Shepherd Express - August 2025

Packers

Should Contend

AUGUST 2025 NEXT ISSUE ON STANDS

SEPTEMBER 3, 2025

Once Again

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT - PAGE 42

Managing in Milwaukee’s Changing Housing Market PERSONAL FINANCE - PAGE 38

Outdoor Dining and Drink Guide

SEE THE HOTTEST PLACES TO DINE THIS SUMMER - PAGE 26

AUGUST 2025 | 3

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NEWS 08 All Hail to the Klepto in Chief 11 This Modern World 12 The Cost of Attacking Higher Education — Issue of the Month 14 ‘Ms. Bo"’Goes Out of Her Way for Her Students — Hero of the Month 16 Milwaukee Department of Public Works Commissioner Jerrel Kruschke — MKE SPEAKS: Conversations with Milwaukeeans

FOOD & DRINK 20 Tavos Offers Impressive Mexican Options 22 A Vein of Deliciousness: Tasting Wine with . . . Les Huisman — Beverages 24 Hakurei: The Caviar of Turnips — Flash in the Pan

SPECIAL SECTION 26 Outdoor Dining and Drink Guide 36 Hot Spots for Outdoor Drinking and Dining This Summer

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38 Managing in Milwaukee’s Changing Housing Market — Personal Finance 42 Packers Should Contend Once Again — Sports Spotlight 46 The Benefits of Playgroups — Pets

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CULTURE 50 How the Conservatory Brings Music Education to Milwaukee 52 This Month in Milwaukee

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HEAR ME OUT 60 Opposing Expectations — Dear Ruthie 62 Whither Our LGBTQ+ Community?

— My LGBTQ POV SPONSORED BY

ART FOR ART'S SAKE 66 From the City that Always Sweeps

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Cover: Centro Cafe Patio, photo courtesy of Centro Cafe.

AUGUST 2025 | 5

NEWS

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AUGUST 2025 | 7

NEWS

All Hail to the Klepto in Chief

BY E.G. NADEAU

D

onald J. Trump was sworn in as president of the United States for the second time on January 20, 2025. His inaugural committee raised a record $239 million. This amount more than doubled his take for the 2017 inauguration, and almost quadrupled the amount raised for Biden’s 2021 inauguration. Where did this money come from? Why and how was so much money raised? Where did it go? (Hint: Most of the funds went into Trump’s pockets.)

This is the second in a monthly series of articles on Trump’s corruption during his second term in office.

THE INAUGURAL BUDGET Presidential swearing-in ceremonies are paid for by all of us through the federal budget. The balls, concerts, candle-lit dinners, and other fancy doings that take place around the inauguration are funded through a committee established by the incumbent president.

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The inauguration committee must provide a report within 90 days of the event, summarizing where the funds raised by the committee came from and their disposition.

A May 2025 article by the Campaign Legal Center, a nonprofit organization, commented: “Unlimited spending in inaugural funding poses a clear risk of corruption: With virtually no rules or limits on how inauguration funds can be spent, they are ripe for abuse.” Aside from a list of donors, the size of their donations, a prohibition of donations from foreign individuals and entities, and a very broad, minimally documented description of how the funds were used, the financial report provides very little accountability.

Hence, it’s an almost perfect opportunity for an unscrupulous president-to-be to siphon off a huge chunk of money for his or her own personal use.

Header Illustration: "Game of Cronies"by Luc Nadeau.

Photo of American flag by GettyImages/Richard Stephen.

AUGUST 2025 | 9

NEWS

Where did almost a quarter of a billion dollars come from for Trump’s 2025 inauguration?

The short answer is mostly from large U.S. corporations and wealthy individuals. Here’s a little more on the why and the how.

Trump has publicly stated that he was surprised by, and unprepared for, his win over Hillary Clinton in 2016. Thus, his inauguration committee was able to raise “only” a little over $100 million by January 20, 2017.

Trump and his team were much better prepared for victory in November 2024, and they, including his inauguration committee, hit the ground running. In addition, corporate leaders and other wealthy individuals were well aware by then, based on his first term in office, of Trump's “transactional” approach to the presidency and his vindictiveness toward his perceived enemies. To curry favor and/or be on his good side, they were willing to kick in big bucks for his inauguration.

WHERE DID THE MONEY GO? Steve Kerrigan, who served on both Obama’s and Biden’s inaugural committees, told CNN in an April 2025 interview that “the kind of money Trump has raised far exceeds what’s needed to underwrite inaugural events. . . . The committee for Obama’s first inauguration collected roughly $54 million—money that Kerrigan said adequately covered the costs of ‘the biggest planned political event in US history.’”

In the same article, CNN reported that “Obama’s first inaugural included 10 official balls, an expanded parade and a star-studded concert at the Lincoln Memorial.

Trump’s second inauguration featured three official balls. Other Trump events included an inaugurationeve rally at an arena in Washington and a celebration, complete with fireworks, at his golf club [thus, a share of inauguration expenses being paid to one of his companies] in Sterling, Virginia.”

Based on Kerrigan’s assertion that Trump raised far more money than he needed for his inauguration expenses and the approximately 33% in inflation between 2013 and DONOR DATA 2025, Trump could have financed his dramatically pared Especially noteworthy is an April 2025 article in Public down set of inaugural events for about $72 million (this is a Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, conservative estimate). If these calculations are in the right that “cross-referenced new inauguration donor data . . . ballpark, that would leave a little under $170 million for the with corporations listed in [its] Corporate Enforcement klepto president to put in his own pockets or toward his Tracker database.” Public Citizen “found 58 corporations “presidential library”—which, in Trump's bizarre accounting which include crypto companies, oil and auto industries, Big world, may amount to the same thing. Remember the Pharma, tech companies, Wall Street hedge funds and more, Trump Foundation?—which was forced to shut its doors [that] faced at least 88 federal enforcement actions when in December 2019, and to pay a “court-ordered $2 million Trump took office. Cases against 11 of these corporations [penalty] for illegally using Trump Foundation funds.” [had] already been dismissed or withdrawn, and six [had] been halted” when this article was published.

CONCLUSION In May 2025, The Washington Post reported that “[t] he top three individual donors to Trump’s inaugural committee . . . were nominated for political appointments in his administration.” Warren Stephens, Arkansas investment banker and now the Ambassador to the United Kingdom, donated $4M, and Melissa Argyros, a California-based real estate investor, donated $2M and is Trump's nominee to become the Ambassador to Latvia. Jared Isaacman, a billionaire friend of Elon Musk, donated $2M and was the nominee to be the administrator of NASA until recently, when his name was withdrawn because Musk himself had fallen out of favor.

Several additional factors that emboldened Trump and his cronies to go for the jackpot in inauguration funding (and in his cryptocurrency ventures, discussed in my previous article about Trump’s corrupt presidency) included Project 2025 (“a political initiative to reshape the Federal government of the United States and consolidate executive power in favor of right-wing policies"); the flurry of executive actions taken in the first 100 days of his second term; the rapid filling of cabinet positions; and the Musk-led DOGE assault on key federal agencies and employees including in the Department of Justice. All of these actions circumvented the kind of accountability that Trump was subjected to at the beginning of his first term in office.

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Trump’s inauguration bonanza was not just a one-off event.

It (and his cryptocurrency ventures) set the tone for his entire second term in office, and potentially for future systemic corruption in public office in the United States that may take decades to overcome. The articles in this column will continue to chronicle the self-aggrandizing actions of the most corrupt president in the history of the United States in the months ahead.

Next up: Trump’s Wheeling and Dealing in the Middle East.

E.G. Nadeau is co-director of the Cooperative Society Project, dedicated to the idea that humanity may be on the verge of a new era of cooperation, democracy, equitable distribution of resources and a sustainable relationship with nature.

Photo of American flag by GettyImages/Richard Stephen.

AUGUST 2025 | 11

NEWS ISSUE OF THE MONTH

The Cost of Attacking Higher Education A TIMELY LESSON FROM COVID’S OPERATION WARP SPEED

BY WILLIAM HOLAHAN

A

s the barbaric attack on university research escalates— most publicly aimed at Harvard University, but also targeting virtually all research universities—it is valuable to draw a lesson from the recent Covid pandemic during which the scientific community saved millions of lives. Thanks to Operation Warp Speed (OWS), the Covid-19 vaccine was tested and mass produced, and inoculations began in 2021.

Its speedy success carries a lesson for the current de-funding of science research.

OPERATION WARP SPEED RELIED ON INVESTMENTS IN PRIOR RESEARCH Operation Warp Speed, launched in May 2020, was not a standalone effort to develop a Covid-19 vaccine from scratch. Instead, it was the culmination of decades of scientific research and technological advancements, the result of over 60 years of foundational research and discoveries in immunology, virology, and molecular biology.

It was in university and government laboratories and research institutions that scientists learned how the immune system recognizes and fights infections, how cells process genetic instructions, leading to the crucial messenger RNA technology, the breakthrough that led to the vaccine.

Had that prior knowledge not been in place, OWS could not have been attempted, let alone succeed.

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The key to the rapid success of OWS was concurrent drug testing and mass production. Typically, new drugs are made available to the public in a sequence. First, the Food and Drug Administration tests the drugs to demonstrate their effectiveness. Second, they are then produced for large-scale distribution. Due to the urgency, OWS dispensed with this sequence in favor of simultaneous testing of promising vaccines together with mass production of them. Under the strategy, if one of the vaccines failed the testing phase, the doses produced up to that point would be destroyed. Those that passed would be available for rapid distribution and inoculation across the country.

Despite the Star Trek label, the “warp-speed” strategy of simultaneous production and testing was not novel; it was a well-established procedure during dire situations, particularly in wartime. The Manhattan Project, which led to the U.S. atomic bomb, began in secret in 1939 when physicists Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard warned President Roosevelt that Hitler's Germany was surely working on an atomic bomb; the U.S. had better get one first. However, it was uncertain whether such a bomb could be based on uranium or plutonium, and which type could be successfully deployed first. Work began in Hanford, Washington, Los Alamos, New Mexico and Oak Ridge, Tennessee to better understand the physics of these radioactive elements, as well as the concurrent design of bomb detonation systems.

Similarly, when it was learned that Germany was developing jet fighter aircraft that threatened to render propeller planes defenseless in the skies over Europe, the U.S. response was the concurrent development of jet engines and the re-design and testing of new aircraft structures that could withstand the increased stresses of faster speeds, accelerations and maneuvering made possible by those powerful engines.

CUTS THREATEN US CAPACITY TO MEET FUTURE EMERGENCIES Trump/Project 2025 funding cuts to university research at Harvard, MIT, Brown University and many others including UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee break the essential sequence from basic research to applied research to application. By cutting the connections between basic knowledge to application, they reduce the nation's ability to handle future emergencies—whether pandemics, technological challenges, or national security threats.

The U.S. is risking forfeiture of its comparative advantage in intellectual capital that forms the basis for technological and medical breakthroughs and rapid conversion of those breakthroughs to life-saving applications. Due to capricious loss of research funding, we already see top U.S. faculty leaving for other countries that offer more stable employment and research opportunities.

Similarly, international students, a key resource that helps America meet its needs for talented STEM professionals, are reconsidering posts in the U.S. for study and research.

The flow of top minds from around the world to American academic and research institutions is now reversing, diminishing the nation’s capacity to respond to natural and global threats.

This “pipeline effect” has even reached our high schools!

The NIH has recently de-funded its Science Education Partnership Award Program of the National Institute of General Medical Science, a program designed to enable high school students to learn the importance and power of the scientific method by conducting and analyzing experiments. One of the most successful participants is UW-Milwaukee, which has engaged roughly 2000 high school students annually, culminating with an annual Student Research Conference where they showcase their results. The program has been “cancelled” without any serious cost/benefit analysis (appeals are pending).

William Holahan is emeritus professor and former chair of UWM’s department of economics.

Header photo by GettyImages/EyeEm Mobile GmbH. Photo edit by Timothy Czerniakowski.

AUGUST 2025 | 13

NEWS HERO OF THE MONTH

‘Ms. Bo"’Goes Out of Her Way for Her Students

BY BEN SLOWEY

T

eachers who go out of their way to make every student feel seen, heard and valued are the ones who remain in their students’ hearts and memories forever. Lauren Bolinski sets a wonderful example by creating a warm, welcoming ambiance in her classroom to assess each of her student’s needs, as she leads with kindness, empathy and patience. Known as “Ms. Bo” to her students, Bolinski was nominated by a former student for National Life Group’s 2024-25 LifeChanger of the Year Award, an accolade recognizing outstanding leadership and influence among educators and school district employees across the country.

supplemental background as a yoga instructor gives her the know-how with bringing her students to ease. “Every day I’m learning something from the kids I teach,” Bolinski affirms.

“Kids know when adults are insincere, so you have to be someone who genuinely cares.”

“Classrooms should be places people want to be,” Bolinski explains. “If a space is harsh to me as an adult, that’s certainly going to be the response that children have. We want kids at school to be invested in their time there. I consider the purpose behind everything in my classroom, be it a material, a resource or an aesthetic element.”

A Milwaukee native, Bolinski actually had no intentions of becoming a teacher when she was young. She studied English in college with hopes of working in journalism before switching to pre-med. Once her niece was born, however, everything changed. “Her entry into this world inspired me,” Bolinski recalls. “From the very beginning, I thought about her development and how I wanted to be an important part of her life and help her grow.”

Bolinski’s classroom is thoughtfully curated with plants and natural light, bright colors, comfortable seating and relaxing music. She takes inventory of all her students’ interests and learning styles while incorporating restorative and supportive practices into her class dynamic.

STUDENTS AT EASE Her teaching philosophy favors an environment where students know where things are, how to help themselves and have a sense of agency and autonomy. Plus, Bolinski’s 14 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

To help all of her students feel represented, regardless of age, Bolinski has them bring and hang up baby pictures or photos of their pets. “That’s what a home looks like,” she attests. “You have the things that you value and that are reminders of what’s important to you displayed in your home.”

BECOMING A TEACHER Bolinski subsequently left pre-med and enrolled in night school at Cardinal Stritch University to become a teacher.

She has since let her niece, who is now 16, know the impact she made on Bolinski’s trajectory. “I’m really fortunate to have been able to spend so much time together with her,” Bolinski continues. “She really taught me a lot about life in general, about values, about what matters.”

Since beginning her career as an English teacher at Janesville’s Craig High School in 2011, Bolinski has taught as young as fourth grade and as old as twelfth grade. She was at Stone Bank Elementary School in Oconomowoc for seven years followed by Maryland Avenue Montessori School in Milwaukee for six years.

Bolinski recalls a few years back when a former Stone Bank student, named Emma, reached out to her asking if she could take in a couple guinea pigs from an unexpected litter. She did, and Emma ended up being the one to nominate Bolinski for the LifeChanger of the Year Award, saying, “Although I haven't reached out to her in a bit, I will never forget everything she has done for me, my peers, and my family. She made a huge positive impact on my life, and I will forever be grateful for her.

“I was shocked and surprised,” Bolinski remembers feeling when she found out. “I am who I am in all the places that I exist, and I never expected anything like that; I just want all my kids to be happy.” She adds, “I always tell my students that once they’re my kid, they’re always my kid. If you need something, reach out to me and I will help you.”

Bolinski starts a new position at South Division High School this fall, where she will be teaching classes in the National Academy Foundation program, all focused on creating equal opportunities for students to be prepared for college and career paths. The first day of school is September 2.

Ben Slowey is a Milwaukeean and a Shepherd Express Staff Writer.

Header photo by Margaret Muza.

Background pattern by GettyImages/MaryliaDesign.

Graduation Cap Illustration by GettyImages/slowkid.

AUGUST 2025 | 15

NEWS MKE SPEAKS: CONVERSATIONS WITH MILWAUKEEANS

Milwaukee Department of Public Works Commissioner Jerrel Kruschke “WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY DIFFERENT JOBS INCLUDING WATER, TRAFFIC LIGHTS, STREETS, SIDEWALKS, GARBAGE, RECYCLING, AND SEWERS.”

BY TOM JENZ

Y

ou wake up in the morning and take a shower.

THE MAN IN CHARGE The water comes courtesy of the Milwaukee A Milwaukee native, MDPW Commissioner Jerrel Department of Public Works (MDPW). You walk Kruschke grew up in Greenfield and went to Greenfield down the sidewalk, passing the streetlights, which shine High School. His dad was a carpenter by trade, his mother a thanks to MPDW. You drive a road, cross a speed bump and factory worker. head through a traffic light, the maintenance by MPDW. Out of high school, he worked full time as a carpenter in the Throughout your day, you deal with drinking water, garbage, recycling, water mains, human waste, potholes and city parks. private sector, and attended night school at UWM, earning his college degree in Civil Engineering over a 10-year period.

Again, cared for by MPDW. If you're like most residents, “I was interested in bridge design,” he said. In 2007, there you probably take these benefits for granted, but they all was an opening in the city for bridge design. Kruschke was influence your daily life. hired as a structural engineer.

Let me introduce you to the Milwaukee Department of Public “My first project was Humboldt Bridge on the East Side,” Works, probably the least publicized but most impactful he said. “Then, the Forest Home bridge on the South part of the city’s responsibilities. MDPW is charged with the Side, and later I worked on 20 of the moveable bridges in design, maintenance, and operation of streets, sidewalks, the city.

In 2014, I was hired as the manager of the Central alleys, bridges, sewers, water mains, underground conduit, Drafting and Engineering Division. We did the right of ways, telecommunications services, traffic signals, and street sewer and waterway design, roads and bridges. In 2016, I lighting for a city that covers more than 95 square miles, moved up as the structural design manager and did that 221 city buildings, a fleet of over 1,500 vehicles, 476 acres job for three years.

Next, I became the street maintenance of boulevards and green space, and 200,000 street trees. manager, major street repair. 120 employees in that division.

In other words, it contributes to the quality of life and I was known as “the pothole king of Milwaukee.” (laughing). economic development.

Then, I became the city coordination manager, dealing with The department has an annual operating budget of nearly private developers, business improvement districts.” $520 million. More than 2,000 employees work in four Kruschke worked with the private developers on right of way, divisions: Administrative Services, Infrastructure Services, street architecture and lighting, stoplight issues and sewers.

Operations, and Water (Milwaukee Water Works).

He made sure the street work was in place.

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Photo of Jerrel Kruschke by Tom Jenz.

By 2021 he became the city engineer, a cabinet position.

In October of 2022, he was appointed to his present position, Commissioner of Public Works.

HOW DOES THE DPW WORK? To hear more about this prodigious responsibility, I met MDPW Commissioner Kruschke in the vast conference room of the Henry Maier Municipal Building across from City Hall.

Banks of tall windows cast natural lighting over the lengthy conference table where the common council often meets.

Commissioner for three years, Kruschke is ideally suited for the job. For the past 18 years, he has done almost all the jobs in the department. Trim and fit, dressed in a sports jacket, and checked shirt over a T shirt, he seems like a guy you’d trust to fix anything in your house.

You are the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works and have an immense job. Your employees are responsible for the design, maintenance, and operation of almost everything that is public in terms of maintenance. What is the hardest part of your job?

Great question because ours is a very large department.

We are broken into four divisions: one, Operations unit: garbage and sanitation. Two, Infrastructure division: local road construction, multimodal transportation, the city parks, street lighting, environmental engineering and facilities management for city properties including City Hall.

Three, Water Utility: drinking water. Four, Administration: human resources, accounting and payroll. I like to keep the communication channels open. The more efficiently we operate, the less questions the public asks, and then it is easier for everyone who lives here.

I interviewed Mayor Johnson a short while ago.

He mentioned the ongoing brightening of street lighting with LED lamps, which make the streets safer.

How is that going?

The city infrastructure is old. When I took over three years ago, 67% of the city street lighting was converted into modernized multiple circuits. The other 33% was in series, meaning if one light goes out, they all go out, similar to Christmas tree lights. Our goal is to convert all those over to multiple circuits, and we hope to have that all done by 2027. That means streets are brighter and safer. The second goal is to convert high pressure sodium lights into LED. Those are the two ways we are getting our street lighting into modernization.

I’m sure you hear complaints about snow plowing in the winter. I will say that after a snow plowing notice goes into effect, I see many cars still parked on side streets and not being moved. What should residents do prior to a snowplowing notice?

We try to put a lot of social media notices out there as to when and where we will be plowing and to pay attention to the roadway signs.

For instance, which sides of the streets residents can park on. Generally, snow plowing takes place between December 1 and March 1. On the narrower streets, we usually cannot plow if cars are parked on both sides of those streets.

Do you have enough snowplow drivers?

This past year, we did a great job of hiring drivers, and we have a full complement of drivers, which is usually about 104.

We did not have a shortage of snowplow drivers.

Are those drivers freelance or regular employees?

Good question. Most of our snowplow drivers have other jobs with the department, such as those from street maintenance, sanitation or forestry. But they are required to have a commercial driver’s’ license.

Can your department do anything about reckless driving, for instance, bump outs, bike lanes or speed bumps?

One of our major focuses has been trying to make our roadways safer. We are doing all those modifications you mentioned. We are also installing raised crosswalks near schools and parks where pedestrians are frequent.

Data shows our efforts have reduced average speeds from 45 mph to 35 mph. The city has over 5,000 lane miles we deal with, and we focus on high-risk areas. Our leaders call city safety efforts “the three Es: Enforcement, Education and Engineering.” We handle the engineering. But we all work as a team.

AUGUST 2025 | 17

NEWS MKE SPEAKS: CONVERSATIONS WITH MILWAUKEEANS

I’ve heard that Milwaukee has the cleanest, safest water in the country. Is that true? If so, how come?

Do you have a large turnover of employees, for instance, truck drivers?

Cleanest water, yes. That’s how I feel, mainly because our city is located adjacent to freshwater Lake Michigan.

No need to tap into the ground for water.

We used to, especially during the Covid era when we lost a number of drivers. But in the past year and a half, our retention has skyrocketed. Seventy-five to 80% are staying with us. The City of Milwaukee is a great place to work— good wages, stability and a strong pension plan. As a starting wage, drivers make over $28 per hour.

What does the water treatment consist of?

We have a pipeline that runs more than a mile out into Lake Michigan, and we pump water through that. We have two treatment plants, one north of Bradford Beach and the other in the south section near Sixth and Howard. We serve customers in more than just the city, for instance, Greenfield, West Allis, and Waukesha County.

What is the annual MPWD budget and how is it funded? Is it enough funding to get the jobs done?

We are doing about $520 million of work this year.

That budget income comes from tax levies, permitting, water utility bills, solid waste, stormwater, and snow and ice fees.

We also get grants from the state and federal governments.

Also, some money from WE Energies, and some from the wheel tax fee.

How do you work with WE Energies?

Just like the public, we get WE Energies bills, but at a reduced rate.

But you have to work with them on certain street projects. For instance, the construction of the recent apartment building, the 27-story Couture near the Discovery Center.

Yes, we work with all utilities including the cable TV companies. That might include adjusting streets, utilities, pipelines, and so on.

Is the MDPW involved in the removal of invasive species?

No, because we handle only the trees that grow on city boulevards and public right of ways, but we did handle the emerald ash borer issue. We try to diversify our trees to avoid contamination.

What is one thing you’d like city residents to know about the Public Works Department?

To realize how important the Public Works Department is, how many different jobs we are responsible for—water, traffic lights, streets, sidewalks, garbage, recycling and sewers. Our department includes accountants and general laborers. Eighty percent of our employees live in the city. The irony is we think of ourselves as the “silent department,” because if there is nothing wrong, you will never hear from us. Yet, we do need to hear from the public.

In other words, if a resident sees a problem, call us. If you do not call, we won’t know about the problem.

Residents can request city services by calling (414) 286-2489 or online at Click4Action (milwaukee.gov/ click4action) or use the MKE Mobile Action app, free on their smartphone’s app store.

How many employees work for MDPW? We have budgeted for over 2,100 employees for 2025.

Currently, I have about 1,900 of those jobs filled, with 200 more to go. Three years ago, we needed 500 jobs to be filled, but we have been emphasizing field training and classes, especially for commercial drivers.

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Tom Jenz is a Milwaukee writer and photographer whose Central City Stories column appears weekly at shepherdexpress.com.

AUGUST 2025 | 19

FOOD & DRINK

Tavos Offers Impressive Mexican Options

BY HAZEL WHEATON

U

pon first stepping into Tavos Signature Cuisine, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stepped into a front room, with another room tucked away behind a door. But no, what you see is all there is: A single small, intimate space, with just five tables arrayed along the window and the combined bar and front counter. But the size perfectly reflects the kind of place it is. Family owned and run (“Those are my in-laws in the kitchen,” our server told us), Tavos delivers creatively designed and carefully prepared dishes to a modest clientele.

If the crowd was larger, the chefs would have to delegate the hands-on work and the dishes would become less distinctive.

As it is, a single server can handle the entire space, adding to the familial atmosphere.

I went for the house margarita and was rewarded with a drink that was smooth without being watered down, refreshing and light, with no hint of margaritamix sweetness. Now that I’ve established a successful baseline, I look forward to exploring their more inventive recipes on future visits. Options like fresh jalapeno and coriander, rosemary, and spicy habanero make my mouth water, and the idea of an avocado blended margarita or a mole margarita is worth exploring! (Speaking of mole, Tavos offers two varieties, and if you’re stuck trying to pick between them for your entree, you can order a mole flight with tortilla chips as a starter.)

When we arrived, we were served an amuse bouche of Molletitos: Thin slices of soft bread topped with refried beans, tomatoes, truffle oil and queso franco. The dish is on the menu as a starter, if you want more—which we did, but ultimately decided not to fill up too soon.

For our appetizer, we had to try the guacamole. Tavos has a pattern of offering a classic version of a dish, then spinning off unexpected variations. Of their three types of guacamole, we opted for the Guacamole Azteca, traditional guac loaded with grilled sweet poblanos and roasted corn.

Instead of tortilla chips, it was served with house-made plantain chips. Sturdy and salty-sweet, they had enough physical and flavor heft to lift the loaded guac without issue—and were tasty enough to eat by themselves.

For their space, Tavos offers up an impressive array of drink options. It helps that they keep their focus tight, offering one variety each of gin, rum, bourbon, brandy and vodka compared to six tequilas and eight choices of mezcal.

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UNEXPECTED GUACAMOLE

Header photo by Hazel Wheaton.

Choosing an entrée was difficult. Friends rave about the Ribeye Steak Tacos and Fish Enchiladas. I’m a personal fan of their Enmoladas, but it seemed fair that I try something new for this review. I opted for the signature House Fish Tacos. The fish is a pan-seared mahi mahi, and its flavor, a middle ground of mild and sweet, paired beautifully with the sauce, an unusual combination of dragon fruit and strawberry. My companion opted for the Traditional Chile Relleno Dinner, and chose corn tortillas to help sop up the savory sauce. It may have been the dishes we chose, but everything was piquant and layered without being overly spicy; if you want something with a mouth burn, ask the server for recommendations. The list of a la carte options goes beyond expected pick-and-choose tacos to also include individual sopes, gorditas, tostadas, enchiladas and enmoladas. Choices are a bit limited for vegetarians; if your diet includes fish and seafood, however, you’re very well served.

PERFECT DESSERTS Dessert was churros and ice cream, both made in-house.

The churros were perfectly crisp on the outside and soft and tender inside, beautifully arranged with artful smears of raspberry and caramel sauce for dredging. I passed on the house flan with rum sauce, just because I’d had it before and could already vouch for it being first-rate.

Don’t let that stop you from experiencing the exceptional food at Tavos, but I strongly suggest settling the bill between yourselves after the check has been paid!

Tavos has an outdoor patio space encircled by raised flower beds, but the location at the busy intersection of Hawley and Bluemound means that the cozy and quiet inside seating is preferable. Tavos does not take reservations, so be prepared to be flexible at peak times. If you’re coming with a party of more than four, call ahead. While you won’t be able reserve a table, you’ll be able to gauge how crowded they are.

Tavos Signature Cuisine 5814 West Bluemound Road (414) 239-8888; tavossignaturecuisine.com Appetizers $8-19, Entrees $18-$38; a la carte options $5-$9; desserts $11-$16 Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 4–9 p.m.; Closed Mondays

Hazel Wheaton is a Milwaukee writer and the Shepherd Express magazine’s regular dining critic.

A logistical issue cast a pall on the otherwise excellent experience. Menus via QR code instead of printed menus annoy me, but usually that’s just my personal preference; this time it had the added frustration of us being blindsided by a $5 per-person charge for a split check, as the condition wasn’t apparent on the digital menu.

AUGUST 2025 | 21

FOOD & DRINK BEVERAGES

A Vein of Deliciousness: Tasting Wine with . . .

Les Huisman

BY GAETANO MARANGELLI

Photo by Tom Loup.

I

t was one of the first times I tasted one of these wines with a customer. It was ten in the morning.” The Wisconsin wine distributor and importer Les Huisman was tasting an Alpine wine with a customer of Block 34, the wine company Les was the owner and operator of.

“And the customer said, ‘Wow! This is a breakfast wine!’

“And I knew immediately what he meant by that. Not that I drink a lot of wine for breakfast, but that the wine was refreshing and bright, like when you take a bite of a nectarine and it’s not quite ripe — where it’s sweet and tart at the same time and really fresh and so alive. And that’s what I get from a lot of these wines, especially the whites.

That streak of liveliness that runs through them. ‘Breakfast wine’ was that Aha! moment for me. Ever since then I've chased that sensation.”

“

AND WHERE EXACTLY IS THE SOURCE OF THAT SENSATION? “For years I’ve been fascinated with the wines from a subregion of the Alps in France, Italy, and Switzerland, which I think of as a little Alpine triangle,” says Les, who is now an account representative for Vino Veritas, a leading Wisconsin fine wine importer and distributor.

“I like high elevation wines from all over the world, but there’s something about this little pocket of Europe that I find especially fascinating. There’s something romantic about these vineyards growing way up in the mountains, higher than where you’d expected vines could grow. And there’s an approachability to these wines, but they can also be complex, and they always deliver pleasure. At the end of the day, you can always describe these wines as delicious.”

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Wine pattern by GettyImages/Anna Rodionova.

Les grew up near Lodi, Calif., near a lot of vineyards, but wine didn’t become a part of his life until he moved to Milwaukee to go to engineering school. “I didn’t grow up in a wine-drinking family. I didn’t grow up in a house that drank much at all. But I enjoyed cooking, and I really liked the idea of wine. It was part of the conviviality of a good meal.”

After graduating from college, Les devoted his working hours to the construction industry. But after hours, he was studying wine and tasting as many wines as possible, which led to his own wine business, Block 34, which is where Les found his way to these little Alpine triangle wines.

“These wines are wines I know and love and have been working with for years,” reflects Les. “There's a vein of deliciousness that runs through them.”

Romain Chamiot Apremont, Vin de Savoie Blanc Winegrower: Romain Chamiot Country: France Region: Savoie Appellation: Apremont, Vin de Savoie Blanc Vintage: 2024 Grape: Jacquère Alcohol: 11.5% Approximate retail price: $20 U.S. Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchant Wisconsin distributor: Vino Veritas “Romain Chamiot’s Apremont Blanc is a good example of what I’m talking about with these wines,” says Les. “You can imagine standing in a mountain valley, with alpine grasses and wildflowers all around you, and you can imagine this wine being right at home there. This Apremont sums up why I like these wines.”

Pavese Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle Winegrower: Ermes Pavese Country: Italy Region: Valle d’Aosta Appellation: Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle Grape: Prié Blanc Vintage: 2023 Alcohol: 12% Approximate retail price: $40 U.S. Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchant Wisconsin distributor: Vino Veritas “Valle d’Aosta is the smallest wine region in Italy. It’s a mountain valley that runs down the Italian side of Mont Blanc, which the Italians call Monte Bianco. Halfway down the valley, you come to two neighboring villages, Morgex and La Salle, which is the highest altitude where vines can grow in the valley.” And at a pinnacle of deliciousness stands this Pavese Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle. It isn’t inexpensive, but it’s completely worth it. Les sums it up when he says, “I always lament not having more of it.”

Peillot Bugey Mondeuse Winegrower: Franck Peillot Country: France Region: Bugey Appellation: Bugey Mondeuse Grape: Mondeuse Vintage: 2024 Alcohol: 11.5% Approximate retail price: $20 U.S. Importer: Louis/Dressner Selections Wisconsin distributor: Vino Veritas “Even the red grapes from these regions have a lightness and freshness to them that comes from growing in cold climates and high elevations,” begins Les. “They still have that liveliness and that vein of deliciousness running through them, but there’s more variation with the reds. Some are more tannic, some are less tannic, some are lighter and fruitier, some have fuller bodies. This wine is reminiscent of Cru Beaujolais. It doesn’t quite have the fruitiness of Beaujolais, but it has enough of that natural structure.”

If you’d like to explore these wines, please ask for them at fine bottle shops, restaurants, and wine bars.

Gaetano Marangelli is a sommelier and playwright. He was managing director of a wine import and distribution company in New York and beverage director for restaurants and retailers in New York and Chicago before moving to Wauwatosa.

AUGUST 2025 | 23

FOOD & DRINK FLASH IN THE PAN

Photo by GettyImages/karinsasaki.

Hakurei: The Caviar of Turnips

BY ARI LEVAUX

A

lso known as the Tokyo Turnip, the Hakurei— pronounced like Samurai—was developed in the 1950s, when Japan was desperate to feed itself after World War II. Hakurei translates to “esteemed companion,” a name that, like “salad turnip” is entirely appropriate. The entire plant is edible, from green tip to root tip. It grows fast— maturing in about a month—and can handle a light frost and other forms of adversity. And it boasts culinary properties that were previously unheard of in turnip country, earning it the nickname, “caviar of turnips.”

Its flavor is so un-turnip-like that calling the Hakurei a turnip is like pointing out that a jalapeno is technically a fruit. It’s a cool party trick, but so what? We all know a jalapeno isn’t really a fruit because it doesn’t taste like one. The Hakurei, meanwhile, almost does.

You don’t even need to peel its delicate skin. Just bite into it like an apple. Each nibble of Hakurei is like a sip of sweet, buttery water, with a hint of horseradish.

They are great in salads for their crisp, juicy texture and mild flavor which goes nicely with vinegar. But you can definitely cook these so-called salad turnips. Some people add them to the jus in the final half hour of roasting meat. The whiff of bitter spice in its mild flavor makes it a great accompaniment to fatty proteins.

Photo by GettyImages/vicuschka.

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My favorite way to prepare the Tokyo turnip is in a white miso butter with garlic, along with white wine and a pinch of sugar. White miso has a sweet and gentle flavor that vibes with the turnips.

Photo courtesy of Ari LeVaux.

Hakurei Turnips in Miso Butter Glaze This simple dish comes together quickly. And sweetly, thanks to the turnip itself, and the dash of sugar that goes so well with white miso and butter. The sweetness is balanced by a hint of turnip-y bitterness, which keeps the sweetness in check.

Two servings • 1 bunch of Hakurei turnips—there should be about 6-8 in a bunch • 2 tablespoons butter • 1 teaspoon sugar • 1 tablespoon miso • ¼ cup vermouth or white wine or rice vinegar • 2 cloves of garlic, smashed and chopped coarsely • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds • Salt Trim the thin, spindly taproot that extends from the bottom of each turnip. Cut the stems about half an inch above the turnip and chop the stems and leaves.

Cut the turnips into slices, which cook faster and absorb more glaze, or quarters, which look prettier. No need to peel them.

Add the butter, miso, sugar and a cup of water to a pan. Turn the heat to medium and stir as it heats.

When it reaches a simmer, add the vermouth and garlic, and then the turnips. Allow the liquid to cook down and thicken, about ten minutes. Season with salt if necessary—the miso may contribute enough. Flip the pieces and turn the heat down to low, so the turnips can brown but not burn. Garnish with sesame seeds and serve with soba noodles or rice.

Ari LeVaux has written about food for The Atlantic Online, Outside Online and Alternet.

AUGUST 2025 | 25

SPECIAL OUTDOOR DINING & DRINK GUIDE

Outdoor Dining and Drink Guide Photo courtesy of Botana's Restaurant.

Photo courtesy of Boone & Crockett.

Photo courtesy of Café Corazon.

BOTANAS RESTAURANT

BOONE & CROCKETT

CAFÉ CORAZON

816 S. Fifth St. Milwaukee (414) 672-3755

818 S. Water St. Milwaukee (414) 212-8115

Multi locations in Bayview, Riverwest & Brown Deer Corazonmilwaukee.com

Botanasrestaurant.com

Boonemilwaukee.com

In the summer, sip margaritas and munch on chips and guacamole on Botana’s open-air patio. It’s spacious enough for large groups and also perfect for a table of two. If the outdoor seating is full, request a table under the covered patio to still take advantage of a summer evening. Both options are a great way to enjoy this casual cantina that offers authentic Mexican dishes.

There’s a reason Boone & Crockett has won BEST PATIO more than once!

There’s always a good time to be had when you’re sitting on the river.

Amazing drinks, food trucks, live music, great company, just to name a few.

Find us under the lights of the Hoan!

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The Riverwest location along the Beerline Trail complements the restaurant's bright, fresh Mexicaninspired food. In Bayview, you'll find a quiet, artsy patio tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Kinnickinnic.

The Brown Deer location hosts the largest Corazon patio with seating for 60. It too is off the Oak Leaf Trail and features its own outdoor bar.

Header photo by GettyImages/Pedro Costa Simeao.

JULY 2025 | 27

SPECIAL OUTDOOR DINING & DRINK GUIDE

Photo courtesy of Café Manna.

CAFÉ MANNA 3815 N. Brookfield Rd. Brookfield (262) 790-2340 Cafemanna.com Enjoy this summer season at our neighborhood gem located off of Capitol Drive. Sit, socialize and indulge in Manna’s craft cocktails and exciting vegetarian/vegan summer cuisine.

Photo courtesy of Centro.

CENTRO 808 E. Center St. Milwaukee (414) 455-3751 Centrocaferiverwest.com An Italian-inspired, full-service restaurant with delicious food, warm service, and a charming atmosphere… seasonal deck and sunken garden terrace dining … exceptional dining experiences to remember…bar centro jazz lounge next door.

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JULY 2025 | 29

SPECIAL OUTDOOR DINING & DRINK GUIDE

Photo courtesy of Eldr + Rime.

Photo courtesy of Five O'Clock Steakhouse.

Photo courtesy of Hop Harvest & Vine.

ELDR+RIME

FIVE O’CLOCK STEAKHOUSE

HOP HARVEST & VINE

2300 N. Mayfair Rd. Wauwatosa (414) 867-9200

2416 W. State St. Milwaukee (414) 342-3553

2205 Silvernail Road Pewaukee (262) 232-8866

Eldrandrime.com

Fiveoclocksteakhouse.com

hopharvestvine.com

Sunny days, cool summer nights, expertly crafted cocktails, an appetizing menu, all enjoyed in a vibrant outdoor setting. Enjoy brunch, lunch, dinner, or happy hour. Catch live music on Thursday nights! Don’t miss soaking up the sunshine, fresh air, and good vibes on their spacious patio!

Relax and enjoy your supper club experience on our intimate patio lined with beautiful flowers and firepit.

Five O’Clock Steakhouse specializes in serving award winning steaks and seafood paired with a notable wine list, classic cocktails and outstanding personalized service.

This scenic spot adjacent to Good Harvest Market features a rustic patio and open-air Pavilion overlooking a 17-acre conservation area. Enjoy hop-infused pizzas, 18 rotating local taps, and scratch-made meals using organic produce, pasture-raised beef, and sustainable seafood. The dog-friendly outdoor space offers live music, trivia, free movie nights, and a kids’ playground. The Pavilion is also available for weddings and private events — all just minutes from I-94.

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JULY 2025 | 31

SPECIAL OUTDOOR DINING & DRINK GUIDE

Photo courtesy of Las Gardenias.

Photo courtesy of The Mulligans Irish Pub & Grill.

LAS GARDENIAS

MULLIGANS IRISH PUB & GRILL

305 N. Plankinton Ave. Milwaukee (414) 249-3738

8933 S. 27th St. Franklin (414) 304-0300

Gardeniasmke.com

Mulliganson27th.com

Enjoy our sunny patio this summer and fall with made-from-scratch Guadalajaran cuisine. Grab a drink at our full-service bar filled with Mexican wine, beer and spirits and Happy Hour deals Tuesday-Friday from 4-5 p.m. We can't wait for you to try our unique preparations made with quality ingredients and traditional family recipes!

Enjoy lunch or dinner on our beautiful, spacious smoke-free patio that is perfect for private parties and large groups. You can also catch live music on the patio, weather permitting.

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Photo courtesy of Roundhouse Beer Garden.

ROUNDHOUSE BEER GARDEN AT MCKINLEY MARINA 1750 N Lincoln Memorial Dr Milwaukee (414) 395-4909 roundhousemke.com An updated venue serving all those drawn to this freshwater coastline.

Serving up snacks, drinks and sundries, it’s your one-stop shop before setting sail. Not heading out on the water? Food and drinks purchased at Roundhouse Beer Garden can be enjoyed on the comfortable parklike lawn surrounding our building.

Drinking at Roundhouse Beer Garden at McKinley Marina supports future Milwaukee County park projects.

JULY 2025 | 33

SPECIAL OUTDOOR DINING & DRINK GUIDE

Photo courtesy of SALA.

Photo courtesy of The Pasta Tree.

Photo courtesy of Transfer Pizzaria Cafe.

SALA

THE PASTA TREE

TRANSFER PIZZERIA CAFÉ

2613 E Hampshire St. Milwaukee (414) 964-2611

1503 N. Farwell Ave. Milwaukee (414) 276-8867

101 W. Mitchell St. Milwaukee (414) 763-0438

saladining.com

pastatreemilwaukee.com

Transfermke.com

SALA, on a quiet street off Downer, where the patio offers a relaxing European atmosphere. You will find it perfect for a morning coffee and fresh pastry, a midday panini or a delicious evening dinner with a bottle of wine or a cocktail under the umbrellas.

You may feel like you're enjoying an evening in Palermo or Rome. Contact us atsaladining.com.

Tucked behind The Pasta Tree, our enchanting Secret Garden patio glows with twinkling lights, lush blooms, and romantic charm—Milwaukee’s most magical dining escape.

Introducing a new outdoor patio this summer, including tables inside a restored 1950s era Milwaukee city bus. Open for more than 17 years, Transfer is a full-service, independent pizzeria with a wide menu of unique hand-tossed pizzas. Visit for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday.

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JULY 2025 | 35

SPECIAL SUMMER DINING

Photo courtesy of The Bartolotta Restaurants.

Hot Spots for Outdoor Drinking and Dining this Summer BARNACLE BUD’S

BLUE BAT KITCHEN AND TEQUILARIA

GOODKIND

1955 S. Hilbert St.

249 N. Water St.

1457 S. Wentworth Ave.

You almost think you’re enjoying a drink dockside in Key West, but blink, and familiar Milwaukee landmarks swim into view. Barnacle Bud’s is hidden among the city’s old warehouses and grain elevators and is filled with nautical charm. The main draw is a large wooden deck overlooking the Kinnickinnic River. The menu offers casual fare—mainly sandwiches and seafood baskets. This is one of Milwaukee’s most unique summer spots.

(David Luhrssen)

Blue Bat Tequilaria brings global street food energy to Milwaukee with bold tacos, craveable apps, and the city’s first Tequilaria—featuring over 160 tequilas. Settle into a fun, laid-back vibe indoors or soak up the sunshine on their lively patio. Whether you’re new to tequila or a seasoned sipper, the team’s got you covered. It’s a little Jalisco, a whole lot of Milwaukee, and the ultimate spot for summer hangs. (Sandy Reitman)

Tucked in a quiet corner of Bay View, Goodkind offers a menu of classic yet classy cuisine alongside craft cocktails, wine and beer. Their charmingly rustic patio features artisanal wood tables, large planters and a backdrop of wood and brick that matches their fresh take on “old world” dishes like lavender and anchovy rubbed leg of lamb and champagne battered mushrooms.

Tables outside are first come, first serve.

(Caroline Dannecker)

BLACKBIRD BAR 3007 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. This Shepherd Express Best of Milwaukee winner is a great patio for hanging out and relaxing while leisurely enjoying an extensive list of beer, wine and spirits. There’s a happy hour every day.

Who could ask for more? Well, step inside, you’ll find that Blackbird has old-school pinball machines. (Harry Cherkinian)

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BOONE & CROCKETT 818 S. Water St. Boone & Crockett serves classically crafted cocktails for adventurous palates—pretentious drinks without the pretentiousness. Sip expertly made libations on a massive riverside patio, catch live events at The Cooperage, and grab a bite from rotating food trucks.

With boat launch access and a laid-back vibe, it’s the perfect place to explore new frontiers, drink by drink. (Sandy Reitman)

HUBBARD PARK LODGE 3565 N. Morris Blvd.

Tucked between a busy stretch of Oakland Avenue in Shorewood and nestled next to the Milwaukee River, the best way to get to Hubbard Park Lodge may be via the Oak Leaf Trail.

This wooded getaway from urban bustle is an outdoor beer garden with picnic tables and cabanas for rent. Hungry?

A Friday Fish Fry, Sunday Brunch and a Mother’s Day Brunch are all on the calendar. The Lodge and River Club buildings are also available yearround for special events like weddings and receptions. (Blaine Schultz)

THE LOST WHALE

SCREAMING TUNA MKE

2151 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

106 E. Seeboth St.

Named after an April Fool’s prank, The Lost Whale in Bay View doesn’t joke when it comes to cocktails or a delightful night out. The menu boasts a seasonal selection of craft cocktails perfect for enjoying on the small but colorful patio.

Pair your cocktail with a board game and food from Pallino Burger (serving on the patio most nights) for a perfect Midwest evening. (Caroline Dannecker)

Screaming Tuna MKE serves sustainably sourced seafood with something for everyone—from sushi and short ribs to vegan and gluten-free dishes.

Enjoy inventive Japanese fusion and classic sushi, all clearly labeled for dietary needs. Sip world-class sakes, wines, local brews, and original craft cocktails at the riverside bar. Voted Milwaukee’s #1 Sushi multiple times by our Shepherd Express readers, they serve bold flavor with a conscience. (Sandy Reitman)

MILWAUKEE SAIL LOFT 649 E. Erie St. Milwaukee Sail Loft has been a toprated waterfront destination for brunch, lunch or dinner. Dock and dine along the harbor, enjoy sunset views from the riverside patio, and savor fresh, fromscratch cuisine crafted with natural, sustainable ingredients. Located in the Historic Third Ward, Sail Loft blends maritime charm with modern flair— perfect for cocktails, casual meetups, or unforgettable nights out in one of the city’s most scenic spots. (Sandy Reitman) MOTHERSHIP 2301 S. Logan Ave. While known for their humorous fondness for Hamm's Beer, The Mothership in Bay View has an extensive cocktail and spirits list that includes reliable “OG” favorites, remixed “OG” drinks with the bar's unique twists, “Mothership in Paradise” tiki-style cocktails made with fresh squeezed juices and house-made syrups.

Ricky Ramirez has created a one-ofa-kind atmosphere with his charming neighborhood destination, unafraid of taking bold progressive stances or of having a bit of fun with their social media presence. (Ben Slowey)

SOBELMAN’S 1900 W. St. Paul Ave. The chairs and tables are parked out front for warm summer afternoons and hot summer nights at Sobelman’s original Menomonee Valley location. The place earned its rep for great hamburgers, but before you knew it, Sobelman’s pushed to the top of the race to serve the most elaborate Bloody Marys in town.

They can be a meal by themselves, complete with Colby jack cheese, a pickled Polish sausage, an asparagus, a shrimp … You get the picture.

(David Luhrssen) TIED HOUSE MILWAUKEE 124 N. Water St. Tied House Milwaukee is a welcoming craft cocktail bar in the Historic Third Ward. It offers innovative, seasonal drinks in a warm, stylish space rooted in community, connection, and hospitality.

Enjoy culinary cocktails indoors or on the all-seasons patio. Whether relaxing with friends or exploring bold new flavors, it delivers a memorable, inclusive cocktail experience year-round. (Sandy Reitman)

PALOMINO 2491 S. Superior St. Dark and woody as a Northwoods bar, Palomino opens up in the warm months with a corner patio near the gateway where traffic from the Hoan Bridge empties into Bay View. Hedged from the sidewalk by potted flowers, with a view of the leafy park where the Bay View Rolling Mill once stood, the patio sits at an intersection of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, with great music from the Stooges, the Ramones and slammin’ ‘80s hardcore on the speakers.

(David Luhrssen) Illustration by GettyImages/Anna Malykh.

AUGUST 2025 | 37

SPECIAL PERSONAL FINANCE

Managing in Milwaukee’s Changing Housing Market

BY MICHAEL MUCKIAN

F

inding a new place to live is always a challenge, and when the move involves purchasing a home the emotional and financial concerns increase significantly.

Where you live provides the context of your life, reflecting the inner you while setting the stage from which you emerge each day to face the world. That stage needs to be just right; if not, your day—maybe even your life—could turn out to be all wrong.

Today’s housing market, especially in Milwaukee, is more challenging than it has been in recent memory.

Mortgage interest rates, currently relatively stable, are always subject to change based on the country’s economy.

Available housing inventory—both for rental and purchase— is historically low, making the race for the right residence more concerning and anxiety-producing than ever before.

Plainly put, Milwaukee, like most of the rest of the country, is a sellers’ market, putting buyers at a disadvantage in terms of getting what they want where they want it and at a price they can afford. But there are ways to shop smarter to reach the desired real estate deal.

STOP RENTING In the past, renting was a temporary solution for singles and families. But for most, the temporary solution cost them more in long run, leaving them nothing but rental receipts to show for their housing “investment.” And these days renting is just as challenging—if not more so—than purchasing a home.

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According to recent statistics, Milwaukee is second only to Boston in terms of having an inadequate supply of available rental units. And that’s not going to get any better anytime soon, according to Nick Hudzinski, mortgage sales manager for $7.3 billion asset Landmark Credit Union.

“In Milwaukee, rental prices have increased 30 % over the past five years with the average price increasing from $1,100 to $1,600 per month,” Hudzinski says. “Despite the increase, in June 94% of area rental units were already occupied, which has driven more people to consider purchasing homes.”

Yet even for those financially and emotionally prepared to take that step, home purchases also may be a difficult option. Demand significantly exceeds supply, especially among entry-level startup homes, meaning prospective buyers—even those with flexible options—need to be prepared to put in a lot of legwork to find the best match, says realtor Jen Gizelbach, owner of The Gizelbach Group in Brookfield.

“The Milwaukee metro area remains highly competitive in terms of available properties,” Gizelbach explains. “We’re buyer-heavy facing an extreme housing crisis with a severe lack of inventory. That means there will be anywhere from seven to 14 offers on the table for any available property.”

Illustration by GettyImages/Muharrem huner.

AUGUST 2025 | 39

SPECIAL PERSONAL FINANCE “Meeting with your mortgage lender is the first step to take even before you start shopping. At Landmark, we do a lot of member education along those lines.”

Buyers should first set their budgets, including nonnegotiable features that are must-haves in the property they want, whether that’s easy elementary school access or a fenced yard. That can help narrow the market. It’s also critical to understand market specifics before venturing out to their first open house.

“The average Milwaukee home value is about $230,000, up 20% percent over the past three years,” the lender says.

That’s significantly higher than what otherwise would have been a 4% to 5% increase during that same period, he adds. The continued housing shortage will keep those prices climbing.

“Unfortunately, home builders simply can’t keep up,” Hudzinski adds. “Wisconsin will need to build 140,000 more homes over the next few years just to meet the demand.”

Gizelbach agrees. “We will continue to see a very competitive market for the next decade because the home shortages are just not going to go away,” she says.

“But buyers still have a chance. By partnering with local realtors and local lenders, both of whom have stronger connections and understand the market they’re considering, buyers will have a much better chance at succeeding in their search.”

Responses to available properties also depend on what the properties are, how they are priced, and where they are located, she adds. Homes for sale in Waukesha County can draw more attention than those in Milwaukee County thanks to the area’s lower property tax rates. Communities with desirable school districts also have more appeal, even among buyers who don’t yet have children. Most of all, it helps to understand sellers’ strategies, Gizelbach says.

Finally, there are no select neighborhoods or hidden enclaves that haven’t yet been discovered where the process might be easier or cheaper, she says. The secret is to search for what you want, a house that meets your needs in an area where you want to be. Be prepared, shop competitively, and work together with the experts toward the best result, she adds.

“The average time a property stays on the market depends on the price point,” she explains, noting that more affordable starter homes and luxury properties with lake frontage are the most desirable and disappear more quickly. “If the property is in good condition and marketed correctly—sellers set the price they want and let potential buyers drive up that price through bidding—then the property can be on the market anywhere from 24 to 72 hours. Multiple offers are usually the norm.”

Michael Muckian was the banking and finance writer for the Milwaukee Business Journal and is the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Financing and Accounting and The One-Day MBA in Finance and Accounting.

BE PREPARED Milwaukee’s real estate market is not an easy one to navigate, especially for first-time home buyers. In addition to knowing what they are up against, it helps if buyers have been well-prepared and counseled in ways to effectively move forward, Hudzinski says.

“What can you afford and what do you want your mortgage payment to be?” Hudzinski asks.

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Illustration by GettyImages/petovarga.

AUGUST 2025 | 41

SPECIAL SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

Packers

Should Contend Once Again

BY PAUL NOONAN

T

he public ownership structure of the Green Bay Packers is great for many reasons. It helps to keep the team in Green Bay, it allows for the team to raise funds for projects without taxpayer assistance, and most importantly for the product on the field, it protects the team from the whims of an unchecked billionaire owner.

The Packers are one of the most well-run franchises in all of sports, and the way they’ve gone about this offseason is no exception.

OFFENSE: GETTING BIGGER AND SOLVING MAN DEFENSE The Packers play a variation of the Kyle Shanahan offense, which means that they will be running the ball at a well above average rate, and while starting running back Josh Jacobs was outstanding last year, he was hit in the backfield far too often. The Packers almost always have a good offensive line, but over the last few years it’s grown light, and it’s cost them in the power running game. They also just saw the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that also loves to run, win the Super Bowl behind the biggest offensive line in the league.

Noting that, the Packers got bigger, first through the free agent acquisition of guard Aaron Banks from San Francisco.

Banks will also push guard Elgton Jenkins over to center where he should be an upgrade from incumbent Josh Myers.

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And in the draft, Green Bay used a second-round pick on 330-pound tackle Anthony Belton, who can serve as a swing tackle for the lighter Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom on the outside or flip inside as a depth guard. Improving the per play efficiency of the running game should help the offense overall, but the team also needs to solve a problem that cropped up after the first Bears game last season: man-toman defense.

The Packer receivers excel against zone, but only outside burner Christian Watson was effective against man coverage. Once Watson was lost for the season with a knee injury, the passing game struggled mightily whenever faced with man, and teams definitely noticed as the Packers faced a steady diet of man coinciding with their three-game losing streak to end the season.

If Christian Watson does recover, he likely won’t be available until the back half of the season in a best-case scenario, and so to address this issue, the Packers used a pick on a rare first round receiver in Matthew Golden of Texas.

Golden is one of the fastest players in the draft and offers rare versatility as a smaller receiver who can still dominate outside in contested catch situations, while also jumping inside to the slot.

Background pattern by GettyImages/Julie Deshaies.

Illustration by Timothy Czerniakowski.

APRIL 2025 | 43

SPECIAL SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

Golden as well as third round pick Savion Williams, should make things easier on incumbents Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks, and most importantly, solve an obvious weakness.

JEFF HAFLEY’S DEFENSE On the defensive side of the ball, the team failed to make significant upgrades and suffered a major loss in the secondary as the team cut ties with star corner Jaire Alexander, but they made some savvy depth plays that should help to minimize the impact of Alexander’s departure.

They can also count on improvement from edge rusher Lukas Van Ness in his third full season. The talented but raw pass rusher played most of last year with a serious hand injury which impacted his technical development. He is among the most athletic edge rushers in the league, and a solid run defender, but this is a make-or-break year in terms of breaking out against the pass.

Rashan Gary is also a solid bet to return to form now two years removed from an ACL tear. Gary showed flashes of his old self last season and finished strong, but should either Gary or Van Ness struggle, the team also used their fourthround pick on Texas edge rusher Barryn Sorrell. Sorrell was projected to be drafted earlier by most draft publications and seemed to fall to the fourth primarily because the class was so deep with talented edge rushers that someone was destined to. He is unlikely to be a breakout star immediately, but the Packers were sorely lacking in edge depth, and that problem is now solved.

In the secondary the Packers dipped into free agency, signing Nate Hobbs from the Raiders. Hobbs will join Keisean Nixon outside while Javon Bullard moves to the slot full time. Missing Alexander is a blow; however, he has been injury plagued for years and the team has compensated well without him. Safeties Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams serve as an excellent back line, and Carrington Valentine is one of the better coverage backups in the league.

The NFL’s salary cap makes it difficult to stay on top, but the Packers as an organization are among the very best at understanding and addressing the problems that plague their team. They employ one of the league’s best play-callers in head coach Matt LaFleur, and now with Jeff Hafley in his second year as defensive coordinator, there are no lingering obvious weak spots. The Packers should once again contend in the NFC, and more importantly, they should be extremely fun to watch.

Paul Noonan writes about the Green Bay Packers each week during football season for shepherdexpress.com.

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Background pattern by GettyImages/Julie Deshaies.

AUGUST 2025 | 45

SPECIAL PETS

The Benefits of Playgroups

BY CANINE EINSTEIN

T

he benefits of dog playgroups, or pack play as some people call it, are numerous. Dogs are naturally social beings and most have a desire to be social with other dogs or people, but if not properly supervised, the playgroup can become a source or stress, anxiety and problems for your pup.

Playgroups have many benefits for the social and outgoing pup, however, and we are big fans of them!

When a social dog joins a playgroup, they benefit from socialization, physical exercise, mental enrichment and reduced anxiety. Let's touch on each of those individually.

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SOCIALIZATION IN DOG PLAYGROUPS Dog playgroups are often comprised of dogs of varying ages, sizes and temperaments. By joining and playing with each other, these dogs learn to read social cues and interact with a variety of dogs. Much like us humans, the more dogs practice learning social cues and how to best respond the them, the better they do!

Dogs also learn how to play with different play styles. Some dogs love chasing, some love rough and tumble play, some like to tug. By being part of a well-run playgroup, dogs learn how to navigate different forms of play with each other.

EXERCISE IN DOG PLAYGROUPS Exercise is the reason most owners want their dogs to join a playgroup.

Just like a child at a playground, there is plenty of physical exercise to be had!

Running, jumping, rolling around- are all great physical outlets!

A word of caution here, be sure that the team that supervises your dogs playgroup is giving dogs breaks. It is easy for dogs to overdo it and become over threshold, making them more likely to act out. Short breaks are a wonderful way to ensure that your dog is still having a good time and not getting over aroused. Breaks do not have to be long, sometimes even a few seconds is enough to help your dog reset and focus.

Photo by GettyImages/Helen Harding.

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APRIL 2025 | 47

SPECIAL PETS MENTAL ENRICHMENT IN DOG PLAYGROUPS Dogs need to learn to interact with a variety of dog personalities in playgroups. This, along with the different environments, equipment, etc, all contribute to mental enrichment.

Mental enrichment is key for our dogs overall happiness and health.

As dogs learn to navigate different social cues, engage with different personalities and try different play styles, their brains are making connections and they are learning about the world around them! This is mental enrichment.

REDUCED ANXIETY The confidence that dogs get as they socialize, and engage in dog playgroups can help them build confidence. Confidence in dogs helps reduce their stress and anxiety. In addition, the physical and mental stimulation reduces boredom and anxiety. Playgroups are a great way to meet your social dogs needs when they are run and supervised correctly.

SOME FINAL TIPS TO SELECTING YOUR PERFECT DOG PLAYGROUP There are several options to a good dog playgroup in the area, but not all playgroups are the same. Do your homework and make sure you are setting your dog up for success.

Playgroups are not the same thing as random play at a dog park with no supervision.

For Milwaukee’s most comprehensive coverage of music, visit shepherdexpress.com

A good playgroup will introduce your dog slowly, so they are not overwhelmed and to ensure they have a positive experience. They are supervised with a good ratio of dogs to humans. Supervision of the dogs is key to prevent negative issues that can have long lasting effects on dogs.

Staff should be diligent in watching the dogs and paying close attention to the body language so they can intervene when needed. Staff should also be instituting small breaks when dogs are becoming overaroused.

The old adage is "a tired dog is a good dog", but that is not entirely true. Your dog should be content, not exhausted.

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If they come home exhausted and sleep for hours, they were overstimulated in playgroup and most likely this caused them extra stress.

If the playgroup is transporting your dog to and from, find out how your dog will be secured in the vehicle. Too many companies allow multiple dogs to ride loose in the car, not realizing that if an accident were to happen, the dogs safety is at risk. There is also no way for them to intervene if a dog fight should break out while driving- this is not safe for the staff or the dogs.

Finally, small dogs and large dogs should be separated for the safety of all. It is too easy for a larger dog to unintentionally injure a smaller dog while running and playing. This does not mean it will happen, only that it could.

MILWAUKEE PAWS DOG PLAYGROUPS FIT THE BILL At Milwaukee Paws, we take the safety and well being of all our dog clients seriously. Our playgroups are sorted by puppy, small dog and adult dog playgroups. All dogs are transported and secured in the vehicles for their safety. Each group has a staff person for every 3-4 dogs so we can quickly intervene and notice if a dog is feeling uncomfortable.

In addition, you receive a detailed report card with pictures from your dogs playgroup session. If you want your dog to have a great experience in a playgroup, contact us today!

Dawn Jacques Milwaukee Paws Pet Care and Canine Einstein work together to provide personalized pet care for Milwaukee Area Pets.

Located in Bay View at 1601 E Oklahoma Ave. Milwaukeepaws.com (262-794-2882) canine-einstein.com (414-215-9809)

APRIL 2025 | 49

CULTURE

How the Conservatory Brings Music Education to Milwaukee Milwaukee

BY DAVE LUHRSSEN

L

iberace and Gene Wilder studied at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. So did Justin Hurwitz, composer of the Oscar-winning score for La La Land, as well as recording artist Angie Swan and thousands— many thousands—of less well-known professional and amateur musicians who emerged from the Conservatory’s many programs. In recent years, the Conservatory has also become the primary connection between music education and many Milwaukee school students. And the Conservatory has reached beyond traditional classrooms, exposing even the youngest children to the salutary benefits of music.

A decade ago, the Conservatory had nearly been muted.

“The place was going under, going bankrupt,” says Executive Director Eric Tillich. “We’ve been able to balance the budget for eight straight years” through creating more opportunity for private lessons and building the endowment and strategic fundraising. With a faculty of 82 parttime and seven fulltime instructors, the Conservatory is among the largest employers of musicians in Wisconsin. And the mission has expanded well beyond the Conservatory walls to encompass and enhance the lives of countless Milwaukeeans who benefit from its outreach.

The Conservatory celebrated its 125th anniversary earlier this year and has operated since 1932 from its present location, the former mansion once owned by a music-loving industrialist from J.I. Case at 1584 N. Prospect Ave. With its graceful stairwell, stained glass and ornamental plaster, the building provides an uplifting setting as notes played on piano or cello waft from rehearsal rooms.

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“The experience of walking into the building and hearing other students making music, knowing you are part of a community, can serve as an inspiration for students,” says John Bragle, senior director of education.

But that setting is merely the central hub for a network that extends across the city to include programs in MPS, choice and charter schools, community organizations and two suburban satellite centers. The Conservatory has community partnerships at more than 50 sites currently, 10 of which are early childhood learning centers where musical instruction is provided using the SmartStart curriculum.

TAKING THE LEAD Although the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music has a lower national profile than Berklee or Julliard, it has long been recognized an innovator. The jazz classes begun in the ‘70s by Milwaukee legends Berkely Fudge and Manty Ellis led to the first accredited jazz program in the U.S. The Conservatory was also first in the U.S. to adopt Smart Start for children four and under, a program devised by Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music.

Bragle explains that the Royal Conservatory conducted a long-range study of how music effects neurological development and learning in young children. “Our Smart Start classes strike a balance between meaningful engagement with music as an art form and functioning to support early language skills. Parents sing with their children, swaying and rocking with the musical beat and the changing tempo.”

Photos courtesy of The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.

Parents are taught to keep singing and swaying with their kids at home. Tillich adds that “we want to make it accessible in every Milwaukee Zip code” through partnerships with Next Door Foundation, Sojourner Truth House and other community groups.

“I’m making it my goal to change the landscape of how schools open their doors to music education,” says Tillich.

“Music is an easy place where people can make a joyful impact on Milwaukee and change people’s lives in ways that other things can’t.” Hope remains that schools will one day be able to resume their traditional arts education.

“I’ve told MPS: My best day is when you come to us and say, ‘We don’t need you to teach our kids anymore.’ I know that the Conservatory would pivot to serving children in different ways.”

MUSIC FOR EVERYONE Bragle describes the Conservatory as a “community music school” modelled in part from settlement schools of the late 19th century whose mission included “ensuring that music was not accessible only to the elite.” He adds that the Conservatory is “one of the few organizations that has a budget item for financial aid before we raise money. We set a goal of providing financial assistance for all children to pursue their dreams. We don’t just have a mission but structures in play to enact that mission.”

Tillich and Bragle concede that in-person musical instruction is preferable for most students—post-pandemic, 95 percent of teaching is in person, but they cite the example of an injured veteran challenged by driving to one of the Conservatory’s facilities. Virtual learning is just another way of reaching more people.

As for the instruction available within the Conservatory’s walls, they can’t promise to offer everything, but they come close. “We have a faculty with a wide range of interests, proficiency and experience,” Bragle says. We try to make music accessible for everyone. We have one accordion student—we’re not the Wisconsin Conservatory of Polka but we have a faculty member who can play the instrument.

We teach ukulele. We teach songwriting. If we can’t do it, we have no problem making recommendations for where a student can go.”

David Luhrssen is coauthor of Milwaukee Rock and Roll 1950-2000: A Reflective History, published by Marquette University Press. He is Managing Editor of the Shepherd Express.

In 2019, the Conservatory began thinking about virtual learning. When Covid struck in 2020, they continued instruction without missing a beat.

AUGUST 2025 | 51

CULTURE

This Month in Milwaukee

10 Things to Do in August

BY DAVID LUHRSSEN, MICHAEL MUCKIAN, JAMIE LEE RAKE, BLAINE SCHULTZ AND BEN SLOWEY

THROUGH AUGUST 17

THROUGH AUGUST 17

Twelfth Night/Great Expectations Door Shakespeare, Sister Bay Clever concept, running two of England’s most enduring writers on alternating days. William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, a romantic comedy of mistaken identity, is featured Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, on the pitfalls of a social-climbing orphan, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Little Women: The Broadway Musical Peninsula Players, Fish Creek Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel about a smart group of young women in a society that didn’t quite know what to do with them has endured through time and media. Little Women was made into a movie at least six times and was adapted into a “Masterpiece Theatre” production. The stage musical by Allan Knee, Mindi Dickstein and Jason Howland debuted on Broadway in 2005, toured the world in the years since and has become a staple.

THROUGH AUGUST 17 Wicked Marcus Performing Arts Center Broadway’s Stephen Schwarz enjoyed an enduring hit as far back as the early ‘70s with Godspell. He returned to the top of the box offices with Wicked (2003), which revisits The Wizard of Oz from the witches’ perspective. Call it the origin story: the early life of the woman who became the Wicked Witch of the West and her friend, the Good Witch.

Maybe the problems in Oz had more to do with the Wizard?

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THROUGH AUGUST 31 Pao Houa Her: The Imaginative Landscape John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan Hmong photographer Pao Houa Her’s one-woman show illustrates the artist’s deft photographic eye, sense of community, and the soul of the Hmong who emigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s, all within the click of the lens.

Photos by GettyImages/Sean Pavone.

Lynden Sculpture Garden (3 of 4) 2.3559 x 4.875

AUGUST 2025 | 53

CULTURE

THROUGH OCTOBER 24 The Bachelors Northern Sky Theater, Peninsula State Park Fred Alley and James Kaplan, the writers of Guys on Ice, a perennially popular comedy in the Upper Midwest, returned with their take on two guys having a pizza together. The bumbling, vergingon-middle-aged bachelors are startled when the pizza is delivered by a woman they once knew.

AUGUST 2 Black Arts Fest Summerfest Grounds “African heritage is deeply woven into the fabric of this city,” said Derek Tyus, chair of Black Arts Fest MKE. “We welcome the entire Milwaukee community to come together and celebrate the vibrant talent and cultural traditions that make Black Arts Fest MKE such a unique and meaningful experience.”

Headlining this year’s musical lineup is Grammy-nominated R&B singer Carl Thomas (“Emotional” and “Summer Rain”). There will also be paint sessions and coloring kickbacks hosted

by Vibez Creative Arts Space.

AUGUST 14-17 Irish Fest Summerfest Grounds The variety of music scheduled for Milwaukee Irish Fest 2025 bears witness to Eire’s cultural influence throughout multiple genres.

Highlights include: • SuperCéilí (7 p.m., August 14, The Crossroads) SuperCéilí won't be the only act to fuse traditional Irish music with electronic sounds at this year's festival. But they may be the readiest to party. The group helm what is being billed as a trad rave Irish dance event. Super Ceili videos suggest they're not only up to helming such a function, but that doing so may be the core of the group's collective being.

• Bog Bodies (8:15 p.m., August 14, Lakefront Brewery Stage) Led by archeologist/anthropologist/ singer-songwriter Dan Maher, Bog Bodies are among the most sonically intense acts at this year’s fest. Their heavy folkiness accompanies lyrical explorations of Ireland's pre-Christian spirituality, the Emerald Isle's history and current political concerns. That heady combination is also often darkly catchy and plenty danceable.

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• The Red Hot Chilli Pipers (7:30 p.m., August 15, Cider Boys Stage) Even without the reference point of the alt band with whom they have been infamously confused, The Red Hot Chili Pipers' deal is pretty high concept: rock music with an overload of bagpipes.

Theirs may be a love-or-hate-it artistic proposition, but their novelty-born audacity is surely something to behold.

The Pipers will also play the same stage on August 16 and August 17.

• Cherish the Ladies (7:45 p.m., August 15, Aer Lingus Stage) Long before the Riverdance and Lord of the Dance manias catapulted the combination of Irish folk music and dancing into pop culture, Cherish the Ladies were a triply talented sextet of American, Irish and Scottish origin playing, dancing and singing. They have earned an avalanche of critical plaudits and a reputation as innovators within traditional music boundaries.

• Radiation (Noon, August 16, Cider Boys Stage) Celtic music is a wellspring of family acts. But not many—or any other?—can boast the lineup of two sisters and their father with a seriously goth/punk/metal aura. The heavily tattooed daddy keeps the beat from behind his drum kit while his daughters play electric bass and fiddle—the latter lass unafraid to draw inspiration from artists diverse as Zakk Wylde or Charlie Daniels.

Fox and Branch (5:30 p.m., August 16, Cedar Crest Children's Stage) The internationally traveled Milwaukee folkies have received multiple Parent's Choice Awards for doing what they have been hired to do at Irish Fest: keep children entertained and, maybe, not a little educated in the process, too. It's not unreasonable to assume the adults with those kids will derive some good from seeing the guys, too.

• Strange Boy (6:15 p.m., August 17, Lakefront Brewery Stage) Many of the best hip-hop lyrics work as vignettes—autobiographical, aspirational or fantasy—from the rappers rhyming them. So, why not adapt that aesthetic prerogative to the Irish story-telling tradition? Strange Boy's insinuation of a Celtic perspective into an artform developed in mid-‘70s New York testifies to hip-hop’s flexibility. Strange Boy is also part of Irish Fest's opening day at the Miller Lite Stage.

• The Scattering (8 p.m., August 17, Aer Lingus Stage) The musicians from the festival’s lineup who are still around on Sunday night will get together to send off attendees with a rousing benediction. It's a Milwaukee Irish Fest tradition. And it's worth staying until the gates close to witness what's likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime event.

AUGUST 17 Rory Block Shank Hall At age 15, blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Rory Block’s initial lessons came via learning directly from artists Skip James and Mississippi John Hurt. Early on she mingled in the NYC Greenwich Village scene with the likes of Maria Muldaur and Bob Dylan, the latter whom Block saluted on her recent album Positively 4th Street - A Tribute To Bob Dylan.

AUGUST 29 Midwest Antifascist Gathering Benefit & Food Drive Falcon Bowl Hosted by Black Riff Productions, the evening will feature local and regional hardcore, metal, and punk bands with proceeds benefiting MKE Community Task Force, plus a food drive donating to MKE Dream Team, local justice organizations and speakers. Starts at 6 p.m.

AUGUST 29-31 Dirtnap 25 - Dirtnap Records 25th Anniversary X-Ray Arcade The music biz is fickle, so it is impressive that Dirtnap Records has been at it for 25 years. Ken Cheppaikode founded the label in Seattle in 1999, then owned a record store in Portland in 2005 before finding his way to Milwaukee. As an enabler, Cheppaikode will present three days of his sprawling roster from Dirtnap’s nearly 200 releases including Dusk, Fox Face, Betsy Borst of Sugar Stems, Phylums, Chinese Telephones, Direct Hit! and more.

MILWAUKEE IRISH FEST

Photo courtesy of the VISIT Milwaukee Media Library.

AUGUST 2025 | 55

LIFESTYLE ASK ALLY

Dear Ally,

I need your advice about whether or not I should take a family trip.

I’m 75 years old, a widower with three daughters, two of which are married with kids. In late September, we’re invited to a family wedding in Sardinia, Italy. My daughters are thrilled with the idea of hiking on the ancient Roman road and traveling to several archaeological sites.

They’re planning on turning the weekend wedding activities into two weeks of Italian exploration.

They cannot understand why I’m not more excited about this once in a lifetime trip.

I’d describe myself as a man who is sometimes lonely and frustrated with some memory loss, aches and pains and sleeplessness. On better outlook days, I’m a wise man who sometimes enjoys life.

I lost my wife three years ago, think about her every day and feel like I’m still mourning her. The upcoming trip brings up many wonderful memories we had on our Italian honeymoon.

Besides the memories, all I can think about is my back aching from the eight- hour flight to Rome, the train ride to Naples and the 13-hour ferry ride to Olbia on the island of Sardinia.

(We’re all wondering about taking a plane and ditching the ferry idea.)

But even without the ferry, I’m extremely hesitant. How robust do I need to be for this trip?

Once in a while, I play a round of golf, but normally I take the dog out for my daily exercise. I have avoided the gym for the last three years. I’m not really keen on having my family judge me as feeble when I can’t keep up with them.

I’m really afraid of that.

Dear Kevin: Undecided,

Old age is scary, and I sense fear in your letter. It also sounds like processing your grief over the loss of your spouse took its toll.

That’s understandable. There’s some self-doubt or shame about not taking care of yourself, correct?

Try not to judge yourself, grief is all encompassing, and you deserve to cut yourself some slack.

This quote articulates the immense impact of grief:

“Grief doesn’t want to be solved. It wants to be held. Sat with. Witnessed.

It shows up like a tide, sometimes soft, sometimes devastatin ...What you’re carrying is sacred. It’s the shape of love after loss”—Tierra Stockham I provided that quote, so you could be easier on yourself and not let your grief stop you from going on the trip if you really want to go.

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If you do feel even a hint of excitement about going and ready to start a new chapter, there’s still time to get in shape (both mentally and physically) for the trip.

On the mental side, make sure you are talking to friends on a regular basis and have enough social outlets.

Do not isolate and be intentional about planning regular social activities.

On the physical side, you can join a gym or check out the tons of free exercise videos on YouTube besides playing golf and walking your dog.

Take some time to gain insight on whether or not this trip is for you.

Whatever you decide and even if you’re still undecided; plan an honest talk with your kids and share your hesitations and the best way the trip would be enjoyable to you.

Come to think of it, I’m not sure I really want to go. I keep changing my mind about it. Although I love spending time with my family, in this case, it almost feels like the downsides outweigh the benefits.

Does this mean, I’m really getting old or that I’m finally getting in touch with my limits?

I still have a month or so to make up my mind, but I’d love your take on what I should do.

Kevin: Undecided

If you decide to go, make sure you explore all options, including the potential of coming home early.

Make sure your decision is made with your self-interest and is not at all mixed up with pleasing your kids.

I have full confidence that you’ll make the best decision for you and might even have fun in the process.

Here for you,

Ally

Send your questions to AskAlly@shepex.com.

AUGUST 2025 | 57

LIFESTYLE OUT OF MY MIND

The Certainty of Uncertainty

BY PHILIP CHARD

A

nxiety, in its many permutations, is the most common mental health issue. And if you look under the mental hood of this malady, you’ll find one common denominator. Uncertainty.

What shrinks call “intolerance of uncertainty” fuels everything from generalized anxiety disorder to social anxiety to obsessive-compulsive disorder, not to mention many addictions. We humans simply dislike not knowing what the future holds, particularly when signs of disorder and chaos abound, such as climate change, political divisions, economic threats and the like.

Now, uncertainty comes in two primary packages; imposed and chosen. Some adventurous individuals enjoy the thrill of “What’s going to happen?” provided they have freely chosen to put themselves in that scenario and believe “I can handle whatever.”

PLENTY OF ANGST However, when uncertainty is imposed on us, when we feel little or no control over what happens next, there is no thrill, just plenty of angst. Our brains don’t like not knowing, which is a problem because the future is unknowable.

Most find it easier to cope with a negative certainty than an ambiguous uncertainty. For example, studies show we find it harder to handle the threat of losing a job than actually losing it.

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Even regarding our health, often, we feel more stress waiting for tests to determine if we have a problem than finding out we do.

Once we know, we feel a greater capacity to act, to address the situation. Not knowing if that negative scenario will occur at all but thinking it might usually proves harder to handle.

SURE THING? To stave off the angst of uncertainty, many folks join groups that promise a sure thing, even though they can’t actually deliver on that promise. Certain religions provide a favorite landing spot in this regard. Believing in an afterlife and surrounding oneself with others of the same ilk assuages the uncertainty awaiting us all at death’s door.

Political zealots and leaders of the MAGA personality cult promise their devotees similar clarity and peace of mind.

It’s comforting when there is no ambiguity, no alternative explanation to ponder. That removes the uncertainty and the fear.

Having an open mind, considering other viewpoints and thinking critically requires embracing the unknown.

Research shows politically polarized people exhibit a high degree of apprehension toward uncertainty. Plain and simple, it scares them, so they run home to their psychosocial version of “momma.”

WHAT TO DO? So, when the unknown rattles us, is there anything we can do? Yes, but not by following some glib nostrums from pop psychology. Rather, we must embrace a fundamental change in attitude and life perspective. Not easy.

John Allen Paulos, a mathematician, said it best: “Uncertainty is the only certainty there is. Knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.” Meaning, running away from the experience of uncertainty only magnifies its power over us, which applies to any fear we avoid.

Humans possess the ability to adapt. We do it frequently when our life situation shifts due to circumstances we can’t control, such as an illness, job change, losing a loved one, aging, etc.

As psychologist Brené Brown said, “The uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure we face every day are not optional.

Our only choice is a question of engagement.”

Face it down.

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

Not surprisingly, highly adaptable types make peace with the immutable reality of uncertainty. They accept the inevitability of change, as well as the surprises, good and bad, and life disruptions that underpin living in an entropic universe. That requires a degree of psychological and spiritual mettle, as well as an accompanying life philosophy that values learning, engagement, truth and a measure a realistic optimism.

There’s nothing wrong with establishing order and structure in our lives where and when we can. But there is something wrong with hiding from the hard and fast truth about life’s capricious nature.

Header illustration by GettyImages/VectorMine.

Illustration by GettyImages/Olegsnow.

AUGUST 2025 | 59

HEAR ME OUT DEAR RUTHIE | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION

OPPOSING EXPECTATIONS DEAR RUTHIE, I met a younger man (I’m 53; he’s 24) and instantly fell in love.

Things were great the first few months, but then he told me he wanted an open relationship. He also suggested a “don’t ask/ don’t tell” scenario regarding affairs outside our relationship.

I said, “No way” and he called me boring and basic.

He’s now threatening to end our relationship. I love him and think he’s the man for me, but I need to convince him that this is not the route for us. What can I say to him to make him see the light?

BORING & BASIC,

Brad

DEAR BRAD, I hate to break it to you, sugar, but this is not the guy for you.

You both clearly have different expectations of a relationship, so a long-term situation likely isn’t in the cards for you two.

I’m not saying his expectations are wrong and yours are right.

I’m saying that they’re just not compatible. I’m also not saying it’s your age difference; although, as you both get older, your ideas of a perfect relationship might change. Don’t wait for that change, however. If you’re both unwilling to give on your relationship expectations, it’s best to move on and find a Mr. Right looking for the same commitments you need from a relationship.

XXOO

Ruthie

Have a question for Ruthie? Want to share an event with her? Contact Ruthie at dearruthie@shepex.com.

Follow her on social media, too!

Facebook: Dear Ruthie | Instagram: RuthieKeester | Twitter: @DearRuthie

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DEAR RUTHIE BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Ruthie's Social Calendar AUGUST 3 “CYNDI LAUPER: GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN FAREWELL TOUR” AT AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE AMPHITHEATER (639 E. SUMMERFEST PLACE): One of the country’s favorite pop divas bids adieux with a final stop in Cream City. Party the night away with the muchloved diva during this 7:30 p.m. concert after you get tickets via www.ticketmaster.com.

AUGUST 7 LGBTQ+ PROGRESS AWARDS AT POTAWATOMI CASINO AND HOTEL (1721 W. CANAL ST.): Join me and alderman Peter Burgelis as we host an evening in honor of local heroes making a difference in our community.

Stop by www.shepherdexpress.com/shepherdevents to reserve your spot at the 5 p.m. gala.

AUGUST 8 MILWAUKEE AREA COFFEE CONNECTION AT STYLE POP CAFÉ (934 S. FIFTH ST.): Wisconsin’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce hosts this 8:30 a.m. networking event. Grab a cup of joe on the way to work, check out this welcoming café and make new business contacts—all before the day gets underway!

AUGUST 14 “RESPECT! A TRIBUTE TO THE QUEEN OF SOUL” AT CATHEDRAL SQUARE PARK (520 E. WELLS ST.): Part of Jazz in the Park’s Soulful Summer series, this ode to Aretha Franklin promises to get you on your feet and make musical memories. The free concert starts at 6 p.m.

AUGUST 17 MUUMUUS & MIMOSAS AT POP (124 W. NATIONAL AVE.): Grab a muumuu and your besties and get ready for a Sunday Funday for the books. Join the Pop team (also donning their finest muumuus) from noon to 4 p.m. for bottomless mimosas, drag queens, craft cocktails, day drinking and more!

OUTREACH MAGIC PRIDE FESTIVAL 2025 AT WARNER PARK (1681 NORTHPORT DRIVE, MADISON): Keep the pride love flowing with this 1-6 p.m. bash in Mad City. The all-ages fun features live performances, vendors, food and more. Swing by www.outreachmagicfestival.org for details.

AUGUST 18 AUGUST 18—DITA’S DISCO AT LACAGE NITECLUB (801 S. SECOND ST.): Local legend Dita Von kicks off her monthly show with this 6 p.m. event.

(Doors open at 5 p.m.). Kick off your Saturday night with hits from the ‘70s alongside Dita and her special guests.

AUGUST 21 MATTEO LANE AT THE MILWAUKEE IMPROV (20110 LOWER UNION ST., BROOKFIELD): One of the country’s quickest rising comics (and one of the LGBTQ+ community’s favorite funny men), Matteo Lane returns with this must-see show. Get tickets to his 7 p.m. standup at www.improv.com/milwaukee.

AUGUST 22-24 MEXICAN FIESTA AT HENRY W. MAIER/SUMMERFEST FESTIVAL PARK (639 E. SUMMERFEST PLACE): Three days of fun await the moment you step through the gates of this popular fest. The live music alone is worth the price of admission, not to mention all of that fantastic food!

See www.mexicanfiesta.org for more.

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HEAR ME OUT | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION

Whither Our LGBTQ+ Community?

BY PAUL MASTERSON

O

ver time, any community, social, religious, ethnic or otherwise, experiences growth and contraction as needs, trends, politics and other fateful influences cause the inevitable ebb and flow of its lifecycle. Our local LGBTQ community is also subject to those changes, of course. Some are natural and positive; others are unfortunate and avoidable.

Founded in 1980 in San Francisco with Milwaukee’s chapter following soon thereafter, the National Association of Black and White Men Together (NABWMT) aspired to confront racism in the LGBTQ community and beyond. It also offered a safe space for interracial relationships to flourish in environments that were not particularly accepting. In a city plagued by a history of segregation, NABWMT fought for the equality of its members of color who routinely suffered the indignity of oppression perpetrated within gay community.

On several occasions, the Milwaukee chapter hosted the NABWMT’s national convention. Over the decades, buttressed by the general improvement of race relations locally and nationally, its efforts eclipsed the need for a political mission. With interracial relationships more widely accepted and general integration of Milwaukee’s LGBTQ scene accomplished (although imperfectly), the group evolved. While remaining socially active and visible, its membership, now mostly couples, dwindled with the passage of time. Last year, the Milwaukee chapter formally closed.

THIS IS GONE Then, on Sunday morning, March 9, just weeks before its 57th anniversary, This Is It!, Wisconsin’s longest continuously operating LGBTQ bar, announced its permanent closure.

The community, patrons and staff were all taken by surprise at the sudden and shocking end to the institution that was This Is It! 62 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

What began in 1968 as a hidden gay lounge with an unmarked entryway on East Wells Street just off Cathedral Square, had, however inadvertently—based on its longevity and storied-past—become a local historic landmark.

Opened by Catherine Brehm and Michael Latona, the bar’s first chapter lasted over four decades. Decorated in midcentury kitsch with stained glass lamps suspended from the ceiling on gold chains with vinyl upholstered booths, comfortable bar stools and the unassuming interior of a classic Milwaukee lounge, it catered to a mixed, mostly older male, clientele.

In 2010 George Schneider became its manager and owner in 2016. Thus began the metamorphosis into a dance and drag venue targeting more contemporary patrons.

Chapter two would be marked first by the removal of those famously cozy booths and replacement of bar stools. A new logo was introduced in 2018. Eventually an extensive and costly expansion and renovation completed in 2019 would double the bar’s space. Then the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

UNFORESEEN BLOW The disruption of the bar’s revenue stream nearly closed This Is It! However, thanks to the intervention of drag legend Trixie Mattel who became a part-owner and an online fundraising campaign in 2020, the bar managed to continue operations. Seemingly, the crisis had passed. The waning of the pandemic brought back the crowds and even allowed another round of renovations. Then, the City of Milwaukee undertook an eight-month long street renovation that impacted local parking and access to the bar itself.

Once again, fate had dealt an unforeseen financial blow.

This time, however, Schneider decided not to reach out to partner Trixie Mattel or the community for a lifeline, closing the bar for good.

Photo of bricks with neon lights by GettyImages/ComicSans.

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HEAR ME OUT | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION

Ironically, postmortem fund raisers did take place that brought in nearly three times the amount of those held in 2020. When Schneider launched an online fundraising campaign to cover the closure’s legal fees, he raised $7,700.

General manager Darnel Watson responded with a similar effort to support staff now left without income. It raised over $23,500. A third for the entertainers garnered $895 in donations. Meanwhile, graffiti scrawled on the This is It! façade expressed the community’s grief and frustration as well as unkind epithets directed towards Mattel.

Just two months later, on May 16, the Racine-based LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, suddenly shuttered its doors after a dozen years. The terse announcement citing the center’s financial issues and the current political climate as the cause left staff and patrons baffled. News reports at the time quoted a former board member, who had left six months prior, saying the Center seemed in relative financial order. In fact, according to the Center’s 2023 IRS 990 form, salaries increased 30% implying the addition of staff or raises. Follow up outreach efforts seeking further information by local news outlets went unanswered.

Their questions remain. The Center’s social media page’s last entry was posted in July, and the comments section is blocked.

All of these changes may be considered the simple facts of life. Nothing is permanent, of course. Burn out, ennui or other issues take their toll. Other LGBTQ+ organizations, especially those run by volunteers, remain vibrant and impactful in their service to the community. One could argue that, as a private business, This Is It!’s closure did not affect anyone beyond its clientele. However, as one of the 10 oldest gay bars in the nation, it had a greater historical importance. One wonders why the city itself, or entities like VISIT Milwaukee or the East Town Association did not intervene to help save This Is It! …or if they were even asked to.

Regarding the LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin, beyond the lack of transparency (a pervasive issue in the grander scheme of things but in the upper-echelons of LGBTQ leadership in particular) is the stunning lack of determination of those tasked with the stewardship of our community legacy to make things work, one way or the other (with or without a salary), especially in these political times when we need it most.

Paul Masterson is an LGBTQ activist and writer and has served on the boards of the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, Milwaukee Pride, GAMMA and other organizations.

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Photo of bricks with neon lights by GettyImages/ComicSans.

AUGUST 2025 | 65

ART FOR ART'S SAKE

From the City

That Always Sweeps

BY ART KUMBALEK

I

’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a? So listen, as a guy who said back in May that fall couldn’t come soon enough, I alert you to the fact that we be enwrapped by the month named August in these modern times, and I don’t know what to think about that, I kid you not.

It’s the eighth month of the year according to my “Strumpets of the South Seas” wall calendar, so shouldn’t it be named October, or Octgust?

Cripes, “oct” is the Latin prefix that means “eight,” like an octopus and what-not, what the fock.

So yeah, we got what they call the Dog Days this month—or diēs caniculārēs as they would say in the ancient land of fair Latinus before it sank to the bottom of the sea, I’ve heard.

August, a month chock-packed with 31 days of dwindling yet likely sweltering summertime days with annoying insects a’plenty, a month bereft of not nary one kind of ballyhooed holiday whenst the working-man or woman gets an extra officialized day off from their crappy job so’s to enjoy a couple, three grilled hotdogs with an ice-cold bottled beer outdoors somewheres.

We certainly need an August holiday for all to celebrate.

How ’bout Elvis Aaron Presley Day, died on an August 16, and he’s already been on a U.S. postage stamp. Call it National Hound Dog Day, what the fock.

And speaking of dog days, my buddy Little Jimmy Iodine is up by his cold-water cabin there north of Hayward on the Upper Eau Claire Lake. And on his way up just past Black River Falls on Highway 27, he sees this sign near a farmhouse, “Talking Dog for Sale.” Here’s the story: Jimmy figures “what the fock,” so he stops and rings the doorbell. Elderly guy says the dog’s in the backyard. So Jimmy goes out back and sees this mutt sitting there in a lawn chair. “You talk?” Jimmy asks. “Does a bear shit in the woods?” the mutt says. “You got to be jerking my beefaroni,” Jimmy says, “so, what’s the story?”

Dog says, “I discovered my gift as a pup and thought maybe I could help the government and earn some nice coin to buy my own food that’d be better than the crap leftovers I’d get from some fockstick owner.

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So I got in touch with the CIA and in no time they had me flying from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, ’cause no one figured a dumb dog would be eavesdropping the conversations. I was their most valuable spy for eight years—that’s 56, my time. But flying around the goddamn globe all the time got old. I wasn’t getting any younger and wanted to settle down. So I got a job at an airport and did some undercover security work— mostly wandering near suspicious characters, sniffing butts and such.

“Well sir, to make a long story longer, I uncovered a score of nefarious dealings and was awarded a bunch of medals.

Settled down with some bitch, had a mess of puppies and now I’m retired.”

Jimmy’s flabber is abso-focking-lutely gasted. He asks the owner how much he wants for the dog. Owner says, “Ten bucks.” Jimmy says “done deal” but asks, “This dog is in-focking-credible, so why the hell on earth would you sell him?” Owner says, “Did that dog talk about the CIA? Yeah, right. That mutt is so full of crap. You can’t believe a focking word he says and I’m sick of it.” Ba-ding!

August. So what with the Irish Fest down by the lakefront (Aug. 14-17), I thought it a nice thing to share a little story with you’s afflicted with affection for “Ye Ole Sot,” and it goes something like this: Catholic guy enters the confessional box. To his right there’s a full bar with Guinness on tap. To his left is a shelf laden with an array of the finest Cuban cigars not to mention a well-thumbed stack of gentleman’s periodicals of a variety to succor any and all preferential needs. He hears the priest clear his throat from the other side of the confessional window, and so the guy says: “Father, forgive me, for it’s been a heck of awhile since I’ve been to confession, but I’ll admit that the confessional box is much more inviting these days.” The priest says: “Yes, my son. And now you will leave to go say 500 ‘Hail Mary’s’ in penance for trespassing Father’s side of the confessional.” Ba-ding!

Okey-doke, time to let the dog out; so, as the song goes, “See You in September,” when we can say “Go Pack!” ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.

Photo by Jerrel Kruschke by GettyImages/Lacheev.

Photo edit by Timothy Czerniakowski.