Milwaukee Justice Center’s Shannon Allen on Free Civil Legal Aid Services for Low Income People in Milwaukee County. — MKE SPEAKS: Conversations with Milwaukeeans
FOOD & DRINK
20 Try Tess for Fabulous
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Amid the current ongoing chaos, Trump 2.0 has embraced several pet projects, including the elimination of organized Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, or DEI, in everything from government offices to educational institutions to enterprises of all types.
DEI is not a new concept. Government-based DEI efforts can be traced back to 1865 when Civil War veterans and their widows were given preferential hiring treatment during the post-war era. This preference was continued through the 1920s and even through 1944, when the Veterans Preference Act expanded opportunities for disabled veterans. Socially, the notion further spiked in 1936, when the Randolph-Sheppard Act, signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt, mandated that the government purchase products made by the blind.
Through John F. Kennedy’s “Affirmative Action” program and the rise of the Civil Rights Movement, the concept and those covered by it expanded to include a racial component to make sure everyone received fair treatment in the workplace and through employment opportunities. More recently, debate on DEI increased, both pro and con, under Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
Trump’s opposition to DEI comes with his claim that such initiatives promote discrimination, particularly against white people, and stand in the way of applying merit-based hiring and disciplinary practices. Woe be to any enterprises that rely on federal government grants, funding, and/or other favors to conduct their business who haven’t wiped away the “stain” of DEI.
But not everybody feels that way. Not surprisingly, Jill Underly, recently reelected as Wisconsin’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, says Wisconsin public school systems will not comply with Trump’s DEI directive, putting at risk as much as $841 million in federal funding, of which roughly $82 million goes to Milwaukee Public Schools. DEI, Underly believes, lies at the heart of public education and can’t be left behind.
But what about private businesses?
TAPPING A WIDER TALENT BASE
Of those firms we did talk to, the overriding sentiment was that an active DEI program helps attract and support a wider array of talent. For Clarios, a global manufacturer of low voltage batteries that they claim can be found in one in every three vehicles worldwide, finding the right talent is critical to the Glendale-based company’s growth and success. Internal DEI initiatives can only help the process.
“At Clarios, we recognize that the diversity of our workforce is a competitive advantage,” says Christian Riedel, director of global external communication responding in writing from his office in Hannover, Germany. “Our approach to inclusion and diversity ensures our hiring and promotion processes are free from bias and that our leadership teams have the self-knowledge and tools to respect differences and turn them into advantages. This approach has allowed us to harness the strength of an increasingly diverse and highly skilled team, and to set record years in (fiscal years) ‘22, ‘23 and ‘24.”
Citing Clarios’ 2023 Sustainability Report, Reidel points to sections that explain the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability in its manufacturing and distribution processes, as well as equitable and honest hiring practices.
“Discrimination in any form, including race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military service or any other protected status, is strictly prohibited at Clarios,” the study says. “Incorporating inclusion and diversity into our company culture enables us to leverage the full spectrum of talent, fostering an environment where everyone can contribute meaningfully to our shared success, benefiting employees, customers, and investors alike.”
Company success is based on mining the capabilities and talent from a staff noted for its diversity, Reidel continues. “We continue to educate our leadership teams on the importance of self-knowledge and respecting others’ differences as we continue on our journey to harness the power of an increasingly diverse, broad, and highly skilled talent pool,” he adds.
FAIRNESS FOR EVERYONE
At the University of Wisconsin Credit Union, the notion of being “woke” to all employees and the members they serve dates back to 2013. That’s when the $5.6 billion Madisonbased financial institution, with 35 branches throughout the state, including 13 in the Greater Milwaukee area, undertook a formal study of the demographics of all their various markets and how staff hires should reflect the evolving member base.
“We recognized two imperatives,” says UWCU President & CEO Paul Kundert. “First, as a financial institution with a hospitality mindset, we need to create a warm, welcoming environment for everyone. Second, with a growing workforce in a competitive employment market, it’s essential for us to attract potential employees from the entire community.”
UWCU’s DEI emphasis is not focused on one department or set of employees, Kundert explains, but rather something the permeates through the credit union and is “owned” by all employees.
“We expanded our managers' toolkits with cultural competency training starting back in 2013,” the chief executive says. “This training helped our team understand how their own backgrounds and experiences shape their perspectives, while building skills to communicate effectively with all colleagues and members.”
The credit union strives to recruit capable employees from the communities which the branches serve. If employment applications don’t come from across the community, UWCU looks for the reason why. If the credit union uncovers an unintentional barrier to service for one or more community groups, they work to rectify the situation and open up credit union services to more potential employees and members. (As member-owned financial cooperatives, credit unions serve members, not customers.)
“Many people are raising questions these days about DEI,” Kundert says. “It’s important to be humble and curious enough to take notice, to ask questions, and to listen. So, we’ve been listening, and I think most of the concerns are about fairness, and the perception that some diversity or equity efforts set out to address past unfairness through shortcuts which force certain outcomes. We’ve never taken that approach. To us, equity is about fairness for everyone.”
SERVING A NATION OF DIFFERENCES
The notion of unfairness or inequity as a central element of DEI is one of the issues driving the current controversy, according to Kevin Giglinto, president and CEO for the Marcus Performing Arts Center. He says it’s just not true.
“These days people are triggered by the use of acronyms,” Giglinto explains. “People come from a wide variety of backgrounds. We want our work to reflect the people we serve. Our goal is to be the cultural heartbeat of Milwaukee.”
With its connection to the Broadway Over America series, Giglinto says MPAC programming already is diverse, taking its cue in part from the visiting Broadway-based productions that in recent years have expanded their focus and feature more culturally diverse programming.
“Look at the arts,” Giglinto says. “Every kind of art offers a sense of whomever the artist is. Artists mirror their culture, and they share their work and themselves, which translates into our strategy to serve a culturally diverse audience.
“At the PAC, there is no downside to DEI, which strives to attract more culturally diverse audiences and employees. The diverse programs shed more light on different cultures, eliminating cultural barriers to help everyone better understand their neighbors and appreciate their culture, Giglinto explains.
“As a country we’re all neighbors and we’re all living together,” he adds. “We’re a nation of many different people, and that is our real strength. It’s really just good business.”
If your company believes in DEI, we salute you. Please contact us if you want us to mention your company in a follow up piece on DEI.
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.
Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Months Ago?
Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Months Ago?
BY WILLIAM HOLAHAN
As the results of the 2024 election made clear, the voters are concerned about the affordability of their daily lives—groceries, gasoline, rental and mortgage rates—and their plans for the future—retirement, educating their children, and perhaps some fun. Trump campaigned on the promise to bring these costs down, and voters gave him a narrow victory.
It is now clear that there was and is no coherent plan to address affordability, just the opposite. Due to Trump's tariff policy, prices are projected to rise, not fall, and the unemployment rate is projected to be higher than the low level that he inherited. The tariff is a consumer tax, and the resulting revenue will help fund his planned income tax cuts. The Trump tariffs, combined with the proposed income tax cuts, will result in a massive income redistribution upward with the largest share going to the wealthiest Americans.
Faced with this outcome, Democrats have an opportunity to gain voter support from those who seek better management of the U.S. economy. They could start by responding directly to the economic illiteracy of Project 2025 and Elon Musk's DOGE.
TAX PAYER DOLLARS
The premise of Project 2025 is that public spending is, by definition, waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. From this perspective mass indiscriminate firings at federal agencies are good; any tasks no longer performed by government will either be taken on by the private sector, or they were not worth doing in the first place. This is a misdirection intended to advance the twin goals of deregulation and of financing Trump's tax cuts.
To the contrary, a market system requires an efficient public sector to provide those goods and services that cannot be produced and distributed efficiently by a market of profit-seeking firms. For example, national defense protects all citizens within a country, whether or not they pay taxes. Similarly, when nature strikes with hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, disaster relief is a public responsibility performed by state, local or federal governments, or via publicprivate partnerships, and financed by taxation or contributions.
PUBLIC GOODS: RESEARCH LABS AND CENTRAL BANKING
Consider two additional examples of public goods that have been threatened lately: First, independent research labs essential to scientific advance,
such as childhood cancer research and anti-virus vaccines, and second, the independent Federal Reserve System that controls inflation and unemployment through the management of the money supply.
Scientific research contributes to foundational knowledge that, once discovered, is disseminated to permit application in business and government. The integrity of the research is enhanced by the independence of the researchers, the evaluation and validation of the research results occurs through the rigors of peer review, not political review. It is funded through federal, state, local and private grants, and from tuition revenue generated by the joint research/teaching enterprise in universities.
A recent example of the relationship between basic and applied research is the development of the Covid-19 vaccine. The understanding of the mRNA technology was the result of decades of basic research in government and university labs. When Covid-19 hit, a specific vaccine was developed within weeks based on that foundational knowledge.
Photo by GettyImages-nicoletaionescu.
Another public good—seldom recognized as such—is the "money supply"—basically cash and bank deposits circulating in our economy.) The Federal Reserve System controls this amount in order to pursue twin goals: low unemployment and low inflation. Because achieving these objectives requires long range planning and analysis, the "Fed" must remain independent of short-run political pressures from politicians. This independence adds to the confidence of long-term investors and is key to economic growth and stability. Clearly those investors value that independence; when Trump recently threatened to remove Fed chair, Jerome Powell, the stock market abruptly dropped 972 points in response and bounced back when Trump relented.
VOTERS NEED MORE ASSURANCE
In upcoming elections, voters should have a choice among candidates who are knowledgeable about economics and experienced in handling complex economic policy. For example, it is likely that several candidates in the 2028 presidential primaries will be successful governors claiming they would be good stewards of the economy—e.g.,
Beshear, Shapiro, Pritzker, Moore, Newsom, Whitmer.—e.g., Andy Beshear, Josh Shapiro, JB Pritzker, Wes Moore, Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer.
That list of governors raises a key problem with our elections: when elections with a multiple candidate field are decided by plurality rule, multiple candidates whose experience and policy positions are similar tend to split the voters most closely aligned with them. This split permits less-preferred candidates to win the primary by small margins. Rank choice voting is a superior way to match candidates to the policy preferences of the majority of voters when there are multiple candidates. (The June WISDEM convention provides a good opportunity to advance the conversation on ranked choice voting. See https://shepherdexpress.com/ news/issue-of-the-month/rankedchoice-voting-beware-of-no-labelsthird-party-candi/ for more on how rank-choice voting works.)
William Holahan is emeritus professor and former chair of UWM’s department of economics.
Queer Zine Archive Project Preserves LGBTQ+ DIY History
Queer Zine Archive Project Preserves LGBTQ+ DIY History
BY BEN SLOWEY
Atreasure trove of LGBTQ+ history lies in an unassuming Riverwest duplex home. Since 2003, the Queer Zine Archive Project (QZAP) has preserved DIY and small press publications of queer communities from around the world. What started as the combined zine collections of cofounders Milo Miller and Christopher Wilde has ballooned to over 4,500 archived items in their physical collection and about 600 in their digital database.
QZAP operates with a collectivist, non-hierarchical and non-commodified approach. Their mission is to keep these chronicles of LGBTQ+ history alive while not gatekeeping any such queer experiences. While not a nonprofit, QZAP does take interns, and they open their archive to researchers and historians.
Miller is a Milwaukee native, and Wilde is from the Twin Cities. Both zine makers themselves, Miller and Wilde met around 2001 through queer and DIY punk circles in California. Once they moved to Milwaukee together, QZAP started as an outlet for them to compile collections of queer folks telling their own stories. At the time, Miller and Wilde had about 350 zines between the two of them.
SHARING INFORMATION
“People have been writing about all these experiences about queerness in all different forms, and they’ve been selfpublishing them in these weird little booklets, maybe making 100 copies,” Miller explains. “As folks who are interested in organizing and community-building, how do we share this information? That’s how we were thinking.”
“It was fortuitous meeting people who were into zine librarianship,” Wilde adds. “Our collection policies are basically to replicate how zines are usually traded or purchased in communities, like zine fests or through the mail.”
The QZAP collection encompasses a variety of topics ranging from music to short stories to sexual health to trans liberation to drag culture. It contains material from at least 15 different countries and in over a dozen different languages, including from Argentina, Palestine, South Africa, India, Ireland and Italy. QZAP stickers have been spotted as far away as Halifax, Nova Scotia and Melbourne, Australia.
Milo Miller (left) and Christopher Wilde (right) Photo Courtesy
BUILDING CONNECTIONS
“Zines have permeated over a lot of cultures,” Wilde notes. “There are definitely folks doing similar things to us in different parts of the world and it’s good to build connections to these things. We’re just one node along this whole constellation of the world where zine culture happens.”
The collection preserves rarities like an original Bikini Kill zine as well as a Vice Versa periodical from 1947, which is one of the earliest known lesbian magazines. QZAP spotlights different items in their collection by way of their “Zine of the Gay” posts.
Early on, QZAP participated in community programs like Project Q with the MKE LGBT Community Center, and they helped Milwaukee Zine Fest for a number of years. QZAP continues to vend at community events and fests, plus they facilitate zine-making workshops in Milwaukee and beyond. Miller and Wilde have also participated in lectures and panels at universities, libraries, and conferences.
DIGITAL COMMUNITIES
As Miller points out, in today’s age, queer digital communities have become vulnerable to surveillance and censorship by the reactionary, conservative powers that be. “It makes it not conducive to actually building communities and exchanging knowledge. The world has changed in ways where the most commercially accessible spaces have selfcensored to the point of being ineffective.”
Miller and Wilde’s current goal is to take a full inventory of everything in QZAP, which has been an ongoing process of theirs since COVID hit. QZAP has merchandise for sale, including their latest “toy book” zine Queer Space Communism - An Illustrated Manifesto as well as shirts and buttons. Got a zine for QZAP? Fill out their form at https://link.edgepilot.com/s/c154fe71/ cWuduWzU40KZHfWyNbmOsw?u=https://gittings.qzap. org/zine-donation-form/. Follow QZAP on Instagram @ queerzines or on Bluesky @qzap.bluesky.social.
“These aren’t just activist tools but peoples’ lives,” Miller shares. “The way that we build communities through storytelling has become way more important to us, and I don’t know if we’d want to be doing anything else right now. The other things in our lives keep feeding into this.”
Miller and Wilde plan to revamp the QZAP website and acquire some new furniture in the near future. A wish list for items they need is posted on their website, and they take monetary donations as well. New zines land in their collection every week, after all.
Ben Slowey is a Milwaukee writer and regular contributor to shepherdexpress.com
Milwaukee Justice Center’s Shannon Allen on Free Civil Legal Aid Services for Low Income People in Milwaukee County Milwaukee Justice Center’s Shannon Allen on Free Civil Legal Aid Services for Low Income People in Milwaukee County
BY TOM JENZ
Sometimes, the best of Milwaukee can be hiding in a basement. Witness the Milwaukee Justice Center’s home on the G9 lower floor of the Milwaukee County Courthouse. The Milwaukee Justice Center (MJC) serves self-represented litigants to access the justice system even if they cannot afford an attorney or do not qualify for legal aid.
According to statistics, 70% of Americans are unable to afford legal counsel. Because of lack of education and legal literacy, these Americans are unprepared to navigate the complexities of the courts. This is where the MJC steps in, offering free civil legal aid services for low-income people in Milwaukee County.
Former Milwaukee County Chief Judge Michael J. Skwierawski, who died a year ago, was one of the founders of the Milwaukee Justice Center 16 years ago. He said, “We needed to raise the consciousness level of Milwaukee lawyers about their social responsibility to help disadvantaged people get legal advice,” later adding, “I have been a lawyer for 52 years, but nothing I have done in my career has had as big an impact on this community as this justice center. Helping 10,000 people a year is beyond our wildest dreams.”
To examine the legal process, I turned to the President of the Milwaukee Justice Center Foundation, attorney Shannon Allen, who has been advocating for low-income people once a month for 16 years at the Justice Center.
Allen can relate to those in need. She grew up in La Crosse, her family below the poverty line. “Our electricity got cut off a lot,” she told me. “My two brothers and I were raised by our mom, who was a single parent.” When Allen was 20, her mother died of cancer, and she became legal guardian for both her brothers. “My older brother has an intellectual disability, and he still lives with me,” she said. Despite this hardship, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and eventually practiced law in Milwaukee. “Because of my background, I feel invested in the Milwaukee Justice Center’s efforts to help the less fortunate,” she added.
I met Allen in the basement of the Milwaukee County Courthouse to observe the counseling of a client in need. Near the shoeshine stand, I found the AmeriCorps Courthouse Navigators, a program of the Milwaukee Justice Center. The navigators patrol the information desk and prepare clients for the multiple steps in the counseling process. They also provide referrals and make appointments for clients seeking legal advice. In 2024, the AmeriCorps Navigator Program completed 951 navigations, and answered 32,189 questions.
Photo by Tom Jenz.
ATTORNEY ALLEN COUNSELS A CLIENT
Allen guided me down the hall and into a vast, warmly lit room divided into small cubicles, each with a small table and chairs. The format dictates that volunteer lawyers meet with one client at a time. For over a two-hour period, each lawyer might counsel two or three clients, who wait their turns in rows of chairs near the room’s entrance.
Describing the MJC services, Allen explained, “We call it a three-legged stool. One, Milwaukee County who supplies the space and several employees. Two, Marquette Law School who supplies the law students. Three, Milwaukee Bar Association Foundation who raises the money to keep MJC going.”
We settled into a cubicle occupied by Allen, a first-year Marquette law student and today’s client, an AsianAmerican woman who has resided in the U.S. for 10 years. It became clear the woman was still learning our justice system and was struggling with the English language. She explained her legal problem: the attempt to recover money she had paid to a building contractor to fix the heating system in her house. She explained that the contractor never finished the job but kept her payment. Because of the heat loss, her children had to spend the winter sleeping in a closet to keep warm. According to documents, the building contractor owed her over $9,000. The legal issue? How does the homeowner get her money back?
To prove her legal position, the woman brought stacks of paperwork, agreement documents, and detailed contract transactions including emails.
Allen explained the confidentiality forms, and the woman signed them. After Allen asked a series of questions, the legal advice filtered down to two options. Option one: the woman could work her way through the maze of small claims court. Option two: she could hire a lawyer, who would write a legal letter to the construction firm, threatening a lawsuit. Allen added that she could refer a lawyer who would charge a reasonable rate.
Following up, Allen offered legal guidance on the two options: filing in small claims court versus hiring an attorney to send a letter to the contractor. But she warned, “Even if you won in small claims court, you may never get your money if the contractor refuses to pay the judgement.”
“But this is America,” the woman said and suggested the police could track down the contractor and collect her money.
Allen shook her head, “That won’t work. There are no criminal charges because your case falls under civil law.” Then, Allen explained how to file a claim in small claims court. However, if the woman chose to hire a lawyer and file a lawsuit, she could call the Milwaukee Lawyers Referral Service to be referred to a lawyer who may charge lower rates.
When the consultation ended, the woman decided to investigate the possibility of going through small claims court. Allen referred her to a person who would help her start the process, and added she could return to the MJC at a future date for additional legal counseling.
MILWAUKEE JUSTICE CENTER SERVICES
At the MJC, Allen and her fellow attorneys offer “brief” legal services for free. They do not represent indigent clients. As I observed, these civil services include initial consultations or referrals to other legal aid providers to help individuals understand their rights and navigate the legal system.
The MJC volunteer attorneys typically focus on civil legal matters, which include family law such as divorce, child support and custody, also evictions and housing law, probate, debt/collections and small claims as well as name changes, expungement of criminal records, foreclosure on mortgages and domestic violence victims.
Allen provided me access to the programs provided by the Justice Center:
• Civil legal advice provided by volunteer lawyers. Issues include tenant resources, landlord resources, unemployment insurance, health insurance and online forms and e-filing.
• Brief in-person Legal Advice Clinic to clients at theMilwaukee County Courthouse.
• Mobile Legal Clinic bringing legal services out of the courthouse and into neighborhoods where it may be difficult for people to receive help.
• Civil Legal Hotline for people seeking help, but not quite sure where to start at (414) 278-3965.
• Family Forms Clinic helping clients navigate procedural barriers such as filing for divorce, the need to modify child support, placement or custody, preparing for small claims court, or other common civil issues like changing their names.
• Adult Guardianship Clinic provides forms assistance to clients who are seeking to establish guardianship for a loved one.
• Electronic Real Estate Transfer Returns so that property is correctly transferred between parties.
HOW IS THE MILWAUKEE JUSTICE CENTER FUNDED?
Later, I asked Allen about funding the Milwaukee Justice Center. She is president of the Milwaukee Bar Association Foundation, which acts as the fiscal agent for the Milwaukee Justice Center.
She told me the Foundation is in the process of fundraising. “We just went over $1 million of a $3 million sustainability goal,” she said. “So far, we’ve done this fund raising through contributions from local law firms, and we are expanding our efforts into the greater Milwaukee community—financial institutions, businesses, family foundations and the large nonprofits.”
I asked how she was going about that goal.
She said, “We are and will be meeting community stakeholders, big corporations, financial institutions, banks, credit unions, and large foundations like the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the Johnson Foundation.” She had done her research, adding, “For the big foundations, social justice is one of their required components, and the Milwaukee Justice Center is founded on social justice. We need their support. Since the pandemic, people needing help from the Justice Center has multiplied to currently over 10,000 clients a year. Our goal is to have the Justice Center viable for the coming decades.”
The Milwaukee Bar Association Foundation also conducts three fundraising activities within the legal community annually: MJC 5k Run for Justice, a golf outing and a campaign within law firms similar to United Way. This generates approximately $100,00 annually to support four attorneys at the Milwaukee Justice Center. The MBA Foundation aims to raise $3 million to bolster the corpus of funds at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and create an enduring way to support the attorneys that make the MJC services possible.
Do you have a legal problem that might need civil legal advice? If you need help, call the Civil Legal Helpline offered by the Milwaukee Justice Center, at (414) 278-3965
Tom Jenz is a Milwaukee writer and photographer. He writes the Central City Stories column for shepherdexpress.com.
Try Tess for Fabulous Food
BY HAZEL WHEATON
Tucked away on a quiet corner just a short hop from the busy intersection of North and Oakland (2499 N. Bartlett Ave) Tess is a true neighborhood gem, offering fabulous food in a modest, cozy setting. The restaurant opened in 2002 and has kept a surprisingly low profile—it’s not a restaurant you can discover just in passing, so dining here can feel like you’ve stumbled across someone’s best-kept secret. I visited on a Friday night in order to sample Tess’ fish fry, and brought along two guests so we could try as many dishes as possible.
The interior is modest and unassuming; a cozy front room is arranged around the bar, with an adjoining dining room. The real treasure is the back courtyard. A canopy covers a stretch of seating for roughly 20 that is enclosed during the cooler months; as soon as the weather permits, entire back patio is opened for seating. Surrounded by a privacy fence and lush greenery, it’s one of the city’s quietest and most pleasant spots for outside dining.
As we were settling in, one of the most beautiful bowls of cioppino I’ve seen was whisked past us to another table. Indeed, we were spoiled for choice when it came to fish and seafood, with Faroe Island salmon, seafood pasta, grilled mahi mahi, and the aforementioned Cioppino on the regular menu; this evening, there was a glazed barramundi special on offer as well as the fish fry. Although we didn’t have to navigate any food restrictions, it was good to see that gluten-free options weren’t an afterthought but were plentiful and clearly marked.
Header photo by Timothy Czerniakowski. Photos of food by Hazel Wheaton.
For appetizers, we ordered clam chowder, crab cake and lamb empanadas. For entrées, we had the fish fry combo, homemade ravioli, and black vinegar-braised short ribs.
FRESH FLAVORS
Throughout the meal, we were impressed by the freshness of the flavors, the lightness of the kitchen’s approach, and the unexpected elements that kept things interesting. The base of the clam chowder was a brothy rather than thickened cream, letting the flavors shine. The delicately spiced empanadas were paired with house-made tzatziki and a minted green pea hummus that was a refreshing contrast to the earthiness of the lamb. The crab cake was the sole exception to the “lighter is better” approach. The single large cake was loaded with crabmeat and topped with a Creole remoulade; dense and flavorful, it could easily have been paired with a salad for a complete dinner.
Instead of the standard cod, the fish fry featured perch or barramundi—the former panko-coated and the latter in a tempura beer batter. Both were perfectly cooked; the fish was tender and flavorful while the coatings were pleasantly light and crisp. On the side were sweet potato fries and a red-cabbage slaw in a whisper-light dressing of sesame oil and rice vinegar. Under the fork-tender short ribs, where one might expect mashed potatoes, was a bed of creamy lemon-garlic risotto, which still hit the comfort-food spot without making me sleepy. In case an alarm clock was desired, however, the dish was sprinkled with sliced crispy jalapeno chips.
My only complaint about any of our menu choices was that the combination of sauteed spinach and roasted grape tomatoes that topped the short ribs was perfectly cooked but overly salty—an easy problem to enough fix.
After dithering over whether or not we had room for dessert, we ordered one serving of Tess’s signature Butterscotch Budino, with three spoons. It was worth finding the space for the thick Italian custard with its rich butterscotch sauce, whipped cream, and a sprinkling of pink salt to cut the sweetness.
For beverages, as with the rest of their menu, Tess doesn’t offer a ton of options, but everything that makes their cut is so interesting that deciding what to order from the menu of craft cocktails, wine, and beer can be difficult. The wine list favors those buying by the bottle, with many more choices than by the glass. Beer drinkers are well-served with a nice assortment of out-of-the-ordinary selections—not surprising, given the restaurant’s supportive partnerships with craft breweries throughout the Midwest. (Tess offers monthly dinners with specially designed beer and menu pairings.)
Convenient to the east side and UWM, Tess is a great choice for a date night, hosting visitors, or just an evening out when you want a bit of a splurge but don’t want to break the bank. The upscale menu contains enough sophisticated surprises to impress whomever you need to, while the atmosphere is low key, and prices are surprisingly reasonable. As price points zoom upward, Tess is an upscale-dining bargains, with only one entrée—the grilled bistro steak ($37)— breaking the $30 mark.
Hazel Wheaton is a Milwaukee writer. She has had the privilege of learning about food by talking to local experts and tasting everything she was offered—including almond pastries in Morocco, whisky and haggis in Orkney, escargot in Lyon, spiced lamb in Abu Dhabi and dried shrimp at the night market in Taipei.
Fragrant Lily Dumplings Fragrant Lily Dumplings
BY ARI LEVAUX
Eating my first pot sticker belongs on the list of life experiences that I’ll never forget. It happened at the Oriental Garden Chinese restaurant in my hometown. They were labeled Peking Ravioli, and I had a good feeling about them from the start, all plump and golden brown. I found them filled with an intoxicating mix of pork, ginger and green onion, and I was transformed. The restaurant’s all-you-can-eat buffet offered a full range of classic Chinese delicacies. But after my first taste of Peking Ravioli, those succulent dumplings were all I desired. I returned many times with friends, piled my teenaged plate high, and my companions and I would feast on those exotic morsels like Greek warriors upon fat oxen.
Years later, as an old man surveying his springtime garden for signs of life, I noted a clump of chives growing densely by a fence post. Then I spotted the green glint of Egyptian walking onions partially buried by the remains of a dried tomato bush. And of course, I saw the red-hued green of my tall and rotund garlic shoots. These were the only living bits of green in the garden, are all members of the allium family, also known as the lily family, which also includes shallots, onions, garlic and chives. Some people call it the onion family. Some people call the edible members of the allium family the “fragrant lilies.”
I recalled that old expression, “he knows his onions,” which means that someone has in-depth knowledge of a particular subject. In my case the subject was onions themselves, and thus I know my onions about onions. I felt it was time to write a column about the onions of which I have so much knowledge but couldn’t decide upon which facet of the onion-verse I would write.
Hours later my son Remy walked in the door, home from school, and announced that he wanted to make pot stickers. And just like that I had my onion topic. Because you can’t have a pot sticker without some kind of allium inside. I may not know pot stickers as well as I know my onions, but I knew that much.
Remy is the kind of cook who, if you say, “Let’s make spaghetti,” will dump some flour on the counter, make a well in the middle for some eggs, and whip out a batch of fresh pasta dough to run though the pasta cutting machine. So, when he said he wanted to make pot stickers, I knew he didn’t mean from a bag in the freezer.
POWDERED WHITE PEPPER
We took an inventory of our ingredients, noting that in addition to our many onions, we also had ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar and even powdered white pepper, which really helps when you want that Oriental flavor turned up to 11. For the meat, we decided to use ground elk mixed with pork fat, both of which we had on hand.
Ultimately, only one ingredient was missing. Wrappers in which to enclose the filling. I resigned myself to head to the supermarket for a pack of those wonton wrappers they sell in little packages, but Remy was in no rush to wait for a trip to the store. Instead, he rolled up his sleeves, dumped some flour on the counter, and began kneading some dough. In a few minutes he had it rolled out. It was a bit on the thick side but made glorious pot stickers with a uniquely puffy wrapper.
For you Normies who don’t have an in-house dough maker on call, I recommend those store-bought wonton wrappers. And if you don’t have a meat grinder, pre-ground burger works just fine.
As you search or shop for your green onions, whether in the backyard, farmers market or grocery store, keep your eyes peeled for garlic chives, the queen of the fragrant lilies. They are easily identified by their flat, garlic-like leaves, as opposed to the round and hollow leaves of onions and normal chives. Finding garlic chives can be a bit of an effort, but your dumplings—or at least your dumpling eaters—will thank you. But as long as there is a hint of allium green in your pot stickers, they will do what they are supposed to do in your mouth.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground meat, ideally pork, or pork mixed with shrimp, or pork mixed with beef
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1/4 cup minced shallot or onion
4 minced green onions or a handful of chopped chives, garlic tops, or garlic chives
1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
2 leaves Napa cabbage, minced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
A pinch of white pepper
One package wonton wrappers
Thoroughly mix all of the ingredients, save the wrappers, in a large bowl. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes.
While it marinates, there is a little operation to do with the wrappers. They come out of the package square, but you want them round for pot sticker folding. So find a glass with a diameter close in length to the length of the side of the wrapper. Press the glass down to cut a circle and peel away the corners on the outside of the glass.
Spoon a teaspoon of filling into the center of each wrapper. Dip your fingers in a glass of water and rub your wet fingers on the perimeter of the wrapper. Then fold it over the filling and press down on the edges. Pan-fry or steam your dumplings how you like them.
Ari LeVaux has written about food for The Atlantic Online, Outside Online and Alternet.
Photo
Photo by Ari Levaux.
Opening the doors to Thelma Carol Wine Merchants at 600 W. Virginia St. is like the opening scene of a great play. You find yourself in a new world. Nothing looks the way you’re accustomed to. You feel the earth moving beneath you.
The owners of Thelma Carol, Rebecca Sue Button and Jerel W Hall, cultivate a wine shop with “the precision of a well-managed bodega with the welcome comfort of a used bookshop.” No, this isn’t a bottle shop. And it isn’t a bar.
Thelma Carol: More than a Wine Shop
BY GAETANO MARANGELLI
Rebecca and Jerel curate an experience “designed to actively change the way people approach and conceptualize the role of beverages in their lives ....”
All you have to do is open the doors of Thelma Carol, and Rebecca and Jerel will show you what they mean.
INTERVIEW WITH REBECCA SUE BUTTON AND JEREL W. HALL OF THELMA CAROL WINE MERCHANTS
Gaetano Marangelli: What inspired you to create a shop which blends “the precision of a well-managed bodega with the welcome comfort of a used bookshop?”
Rebecca Sue Button: We wanted to curate our shop to be a space that offers guests an aesthetically unique and warm environment as the backdrop to shopping and enjoying the best bottles in Milwaukee. Our space was designed to actively change the way people approach and conceptualize the role of beverages in their lives; to enhance the allure of wine and spirits, and to redefine the act of buying such products. The aesthetic and feel of the store reflect who we are as individuals—we have poured a lot of our heart and soul into the design, décor, and energy—and we hope it reflects the kind of comfort and ease we all hope to feel when enjoying a glass.
GM: What led each of you into the world of wine, beer, and spirits?
Jerel W. Hall: For me, it started in retail with beer. I was working in Bloomington, Ind., in a very well-stocked grocery store with an amazing beer selection and was asked to run the beer program at a restaurant that had just opened. I started to study wine after working in another restaurant and eventually passed the certified level with the Court of Master Sommeliers. A brief two years to earn a master of library science [degree] has been the only break in my career in the beverage industry.
RSB: I have been working in hospitality since I was 16 years old, beginning as a hostess in fine dining. Since then, in addition to fine dining, I have worked in breweries, distilleries, small plate concepts, and cocktail lounges. What really brought me to learn, experience, taste, and love wine? Meeting Jerel, in the most organic way: in a restaurant. Meeting the individual who would become my life partner, who already had nine years on me (in life) and in the industry, opened up an entire world for me. The world was wine; and we have been here ever since.
GM: Which three fermented or distilled beverages do each of you wish more people would visit Thelma Carol to drink? And why?
JWH: Armagnac, rum and Riesling. Armagnac is the more potent cousin to cognac and is often a fraction of the cost. Rum is probably the most stylistically varied spirit out there, versatile in a drink and laughably inexpensive. Some of the best versions rival the tip top of other spirits. And similarly, Riesling is one of the most nuanced and delicious options for wine drinkers. From the overtly sweet to the bonedry versions, Riesling is a highly misunderstood gem that deserves more attention.
RSB: Vermouth, gin, out-of-norm sparkling. Our customers know how much we love vermouth, and it is such a pleasure to introduce this special fortified wine to individuals who have only considered it a cocktail ingredient. Vermouth has so many delicious iterations; it is highly sippable on its own and can open a new world of flavor to every palette. Gin is my favorite spirit and is distilled in so many forms, it is not simply pine and juniper.
Location and native botanicals, fruit, vegetation, etc. play a huge role in the profile of a distillery’s gin; from South Africa, to Scotland, to Japan, and beyond—a region’s gin can reflect a deep sense of place and story. I am a huge sparkling wine drinker, and we have a lovely time sourcing bubbles that are different from the daily Prosecco or Cava (we love those too, of course!) English, Argentinian, Portuguese, German, Austrian—these are just a handful of interesting iterations of bubbles that are all unique and delicious.
SIX INSPIRING BOOKS
Books and libraries, as well as fermented beverages inspire Button and Hall. I asked them which books they'd like Thelma Carol Wine Merchant’s visitors to read.
Jerel
Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy : Creative, innovative, endlessly hilarious.
Beachbum Berry’s Potions of the Caribbean: Arguably the most delightful and informative history of tiki culture in America.
Haruki Murakami’s Killing Commendatore: While a bit lengthy, the characters are fascinating, and the story is a total trip.
Rebecca
Jane Austen’s Persuasion: We all know Pride & Prejudice is the star, but for me Persuasion is her best.
Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights : Full of rather insane individuals who wreak havoc in the name of love.
Suze Rotolo’s A Freewheelin’ Time: A Memoir of Greenwich Village in the Sixties : Suze Rotolo, an American artist and Bob Dylan’s girlfriend in the early sixties, casts the characters and tells her side of the story with such passion, wit, and forthrightness.
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.
Outdoor Dining Guide Outdoor Dining Guide
BOTANAS RESTAURANT
816 S. Fifth St. Milwaukee (414) 672-3755
Botanasrestaurant.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.
CAFÉ CORAZON
Multi locations in Bayview, Riverwest & Brown Deer Corazonmilwaukee.com
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.
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 Botana's Restaurant.
Photo courtesy of Café Corazon.
Photo courtesy of Café Manna.
Header photo by GettyImages/Pedro Costa Simeao.
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.
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.
FIVE O’CLOCK STEAKHOUSE
2416 W. State St.
Milwaukee
(414) 342-3553
Fiveoclocksteakhouse.com
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.
SALA
2613 E Hampshire St.
Milwaukee (414) 964-2611
saladining.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.
THE
PASTA TREE
1503 N. Farwell Ave.
Milwaukee (414) 276-8867
pastatreemilwaukee.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.
ROUNDHOUSE BEER GARDEN
Photo courtesy of Centro.
Photo courtesy of The Pasta Tree.
Photo courtesy of Five O'Clock Steakhouse.
Photo courtesy of Roundhouse Beer Garden.
Photo courtesy of SALA.
10 Great Places TO DRINK OUTSIDE THIS SUMMER
BY SANDY REITMAN
We wait all year to enjoy a Milwaukee summer, hopefully on a nice warm day with a cool drink and a beautiful view. Whether you want to look out at Lake Michigan, over our city skyline or relax long one of our many river banks, there are plenty of places to enjoy your favorite beverages. From beer gardens to restaurants, Milwaukeeans can enjoy a wide range of al fresco eating and drinking, weather permitting.
Sandy Reitman reviews restaurants for the Let’s Eat! column at shepherdexpress.com.
LION'S TALE BREWING CO.
8520 W. North Ave.
The Neenah brand’s Wauwatosa location has outdoor seating perfect for the entire family, including wellbehaved dogs on leashes. It’s a beer garden, taproom and brewery with a packed schedule of live music, food trucks and community events like yoga, bingo and more. They pride themselves on “marrying Old World favorites with innovation and new trends.”
THE COOPERAGE
822 S. Water St.
There’s always something fun happening at The Cooperage, especially in the summertime. The space is hard to beat with a perfect view of the Hoan Bridge, good food trucks, great drinks and enough room for anyone who wants to join. Whether you’re there to enjoy a patio beverage, a local concert, a flea market or a private event, it’s always a guaranteed good time here.
FERCH'S BEACHSIDE GRILLE
100 E. Oak Creek Pkwy., South Milwaukee.
Located at the very southern tip of Grant Park in Oak Creek, Ferch’s Beachside Grille has some of the best food, drink and dessert selection you could ask for on the shores of Lake Michigan. Post up at one of their picnic tables, bring your own chairs or set up your spot on the sand and enjoy Wisconsin favorites like craft beer, brats, burgers and frozen custard.
MILWAUKEE SAIL LOFT
649 E Erie St,
The last stop in the southern tip of the Third Ward before you hit the Summerfest grounds, Sail Loft is always bumping on a lovely summer evening. You can roll up in your car, walk in on foot or dock with your boat riverside to enjoy the nautical-themed, healthier food items and well-rounded drink menu. It’s only “minutes away, [but] miles away from ordinary!”
Photo by GettyImages/Lichtwolke.
NESSUN DORMA
2778 N. Weil St.
Nestled on a cozy Riverwest corner is the neighborhood gem Nessun Dorma. The cozy inside is hard to beat, but with open windows and treelined streets, summertime at Nessun Dorma is primo real estate for a cool beverage. Known for their extensive beer list and brunch specials, you can find good wine, cocktails and tasty sandwiches any day of the week.
NOMAD WORLD PUB
1401 E. Brady St.
Nothing says summer quite like a full patio at Brady Street’s Nomad World Pub, now extending into the cross street of N. Warren Avenue. Colorful furniture, lively beats and can’t-miss sporting events make it one of the best gathering spots on a nice summer day. Their indoor bar, outdoor space and coffee shop next door make it an equal opportunity for morning, noon or night.
PUFFERFISH
411 E. Mason St.
“Milwaukee's only rooftop tropical bar” breathes new life into our Downtown, which could use more bars atop buildings. Located on the 6th floor of 411 E Mason St., it’s centrally located to all Downtown offices, making it the perfect happy hour spot for summer nights in Milwaukee. Enjoy tropicalinspired creations and island-style mixology in a sky-high tiki lounge.
TAYLORS
795 N. Jefferson St.
Cathedral Square has long featured Downtown hot spots, but they seem to be disappearing lately. Still, Taylors remains a strong presence on the corner of East Wells and North Jefferson streets. Crossing the rainbow crosswalk that feels like you’re playing the piano keys with your footsteps, you enter a bar known for its cool crowd, good spirits, and even better times, open late.
THE WICKED HOP
345 N. Broadway
The Third Ward is always a hot spot, and The Wicked Hop is a hometown classic. Known for its Bloody Marys and brunches, it’s also one of the best people-watching spots in the city with foot traffic never disappointing. It’s the perfect place to start or end your day of walking around town shopping, sightseeing and taste testing all the great flavors of Milwaukee.
VOYAGER
422 E. Lincoln Ave.
Voyager is a wine bar unlike all others— it’s upbeat and unpretentious with a menu of some of the best wines from around the world. On a nice day, outdoor tables off Kinnickinnic Avenue are filled with neighborhood regulars playing chess, swapping creative ideas and emanating la joie de vie. This is your next best bet if you can’t make it to Europe this summer.
Summer Arts Guide June-August 2025
It’s
Almost Time to ‘Play in the Woods’
BY ANNE SIEGEL
Awelcome reminder that summer is on its way is the arrival of American Players Theatre’s “Book of Summer.” For Milwaukee APT fans, it’s time to plot out one’s summer (and/or fall) excursion to the theater’s 46th season.
This summer, an especially rich assortment of plays will be offered by this nationally recognized company.
In addition to the return of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the leafy Hill Theater, a number of exciting new works can be discovered in its smaller (airconditioned) Touchstone Theater. It’s all coming together in APT’s welldesigned performing spaces in Spring Green, Wis.
It's no surprise to discover that A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the most-performed play in APT’s history. In fact, Midsummer was the first play staged here. It opened on July 18, 1980. Midsummer was an annual part of the theater company’s early years and remains a popular addition for today’s audiences. The laugh-out-loud comedy takes place mostly in the woods, which makes it an ideal vehicle for the Hill Theater, which is surrounded by a forest. The current Midsummer is the company’s 12th production of the play. Shakespeare remains a foundation for APT, and this year’s Midsummer will share the stage with another of Shakespeare’s plays, The Winter’s Tale
The 2025 season is dedicated to actor-director Jonathan Smoots, a Shorewood resident who died earlier this year. Perhaps no other actor was so familiar to APT audiences than Smoots, who appeared in plays ranging from Shakespeare’s King Lear to Arthur Miller’s All My Sons According to APT managing director Sara Young, this year’s show program will have a page dedicated to Smoots’ contributions to APT.
For those who’ve never visited APT, this summer might be the perfect time to explore one of Wisconsin’s artistic treasures. There’s something here for the entire family to enjoy.
Here is a schedule of productions by month to help plan your summer. Performances are held in two distinct spaces: the large, outdoor Hill Theater, and the more intimate, indoor Touchstone Theater.
Tickets to all performances are available now. Contact americanplayers.org for tickets and information.
Photo by Liz Lauren.
JUNE
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: This is the play that started it all at APT nearly 50 years ago. There’s a reason why this play keeps popping up in the repertory. It’s the perfect combination of fantasy, fun and laughter, all set in a mystical woods. It’s almost as if the play was written specifically for the natural setting one finds under the stars at APT. Opens in the Hill Theater June 7.
Noel Coward’s Fallen Angels : One of the wittiest playwrights of all time graces the roster this season, with a play that’s new to APT audiences. See how two married women’s emotions are tossed about with the imminent arrival of an old flame. Opens in the Hill Theater June 13.
William Inge’s Picnic : A nod to classics of the past, this play explores how lives in a sleepy, Midwestern town are upended by the arrival of a sexy stranger. For some of the women living here, it’s the first time they’ve been tempted to explore the world on the arm of this handsome man. Opens in the Hill Theater June 28.
Yasmina Reza’s Art : Remember the recent uproar over a banana taped to a wall with duct tape that sold for millions? Well, here’s a play that examines a similar phenomenon. Two men’s friendship is tested by the acquisition of a seemingly blank canvas. Is it art? Is it trash? Will the friendship survive such a diverse reaction to a work of art? Opens in the Touchtone Theater June 13.
Gavin Dillon Lawrence’s The Death of Chuck Brown: The world premiere of this play explores the relationship of father and son. They lock horns over the future of a family barbershop, to the beat of a homegrown musical style that has been part of this community for generations. Opens in the Hill Theater June 24.
AUGUST
Nilo Cruz’s Anna in the Tropics : This poetic and romantic play resonates both warmth and heat beneath the scorching Florida sun. This Pulitzer Prize-winning play takes an unyielding look at the lives of those who toil in cigar-making factories.
It explores their passions, their relationships and the unique culture that binds them. Opens in the Hill Theater August 1.
William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale: A bittersweet and human story about the miracle of forgiveness, from one of history’s best-known storytellers. This is an opportunity to see this rarely produced classic, featuring some of APT’s best-known performers. Opens in the Hill Theater August 8.
Nina Raine’s Tribes by: How does a family stay intact once its secrets bubble to the forefront? For one son, who is deaf, long-held notions are put into a new perspective. Audiences should note that the play contains some spicy language. Some portions of this play are presented in American Sign Language. Opens in the Touchstone Theater August 2.
OPENING IN FALL:
Patrick Barlow’s The 39 Steps. Opens in the Touchstone Theater October 22.
5 POINTS ART GALLERY 5ptsartgallery.com
ACACIA THEATRE COMPANY acaciatheatre.com
Georgiana & Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley, June 13-29
As Acacia’s website says, “A charming, spirited and moving sequel fit for any season.” is the final part of the Jane Austen-inspired trilogy by Margot Melcon and Lauren Gunderson. If true to Acacia’s earlier productions of the trilogy, the dialogue will be smart and snappy while proper to the Austen era. (David Luhrssen)
Most of us learned of the indefatigable nanny through the 1964 Disney adaptation with Julie Andrews in the title role. The movie was a musical staging of P.L. Travers’ novels about the magical addition to a London household. The Sherman brothers’ production opened on London’s West End in 2004 and has charmed audiences worldwide. (David Luhrssen)
Mary Poppins Junior, June 10-12
The Wedding Singer, July 31-Aug. 10
Six: Teen Edition, Aug. 5-7
BOULEVARD THEATER milwaukeeboulevardtheatre.com
THE BOX THEATRE CO. boxtheatreco.org
Adventures of Flat Stanely Jr., Aug. 7-10.
BRONZEVILLE ARTS ENSEMBLE facebook.com/BronzevilleArtsEnsemble
BRONZEVILLE CENTER FOR THE ARTS Bcamke.org
BROOM STREET THEATRE, MADISON bstonline.org
Are We Delicious: Aqua Tofana, June
CABARET MILWAUKEE facebook.com/cabmke
CAPITAL CITY THEATRE, MADISON capitalcitytheatre.org
CARROLL PLAYERS carroll-players.com
CARTHAGE COLLEGE THEATRE carthage.edu/arts/experience-the-arts/theatre-dance-performances
CATEY OTT DANCE COLLECTIVE cateyott.com
CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST stjohncathedral.corg Wednesday concert series
Photo by GettyImages/benkrut.
CEDARBURG ART MUSEUM cedarburgartmuseum.org
Models, Muses, & Figures, through Aug. 3
CEDARBURG CULTURAL CENTER cedarburgculturalcenter.org
Coming Together/Best Friends: Celebrating the Pets We Love, through June 1
CEDARBURG PERFORMING ARTS CENTER cedarburgpac.com
CHANT CLAIRE CHAMBER CHOIR chantclaire.org
Palestrina 500, May 31 (St. Marcus Lutheran Church)
CHARLES ALLIS ART MUSEUM charlesallis.org
Waves and Wings: Masterpieces in Motion, through Sept. 28
CHAZEN MUSEUM OF ART (UW-MADISON) chazen.wisc.edu
Anamika Singh: Corpus, through July 13
CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY OF SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN choralartsonline.org
CIVIC MUSIC MKE civicmusicmilwaukee.org
THE CONSTRUCTIVISTS theconstructivists.org
CONCORD CHAMBER ORCHESTRA concordorchestra.org
Wimmer Communities Concert, July 3 (Boerner Botanical Gardens)
Concert, Aug. 24 (Lion’s Park Bandshell, Franklin)
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY cuw.edu
COVERED BRIDGE ART STUDIO TOUR cedarburgartistsguild.com
DANCECIRCUS dancecircus.org
DANCEWORKS PERFORMANCE MKE danceworksmke.org
Rhythmworks 2025, July
Danceworks on Tap 2025, August
DAVID BARNETT GALLERY davidbarnettgallery.com
DAWN SPRINGER DANCE PROJECT dawnspringer.com
DEAD MAN’S CARNIVAL facebook.com/Dead-Mans-Carnival-338362982860387
DOOR COUNTY CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR, JUNE 5-8 (PENINSULA SCHOOL OF ART, FISH CREEK doorcountrycontemporary.com
It’s “not just an art exhibition; it’s a celebration of our community’s rich cultural heritage and a platform for innovative artists to connect with collectors, enthusiasts, and fellow creators. From stunning visual art to engaging performances, this event encapsulates the spirit of Midwest creativity and camaraderie,” says co-organizer Shane McAdams. Six galleries from Milwaukee and dozens more from around the Midwest will be featured. (David Luhrssen)
DOOR SHAKESPEARE
doorshakespeare.com
Twelfth Night, July 2-Aug. 16
Shakespeare excelled in many modes, including romantic comedies such as Twelfth Night. Some have even claimed him as the genre’s originator, and certainly this comedy of identity confusion and gender-role fluidity might have raised eyebrows and caused mirth when it debuted in 1602. (David Luhrssen)
Great Expectations, July 2-Aug. 16
EARLY MUSIC NOW earlymusicnow.org
EX FABULA exfabula.org
FALLS PATIO PLAYERS fallspatioplayers.com
James and the Giant Peach Jr. , June 27
What a great idea: a summer camp for creative kids whose end goal is to produce a play for the public. And how appropriate to choose one of Roald Dahl’s sinisterly witty stories, the tale of an orphan and his hero’s journey into … a giant peach. (David Luhrssen)
FESTIVAL CITY SYMPHONY festivalcitysymphony.org
FINE ARTS QUARTET fineartsquartet.com
Mozart, July 13 (Zelazo Center)
FIRST STAGE firststage.org
FLORENTINE OPERA florentineopera.org
Pasta and Puccini, June 13-14
FORTE THEATRE COMPANY fortetheatrecompany.org
FORWARD THEATER, MADISON forwardtheater.com
FOUR SEASONS THEATRE, MADISON fourseasonstheatre.com
FRANKLY MUSIC franklymusic.org
FRESCO OPERA THEATRE, MADISON frescoopera.com
GALLERY 218
gallery218.com
GALLERY 224
Gallery224.org
GALLERY 2622
gallery2622.com
GALLERY NIGHT AND DAY, JULY 18-19
gallerynightmke.com
Milwaukee’s original night and day art hop happens quarterly with a focus on galleries concentrated in the Third Ward, East Town and Walker’s Point. (David Luhrssen)
GERMANTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
gsdwi.org
GREEN GALLERY
Thegreengallery.biz
GREENDALE COMMUNITY THEATRE greendaletheatre.org
Disney Newsies: The Broadway Musical, July 24-26, July 31-Aug. 2
GROHMANN MUSEUM msoe.edu/grohmann-museum
The Kalmbach Art Collection: Spanning Words and Imagery, through Aug. 19
GROVE GALLERY gallerygrove.com
HAGGERTY MUSEUM OF ART marquette.edu/haggerty-museum
Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Mary L. Nohl Fund Fellowships for Individual Artists, June 12-Aug. 2
Hot Days/Hot Nights: Photographs from the Collection, June 12-Aug. 2
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MUSEUM harley-davidson.com
“Creating a Legend: Art & Engineering at Harley-Davidson,” through spring 2027
“Ezy Ryders: History & Tradition, Heart & Soul,” through 2026
Photographer Cate Dingley’s book Ezy Ryders focuses on New York City’s Black riding culture today. Images and text from her book have been chosen for the new exhibition at the HarleyDavidson Museum. All of Dingley’s photographs are in black and white. “There’s a sense of timelessness to them, black and white can be a very expressive medium,” curator Ann Sinfield says. (David Luhrssen)
H. F. JOHNSON GALLERY OF ART carthage.edu/art-gallery
HOVER CRAFT hovercraftmke.com
HYPERLOCAL MKE hyperlocalmke.com
INSPIRATION STUDIOS ART GALLERY inspirationstudiosgallery.com
Joe Stanke: The Books, June
Theatrical Tendencies, The Sum of Us, June
Wehr Nature Center Photography Exhibit, July
Original One Act Play Festival, July
DuBri Production, Tartuffe, August
Rock/Paper/Scissors Exhibit, August
IRISH CULTURAL AND HERITAGE CENTER ichc.net
JAMES MAY GALLERY jamesmaygallery.com
Door County Contemporary Art Fair, June 5-8
JAZZ GALLERY CENTER FOR THE ARTS jazzgallerycenterforarts.org
Free Improvisation, Saturdays
Milwaukee Jazz Institute, Sundays Open Gallery Exhibition, Thursdays
JEWISH MUSEUM MILWAUKEE jewishmuseummilwaukee.org
“Choices of Consequence: Denmark and the Holocaust,” through Sept. 7
“In Denmark, where most of the population saw themselves as integrally linked to others through shared humanity, the Nazi perpetrated Holocaust largely failed as roughly 95% of Danish Jewry was saved by heroic grassroots decisions and actions,” says curator Molly Dubin.
“In a time of distressing division, this exhibit holds up an extraordinary example and lesser-known story of allyship mobilized by ordinary people.” (David Luhrssen)
JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER jmkac.org/home.html
“Sam Barsky: It’s Not the Same Without You,” through July 20
Pao Houa Her: The Imaginative Landscape, through Aug. 31
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. (Michael Muckian)
“Ashwini Bhat: Reverberating Self,” through Oct. 19
KETTLE MORAINE PLAYHOUSE kmplayhouse.com
KETTLE MORAINE SYMPHONY kmsymphony.org
KIM STORAGE GALLERY kimstoragegallery.com
April Behnke: Mind Games, July 18Aug. 16
Tim Anderson: Stay the Course, Aug. 22-Sept. 27
KITH AND KIN THEATRE COLLECTIVE kithandkintheatre.com
KNEELAND-WALKER HOUSE wauwatosahistoricalsociety.org
39th Annual Firefly Art Fair, Aug. 2-3
KOHLER MEMORIAL THEATER kohlerfoundation.org
KO-THI DANCE COMPANY ko-thi.org
LAKE ARTS PROJECT lakeartsproject.com
LAKE COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE lakecountryplayhousewi.org
Aristocats Kids , June 20-28
The Lion Kids Jr. , July 31-Aug. 10
LAKEFRONT FESTIVAL OF ART, JUNE 13-15 mam.org
2025 will be the 60th year for the festival, one of the earliest annual events to take advantage of Milwaukee’s beautiful lakefront. The grounds of the Milwaukee Art Museum will be the setting for numerous arts and crafts vendors along with food and music. (David Luhrssen)
LATINO ARTS, INC. latinoartsinc.org
Issis Macias: Her Colorful World: Su Mundo de Colores, through June 6
The Big Idea XII: My Superpower is Art, June 25-Aug. 25
LILY PAD GALLERY WEST lilypadgallery.com
Yana Movchan: Expression & Enchantment, through June 1
Reimagining Time– Echoes of the Past, Visions of the Future: The Artwork of Tim Merrett and Richard Whitten , June 4-July 13
Ocean House 2025, through Sept. 3
LUTHERAN A CAPELLA CHOIR OF MILWAUKEE lutheranacapella.org
LYNDEN SCULPTURE GARDEN lyndensculpturegarden.org
And then Down Became Up: New Works by Sonja Thomsen Through June 1
Sonja Thomsen weaves an intricate narrative across time and space, bringing together the legacies of pioneering women artists through a multidisciplinary exploration of balance, perspective and maternal lineage. The new work, visible just beyond the gallery’s windows, is echoed in the interior space in small, light-modulating objects, large-scale mural prints and transparencies and photographs. (Morton Shlabotnik)
MADISON BALLET madisonballet.org
LAKEFRONT FESTIVAL OF ART
Photo courtesy of the VISIT Milwaukee Media Library.
MADISON MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART mmoca.org
Art Fair on the Square, June 12-13
MADISON THEATRE GUILD madisontheatreguild.org
MAKING MUSIC VOCAL ARTS mmvocalarts.com
MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER marcuscenter.org
MJ (Broadway Series), May 27-June 1
The winner of four Tony Awards is a jukebox musical displaying the life of Michael Jackson through a roster of his hits. Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage wrote the book for what turned out as—after Covid delayed its debut—one of the highest grossing Broadway shows ever. (David Luhrssen) Wicked, July 30-Aug. 17
MARN ART + CULTURE HUB marnarts.org
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY PLAYERS SOCIETY marquette.presence.io/organization/ Marquette-players-society
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY THEATRE marquette.edu/communication/theatre-arts.php
MASTER SINGERS OF MILWAUKEE mastersingersofmilwaukee.org
MATERIAL STUDIOS + GALLERY materialstudiosandgallery.com
MEMORIES DINNER THEATRE memoriesballroom.com
MENOMONEE FALLS SYMPHONY www.mfso.net
An American Celebration, Aug. 30 (Old Falls Village Historical Park)
MIAD GALLERY AT THE AVE galleryattheave.miad.edu
MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM mam.org
Gertrude Abercrombie: The Whole World is a Mystery, through July 19
The Brilliance of the Spanish World: El Greco, Velazquez, Zurbaran, through July 27
In the last century El Greco was recognized as a forerunner of modern art, with the ecstasy and visionary impulses of his stylized images as a bridge between Greek Orthodox iconography and German Expressionism. This exhibit positions El Greco with his Spanish Baroque successors, Diego Velázquez and Francisco de Zuburán. (David Luhrssen)
Considered one of the 19th century’s greatest symphonic composers, Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 is epic in design. The sublime opening Allegro signals the conflicts and turbulent currents ahead. Conductor Ken-David Masur pairs Brahms with Colored Field by contemporary neo-Romantic American composer Aaron Jay Kernis. (David Luhrssen)
Great Moments in Grand Opera, June 13-15
MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA myso.org
MILWAUKEE YOUTH THEATRE milwaukeeyouththeatre.org
MKE BLACK THEATRE FESTIVAL blackartsmke.org
MKE STUDIO TOUR mkestudiotour.com
MORNING STAR PRODUCTIONS morningstarproductions.org
MUSEUM OF WISCONSIN ART wisconsinart.org
Franklin Boggs: The Art of Tanning, through June 8
Fred Stonehouse: No Agenda, through June 8
When Milwaukee-born Fred Stonehouse attended staff meetings as at UW-Madison art school, he often found himself disinterested in the administrative details. So, he did what any artist would do—he doodled. Using whatever paper scraps or file folders currently in hand, the neo-surrealist explored the unusual creatures that inhabited his inner mental landscape. Unlike non-artists, he did not discard these casual efforts, and now they form the core of this exhibit. (Michael Muckian)
Sherrie Levine: After Russell Lee, through July 27
MOWA | DTN (Saint Kate-The Arts Hotel)
Jessica Calderwood: Material Girl, through June 1
MOWA on the Lake (St. John’s on the Lake)
NEXT ACT THEATRE nextact.org
NŌ STUDIOS nostudios.com
Dance Fest 2025, Aug. 2 (Marcus Performing Arts Center)
The four-year-old festival keeps growing. Water Street Dance MKE’s founder Morgan Williams will again curate. “My goal,” he says, “is to raise one of the most diverse shows you could see. We’ll have legacy modern from Ailey II. Ballet from Madison Ballet. Visceral Dance Chicago brings contemporary ballet. Water Street Dance MKE brings contemporary. House of Jit from Detroit brings street dance. Madd Rhythms from Chicago brings tap. We’re reaching out to Irish Dance Company and several others. We’ll have at least eight professional groups, five youth groups, hopefully morning classes in yoga, hip hop, and salsa; and food trucks.” (John Schneider)
NORTH SHORE ACADEMY OF THE ARTS
facebook.com/northshoreacademyofthearts
NORTHERN SKY THEATER northernskytheater.com
Something in the Water, June 11-Aug. 21
Dairy Heirs , June 12-Aug. 23
No Bones About It, June 16-Aug. 22
The Bachelors , Aug. 29-Oct. 24
The writers of Guys on Ice, a perennially popular comedy in the Upper Midwest, return with their take on guys having a pizza together. The Fred Alley and James Kaplan characters are startled when the pizza is delivered by a woman they once knew. (David Luhrssen)
OAK CREEK PERFORMING ARTS AND EDUCATION CENTER oakcreepaec.com
OCONOMOWOC ARTS CENTER oasd.k12.wi.us/artscenter
OIL A CITY GALLERY oilmilwaukee.com
MUSEUM OF WISCONSIN ART CHALK FEST
Photo courtesy of the Museum of Wisconsin Art.
OPTIMIST THEATRE optimisttheatre.org
Every summer a troupe of skilled thespians tours the parks of Milwaukee County and beyond with their renditions of Shakespeare. (David Luhrssen)
OUTSKIRTS THEATRE facebook.com/outskirtstheatre
OVER OUR HEAD PLAYERS overourheadplayers.org
The 39 Steps , June 1, June 6-8, June 13-15, June 20-21(6th Street Theatre, Racine)
The 1935 Alfred Hitchcock spy/ mistaken identity thriller has become source material for a stage play popping up just about everywhere. Comedian Patrick Barlow’s adaptation debuted in the UK in 1996 and became a hit on Broadway. The absurd moments of the original plot were grist for comedy, with some comparing the theatrical version to Monty Python. (David Luhrssen)
PAINT CEDARBURG: A PLEIN AIR PAINTING EVENT
cedarburgartistsguild.com/paint-cedarburg
May 31-June 7
PENINSULA PLAYERS peninsulaplayers.com
Barefoot in the Park, June 17-July 6
Misery, July 9-27
Stephen King’s novel Misery is the ultimate expression of celebrity anxiety: What will a crazy fan do to keep her idol close by? Misery became a memorable 1990 horror movie and has since been given several theatrical adaptations. The Peninsula Players’ website suggests that this one is for ages 13 and up, given “strong language” and onstage violence.” (David Luhrssen)
Little Women: The Broadway Musical, July 30-Aug. 17
Dear Jack, Dear Louise, Aug. 20-31
PENINSULA SCHOOL OF ART peninsulaschoolofart.org
Door County Contemporary, June 5-8
PHILOMUSICA QUARTET philomusicaquartet.com
PIANOARTS pianoarts.org
PINK UMBRELLA THEATER Pinkumbrellatheater.org
PORTRAIT SOCIETY GALLERY portraitsocietygallery.com
PRESENT MUSIC presentmusic.org
PROMETHEUS TRIO wcmusic.org
QUASIMONDO PHYSICAL THEATRE quasimondo.org
RACINE ART MUSEUM ramart.org
Pieces: Collage and Assemblage from RAM’s Permanent Collection, through June 14
“Low: Rene Amado,” through July 19
RAM Showcase: Focus on Adornment, through Nov. 22
Fool Me Once: The Trompe L’oeil Sculptures of Karen Dahl and James Doran, through Jan. 10, 2026
On Fire Part II: Surveying Women in Glass in the Late-Twentieth Century, through Jan. 24, 2026.
RACINE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA racinesymphony.org
RACINE THEATRE GUILD racinetheatre.org
Legally Blond, May 16-June 1
The Drowsy Chaperone, July 18-26
The show by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison is a spoof of 1920s American musical theater. Since its 1998 Toronto debut, The Drowsy Chaperone has played Broadway, London’s West End and across the globe and won handful of Tony Awards. (David Luhrssen)
REAL TINSEL GALLERY realtinsel.com
RENAISSANCE THEATERWORKS r-t-w.com
SACRA NOVA CHORALE sacranovacathedrale.com
SAINT KATE - THE ARTS HOTEL GALLERY saintkatearts.com
Jason Vaughn: Hide, through June 1 (The Gallery)
SCULPTURE MILWAUKEE sculpturemilwaukee.com
Sculpture Milwaukee was founded in 2017 from an idea by local entrepreneur Steve Marcus and became an independent nonprofit in 2020. Sculpture Milwaukee has commissioned work to line Wisconsin Avenue from living artists, some with ties to our state. As much as possible, the sculptures are fabricated in Wisconsin in keeping with the Badger State’s machine-shop history. (David Luhrssen)
SEAT OF OUR PANTS READER THEATRE mkereaderstheatre.com
SHARON LYNNE WILSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS wilson-center.com
Donna Lexa Art Center Exhibit, through June 12
SHEBOYGAN THEATRE COMPANY stcshows.org
SKYLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE skylightmusictheatre.org
SOUTH MILWAUKEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER southmilwaukeepac.org
Disney’s Finding Nemo Kids , July 19
Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Aug. 1-3
SUNSET PLAYHOUSE sunsetplayhouse.com
Disney’s Finding Nemo Kids , through June 1
Miss Holmes , June 5-22
Hollywood Hits Singalong, June 5-8
We’ve Only Just Begun: Kerry Sings Karen, June 10
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, July 10-Aug. 3
Spongebob the Musical: Youth Edition, Aug. 8-10
THEATRE GIGANTE theatregigante.org
THEATRICAL TENDENCIES theatricaltendencies.com
THIRD AVENUE PLAYHOUSE, STURGEON BAY thirdavenueplayworks.org
Buyer and Cellar, June 4-22
In this popular comedy, out-of-work actor Alex More lost a job as the mayor of Disneyland’s Toon Town and became Barbra Streisand’s employee at her expansive Malibu estate. The play nicely contrasts More’s day-job environment of luxury and perfection and his private life, which includes an old Volkswagen bug and a tiny apartment, decorated on a threadbare budget. (Anne Siegel)
The 39 Steps , July 16-Aug. 10
NIGHT SONG BY RAFAEL FRANCISCO SALAS
Image courtesy of the Milwaukee Portrait Society.
THRASHER OPERA HOUSE, GREEN LAKE thrasheroperahouse.com
THREE POINT PROJECT threepointproject.wi.wordpress.com
Milwaukee has an important new dance company founded last year by 27-year-old artistic director Ashley Tomaszewski whose previous years as a dancer and associate artistic director with Water Street Dance Milwaukee helped that group to greatness. (John Schneider)
UW-WHITEWATER YOUNG AUDITORIUM uww.edu/youngauditorium
VAR GALLERY & STUDIOS vargallery.com
VILLA TERRACE DECORATIVE ARTS MUSEUM villaterrace.org
VILLAGE PLAYHOUSE villageplayhouse.org
VOICES FOUND voicesfoundrep.com
WALKER'S POINT CENTER FOR THE ARTS wpca-milwaukee.org
WAREHOUSE ART MUSEUM wammke.org
WASHINGTON ISLAND CHAMBER MUSICFESTIVAL, AUG. 4-15. washingtonislandmusicfestival.com
WATER STREET DANCE MILWAUKEE waterstreetdancemke.com
WAUKESHA CIVIC THEATRE waukeshacivictheatre.org
The 39 Steps, June 6-22
WEST ALLIS PLAYERS westallisplayers.org
A Broadway Journey II (West Allis Central Auditorium)
WEST BEND THEATRE COMPANY westbendtheatreco.com
WEST PERFORMING ARTS CENTER nbexcellence.org/community/westpac. cfm
WILD SPACE DANCE COMPANY wildspacedance.org
WINDFALL THEATRE windfalltheatre.com
WISCONSIN CLASSIC STAGE joshpohja.com
WISCONSIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC wcmusic.org
WISCONSIN CRAFT wisconsincraft.org
WISCONSIN LUTHERAN COLLEGE CENTER FOR ARTS AND PERFORMANCE wlc.edu
WISCONSIN MUSEUM OF QUILTS & FIBER ART wiquiltmuseum.com
Heidi Parkes: Soft Magic, through June 8
WISCONSIN PHILHARMONIC wisphil.org
Present at the Creation: Celebrating the 250th Birthday of Our Nation's Armed Forces, June 5, (Oconomowoc Arts Center)
Concert includes Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings, Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” and a popular number by a composer by the name of Francis Scott Key. (David Luhrssen)
WOODLAND PATTERN BOOK CENTER woodlandpattern.org
Open Mic, June 27
WUSTUM MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS ramart.org
Our beautiful Wisconsin Summer will soon arrive, and while many of us love the warmer temperatures, the hotter weather can become dangerous very quickly for our furry companions. Preventing heat stroke, being aware of how hot asphalt can be on your pup’s paws, and properly storing gardening tools and insecticides in a safe place are just a few things we should be wary of, and there are many other precautions we as pet owners can take to keep our pets safe during the warm summer months!
Here are some practical tips to help keep your beloved dog(s) safe this summer season:
1. Stay hydrated and find shade. It’s probably a no-brainer for most of us to recognize that the hot temperatures require not only us to have more water, but our dogs, too. Try to keep your beloved pets as cool as possible.
2. Offer “cool” and safe activities/ outings. What better way to cool off on a hot day than taking a dip in the local river or lake!
KEEPING YOUR PETS SAFE IN SUMMER
BY CANINE EINSTEIN
(Be aware of bacteria levels as some bodies of water are not always safe to wade in; check with a lifeguard on duty or your local city ordinances).
3. Be cautious when traveling. Putting a sunshade on the car windows, having an ample supply of fresh water in a bowl, and having a spray bottle available to cool down your dog are all a few helpful tips. A car can overheat quickly even when windows have been left open an inch or two. So please, never leave your pets unattended in the car.
4. Know the signs of dehydration and heat stroke. Prevention is key, however, it is also important to know the signs that something may be seriously wrong with your pet. Some signs of dehydration in your dog can include:
• excessive panting,
• difficulty breathing,
• dry nose and gums,
• sunken eyes.
Signs of heatstroke can include:
• difficultly balancing,
• white or blue looking gums,
• lethargy (sluggish, not wanting to move),
• labored, heavy breathing,
• increased heart rate,
• drooling,
• weakness
• and even seizures or collapsing.
Heatstroke can turn deadly if no action is taken, so if you notice any of these signs or symptoms, get your dog medical attention right away.
5. Make sure your pet’s vaccinations are current. Regular trips to your trusted veterinarian can help keep your pet in his/her best health possible.
6. Keep your pets safe while enjoying outdoor barbecues and family gatherings.
Keeping alcoholic drinks away from pets is important to prevent depression and comas, and yes, dogs can get intoxicated, too.
• Be mindful of foods like grapes, raisins, onions, chocolate. Fruits and vegetables that have “pits” such as avocados, cherries, peaches and plums.
• Be aware of skewers, bones from meat, toothpicks (from fruit or other platters) and other choking hazards
• Keep your pet away from coals or ash from bonfires, lighter fluid, charcoal, and citronella candles or torches.
7. Store gardening insecticides and pest control supplies in a safe place and out of pet’s reach. Those, along with other lawn and garden products, are often poisonous and should be kept out of reach of your beloved pets.
8. Keep your pet away from poisonous plants. These are some to steer clear of with your pet: hemlock, any mushrooms you can’t identify as safe, English Ivy, Thorn Apple, Oleander, Amaryllis, Bleeding hearts,
Chrysanthemums, flower bulbs, Rhubarb, Stinging nettles, Tulips, and Lily of the valley.
9. Leave pets safely secured at home during Fourth of July celebrations. Being mindful of your local neighborhood and paying attention to your pet when these “booms” do happen is important. Make sure your pet is secured in a safe place inside your home and that there are no windows or doors open for your pet to run away.
Additionally, if you are having any difficulty juggling the high demands of owning a pet and keeping him safe, please reach out! All of us at Milwaukee Paws Pet Care understand how much goes into keeping your beloved pets safe year-round, and with summer vacations, family obligations, work, and other day-to-day demands, we understand that sometimes you just need someone to step in when you can’t be there! If you are interested in learning more about how we can help meet the needs of your furry family members, please reach out today.
Our staff and myself are all dedicated to providing the highest quality care in the comfort of your own home. We look forward to helping make a positive impact in meeting the complex needs of your pets and keeping them safe, happy and healthy year-round!
To read the full article for additional Summer Safety Tips, visit sheperdexpress.com
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)
Mark Waldoch Lifts His Craft To A New Level With The Hallelujah Ward
BY JOSHUA M. MILLER
Milwaukee singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Waldoch admits that every little thing he does on guitar he “had to fight for. I think I have to practice twice as much as most people to retain and keep what I'm able to do,” says Waldoch. “I can do stuff, but it's taken me a lifetime to get any good at it.”
At the same time, singing always came easier for him, thanks in part to having a bigger, commanding voice. “I definitely always had a little bit of a knack for creating melody, but that's the people I listened to when I was younger,” he says. “I always played guitar, but I always tried to sing before any of that.”
It’s been an important asset for the singer, now in his 50s, with 25 years of experience in music. He’s performed solo and with bands such as Polite, Islands, The Mustn'ts and Celebrated Workingman. He’s also headlined many shows and opened for groups such as Bright Eyes, Arcade Fire and Interpol.
Lately, he’s found it significantly more challenging to start a new band with everyone’s life commitments, saying that it “sucks to start from square one.” That hasn’t deterred him, and he’s excited to share his new band The Hallelujah Ward, which features drummer Dan Didier (Maritime, The Promise Ring) and bassist Paul Hancock (Testa Rosa). After a handful of years of trying to form a band and following the release last year of their debut EP I Forced Myself to Live, Charlie Bee —the group is releasing their debut album Everybody Swoons on May 30 digitally and on limitededition vinyl via Foreign Leisure Records.
ALBUM RELEASE
They’ll celebrate the release with an all-age show June 6 at Cactus Club with opener Caley Conway. The band is also performing at Summer Solstice, North Avenue Block Party and the Shitty Barn in Spring Green.
Initially, The Halleluiah Ward was the moniker Waldoch used for the solo compositions he was creating. However, when Didier approached him about playing drums, the idea to grow it into something more began fermenting. Didier hadn’t played drums in a band since Maritime had ended, so there was pent up interest in playing in a band again. Waldoch rounded out the group with friend and coworker James Sauer.
However, a series of roadblocks—Covid, Waldoch getting carpal tunnel surgery on both his wrists, Didier breaking his collarbone, James moving out of state—put a swift end to that initial version of the group. The next bassist, Jason Todd, didn’t last much longer before having to focus on his business.
Since the group had already booked a show at the Brady Street Festival in August 2022, Waldoch decided to play solo. It was there where he ran into his long-time bandmate and best friend Paul Hancock, who had come to see him play. After Hancock, who was in Polite with Waldoch back in the ‘90s, offered to help with his set and gear, they started discussing playing together. Hancock joined the group for an already booked October show and the band began to find its footing.
Photo of Hallelujah Ward by Chris Rosenau.
MASTERFUL LEVEL
“Just watching them play is joy for me,” says Waldoch. “Dan is such an amazing percussionist. He'll lose grip of a stick and then grab it again, push his glasses up and not miss a beat. His ability is on a masterful level and to be a part of that, it's an honor. Paul is the same way.
“Paul has been a master of melody and has complimented me as a songwriter for half our lives,” he continues. “He’s able to come to what I need and make it better and make it make sense and put it together. I'll have a structure, but his ability for picking melody is what puts it together.”
Waldoch says that the trio works because their “individual personalities as musicians still get to be seen, but together we make a very unique version of a modern indie rock band.” Listeners can hear one song and then the next and won’t be able to say, “this sounds like this band or thing, and this sounds like this.”
MODERN ARTSY MOMENTS
He says they have some “modern artsy moments” and delicate moments but “with the emphasis on memorable melody.”
In 2023, they began tracking the songs for Everybody Swoons with the help of Kevin Dixon, who plays in the local band Brief Candles. They worked on it every other Tuesday for about a year, due to everyone’s work schedules.
“I mean, that's what happens when you get older,” says Waldoch. “It's just a matter of you do it when you have the time when you can make it. We just try to do what when we can, but it brings a lot of joy and a lot of happiness,” he continues. “Not just to the people playing, but honestly to a lot of people that come out to see it.”
SONGWRITING THERAPY
Waldoch has always enjoyed words and lyrics and how they fit together musically. He came up with the album’s title before he knew it was going to be connected to the release. He even put it on a guitar strap. When it came to naming the album, he almost picked Death Swooned because many songs are about people he knows who have died.
For example, he wrote “The Ring of Brightest Angels, Around Heaven” about his friend and former roommate Tom Behrendt who committed suicide.
“We think he was an undiagnosed schizophrenic. He committed suicide near his job near Central Park in New York years ago,” says Waldoch. “It took me 10 years to put that to bed, and I found a way to do that with the songs.”
“I've always tried to but never could until these songs came out. A lot of these songs are emotionally charged. They started as ideas about a person and feelings about them, and it sort of grew into something else.”
The album also delves into Waldoch’s own mental health struggles. After Frightened Rabbit's singer and guitarist Scott Hutchison committed suicide in 2018, Waldoch started writing album opener “Your Uncertain Shadow” just before his 44th birthday. He acknowledged his own depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide.
“It’s about my own feelings and my own depression, clinical depression and bipolar, depressive, not manic, but thoughts of suicide, things like that,” he says. “This song sort of pushed that along and helped me.”
SINGING PHYSICALLY
For Waldoch, the album’s songs are deeply therapeutic to perform and sing. The physical part of singing is easily one of his favorite things.
“You can see it when I play,” he says. “People have been drawn to me because they can see the exuberance just pour out of me. Whether it's sadness or anger or happiness or anything. I'm not afraid to talk about my feelings in a direct way. That's not necessarily easy for a lot of people.
“The reason why I started doing music at all was the feeling that I got when I was very young that made me feel connected to the world. The only goal has ever been to provide that feeling for someone else. That's probably the best reward as a human being, to know that you are connecting on that level with someone else.”
Joshua M. Miller is a Wisconsin writer who has contributed to Rolling Stone, Spin, Guitar World and MTV News.
This Month in Milwaukee 11 Things to do in June
This Month in Milwaukee 11 Things to do in June
BY SOPHIA HAMDAN, DAVID LUHRSSEN, MICHAEL POPKE AND BLAINE SCHULTZ
MAY 30-JUNE 1
Festa Italiana
Henry Maier Festival Park
Before 1960, the Third Ward was home to many Italian Americans and the site of many festivals. Festa carries on that tradition with a lakefront array of Italian food— plenty of pasta and pizza plus live music on several stages and … fireworks. Some say Italian merchant travelers brought that invention from East Asia into Europe.
JUNE 5-7
Pride Fest
Henry Maier Festival Park
PrideFest’s SKYYLine Mainstage will welcome award winning, platinum recording artist and winner of American Idol Season 6, Jordin Sparks, comedian Jay Jurden, country music singersongwriter and viral TikTok star Chris Housman, Brazilian pop singer and drag queen Pabllo Vittar, The Scarlet Opera, and an all-star lineup of iconic Rupal’s Drag Race stars featuring Adore Delano, Nina West, Jan Sport, Raja Gemini and Willow Pill.
The PrideFest Dance Pavilion, home to the state’s largest lineup of DJs, dancers and performers, will host a dance party of the year with headliners Baby Weight, Coachella 2025 featured artist Kaleena Zanders and local DJ and community advocate DJ Femme Noir.
JUNE 6
Robyn Hitchcock Vivarium
In 1976 the Soft Boys’ skewed sound was informed by Captain Beefheart, and like certain bands born unto obscurity, they left an influential stamp. Post-Soft Boys, British songwriter Robyn Hitchcock was certainly marked by Syd Barrett, but over the years his albums, both solo and with The Egyptians, dug into college and alternative music scenes in America. His cult following has allowed a career of imaginative songwriting to flower again and again.
JUNE 13
Peter Mulvey
Anodyne
Peter Mulvey, a seasoned songwriter, performer, and storyteller with a career spanning over three decades, began his musical journey by busking on the streets of Dublin and performing in bars in Milwaukee before settling in Boston. His career includes 20 albums, live performances, collaborations with well-known artists, and even a TEDx talk. Mulvey’s concerts share his distinct brand of modern folk music richly infused with his life lessons, observations and wit.
JUNE 14
Wisconsin Space Program album release
Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
With Milwaukee’s annual Psych Fest on hold and the band Space Raft orbiting indefinite hiatus, Wisconsin Space Program boldly goes where few bands dare. Two singles “She Rides On” and “Sun in Your Hands” are timeless earworms. Riding an optimistic groove, the band celebrates its debut album release.
Photo by GettyImages/Jon Mattrisch.
JUNE 15
Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs
The Pabst Theater
After a legendary career as consigliere with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Mike Campbell could have easily coasted into retirement. Instead, he continues to write, record and play shows with The Dirty Knobs. With the release of the group’s third album Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits, the guitarist remains restless and continues chasing the muse.
JUNE 15
Celebrating Palestine
Marcus Performing Arts Center, Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall
Celebrate Palestine with the Muslim Women’s Coalition at Marcus Performing Arts Center from 1-5 p.m. The event will feature a vibrant showcase of Palestinian culture, including food, music, dance and more. Learn all about Palestine while immersing yourself in rich traditions and stories. See the program schedule online at marcuscenter.org.
JUNE 19
Guy Clark, Jr.
10:15 p.m., Miller Lite Oasis, Summerfest
All kinda blues and more on opening day at Miller Lite Oasis Stage. Gary Clark Jr’s song “This Land” was an intense and unvarnished snapshot of America, circa 2019. As an observer, his recent album JPEG RAW continues the songwriter’s thread. “Maktub” utilizes a Tuareg groove to set the album’s tone, “So we gotta move in the same direction / We gotta move / Time for a new revolution / We gotta move.”
JUNE 20
Eggy
6:30 p.m., Miller Life Oasis Stage, Summerfest
Eggy is proof that dreams of forming a successful band with your high school buddies can, indeed, come true. The Connecticut quartet began in 2016 and has emerged as a must-see act in the jam-band world. Here’s the thing: Eggy’s music — particularly 2024’s Waiting Game —is loaded with popmusic references, tight arrangements and hooks galore that don’t sacrifice the looseness and improvisational freedom that define most jam bands. Eggy shakes and grooves its way through 10 over-easy songs in less than 37 minutes.
JUNE 20
George Thorogood and The Destroyers
9:30 p.m., BMO Pavilion, Summerfest
In the ‘70s George Thorogood and The Destroyers pointed to music that became the roots for The Blasters and many other artists in the ‘80s. At a time when Johnny Cash resigned himself to evangelical tunes, Thorogood reminded us that Cash had once sung “Cocaine Blues,” covered on his second album, Move it On Over (1978). Gold and platinum albums came later but Move It On Over set the template with aggressive performances of Hank Williams’ “Move It Over” and Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love.” Bad to the Bone (1982) cemented his popularity with its contemporary, pugnacious mash-up of Chicago blues and ‘50s rock and roll. His sixth album, Maverick (1985) included the song most associated with Thorogood, an original blues number steeped in angry resignation, “I Drink Alone.”
JUNE 21
Azymuth
Shank Hall
Azymuth are one of Brazil's most influential bands, responsible for carving out an entirely new sound, fusing jazzfunk with samba to create their own unique genre, referred to as “samba doido.” Over five decades since they began, Azymuth have released over thirty albums and are still going as strong as ever--writing, recording and performing with the same energy and enthusiasm as when they began. A live performance by the three man orchestra is a journey through the full spectrum of their brilliantly colored expressionist funk, with cosmic energy and masterful musicianship.
MILWAUKEE PRIDEFEST
Photo courtesy of VISIT Milwaukee Media Library.
Dear Ally,
Today was a really bad day at work. It was terrible because of the negative voices in my head, not anything external. I feel like I bounced around all day with voices of selfdoubt and self-criticism. Why today? How come I’ve never noticed theses voices before?
I hold a top executive position and make a good salary in a respectable company. Because of my “success with various projects,” top management wants to promote me.
As time draws closer to my advancement, my panic attacks are increasing and my relationships with my boss and co-workers have become tense. Up until now, my work relationships have been positive. Now, they’re deteriorating, and I think it’s my fault.
For example, today, during my presentation for my boss, I clammed up and couldn’t talk. I was almost speechless. Normally, I would have done an excellent job. The disparaging voices in my head stopped me in my tracks. I felt like a teenager and totally shut down. I did a miserable job. Both my boss and I were shocked. What happened to me?
Right after that, my female workers went out to lunch and didn’t invite me. As a kid, I’ve always felt left out. I didn’t get invited to as many sleepovers as the other girls in my class.
Dear Going Crazy,
I can assure you that you’re not going crazy. In fact, noticing the voices in your head may have opened an important door for you to better understand important facets of yourself. Coincidentally, I recently read about Internal Family Systems or IFS. It was developed by Richard Schwartz Ph.D. He wrote about some reasons why you may be experiencing these voices and why your younger selves were triggered by work related events.
Schwartz believes that the mind is not a singular entity but is comprised of multiple “parts.” According to Schwartz, different “parts or voices talk to us throughout the day. Each ‘part’ has its own belief, feelings and characteristics.” These parts protected us from harmful situations in the past.
For example, your protective role may have been activated with your boss to protect you somehow. Perhaps an authoritarian figure in your past? Maybe as a kid, you had a traumatic experience with someone older than you, and you needed that voice to guide you to safety.
As we get older, we need to befriend these parts and tell them to step aside to allow our “core self” to lead our life. If we don’t do this, we risk having teenage voices running our lives as adults.
Schwartz presumes that the core self gets overrun by all of these protective voices or parts. We can think of our various parts as playing different roles throughout our life experiences. Each part plays a valuable role in our life, but when a trauma occurs, these parts play a bigger role and dominate the core self.
According to Schwartz, we need to learn about each part, so that the core self is in charge of steering our life.
The situation with your female coworkers is easier to figure out because of your childhood experiences of feeling left out. Your work situations may have triggered painful memories from your past during your teenage years and at age 10.
Although it’s painful at the time, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. According to Schwartz, we need to learn how to befriend each role, so that the core self can steer our life.
While eating alone at my desk, I became like a ten-year old again and felt angry and resentful. My day was ruined.
Am I going crazy? One day at work and I act like a silly teenager with my boss and an angry 10-year-old with my co-workers. Where are all of these horrible thoughts coming from? How come I’ve never noticed them before? Please help.
I would encourage you to read No Bad Parts or An Introduction to Internal Family Systems by Richard Schwartz or check him out on YouTube. There are many therapists in the area that specialize in IFS.
In the meantime, try to notice what type of situations trigger the voices. This will give you valuable information to better understand your reactions. If it’s right for you, accept the promotion and remember to breathe, give yourself time and act as a good friend to yourself.
Here for you,
Ally Going Crazy
Send your questions to AskAlly@shepex.com.
A TESLA OWNER’S LAMENT
BY PHILIP CHARD
Yes, I own a Tesla. No, I don’t admire Elon Musk. In fact, I hold him in utter contempt, along with his deeply disturbed enabler in the Oval Office. However, I’m not particularly fond of those who believe that demonizing Tesla owners and vandalizing their vehicles is a valid way to strike blows against the evil empire. If you are of this persuasion, we have issues.
First off, many of us purchased our Teslas before the Muskrat devolved into his true self, which seems an odd concoction of various mental and behavioral disorders. What’s more, our motives were to help address the climate crisis by embracing zero emissions. At least that was true in my family. And while there are many more comparable EVs to choose from today, that has only recently been the case.
Would I buy a Tesla now? No. But I have no intention of shooting myself in the financial foot by selling or trading it at a significantly devalued price. And I do continue to appreciate not giving more money to the fossil fuel industry that knew all along it was destroying the environment and said, “Who cares as long as we’re making money?”
FUEL IN OUR CARS
That’s what we do every time we put fuel in our cars. We make them richer and make the Earth poorer. These are the capitalist predators who donated $75 million to Trump’s campaign knowing he would undermine efforts to combat climate change. And, yes, I have another vehicle that runs on petrol, so I’m guilty as charged as well.
And for those self-righteous zealots who now demonize Teslas and their owners, I trust you don’t use X (Twitter) or Starlink internet (both owned by Musk). And may I assume you are also punishing other Trump sycophants, like Jeff Bezos, by not using Amazon or Whole Foods, or reading the Washington Post? Then there’s Zuckerberg, so if you use Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads or Meta Quest, you helped him donate a cool million to Trump’s inauguration.
Except for those who truly live off the grid or have boycotted any and all oligarch-owned enterprises, all our hands are dirty. So, spare me the holier-than-thou proselytizing.
FRUSTRATION AND FURY
Look, I understand the frustration and fury. Many of us feel helpless against the spoiled brats and greed mongers ruining our economy, our planet and our sanity. But those persons are not your average Jane or Joe behind the wheel of a Tesla.
So boycotting Tesla, not to mention the other Musky firms out there, is just fine because that does the real damage. Keying a Model S or spray painting a swastika on a Model Y isn’t hurting Musk. Not buying his crap or using his services does.
Tesla sales are plummeting, along with the firm’s stock value. That hurts Musk where he lives, in his greed. But messing up these EVs or vandalizing a dealership only hurts innocent people. If that’s your gig, count me out.
POWER OF MONEY
I suspect some of those taking revenge on Tesla harbor a positive intent, one I can likely embrace. It’s the methods they employ with which I take issue. They are, however, on the scent, because the best way to kick oligarchs where they live is by cutting off their money. So, the damage done by not buying a Tesla is far greater than slashing some poor soul’s tires or throwing paint on a windshield.
The rub, unfortunately, is that many decent people work in oligarch-owned enterprises and will be hurt if their revenue tanks. Our lives are incredibly intertwined. Nonetheless, the power of the purse, along with the ballot box, is the most potent weapon at the disposal of what is increasingly called “the resistance.”
Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress, said: “When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom that profit loses.”
It doesn’t have to be that way. Morality can prevail if we cut these cruel hominids off at their fiscal knees. That’s on us. But trashing some schmuck’s car because your pissed off at the CEO behind it does zero to advance this cause.
What does? Boycott.
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.
CELEBRATING PRIDE ALL MONTH LONG
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; no one celebrates pride like Milwaukee. In fact, there’s so much happening, I created a special social calendar for the month. I’ll be back next time with my brand of homespun advice, but until then, let’s celebrate pride like never before!
Have a question for Ruthie? Want to share an event with her? Contact Ruthie at dearruthie@shepex.com.
MARGARITA FEST AT THE COOPERAGE (822 S. WATER ST.): The team at Shepherd Express hosts a margarita match that pits some of the city’s top marg makers against one another. Sip margarita samples while you enjoy live entertainment, food trucks, raffles and more. Nab passes at www.shepherdtickets.com.
JUNE 5, 6 & 7
PRIDEFEST MILWAUKEE AT HENRY W. MAIER FESTIVAL PARK
(200 N. HARBOR DRIVE): Three days of mixing, mingling, dancing and partying await at the biggest LGBTQIA+ bash of the year. From the shows, DJs and beer stands to family-friendly activities, marketplace and food options, Pridefest offers a great time for everyone! See www.pridefest.com for a list of performers, vendors and more.
JUNE 6
20TH ANNUAL BASH AT MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
(929 N. WATER ST.): Broadway star and Grammy winner Joshua Henry headlines this celebration that benefits the Marcus’ educational and engagement programs. Enjoy cocktails, dinner and a jaw-dropping performance when you secure your tickets via www.marcuscenter.org.
JUNE 7
RIDE WITH PRIDE AT HARLEY DAVIDSON MUSEUM (400 W. CANAL ST.): Pride Rides Wisconsin hosts this motorcycle ride that kicks off at noon. (You must pre-register between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.) A police escort takes riders past the Pridefest grounds and throughout the city. Check out www. priderides.org for more.
JUNE
8
MILWAUKEE PRIDE PARADE
(FROM 2ND AND SCOTT STREETS TO 2ND AND SEEBOTH STREETS):
The best Sunday Funday of the year, the parade steps off at 2 p.m. I’m emceeing the Parade Main Stage near the corner of Second and National, so stop by and say hello! See www.prideparademke.org for details. Stick around after the parade for the phenomenal street party.
JUNE 12
PRIDE NIGHT WITH THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS AT AMERICAN FAMILY FIELD (ONE BREWERS WAY): Watch the Brewers take on the Cardinals with this 6:40 p.m. game. Aurora Health Care sponsors the annual night that’s always well attended so be sure to get your tickets at www.mlb. com/brewers.
JUNE 14 & 15
THE NANNY: A FINE PARODY AT RACINE THEATRE GUILD (2519 NORTHWESTERN AVE., RACINE): Purse String Productions rolls out this fun-loving take on the ‘90s sitcom. What happens when Mr. Sheffield hires Fran Fine as the live-in nanny while struggling with his latest Broadway musical? Get tickets via www.racinetheatre.org to find out!
JUNE 15
DADDY’S DAY PAJAMA PARTY & BRUNCH AT HARBOR ROOM (117 E. GREENFIELD AVE.): Celebrate Dad’s Day like never before. Wear your best jammies for a chance at prizes, belly up to the bar for Harbor Room’s legendary mimosas and enjoy a free brunch buffet (with purchase of a beverage). Party with the daddies from noon to 5 p.m.
CLOSING NIGHT MARY POPPINS AT NEXT ACT THEATER (255 S. WATER ST.): Bombshell Theatre serves up this delightful musical that runs through June. Make sure you get your seats before Mary floats off to another city via www.bombshelltheatre.org.
JUNE 21
THORGY THOR & THE THORCHESTRA AT THE BRADLY SYMPHONY CENTER (212 W. WISCONSIN AVE.): The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra hosts one of RuPaul’s favorites during this 7:30 p.m. concert. Thorgy’s hilarious approach to life, music and song are sure to keep you smiling all month. Stop by www.mso.org for tickets.
JUNE 24
LIVE TRIVIA TUESDAY AT WOODY’S (1579 S. SECOND ST.):
Put on your thinking cap and enjoy a 7-9 p.m. evening of trivia, prizes and laughs. Whether you bring a team or compete on your own, you always come out a winner at this LGBT sports bar.
JUNE 28
MELEE’S MATINEE AT POP (124 W. NATIONAL AVE.):
Take day drinking to new heights with this 2 p.m. party featuring Melee Queen, one of the city’s favorite drag superstars. Take in the high-energy show, sip craft cocktails and order from Pop’s popular menu for an afternoon you’ll never forget.
DTHE WISCONSIN LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Building a More Equitable, Inclusive Economy
THE WISCONSIN LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Building a More
Equitable, Inclusive Economy
BY PAUL MASTERSON
uring Pride Month, the LGBTQ+ community traditionally celebrates its accomplishments in its struggle for equality. The historical back-story of that struggle is the Stonewall Uprising of June 1969 and the many social, health and political achievements that followed thanks to dedicated social justice advocates.
Little attention has been paid, however, to the empowerment of the LGBTQ+ community through its developing business infrastructure and its impact on the grander goal of universal equity and inclusion. Today, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, an affiliate of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, represents that strategically important facet of our community.
Founded in 2012 by current president and CEO Jason Rae, the Chamber’s stated mission is “to create a fully inclusive state by promoting economic growth and opportunities among LGBT-owned and allied businesses, corporations, and professionals in Wisconsin.” Its successful fulfillment of that mission is reflected in the Chamber’s exponential growth over its 13-year history. Today, its current roster lists over 750 members, representing everything from small mom-and-pop operations to major corporations.
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
The searchable Active Member Directory on the organization’s website (wilgbtchamber.com) includes 27 categories from Advertising and Media to Weddings.
Included are Diamond Founding Members BMO Bank, Molson Coors beverage company and Wisconsin Economic Development. Among the Platinum and Gold Founding Members are dozens of corporations, financial institutions, legal firms and health groups as well as professional sports organizations including the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks. The Shepherd Express itself is also a Gold Founding Member.
But what exactly does the Chamber do? In pursuit of its mission to promote economic growth and opportunities, members host varied events and programs throughout the state and throughout the year. Some are designed specifically for members and include networking sessions like the monthly “Coffee Connection.”
As a Chamber Training Institute certified entity, the Chamber holds webinars on a range of business subjects. There are also numerous programs tailored to specialized needs up-and-coming businesspeople like the “LGBTQ+ Entrepreneur Bootcamp” and “The Business Leadership Academy,” a 10-month training course for emerging LGBT+ and allied business leaders. The Chamber’s LEAD.
(Learn, Elevate, Achieve, Deliver) series, a virtual training program, focuses on providing its members with the tools and strategies necessary to succeed in business.
It partners with the U.S. Small Business Administration as well as professionals from within its membership to share knowledge and expertise.
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Other events are public and serve to create a community connection between Chamber members and the community they serve. Recently presented by Adoption Choice Inc., a “Growing through Adoption” event in Green Bay featured Olympian Greg Louganis as keynote speaker. Proceeds from the evening helped support community programs to reduce the costs of adoption for Wisconsin families. Meanwhile, in Mineral Point, the launch of a Stage Reading Series is scheduled at the Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts. Locally, a popular annual food tasting event, “Out in the Kitchen” showcases Milwaukee area restaurants.
Of Milwaukee’s Pride Parade’s nearly 200 entrants in 2024, most were area businesses and many of those were Chamber members. For 2025, it is likely that with the growth of the Chamber even more of the businesses represented by marching units will also be members.
The Chamber’s success is in part attributable to its embrace by the State of Wisconsin itself. Governor Tony Evers has long been an advocate of LGBT businesses and of the Chamber. In 2019, as one of his first acts as governor, Evers issued an executive order protecting LGBT employees from discrimination.
During the pandemic in July 2021, he met with Milwaukee business owners. Facilitated by the Chamber and held at an LGBT owned business, the roundtable discussion provided the opportunity for Evers to engage with local entrepreneurs facing the challenges of the pandemic and to reiterate his support of diversity in Wisconsin’s business environment. That same year, the Chamber recognized Evers for his efforts, naming him “Advocate of the Year.” In 2022, through a federal stimulus program targeting minority businesses, Wisconsin provided the Chamber with a $1.5 million grant.
The celebration of Pride Month is therefore also a recognition of LGBTQ+ and allied entrepreneurs, businesses and corporations and their role in keeping our greater community strong, visible and vibrant.
Out in the Kitchen returns on July 22 at Discovery World in Milwaukee. This fan-favorite event showcases the incredible talent of Chamber culinary members—LGBTQ+ and allied alike—through delicious samples, local flavor and a vibrant celebration of community.
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.
From The City That Always Sweeps From The City That Always Sweeps
BY ART KUMBALEK
I’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a? So listen, it is tradition that I address you’s, my faithful readers, right here, right now, in our month of socalled June known as such since 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII dicked with the alter-kaker Julian calendar and decided to name the sixth month of year after the Roman goddess Juno, and from my toe-tip into the waters of research, she was “the god of marriage and childbirth, and the wife of Jupiter, king of the gods.” Must’ve been some kind of hotsy-totsy to be the sixth-month-of-the-year calendar girl for, lo, these couple, three, eleventeen years, ain’a?
Please be seated.
And so I hear, my sons and daughters, daughters and sons and every which way ’tween, that another Memorial Day weekend has come and gone and now I’m trying to wrap my noggin around the fact that it’s June already with the first day of summer coming up like a bad burrito, we’re now into that time of year where my five most favorite words are “cold front on the way,” I kid you not.
And so I prounounceth: June, that time of year come like a cleaver for young ladies to become new brides; and their boyfriends to become new grooms, whether they like it or not. And so June, as the years pass, does become the month for anniversaries, the remembrance pleasant, or bittersweet, as in this little story:
So this guy goes to the Wizard to ask him if he can remove a curse he has been living with for the past 40 years. The Wizard says, “Perhaps, but you will have to tell me the exact words that you believe were used to put the curse on you.” And without hesitation, the man says, “I now pronounce you man and wife.” Ba-ding!
But that’s not the kind of thing all you’s newlyweds need to hear. You want to hear something uplifting and hunky-dory. Something along the lines of what the great lexicographer Samuel Johnson said when he heard of a friend getting married for the second time after his first wife croaked, and remarked how he found that admirable ’cause it celebrated the spirit of hope over experience. (18th-century rim shot here, please) Ba-dinglish!
Since none of you’s happy couples have invited me to your matrimonial shindigs, even for the open bar portion, I did a little research to find some wise words of wisdom about the wedded state I could pass on to you through this essay. I checked the Bible and you can just imagine the kind of gas they were passing on the topic, what the fock.
But I say onto you, the Bible’s words sounded trite and contrived and I figured you already heard it all before, anyways. Then I came across a couple things from the ancient Greeks. One, a proverb, “Marriage is the only evil that men pray for,” and the other from some guy named Hipponax out of the 6th century B.C.: “Two days are the best of a man’s wedded life: The days when he marries and buries his wife.” Kind of sexist what-not for this day and age, so I kept researching.
I leapt ahead a couple thousand years to Helen Rowland in 1922’s Guide to Men, “A husband is what is left of a lover, after the nerve been extracted”; Ambrose Bierce wrote in The Devil’s Dictionary, “Bride, n. A woman with a fine prospect of happiness behind her.” Oh boy.
None of the quotes I found had any positive words about marriage, which turns out to be the same silent words I could’ve said on the subject in the first focking place—nothing good. So you’re on your own. Looks like you’ll have to come up with something good to say about marriage yourselves. Don’t worry, you got a whole lifetime to find it but since you’re married, it’ll only seem like two lifetimes. Ba-ding!
And with June comes the Father’s Day, ’natch. And if you’re too focking cheap to spring for a gift for the old fart, how ’bout make a nice homemade card with a quote from no finer writer there ever be again than dear Mr. Yeats from near Dublin, celebrating his 160th birthday on June 13 as best he can:
I have certainly known more men destroyed by the desire to have a wife and child and to keep them in comfort than I have seen destroyed by drink and harlots.
In conclusion: As for me, yes, then, of fathers, of sons, this time of year, I’ll be seeing you, as the song goes, in all the old familiar places, in every lovely summer’s day; I remember you, memories lit, ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek, and I told you so.
