStreet Creative team loves finding creative ways to meet the challenges that are keeping our clients up at night. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
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The online version of our weekly Puzzles page is sponsored by WaterStreet Creative. With more than 100 years of collective experience in successfully building brands through advertising, design, digital marketing and public relations, the WaterStreet Creative team loves finding creative ways to meet the challenges that are keeping our clients up at night. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/sports/bucks/bucks-wrap-up-chicago-series-with-ease/ | Photo via Twitter / Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo
For the Chicago Bulls, the writing seemed to be on the wall before game five of the Eastern Conference first round tipped off from Fiserv Forum on Wednesday night. The Milwaukee Bucks were already up 3-1 in the series, playing at home, and had just won the last two games in commanding fashion. Then, on Wednesday afternoon, Chicago ruled out star Zach Lavine due to health and safety protocols, on top of losing Alex Caruso to a concussion. They were fighting an uphill battle from the start, but the Bucks also looked confident in putting the playoff series to rest.
The Bucks took the lead with 9:43 remaining in the first quarter and never looked back, thanks to a 34-point first quarter, with #34 leading the way. Giannis Antetokounmpo would finish with 33 points and nine rebounds, many of which came in the first half of the 116-100 win on Wednesday. While still without Khris Middleton, Milwaukee’s starting lineup jumped out to as much as a 29-point lead before halftime, though that would be cut down to 18 points by the end of the second quarter. It never really seemed like the defending champions would be in much trouble, though.
The offense was clicking, but the defense made the biggest impact for the Bucks, especially when it came to containing DeMar DeRozan, Chicago’s best remaining offensive threat. DeRozan wouldn’t score until the second half, just one game removed from dropping 41 points on Milwaukee in the United Center. Fiserv Forum was a different story, though, as he contributed just 11 of the Bulls’ 100 points Wednesday night. It would be Patrick Williams leading the scoring for Chicago, putting up 23 as the Bulls stars had relatively quiet nights. The Bucks were effective in shutting down the Bulls on defense, allowing them to coast through game five.
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While the series may have started rocky, games three, four and five were evidence that the Bucks can do great things when they’re motivated. After the game, Giannis Antetokounmpo said that the team had a meeting after their game two loss last Wednesday. Milwaukee didn’t lose a game from that point forward, and won the remaining contests in relatively easy fashion. Whatever was said in that meeting was taken to heart, and the Bucks showed that on the floor once again this week.
With the 4-1 series win, Milwaukee will get five days off, and they’ll need to rest up. A tough Boston Celtics team is ahead beginning on Tuesday night, after sweeping the Brooklyn Nets earlier this week. Milwaukee will hopefully regain the services of George Hill by that series, which will begin on the road at TD Garden.
In the road to a title defense, the Milwaukee Bucks came away with a relatively easy first series victory. Tougher games are ahead, but momentum is definitely moving in the right direction for the defending champs. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220428 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/books/whats-what-and-what-to-do-about-it-seven-stories-press-by-w/ | Waldo Mellon is the pen name of a frustrated screenwriter with a funny idea—a fake (and funny) column offering advice to the lifelorn on sexuality, self-image, human responsibility to the world, despair … What’s What and What to do About It is a sort of Socratic dialogue for today’s world by a writer who was raised (literally) in the house of Kurt Vonnegut. The influence shows. Answering a Dear Waldo letter from a guy fearing that he’s perceived as stupid, Waldo relates that as a college student on a blind date, he was asked about Flannery O’Connor. “I like him very much,” young Waldo replied to his date. And then he relates that we are all stupid in the face of the vast complexity of reality. Here’s a brilliant response to another fretting letter for help: “Every moment in life is both prose and poetry. Prose is what you are thinking. Poetry is what you are feeling.” | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220429 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/happening-now/fandoms-unite-for-midwest-gaming-classic/ | Photo via Midwest Gaming Classic
Stretch out your thumbs, Milwaukee, because the Midwest Gaming Classic is returning to the Wisconsin Center this weekend for its 21st year of (coin) operation. Whether you’re a fan of brand new consoles and e-sports, or prefer all things retro, approximately 15,000 gaming fans will come together Downtown from Friday-Sunday to celebrate the culture of gaming, as well as play titles and systems they might otherwise never have the opportunity to get their hands on.
Fans from all over the world will be in attendance at the event, which features hundreds of pinball, arcade and console games on the Wisconsin Center floor. You can leave the bag of quarters at home, too; the majority of the games are free to play with the price of admission. The event has become a massive occasion that combines the tradeshow format and Comic Con-style meet-and-greets with notable personalities in the gaming world. It is hard to believe the event was developed in a Boy Scout office basement just a little over two decades ago by Dan Loosen and a small number of co-founders.
“What we’ve created is really a community of unique fandoms that have come together to celebrate gaming” said Loosen. “We also have noticed that we are a bit more accessible than other shows. There’s really something for everyone.”
The sprawling Wisconsin Center rooms will feature game tournaments, celebrity and gaming industry panels, video game-themed bands and much more. Among those tournaments is also the first-ever Pop-A-Shot World Championships, which will be emceed by Tim Kitzrow, who is better known to many as the voice of NBA Jam. That tournament is open to the public, with preliminary rounds taking place early in the convention, and the finals will be held on the Midwest Gaming Classic main stage. It’s just one of the many special attractions that make the three-day weekend a utopia for gamers.
Of course, the games take center stage. Approximately 75 of the machines at the Midwest Gaming Classic have never been played before, and will be unboxed for the first time at the show. Nearly 20 brand new games that haven’t been released yet will be at the Wisconsin Center, as well. A number of rarities, including the never-released Sega Pluto console, will be playable too. Loosen says that the availability of those rare consoles and games are the result of building community.
“We have a huge network of collectors, and a lot of the old school people buy these things with intent to share them” said Loosen. “That’s how we got the Nintendo version of Playstation to Milwaukee in the past. For the Sega Pluto, one of the YouTubers that is coming knew the owner, and we were able to get connected to bring this never-before played prototype to the event.”
Regardless of your skill level and fandom, you’ll likely find a game to enjoy at the Midwest Gaming Classic. A preview event will be held on Friday from 6 p.m. to midnight, and the main show will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For a full breakdown of the many events, visit the Midwest Gaming Classic website. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220429 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/community-news/daily-wisconsin-covid-19-update-1-642-new-cases-no-deaths/ | Summary:
- 1,642 new cases
- No new deaths recorded or added to state system
- 12,868 total deaths;
- 203 hospitalized patients, 35 in ICU
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
On Thursday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported an additional 1,642 new COVID-19 cases. The state has averaged 1,205 new cases per day in the last week.
On this day last year, there were 810 new cases, and a 7-day average of 654 cases per day. In 2020, 206 cases were recorded, with a 7-day average of 238 cases per day.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
There were no new deaths recorded or added to the Department of Health Services system, putting the total Wisconsin death toll at 12,868. A lag in death reporting statewide has affected these numbers.
In Milwaukee County, there were 342 new confirmed cases reported and have been 272,187 total cases in the county since the pandemic began. The 7-day average in the county is 257 cases per day. None of the deaths added to the state system were attributed to Milwaukee County, putting the county death toll at 2,286 since the beginning of the pandemic.
If you are looking for COVID-19 testing or vaccination, consult the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220429 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/classical-music/prometheus-trio-blends-old-with-new-at-season-finale/ | Photo: Wisconsin Conservatory of Music
Prometheus Trio
Prometheus Trio
Prometheus Trio’s final concert of the season includes music by Turina, Augusta Read Thomas, Beethoven and Brahms.
The Trio will open the concert with Spanish composer Joaquín Turina’s Círculo. It’s a “Fantastic Trio” where the first piece, Amanecer (Dawn), begins with the cello, ever so gently reminding the world it’s time to wake up. Mediodía (Noon), the second piece—Spanish in theme and rhythm –perhaps hints of a noon rush at work before going home for a siesta. It concludes with Crepúsculo (Dusk) where tranquility returns.
Stefanie Jacob and Scott Tisdel are founding members of the Trio; Margot Schwartz, a first violinist with the MSO, joined them seven years ago.
The Prometheus Trio always likes to blend the old and new and have chosen two compositions by Augusta Read Thomas, professor of composition in music at The University of Chicago, to close out the first half of the program. Thomas says she composes to express gratitude and that once she starts, the music seems to compose itself. Her compositions have been performed world-wide. The Trio will play her Circle around the Sun and Moon Jig (Gigue.
Jacob claims it was coincidental that these compositions are all about time cycles: daily, monthly, and annually. A topic perhaps for discussion during the intermission or on the ride home?
Return to Classics
The second half of the program returns to the “classics” with Beethoven’s Variations, Op 44 and Brahms’ C Minor Trio, Op 101. And while this is the first time they have performed the Variations; the Brahms Trio has been performed before. I will be delighted to hear it once again.
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Jacob and Tisdel were two-thirds of a trio in graduate school at Indiana University. The third member permitted them to continue using the name when Jacob suggested reestablishing a trio at the Wisconsin Conservatory to celebrate the completion of the multi-million-dollar renovation of the historic McIntosh/Goodrich Mansion, their home base. It’s safe to say that a Prometheus Trio has been around for more than 20 years. As Tisdel says, Prometheus brings to mind the well-known Overture by Beethoven. (It’s part of the music written by Beethoven for a ballet, The Creatures of Prometheus, presented to the Archduchess Maria Theresa.)
Jacob volunteered that planning the program is a cooperative effort and that they enjoy finding new material as well as playing the classics of the trio literature. Hence the exciting Brahms trio and the classical, at times whimsical, Beethoven Variations.
The concert takes place in the Helen Bader Recital Hall, its music salon, originally a ballroom of the McIntosh-Goodrich- Mansion. The mansion is on Prospect Avenue’s “Gold Coast” and was built in the Neo-Classical Revival style in 1904 for Charles L. McIntosh, an executive from New York, who moved to the Midwest to become a director at Milwaukee Harvester Company. He later merged it with other companies to form International Harvester.
It's a small hall with a stage at one end for the performers. The plaster work on the ceiling and complementary décor provides an exquisite venue for chamber concerts and the acoustics are superb. For those not familiar with chamber music this is a unique opportunity to listen to an intimate form of music in a salon-setting as if you were royalty living centuries ago with the Trio in your personal employ.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. May 9 and 10 at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, 1584 N. Prospect Ave. Tickets can be purchased and further information found at wcmusic.org. For evening concerts like these, complimentary parking is available at Milwaukee Eye Care, 1684 N Prospect Ave, one block north of the Conservatory. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220429 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/milwaukee-history/grown-from-german-roots-a-history-of-european-soccer-teams-p/ | Photo: Forward Madison FC - Facebook
Forward Madison FC
Forward Madison FC
In a city with such a strong German heritage, Milwaukee’s ethnic roots are exhibited in many ways: beers, brats, festivals, and an uncanny love for spicy mustard. The city’s German influence also carries over to the athletic sphere and its long-time love for fußball.
Milwaukee Bavarian Soccer Club has long been one of the most successful amateur sides in the country, and professionally, the Milwaukee Wave is the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in the United States.
Milwaukee also has an unexpectedly long history of hosting high-profile soccer clubs from Europe — especially Germany. This summer will be no different, as the state hosts but two matches featuring European club sides.
On June 15, Forward Madison welcomes SC Paderborn 07 of the 2. Bundesliga — the German second tier. Then on July 23, Lambeau Field will be the stage for a historic match between Manchester City and Bayern Munich.
With a pair of great fixtures on the horizon, let’s look back at the other European soccer teams that have paid a visit to the Badger State.
A History of European Soccer Teams Coming To Wisconsin
Birth of the German Exchange Program
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Midwest All-Stars
- May 20, 1951
- Marquette Stadium, Milwaukee
Twenty-one years after Eintracht Frankfurt welcomed a team of German-American all-stars from Milwaukee, the German club became the first European side to travel to Wisconsin. The match in Milwaukee was part of an eight-game “goodwill tour” in the U.S., initiated for, “fostering friendship & understanding in the post-war era.”
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At each stop, Frankfurt was welcomed by decadent banquets, which worried manager Kurt Windmann. “If it carries on like this,” Windmann said, “our players will all have put on at least 20 pounds by the time we head back.” The Germans coasted past the Midwest All-Stars in front of 8,000 fans at Marquette Stadium, although sources disagree on the final score (either 5-0 or 8-0).
Borussia Dortmund vs Fortuna Düsseldorf
- May 14, 1954
- Milwaukee County Stadium
With the hometown Milwaukee Braves amid a 16-game road trip, County Stadium hosted a friendly match between German foes Borussia Dortmund and Fortuna Düsseldorf. Dortmund took a 2-0 first half lead before pulling away late for a 6-2 victory.
Bayern Munich vs Pabst Blue Ribbon Bavarians
- June 22, 1966
- Bavarian Stadium, Glendale
As Wisconsin Soccer Central noted, this summer will not be the first time Bayern Munich visits the Badger State. In 1966, the Bavarian side faced off against Milwaukee’s Bavarian club during an eight-match, cross-country tour. The amateur side was no match for the German professionals, as the foreigners won 9-0.
International Friendlies at County Stadium
East Germany vs United States
- July 28, 1990
- Milwaukee County Stadium
Played two months before the reunification of Germany, this was the penultimate game for the East German National Team. “It was great for the city to see the U.S. team play East Germany because we have such a big German population,” former United States Men’s National Team player and Milwaukee native Jimmy Banks said. The US, fresh off its first-ever World Cup appearance, lost 2-1 in what was dubbed the “Milwaukee Friendship Cup.”
Netherlands vs United States
- May 13, 1999
- Uihlein Soccer Park, Milwaukee
As the United States Women’s National Team prepped for the 1999 World Cup, the squad hosted the Netherlands in a warmup match in Milwaukee. This was the second time the Brew City hosted the USWNT, as the US women earned a 7-0 friendly victory over South Korea in 1997. This match was also lopsided, as the US earned a 5-0 triumph.
A Rare English Appearance
AFC Bournemouth vs Fox River Rebels
- May 25, 1998
- Calder Stadium, Menasha
One month after playing the Football League Trophy Final in front of 62,432 fans at London’s Wembley Stadium, AFC Bournemouth traveled to remote Menasha, WI to play before a crowd of 829. Scheduling conflicts prevented the Football League Second Division (third tier) side from playing the Milwaukee Rampage or Chicago Fire, so the Fox River Rebels—a Rampage feeder team—stepped in.
The Rebels, while overmatched on paper, held the English club scoreless for 90 minutes before falling in a penalty kick shootout. “We were really here for the fun,” Bournemouth coach Mel Machin said after the match, “We’ve seen the sights. I do think the lads would say that the bars would have been the highlight.” The hosts even held an “old-fashioned brat fry” for their overseas visitors after the final whistle.
From Bratwurst to Kielbasa
Ruch Chorzow vs Milwaukee Rampage
- June 17, 2000
- Uihlein Soccer Park, Milwaukee
Even the most well-versed soccer fans are probably unfamiliar with Polish club Ruch Chorzow. But Ruch is one of the most successful clubs in Polish soccer and was a qualifier for the prestigious UEFA Cup in 2000. The purpose of the club’s evening in Milwaukee was to honor former Rampage star Tony Sanneh, who had his number 9 jersey retired before the match.
Sanneh—contracted with German side Hertha Berlin at the time—received permission from the club to return to Milwaukee for the friendly. Sanneh suited up for the club he debuted with in 1994 and played the full 90 minutes as the Rampage earned a 3-3 draw.
Ruch Chorzow vs Wisconsin Rebels
- June 20, 2000
- Calder Stadium, Menasha
Three days after Tony Sanneh’s homecoming, Ruch Chorzow traveled north to Menasha to play against another defunct Wisconsin soccer team. The Rebels, formerly under the Fox Cities name, spent six seasons in the USL Premier Development League starting in 1998. Ruch drew 2-2 and played one more fixture on their North American tour—a friendly in Chicago — before returning home.
Milwaukee Gets Rampaged
1860 Munich vs Milwaukee Rampage
- May 13, 2002
- Milwaukee Rampage Sports Complex, Franklin
“Rampage given a lesson in German” read the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel headline after the Rampage’s 7-0 defeat to Bundesliga side 1860 Munich. “They didn't take the time to dribble us," Rampage midfielder Steve Bernal said of the opposition. "They beat us just by playing fast combinations, playing one-touch. Off the ball, they had nobody standing. Players were running everywhere.”
“A lot of times these teams come on tours and don't even bring any of their big-time players,” Bernal continued. “They didn't disappoint us.” The only disappointment for Rampage coach Boro Sucevic was not the scoreline, but rather the lack of fans in attendance, as only 1,100 or so spectators came to watch Munich’s masterclass on a cool, damp May evening.
FC Nürnberg vs Milwaukee Rampage
- May 20, 2002
- Milwaukee Rampage Sports Complex, Franklin
A week after the Rampage absorbed a 7-0 stomping at the feet of 1860 Munich, Milwaukee hoped to bounce back against another Bundesliga club—FC Nürnberg. In the interim though, Milwaukee had league matches in Portland and Calgary. The Rampage’s 4,300-mile round-trip made their 3-3 draw against Nürnberg all that more impressive.
“I was surprised that the Rampage could show such a good result because they had a difficult match just two days ago," Nürnberg assistant coach Thomas Brunner said. "A lot of [Rampage] players have a good quality.” The hometown fans were left slightly disappointed though as local talent Tony Sanneh, who played for the German side, was away with the US National Team.
Soccer on the Diamond
Swansea City vs Chivas de Guadalajara
- July 16, 2014
- Miller Park
The first of three exhibition matches hosted by Miller Park in the 2010s, this match featured the largest soccer crowd in Wisconsin history—31,237 fans. An injury-time penalty from Chivas produced a 1-1 draw, but the big highlight was dual red cards shown to Swansea’s Neil Taylor and Chivas' Jesus Sanchez with 10 minutes remaining after the pair engaged in a shoving match.
Newcastle United vs Atlas
- July 14, 2015
- Miller Park
With only 21,000 or so fans in attendance, the second soccer game in Miller Park history was not quite the roaring success of the previous year, but it still goes down as the second-biggest crowd for a soccer game in the Badger State. Two goals from Atlas in the first 17 minutes gave the Mexican side a surprise victory against the Premier League’s Newcastle United.
Wisconsin’s New Club Welcomes German Guests
Hertha Berlin vs Forward Madison
- May 24, 2019
- Breese Stevens Field, Madison
After the collapse of the Milwaukee Rampage in 2003, Wisconsin was devoid of professional outdoor soccer. Milwaukee Wave United lasted only a few summers outdoors, and the Milwaukee Torrent, formed in 2016, was decidedly semi-pro. Then in 2019 came Forward Madison FC. Featuring former MLS players and guys who played at the international level, it felt like a pro team.
Thanks to savvy social media marketing and excellent branding, the Wisconsin capital has become a premier soccer destination in the United States. The Flamingos led USL League One in attendance in its inaugural season, including a sold-out match against Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin. “I think it was a good atmosphere,” Hertha winger Javairô Dilrosun said, “you [could] hear the crowd and it was nice for them,” he said. “We came in and gave them a game and I think it was a good game. I enjoyed it.” Hertha emerged with a 4-0 victory.
Special thanks to Eric Anderson of Wisconsin Soccer Central for double-checking this list and filling in a few gaps. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220429 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/theater/a-comic-death-by-design-at-the-brumder-mansion/ | Milwaukee Entertainment Group "Death by Design"
The beautiful Brumder Mansion serves as a cozy, early 20th century English country manor in the murder mystery comedy Death By Design. Director Zach Woods also stars as a playwright named Edward who has escaped the city with his wife, the lovely actress Sorel (played by the equally lovely actress Alicia Rice. Rice is radiant as an actress who is tantalizingly oblivious to so many things that aren’t her.) Rice and Woods have delightfully precise chemistry about them as husband and wife who are forced to deal with a steady parade of guests and, regrettably, the eventual homicidal activity.
The crazy energy of a murder mystery farce is maintained by Woods and company from beginning to end. It helps that Woods is working with a really talented cast. In addition to himself and Rice, there’s quite a lot of talent ricocheting around in the ensemble. Keighley Sadler is captivatingly intense as the bohemian artist Victoria Van Roth. Sean Duncan is comically stiff in the role of the conservative politician Walter Pearce. Samantha Biatch lends the production a hearty Irish accent in the role of the quick-witted maid Bridgit.
Playwright Rob Urbanati tosses together a variety of different characters and shoves them through a series of weird juxtapositions. In the speed of the comedy, it can often be difficult to attain any coherent sense of individual characters’ emotions and motives. Woods has done a brilliant job of fostering an environment that keeps everything remarkably well-defined without losing any comic momentum in the process. It’s not an easy thing to manage given the fact that all of the action needs to shoot around itself on one of the smallest, most intimate stages in town.
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Milwaukee Entertainment Group's production of Death By Design runs through May 14 at the Brumder Mansion, 3046 W. Wisconsin Ave. For tickets, visit milwaukeeentertainmentgroup.com.
Photo: National Property Inspections - npiweb.com
The Brumder Mansion
The Brumder Mansion | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220429 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/food/flash-in-the-pan/mothers-day-ukrainian-crepes/ | Photo by Ari LeVaux
Savory Ukrainian crepe
Savory Ukrainian crepe
Our story ends in front of a pile of Ukrainian crepes. Some are flavored with savory herbs and cottage cheese, and others are filled with strawberries, vanilla and sweet cheese. hese crepes, called nalysnyky (gnaw-lees-nike), make the perfect Mother’s Day meal. But first, some thoughts on the true meaning of Mother’s Day.
We have this little black hen who recently became obsessed with sitting on eggs. Any time she or another hen laid an egg she would roll it into the pile she had going, and gently settle herself on top. All day long, sitting in the nesting box atop her pile. When I collected the eggs,she’d peck at my hand.
We don’t have a rooster in the flock, so the eggs our hens lay aren’t fertilized, and won’t hatch. So I called a farmer friend with roosters, and she brought me a dozen freshly laid eggs to market. We put them in the layer box, marked with sharpie, and little Blackie sat down and got to work. Twenty-two days later six of them hatched, and our little heroine realized that the work had only begun.
Mother’s Day as we know it began as a memorial to the peace activist Ann Jarvis. During the Civil War, Ann Jarvis had run “Mother’s Work Camps” in West Virginia, where she and other women worked to improve sanitary conditions for children. They declared these camps neutral and treated both Union and Confederate soldiers. When the war ended, Jarvis organized a reconciliation event with soldiers from both sides. At that time, she and fellow activist mother Julia Ward Howe had proposed a “Mothers’ Peace Day” to empower a mother’s sacred right to protect the lives of her boys, aka the soldiers.
The first Mother’s Day celebration came two years after Jarvis’ death, on the second Sunday of May 1905. It was organized by her daughter Anna, who made sure it was a celebration for all mothers, not just hers. The younger Jarvis filled a church with white carnations and led a day of mother appreciation, the likes of which nobody had ever seen. The event was such a hit that it kept going, and growing, year after year until President Wilson declared it a national holiday in 1914.
Nobody understands the cost of war like a mother, and no conflict is more gutting than a Civil War. The Ukraine War feels like a Civil War, given the close historical ties between the two nations, with years of intermarriage and interactions between the people of both nations. If mothers were in charge of Mother Russia—perhaps the most ironic nickname ever—this war would simply not be happening. Mothers want calm, stability, safety. They have wisdom and perspective. They want peace.
After little Blackie the hen hatched her eggs, she fussed over them tirelessly, following and herding the little puffballs around the chicken yard, teaching them how to scratch and peck. Or she would sit in a sunny spot and let the chicks burrow into her feathers, from where they’d continue cheep-cheeping, invisibly. The other hens were inspired. One ran at me when I entered the yard, presumably to protect the baby chicks. Another took a stab at sitting on eggs. The mothering impulse is contagious.
My mom’s parents came over from Ukraine, where the baked Ukrainian crepes called nalysnyky are a comfort food. They are traditionally filled with cottage cheese and dill, which happens to be my mom’s favorite herb, so to her these dilly crepes deliver a delicious dose of nostalgia. But she is cool with strawberries and chocolate, too. I’ve made them with ham and cheese, which my kids like, and even tried a version filled with fake crab and asparagus. It’s a very forgiving dish.
If only life were so forgiving, and peace as easy to make as crepes.
Photo by Ari LeVaux
Sweet Ukrainian crepe
Sweet Ukrainian crepe
Nalysnyky
If mom isn’t a dill lover with a Ukrainian mother, I’ve come up with a sweet nalysnyky that’s more in line with what we’ve come to expect from Mother’s Day. It’s filled with a blend of mascarpone and ricotta cheeses, mixed with chopped strawberries, flavored with vanilla and drizzled in chocolate sauce.
Whichever filling you use, the rest of the technique won’t change. My son likes chopped ham in his dill nalysnyky, and his brother prefers them filled with imitation crab, asparagus and brie. Just be careful of watery ingredients, as they will make for a soupy filling.
Serves 2
Crepe Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup flour
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ½ stick butter
Savory Filling
- 1 cup full fat cottage cheese, preferably large curd
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons dill, chopped (or more, if you’re cooking for my mom)
- ½ teaspoon salt
Sweet Filling
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup mascarpone cheese
- 2 yolks
- 1 cup chopped strawberries
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
If your filling contains cottage cheese the first step will be to place the cheese in a colander and let any water drain. Then proceed to making crepes.
Add the eggs, salt and milk to a mixing bowl. Mix furiously, with a whisk or electric mixer until the eggs are thoroughly beaten. Add the flour, ¼ cup at a time, mixing as you add it to avoid lumps, which a real crepe maker would never tolerate.
When the batter is completely smooth and homogenized, heat an omelet pan on medium. Add about a teaspoon of butter and tilt the pan around to spread it evenly. Add a ¼ cup of batter to the buttered pan, quickly making a spiral from the center. Immediately tilt the pan around to fill the gaps and completely cover the bottom of the pan. The window for doing this is very short as the crepes will quickly cook. It is an art to fill the pan bottom with a perfect circle. Imperfect circles are fine too, because when they are filled and rolled nobody will notice.
Shake the pan to keep the crepe from sticking—if you’ve used enough batter and it’s a decent pan it won’t. After about two minutes the crepe will shrink a little, and moisture will start to bubble from the top. It’s about done at that point. Do not flip it. Slide it off the pan and onto a plate. Repeat until the batter is gone and you have ten crepes.
Mix together the ingredients to your filling of choice. Place a tablespoon of filling near the edge of a crepe. Roll that edge over the filling. Fold and tuck the two ends as you roll the crepe across the plate.
Stack the rolled crepes in a lightly buttered pan and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Let them cool to a safe temperature and serve warm. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220429 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/local-music/convert-saves-industrial-punk/ | Photo via Facebook / Convert
More blitzkrieg, less bop. That’s the M.O. of Milwaukee hybrid punks Convert, whose much-anticipated new album, Saves, is out today. The band, consisting of veteran local punk musicians, enter the realm of dystopian-sounding electronica, fusing it with punk for a pseudo-industrial sound. If that’s putting it too eloquently, just know that the record is absolutely pulverizing.
While much of the subject matter of the record can feel downright sinister, the actual music of Saves can feel like a cathartic blast of emotion. You would expect a record with this level of liberating release to be crafted in the dark years that made up the beginning of the pandemic, but the process on the record actually began in early 2020, pre-COVID. At that time, Convert was truly developing their sound, and capturing the first forays of the band in the studio with the help of Shane Hochstetler at Howl Street Recordings.
“I think everyone agreed that this is our new baby, and let’s try to do things better than we have with all of our other projects” said drummer Ben Davison.
“We spent a lot more time, meticulously recording each piece to match everything, than I would have with a straight up punk band” added bassist Richie Murry. “With Shane, it also felt like he had a lot more invested in it, so everything was dissected quite a bit. Especially with the synth element to it, and there was a lot more to juggle with mixing. We couldn’t do that in the studio with Shane because of Covid, so there was a lot of back and forth over the phone.”
While that mixing process took an extensive amount of time, the end product is certainly worth the trouble, as the record brings about as much impact as you could throw at a speaker. Some songs are certainly rooted in a punk sound (see “Eat The Youth”) but carry extra weight when throwing in the atmospheric synths that darken the whole tone of the track. The material of Saves also arguably gained some extra gravity when juxtaposed into the context of the pandemic, as the world felt bleaker by the time the record was finished than when the initial process began.
“I think some of the songs were originally faster, because we were just playing it in practice” said Murry. “Once we started recording it, Ben slowed down some of the songs to give them a heavier hitting, darker feel to it, instead of just aggression.”
“There’s a lot more texture to play with” said Davison. “Part of this recording was a huge learning experience for all of us. When you’re not sitting in the studio like ‘this doesn’t work,’ you have to find a lot of space to let everything shine on its own.”
To celebrate the long-awaited unveiling of Saves, Convert are playing a release show Friday night at X-Ray Arcade alongside Rexxx and Guerrilla Ghost. You can also pick up the album on vinyl thanks to a release from Triple Eye Industries, Forge Again Records and Dog & Pony Records. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220429 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/community-news/daily-wisconsin-covid-19-update-1-544-new-cases-one-death/ | Summary:
- 1,544 new cases
- 1 new death recorded, 1 total added to state system
- 12,869 total deaths;
- 234 hospitalized patients, 37 in ICU
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
On Friday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported an additional 1,544 new COVID-19 cases. The state has averaged 1,247 new cases per day in the last week.
On this day last year, there were 782 new cases, and a 7-day average of 649 cases per day. In 2020, 340 cases were recorded, with a 7-day average of 257 cases per day.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
There was one new death recorded to the Department of Health Services system, putting the total Wisconsin death toll at 12,869. A lag in death reporting statewide has affected these numbers.
In Milwaukee County, there were 312 new confirmed cases reported and have been 272,470 total cases in the county since the pandemic began. The 7-day average in the county is 254 cases per day. None of the deaths added to the state system were attributed to Milwaukee County, putting the county death toll at 2,286 since the beginning of the pandemic.
If you are looking for COVID-19 testing or vaccination, consult the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220430 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/sports/bucks/series-preview-bucks-vs-celtics/ | With the Milwaukee Bucks making relatively quick work of the Chicago Bulls in the opening round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think that the defending champions are well on their way to a repeat campaign, with another title in sight. That being said, the Eastern Conference has been tough for the entire 2021-22 season, and Milwaukee is about to find out how tough in the weeks ahead, with a conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics beginning on Sunday. Here is what to watch for ahead of what is sure to be one of the marquee series in this year’s postseason.
Momentum Can Be Everything
The Celtics are riding high right now, after sweeping the Brooklyn Nets, who were originally a favorite to win the NBA title at the beginning of this season. None of those wins were particularly commanding by the final score lines, which saw Boston winning all of their games by less than 10 points. However, the boost of knocking Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and a solid Nets team out of the playoffs would be enough of a confidence boost for any team to feel somewhat invincible. Boston took game one of that series on a last second layup from forward Jason Tatum, who is frankly underrated when it comes to his ability to take over games this year. The Celtics will be a very confident team when it comes time to take the floor on Sunday afternoon.
On the opposite side of the floor, the Bucks have things trending in the right direction as well, but perhaps not to the extent that the Celtics do. Milwaukee finished off the Bulls in five games, with game one looking ugly for both sides, and game two resulting in a loss to a team that they should have beaten fairly easily on paper. Fortunately for the Bucks, games three through five showed exactly what this team is capable of, as Giannis and company blew out Chicago in consecutive contests.
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Regular Season Series
Milwaukee and Boston met four times this year, splitting the regular season series at two games each. The Celtics took the first two, winning a tight overtime game in November, and a 14-point victory at TD Garden in December. Giannis Antetokounmpo did not play in the first meeting of the year. Both of Milwaukee’s wins over the Celtics came at Fiserv Forum, and both games were very tight up until the final minutes. While the series will be exciting, it would be safe to say that there likely will not be any lopsided score lines. Unfortunately for the Bucks, Boston also holds home court advantage in this series, which could very well go to six or seven games.
Missing Middleton
While Boston’s Jaylen Brown has a hamstring issue, he will likely be in the starting lineup on Sunday for game one. Milwaukee, however, will be without Khris Middleton, who is dealing with an MCL sprain that could sideline him for the entirety of this series. That will put the pressure on Giannis and Jrue Holiday to lead the offense for Milwaukee, but more importantly to do so when there’s a high-pressure situation. Middleton was, at the very least, another option to take the last shot when it counted most, and he could knock them down more often than not.
Giannis led the Bucks in scoring for all of their wins, save for game three, when Grayson Allen’s three-point barrage helped Milwaukee to the first of their lopsided wins. If you’re picking a bright spot for the Bucks coming out of that series, it’s that the bench has bolstered Milwaukee’s offense tremendously, with Allen and Portis stepping up in Middleton’s absence. Milwaukee will need that depth in order to make up for losing one of their stars, as well as George Hill, who has yet to appear in this postseason.
Much like last year’s championship run, expect the Eastern Conference semifinals to be a tough series that will be a highlight of the Bucks’ postseason. While it is winnable for Milwaukee, the Celtics will test what the defending champs are made of, making for some exciting games.
Game one of the Bucks-Celtics series tips off from TD Garden in Boston at 12 p.m. on Sunday, with coverage on ABC. Fans are encouraged to gather at Deer District for a watch party, which opens two hours before gametime. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220430 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/film/reviews/spies-lies-old-knives/ | All the Old Knives moves with the brisk genre efficiency expected of an espionage thriller and delivers many of the anticipated pleasures. Directed by Denmark’s Janus Metz from the novel by American thriller author Olen Steinhauer, Old Knives stars a pair of familiar faces in Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton. He plays a CIA agent given a hard case to crack. She plays a retired CIA agent t the heart of that case. Oh, and they were lovers eight years earlier when that case blew up.
Like many movies of its kind, All the Old Knives revels in time jumping (EIGHT YEARS LATER turns into TWO WEEKS EARLIER), albeit here the formula makes a certain sense amidst the crosscutting of recollections. Yes, there is also that de rigeur country-continent hopping. The case that sets the story in motion is a hijacked plane at the Vienna airport ending in the death of everyone onboard. The bustling CIA station inside the U.S. Embassy in Vienna and the old city’s dark alleys are settings; as is rainy London where one of the CIA agents involved, avuncular Bill Compton (Jonathan Pryce), has retired; and sunny Carmen on the Sea in California wine country, where Celia Harrison (Newton) lives in midcentury modern splendor with her husband and children.
Henry Pelham (Pine) is the agent whose travels link the settings together. He has been ordered by the CIA’s Vienna station chief (the implacable Laurence Fishburne) to reopen the investigation into the hijacking debacle. The agency believes there was a mole inside the station working with the terrorists. “We can’t afford the embarrassment of a prosecution,” the chief says, ruling out the justice system. Henry will have to do “what is necessary” to close the case.
For the most part, director Metz makes good use of flashbacks. When Henry glimpses the back of Celia’s neck when the meet at a posh wine bar, an erotic pop-up is triggered—a brief memory of a passionate moment from years earlier. By movie’s end, however, the flashbacks are dragged out and seem designed to sweeten the story’s grim implications with a dash of schmaltz. Still, much of the film works in swift, unsentimental strokes. In one scene, the camera pans around the Vienna station, introducing a bevy of clandestine characters, all of them potential suspects.
All the Old Knives’ themes are descended from John le Carré’s moral malaise in the shadowlands of espionage. There are references to actual incidents in post 9/11 Russia (part of Putin’s power grab) and sideways glances at the sometimes-duplicitous role of U.S. foreign policy and the Third World conditions that give rise to terrorism. But this is also a love story. No one can be trusted in a world of secret and lies, including those closest to each other.
All the Old Knives is streaming on Amazon Prime. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220502 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/sports/bucks/bucks-take-game-one-in-boston/ | Giannis Antetokounmpo
Going into the Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday afternoon, neither the Milwaukee Bucks or the Boston Celtics had won a game on the other team’s home floor throughout the year. For the Bucks, that meant having to step up in a big way at TD Garden, and they did just that. What was initially looking like a series of close, down-to-the-wire games resulted in Boston fans and Celtics general manager Brad Stevens heading for the exits with a few minutes still left on the clock.
Unsurprisingly to many, Giannis Antetokounmpo was the cause of that mass exodus of Celtics faithful. While Boston made things tough for him in the paint all afternoon, the Greek Freak recorded his second career playoff triple-double with 24 points, 12 assists and 13 rebounds. In his last minutes on the floor Sunday, a lob to himself off of the backboard for a one-man alley oop was the nail in the coffin, in a move that will land on every highlight reel Monday.
While the game ended with some offensive fireworks, it opened with a display of how evenly matched these teams are. The Celtics would break out as big as a seven point lead in the first quarter, only to see it evaporate thanks to some solid defensive work from the Bucks. Things would remain tight until the final minutes of the first half, when Milwaukee went on an 11-3 run to take things to the break. That run would end up giving the Bucks the separation that they needed to close out the game, as Boston never regained the lead from that point forward. As it would turn out, Milwaukee would win 101-89, but both teams scored at a fairly even pace with the exception of the second quarter scoring burst.
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The Celtics came into Sunday’s game being touted as one of the top defenses in the NBA, but Milwaukee found a way to challenge that claim with fluid ball movement, finding the open man to get the right shot. Many times that was either Giannis, who showed a confidence in his mid-range jumper, or Jrue Holiday, who came away as the game’s leading scorer. Boston’s defensive focus on clogging the paint to be physical with Giannis ended up forcing the Bucks to counter, which in turn allowed Holiday, as well as Pat Connaughton and Grayson Allen to make shots from the three-point line. Having an arsenal of outside shooters that stepped up in lieu of Khris Middleton’s absence has been an awakening for Milwaukee, who are now somehow even more diverse in terms of their attack with the ball.
Taking game one of the series in Boston is major for the Bucks, as it is only the Celtics’ second loss in their last 10 games, dating back to the regular season. In fact, Milwaukee handed Boston their last dropped game, as well, with a 127-121 win for the Bucks in their second last game of the season. If there’s ever been a convenient time to have Boston’s number, it is right now, and hopefully Milwaukee can extend their series lead before taking things back to Fiserv Forum.
Game two of the Bucks-Celtics series will tip off Tuesday night at 6 p.m., with coverage on TNT. A number of fans made their way to the Deer District on Sunday, and watch parties for the game will begin two hours before tipoff. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220502 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/upcoming-events/contests/win-tickets-to-concert-week/ | Concert Week 2022
To celebrate summer concert season, get $25 all-in tickets to more than 3,700 shows across the U.S. for one week only! Concert Week is here, and you can also win tickets to see Smokey Robinson, Santana with Earth, Wind and Fire, Jack White, or Keith Urban from Shepherd Express! Use the form below to sign up, and we'll be drawing winners every day! Winners will be notified via email.
Get more information about Concert Week here. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220502 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/happening-now/%E2%80%98my-hometown-milwaukee%E2%80%99-day/ | Photo: Jerry Grillo - jerrygrillo.com
Jerry Grillo
Jerry Grillo
It probably falls short or Jerry Grillo’s dream, but next Monday, Mayor Cavalier Johnson will sign a proclamation making May 9 “My Hometown Milwaukee” Day in honor of Grillo’s song.
I’ve been tracking the jazzy number by the Milwaukee singer since its first release on YouTube in 2019. I wrote about it again March, when Grillo rereleased the song, whose lyric extolls “a museum with wings and so many things.” Namechecked are Summerfest, the Bucks, the Brewers and the Hop as well as the ease of traveling from one end of town to the other. shepherdexpress.com/culture/happening-now/is-milwaukee-ready-for-an-official-hometown-song
Whether or not it serves our city’s official anthem, Grillo hopes “My Hometown Milwaukee” will become the city’s “theme song,” heard at sports events, festivals or anywhere people gather. As his new press release puts it, “With residents singing along and tapping their toes, Jerry Grillo remains optimistic about the future.” | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220502 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/happening-now/heart-beats-of-the-city-concert-series-brings-live-music-dow/ | Photo: MKE Downtown
Tunes@Noon
Tunes@Noon
Milwaukee’s downtown will get a musical resuscitation with the Heart(beats) of the City Concert Series at Red Arrow Park every Wednesday in June and July with live music and food trucks at lunchtime.
The lineup includes Chicken Wire Empire (June 1), “V” Funk (June 8), Rob Knapp & the Soul Patrol (June 15), Donna Woodall Group (June 22), The Rumskis (June 29), Extra Crispy Brass Band (July 6), Rhythm Kings (July 13), Hopper’s Luck (July 20) and KOJO (July 27).
Food trucks for the event will offer cuisines ranging from South American to Filipino to All-American barbeque.
“With more downtown employees returning to the office, we wanted to welcome them back in a big way,” Beth Weirick, CEO of Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 said of the MGIC-sponsored concerts. “We’re celebrating their return, the return of summer and this amazing city all season long.”
Tunes@Noon and Downtown Employee Appreciation Week
Meanwhile, PNC presents Tunes@Noon returns with weekly poolside concerts every Thursday in 411 East Wisconsin Center’s courtyard. The eclectic list of performers includes Ethan Keller, Frogwater and the Texas Dave Duo. The series runs June 2–Sept. 1. Full lineup here https://www.milwaukeedowntown.com/bid-basics/community-projects/tunesnoon
Also, Downtown Employee Appreciation Week returns Aug. 15-19. The daily perks reward Downtown Milwaukee’s dedicated workforce with a week of incentives. The fun-filled week features daily giveaways, office challenge games, employee discounts and more. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220502 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/milwaukee-history/remembering-howard-e-ruffner-the-other-kent-state-photogra/ | Moments of Truth by Howard E. Ruffner
Moments of Truth by Howard E. Ruffner
For one generation of Americans, Dec. 7, 1941, is “… a date that will live in infamy,” described by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
For many in my Milwaukee generation, it’s May 4, 1970, at Kent State University. I’ll never forget it. Four students dead, nine wounded on campus—at the hands of the Ohio National Guard sent in by Gov. James Rhodes—during an anti-Vietnam War protest.
Most memorable to most Americans—including many Black Milwaukeeans—is the Pulitzer Prize-winning student photo inside the May 15, 1970, Life of a teenage girl kneeling over a fatally wounded student. Dramatic and shocking.
But the widely hailed Life cover photo of one of the wounded—headlined “Tragedy at Kent”—was taken by a different student, Howard E. Ruffner, a stringer for Life, who received the Polk Award for his work that day. Ironically, Ruffner loaned a zoom lens to student John Paul Filo, who took the photo which earned a Pulitzer.
Headlines, Reactions
After news of the shooting made newspaper and television headlines in Milwaukee, I received phone calls in Cleveland from a number of local Black news colleagues and friends with their reactions.
George F. Sanders, Korean War veteran and one of my co-workers at the Milwaukee Star weekly newspaper, wondered why he didn’t see Black students in the photos, or in TV news coverage. I told him I’d check with two of my White colleagues on the Plain Dealer who were Kent State journalism grads.
“I’d be surprised if those Guardsmen didn’t look for some Blacks to shoot,” barked the fiery Sanders, an outspoken pro-Black activist. I later reported to Sanders that I was told Kent State had a number of Black students, but none seem to be visible in the crowd of protesters.
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“Too bad, I don’t blame ‘em,” he said. “Still, with so many brothers getting wasted in Vietnam, I’d been there protesting if I’d known about it.”
Milwaukee Journal reporter Jay Anderson, another former colleague at the Star, also expressed outrage at the shootings, and suggested that I get the Plain Dealer to send me to Kent State for insights.
A few hours later, I heard from prominent Milwaukeeans, Ben and Marlene Johnson and ex-girlfriends Evelyn Bailey, Gloria Harpole and Loretta Walker, wondering how such a thing could happen. When I told them about Anderson’s suggestion, they agreed. “You can write better than those White boys,” Evelyn said.
When I approached my Plain Dealer editor, he respectfully turned me down, opting to go with stringers who covered Kent State.
‘Moments of Truth’
Photographer Ruffner, who was pictured in an editor’s note in the May 15 issue of Look, later chronicled his photographic recollection of the events in his 2019 book Moments of Truth: A Photographer’s Experience of Kent State 1970.
How well I recall the night in 1979, when I accompanied my wife, Janice, a Plain Dealer reporter, at her interview of Ruffner in his suburban Cleveland Heights home. At the time, he and I were Ohio Bell Telephone media relations colleagues. In the wake of her interview, I immediately called Anderson, Sanders, and the others in Milwaukee to tell them what I’d finally learned.
“Sounds like you are privy to a great story,” said Anderson. “Sure wish I knew about this in 1970 when the shootings happened.” And, as usual, he had a journalistic suggestion. “You should write this up for the Milwaukee Journal. You know how much they like stuff by local talent—especially born-and-raised-here Blacks like you.”
But I decided against writing about it until now—in great detail—for Shepherd Express, since it remains very disturbing news in Milwaukee and everywhere. Here’s how it all went down.
Although working closely with Ruffner for several years, we rarely discussed his experiences at Kent State. However, when I mentioned that my wife was eager to write about it for the popular Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine, he agreed to an interview. As he talked openly to Janice for several hours, I took my own detailed notes.
“All I expected to do Monday morning, was to cover the rally and print a few pictures,” he began. “Gov. Rhodes had visited the burned ROTC building on Sunday morning. I thought my pictures of the governor would be played up.”
Justice System?
But the day would hold much more significance for the red-bearded, second-year Kent State broadcasting major than he ever dreamed—the cover of America’s leading national magazine was an unusual success for one so young. And his photos would also be used in subsequent court cases.
Later, the $2,000 Ruffner was paid for the cover of Life and three other pictures in a two-page layout, would be referred to as “blood money” by an FBI agent.
And for the next eight years, he would be called to testify at numerous hearings and court trials, making him somewhat cynical about judicial proceedings. At the first Kent State civil trial in 1974, his deposition lasted eight hours.
“I’m disappointed in trials,” he said. “They’re theater. You want to tell the truth. But they only want that portion supporting their side. I don’t think whatever I say will hurt anyone, and it will never be less than the truth.”
According to Ruffner, the defense attorney who examined him in 1974 “tried to get me to say I knew the Guard would fire and that’s why I was there. I’m not partial to the defense or the prosecution because nothing will change my testimony.”
Nor can anything change the story told by the 304 pictures Ruffner took of the events leading up to and including May 4:
The ROTC building on fire; Gov Rhodes with a pained expression as he tours the damage; students burning the U.S. Constitution, hurling back tear gas bombs and making obscene gestures; fixed bayonets on raised rifles; the Guard taking aim; clusters of students around the dead and wounded; a large pool of blood; a long-haired youth dancing crazily around the blood and sopping it up with a black flag.
Pictures Told the Story
“The interesting thing is you don’t need a lot of words,” Ruffner said. “The pictures tell you what happened.”
Ruffner believes that if the Guardsmen had let the rally go on until 1 p.m., it would have ended peacefully. “Everyone goes back to class. Between 12 and 1, you gave up your lunch hour for a cause,” he emphasized.
Instead, at 12.22 p.m., 26 Ohio National Guardsmen fired 59 shots from powerful M-1 rifles at a group of students, some demonstrating against President Nixon’s order sending American troops into Cambodia. Many students, Ruffner said, “were only “curious onlookers.”
The Guardsmen had been sent to the campus by Gov. Rhodes after 3,000 of the 20,000-student population rampaged through the town that weekend, breaking windows and setting fire to the ROTC building.
“I thought the Guard, in dispersing the crowd at the base of the hill, had done its job,” Ruffner said, “but they chased the students up the hill and down the other side to a fence. I wonder, had there not been a fence, how long they would have chased the students around campus. All of a sudden, everyone was gone.”
Not far from the Guardsmen, Ruffner assumed the rally was over as he trudged up the hill. As the men reached the crest, he said he acted spontaneously, taking one last picture. Before he took cover, the picture shows the Guard taking aim.
“I don’t remember hearing anything. I saw the Guardsmen turn rapidly in unison and I took a picture,” he said. “I stood a few seconds and wondered if I should go down. I decided to drop because I didn’t want to give them cause to fire or make them think I was part of it. I grabbed my camera bag, turned and kneeled on a steel grating.
“There were only two other students between me and the Guard when they fired. The one just in front of me jumped over a railing as soon as the firing started. The closer one, about 20 feet to my left, was hit.”
Ruffner’s picture of the Guardsmen, just before firing, shows two of the helmeted, gas-masked figures looking straight at him—straight into his camera.
“Some people have said one of them appears to be taking aim at me,” he said. This photo, which he feels “is his most telling,” was published by The Plain Dealer on May 14, 1970. He also called our attention to one, he said, that shows top officers conferring before the Guard elected to move back over the hill to the position from which it fired.
“There were antagonists in the crowd, but most couldn’t hurl stones far enough,” he said. “Giving the finger and yelling doesn’t hurt anyone. I sympathize with the soldiers, however. It wasn’t a good position to be in. Hundreds of others just watched,” he recalled. “And I could even see some students playing tennis on nearby courts on this nice, sunny day.”
He added, “Working for Life magazine was a big deal for me. If something significant had caused the Guard to turn, I would have turned. I wouldn’t have missed it. But I wasn’t being hit by rocks. It would be easy for me to say maybe one Guardsman got scared, turned and fired, or that they were tired of the whole situation and decided to shoot someone, or that they had picked out people to shoot.”
Unconscious Reaction
Ruffner said he heard a “rapid, loud popping noise,” but it wasn’t until he got to his feet he realized the Guardsmen weren’t shooting blanks or firing over peoples’ heads—his earlier assumption. Emotionally distressed, he began taking pictures immediately, despite pleas from his fellow students not to.
“I wasn’t conscious of what I was doing at first. Three frames were overexposed because the camera jarred when I went down on the ground. I saw clusters of students around the dying and wounded. People were crying and yelling, ‘Don’t take my picture.’
“It was very difficult to take these pictures. It was like stealing a moment of private space. I had to ask why I’m not giving them the privacy they deserve at this time,” he said. “These pictures are hard to like, but I had to take them. I knew they tell the story.”
Although Ruffner said he never considered himself a demonstrator or a part of the incident, he had become much too involved in the tragedy to recognize the significance of the pictures he had taken.
“It wasn’t until 2 a.m. the next day when LIFE called because they couldn’t find the negatives I sent—according their instructions—that I realized how important it was. Later, out of all the pictures from photographers who were present, they told me my work was being considered for the cover.”
But Ruffner, whose $2.000 payment was double the normal $500 Life cover and $250 for each page his pictures appeared on—due to the hazard involved—had sent unprocessed film to the magazine.
“I didn’t see any of my pictures until Life printed them,” he honestly noted, shaking his head. “My role at Kent State was accidental,’ he said, “but it changed my life.”
Memories of that day 52 years ago may fade, but for me and my concerned Black Milwaukee colleagues and friends, Ruffner’s pictures remain a stark testimonial to a younger generation’s own ”date of infamy.” | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220502 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/film/film-clips/film-clips-may-2-2022/ | Image ©Marvel
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnes
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnes
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
(In Theaters on May 6)
In this new “Doctor Strange” entry, monsters and villians enter our reality through a tear between the multiverses. Frightening versions of Doctor Strange enter through the breach. He attempts to repair the rip with help from a great sorcerer, his mentor Wong (Benedict Wong), along with the aid of Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen).
Master of the Mystic Arts, Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), believes Strange is behind the invasion and wants the doctor to be judged for this crime by authorities that include Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier. Latina teenager, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), travels between dimensions and therefore knows things. We learn she’s gay during a 12 second conversation. That revelation prompted Saudi Arabia to demand those seconds be cut from the film for its release there. Marvel and director Sam Raimi refused. For the rest of us, what sets this movie apart from Marvel’s 27 others, is Raimi’s trademark knack for creating chilling horror scenes, in abundance here. (Lisa Miller)
A Life Among Whales
(IndiePix DVD)
Whales sing to each other, and the footage from this documentary also shows them rolling on their backs like playful cats. As marine biologist Roger Payne describes them, the large whales are benign behemoths, never attacking humans, with hearts the size of automobiles and the largest brains on the planet. Their smaller cousins, the dolphins, really (not just in legend) have saved humans from danger. And yet, whales have been hunted to near extinction in an industrialized slaughter—despite lies to the contrary by the International Whaling Commission. Narrator Payne was a pioneer in the study of whales and the efforts to protect them. (David Luhrssen)
Oranges and Sunshine
(Cohen Media Group Blu-ray)
British social worker Margaret Humphreys (Emily Watson) was skeptical when approached by a woman who claimed to be part of a mass deportation of children to Australia in the 1950s. But soon the pieces of a lost story fell into place. Based on the true story of Humphreys’ 1980s campaign to find the truth, Oranges and Sunshine (2010) includes many quietly heartbreaking moments as mothers are reunited with sons and people learn that they were accidently assigned the wrong names—as if they were packages mislabeled at the shipping depot.
Most of the children were taken without full knowledge or consent of their (often) unwed mothers. Many worked in poor conditions at hard labor on Australian farms. Director Jim Loach (son of social realist filmmaker Ken Loach) avoids cinematic drama, allowing the story to make its points about unjust social systems. (David Luhrssen)
The Twin
(Limited Theatrical Release & Streaming on AppleTV, May 6)
Teresa Palmer and Steven Cree portray Rachel and Anthony, the parents of twin boys. After a car accident kills twin Nathan, the grieving family moves far away, to Finland, to make a fresh start. Their move to a small town adds to the sense of dread, but the location was a logical choice for co-writer/director, Taneli Mustonen, a Finn making his English language debut who uses the stark Northern countryside to ramp up the atmospheric chills.
The behavior of surviving twin, Elliot (Tristan Ruggeri) becomes increasingly erratic as the boy claims he’s talking to dead twin Nathan. An elderly local, Helen (Barbara Merten), offers snippets from her own experience that help move the plot forward. Rachel and Anthony argue about how to parent troubled Elliot. Swirling around them are murder plots, Satanic influences, hallucinations, pagan rituals and the probability that history is repeating. The third act is particularly strong. (Lisa Miller) | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220502 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/taking-liberties/republicans-are-confident-of-lying-their-way-to-victory-demo/ | Photo: Public Domain
Kevin McCarthy
Kevin McCarthy
Anyone who thought Kevin McCarthy’s leadership of House Republicans would be in jeopardy when he was caught lying about his true feelings about the attempted overthrow of American democracy by President Trump’s violent supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, doesn’t realize what happened to the Republican Party under President Trump.
Every elected Republican is required to lie about what they really think of the violent insurrection Trump incited to destroy democracy. The only elected Republican members of Congress who have ever been banished from the party over Jan. 6 were Liz Cheney from Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger from Illinois for telling the truth about what happened that day.
There’s no question McCarthy lied publicly when he denied ever telling party leaders on conference calls he planned to call Trump and tell him he should resign the presidency for inciting the insurrection. He and the No. 2 House leader Steve Scalise also expressed their hopes Twitter would abolish the accounts of extreme House Republicans who publicly encouraged violence just like it ended Trump’s account.
“I’ve had it with this guy (Trump),” McCarthy said. “What he did was unacceptable. Nobody can defend that and nobody should defend it.”
We Know What He Said
We know McCarthy said all that because New York Times reporters Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin released the tape recordings of those calls on Jan. 8 and 10 that were included in their book This Will Not Pass after McCarthy called their reporting “totally false and wrong.”
But McCarthy’s brief flirtation with political courage after Jan. 6 when he urged Republicans to rid their party of Trump and his violent supporters didn’t last very long. Apparently, it was a fleeting thought after McCarthy had joined other elected Republicans and Democrats running for their lives through the halls of the Capitol from the howling mob threatening to hang Mike Pence and overthrow President Biden’s election. “We saw what (Trump’s) people would do in the Capitol,” McCarthy said. “These people came prepared with rope, with everything else.”
But when Republican leaders began plotting how to regain power in November’s midterms, they quickly decided they had to do everything possible to retain the support of Trump and the violent extremists opposing democracy he attracted to the party. That’s why McCarthy spent several days frantically begging Trump’s forgiveness in three separate telephone calls for all those deplorable, unforgivable things McCarthy said about him.
McCarthy’s Shameless Groveling
Trump was delighted to keep McCarthy shamelessly groveling at his feet for days before telling the Wall Street Journal: “I think it’s all a big compliment, frankly.” Trump still didn’t explicitly endorse McCarthy for House Speaker, preferring to retain the threat of endorsing someone else for the position McCarthy desperately wants if Republicans win the House in November to make sure “My Kevin” never steps out of line again.
The danger of McCarthy becoming Trump’s puppet in the Speaker’s job should frighten every American voter, Democrat or Republican. Fear of Trump’s continued destruction of democracy produced the largest negative vote against an incumbent president in history to remove Trump from office after a single term.
Most of the national media clearly doesn’t believe protection of American democracy will even be an issue in the midterms. But the threat of the defeated president continuing his destruction of democracy by controlling congressional Republicans from behind the scenes should certainly raise the issue.
Mainstream Media Wrong Again
That won’t stop political reporters from telling voters the midterms are already over. They expect the usual historic pattern of dealing a major political setback for Biden’s presidency just as the first midterms did after the elections of President Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
But there’s nothing usual about a major American political party opposing American democracy. The nation was appalled watching the most violent, deadly attack on democracy since the Civil War on live television just a year and half ago.
The racism and hatred that fueled both of those violent clashes in our national history are still with us. But the good news is most Americans are better than that. That’s what’s really behind the violent Republican attack on democracy. The popular vote margin nationally for Democrats over George Bush and Trump grew from 500,000 more votes for Al Gore to 3 million for Hillary Clinton to 7 million for Biden.
Biden is currently leading world democracies to defend democracy in Ukraine from Russia’s horrific military invasion aimed at obliterating it. At the same time, Biden’s fighting at home to protect American democracy from Republican state legislators creating drastic voting restrictions to reduce voting by Americans who don’t support them. Some allow Republican legislators to throw out election results they don’t like.
The survival of American democracy will be the most important issue in every major national election until both Democrats and Republicans support democracy’s founding principles of equal rights and equal treatment under law for all Americans. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220502 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/sports/brewers-on-deck/brewers-back-on-track/ | Photo: Milwaukee Brewers - Twitter
Brewers Kolten Wong and Willy Adames - April 29, 2022
Brewers Kolten Wong and Willy Adames - April 29, 2022
The Brewers appear to be back on track on several fronts following a 5-1 stretch last week, but it’s tough to ignore the role the schedule may have played in their recent success. The Brewers have faced teams with a winning record just five times in the early weeks of the 2022 season and are 2-3 in those games. They’re 13-5, meanwhile, against the Cubs, Orioles, Pirates and Phillies.
Major League Baseball’s clear disparity between the haves and have nots adds an extra wrinkle to the challenge of trying to evaluate the game’s best teams after their first few weeks of play. At the end of the day Sunday the Brewers were 15-8 but had faced opponents with an average winning percentage of .450. Their average opponent the rest of the way has a .476 winning percentage.
That gap will grow even wider this week after the Brewers play their first three games against the 3-19 Reds: Following the series finale against Cincinnati the Brewers will have played 26 games against teams with a .414 winning percentage and will have 136 remaining against teams who are winning at a .483 clip. Their remaining schedule will still include 26 of their 27 scheduled games against the Giants, Dodgers, Padres, Mets and Braves, and interleague games against every American League East team except the Orioles.
Advantage Remains
Even as the Brewers’ schedule gets tougher, it still remains an advantage: This year the National League Central includes three teams (the Reds, Pirates and Cubs) who are clearly not trying to compete. Those three teams face the Brewers a combined 57 times this season, making up 35% of the Crew’s schedule, and at the end of the day Sunday FanGraphs had the trio projected to lose 95, 93 and 89 games this season, respectively. Collectively, they’re a big part of the reason that the Brewers’ average game this season is against a team that currently has a .472 winning percentage.
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The Brewers aren’t the first team to benefit this way from sharing a division with bad teams, but they will be one of the last to experience it at this magnitude: Starting in 2023 MLB is changing its schedule format, reducing the number of regular season games for division foes from 19 to 14 and using the extra space to expand interleague play. The schedule still won’t be “balanced,” but the impact of playing in a stronger or weaker division will be somewhat reduced. After making up more than a third of the Brewers’ scheduled games in 2022, the Cubs, Pirates and Reds will account for just 26% of them in 2023.
Of course, beating up on bad teams is a tried-and-true path to reaching the MLB postseason. The Brewers’ franchise history offers up some clear examples:
- Last season they went 29-9 against the dismal Pirates and a Cubs team that tore down its roster during the season, with games against those two teams accounting for 20 of the Brewers’ 28 games over .500.
- The 2011 team shared a division with three 90-loss clubs: the Pirates, Cubs and the Astros, with the latter going 56-106 as their rebuild bottomed out. The Brewers went 34-12 against those three teams on the way to their first division title in almost 30 years.
- The 2008 team’s route to the postseason went through two 90-loss cities, with the Crew going 14-1 against the Pirates, 6-0 in their games against the Giants and 70-71 against everyone else.
It isn’t the Brewers’ fault that several of their frequent opponents aren’t trying to win, of course, and they also aren’t responsible for the fact that their schedule is heavily frontloaded with weak opponents. All they can do is make hay early against favorable competition and hope the momentum carries over once they start facing better clubs. | true | true | both | shepherdexpress | 20220502 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/happening-now/my-hometown-milwaukee-day/ | Photo: Jerry Grillo - jerrygrillo.com
Jerry Grillo
Jerry Grillo
It probably falls short or Jerry Grillo’s dream, but next Monday, Mayor Cavalier Johnson will sign a proclamation making May 9 “My Hometown Milwaukee” Day in honor of Grillo’s song.
I’ve been tracking the jazzy number by the Milwaukee singer since its first release on YouTube in 2019. I wrote about it again March, when Grillo rereleased the song, whose lyric extolls “a museum with wings and so many things.” Namechecked are Summerfest, the Bucks, the Brewers and the Hop as well as the ease of traveling from one end of town to the other. shepherdexpress.com/culture/happening-now/is-milwaukee-ready-for-an-official-hometown-song
Whether or not it serves our city’s official anthem, Grillo hopes “My Hometown Milwaukee” will become the city’s “theme song,” heard at sports events, festivals or anywhere people gather. As his new press release puts it, “With residents singing along and tapping their toes, Jerry Grillo remains optimistic about the future.” | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220503 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/community-news/daily-wisconsin-covid-19-update-640-new-cases-no-deaths/ | Summary:
- 640 new cases
- No new deaths recorded or added to state system
- 12,869 total deaths;
- 245 hospitalized patients, 39 in ICU
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
On Monday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported an additional 640 new COVID-19 cases. The state has averaged 1,316 new cases per day in the last week.
On this day last year, there were 415 new cases, and a 7-day average of 654 cases per day. In 2020, 334 cases were recorded, with a 7-day average of 278 cases per day.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
There were no new deaths recorded to the Department of Health Services system, putting the total Wisconsin death toll at 12,869. A lag in death reporting statewide has affected these numbers.
In Milwaukee County, there were 112 new confirmed cases reported and have been 273,146 total cases in the county since the pandemic began. The 7-day average in the county is 279 cases per day. None of the deaths added to the state system were attributed to Milwaukee County, putting the county death toll at 2,286 since the beginning of the pandemic.
If you are looking for COVID-19 testing or vaccination, consult the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220503 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/polls/poll-question-may-2-2022/ | Skip to main content
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https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/books/chicago-comes-to-milwaukee-with-authors-visit/ | Nelson Algren and Studs Terkel set the bar high for Chicago as both a place and character in writing. That lineage continues with Chicago Boys—Working Class Readings by Martin Billheimer (author of Mother Chicago) and Theodore Van Alst (author of Sacred Smokes and Sacred City); the event will take place at Lion’s Tooth bookshop 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Growing up in a gang can be dark. Growing up Native American in a gang in Chicago is a whole different story reads the shorthand for Theodore Van Alst’s Sacred Smokes. The follow up Sacred City, explores the options available to an “intelligent smart-assed young man who was born poor and grew up in a gang.” Recalling great American writer and juvenile delinquent Eddie Bunker, Van Last’s milieu would seem to have plenty ingredients to turn his characters into a modern-day version of Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County.
In the lineage of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, Martin Billheimer’s Mother Chicago examines the city’s underclasses via redlining, property speculation, racism and collateralized debt. Subtitled Truant Dreams and Specters Over the Gilded Age, Billheimer digs into the complicated history of the city of the big shoulders. Viewing the one-time crossroads of America, the author takes a deep dive into his hometown’s history that often has been written out of chamber of commerce messaging.
More info here: lionstoothmke.com/events.html. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220503 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/books/grandfatherly-advice-from-a-milwaukee-author/ | In his new book They Call Me Grandpa, local author and grandparent Randy Jones offers solid advice for those navigating the constantly changing world of grandparenting today.
The Shepherd Express recently interviewed Jones about his book, challenges of grandparenting, and more:
What inspired you to write this book? Is this your first book?
I am a 59-year-old-grandpa of 10 ranging in ages from 3-23. I feel I am very lucky in the fact that I was blessed with grandkids at a very young age. Being a young and healthy grandpa allowed me to have a very fun and active life with the littles.
I am a believer in The Law of Attraction. For months, I would go shopping at Woodman’s and say to myself “having a book for sale here would be kind of cool.” Very soon after that a friend of a friend (who happens to be an award-winning author) was going to Chicago for a book-signing event. I asked if I could ride along to pick her brain for writing tips. We talked the whole way there but when we arrived at the venue, she gave me the best advice of all—“write about what you’re passionate about.”
I take being a grandpa very seriously, so when people go out of their way to tell me what a great job I am doing, I accept the compliment with great pride. People want to know what I do and what I continue to do to earn the respect and admiration of my grandkids. They want to know what make a great grandparent in today’s brave new world.
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They Call Me Grandpa is my first published book; however, I do have a children’s book written and laid out. At present, I’m looking for an illustrator.
What are some unique challenges associated with grandparenting today?
First, for old-school grandparents that were raised in the ‘70s and ‘80s, we need to remember our role. We are not the rule-makers, authority figures, and certainly not the disciplinarians. An example of this would be a family dinner outing at a sit-down restaurant, where one or more of the young ones started to misbehave. My first and (incorrect) response would be to handle the situation.
As a grandparent, we have to curb our instincts and let Mom or Dad handle things. Good or not-so-good choices, a misbehaving child is their responsibility not ours.
The second challenge I am seeing more and more of is that our kids (the parents of the grandkids) are keeping us from seeing the young ones. I have seen the posts in a number of grandparenting groups, social media platforms, and pages of personal friends. These grandparents are being told to stay away to save their kids the same emotional damage they went through.
How can this book help current and soon-to-be grandparents?
You are a grandparent—you have children in your life. They will look to you for guidance, support and approval. If you take only one thing from this book, I would like it to be this: your words and actions are their roadmap to life. You are Daddy or Mama’s dad or mom. You are the patriarch or matriarch of the family. You’re a grandparent, so please take that honor seriously.
Is there anything else you’d like Shepherd Express readers to know about your book?
After reading this book, I hope that you will be asking yourself these three important questions: What am I doing to be a great-grandparent? Can I do anything different to be even better? How can I help my grandkids reach their full potential so they can live happy and healthy lives? | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220503 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/happening-now/sheboygans-3-sheeps-brewing-celebrates-10-years/ | Photo: 3 Sheeps Brewing Co.
3 Sheeps Brewing Co. taproom
3 Sheeps Brewing Co. taproom
3 Sheeps Brewing Co., Sheboygan's oldest and largest brewery, is marking their 10th anniversary with an anniversary bash at their taproom on Saturday, May 14th with live music, food trucks, and special anniversary beer offerings.
The brewery's beers are available in the Milwaukee area, and they'll be having some special offerings for the anniversary event, including some pre-order only bourbon barrel aged imperial stouts, and some of their special beers through the years including The Wolf, Paid Time Off, and Uber Joe.
The party runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with free admission, food, and bands all day, with local headliner The Honeygoats at 7:00.
For more info about 3 Sheeps Brewing Co., visit their website at 3sheepsbrewing.com.
Photo: 3 Sheeps Brewing Co.
3 Sheeps Brewing Co.
3 Sheeps Brewing Co. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220503 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/supporting-milwaukee-arts/scott-berendt-singersongwriter-drummer-of-%E2%80%9Cthe-us-project%E2%80%9D-a/ | As a drummer, singer and songwriter throughout my life starting at a very young age, I always loved meeting others and performing at clubs in and around Milwaukee. There isn’t one I haven’t stepped into at least once to perform or to enjoy a show. I’ve toured around this state and country many times, and always love coming back to our hometown!
The transformation for me in Milwaukee was as I encountered many musicians and strived to make a permanent home for them and myself, I created the band, The Us Project. This band gave me the opportunity to bring a variety of talented musicians into my favorite style of world-beat, contemporary, alternative music. The Us Project has released four albums which include 36 Milwaukee musicians. I have also been playing with rock bands including the Milwaukee famous Bad Boy and my new tribute band, PH!L (music of Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins and Genesis). These bands and my solo shows allow me to perform throughout the city all year round.
I was very fortunate to perform at “Guitars-4-Vet’s” first benefit show here in Milwaukee. (My mom is a vet). Guitars 4 Vets helps to bridge wounded warriors with musical instruments while they heal. Their next event is at the historic Shank Hall which is especially heartwarming to me because Shank Hall was one of my first music club shows in Milwaukee ... 30 years and counting! They have helped many musicians and bands here for many years!
Scott and his band, BAD BOY will play and have their CD release party for their latest album, No Regrets, at Shank Hall, 8 p.m. Saturday, May 6, with opening act Kharma Shotgun. It will also be a fundraiser for Guitars 4 Vets.
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Subscribe to our free, daily e-newsletter to get Milwaukee's latest local news, restaurants, music, arts and entertainment and events delivered right to your inbox every weekday, plus a bonus Week in Review email on Saturdays.
Visit: BAD BOY
Photo Credit: Erol Reyal | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220503 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/lgbtq/dear-ruthie/sick-of-body-shaming/ | Photo Credit: Allen Halas
Dear Ruthie
Dear Ruthie is proudly brought to you by C3 Designs — Award Winning Fine Jewelry. C3 Designs offers a variety of services performed in-house, including custom jewelry design, jewelry and watch repair, appraisal, pearl and bead stringing, engraving and flip guards. C3 Designs is the winner of the Jewelers of America 2019 CASE Award.
Dear Ruthie,
Let’s talk about body shaming. It’s prevalent in the LGBTQ+ community, and I’m sick of it. I’m a bigger guy, and I’m really tired of my friends making jokes and comments. They watch me eat, which is really awkward, and God forbid I get seconds on something. They are all thin and go to the gym, but they don’t understand that it’s genetics. That I’ve always been a big guy, my family is big and that’s just the way it is. I’m tired of people in bars scoffing at my size, too. It’s getting annoying and I’m fed up. It’s time for this community to stop body shaming!
What Do You Think?
We’re Not All Perfect
Dear Perfect,
You are perfect, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You sound somewhat comfortable in your own skin, so focus on your confidence and not what others think. What they think about you is their problem … not yours.
Body shaming has always been an issue for the LGBTQ+ community. It’s a tough nut to crack because members of the community can be somewhat competitive with one another, and at times we’re all a bit insecure.
If your friends are causing you a lot of stress and hurt, take a moment to think about their comments. Are theses comments coming from a place of good? Are these guys at all concerned about your health? There is a difference between making rude comments to fat shame and making suggestions for improving overall wellbeing. If your friends are being mean, you should explain your feelings. You might also want to look for a few new buddies who value you for what’s on the inside. After all, that’s the part that counts the most!
Ruthie’s Social Calendar
May 5—Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Milwaukee Brewing Company (1128 N. Ninth St.): Food, music, dancing, a build-your-own michelada bar, and beer! Who can ask for anything more? Celebrate Cinco de Mayo like never before when you swing by this well-known brewery at 6 p.m.
May 7—Suzanne Vega at Turner Hall Ballroom (1040 Vel R. Phillips Ave.): The much-loved songstress sways into Milwaukee with her tour, “An Intimate Evening of Songs and Stories.” Get your $45 ticket to the 8 p.m. concert at www.pabsttheatergroup.com.
May 8—Mother’s Day Brunch at Hamburger Mary’s (730 S. Fifth St.): Treat mom to a Mother’s Day she’ll never forget! In addition to bottomless mimosas and a popular brunch menu, mom’s sure to enjoy The Brunchettes who put on two fast and funny (and family-friendly) shows. Check out the noon performance or celebrate Mom’s Day at the 2 p.m. show. Just be sure to make a reservation at www.hamburgermarys.com/mke.
May 8—M&M Club Reunion at Tied House (124 N. Water St.): Once upon a time, a cabaret bar in the Third Ward united the LGBTQ+ community and provided a safe haven for thousands of folks. I’m talking about the fabulous M&M Club (currently Tied House). Those were the days, my friends, and it’s time to relive the fun with this 15-year reunion. Reunite with old friends and celebrate yesteryear during the noon to 6 p.m. party. See you there!
May 8—Golden Showers Bring May Flowers at Hunty’s Social Club (734 S. Fifth St.): The Castaways MC of Milwaukee leather social club host another one of their popular beer busts at this cozy hot spot. Wear yellow and get free raffle tickets during the 3-7 p.m. bash. You’ll also find Jell-O shots, prizes and plenty of happy friendly faces. New the city’s leather scene? This is great opportunity to get acquainted with it.
May 10—Trans Clothing Swap and Social Hour at Bounce Milwaukee (2801 S. Fifth Court): Need some new duds? Check out this free, safe shopping experience! The perfect spot for anyone exploring and developing their full identities, this 4-8 p.m. event offers clothing, accessories, binders, shoes and more in a supportive environment. You can also enjoy haircuts from Hotheads Salon and happy hour with other members of the trans, nonbinary and gender non-conforming community.
Have a question for Ruthie? Want to share an event with her? Contact Ruthie at DearRuthie@ShepEx.com. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220503 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/music-feature/celtic-punk-rockers-the-rumjacks-find-rejuvenated-energy-wit/ | Photo: The Rumjacks - therumjacks.com
The Rumjacks
The Rumjacks
For many bands, starting anew with a new lead singer can be a difficult task, one that can sometimes lead to an entirely new sonic direction. Australian formed, Europe-based The Rumjacks had to regroup in the last couple of years after finding themselves without a lead singer.
Fortunately, through touring connections, they learned about singer Mike Rivkees, who was touring with bands such as Boston-based project Mickey Rickshaw.
“We knew his band and we really liked his songwriting style and his singing,” says bass player Johnny McKelvey during a recent interview. “So, when the time to make a phone call was made, he was the first person on our list. And luckily, he said, ‘Yes.’ Then we got demoing just all these ideas he's got, nonstop ideas. From the very beginning he was throwing ideas out and good energy straight away.”
His introduction to the band brought about a rejuvenated energy and a sense of fun that had been previously hard to come by. It led to a prolific period of songwriting that culminated into several releases—their fifth studio album Hestia last year, and, this year, Brass for Gold EP and The Split EP (the latter a split with Chicago band Flatfoot 56).
“It made writing, recording, demoing, playing music fun again,” says McKelvey. “He’s a super nice, real fast paced fellow and he's always doing things and writing things. That was quite infectious when we all got together in Milan to record for Hestia. And it was new for us, as an adjustment to be made … And from the get-go, it just seemed a lot more enjoyable and more positivity.”
“Personally, I’ve got a lot more positivity in writingc…cor getting into a rehearsal studio. It didn’t seem like a labor anymore and a process. And having Mike, he’s a very, very, very good songwriter. So, to work with someone like that, it almost felt like a fresh start, a new beginning that we were more than happy to be involved with.”
Prior to the band’s performance May 19 at Shank Hall, the Shepherd Express caught up with McKelvey about the band’s recent tour with Dropkick Murphys, recording a split EP with Chicago band Flatfoot 56, and having a blast creating music again with a new singer.
The band’s had a pretty eventful year so far, including opening for the Dropkick Murphys earlier this year. What was it like to open for the Dropkick Murphys earlier this year?
It was unreal. It was pretty much a brand-new way of touring for us. And we shared the tour bus with Bombpops, so 12 people in a bus for a month. It was good. It was fun. We learned a lot and just to be able to see the scale … and the crowds. And it was just a very different way to tour. So, it was really good.
How did the band get connected with them?
They approached our agents. During that run, the Boston run there, and of course we said yes straight away. It worked out perfectly with timing in regard to dates before and after. And yeah, that was it. It was good.
The band's been pretty prolific of late. How did the time off the road help with the uptick in creativity?
We were so used to being on the road for so long, basically instantly stopping was a really strange feeling. It was really odd. Took us a while to get used to it and like, “All right, well, we don't know how long this is going to be around or what it's going to be. We don’t know when the next tour will be, but we still need to be a band. We still need to work to keep this going the best we can without being on the road.”
So, it was good to do for a sec, clean up in house a little bit of things we've always wanted to do while we've got the chance. And then it just gave us that time to write and enjoy the process just back and forth. We were all, as everyone was, just having that time with a guitar or mucking about thinking about ideas. And that really gave the first time for us a chance to breathe a bit. A bunch of ideas and then go from there really. So, from being on the road, it was the complete opposite to what we were used to.
Did having Mike in the band help bring lot of new energy into the band's music?
Sure. Lots of it. Yeah. Lots of energy, music, positivity, creativity amongst ourselves. We got to enjoy it again. And I guess only recently it’s been, we're recording stuff with Mike. We got that out of way while we couldn’t tour. And we’re now enjoying a different side of touring now as well. So, we had a different side of recording and now we've got a different version of the new start with Mike. We're now experiencing that on tour as well … It’s fun again. New positivity energy and we’re much happier.
It seems like the band's been able to expand its sound a little bit as well.
Yeah. For sure. Mike's been in ska bands or punk bands, hard core bands all his life and different music, but we all meet together in the middle on our common love for ska I think a few people brought up the ska thing when Mike, he’s a huge fan, but we’ve always had from the very beginning of The Rumjacks, we’ve always had a ska influence in every recording we’ve done, every record at least. But then I guess Mike maybe brought that forward a little more, but I didn't think it was a different thing.
If you go back in the catalog, it’s always been there, and it works. We do abstracts on mandolin sound pretty damn good. So why not do that as well? The audience has expanded and that's always good. And I think also with that change, when Mike came in, I would say we didn't lose any of the old fans, small percentage, but opened up a few more doors there as well to reach more people, more audiences, and just enjoy music a bit more for ourselves too.
The band has a new EP, The Split EP with Chicago-based band Flatfoot 56. What was the band’s goal with that EP and how did the bands get connected?
We’ve known of Flatfoot for many, many years and [Mike] was a lot closer with them. He had shared the stage with them a bit on Salty Dog Cruise … And we’re like, “If we ever get to the point where we got a few, maybe not ready for a record or whatnot, it’d be cool to do.” We were recording Hestia when they called and asked, “Would you guys ever be interested in something like that?” So that was a year and a half ago when the phone call was made and they were super keen, but we were writing for Hestia and whatnot.
And then we did Brass for Gold and then we had a couple of songs and we’re just like, “The time we do it.” We hit them up. And they said, “Yeah.” They had a few songs laying about as well. So, it actually worked out fantastic. We lined up with our label in Australia and were happy to do it. We’re luckily on this next tour, half of it, a bit more than half it with them. So, works out very well doing a split with them and then being able to tour for it. Basically, it was an idea. We shot it to them a year and a half ago. And we’re both on the same page of having a few songs, maybe not ready for a record again, and that’s how it came to be.
What was the inspiration for the song Whitecaps, which is the first song on that EP?
It’s been brought up a few times [in interviews] about racial issues and whatnot. Mike wrote it. I think it’d be doing a disservice if I were to explain what it meant. There were a few tracks of Hestia that people were like, “Oh, you were talking about this.” We’re like, “Well, it’s open for interpretation.” You know what I mean? If you get something out of it, as long as it's positive, educational, or just you like this song, I’ve done it right. That would have to be one for Mike to talk about the song to give a bit more justice in explanation of the lyrics.
In the press materials, it mentions being against the KKK and other hate groups like that.
Yeah, like Whitecaps, obviously that imagery and whatnot as well too. But yeah, we're not shy to say where our political stance on any intolerance to others. We’ve sung about that and made that very clear for a while. And I guess in these times, while this shit is going on, it's maybe time to talk about those things a bit more and not shy away from them … while people have bigoted horrible opinions and have no fear to do that anymore. Maybe we should be a bit louder on opposing that stuff. And if that's what comes across in the song.
For the Brass in Gold EP, the band was able to get together to record in person. What was that like in the get together finally?
Yeah, it was slightly different than Hestia because Hestia written or somewhat started in different countries. Brass for Gold was like that as well, too, but a bit more. We had all these songs for Hestia and that's why it ended up being 14 or 15 songs, which is a lot for a record, I guess. We didn’t want to take any out. We didn’t want to strip it back just to have 12. Why not? Be a buck. Here you go. Here’s 15 songs on a record because we didn’t take any out. With an EP you get three or four. That’s fine. We had eight.
And they were like, “Well why don't we just do a mini album EP thing?” We didn’t want to write another one so close to it, but still wanted to keep putting music out. We were determined when we started back up with Hestia that there are so many bands that had all this time on the hands to write music and didn’t do anything with it. And it was like writing and recording music, we can’t tour. So, we keep doing that, keep putting music out, then we realize, especially with the change that we’re not messing about. We’re going to take this seriously and give it the best go we can. So, when it came time Brass for Gold demos, Mike had mostly all the songs written start to finish, and it was the same. Met together in Milan, pieced it together and timed it in the best way we could. So again, less fear going into the studio where we worked with Mike on Hestia, so we knew what expect. So, it was a lot more calm and relaxed we just, again, once again, enjoyed the recording process.
In what ways do you think the band’s sound most evolved on that EP?
I think that would come with Mike and confident players and whatnot. We still use the same studio we have for the last few records. So, we had that comfort there. Got Hestia done. So, I guess the evolution of the sound is obviously it’s a new singer. It was never “Oh, let’s not make it too weird or go to complete opposites,” like … doing mariachi or … or something ridiculous. But to do what we've always done, but just do it a bit better. And I think Mike stepping in like that was really opened up the choruses, big sing along easy catchy choruses that he’s very, very good at writing, good melodies, simple songs, not in a bad way, but just there's not a lot of mystery to the music. It's straight up. It's good.
And I think Mike writes really well with those little hooks and choruses that I guess whether it's the ska solo or more of the punk rock songs on it, they’re still somewhat entwined to still satisfy you in either way, whether it's a more balls to the wall song or a bit of a ska vibe. It’s still big chorus, great melodies, and whatnot. So, I think that was the evolution or the obviousness of things, strong songs, solid beats, nothing too complicated. Just make it strong and simple and put it out.
What song surprised you the most in how they came together?
“Bounding Main” is probably my favorite at the moment, for reasons, like I said before. Mike had that one written essentially. And when we met together, we just went through it and it was I love songs like this, someone who listens to music and then playing it. It’s just straightforward. It came together. There was no, “Oh, let’s try this little part too much.” Or “I don’t know this doesn’t sound fast, it’s too slow.” Just when a song comes together in its simplest way, I love it. I love playing it live. It’s nothing complicated. It’s just one I just really enjoyed recording and just see how quickly it formed together. But “Bounding Main” for me is the one I enjoyed most of just and recording it and how it sounded, and now it's on an EP, so I’m stoked.
What's the story behind the band's name?
Unfortunately, not a crazy story. Starting about 12 years ago I'm pretty sure we were just sitting around the table at the pub, the local pub near where most of us lived, and we had to come up with a name. We had a show coming up in four or five weeks. Songs we were ready to play, but we didn’t have a name. So, we just sat down and wrote words down on a piece of paper. There was no wild meaning to it. So, it was a name by circumstance just so we could put it on the flyer.
The band originally formed in Australia but are now based around Europe. How have those locations impacted the band musically?
Well, I guess you learn from everything don’t you? In traveling and moving and where you live. But I guess we’re at the point we can easily live in other countries … We’ve got to fly five people from five different countries…Two years a bit different because we couldn’t get out and you can’t be inspired by much that’s not around you. It does give you the time to sit down with a guitar, that’s for sure. But we are happy now, all spread out in our own places. So yeah, it’s I guess more of that comfort of everyone, not where they have to be.
What was your time living in Australia like?
My parents moved to Australia when the Troubles were on and whatnot. And they moved there and had my older brother then me, went back to Northern Ireland for a while. But then I did all my schooling in Australia and whatnot. So, it was around me growing up with Irish parents and then they would always have English, Irish, friends always around. So, I guess that music was always there. And then growing up and then listening to more aggressive music, something a bit alternative and not your boring old parents’ music around then making a weird 360 and coming back to it and enjoying it … however you want to call it, music, punk, rock, hardcore, whatever.
It was a nice childhood musically around you and then discovering your own thing and then being able to do it for a living is pretty cool. So, I guess that was cool. Australia’s great too. It's a big country and I was raised in the Blue Mountains, so nice mountain area. So, it was a nice upbringing to be able to grow my love with music, I guess, and have it around me at the same time too. So yeah, I love it, but I don’t get to go back there often these days.
Have you been to Milwaukee before?
No, I haven’t. But if I'm correct, that’s where Giannis is, right?
Yeah.
It would be nice to get there to see where Pabst is from. Despite what people tell me, I actually like Pabst Blue Ribbon. I've never been. Looking forward to it.
There are a lot of neat things to see in the Milwaukee.
Well, hopefully because touring is hard sometimes you don't really see anything, but hopefully I get to see some nice things, man.
And Shank Hall is a pretty cool venue. So, I think you'll like it.
I look forward to it. Yeah, for sure. I think it’ll be a bit different than the Dropkick Murphys venues we played. You get to do the big ones and then come back and do some of the nice, cool well known little rock clubs and whatnot, so that’ll be fun.
Does the band have any future plans after this tour?
We have a few and then come back to Europe. We’re doing the summer run. Got a few weeks off in the middle. Take a break again. And then we got the postponed shows at the moment all locked in. So that’ll happen in August and maybe a few things at the end of the year, because a lot of this is still, like I said with the UK, rescheduled tours and dates and whatnot. So yeah, after the States, back to Europe, back to UK is where we’re at, at the moment.
Do you think you'll work on the next EP or album pretty soon, after the band’s tours this year?
Maybe. Yeah. Mike's always saying there's no set time … It’s basically just a real natural thing. If we’re not touring, we’ll be writing because I guess to be always ahead of this. There’s no lack of songs. You can always keep putting out songs, but as long as they’re good ones. Not putting out stuff for the sake of it. But if it happens, it happens. Like I said, there’s no new record. We just did Hestia, Brass for Gold and The Split EP under 16 months. So, I think that’s a lot of music for now. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220503 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/features/milwaukeeans-sharing-stories-on-pandemic-babies/ | Photo: vlada_maestro - Getty Images
Baby with mother wearing mask
N’Jameh Russell-Camara launched The Pandemic Pregnancy Project, a virtual collection of stories about pregnancy during a global pandemic, after her first child was born last summer.
“The night she was born, I held her, my whole body shaking after what had been an intensely traumatic birthing experience,” Russell-Camara, associate director of engagement for the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, said. Her pregnancy was a challenging one, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides working two full-time jobs from home and volunteering for a campaign, Russell-Camara coped with various health issues. “I even had hyperemesis gravidarum and ended up in the ER, waiting for a room for over three hours because COVID patients filled every bed,” she added.
Three months later, a conversation with a friend who was pregnant gave Russell-Camara the idea for the Pandemic Pregnancy Project. “She mentioned the #pandemicbabies trend on TikTok and Instagram—these videos of babies born during the pandemic were stunning recordings of little ones doing amazingly advanced things,” she said. “My friend said, ‘There’s a theory that COVID babies are so advanced because their mothers got to work from home and were, therefore, less stressed.’ That comment stuck with me—I was certainly not less stressed, even though I did work from home.”
Inspired, Russell-Camara decided to document individuals sharing their stories about experiencing pregnancy during a pandemic. “Then I thought, ‘I want this project to be about humor, hope and sweetness—what if I ask people to share a story that, in retrospect, can identify with one of those things?” she said. “This project wouldn’t be sharing complex stories for the sake of complexity or trauma, but really, to inspire the listener to have ease, be resilient or voice their experience.”
More Stories to Come
Named “Pandemic Pregnancies and Popsicles,” the limited series consists of 20 stories from individuals across the nation, although the majority of participants are from the Milwaukee area. Twenty long-form interviews have been converted into monologues read by voiceover actors. More stories will be featured as a blog on the project’s website, pandemicpregnancyproject.com.
For those involved with the project, the experience has proved to be a cathartic one.
“All of our participants were very excited to share their stories. Many felt relieved to share, especially knowing that they would be anonymous,” Russell-Camara said. “Now that the website has come out, we’ve been told that our participants have gotten goosebumps listening to their own words and were moved by the other stories. It’s incredible that our participants don’t know each other, but all 20 have created a beautiful collective story quilt.”
In addition to being featured on the Latched Mama podcast, The Pandemic Pregnancy Project has teamed up with upscale maternity clothes brand Kindred Bravely for an Instagram Live and Product Launch. Russell-Camara noted that the project will also partner with local organization Moms Mental Health Initiative and radio stations Wisconsin Public Radio and WUWM to share stories and spread awareness. “After that, we hope to do a community celebration with 88.9 Radio Milwaukee, a key player in our success,” Russell-Camara concluded. “Thanks to Nate Imig and company, we were able to record our stories and work around busy parents’ schedules, including my own. So much love to them.”
Visit pandemicpregnancyproject.com or @pandemicpregnancyproject on Instagram to learn more about the project, or to share your story or feedback. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220503 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/podcasts/laughing-liberally/laughing-liberally-milwaukee-episode-46-kristin-brey/ | On today's Laughing Liberally Milwaukee, host Matthew Filipowicz welcomes comedian and creator of As Goes Wisconsin, Kristin Brey. The two talk about Michael Gableman's taxpayer-funded investigation that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, and the wild claims that people might be (gasp) Democratic. They also talk about As Goes Wisconsin and where Kristin is taking things with her platform. Check it out! | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220503 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/food/eat-drink/a-good-casserole-inspiration-the-best-ingredients/ | Casseroles still have a certain … association with midcentury moms and the Ladies Home Journal. The easy to prepare one-dish meals were comfort food for families at a time when the pace of life was gathering speed. But they were never junk food. With the right ingredients, a casserole can be nutritious as well as delicious.
Author Beatrice Ojakangas holds her own recipes in the highest regard judging by the title of her latest book, The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever. Induction into the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame must have raised her estimation of herself! But let’s not judge by publisher’s hype but from the recipes themselves. A good casserole is inspiration plus whatever ingredients are in the kitchen. Ojakangas is an inspired chef whose ideas have been oven-tested and sampled at her dinner parties.
Odds are that casseroles in 2022 will be more creative, more flavorful than casseroles from 50 years ago. As Ojakangas points out, fresh produce, spices and herbs are more readily available and American tastes have gone global. Under the heading of beef-based casseroles, Ojakangas produces recipes from Morocco (with turmeric and ginger), Greece (cinnamon and olive oil) and Belgium (vegetable oil and brown sugar); for chicken, she ranges to Puerto Rico (white sauce, shredded cheddar cheese), the American Southwest (corn tortillas, poblano peppers) and Italy (Parmesan, oregano). Cheeseheads will love her three-cheese breakfast casserole (Swiss, cheddar, mango chego). Vegetarians will find casseroles made from mushrooms and green beans.
Ojakangas advises readers to steer away from that staple base for midcentury casseroles—canned cream-of-whatever soup. But the main reason for making casseroles still stands: you can pop one in the oven, go shopping and return home an hour later with dinner ready to serve.
The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever is published by University of Minnesota Press. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220504 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/music-feature/suzanne-vega-on-film-and-in-person/ | Spanning four decades, the career of singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega is a storied one, and she continues to push herself further with each new project. Vega has already appeared as a recording artist, as well as an actress, and most recently, premiered the film version of her one-woman show, Lover, Beloved at South by Southwest in March to critical acclaim. The film is an adaptation of her stage performance, based on the work of southern gothic writer Carson McCullers. On top of all of that, she’ll play Turner Hall Ballroom this weekend, touring behind her 2020 album, An Evening of New York Songs and Stories. Before that, however, she made time to speak to Shepherd Express:
You’ve made the transition from the stage to the screen. Tell us a bit about putting Lover, Beloved together.
It’s a film about the life southern writer Carson McCullers, and I've been fascinated by her life since I was in college. It's a film of the one-woman show that I wrote, based on her life and work, and contains some songs in there as well. I'm really proud of how it came out. We premiered at South by Southwest and I'm hoping to find a way to have it distributed so that the public can see it.
When you’re putting together a piece like this, with a film and music, is there more pressure as the artist to make things feel cohesive, or can you create a little more freely?
Both. It has to be cohesive because it’s another person’s world, and so I’ve made sure that the details are accurate, and that the time periods are accurate, even though I feel that in her heart she was a very modern woman, and that and people could connect to her character now in a way that they would not have say in the 1940s, which is when she first became famous. So I had to be very careful in terms of that world that I created, that it was truthful to her life. On the other hand, there’s kind of a great freedom playing someone that's not myself. I felt that it was a lot of fun to assume her character and act in ways that that I don't normally, so in that it's a project that has given me a lot of pleasure.
Do you think that working on this project might influence your songwriting? Do the two worlds go hand-in-hand to you?
To be honest, I've always been interested in writing in other voices, and I’ve done that a lot of times throughout my career. Songs like “Calypso” and “Caspar Hauser,” even the song “Luka” was kind of a character that I created and sang in the voice of, so it's kind of a continuation of something I had already done.
I have to ask about “Tom’s Diner.” I’m sure you’ve seen the TikTok video covering the song that has gone viral recently?
I actually approved that a couple of years ago, and it only took off recently. People kept emailing me saying “have you seen this?” and I think I approved it last year. I’m like “this is old,” but it just took off now all of a sudden. Now there’s all these other parodies of it, and spinoffs and takeoffs. But I think it’s great.
You have a unique experience in the sense that you have a song and a melody that seems to resurface every few years in a new way. How does it feel to be always attached to that piece of music?
When someone told me that Britney Spears did it, I almost fainted. I was like, “seriously?” but she did, and I like it. I think it's funny. I approve 99% of the interpolations and versions that come my way, and I enjoy it all. I think seems to keep on going and going, not only the melody and also the idea of sitting at a diner makes it a song that is fairly universal, so people just want to put their own spin on it. Most of the time, I say okay.
You can catch Suzanne Vega at Turner Hall Ballroom on Saturday night. For more information and tickets, visit the Pabst Theater Group website. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220504 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/community-news/daily-wisconsin-covid-19-update-830-new-cases-one-death/ | Summary:
- 830 new cases
- One new deaths recorded, 3 total deaths added to state system
- 12,872 total deaths;
- 242 hospitalized patients, 41 in ICU
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported an additional 830 new COVID-19 cases. The state has averaged 1,262 new cases per day in the last week.
On this day last year, there were 697 new cases, and a 7-day average of 634 cases per day. In 2020, 249 cases were recorded, with a 7-day average of 303 cases per day.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
There was one new death, and three total deaths recorded to the Department of Health Services system, putting the total Wisconsin death toll at 12,872. A lag in death reporting statewide has affected these numbers.
In Milwaukee County, there were 214 new confirmed cases reported and have been 273,336 total cases in the county since the pandemic began. The 7-day average in the county is 273 cases per day. One of the deaths added to the state system were attributed to Milwaukee County, putting the county death toll at 2,287 since the beginning of the pandemic.
If you are looking for COVID-19 testing or vaccination, consult the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220504 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/comedy/joe-mande-takes-the-piss-out-of-comedy-and-podcasts/ | “I don't have a podcast.”
Comedian Joe Mande thus differentiates himself from many of his peers. The kind of pithy snark it takes to reply with that sort of rejoinder extends to the name of his current tour, coming to The Laughing Tap (706 B S. Fifth St.) for an 8 p.m. show on Saturday May 7.
But he's more talkative when it comes to speaking of his billing as “Joe Mande: Hero” Of that bit of self-mythologizing, he explains. “At first, I slapped the word ‘hero’ on the poster because I wanted to poke fun at this aggrandizing notion that stand-up comedy is the most sacred and valorous act of free speech. Like, don’t get me wrong, I love stand up and I love my freedom of speech—shout out to freedom of speech!—but, come on. If it were really that important, they wouldn’t serve chicken wings while you did it.”
A bit more thought brought him to the conclusion that using the h-word is appropriate. As Mande puts it, “Later I realized that I do have a joke in my act that is all about heroism, so that worked out perfectly. I can’t really go into too much detail without giving the joke away. So, if you’re intrigued and want to hear more, you're going to have to come see me, Joe Mande, modern day philosopher, in person live at The Laughing Tap in Walker’s Point on May 7.”
If the above tease affirms Mande willingness to promote himself, he is a different, more ruminative performer than he was upon the start of his comedy career.
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Cookie Cutting
For his current approach to humor, Mande had an epiphany when seeing fellow comic Gary Gullman. “Early on, I was doing a lot of short setup-punchline type jokes,” Mande recollects. “But seeing Gary do 15-20 minutes just about cookies, dissecting everything about cookies from every angle, was very eye-opening and liberating. It helped me see that you can latch on to the weird themes that interest you and keep exploring those ideas. So, if you don't like when I do a seven-minute joke about ISIS recruitment videos or whatever, it’s really all Gary Gulman’s fault, and you should send any and all hate mail to him.”
Mande can’t, however, pass the buck when it comes to parlaying his success in comedy into a growing litany of acting, screenwriting and screenwriting credits. He says of the organic progression of his career, “I started doing stand-up in college and then moved to New York to do more stand up. Eventually, I did enough stand up that I started to get small writing jobs, and those small writing jobs turned into bigger writing jobs, which sometimes turned into small acting jobs. I still don’t really know what a producer does, but I’m proud and honored to be considered one.”
Might Mande’s resonance with his favorite acting role so far, on HBO Max’s “Hacks,” befit a comedian-philosopher-hero?
“Working on ‘Hacks’ has been incredible because one main character is a legendary stand-up comic and the other is an obnoxious TV writer, so I’m able to write with authority about both those things.” Though Mande doubtless appreciates his hardcore aficionados, or Mande Fandes, watching him on small screens, he wants local supporters and others to come out to give him a reception he believes he deserves.
Pin that entitlement (?) on Mande’s love of basketball. “I’d like your readers to know that I went to game six of the NBA Finals last year in Milwaukee and personally watched the Bucks win the title. Now, I’m not taking full credit for their victory, I’m just saying the city owes me big time, and everyone needs to come to my show at The Laughing Tap in Walker’s Point on May 7.”
Here Mande references the sweet treats Gulman examined in a mediation on the origin of cookies, commonly accompanying the beverage milk: | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220504 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/happening-now/get-your-cheese-curds-with-visit-milwaukee-pass/ | Photo: Visit Milwaukee
SafeHouse cheese curds
SafeHouse cheese curds
Whether fresh or fried, cheese curds have joined bratwurst and the fish fry as signature menu items that display Milwaukee’s unique culture.
Today VISIT Milwaukee announced the launch of the free Milwaukee Cheese Curd Pass which gives visitors and locals alike exclusive specials from over 20 area fried and fresh cheese curd purveyors.
According to Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee, cheese curds are “always delectable and never bland, the Milwaukee cheese curd is a delicacy that’s not only cherished by locals, but also revered by foodies around the world.:
Along with discounted curds, anyone who downloads the pass before June will be entered to win free curds for a year. Additionally, anyone who checks in at every business on the Milwaukee Cheese Curd Pass by Dec. 31, 2022, will be eligible to win The Ultimate Cheese Giveaway.
The Milwaukee Cheese Curd pass is part of an ongoing series of passes launched by VISIT Milwaukee to increase tourism and grow visitor and local spending at partner businesses. This pass follows the popular Brew City Beer Pass, which has been used by more than 5,200 people, 23 percent of which are from out of state.
The Milwaukee Cheese Curd Pass’ launch will be celebrated with a special pop-up event May 12 from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Harley Davidson Museum's Motor Bar and Restaurant.
How It Works
The Milwaukee Cheese Curd Pass is built for use on mobile devices; however, the pass is unique in that it doesn’t require users to download an app. Sign up for the free pass on VISIT Milwaukee’s website, and then the pass is saved to your home screen. Once at a participating business, check in on the pass and then redeem the offer by showing the pass to a staff member.
Participating Businesses (More to be Added Soon)
- AJ Bombers
- Black Sheep MKE
- Bottle House 42
- Clock Shadow Creamery
- Dairyland Old-Fashioned Frozen Custard & Hamburgers
- Lakefront Brewery
- Motor Bar and Restaurant
- Oak Barrel Public House
- On Tap
- Pizza Man - Milwaukee
- SafeHouse Milwaukee
- The Bavarian Bierhaus
- The Village Cheese Shop
- Third Street Tavern
- Vagabond
- Water Street Brewery - Grafton
- Water Street Brewery - Lake Country
- Water Street Brewery - Oak Creek
- Who's On Third | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220504 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/lifestyle/art-kumbalek/standing-on-the-pledge/ | Art Kumbalek
I’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a? So listen, what with Mother’s Day ’round the corner, I’m reminded it’s time for my sort of annual Art Kumbalek Donor-dough/Greenback/Pin Money/Cookie Jar/Piggy Bank/Petty Cash/C Note/G Note/Stick ’em Up/Raid the Kid’s College Fund/Back Up the Truck/Money Grab. And just like any other public radio, television, what-have-you nonprofit, my pitch hasn’t changed and it’s not going to until I get some goddamn results.
Hey, I’m as focking sick of this spiel as you are and I wish I didn’t have to do it, but unless you’s start pledging plenty, I’ll be fiscally forced to cram my pitch down your throat ’til you finally cough it up, what the fock.
And so I ask you to fork it over, and I don’t want to hear any pissin’ and moanin’ about the economy as an excuse as to why you are unable to focking fork it over, thank you very kindly. Excuses are for losers, but if you flip me some dough at any time during my Feather the Nest Week, we can all come out of this as winners, you betcha.
Yeah, I know. Winner? Greasing the palm of some knob in a newspaper and/or on a website would make you, the reader, a winner? Wouldn’t “wiener” be more accurate? Could be. Some people are just natural-born wieners no matter what they do or don’t do, what the fock. Like this guy I knew who goes to see the doctor. He’s got a strawberry jammed up each nostril, a carrot sticking out each ear, and a wiener up his dupa. He says, “Doc, I think there’s something wrong with me.” Doctor says, “Well sir, offhand I’d say you weren’t eating properly.” Ba-ding!
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(Oops! Hold on, I got the phone ringing here and I better take the call. It could be this Nigerian prince I ran into on the internet who sent me a message that he’s got like a million bucks with my name on it if only I can help him out with a little misunderstanding he’s having with a United States financial institution, the bastards.)
“Hey Artie, so you know if you’re coming by my place Sunday yet?”
(It’s my buddy Little Jimmy Iodine. He’s planning to have a small-gathering socially distanced Mother’s Day brunch for us fellas whose ma’s have gone to a better a place, and by better place I don’t mean Vegas on a three-day junket. I’ll make this call short so’s we can get back to business.)
“Jimmy, don’t know yet, I’ve not been feeling so hot. Call me later. I’m right in the middle of whipping out an essay here.”
“Yeah, OK Artie, I understand—power of the press, or what’s left of it, et-focking-cetera. But I got to know now how many Polish sausage I got to get. And don’t forget, I’m making my famous ground-beef stuffed cabbage rolls and yes, I got plenty of horseradish. Hey, did I tell you Felix Bryszeswiczkowtowski said he was coming?”
“You got to be jerking my beefaroni, Jimmy. I haven’t seen that wag since that night years ago when he got barred-for-life from the Dutchland Dairy restaurant after he loosened the tops to all the salt-shakers right before the crowd from Our Lady Of You Kids Are Going Straight To Hell came in for their post-prom repast.”
“Yeah yeah, Artie. Justice could be harsh for the young people back then. So’s you know, his ma died some years ago but he still puts flowers on her grave each day of the week.”
“That can be expensive.”
“Could be, but I’ll tell you Artie, he works out at a cemetery. Same one his ma’s buried at, and it doesn’t cost him a dime for the flowers. What he does is when he’s out cutting the grass, raking leaves or something and he sees someone put flowers on a grave, he’ll wait ’till they drive off and then move them over to his ma’s grave.”
“It’s the thought that counts.”
“You betcha, Artie—especially with this inflation economy. Listen, I know you got to go and do your little article, but I want to run by you for suggestions a little spoken-word thing I put together that I’d like to recite right before we cut into the ring baloney on Sunday. I call it ‘How I Spell Mother’ and it goes something like this:
“M: is for those meals you cooked I always tried my best to be way late for. I’ll never forget those pot roasts. I’m still trying to swallow a piece from one of them that I’ve been chewing since 1963. O: is for the first vowel in the word ‘vocabulary.’ And you taught me well that ‘o’ is also the first vowel in ‘soap.’ Cripes, I was the only kid in fifth grade who could swear and blow bubbles at the same time. T: is for the 20-to-50 thousand bucks my baseball cards and comic books would be worth today if you hadn’t tossed them in the trash while I was elsewhere some afternoon performing my community-service obligation. Lucky for you I couldn’t afford a better lawyer when I sued and took you to court for ‘loss of income.’ T-anks for nothing.
“H: stands for those what-the-hell-kind-of-cancer-patient haircuts you administered in the kitchen while I sat beneath the salad bowl just so you could save the two-bits that the ribald Italian barber up the street would’ve otherwise charged. I still can’t look at the photos from my first wedding to this day. E: what the fock, still haven’t figured out what ‘E’ stands for. And R: is for that even with all the toil and trouble we gave each other, I really miss you, I kid you not. I do really miss you.”
“That’s nice, Jimmy. Yeah, OK, maybe see you Sunday. Stay well.”
And hey, talk about the spoken word come to think of it, if you’re looking for a nice champagne toast at your own Mother’s Day get-together, how ’bout you serve up some Oscar Wilde: All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his. O-Wild, you be the man still, you betcha.
Now, finally, about that Kumbalek pledge/fund drive I mentioned earlier. Forget about it. If you got some extra dough to donate somewheres, how ’bout you sent it to some do-gooding charity for kids rather than to me. Cripes, at my age I could be croaked by the time I received your gracious hand-out, so what the fock.
And speaking of croaked, a decision I ought to make damn soon is whether to be planted or cremated. Just so you know, if planted, number one right now on my epitaph list is “Cancel My Appointments,” but that could change ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220504 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/shepherd-setlist/shepherd-setlist-may-4-2022/ | The Shepherd Setlist is a collaboration between the Shepherd Express and Milwaukee music website, Breaking And Entering.
Jillian’s Revenge – Shit Could Be Worse
Jillian’s Revenge is the collaborative effort between local hip hop acts Shle Berry and Yogie B & Keez. Their debut EP dropped on 4/20 and features five songs. The rappers let out feelings about people who disrespect, use, and be dishonest with you. The fourth track “Everyday is 4/20, So Here’s A Regular Song” finds them reflecting on the past and wondering how the hell they got here. We’ve lived strange and chaotic times over the last few years, and Jillian’s Revenge emerge from such trials with grown perspectives and celebrated senses of worth. (Ben Slowey)
Renz Young – “Followers” / “Twopurr”
Renz Young is back with a new two-pack of singles, and he puts on a masterclass in rapping on “Followers” and “Twopurr.” The flow is impeccable here, with Renz talking a big game and backing it up on the main, social media-focused single. The confidence in his vocal performance is everything, and makes you feel like Renz is the man just by listening to it once, which is a hard trait to convey in hip hop. “Twopurr” is the b-side, with a shorter runtime but no shortage of impactful bars. Both of these tracks comprise for just the latest addition to Renz Young’s extensive catalogue of top tier work. (Allen Halas)
Shontrail – “Dog Days”
Pop punk artist Shontrail has a new video out accompanying his recent tape, Silver Star. Shot by Dario Camerena, the scenes here find Shontrail in vivacious, animated spirits as he sings about getting himself together and breaking out of a toxic cycle. Images of him still against motion, riding in a train, sitting as traffic goes by, represent the time flying by as the artist feels stagnant in trying to keep up with everything, with plenty of trippy effects evoking a sense of disorientation. Shontrail is keen on being the best version of himself with “Dog Days.” (Ben Slowey)
Leroy Booker – “Ponder”
Leroy Booker blends R&B and hip hop, and on his latest, “Ponder” he’s thinking about exclusively his world. The track features plenty of deep thoughts, both introspective and about relationships, with Booker doing his best to tell his story. Tales of heartbreak aren’t off the table, with the singer not afraid to get into his feelings and put them out to the world. Over the years, Booker has been steadily building up an array of music, and this song sounds like some of his strongest stuff may be just around the corner. (Allen Halas)
Valerie Lighthart – Pt. III: The Banshee
Mystical folk pop artist Valerie Lighthart concludes her By Moonlight trilogy with The Banshee, out now. It’s three songs where Lighthart enters sorcerous electronica territory, even incorporating an 808’s beat juxtaposed with playful wonder in “Walkin’ Slowly.” The EP is one about reclamation, power, and conquering; Lighthart embodies a dominating character who haunts her enemies and cleanses her narrative of any invasive influence. Over the years, Valerie Lighthart has become one of the most inventive and versatile pop creatives in Milwaukee, bridging powerful fantasies with imaginative execution as she bridges vintage aesthetics with modern production. Visuals for “Monster” will be out next. (Ben Slowey)
Concert Announcements
May 20 – Fitzpatrick | Rosenau | Wincek, Marielle Allschwang at Cactus Club
May 27 – Faux Fiction, Fuzzysurf, The Keystones at X-Ray Arcade
May 29 – NLE Choppa, Lil Eazzyy, Scorey, Gino2X, Baby Hot, 4TM Drako at The Rave
June 5- Alok at Turner Hall Ballroom
July 7 – Ashe at Turner Hall Ballroom
July 8 – Gold Steps, Calling All Captains, Goalkeeper, Honey Creek at X-Ray Arcade
July 24 – Camp Cope at X-Ray Arcade
August 11 – Stephen Day at the Back Room at Colectivo
September 28 – Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors at Turner Hall Ballroom
October 26 – Straight No Chaser at the Riverside Theater | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220504 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/community-news/daily-wisconsin-covid-19-update-2-360-new-cases-no-deaths/ | Summary:
- 2,360 new cases
- No new deaths recorded, 9 total deaths added to state system
- 12,902 total deaths;
- 265 hospitalized patients, 42 in ICU
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
On Wednesday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported an additional 2,360 new COVID-19 cases. The state has averaged 1,389 new cases per day in the last week.
On this day last year, there were 646 new cases, and a 7-day average of 623 cases per day. In 2020, 310 cases were recorded, with a 7-day average of 318 cases per day.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
There were no new deaths, and nine total deaths recorded to the Department of Health Services system, putting the total Wisconsin death toll at 12,902. A lag in death reporting statewide has affected these numbers.
In Milwaukee County, there were 500 new confirmed cases reported and have been 273,830 total cases in the county since the pandemic began. The 7-day average in the county is 292 cases per day. One of the deaths added to the state system were attributed to Milwaukee County, putting the county death toll at 2,288 since the beginning of the pandemic.
If you are looking for COVID-19 testing or vaccination, consult the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220504 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/sports/bucks/bucks-unlucky-in-game-two-vs-celtics/ | Photo via Twitter / Bucks
Bucks Vs. Celtics Game 2 2022
The Milwaukee Bucks are headed home from Boston with three days before their next game in the Eastern Conference semifinals. That is a lot of time to let a bad loss marinate, and Tuesday night’s outing was certainly a bad loss.
Things started bad for Milwaukee, with an 18-3 run from the Celtics to open the game. It wouldn’t get much better from there. It felt like there was a lid over the rim on the Bucks’ half of the floor, with each shot rimming out, likely falling into a Boston player’s hands for the rebound. Once again, the Celtics jammed up players in the paint, making Tuesday an especially long night for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Rather than allowing Milwaukee to move the ball to the open man, though, Boston was able to collapse on several Bucks players with ease, creating defensive traps and forcing nine turnovers in the first half alone.
On the other end of the floor, the Celtics simply could not miss a shot. By halftime, Boston had three players with multiple three pointers and a perfect percentage beyond the arc. Grant Williams, Payton Pritchard, and Jaylen Brown all went without a three-point miss before the break, with Brown racking up five threes in an unreal showing. The Bucks, however, made just two three pointers in the entirety of the first half, thanks to Pat Connaughton and Jrue Holiday. Milwaukee went 15-35 from the field in the first two quarters, and it all added up to a 25-point lead for Boston by halftime.
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With the game out of reach, any semblance of a comeback would be marred by Bucks errors in the second half. Jrue Holiday would juke nearly the entire Celtics defense only to get blocked at the rim. A Jason Tatum technical foul resulted in Grayson Allen missing the technical free throw. Whenever the window would slightly open for Milwaukee, Boston found a way to close it back up. Both teams scored at a steady clip in the second half, but it was never enough for Milwaukee to close the gap to even single digits. A 109-86 final score doesn’t look as bad on paper as it felt on Tuesday night.
With the best-of-seven series tied at one game each, there’s plenty to still be optimistic about for the Bucks. Taking one game on the road is important, especially when neither Boston or Milwaukee had lost to one another on their home court all regular season. The series also returns to Fiserv Forum on Saturday afternoon for two games, and ideally, the Bucks can be up 3-1 before returning to TD Garden for game five. It will very much hinge on game three, however, which can’t come soon enough for Milwaukee.
Fiserv Forum will host game three of the Bucks-Celtics series on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m., with national coverage on ABC. Tuesday night’s watch party was limited due to inclement weather, but Deer District is ready to welcome thousands of fans this weekend, with warmer temperatures and sunny skies in the forecast. You can’t have a “Bucks In 6” scenario without losing a couple of games, but hopefully Tuesday’s outing is the last loss of this series. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220504 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/this-modern-world/this-modern-world-week-of-may-5-2022/ | Skip to main content
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This Modern World: Week of May 5, 2022
This Modern World: Week of May 5, 2022
May 05, 2022
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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Poet Jennifer Willoughby writes, "I am so busy. I am practicing my new hobby of watching me become someone else. There is so much violence in reconstruction. Every minute is grisly, but I have to participate. I am building what I cannot break." I wouldn't describe your own reconstruction process during recent months as "violent" or "grisly," Aries, but it has been strenuous and demanding. The good news is that you have mostly completed the most demanding work. Soon the process will become more fun. Congratulations on creating an unbreakable new version of yourself!
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z tells us, "Don't ever go with the flow. Instead, be the flow." Here's what I think he means: If we go with the flow, we adjust and accommodate ourselves to a force that is not necessarily aligned with our personal inclinations and needs. To go with the flow implies we are surrendering our autonomy. To claim our full sovereignty, on the other hand, we are wise to be the flow. We should create our own flow, which is just right for our unique inclinations and needs. I think this is the right approach for you right now, Taurus. Be the flow.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The Italian language used to be a dialect spoken in Tuscany. That area comprises less than eight percent of the country's territory. How did such a dramatic evolution happen? Why did a local dialect supersede other dialects like Piedmontese, Neapolitan, Sicilian, and others? In part, it was because three potent 14th-century writers wrote in the Tuscan dialect: Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarch, and Giovanni Boccaccio. Another reason: Because Tuscany is centrally located in Italy, its dialect was less influenced by languages in France and other nearby countries. I offer this as a metaphor for you in the coming months. One of your personal talents, affiliations, or inclinations could become more influential and widespread—and have more authority in your life.
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CANCER (June 21-July 22): "Always strive to be more interested than interesting," said actor and activist Jane Fonda. That may not be easy for you to accomplish in the near future, dear Cancerian. Your curiosity will be at peak levels, but you may also be extra compelling and captivating. So I'll amend Fonda's advice: Give yourself permission to be both as interested and as interesting as you can imagine. Entertain the world with your lively personality as you go in quest of new information, fresh perceptions, and unprecedented experiences.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): "When in doubt, act like God," proclaimed Leo singer-songwriter Madonna. I wouldn't usually endorse that advice. But I'll make an exception for you Leos during the next three weeks. Due to a divine configuration of astrological omens, you are authorized to ascend to new heights of sovereignty and self-possession—even to the point of doing a vivid God impersonation. For best results, don't choose an angry, jealous, tyrannical deity to be your role model. Pattern yourself after a sweeter, funnier, more intimate type of celestial being.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): My Virgo friend Amanda told me she felt tight and overwrought. She was overthinking and on the verge of a meltdown. With a rueful sigh, she added, "I adore anything that helps me decompress, unwind, simmer down, stop worrying, lighten up, compose myself, and mellow out." So I invited her to take deep breaths, close her eyes, and visualize herself immersed in blue-green light. Then I asked her to name influences she loved: people, animals, natural places, music, books, films, art, and physical movements that made her feel happy to be alive. She came up with eight different sources of bliss, and together we meditated on them. Half an hour later, she was as relaxed as she had been in months. I recommend you try a comparable exercise every day for the next 14 days. Be proactive about cultivating tranquil delight.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Author Anne Lamott is renowned for her tender approach to expressing her struggles with addiction, depression, and other tribulations. One of her supreme tests was being a single mother who raised her son Sam. In this effort, she was her usual plucky self. Anytime she hosted playdates with Sam's young friends at her home, she called on the help of crayons and paint and pens and clay and scissors. "When we did art with the kids, the demons would lie down," she testified. I recommend a comparable strategy for you in the coming days, Libra. You will have extra power as you tame, calm, or transform your demons. Making art could be effective, as well as any task that spurs your creativity and imagination.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): "My heart has developed a kind of amnesia, where it remembers everything but itself," writes Scorpio poet Sabrina Benaim. If you suffer a condition that resembles hers, it's about to change. According to my astrological analysis, your heart will soon not only remember everything; it will also remember itself. What a blissful homecoming that will be—although it may also be unruly and confounding, at least in the beginning. But after the initial surprise calms down, you will celebrate a dramatic enhancement of emotionally rich self-knowledge. You will feel united with the source of your longing to love and be loved.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): "Just because things hadn't gone the way I had planned didn't necessarily mean they had gone wrong," writes Sagittarian author Ann Patchett. Her thought may be helpful for you to meditate on. My guess is that you will ultimately be glad that things didn't go the way you planned. God or your Higher Self or the Mysterious Forces of Destiny will conspire to lead you away from limited expectations or not-big-enough visions so as to offer you bigger and better blessings.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Novelist Jane Austen (1775–1817) confessed she was a "wild beast." Really? The author who wrote masterfully about the complex social lives of wealthy British people? Here's my theory: The wild beast in her made her original, unsentimental, humorous, and brilliant in creating her stories. How is your own inner wild beast, Capricorn? According to my reading of the astrological omens, now is an excellent time to give it fun, rich assignments. What parts of your life would benefit from tapping into raw, primal energy?
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian poet Jack Gilbert wrote, "I lie in the dark wondering if this quiet in me now is a beginning or an end." I don't know how Gilbert solved his dilemma. But I suspect you will soon be inclined to pose a similar question. In your case, the answer will be that the quiet in you is a beginning. Ah! But in the early going, it may not resemble a beginning. You might be puzzled by its fuzzy, meandering quality. But sooner or later, the quiet in you will become fertile and inspirational. You will ride it to the next chapter of your life story.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The genre of poetry known as haiku often relies on unexpected juxtapositions. Critic R. H. Blyth observed, "In haiku, the two entirely different things that are joined in sameness are poetry and sensation, spirit and matter." I suspect your life in the coming weeks will have metaphorical resemblances to haikus. You will be skilled at blending elements that aren't often combined, or that should be blended but haven't been. For inspiration, read these haikus by Raymond Roseliep. 1. in the stream / stones making half / the music. 2. horizon / wild swan drifting through / the woman's body. 3. birthcry! / the stars / are all in place. 4. bathwater / down the drain / some of me. 5. grass / holding the shape / of our night. 6. campfire extinguished, / the woman washing dishes / in a pan of stars. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220505 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/puzzles/news-of-the-weird/news-of-the-weird-week-of-may-5-2022/ | The Passing Parade
On April 25, the Oklahoma Election Board ruled that state Rep. Sean Roberts, who is running for labor commissioner, cannot be listed on the ballot as "The Patriot," as he had hoped to be, KFOR-TV reported. "I'm not surprised they ruled I had to change my name," Roberts said. "Back in my area, in the grassroots, I'm generally known as The Patriot." He claimed between 200 and 600 people know him by that name. Roberts' opponent and current labor commissioner Leslie Osborn said Roberts has appeared on seven previous ballots as Kevin Sean Roberts or Sean Roberts, and that he is not generally known as The Patriot. Roberts is considering appealing the decision.
Crash Collector
Everyone needs a hobby. Christina Warren is a busy software developer, but in her free time, she collects the swag of epic corporate failure: from Enron to Fyre Festival to her latest acquisition, a PopSocket branded with the CNN+ logo. NPR reported that Warren isn't interested in milquetoast meltdowns. She wants stuff from the companies that made a big splash and then sank to the bottom of the barrel. "I'm looking at the ones that were flying high, too close to the sun," she said, which "makes it funnier to be out someplace wearing a shirt from one of those things." But she doesn't want to spend more than $75 on any one item. She avoids counterfeit merchandise, and said her "white whale, the thing I haven't been able to obtain yet, is something officially from Theranos. I would even take a pen, you know, like a ballpoint pen."
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Squirrel!
A 78-year-old man in Slidell, Louisiana, was unable to get a good grip on a squirrel that was attacking him on April 26, possibly because the squirrel was "eating his hand," according to Slidell police. KATC-TV News reported that the man was trying to choke the squirrel, who inflicted "significant injuries" on the victim. (He is expected to make a full recovery.) Police said the man was walking around outside when the varmint came at him from the direction of the roof without any provocation. In a prescient pre-scold, police said while the story might sound funny, the incident was serious. So stop laughing.
All in the Family
April 18 was a tough day for Franklin County (Florida) Sheriff A.J. Smith, the Miami Herald reported. His deputies conducted a "controlled buy" that day involving Smith's 38-year-old daughter, Kristen Kent, who was charged with trafficking methamphetamine. The sheriff, whose office features a sign saying "We don't meth around," admitted that this case "hit him in the face." When his deputies arrested a different woman for trafficking, she told them she had gotten the drugs from Kent. "My daughter?" he asked. "Yes, sir," she answered. He called it "gut-wrenching." Still, he said Kent would receive the same treatment he recommends for others who are caught up in meth's effects. "Methamphetamine does not discriminate and neither do we," he said.
The King of PTO
In January 1938, Walter Orthmann started work in the shipping department at Industrias Renaux S.A., a textile company in Brusque, Brazil, at the age of 15. Eighty-four years later, he still works there, now as a sales manager, Oddity Central reported. Orthmann turned 100 years old on April 19, but he has no plans to retire: "I like working here at the company," he said. He noted that everything is easier now, with mobile phones and internet connections, but he no longer travels like he used to. "You have to like to work. You can't just do any job to say that you are working," Orthmann advised.
Bright Idea
Deborah Hodge, 49, of the Sidcup area of London, has been forced to rehome three pets because previous landlords wouldn't allow them, but she couldn't bear the thought of being separated from her current cat, India, Metro News reported. So Hodge came up with a plan: She would marry India, making it more difficult for a landlord to separate them. India wore gold lame and Hodge donned a tuxedo for the big event, where a friend presided over the wedding vows in a London park. "We cannot be separated under any circumstances, as she is as important to me as the children," Hodge said. "I refuse to be parted with her."
Fore!
Erik and Athina Tenczar bought their home abutting the Indian Pond Country Club golf course in Kingston, Massachusetts, for the beautiful views. However, they ended up suing the club over the 600+ golf balls that have left dents and shattered windows in their home over five years, NBC News reported. The couple said they've long since stopped repairing shattered windows, instead covering them with plastic. "When it hits, it sounds like a gunshot," Athina said. "We're always on edge," Erik added. A Plymouth County Superior Court jury sympathized and awarded them $4.93 million. The club is now launching an appeal and has worked with the course's architect to find solutions for the errant projectiles.
Oops
Darbi Boddy, a Lakota School Board member in Butler County, Ohio, was asked to resign on April 27 after she apparently mistakenly directed visitors on her "Boddy for Lakota" Facebook page to a pornographic website, WLWT-TV reported. On April 26, she created a post about topics being taught in classrooms and included a link, but she spelled it wrong. Other school board members recognized that it was a mistake but said she was negligent; board president Lynda O'Connor called the error "absolutely unacceptable." In response, Boddy said, "This is a ruse, a political ruse. I did nothing wrong," and called the meeting a circus designed to shut down conservatives. Before the website incident, Boddy had been the subject of a petition, signed by 1,500 people, seeking her censure for "continued disrespect and aggression toward Superintendent Matt Miller." She said she will never resign.
Crime Report
With the help of a fine feathered friend, investigators in Buncombe County, North Carolina, are finally wrapping a cold (duck) case from 2020, WLOS-TV reported. Nellie Sullivan, a woman in her 90s, was determined to be missing in 2020, but her body was never located. Nevertheless, her granddaughter, Angela Wamsley, 46, and Wamsley's boyfriend, Mark Barnes, 50, were arrested in December 2020 on multiple charges, including concealing a death. On April 14, a couple out walking their pet duck discovered a container after the duck wandered under a trailer where Wamsley and Barnes once lived. Sullivan's remains were inside. "If I could give that duck a medal, I would," said Sgt. Mark Walker. He said Wamsley and Barnes continued to collect Sullivan's Social Security and retirement benefits and fill her prescriptions after her demise.
Awesome!
You might have heard that Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her 70th year as monarch across the pond. Along with snapping up collector teacups and T-shirts, loyal Britons can slather their excitement for the platinum jubilee onto their sandwiches, with two renamed condiments from Heinz: HM Sauce (ordinarily known as HP Sauce) and Salad Queen (Salad Cream). Sky News suggested trying them on (Bucking)ham sandwiches or coronation chicken. "Releasing limited-edition bottles in time for the Jubilee felt like the perfect fit," gushed Heinz brand manager Anke von Hanstein. Gotta love the Brits.
Send your weird news items with subject line WEIRD NEWS to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com.
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The online version of our weekly Puzzles page is sponsored by WaterStreet Creative. With more than 100 years of collective experience in successfully building brands through advertising, design, digital marketing and public relations, the WaterStreet Creative team loves finding creative ways to meet the challenges that are keeping our clients up at night. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220505 |
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https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/books/benjamin-franklins-last-bet-the-favorite-founders-divisive/ | Benjamin Franklin added “self-evident” to the “We hold these truths” line in the Declaration of Independence. He also served as the first U.S. diplomat, invented the lightning rod and bifocals, and urged compromise at the Constitutional Convention—when he wasn’t coining phrases (“A penny saved is a penny …”) that have endured over the centuries. Less remembered are the pair of endowments he established in Boston and Philadelphia, lending money at low interest to help “tradesmen,” hands-on skilled laborers, to establish careers.
With Benjamin Franklin’s Last Bet, University of Pittsburgh English professor Michael Meyer explores that groundbreaking act of philanthropy as well as the ways it was used or misused over time. Unlike the noisy venture philanthropists of today, with their showy demands and naming rights, Franklin’s bequest was intended to quietly foster the growth of a skilled labor force and support trade schools—not unlike the mission of MATC.
As Meyer notes in his engaging account, Franklin would be disappointed by the scarcity of young people nowadays who are willing to roll up their sleeves and learn how to snake a drain or repair a rattling air conditioner. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220505 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/books/hannibal-romes-greatest-enemy-pegasus-books-by-philip-freem/ | After more than 2,200 years, the story of Hannibal has lost none of its fascination. The North African nobleman led an army, including war elephants, across the Alps to strike at Rome from behind. Despite being cut-off from reinforcements and facing an enormous army on their own soil—not to mention political backstabbing in his home city of Carthage—Hannibal nearly won.
Philip Freeman adds nothing new but retells the story for a new generation in a pleasing prose style. Hannibal is still studied in military schools for his daring strategy and masterful tactics. He was bold but not impulsive, understood the psychology of his opponents and was a leader who inspired his men by sharing their hardships as well as through his oratory. He recruited spies and allies, promising liberation for the subject peoples of the Italian peninsula.
“One of the greatest joys in studying the past is to imagine what would have happened if events had turned out differently,” Freeman writes. If Hannibal had won, the Latin language would have died, meaning no French or Spanish and a different evolution for the English language. The Greek kingdoms under Alexander the Great’s successors would have continued and Carthage might have become a global maritime power, sending ships around the African coast to India. Freeman imagines that in time, they may even have reached the New World. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220505 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/visual-art/watercolor-artist-is-a-bright-light-in-milwaukee/ | Julia Taylor "Approaching the Lion Bridge"
Julia Taylor "Approaching the Lion Bridge"
Artist Julia Taylor paints from the heart. Her works cover Milwaukee landscapes, people, and natureHer interest in art started and blossomed as a child, where she did illustrations for spending money. She has had an interesting career in art, often traveling and painting her surroundings live, from the scenes, rather than from photographs.
Taylor is a Milwaukee resident, painting people and architecture in the city. She has created a large following with her work.
How long have you been painting? How did you get started?
Growing up in a small farming community in Indiana, I learned to draw early in life. I made my spending money by sketching portraits at county fairs and illustrations in weekly papers.
Graduating with an arts minor in the middle of an economic crisis, I left my art behind for many years. I always doodled and took a few art classes now and then. Photography became a real passion. Seven years ago, an afternoon art class while on vacation opened an affinity for watercolor. I’m self-taught through many YouTube videos. I recently signed up for a year-long mentoring class in landscape watercolor which has been incredibly helpful.
Your subject matter varies a lot. Do you have a favorite subject?
I enjoy landscapes and figurative art the most. The urban scenes of Milwaukee, Chicago and New York have a strong energy I try to capture in my work. I enjoy painting scenes from my travels—from summer in Sweden to plazas in Old Havana. I started out painting animals and birds and have some reputation for creating interesting rabbits and roosters. The rooster thing goes back to my childhood years when roosters could be fierce with definite personalities but that is another story. I capture the life around me in buildings, street corners, rivers, lakes, and people.
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You have a following for your art. How do you build an audience?
Social media has been a great public facing way to find people who like my art. Shows like the North Point Lighthouse have also built a great following. Lastly, I stay in touch with a regular email to 300 people who signed up or have purchased art.
Do you travel while painting? I paint while traveling! I always enjoy a different location and trying to capture some of the spirit of the people and the place. Watercolor is a compact art form so it’s easy to bring my supplies along and paint quickly with work I can finish up in the studio or the hotel room.
Milwaukee is dear to your heart. What can you say about Milwaukee’s art scene?
Milwaukee has a very deep long-term art scene. I’m part of two artists’ groups that have contributed significantly to my growth. Whenever I’ve needed advice, other artists take the time to help. David Barnett and Thea Kovac have been important mentors and supporters for me. Milwaukee artists are gifted and generous. MARN is a great artist membership organization that has specific programming for local artists. Imagine MKE provides institutional support for advocacy for the arts and artists.
If you have one piece of advice for beginning painters, what would that be?
Always paint and learn. There are many great free resources including the library and YouTube but painting regularly is the best way to learn. And paint from life when possible, rather than photographs. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220505 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/food/eat-drink/chef-tonya-garrido-leads-seniors-on-an-epicurean-globetrot/ | Photo: Lutheran Home & Harwood Place - thelutheranhome.org/
Lutheran Home and Harwood Place dining room
Lutheran Home & Harwood Place
When the pandemic brought most people’s travel plans to a halt, Harwood Place Retirement Community’s staff got creative. Their Destinations program still allows residents to learn and explore by “visiting” countries such as Portugal, Australia, Japan, China and Belgium through the food and drink of those nations. Head Chef Tonya Garrido is in charge of crafting the international menus.
“Our residents are well traveled and well educated, and they love to go experience things,” Garrido says. “COVID kept us here and we were no longer able to get out and get the experiences like we had before. Many residents quickly tired of being confined and needed stimulation, excitement and fun. So we created this program that lets us travel while still at home.”
The Destinations program, which launched in early summer 2020, is the brainchild of Harwood’s Life Enrichment Director, Amy Bielawski. She chooses a city and country and develops facts and programming around the country, including a movie or a guest speaker. She creates printouts about the geography, customs and culture of each country. Garrido then plans the menu.
Once per month, residents have “traveled” to Japan, Australia, France, Ireland, Belgium, New Zealand and Germany. In May, they’ll head to Mexico. Countries are often chosen by a corresponding holiday or event; Ireland was the featured country in March to tie in with St. Patrick’s Day.
“For a whole day, we visit the country,” Garrido says. “I love a theme. We went to Japan during the Summer Olympics (held in Toyoko July 23 through Aug. 8, 2021). We had a red, white and blue burger for the American team, and a mid-day pub with a sushi demonstration.”
The “A Night in Toyoko” dinner included sukiyaki beef, tempura shrimp appetizers and Japanese cheesecake, which Garrido says was challenging because it’s much lighter and airy than American versions of cheesecake. “You have to whip egg whites and fold them in.”
Destination celebrations include music and decorations. Residents and staff are encouraged to dress up.
The Australian menu featured braised kangaroo. A trip to Belgium allowed residents to enjoy Belgium waffles and try braised rabbit with prunes, and braised endive with gruyere cheese. A French menu featured crepes and beef bourguignon (a French beef stew braised in red wine, along with beef stock, carrots, onions and garlic).
“We try to get things that people recognize, but also things that people might not be familiar with,” Garrido says. “It was a challenge getting products, especially during COVID, but we have to just go with the flow and tweak the dishes.”
Garrido starts by researching each featured country and its geography, along with what’s farmed and fished, and the ingredients local people eat. She finds that the globe is truly a melting pot; cuisines in many countries are influenced by another country.
Elevating Senior Dining Options
Garrido developed a passion for culinary arts while working at a family-owned Greek restaurant. “I started as a waitress and loved working in restaurants. But in order to make money, you have to be very knowledgeable of the menu. I had to pick apart every dish so I could sell it,” she recalls.
She graduated from Milwaukee Area Technical College’s culinary arts program in 2002. She’s been at Harwood Place Retirement Community for the past decade and has seen the food program evolve under chef Justin Johnson, along with several chefs over the years that put their own creative touches on the menu.
“I started here as a line cook and the food program was very small and basic, with a lot of old school recipes,” she says. “There were lots of frozen vegetables and simplified options. Not everything was fresh.” Johnson added more variety and brought in fresh, local and sustainably produced foods.
The world is opening up again, but Garrido says residents have enjoyed Destinations and it will stay. “We have an ever increasing population. People move in and out, so we get an influx of new people. Even if we visit the same country twice, we can do it a little different. Food is always changing.” | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220505 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/food/lets-eat/tenutas-comfortingly-consistent-italian-fare/ | Photo: Tenuta's - Facebook
Tenuta’s Italian Restaurant
Tenuta’s Italian Restaurant
I’m someone who loves to dine alone and have learned what kind of restaurants are best for that. Tenuta’s Italian Restaurant (at 2995 S. Chase Ave.) is one of them. I’ve been here many times now and every time I meet someone even friendlier than the last. This night I was not alone, but quickly made friends at the bar while I was waiting for my cousin for a late Friday night dinner.
My cousin is half Italian (not on my side), so she knows good Italian when she has it and she’s a Tenuta’s fan. However, she’s vegetarian which is quite contradictory to most Italian cuisine but not vegan so we had more options than you’d think.
We’ve both been to Tenuta’s before and had dinner there together so we’re at a point where we know what we like. We usually start with a caprese salad or a bruschetta depending on the season. Tonight’s caprese was great despite being a little early for the good tomatoes. Maybe they’ve got a secret stash of heirloom tomatoes somewhere, I don’t know, but Tenuta’s are killer.
I usually like to try new things and don’t opt for the basic menu items, but I cannot refuse the chicken Parmesan from Tenuta’s. It’s the perfect amount of sweet and never too salty. I went for the Caesar salad with my dinner and my cousin went for the mista salad with hers—both good with the house balsamic dressing. She got the fungi ravioli which was a great compliment in flavors and ingredients to my chicken parm.
Around us at the bar, couples on date nights joined us in conversation while drinking some wine, all happy to be out on a Friday night in Bay View. Maybe it was the wine buzz but people were chatty and kind, which was very welcome after years of social distancing and isolation. The bartender Kai was great and led us in the right direction to Clementine’s down the street for a nightcap.
Tenuta’s is definitely on most restaurant radars for Milwaukee diners, but to me it’s a place I want to become a neighborhood regular with my usual order. Maybe someday I’ll explore the menu a bit more, but for now I’m happy with any time I have at Tenuta’s. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220505 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/album-reviews/live-from-vienna-1967-by-dave-brubeck-trio-brubeck-editions/ | Do they sound a bit angry? Dave Brubeck’s combo took the stage in Vienna minus their saxophonist, Paul Desmond, a crucial element of their sound. Desmond had wandered off after Brubeck’s gig in Hamburg and missed the flight out. Angry? Well, Brubeck hits the keys hard on the opening number, “St. Louis Blues,” drummer Joe Morello slapped those sticks and bassist Eugene Wright even snuck a quote from “I’m Going to Wash that Man Right Out of My Hair” into his solo.
At their 1967 concert, finally released on CD, the temporarily diminished Brubeck Quartet expanded musically on all sides, filling the space left vacant by the missing Desmond. The usually cool combo was—if not angry, then let’s say assertive during a set that included “Swanee River” and “Take the A Train.” | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220505 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/album-reviews/new-thang-by-gerome-d/ | Milwaukee’s own self-proclaimed Mississippi Blues Boy, Gerome Durham, drops most of his last name in order to make a hard turn into Southern soul. The newly rechristened Gerome D. has fun with the electronically enhanced recasting of 1960s-‘70s R&B that has become so closely associated with blues by many middle-aged African-American listeners.
On the two songs comprising New Thang (neither of which shares the project’s title), Mr. D. adds telephone rings, stereo effects and vocal editing to portray himself as a randy, but not predatory, lover man. Both tracks provide solid enough fodder for dance floors, perhaps situated between a current Wendell B. or Bigg Robb track and an oldie from Johnnie Taylor’s or Joe Simon’s catalog.
The production’s starring element, however, can’t help but be Durham’s voice. His reedy, friendly tenor radiates the kind of casual warmth too long absent from a full-length album exploring his stylistic breadth, as had his last couple of releases. Until he is up to that task, it’s good to have one of the city’s most distinctive singers recording again. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220505 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/music/this-week/this-week-in-milwaukee-may-5-11-2022/ | Mid Coast Vol. 14 takes over The Cooperage, Chicago Boys author visit at Lion’s Tooth, Bad Boy aka “The Band that Milwaukee Made Famous” rocks Shank Hall, Frederick Law Olmsted’s legacy of bringing nature into the city at MSOE’s Diercks Hall and more—This Week in Milwaukee!
Thursday, May 5
Mid Coast Vol. 14 @ The Cooperage, 6:30 p.m.
The Mid Coast collective is a group of creatives united to create an inclusive music scene in Milwaukee. That includes monthly artist showcases at The Cooperage, with a variety of sounds from up-and-coming acts, many of which are getting to play the Walker’s Point venue for the first time. Thursday’s lineup includes performances from Duzt, Jacob Slade, Docx and 9 AM. Proceeds from this month’s showcase benefit The Butterfly Collective, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of Black and Brown trans and gender-neutral people in Milwaukee.
The Silos @ Anodyne, 8 p.m.
Photo: waltersalashumara.com
Walter Salas-Humara
Walter Salas-Humara
With 24 albums to his name, most under The Silos banner, songwriter Walter Salas-Humara has found ways to blur art and life. “One’s environment and one’s experiences always informs one’s songwriting. This happens naturally whether you like it or not. Songs are life, and my life has been just one very long song,” he says. Since the Silo’ 1985, debut his songs have combined the imagination of a poet with the sturdiness of a carpenter. If “Susan Across the Ocean” stops time in its tracks, then “Here We Go” gets the party started. In conversation he is among the most thoughtful and engaging travelers you will come across.
The Cuban American whose parents fled Castro’s Havana with him still in the womb has played everywhere from “Late Night with David Letterman” to backyard picnics in Bay View. With rotating cast of top-shelf Silos this show might lean toward rock and roll, but Salas-Humara’s inherent dynamics allow concerts to travel uncharted routes. Also an accomplished painter, with any luck he will have original works for on display.
Friday, May 6
Chicago Boys: Working Class Readings about Chicago as Place and Character With Martin Billheimer and Theodore Van Alst @ Lion’s Tooth, 6:30 p.m.
Writers Martin Billheimer (author of Mother Chicago) and Theodore Van Alst (author of Sacred Smokes and Sacred City) talk about the presence and history of Chicago in their books at Bay View’s Lion’s Tooth bookshop.
Growing up Native American in a gang in Chicago sets the stage for Van Alst’s Sacred Smokes. The follow up Sacred City, explores the options available to an “intelligent smart-assed young man who was born poor and grew up in a gang.” Billheimer digs into the city’s complicated history and takes a deep dive into a past that often has been written out of chamber of commerce messaging.
Bad Boy w/Kharma Shotgun @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m.
“Church Festival” and “Rock That Fire” by Bad Boy
“The Band that Milwaukee Made Famous” remains a vital part of Wisconsin's music scene. Bad Boy, the decades-old hard rocking group fronted by Steve Grimm and Xeno (Cheap Trick’s original singer, shows no signs of slowing down, having released a new album No Regrets in the height of the pandemic.
Saturday, May 7
“Frederick Law Olmsted: Bringing Nature into the City and Creating Breathing Space for Democracy” @ MSOE Diercks Hall (1025 N. Milwaukee St.), 6 p.m.
Photo by Virginia Small
Lake Park steps
Lake Park
Join historian and filmmaker Laurence Cotton (originator of and consulting producer to the PBS special “Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America”) as he does a deep dive into the remarkable life and career of the Renaissance-man Olmsted: writer, philosopher, social reformer, advocate for the preservation of natural scenery, and creator of some of the most beautiful public and private parks and gardens in all of North America.
In his presentation, Cotton will talk about the influences of design traditions, aesthetics and philosophies that influenced Olmsted’s thought—including English garden design, the Hudson River School and Transcendentalism. The Shepherd Express recently wrote about Olmsted’s legacy here.
Benefit for Planned Parenthood w/Holly and The Nice Lions and Fake Blind Date @ Linneman’s, 8 p.m.
Photo by George Reed / Esoteric Films
Holly and The Nice Lions
Holly and The Nice Lions
This concert was booked well before the leak of the draft opinion by the Supreme Court regarding Roe v. Wade. So, it is safe to say there was plenty of concern for legislation and this rock-for-a-cause is lending a shoulder with a double-bill of music featuring the genre-crossing Fake Blind Date and the hook-drenched rage of Holly and The Nice Lions.
Milwaukee musician and activist Molli Putz said “Safe, legal abortion is at serious risk in Wisconsin. Abortion could become illegal here and in 25 other states as soon as June or July, as the Supreme Court will be ruling on a case at that time which could be used to overturn Roe v. Wade. I want to get out there and play this benefit to raise awareness in my community, because I’ve heard a lot of people say, ‘No, that can’t be true.’ Unfortunately, the risk is very real.” Read more about the show here.
Non Pop! Featuring DJ KidCutUp @ Mad Planet, 9 p.m.
Photo: KidCutUp - kidcutup.com
KidCutUp
KidCutUp
Milwaukee ex-pat DJ KidCutUp is back in town temporarily and will be a special guest of the monthly Non Pop! collective for their residency at Mad Planet. Now currently the touring DJ for pop superstar P!nk, KidCutUp was previously a regular DJ on the Milwaukee scene, as well as a regular host of The Mad Kids alongside DJ Madhatter on WMSE.
Suzanne Vega @ Turner Hall Ballroom, 8 p.m.
With over four decades of music in tow, Suzanne Vega will grace Milwaukee with a night of music from her 2020 album An Evening of New York Songs and Stories. As a musician indebted to great literature, Vega recently, premiered the film version of her one-woman show, Lover, Beloved. It is an adaptation of her stage performance, based on the work of Southern Gothic writer Carson McCullers. She recently talked to Shepherd Express about her album and the film here.
Monday, May 9
Zach Pietrini @ The Ivy House, 5 p.m.
“Yours” by Zach Pietrini & McKenna Bray
The Ivy House is making the most of their space, utilizing Monday nights for featured performers with their Patio Daze series. This week will feature a performance from acclaimed singer/songwriter Zach Pietrini, who will be joined by a mystery guest.
When the pandemic cancelled a tour, Pietrini collaborated with Memphian McKenna Bray. The duo wrote and recorded the EP “Modern Love,” a project that began with an in-person recording session in Nashville and came to fruition during lockdown, digging in and making lemonade from lemons, as the saying goes. Yard games and food trucks will be part of the evening.
George Thorogood & The Destroyers @ The Northern Lights Theater, 8 p.m.
"Move it On Over" by George Thorogood
Since 1976 George Thorogood & The Destroyers have stayed the course. Straight forward, unvarnished R&B-tinged rock and roll has been the group’s calling card. Work ethic? This is the group that once played a show in every state in 50 days, travelling by Checker Taxi and flying only to Hawaii and Alaska dates.
And as in past years, a portion of proceeds from every date on the Good to Be Bad Tour will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. “Now we're talking about something that's really important,” Thorogood says. “When I was a kid I remember Robert F. Kennedy saying, ‘Some people see things as they are and ask why. I dream things that never were and ask why not?’ That still gives me the chills today. Don’t tell me to slow down or turn down, but if The Destroyers and I can help make a difference in any way, shape or form, we're there.”
Tuesday, May 10
2nd Tuesday Open Jam @ Brass Bell Music Store, 6 p.m.
Looking to jam? Brass Bell Music Store hosts a monthly open jam session on Tuesday night. This family-friendly music experience happens in the store’s recital hall, which is converted into a music lounge for the evening. Free and open to the public every second Tuesday of the month. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220505 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/books/milwaukee-jihad-a-political-thriller-in-our-hometown/ | Image via Matthew Flynn
Milwaukee Jihad
How do you tell the difference between a terrorist, a savior, and a survivor? This is a central question in Matthew Flynn’s new novel, Milwaukee Jihad, which walks a tightrope between fiction and true life, as subversive forces originating in the Middle East tangle with covert figures within the American government. This edgy and sometimes darkly comic clash of cultures is riddled with violence, politics and mathematical science as it twists and turns like a relentless chess match to determine the fate of democracy.
In Milwaukee Jihad, ISIS—supported by collaborators in Saudi Arabia—has unveiled a multi-pronged strategy to attack Washington, D.C. during the State of the Union address. Assassins have been imbedded in U.S. cities in advance of their operation. Their commanding officer, Taqi Maghribi, posing as a lecturer at a Milwaukee community college, is arrested upon his arrival, which sparks an ironic series of media coverage.
Meanwhile, CIA director Wayne Hawkin discovers that Maghribi was one of the men who killed Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul. He assigns his top agent, Audrey Knapp, to safeguard Bernie Weber, a brilliant doctoral student who is working to break ISIS’ code and to eliminate the terrorists by whatever means necessary.
Prominently featured in Milwaukee Jihad are familiar local landmarks, including UWM, Colectivo Coffee, Riverwest, the Marcus Performing Arts Center and the Summerfest grounds as well as restaurants and other businesses.
Milwaukee Jihad’s author, Matthew Flynn, is a prominent Milwaukee lawyer, politician and former U.S. Navy officer. His career in politics and service in the Navy have given him an insight into how our government and our enemies operate. He uses this as an inspiration for his thrillers.
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Milwaukee Jihad is Book One in Matthew Flynn’s Bernie Weber: Math Genius series published by Speaking Volumes. Book Two, China Code, is due to be published this fall.
Matt Flynn is regarded as one of the most prominent lawyers in Wisconsin. His writing and ideas are the best. It is really fun to see his skill at work in such an entertaining novel.
––Hon. Kitty Brennan, Retired Chief Judge, Wisconsin Court of Appeals
Milwaukee Jihad is a lot of fun to read. Flynn's wit and ideas are as entertaining as the plot. As a candidate for governor, former Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, and radio talk show host on 92.7 FM, Matt is well known and respected throughout Wisconsin.
––Louis Fortis, publisher, The Shepherd Express (300,000 weekly circulation),
former faculty, Smith College, former Representative in Wisconsin Legislature.
I really enjoyed reading this novel. I especially like that the main character is a female CIA agent who takes care of business. People will love this book.
––Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, Representative, Wisconsin Legislature
Milwaukee Jihad is a fascinating novel, which combines dark humor and interesting social insights with a lot of action. I strongly recommend it.
––Professor William Holahan, Professor Emeritus, Chairman,
Economics Department, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
'Milwaukee Jihad' is available now wherever books are sold. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220505 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/community-news/daily-wisconsin-covid-19-update-2-058-new-cases-no-deaths/ | Summary:
- 2,058 new cases
- No new deaths recorded, 5 total deaths added to state system
- 12,907 total deaths;
- 254 hospitalized patients, 46 in ICU
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
On Thursday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported an additional 2,058 new COVID-19 cases. The state has averaged 1,456 new cases per day in the last week.
On this day last year, there were 704 new cases, and a 7-day average of 608 cases per day. In 2020, 326 cases were recorded, with a 7-day average of 333 cases per day.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
There were no new deaths, and five total deaths recorded to the Department of Health Services system, putting the total Wisconsin death toll at 12,907. A lag in death reporting statewide has affected these numbers.
In Milwaukee County, there were 432 new confirmed cases reported and have been 274,254 total cases in the county since the pandemic began. The 7-day average in the county is 306 cases per day. One of the deaths added to the state system were attributed to Milwaukee County, putting the county death toll at 2,288 since the beginning of the pandemic.
If you are looking for COVID-19 testing or vaccination, consult the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220505 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/books/may-a-busy-month-for-authors-visiting-milwaukee/ | This is only a sampling of the wide range of first-time to much-celebrated authors who will be in town.
Renaissance Books at Southridge Mall will host an author appearance and book signing 1 p.m. Saturday, May 14 for first-time novelist and former administrative law judge Jeffrey D. Boldt, presenting his book Blue Lake. Blue Lake focuses on a divorced lawyer and low-level state judge who wakes up in the hospital after having been shot. Then intrigue, mystery, environmentalism, and even love, weave throughout to create a story that will keep readers in suspense to the end. The Wisconsin setting for the book will be fun for local readers too.
On May 13 at 6:30 pm, Boswell Books will welcome Shelby Van Pelt, author of Remarkably Bright Creatures, for an in-person conversation with Daniel Goldin. In her new book, Van Pelt explores an unlikely friendship between a widowed woman trying to make ends meet by working the late shift cleaning up at an aquarium, and a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus. As it turns out, Marcellus is a bit of a detective, and he decides to make it his business to solve the mysterious disappearance of the widow’s son some thirty years earlier. Humorous, clever, subtle, and beautifully written, Remarkably Bright Creatures is an excellent read and a fantastic first novel by Van Pelt. To register for this free, in-person event at Boswell Books here.
Fans of A Gentleman in Moscow won’t want to miss out on a chance to see the author, Amor Towles, discussing his latest award-winning work, The Lincoln Highway. Set in 1950s America, The Lincoln Highway tells the tale of young Emmet Watson who was just released from a juvenile work farm where he had just completed a 15-month sentence for involuntary manslaughter. The family farm was foreclosed on when his parents died, so Emmet made a plan to travel to California with his younger brother for a fresh start. Nothing goes as planned and Emmet finds himself on an adventure to New York instead. Towles will be appearing at the Pabst Theater 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 18. For more information or to purchase tickets for this event, click here.
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New York Times bestselling author Emma Straub will appear at the Elm Grove Women’s Club, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 26, in conversation with librarian Noah Weckwerth to discuss her newest book This Time Tomorrow. It’s pretty common to look back on your life and wonder “if you could go back to high school, what would you change?” In her novel, Straub expertly gives new life to this trope. The protagonist, Alice, is turning forty, and is pondering her life choices, including a strained relationship with her father. When she wakes up the next morning, somehow back in 1996, Alice discovers she may be able to use the perspective she’s gained throughout her life to make different choices this time around, especially with her father. Well written, with humor and wisdom, Straub offers a different type of love story, one centered on parent and child instead of romance.
For more information or to purchase tickets for this event, click here. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220506 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/theater/american-players-theatre-set-for-2022-season/ | Photo: American Players Theatre - americanplayers.org
American Players Theatre
American Players Theatre
This year’s full season of performances continues the Spring Green company’s ongoing emphasis on greater diversity both in terms of casting and material.
The 2022 season’s nine productions run in repertory from June 11 through Nov. 20 in both the traditional Hill Theater as well as The Touchstone, APT’s intimate “black box” theater, offering a wide array of classics from a variety of eras. Here is a schedule of productions by month to help you plan your summer:
JUNE
• The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Love and wealth collide in this 18th century comedy of manners, which features the delightful Mrs. Malaprop assuring everyone that the course of true love never runs smoothly. It’s one of the types of shows APT does best. Opens in the Hill Theater June 11.
• Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. In the 19th century, women often suffered under social mores regarding the dispensation of property and money, and so do the characters of this charming romance. But where there’s a will there’s a way, even in the most difficult situations. Opens in the Hill Theater June 17.
• The River Bride by Marisela Trevino Orta. Two sisters struggle with the challenges of love, but their points of view change when their father literally fishes a man out of the Amazon River in this lyrical fable. Opens June 17 in the Touchstone.
• Hamlet by William Shakespeare. The Bard’s greatest drama comes to life under the direction of APT company member James DeVita, who helms this familiar tale of deception, infidelity, treachery, and other family values. Opens June 24 in the Hill Theater.
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• The Brothers Size by Tarell Alvin McCraney. Two brothers—one a hard worker, the other an ex-con—come together in conflict in their Louisiana Bayou home in this expressive tale influenced by West Africa’s Yoruba people and directed by APT company member Gavin Lawrence. Opens June 28 in the Touchstone.
AUGUST
• A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. A classic and much revered story of growing up Black on Chicago’s south side in the 1950s, UW-Madison alumna Hansberry’s tale involves a sudden influx of wealth that changes a family’s lives in ways they don’t expect. Opens Aug. 5 in the Hill Theater.
• Love’s Labour’s Lost by William Shakespeare. One of the Bard’s earliest comedies, directed by APT artistic director Brenda DeVita, explores what happens to three men who swear off women to pursue their studies when they suddenly find a French princess in their midst. Opens Aug. 12 in the Hill Theater.
• The Moors by Jen Silverman. In this whimsical satire and send up of the Bronte sisters’ works, a governess arrives at a remote manor house, only to discover there are no children to govern. Opens at The Touchstone on Aug. 13.
OCTOBER
• Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones. APT company members Nate Burger and Marcus Trushinski handle many roles in this heartbreaking and hilarious tale of two ne’er do wells in a down-on-its-luck Irish town who get the reprieve of a lifetime when a Hollywood production company comes to make a movie in their town. Opens Oct. 27 in the Touchstone.
For more information and tickets to each performance visit americanplayers.org. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220506 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/film/i-hate-hollywood/the-%E2%80%98starmaker%E2%80%99-above-the-credits/ | Hal Wallis splashed his name across the credits of golden age Hollywood. Even casual fans will recognize him as the producer for the most beloved film from that period, Casablanca. In his 1980 memoir Starmaker, Wallis was reticent about his personal life while generously crediting himself as the mastermind behind classics such as The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Casablanca (1942), Now Voyager (1942), a bevy of films noir, a slew of Elvis pictures and such fondly remembered movies from his late career as Five Card Stud (1968) and True Grit (1969).
Bernard F. Dick’s biography Hal Wallis: Producer to the Stars fills in the blanks and sorts out the details. He came from Jewish immigrant parents and grew up poor in Chicago. Largely self-educated, he had great respect for culture but was more enamored of theater than film as a youth. Wallis was a successful oven salesman who learned to make a good pitch for his product line. After his sister Minna became a well-connected Hollywood agent and opened doors for him, his ability to market his movies—and himself—was important to his rise.
Dick sifts fact from self-promotion, studying the archival studio memos for clues about Wallis’ differing roles in shaping the movies he produced. Wallis was instrumental in launching a cycle of gangster pictures by casting Edward G. Robinson in Little Caesar (1931). He ordered director Anatole Litvak to tone down Bette Davis in All This and Heaven Too (1940), resulting in her least mannered performance. He bemoaned sloppy diction and its opposite number, affectation. On many occasions Wallis’ “contributions were minimal, probably consisting of some uncredited contributions to the script.” Pinching pennies, he “wanted perfection, but at bargain prices.”
Wallis wasn’t a typical mogul. He disliked schmoozing and attended as few Hollywood parties as possible. There was no casting couch in his office and his occasional affairs were discrete. He was devoted to his first wife, remarrying only after her death, and yet work was always his first love.
As Wallis summed up his credo, “Many of my films contain messages, but I try to see that the message is delivered entertainingly.” Dick has written an enduring (and entertaining) narrative of a leading figure in Hollywood’s golden age. The new paperback edition of Hal Wallis: Producer to the Stars is published by University Press of Kentucky. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220506 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/lifestyle/home-garden/create/ | Photo by Barry Houlehen
Male monarch on milkweed flower
Male monarch on milkweed flower
Monarch butterflies are in trouble. The increased use of Roundup (glysophate) weedkiller on crops that are modifed to be “Roundup ready” has led to a devastating loss of habitat for monarchs, whose larvae feed exclusively on the once-common milkweed plant. Roundup is not the only cause of habitat loss; other factors include increased herbicide use in other milkweed habitats. Without milkweed to breed on, and with the loss of other flowering “weeds” for the butterflies to feed on, monarch populations have declined drastically—as much as 90 percent in recent decades in the United States, where they normally migrate between the warmer South and the Midwest and North.
What can you do? Create your own monarch habitat. It’s easy to do. Milkweed is a native species that grows readily in Wisconsin. Adult monarchs also need flowering plants to feed on before and after the milkweeds are in bloom. It’s a matter of two different gardening strategies: “breed” and “feed.” They need milkweeds to breed, and flowering plants that produce nectar to feed.
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) produces large seed pods that ripen in late summer and begin to burst open in the fall, releasing floating airborne seeds that can travel great distances on the wind, not unlike a dandelion. It gets its name from the milky juice that seeps from the stems and leaves when they’re broken or cut. They can grow almost anywhere there’s plenty of sun—you can find them growing from cracks in cement in urban settings—and are very hardy. Their large pink flowers are extremely fragrant, and the scent carries on the wind, attracting passing monarchs.
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Plant Them and They’ll Grow
While you certainly can use your gardening skills (if you have them) to plant milkweed—fertilizer, prepared beds, and the like—you don’t need to. Plant them and they will grow. They just need plenty of sun. I started my habitat about 10 years ago. All I did was find a milkweed growing in a ditch, take one of the pods in the fall (fall is the best time to plant, but you can also plant in the spring), and place it under the leaf litter in my east/south garden bed, which was planted with perennial flowers. The following spring/summer, I had milkweeds, then monarchs, and forever after, milkweeds and monarchs. With all the seeds released by a single plant, you will always have more plants each year.
The first monarchs usually appear in late spring, and their wings are often tattered from the long migration from Mexico. They are tired and hungry and will feast on any flowers they can find. This is where the “feed” part of the strategy comes in. Plant a variety of flowering plants whose flowering periods range from spring until fall. This will ensure that no matter when monarchs arrive, or emerge, they will have something to feed on. Native plants are a wonderful choice for this, but really, any nectar-producing flower will do, from common weeds like catnip and common thistle to your showy garden flowers. To make things easier, plant perennials that blanket the ground.
The monarch life cycle goes something like this: the female monarch will plant small white eggs, one at a time, on different parts of the plant, mainly the underside of leaves. In about four days, tiny larvae (caterpillars) emerge, and begin voraciously feeding on the plant. They feed on the leaves, but love the flowers, if they are available. They molt through five instars (stages), getting bigger and more colorful with each transition; their coloration is bright yellow, white and black stripes.
In their final instar, they seek an out of the way place and form a chrysalis (pupa), where they metamorphose for about 10 days. They’re generally very well hidden; I almost never find them in my habitat. When they emerge, they'll rest for a bit, gaining their strength, and then flutter off to the nearest flowering plant.
Four Generations, One Season
Monarchs reproduce in four generations in a single season, so the butterflies you nurture today may well come back later to produce their next brood. The first three generations live for two to six weeks. The final generation takes off and flies to hibernate in Mexico or the southern United States in late summer or early fall—but you might meet them again when they fly back the following spring.
Can you raise monarchs indoors? Well sure, but you’ll have to keep feeding them milkweed leaves. It is a fun and educational experience for kids to watch the little larvae grow, form a chrysalis, and then emerge as a beautiful butterfly. You can get quite elaborate with your monarch enclosure. But otherwise, it’s really much better to leave them be outdoors. The only time I bring them inside is when I find milkweeds growing in the lawn with eggs on them (they’re easy to spot), and I need to mow the lawn. I put them in a jar with plenty of leaves, and after they’ve hatched and grown to a decent size, I release them back outside on a milkweed. They do occasionally crawl out (I don’t bother with a lid); in that case you'll find a newborn butterfly fluttering about the house or clinging to the screen window. They’re easy to gently remove and release outside.
Photo by Barry Houlehen
Monarch caterpillar on milkweed
Monarch caterpillar on milkweed
Where to get seeds
There’s much more to learn about monarchs, like “How do you tell a male from a female?” (The males have a little dot on each wing.) But perhaps the most important question is, “Where do I get seeds?” You might be able to find a plant growing in your own yard or in your neighborhood; the seeds pods last well into the next year. But if not, many garden centers and online seed stores carry them, and there are national and community organizations that offer them:
- The Monarch Trail: Greenfield Park, May 7 plant sale: themonarchtrail.org
- Monarch Watch: monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the-monarchs/milkweed/free-milkweeds
- Minor's Garden Center (plants): plants.minorsgardencenter.com/12100004/Plant/8359/Common_Milkweed
Maintaining your own monarch habitat will help offset the dwindling natural habitat and monarch population, but there are other benefits as well. The experience of having lots of monarchs fluttering around you in your garden is rather nice, and the sweet fragrance of the milkweed blooms will fill your yard and even your house if you have the windows open. But there are some other, perhaps unexpected, benefits as well. You'll find that your habitat will become a tiny ecosystem—milkweeds are native, after all—that attracts many other creatures, most of them native too. Spiders, milkweed beetles, bees and wasps including the threatened honey bee, cicadas, katydids, birds like the goldfinch (which feeds on the milkweed seeds), and other butterflies and moths, like the tussock moth, hummingbird moth, or the swallowtail (which lays its eggs on parsley and dill), will appear in your habitat.
Photo by Barry Houlehen
Honey bees on a milkweed flower
Honey bees on a milkweed flower
Want to learn more? Here are some national and local resources for monarch butterflies:
- Shorewood (Wisconsin) Monarch Project: villageofshorewood.org/668/Shorewood-Monarch-Project
- Wisconsin Monarch Collaborative: wiatri.net/Projects/Monarchs
- Monarch Watch: monarchwatch.org
- National Wildlife Federation: nwf.org/Butterfly-Heroes
- Monarch Joint Venture: monarchjointventure.org
- Monarch Butterfly Garden: monarchbutterflygarden.net
Photo by Barry Houlehen
Female monarch feeding on catnip flower
Female monarch feeding on catnip flower | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220506 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/film/i-hate-hollywood/the-starmaker-above-the-credits/ | Hal Wallis splashed his name across the credits of golden age Hollywood. Even casual fans will recognize him as the producer for the most beloved film from that period, Casablanca. In his 1980 memoir Starmaker, Wallis was reticent about his personal life while generously crediting himself as the mastermind behind classics such as The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Casablanca (1942), Now Voyager (1942), a bevy of films noir, a slew of Elvis pictures and such fondly remembered movies from his late career as Five Card Stud (1968) and True Grit (1969).
Bernard F. Dick’s biography Hal Wallis: Producer to the Stars fills in the blanks and sorts out the details. He came from Jewish immigrant parents and grew up poor in Chicago. Largely self-educated, he had great respect for culture but was more enamored of theater than film as a youth. Wallis was a successful oven salesman who learned to make a good pitch for his product line. After his sister Minna became a well-connected Hollywood agent and opened doors for him, his ability to market his movies—and himself—was important to his rise.
Dick sifts fact from self-promotion, studying the archival studio memos for clues about Wallis’ differing roles in shaping the movies he produced. Wallis was instrumental in launching a cycle of gangster pictures by casting Edward G. Robinson in Little Caesar (1931). He ordered director Anatole Litvak to tone down Bette Davis in All This and Heaven Too (1940), resulting in her least mannered performance. He bemoaned sloppy diction and its opposite number, affectation. On many occasions Wallis’ “contributions were minimal, probably consisting of some uncredited contributions to the script.” Pinching pennies, he “wanted perfection, but at bargain prices.”
Wallis wasn’t a typical mogul. He disliked schmoozing and attended as few Hollywood parties as possible. There was no casting couch in his office and his occasional affairs were discrete. He was devoted to his first wife, remarrying only after her death, and yet work was always his first love.
As Wallis summed up his credo, “Many of my films contain messages, but I try to see that the message is delivered entertainingly.” Dick has written an enduring (and entertaining) narrative of a leading figure in Hollywood’s golden age. The new paperback edition of Hal Wallis: Producer to the Stars is published by University Press of Kentucky. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220507 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/lifestyle/home-garden/create-your-own-monarch-habitat/ | Photo by Barry Houlehen
Male monarch on milkweed flower
Male monarch on milkweed flower
Monarch butterflies are in trouble. The increased use of Roundup (glysophate) weedkiller on crops that are modifed to be “Roundup ready” has led to a devastating loss of habitat for monarchs, whose larvae feed exclusively on the once-common milkweed plant. Roundup is not the only cause of habitat loss; other factors include increased herbicide use in other milkweed habitats. Without milkweed to breed on, and with the loss of other flowering “weeds” for the butterflies to feed on, monarch populations have declined drastically—as much as 90 percent in recent decades in the United States, where they normally migrate between the warmer South and the Midwest and North.
What can you do? Create your own monarch habitat. It’s easy to do. Milkweed is a native species that grows readily in Wisconsin. Adult monarchs also need flowering plants to feed on before and after the milkweeds are in bloom. It’s a matter of two different gardening strategies: “breed” and “feed.” They need milkweeds to breed, and flowering plants that produce nectar to feed.
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) produces large seed pods that ripen in late summer and begin to burst open in the fall, releasing floating airborne seeds that can travel great distances on the wind, not unlike a dandelion. It gets its name from the milky juice that seeps from the stems and leaves when they’re broken or cut. They can grow almost anywhere there’s plenty of sun—you can find them growing from cracks in cement in urban settings—and are very hardy. Their large pink flowers are extremely fragrant, and the scent carries on the wind, attracting passing monarchs.
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Plant Them and They’ll Grow
While you certainly can use your gardening skills (if you have them) to plant milkweed—fertilizer, prepared beds, and the like—you don’t need to. Plant them and they will grow. They just need plenty of sun. I started my habitat about 10 years ago. All I did was find a milkweed growing in a ditch, take one of the pods in the fall (fall is the best time to plant, but you can also plant in the spring), and place it under the leaf litter in my east/south garden bed, which was planted with perennial flowers. The following spring/summer, I had milkweeds, then monarchs, and forever after, milkweeds and monarchs. With all the seeds released by a single plant, you will always have more plants each year.
The first monarchs usually appear in late spring, and their wings are often tattered from the long migration from Mexico. They are tired and hungry and will feast on any flowers they can find. This is where the “feed” part of the strategy comes in. Plant a variety of flowering plants whose flowering periods range from spring until fall. This will ensure that no matter when monarchs arrive, or emerge, they will have something to feed on. Native plants are a wonderful choice for this, but really, any nectar-producing flower will do, from common weeds like catnip and common thistle to your showy garden flowers. To make things easier, plant perennials that blanket the ground.
The monarch life cycle goes something like this: the female monarch will plant small white eggs, one at a time, on different parts of the plant, mainly the underside of leaves. In about four days, tiny larvae (caterpillars) emerge, and begin voraciously feeding on the plant. They feed on the leaves, but love the flowers, if they are available. They molt through five instars (stages), getting bigger and more colorful with each transition; their coloration is bright yellow, white and black stripes.
In their final instar, they seek an out of the way place and form a chrysalis (pupa), where they metamorphose for about 10 days. They’re generally very well hidden; I almost never find them in my habitat. When they emerge, they'll rest for a bit, gaining their strength, and then flutter off to the nearest flowering plant.
Four Generations, One Season
Monarchs reproduce in four generations in a single season, so the butterflies you nurture today may well come back later to produce their next brood. The first three generations live for two to six weeks. The final generation takes off and flies to hibernate in Mexico or the southern United States in late summer or early fall—but you might meet them again when they fly back the following spring.
Can you raise monarchs indoors? Well sure, but you’ll have to keep feeding them milkweed leaves. It is a fun and educational experience for kids to watch the little larvae grow, form a chrysalis, and then emerge as a beautiful butterfly. You can get quite elaborate with your monarch enclosure. But otherwise, it’s really much better to leave them be outdoors. The only time I bring them inside is when I find milkweeds growing in the lawn with eggs on them (they’re easy to spot), and I need to mow the lawn. I put them in a jar with plenty of leaves, and after they’ve hatched and grown to a decent size, I release them back outside on a milkweed. They do occasionally crawl out (I don’t bother with a lid); in that case you'll find a newborn butterfly fluttering about the house or clinging to the screen window. They’re easy to gently remove and release outside.
Photo by Barry Houlehen
Monarch caterpillar on milkweed
Monarch caterpillar on milkweed
Where to get seeds
There’s much more to learn about monarchs, like “How do you tell a male from a female?” (The males have a little dot on each wing.) But perhaps the most important question is, “Where do I get seeds?” You might be able to find a plant growing in your own yard or in your neighborhood; the seeds pods last well into the next year. But if not, many garden centers and online seed stores carry them, and there are national and community organizations that offer them:
- The Monarch Trail: Greenfield Park, May 7 plant sale: themonarchtrail.org
- Monarch Watch: monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the-monarchs/milkweed/free-milkweeds
- Minor's Garden Center (plants): plants.minorsgardencenter.com/12100004/Plant/8359/Common_Milkweed
Maintaining your own monarch habitat will help offset the dwindling natural habitat and monarch population, but there are other benefits as well. The experience of having lots of monarchs fluttering around you in your garden is rather nice, and the sweet fragrance of the milkweed blooms will fill your yard and even your house if you have the windows open. But there are some other, perhaps unexpected, benefits as well. You'll find that your habitat will become a tiny ecosystem—milkweeds are native, after all—that attracts many other creatures, most of them native too. Spiders, milkweed beetles, bees and wasps including the threatened honey bee, cicadas, katydids, birds like the goldfinch (which feeds on the milkweed seeds), and other butterflies and moths, like the tussock moth, hummingbird moth, or the swallowtail (which lays its eggs on parsley and dill), will appear in your habitat.
Photo by Barry Houlehen
Honey bees on a milkweed flower
Honey bees on a milkweed flower
Want to learn more? Here are some national and local resources for monarch butterflies:
- Shorewood (Wisconsin) Monarch Project: villageofshorewood.org/668/Shorewood-Monarch-Project
- Wisconsin Monarch Collaborative: wiatri.net/Projects/Monarchs
- Monarch Watch: monarchwatch.org
- National Wildlife Federation: nwf.org/Butterfly-Heroes
- Monarch Joint Venture: monarchjointventure.org
- Monarch Butterfly Garden: monarchbutterflygarden.net
Photo by Barry Houlehen
Female monarch feeding on catnip flower
Female monarch feeding on catnip flower | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220507 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/community-news/daily-wisconsin-covid-19-update-2-307-new-cases-no-deaths/ | Summary:
- 2,307 new cases
- No new deaths recorded, 7 total deaths added to state system
- 12,914 total deaths;
- 257 hospitalized patients, 37 in ICU
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
On Friday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported an additional 2,307 new COVID-19 cases. The state has averaged 1,573 new cases per day in the last week.
On this day last year, there were 658 new cases, and a 7-day average of 590 cases per day. In 2020, 322 cases were recorded, with a 7-day average of 330 cases per day.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
There were no new deaths, and seven total deaths recorded to the Department of Health Services system, putting the total Wisconsin death toll at 12,914. A lag in death reporting statewide has affected these numbers.
In Milwaukee County, there were 453 new confirmed cases reported and have been 274,715 total cases in the county since the pandemic began. The 7-day average in the county is 326 cases per day. One of the deaths added to the state system were attributed to Milwaukee County, putting the county death toll at 2,290 since the beginning of the pandemic.
If you are looking for COVID-19 testing or vaccination, consult the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220507 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/lifestyle/out-of-my-mind/struggling-use-childlike-creativity/ | Illustration by Michael Burmesch
When mental health experts list the attributes necessary for coping with life’s many challenges, they usually reference resilience, realistic optimism, self-compassion and emotional intelligence. Indeed, these qualities clearly help us adapt when fate hits us hard with loss, suffering and trauma. However, there is another little-discussed attribute that proves equally important, particularly when grappling with disruptive emotional and interpersonal issues. Creativity. The good news is that even those who don’t consider themselves creative can become so, largely by inhabiting a mindset they possessed as a young child.
Unfortunately, when wrestling with psychological conundrums, both clients and their therapists can display a dearth of creative thinking. When trapped in a mental or behavioral rut, we often fall prey to Einstein’s oft-quoted assertion that insanity means doing something repeatedly despite getting the same unwelcome outcome. Or as John Grinder of Neuro-Linguistic Programming fame put it, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.” So, effectively addressing a personal quandary often necessitates thinking and acting outside one’s pre-existing adult boundaries.
Frequently, folks coming to therapy have already experimented unsuccessfully with a myriad of “fix me” approaches, so it’s not for lack of effort that they remain mired in mental muck. Rather, it is due to the absence of an imaginative approach. Now, prescriptions for amplifying one’s creativity are legion, populating books, podcasts and workshops. Can we draw from these methods and apply them in a therapeutic or self-help context to address personal challenges? Not as much as one might suppose. Instead, there is another, often-overlooked resource in this regard.
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Beginner’s Eyes
Studies show the best role models for creativity are children. They benefit from what we call “beginner’s eyes,” meaning they haven’t logged enough life experience to be set in their ways of thinking and acting. Usually, the modus operandi of their creativity involves storytelling. They create fantasies that stretch the boundaries of what is possible. As a kid, I spent hours writing stories, illustrating them and, at times, acting them out through play. That is, until the drumbeat of rote learning in school slowly indoctrinated me, and most others, into painting inside the lines, so to speak. Studies show creativity in children diminishes rapidly in many traditional educational settings.
Recent research suggests this childlike narrative approach helps adults reframe how they view and approach their personal problems. Ashley provided a case in point. Beset by social anxiety that impeded her at work and in her personal relationships, she’d run the gamut of orthodox treatments but to no avail. She enjoyed reading fiction and regularly journaled about her experiences, so my suggestion that she begin composing fantasy narratives about herself and her conundrum didn’t sound off-the-charts. The format went as follows:
- Shifting Context: Ashley wrote fantasies in which she explored different and wild social settings, those she would never actually experience. The office became a playroom, or a dinner party took place atop the clouds, and so on.
- Altering Perspective: In her writings, she created and inhabited different characters, some quite fanciful and even outrageous. Again, these alter egos were well outside what was possible for her in real life. Still, this helped her adopt different mindsets and emotions.
- Modifying Actions: In her fantasies, she behaved in ways that were well outside her existing behavioral boundaries. In doing so, she felt the freedom to imagine scenarios she would never consider in real life.
The result? Ashley reframed a rigid mental script that made her anxious when entering social environments. Gradually, her anxiety about social situations morphed into curiosity, a tendency joined at the hip with creativity. How is that possible? Well, as Buddha said, “We are what we think, having become what we thought.” And when that thinking is too self-defeating or constraining, it needs to be diluted or replaced with the childlike mindset of storytelling and fantasy. How we think becomes how we feel, and how we feel generates how we act.
When emotionally stuck, our same-old thought patterns function like a cage, constantly reminding us of what we can’t feel or do. Creative storytelling pushes against these mental bars, making liberation possible.
Philip Chard is a psychotherapist and author with a focus on lasting behavior change, emotional healing and adaptation to health challenges. For more, visit philipchard.com. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220507 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/sports/bucks/bucks-leave-celtics-seeing-red-in-game-three/ | Photo via Twitter / Sportscenter
Bucks Vs. Celtics, Game Three
Baseball great Yogi Berra once quipped that “it ain’t over until it’s over.” For the Milwaukee Bucks, game three of the Eastern Conference semifinals ended just in the nick of time on Saturday afternoon.
What was once a 14-point lead for Milwaukee had evaporated to a two-point game in the closing 4.6 seconds, with the Bucks just needing a defensive stop to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Boston’s Marcus Smart was fouled behind the three point line, but the foul was ruled to be committed on the floor rather than in the act of shooting, giving him two free throws instead of three. Smart then had to intentionally miss in order to get the ball to a Celtics player and try to send the game to overtime. What ensued was a scramble under the net with Boston getting four chances to tap in what would be the tying bucket. Al Horford’s effort for Boston would eventually go in, but replay confirmed that the ball was still on his hand as the final buzzer went off, meaning no basket, and Milwaukee wins, 103-101. It was the kind of sequence that would have even the most casual of basketball fans out of their seat.
Prior to that, there was certainly plenty of great basketball on display in a matinee between two very evenly matched teams. Neither team could manage to pull away in the first half, with the Bucks’ defense holding strong against Boston’s big three. Jason Tatum, who has been an offensive force all season, was held to just 10 points overall, and went just 4-16 from the field, missing six three-pointers in the process. A short run would put the Bucks up six at one point, but Boston would retake the lead and extend it to four by halftime.
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The real battle for the Bucks, however, was with the officiating. Brook Lopez, Grayson Allen, and Giannis Antetokounmpo all had three fouls by halftime, which restricted their defensive efforts to some extent going toward the break. The fouls on Giannis were offensive charging calls, and it made for several close moments that could have went either Milwaukee or Boston’s way in the second half, whenever he would drive to the lane as he’s done all season. Lopez picked up a fourth foul just seconds into the second half, and it was a bit of a wonder as to who might be able to remain on the floor down the stretch for Milwaukee.
The third quarter made it seem like the Bucks were going to comfortably coast into game four on Monday night, as they had their highest scoring quarter of the postseason with 34 points, while Boston had their worst with just 17. A late run for the Celtics in the fourth quarter was partially driven by Milwaukee’s foul trouble situation, as well as some big shots from Al Horford. Fortunately for the Bucks, time simply ran out on the Boston Celtics on Saturday, and Milwaukee will get the opportunity to extend their series lead on Monday night before heading back to Boston.
Outside of Fiserv Forum, the weather and weekend scheduling made perfect conditions for the Deer District watch party to feel like Milwaukee’s 2021 championship run all over again. Thousands of fans packed into the entertainment district, and will be encouraged to do so once again Monday night.
Game four of the Eastern Conference semifinals will tip off at 6:30 p.m. on Monday night from Fiserv Forum, with a watch party beginning two hours prior at Deer District. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220508 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/happening-now/potawatomi-hotel-and-casino-plans-100-million-renovation/ | Photo via Facebook / Potawatomi Hotel and Casino
Potawatomi Hotel and Casino
The campus of Potawatomi Hotel and Casino is about to offer even more amenities, as they announced a $100 million renovation on Monday. More than 120,000 square feet of the casino will be overhauled to offer a top-tier gaming, dining and entertainment experience.
Two new tenant chains will expand into the casino, with the addition of a Starbucks coffee on the casino’s third floor, just off of the skywalk entrance. In that same area will be a franchise location of Rock & Brews, the restaurant chain owned by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS. The new restaurant will feature a stage, as well as variety of craft beers and a full food menu. A groundbreaking is scheduled for this Wednesday, ahead of KISS’ performance at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater.
If the sit-down experience isn’t what you’re looking for at the casino, three quick service food and beverage stations will open, where gamblers can grab a bite to eat or have food delivered to their machine of choice.
Of course, the casino expansion also includes new gaming options. In addition to 1,800 slot machines and a brand new bar, the highest end of gamblers will be treated to a new high-limit room and VIP Lounge, which will feature a bar, stage and brick-oven kitchen. The third floor of the casino will also feature an expansive new design with an array of 4K televisions, as well as a gift shop and convenience store to accommodate hotel guests.
“Milwaukee and southeast Wisconsin has been home to the Potawatomi for hundreds of years, and this project is another example of how we are continuing to invest in and better the communities that we call home,” said Forest County Potawatomi Chairman Ned Daniels, Jr. via statement. “We are excited to bring these new experiences to our guests and to continue our role as the top entertainment destination in Wisconsin.”
Construction on the renovation is scheduled to be completed by spring of 2023. The casino will remain open during construction. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220509 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/happening-now/summerfest-2022-adds-40-headliners/ | When Summerfest announced their initial 2022 lineup, there were noticeably some gaps in the daily schedule. Music fans can get excited all over again today, as on Monday, Summerfest announced more than 40 new headliners in a second wave of their lineup announcement.
In addition to the ground stage headliners, The Big Gig also filled out the lineup for the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, with the reveal that rockers Disturbed, Lamb of God and Chevelle will be playing the June 30 headlining slot, opening the second weekend of the festival’s three-weekend run. If that wasn’t enough, Stone Temple Pilots will be playing the BMO Harris Pavilion the very next night.
Overall, the new additions to the lineup are tailored towards heavy rock, though perennial favorites like The Wailers and Nora Collins are also new additions to the bill. No matter what generation or genre, there is most likely something for you at this week’s festival.
The new additions to the 2022 Summerfest lineup are:
10,000 Maniacs
Alexandra Kay
American Teeth
Arlie
Billy Howerdel (of A Perfect Circle)
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Brooke Alexx
CARR
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Deep Sea Diver
Geese
Hockey Dad
Jackie Venson
Jackopierce
Jagwar Twin
Jessie James Decker
Jocelyn & Chris Arndt
Josh Fudge
Juliana Hatfield
Lillith Czar
Lupe Fiasco
Material Issue
Michael Ray
Miles Nielsen and The Rusted Hearts
Mills
Motherfolk
Nora Collins
Remi Wolf
Sarah Barrios
Scarypoolparty
Sir Mix A Lot
Stone Temple Pilots
The Band CAMINO
The Expendables
The Happy Fits
The Ike Reilly Assassination
The Joyce Boys
The Marshall Tucker Band
The Wailers
Transviolet
Weathers
WHOKILLEDXIX
Zach Bryan
Summerfest runs this year on Thursday-Saturday from June 23 – July 9. For more information, visit the Summerfest website. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220509 |
https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/theater/angela-ingersoll-brings-the-legendary-judy-garland-to-life/ | Photo courtesy Milwaukee Repertory Theatre
Milwaukee Rep 'Get Happy: Angela Ingersoll Sings Judy Garland'
Milwaukee Rep 'Get Happy: Angela Ingersoll Sings Judy Garland'
Angela Ingersoll defines the very best of “showbiz trooper” as witnessed in her opening night performance of Get Happy: Angela Ingersoll Sings Judy Garland in the Rep’s Stackner Cabaret.
“Show biz is raining upon me tonight,” she exclaimed behind her onstage changing screen as she dealt with misplaced brooches and loose shoe straps. But she made it all immensely fun with her quick-witted improv alongside a truly remarkable performance singing the songbook of one of the 20th century’s most enduring and legendary performers.
Singing the songs of such a larger-than-life talent like Garland is a tricky business; does she sound like her? Move like her? Even look like her? The answer? Yes, but Ingersoll brings her own style and non-stop energy for two hours (including 15-minute intermission) given her sheer determination to entertain every single moment. She demonstrates the very best of the term “showbiz.”
Backed by a talented trio of pianist/conductor Chuck Larkin alongside Charles Heath on percussion and Milwaukee’s very own Jeff Hamann on upright bass, Ingersoll dazzled as she tackled many of the well-known classics like the opener, “Smile,” as well as a playful back and forth between “I Got Rhythm” and “Singin’ in the Rain.” And her intimate knowledge of behind-the scenes anecdotes amplified the music like “The Trolley Song” (Gene Kelly broke his foot a week before filming Meet Me In St. Louis. Enter Fred Astaire). Or how “Somehow Over the Rainbow” almost didn’t make it into the final version of The Wizard of Oz.
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What’s striking about Ingersoll’s performance is the naturalness of her voice; this is not mere imitation. It’s less about hitting the top notes—which she does quite well—and more about reaching deep down for Garland’s recognizable, low throaty contralto easing forth on “Stormy Weather” to the Garland triumph, “The Man Who Got Away.” And this tune, along with “Make Someone Happy” and the show’s title number, “Get Happy,” really gets across Ingersoll’s total transformation as we watch her incessant need to entertain and connect with the audience, which she does admirably. And then there’s that classic Garland pose: microphone clutched in right hand, left arm straight up, reaching back as if grabbing for the stars in the sky.
2022 marks Garland’s 100th birthday. And there’s no better way to celebrate her life—and music—than Get Happy.
For an interview with Ingersoll, visit: shepherdexpress.com/culture/theater/get-happy-brings-judy-garland-to-the-stackner-cabaret.
Get Happy: Angela Ingersoll Sings Judy Garland runs through July 1 at the Stackner Cabaret, 108 E. Wells St. Recommended for ages 12 and up. For more information call the Rep Ticket Office at: 414-224-9490 or visit: milwaukeerep.com. | true | false | y0_only | shepherdexpress | 20220509 |
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